Chapter 31: Hell Unleashed

Author’s Note: There’s some brief anal and a forced sex scene in this chapter. Please skip over if that’s not your thing.

Jack arrived in Apulia to find a nation on the verge of defeat.

Just off the northern coast of the country, the mighty Galician task force floated in shallow waters. It was set up in battle formation due to the near certainty that Swabian forces were nearby. That morning they saw no evidence of a Swabian threat, but just as worryingly, they saw no evidence of Apulian defenders.

Across the short stretch of sea, the Apulian city of Arezzo stood proudly on a rocky promontory that jutted out into the ocean. The city, once a bastion of the fishing industry which dominated this portion of Apulia, was on the verge of disaster. Despite the green and yellow Apulian flag flying from the highest masts, Arezzo appeared to be awaiting the fate of the rest of Apulia.

Jack couldn’t say he blamed them. The entire country had fallen so fast that they probably felt assured of the same destiny. The two smaller islands of Apulia fell to the Swabians within the first week. The main island, which held the capital city of Marmora as well as Arezzo, was invaded next.

Just days ago, Jack received word that Marmora had fallen. Arezzo was the last free city of any significance in Apulia.

Jack couldn’t let the city fall. To do so would be to lose the entire Slot—the vital communication link between his forces and the ones still fighting on Picardy. It also removed any semblance of an Apulian army (wherever they might be) from the list of forces that could resist the Swabians.

Lastly, it put the country of Samara in jeopardy, and even now, Jack could look behind him to see that country’s distant shores on the other side of the narrow inlet of the Slot.

He had to get his forces on land to set up a defense.

“What are you thinking, Jack?” asked Bill Calland, who was standing next to him on the bridge of the Visby.

Bill had been Jack’s able lieutenant ever since the action in Kalmar. Despite knowing how Kat felt about the Callands, Jack had grown to like the man. He was remarkably sage for his years, knowing more about Galicia and her people than just about anyone else. He was good company in just about any instance, and Jack appreciated his friendly and knowledgeable nature. He also seemed most invested in Jack’s success, no doubt from his role in putting Eric Rosdahl in the regency all those years ago.

“Do you see that small rocky neck that leads outside the city?” asked Jack as he handed the older man his binoculars. “There are no buildings there except for an old guard fortification. All I can see are boulders and a small road that connects the city to the rest of the mainland. It’s a perfect area to coordinate a defense.”

Bill looked over the rocky neck before putting the binoculars down. “It might be the best chance we have at holding off the Swabians. A smaller force could hold that neck for a long time, especially with naval support.”

“Something tells me that you’ll have plenty of naval support,” added Admiral Russell Taylor, standing on Jack’s other side.

The admiral was one who Jack was growing to like more each day. Their initial meeting had been a standoff when Russell had to be convinced of Jack’s true identity. Ever since that day, he’d been loyal, forthcoming, and just as knowledgeable as Bill. It also helped that Russell was a fellow naval officer, and Jack found out that he’d been in that role for the greater part of ten years. If he were in Java, he would be a rival to McKenzie or Reynolds, or perhaps even Bancroft. The fact that Jack had the exclusive use of the man was a boon for his cause.

“Have any more ships defected to our side?” asked Jack to the admiral.

Russell grinned. “There’s a small convoy inbound right now. Should be here in another day or so. Same excuse as the others.”

Jack couldn’t help but smile. Ever since the action in Kalmar, Galician ships and soldiers were swarming to find him. The battle in the Galician capital proved without a doubt that the Galician King was still alive, and many in the armed forces suddenly found that their oath to serve the crown of the country had a new meaning.

It couldn’t come at a more welcome time. The forces that Jack had in his corner, while growing by the day, were still woefully small when compared to what the Swabians had in just Apulia alone. All reports were of a Swabian force in the neighborhood of twenty thousand on the main island alone. At the current time, Jack had just over nine hundred soldiers with which to defend Arezzo. With the Apulian Army being in shambles, they were going to need all the help they could get.

“Hopefully they have more soldiers with them,” chimed in Colonel Lindell “Lindy” Wilson who was standing a short distance away. “My men are good but even they can’t hold back the whole Swabian Army by themselves.”

Jack nodded. “More soldiers would be needed. Any news if this convoy is more than just sailors and ships?”

