Fourth Vector Ch. 29

"Exchanged for what?" asked Jack.

Rosdahl clapped his hands together in glee. "I've made a little bargain with the Swabians. It would appear that there's something they want a lot more than to see you rot in a dungeon for the rest of your life."

"What could you have possibly offered them?" asked Jack.

"That's hardly any of your concern," said Rosdahl. "But if you must know, I gave them the go-ahead to move forward with their plans to attack Apulia and Samara, whereas previously, I'd insisted that they be off limits for any of Avila's expansion plans."

"You wanted to be my executioner so bad that you traded off two countries like they were a pair of goats at a farmer's market," said Jack while shaking his head. "Is there ever a point where you stop being so despicable?"

"The move I made was strategic," said Rosdahl fiercely, showing the first amount of heat. "I would have traded more countries just for the chance to stick the knife in your chest."

Jack continued to shake his head. "So now what? When are we going to Galicia? You are going back to Galicia, aren't you?"

Rosdahl grinned. "We're leaving today actually. My ship departs in two hours. You'll be placed in a position of dishonor at the lowest deck. I'm told it's a position that you're used to. When we arrive in Galicia in another week, I'll make a plan for an immediate execution that will be witnessed by the entire capital city. Right before the blade slices through your neck, I'll announce to the people who you really are. They won't need convincing. The bond will be enough for them to know the truth of the matter."

Rosdahl chuckled to himself. "Then I'll finally be rid of your family. My uncle's work will be completed."

"What about Kat?" asked Jack. "You got what you wanted out of this deal. Leave her out of this now. If I'm dead, she'll never come back to Galicia."

"As long as you continue to be a good prisoner, I'll not touch a hair on her head," said Rosdahl. "She'll be safe as long as you keep your word to hold your identity from the Swabians. For now though, you're being transferred into my custody."

Rosdahl snapped his fingers at his guards and two burly Galician men entered the cell. One swung the keys to Jack's shackles around his finger until they were able to get him released. It wasn't for long though as Jack was soon placed into another set that was chained to the guards themselves.

"That should prevent you from going anywhere until we get to the ship," said Rosdahl. "Although I highly doubt you'd want to try an escape in Dagobern. The people there would just kill you on sight."

Jack looked at him through clenched teeth. "I'll play your game but this is between you and me. I'll go quietly but I want your word about your cousin. Swear to me that you'll leave her alone."

Rosdahl rolled his eyes. "Keep your mouth shut on the way to my ship and I won't harm her. Good enough for you?"

"Fine," said Jack quietly.

Jack was led out of the dungeons while Rosdahl took the lead. One of his guards walked between him and Jack while the last guard walked directly behind all of them. There wasn't any chance to escape his fate along the way. Jack had an idea to get his hands on a pistol from one of the Galician guards but there was no way he could manage to get his hands on it without attracting attention from the rear guard and sparking a fight.

He was led to the main floor of the palace where all of Rosdahl's entourage had gathered to leave. Outside the front door was a convoy to take all of them to the Galician cruiser that had brought them there.

Of course, by the front door was none other than the emperor himself. Rosdahl gave Jack a stern look, no doubt reminding him of their bargain to keep quiet about who he was to the Swabians. Jack nodded without words.

"Off so soon, my friend?" asked Avila as Rosdahl came to a stop right beside him.

"Duty calls me," said Rosdahl cheerily. "And now that I have my quarry, it's time to bring him to justice."

Avila looked past the regent to settle his gaze on Jack. Jack looked back with all the burning hatred he could muster.

"A deal well struck if I must say so myself," said Avila as he looked back to Rosdahl. "And my forces will be on the move in no more than a month. Please do what you can to make sure word doesn't reach the Apulians about our deal."

"No word shall come from Galicia, I can assure you," said Rosdahl. "I wish you well in your wars, my friend. May the gods see fit to bless Swabians arms ahead of battle."

"They always have so I have no doubt that they'll stop now," said Avila. The two men said their goodbyes and soon parted. As Jack was led past Avila, the emperor gave him a cruel smile.

"A pity you couldn't enjoy my hospitality any longer," said Avila with a careless shrug. "I have a feeling by the time he's done with you, you'll wish for the safety of my dungeon once again."

Jack managed an angry glare. "You haven't seen the last of me. I promise you that."

Avila started to chuckle. "That's where I think you're wrong, Jack. I have seen the last of you."

Jack was yanked away at that moment as the rest of the Galician entourage soon boarded the convoy for the docks. He looked one last time at the emperor and the palace itself, vowing to return one day to see it all torn down.

Jack just didn't know how long it would take him to get to that point.

The ride through the city passed uneventfully until they reached the harbor where Jack noticed a high degree of Swabian activity. There were warships in the harbor—Swabian by the flag being flown—but there were just as many supply ships there as well. The entire harbor was awash with soldiers, many of them loading up in their ships for immediate transit.

It became obvious to Jack right away what he was witnessing. The fruits of Rosdahl's bargain for him were right in front of his very eyes. These were the men that would soon strike out from Swabian borders and throw the West into chaos.

The worst feeling was knowing there was nothing he could do about it at the time. His fate was made in Galicia.

Jack was led to the only Galician warship tied up at the docks. From what he could see, the cruiser had seen better days. She was in desperate need of a paint job and there were rusty spots that he could see around the hull. In her heyday, she was probably a fine vessel and she sported four gun turrets each with two guns apiece.

"Welcome to my ship, theCanaria, Jack," said Rosdahl proudly as he was led up the gangplank. "Fine vessel, is she not?"

Jack didn't dignify that with a response. He was much more focused on the looks he was getting from the crew. A group of several Galician sailors had stopped what they were doing to look at him, all of them wearing the same confused expression. Jack had no doubt they were feeling the bond from his close proximity, and he had to wonder if they had felt it the entire week they'd been in Dagobern. He was sure by the bewilderment in their eyes the feeling must have pulsed now that he was within a few yards of them, and they probably wondered what to make of it.

They didn't get the chance to wonder long. Jack was brought to the nearest hatch and taken to the lowest deck, where he was put in a hold that was remarkably similar to the lodging he had on the Swabian cruiser.

He guessed they would even have the same size rats.

"Well then, enjoy your quarters for the next week," said Rosdahl as Jack was chained to the hull. "I'll come get you personally when we arrive in Kalmar."

"Do what you must," said Jack. "Just remember our bargain."

Rosdahl smiled cruelly. "The only bargain I'm keeping is the one that I made with the emperor, Jack. You didn't really think I would let my cousin go free, did you?"

Jack snapped at the chains in a mad dash to get to Rosdahl. "You son of a bitch! I'll fucking kill you!"

"The only ones who are going to die are you and my cousin, you fool," said Rosdahl with an evil laugh. "Oh, and that child in her stomach as well. What a pity."

Jack stopped moving as his mouth fell open.

"Don't be surprised I know about it already," said Rosdahl. "My spies are everywhere, Jack. I'm going to take great pleasure once you, my cousin, and your bastard are put in your graves."

Jack was still screaming when the door to the cell was slammed shut.

He was finally going to Galicia—just not the way he'd envisioned.