O Saga: Part One: Book of Origins

Rovan was surprised to see how quickly his sea legs returned. It had been years since he had been to the open ocean. Rovan was on the sea waters in the lagoon every day but stayed in the shallows to fish.

Rovan tried not to picture the faces of Amaya and his kids, but there was a lot of time to kill on a ship voyage. So, Rovan filled it with tasks. He immediately tried to get to know every inch of the ship and how it worked so he would know what to do if they ran into trouble.

The R.K.A. “Elysium” was the name of the massive merchant Corvette. Vizier Loean, Olafur’s uncle, had inherited the vessel. Olafur came from an ancient line of royal members going back centuries. The ship was originally a Royal warship, but each generation had modified it to their needs. Loean needed it to be a cargo ship but didn’t want to lose the ability to protect against pirates and foreign aggressors.

The Corvette had four levels. The lowest level is the hold. The mid-level was the Orlop Deck. The third tier was the Gun Deck, and the last was the Main Deck. There was also a Quarterdeck that encompassed the back of the Main Deck.

The hold ran the length of the ship with four sections. The front of the hold had a rectangle-shaped storage area for foodstuff. It was lined with metal to keep pests from entering. Cured meats hung from beams, barrels of flour, candles, and even feed for livestock were stored there.

A large open area with nine poles to help stack items sat in the front middle. It was in front of the main mast but behind the foremast. The floor was made of heavy materials, sand, iron, and gravel to create ballast and ship stability. Above the floor ballast were a series of hatches that opened to the main deck, allowing cargo of varied size and weight to be loaded when docked.

Behind the Mainmast and the Mizzenmast in the hold sat the storage for the armaments. More hatches above this middle back section allowed armaments to move above quickly. It stored all the extra materials for each Ballista. The Ballista was a giant crossbow. It could launch bolts, flaming arrows, stones, and so on.

The furthest back compartment of the hold was the ballast tank and water storage. The vessel could adjust the ship’s buoyancy and was the plumbing source. The water pressure was created by using hand pumps and pulling scoops with rope.

The eighty-man crew would spend their downtime on the Orlop Deck just above the hold. The ship’s galley and bunkhouses were on this deck and sat below the waterline. The medical bay, carpenter bay, and space for leisure activities were also on the Orlop Deck.

Hammocks for the crew at night would be strung out on this deck once the hatches were secure. Behind the galley was a steerage area for chickens and goats. During storms and battles, the livestock were secured there; otherwise, they’d put up pens on the Main Deck.

The Gun Deck was below the main deck and above the water line. Rovan and Olafur had private cabins that extended off the back of this deck and hung above the rutter. They had private toilets and windows looking to the sea behind the vessel.

Twelve Ballistae sat ready at the gun ports in case they needed to fire on attacking ships. On the deck, storage cabinets secured swords and extra armaments. When there wasn’t a need for battle, they stored the longboats and dinghies here. A bathroom for the rest of the crew sat at the very front of this deck.

On the outside of the Gun Deck was a promenade that allowed the ship’s carpenter access to all parts of the boat. The crew also enjoyed walking around it for exercise and mental well-being. It was always a hive of activity.

Most of the work got done on the Main Deck. The hand pumps for the water pressure, lifting and dropping the anchor, and the barrage of ropes tied everywhere to control the rig made it so you had to pay attention to what you were doing.

Behind the steering was the Quarterdeck, which was Captain Dantes’s quarters. He had a private dining room that was popular for socializing.

Rovan was interested in every aspect of the ship except the one duty he was brought on to do. Olafur thought Rovan was coming to be his Master and teach him how to become a full Knight. That had yet to happen in any way. Rovan mainly avoids him.

—-

When Rovan reached the main deck that morning to check the weather, Olafur awaited him. Rovan was hoping to avoid him.

“How long are you going to evade me?” Olafur asked.

“I was hoping for the whole trip.”

“Are you ever going to teach me?”

“No.”

“I thought we agreed when you decided to come with. What about your dreams? And your Master?”

“My Master was contacting me to solve what happened to her. I’m here to solve that. When I do, I’m going home. If I don’t find any clues, I’m going home. She was coming to you in your dreams to help guide me to where to start. Wherever you’re going will lead me to the first clue. If you come with me, it doesn’t matter to me.”

“So you won’t train me at all?”