Russell shrugged. “I’ve heard there’s some soldiers aboard but no more details than that were given. Even if it was another regiment coming to us, we’d still be light in forces.”

“We’ll just have to make due with what we have then,” said Jack. “Anything is better than nothing, especially on terrain that favors a defender.”

“The men of the 7th will make any Swabian invader pay heavily for the ground he tries to take,” said Lindy proudly. “They’ll find Arezzo a tough nut to crack indeed.”

Jack grinned at the man. “Remind me to introduce you to a few friends of mine when the time comes. I know two Javan marines that I think you’d get along with splendidly.”

“Marines, eh?” asked Lindy. “Maybe they should spend some time with my men and we can teach them proper soldiering.”

Jack laughed at that one as he imagined the looks on Greg and Dustin’s faces at anyone trying to teach them “proper soldiering.” Rather than respond, he turned to look back at the city. If it needed to be defended, now was the best time of any to get started.

“Go ahead and get the men ashore,” said Jack to Lindy and Russell. “I’ll come with you once we invest the city. Since there’s no signs of the Apulian Army, there shouldn’t be any resistance. I’d like to not have any instances of friendly fire, especially since I doubt the Apulians will be expecting us.”

“I’m sure they’ve been watching our ships though,” said Russell. “They’ll know who we are by the flag we’re flying. My hope is that it’ll be a warm reception. Their other option is a lot less pleasant.”

“We can all hope,” said Jack. “I’ll let the men be the spearhead. and I’ll follow you to shore as soon as you’re established. Let’s get moving.”

Russell and Lindy promptly saluted and then started to execute the orders. Just below them on the main deck of the Visby, the Galician soldiers of the 7th Regiment could be seen picking up their gear and moving in ordered waves toward the closest launch boats. With only nine hundred of them, the men of Hemswell’s Faithful would have to be sent in three waves. Jack wanted the first wave to concentrate on securing a safe beachhead before they could determine if anyone was going to offer resistance. When that beachhead was secure, they would move to occupy the rest of the city as well as the rocky neck where they would make their defense.

“What about me?” asked Bill with a small smile after the two others had walked away. “Am I permitted to come with you or do you want me to stay on the ship?”

“You’ll come with me if you want,” said Jack. “Besides, I’d rather grown accustomed to our evening chats.”

Bill started to chuckle. “As have I.”

Those evening chats were something that Jack considered his own history lessons. He usually sat down with Bill as the sun set and tried to soak in every bit of information about Galicia that the older man could offer. Bill’s wisdom of his country’s history was second to none, and already Jack was feeling better about his knowledge of his homeland.

There was something else that still played on his mind, something that only Bill would know.

“Have you heard anything from the Apulian Director yet?” asked Jack, referencing the elected head of state for the entire country. “Does he know that we’re outside of Arezzo?”

Bill shook his head. “My dispatches haven’t been answered. I’m not sure if they just aren’t responding or whether they’ve even received them. I have to imagine that most of their machines were captured when Marmora fell. It could be that he knows and doesn’t have a way to dispatch back to us or he may not know at all.”

Jack pursed his lips. “I’d like to know where he’s going. I can only imagine he’d retreat in this direction to Arezzo but without knowing more, we’re fighting blind. I’d also like it if he knew we were here to help. I don’t want him thinking that we’re another enemy that’s here to occupy his soil.”

“I’m sure he’ll get the gist of things when he sees who we are,” said Bill. “The alliance between Galicia and Apulia goes back many, many centuries. He’ll need to just see you and see the flag, and he’ll realize we’re here to help. Hopefully, that is.” Bill stopped speaking and for a moment, Jack got the impression that he knew more than what he was letting on. He chose not to press the subject.

Jack nodded, finding truth in his earlier words. “Well then, let’s get going. I’d like to be in defensive positions by nightfall.”

Jack and Bill grabbed their things while the first wave made its way to shore. He watched from the bridge with Russell while those first boats soon touched solid ground and the Galician men established a firm beachhead. Once they were secure, Jack caught the second wave with the men while Bill came along with the third and final wave.

The ride to the shore was a quiet one. Jack felt the bobbing of the waves with the soldiers of the 7th, many of whom were starting to become known to him by name. They’d gotten over their initial fascination with him quickly when it became apparent that there was a lot of fighting ahead, but Jack relished the idea of having them on his side. Many of them reminded him of the Javan marines still fighting on Picardy—professional, capable, and calm under fire.