“No. I gave up all of that when my Master disappeared. My world is my family. But my Master won’t rest in peace until I solve this. I can’t get any sleep either.” Rovan said with disdain.

“Can we compromise? It is a long journey; we can avoid each other the entire voyage. Or we can fill that time with training. It’s not going to hurt anything. You can still do what you will when you get there, but we will have purpose each day. Time will go by faster; you can consider it the fee for your passage on this ship.”

Rovan had a hard time arguing against that. He thought it over and finally let go of the barriers he was putting between them.

“I’ll train you, but I am the Master. You will do everything I say when I say it. And when we get to Qamata, Training will be over.”

“It’s not what I want, but it is a start. When do we begin?” Olafur asked with new vigor.

“Understand, I’m doing this because you said it was my fee. I find that a fair bargain.” Rovan made it clear.

“I understand.”

“Also, you will start as my page.”

“Page, you mean your servant?”

“It’s how I started. You earn your way to being a Squire or Apprentice. Being a Knight and Master is way down the road.”

“Then I agree to be Page Olafur for now.”

“Start by running around the carpenter promenade Page until I tell you to stop. Then bring me a drink of water. Finish by cleaning my cabin.”

“I can do that.”

Rovan shrugged his shoulders in dismissal, happy that Olafur would leave him alone.

—-

Rovan would give Olafur exercises to increase his strength, endurance, and flexibility but wouldn’t provide any instructions to go with it. Rovan didn’t bring any books or sparing swords that could enhance Olafur’s training. Training had to advance past exercise at some point, but that wasn’t Rovan’s concern.

“Not to criticize Master, but as much as I appreciate the training, I could have done workouts on my own before I met you. I want to know about the O element.” Olafur demanded.

“Aside from dreams, I’m unsure if you have the natural connection. It takes more than wanting to be a Knight; there is a natural ability that is there or not. You can’t buy the power or hope for it; it has to choose you.”

“So test me. Help to know if I have the power.”

“It doesn’t work like that. Has anything ever been called to you? Have you a piece of the element? A sword, a bracelet, or even a rock? If the element hasn’t called to you, I can’t teach you that.”

“Why didn’t you mention that before?

“You didn’t ask. The Source of All Things will tell you when you are ready to learn, if at all.”

“The Source of All Things will decide?”

“Yes, it isn’t the element that has power. The O element is just an object, a material. It is The Creator or Source that gives the universe the power. Everything created in the universe comes from that Source, hence the name.”

“So if you can’t teach me to connect, what else can you teach me?”

“I can teach you medicine. All Knights are capable healers. I can teach you about nature, as the energies that make up life are the wellsprings of the universe. Understanding how you fit into the flow of the infinite universe doesn’t require powers. It only needs an open mind.”

“Are Pages allowed to start classes?”

“They do now. I didn’t bring any materials, but we can figure something out. As you said, it’s paying for my passage.”

—-

As the weeks passed, Rovan taught Olafur concepts of nature, medicine, meditation, philosophy, art, and martial arts. Olafur’s progress could have been faster. Olafur was an experienced fighter, so they polished off those skills quickly.

They had begun wrestling and boxing each other regularly. The crewman would often watch them and cheer. The sessions descended into aggressive altercations quickly. Rovan would end up hurting Olafur a little and apologize. Rovan missed his family and knew he had taken it out on Olafur.

Olafur was strong and could take rough play. However, when it came to understanding complex concepts, He was out of his depths.

“If you commit a negative act, then you need to do a positive act to return the scale to neutral?” Olafur asked, but it was more of a statement.

“Not all things are equal. There is an infinite amount of nuance you’re missing. If you splash a gallon of water out of the bucket, it is not replaced by a drop.” Rovan countered.

“I think I understand it, Master. I’m just finding my way into it.”

“You don’t have to call me Master.”

“What do you want me to call you?

“Rovan, like everyone else.”

“Are there Orders that don’t use the Master and Apprentice approach?”

“There are as many ways and Orders as there are stars.”

“Can you tell me how some of the others work?’

“Are you deflecting away from your other studies?”

“Yes.”

“It doesn’t matter to me. I can tell you what I know about the other Orders. Understand my knowledge is limited.”

“And what about the Witches?”

“I can tell you a little about them. My Master and I fought against them.”

“You fought Witches?”

“Calm down, that’s all I know about them. I was younger than you, then. I swore never to speak of the details, but yes, we fought them.”

“Well, what are things you can talk about?” Olafur polled.

“I can tell you about The Ijani Knights of Nanook. They are dedicated to Kittisek Khan and form his personal Army. They train as a Military Unit. They have basic camps and ranks. Anyone who has a connection can join them. No Masters and Apprentices. They have strict training methods.” Rovan explained.

“The Order of the Heron are monks that dedicate themselves to The Source of All Things through art. They have colonies in many places. They are pacifists and don’t use the element for fighting. They connect spiritually. They train you through art. Music, painting, sculpting, writing, anything that requires creation.”

“That is not for me.” Olafur joked.

“Yes, I’ve seen your art.”

“Funny.” Olafur sarcastically said.

“The Order of the Infinite Circle dedicates themselves to meditation. Lost to remote places and meditating all day, trying to find wisdom is where you’ll find individuals. All you need to do is find a nice spot and sit. I’ve seen you do that plenty.”

“And I have seen you do plenty of your own.” Olafur mocked.

“That’s fair. What else? The Order of the Storm experiments with the metaphysical side of the connection. All sorts of weird things. Can they create lightning? Can they affect the wind?”

“Science stuff sounds boring, but I’m all for conjuring up a storm?”

“Do you think it’s possible?”

“I don’t know, but if possible, I’ll be the best at it..”

“Except you haven’t even established you can connect. I have my doubts.”

“So you keep telling me.”

“You could join The Order of the Empty Mind; they read many books. A bunch of librarians.”

“Are you saying my head is empty?”

“Yes, the majority of the Orders are. War and fighting aren’t the only way to protect people. Some people think that you can never truly save anyone. You can only save yourself. So, they work at self-discovery. They tend to let what will be; be.”

“That’s not me; I want to help people.”

“Everyone finds their path to God. You don’t need the element for that.”

“As we’ve been studying more, you’ve been much nicer to me.”

“Well, that’s got to stop.” Rovan joked.

“You’re right; I’m not sure how to handle you liking me.”

“I’ve never disliked you.”

“Actions speak louder.”

“You’re right; I have been a jerk. Being away from my family has made me edgy.”

“Oh, that’s what you call it. The crew call it something else.”

“I suppose they do.”

“Any other Orders?”

“The Order of the Wolf is an interesting one. They connect with animals.”

“What do you mean?”

“You can connect with others’ minds, including animals. I once saw someone connect with giant tortoises; it was impressive.

“I want to join that one.”

“I thought you might. Another large one is the Order of Healers. They are warriors, but they journey to battles to save lives. They are more physicians than soldiers. They require extensive knowledge of medicine.”

“When do they decide to fight and not heal?”

“I guess that’s up to the individual. They don’t share allegiance to any nation, only to medicine.”

“You taught me a lot about healing; that would be interesting.”

“You’re more likely to be someone they’re attending to.”

“Probably. What about The Order of the Sun? I know it is a defunct group, but it used to be the only Order of Anahiti.” Olafur inquired.

“You’re looking at the only member left. Master Akiva was one; she wore the golden armor.”

“Your one? Why don’t you wear golden armor?”

“Who says I didn’t? I became a Knight, and shortly after, my Master disappeared. I put all that stuff away.”

“Is it here on the ship?”

“Maybe.”

“Can I See it?”

“Maybe. When you’ve earned it.”

“When do I get golden armor? Never mind, I know. When I’ve earned it.” Olafur said, a little discouraged.

“You’re still a Page. The last one I’ll discuss is The Masters of the Oracle. They are an Order that teaches everything. They have Masters dedicated to all fields of the connection. They are mighty; maybe they are the most knowledgeable and skilled of any Order. But they don’t take people in. They’ll find you.”

—-

The R.S.A. Elysium was on a northern route heading up the coast of Ishvara, trying to reach the tribal lands of Qamata. Olafur was meeting someone involved in a revolution. He was a leader of a peasant revolt that Rovan had only heard of when he came on board the ship.

They had been making significant progress as the weather had been mostly pleasant, and the winds were favorable. Rovan and Olafur had been working hard daily doing some form of training.

Rovan lamented his resistance to Olafur. If he had been more open, he might have brought all the training supplies and equipment. However, Rovan found himself becoming increasingly fond of Olafur’s company. For one thing, it distracted him from thinking of home. When Rovan was in his cabin alone, all he did was become restless with his homesickness.