As they neared the city, it wasn’t hard to tell that Arezzo had ancient roots. The city was a mix of old and new. Old stone fortifications stood next to more modern warehouses. Cannons from a bygone era were still parked in the same spots as the last time they were used, overshadowed by large apartment buildings and eateries. Even with the bright blue skies and the crystal clear waters, it was apparent that a dark shadow was over the city. Now the center of Apulian resistance, it was bound to become the target of much fighting in the days ahead.

Jack’s boat stopped once the keel hit the sand and all the men filed out. From there, Jack could see where Lindy had established a basic command post as the soldiers pushed inward toward the city. There were two main initiatives at the moment. One group was pushing in toward the center of the city to make sure there were no lingering threats. The other group was heading toward the rocky neck to begin defensive positions.

Jack attached himself to the group that was making for the neck. He even had a rifle with him, which unfortunately wasn’t the reliable NT-12 from Java. The Galician equivalent was called Bornmount V1 Rifle and it operated in a very similar way. It was a semiautomatic and it carried a ten round clip. Once fired, it was remarkably similar to the NT-12 and Jack was immediately comfortable with it. Lindy had even told him there was a V2 version in the works that was fully automatic and Jack made a note to get his hands on one when the time came.

With all the tension in the ranks about making the landing, it was a rather uneventful affair. There were no Apulian soldiers in the city, and most of the citizens were content to stare at Jack and his men as they passed. Many sheltered in their own buildings until the Galicians went away while just a handful of older folks stared down the army as if to determine if they were friend or foe.

None of it spilled into open fighting for which Jack was thankful. The men moved through the ancient city until coming to the rocky promontory that connected it to the rest of the mainland. It was here that Jack had to smile when he first appraised the neck from this distance.

It was a defender’s dream. Almost half a mile of rocky terrain that was no more than a couple hundred feet wide at most. Through this terrain, a road ran right up the center, dominated by higher ground on each side. Jack envisioned overlapping fields of fire on either side of the road as well as multiple defensive lines for reinforcements. The best part about it was the approach from the other side of the neck, on the mainland side. It was flat and barren, with over half of it dominated by a tidal estuary that reduced the amount of solid ground for half of the day.

Even with our small numbers, we can save this city, thought Jack. We can check the Swabians here.

By nightfall, the first semblance of a defensive line had already been established. All the men of the 7th were in the city, and the fleet was positioned just outside to offer naval support if it was deemed necessary. There was no word on the approach of the Swabians or the Apulians so Jack made his way into the middle of the city to make his quarters.

An old town hall formed the nucleus of Jack’s headquarters in the city, and he took a second floor room as his own personal quarters, appropriating a cot from the soldiers and using one of the desks already available. That was where he was found by Bill for the resumption of their nightly talks.

“It’s a whole lot different being on dry land again,” said Bill as he took a seat across from Jack. “I’d almost gotten used to having to stabilize myself every time the ship rocked.”

Jack chuckled. “And I find myself in the opposite position. I’d rather be out on the open waves more than anything and all this dry land seems to mess with my senses.”

“See, that right there is the Galician in you talking,” said Bill with a point of the finger. “Despite your upbringing, you couldn’t stop the effect of your homeland on your inner psyche.”

“Trust me, I’ve been dealing with the effects of my homeland all my life,” said Jack. “No one that I grew up with had blond hair but me. That took a lot of getting used to and got me in more than a few fights during my schooling years.”

Bill shook his head. “I would sure like to see this Java of yours someday. Of course, we always heard about Java growing up but it was more myth than reality.”

“And we heard about the Fourth Vector as well, but in a very abridged sort of way,” replied Jack. “The founders of the Javan country were called the Ancestors. They were all blond and blue-eyed. They mixed with a native people called the People of the Lake to form the modern day Javans. Although there are many in Java who don’t know the name Galicia, the Ancestors were quite clearly Galicians from long ago.”

“I find that utterly fascinating,” said Bill. “Someday, we’ll have to dive deeper into these foundation myths. I’ve always found them to be extremely interesting no matter the country.”

“With all that you’ve told me about Galicia, it’s about time that I’ve repaid the favor,” said Jack with a chuckle.

“Trust me, you won’t have anything to repay if we can get you back in Galicia and on your throne,” said Bill with a knowing look. “It’s about time someone made Eric Rosdahl pay for all the suffering that he’s caused.”