The rest of the crew would do their duties and try to stay out of their way. Sometimes, they’d watch from afar, trying not to interfere.

Captain Dantes was a competent seaman and kept everything running smoothly. Rovan found himself joining Dantes and Olafur for late-evening meals and discussions. It was a source of enjoyment for Rovan.

A regular group gathered in the Captain’s private dining hall. Officers and other high-ranking positions would join them but wouldn’t stay as long as those three.

The crew often sang and played music on the Orlop Deck, and Rovan usually listened from afar. He thought it was time to integrate more with the crew and get to know them. So Rovan and Olafur joined in the crew’s fun.

It took a while for the crew to accept them as they thought Rovan and Olafur were arrogant. They were right; that is how they acted for a start. They were growing on the men.

They were in waters past the border of Qamata and Ishvara when five Ishavaran Battleships were spotted. They weren’t just patrolling; they were rigged for war.

Warning bells and a rush of people on the move disturbed Rovan out of his quarters.

“What’s going on?” He questioned in a state of confusion.

“Battleships, Ishvaran ones. They’re forming a blockade keeping us from the North.” Said a crew member as he dashed by to prep the ship for war.

Rovan returned to his room to secure it and grab some essential items. The crew would ensure the ship started preparations in the hold and worked to the top. A couple of men would go to the hold and stay in case of damage and leaks.

Some men would move the goats and chicken cages to the steerage. The cook would secure all the things that could turn into dangerous objects, like chairs and knives. The ship’s physician would prepare the med bay to receive the wounded. Some reserve forces would stay on the Orlop deck and help stow hammocks. The Gun Deck would be reserved for the crew manning the ballistae.

Rovan finally came up to the main deck to find Olafur. He saw a company of archers grouping tight on both the port and starboard sides. Two lone archers climbed up to the crow’s nest for sniping. The ship looked fully prepared to Rovan.

“What took you so long?” Olafur shouted at him.

“I was grabbing these,” Rovan said as he removed two swords from a pouch. Olafur’s eyes lit up.

“Is one of those for me?”

“Yes, but mine has the element. Yours is just a sword. Can you wield it?”

“My Uncle trained me. Fighting and weapons, I know.”

“Hopefully, we won’t have to find out if that’s true. What’s the situation, Captain?” Rovan addressed Dantes.

“We are nearing the city of Kwento, but it looks to have a blockade leading to its harbor. Their fleet has formed a staggered line of five across. It doesn’t look like any damage has been done to the city yet, but they’re restricting who is coming and going.” Captain Dantes observed.

“Do we need to enter the city?” Rovan asked.

“The meeting place was Kwento,” Olafur answered.

“The ships appear to be anchored. There are two frigates of considerable size and three corvettes. If we turn around, we should outrun them if they chase,” Captain Dantes said.

“If we turn now, they will be suspicious, and our ship will be assumed to be an enemy vessel. We may become targets at any port in Ishavara. Then again, they may not chase to keep their blockage intact.” Rovan added.

“But we will need to get into the country somehow. If we don’t try to enter the city today, circumstances may not change for some time. We have supplies but can’t sail indefinitely. If we are marked, we’ll have to bypass all of Ishvara. We don’t have enough supplies for that. We could continue North to another port and hope they haven’t arrived there.” Olafur said.

“I see two options. We go to the North and try to return to the city by horseback. The second option is we attack the ships and take control of the harbor.” Rovan asserted.

“Have you lost your mind? Just one of those frigates is out of our class. Five warships against a mostly merchant vessel are no chance at all.” Captain Dantes said incredulously.

“Except you have me; I even have some shiny armor. I’ll attack the nearest Corvette and disable it. That should provoke a response.” Rovan boldly said.

Captain Dantes and Olafur looked at Rovan, dumbfounded by his plan. They seemed like they were waiting for a punchline.

“I’ve seen some Knights of other Orders, and I have never seen such an action. Perhaps you overestimate yourself at the expense of my men’s lives.” Captain Dantes said.

“Perhaps. Or you’ve never seen what a Knight like me can do.” Rovan quipped.

“Well, we need to make a decision fast. We are almost at the point of no return.” Interjected Olafur.

Either decision would take bold action.