“I’d also like to see it happen for how he’s treated his cousin,” added Jack before putting his hand up. “Not that it includes present company, mind you.”

Bill actually managed to look embarrassed. “Not exactly my finest hour, the way I treated Katherine. And one that I hope gets made right.”

“It definitely took some convincing on behalf of Will,” said Jack. “But I think she’s come around. At least, she was when I last saw her, which was so many months ago now.”

Jack let out a heavy sigh. If he only knew when he might see Kat again, it might make this whole task a lot less bleak. He missed Kat and Abigail beyond words, and it was their faces that he saw each night before he fell asleep.

“It must be hell to be away from the mother of your child,” said Bill, reading Jack’s thoughts.

“That’s one way to put it,” agreed Jack. “My biggest question is when I’ll see them again.”

Bill nodded and then smiled. “I remember how Lisa was when she was pregnant with Will. She was fussy, always hungry, and shall we say she was quite insatiable in certain departments.”

Jack raised an eyebrow. “I think I get what you’re saying. You’re also not making me feel any better about this.”

Bill started to laugh. “I’m sorry, my friend. Sometimes laughter is the only thing we have to disguise our current predicament. When we were under house arrest, it was all we could do to keep ourselves entertained. Somehow, it made our situation more manageable.”

“Maybe you’re right, Bill. Maybe now we might need anything we can take to make our current fortunes seem better than they are.”

Bill gave him a somber look. “Aye, we have to look for the light in dark times. And this is certainly a dark time.”

There was silence for a moment. Bill took a long drink of a cup of water before looking back at Jack. “You didn’t want me to come here to listen to an old man postulate. What’s on your mind this evening, Jack?”

“Oh, I rather enjoy your postulating,” quipped Jack. “There’s a lot of knowledge in your head, Bill. I like hearing what you have to say.”

Bill laughed. “If only Lisa could hear you say that. She thinks I often don’t know when to stop running my mouth. It’s a good thing she’s still on the Visby!”

“I’ll be sure to tell her the next time I see her,” said Jack.

“Be sure to do so. You should receive an interesting result!”

Both men chuckled to themselves for a moment until Jack was the first to recover his composure.

“Tell me something, Bill. What did you know about the royal family? About my family in particular. You’ve told me much about Galicia’s actual history but not much about the actual kings and queens of old. What did you know about them?”

Bill let out a deep sigh. “Bits and pieces unfortunately. It shouldn’t surprise you that the regents went out of their way to keep information about your family out of reach from the majority of our people. Most Galicians are told the names of the last king and queen, Robert and Elizabeth, as well as their son, Richard. Of course, there was a baby as well, one that wasn’t alive long enough to be named. Or rather, so we all assumed.”

“From what Kat has told me,” said Jack, “that baby was my great-great-great-great-great grandfather. Raised in secrecy.”

Bill reached up to rub his beard. “Yes, I suppose that’s about the only way that could work. Of course, I didn’t know anything of your family’s history after the last king since we all assumed you were dead. But the kings before Robert were legendary in their own rights.”

“Like who? Tell me about them?”

“Did Kat ever tell you about King Stephen the Great?”

Jack shook his head.

“I’m surprised by that but perhaps it didn’t come up in the context,” said Bill. “Stephen the Great was the king who won the Fourth Swabian War. He personally led the charge that defeated the Swabians outside of Dagobern, ending the siege of the capital and winning the war. Stephen was also the last king that was powerful enough to have two wives. His land wife was Queen Sydney and his sea wife was Queen Rochelle.”

“How did that work in regards to the heir to the throne?” asked Jack. “Does land or sea take precedence?”

Bill shrugged. “Most of the time, no. Many kings have chosen their firstborn sons to succeed them whether they come from the land or sea wife. Some have even chosen second sons when the firstborn seemed to be unfit for the throne. The nice part about being king is that it’s your prerogative on which you’d choose.”

Jack nodded. “So King Stephen the Great conquered Dagobern.”

“It’s the one that Swabians still whine about today,” said Bill with a distasteful look. “They always call it the Sack of Dagobern. Some particularly loathsome individuals call it the Rape of Dagobern but it was nothing of the sort. Swabians have always been poor losers. In any event, it was the defining moment of the century. It finally checked Swabian aggression for another three centuries after that.”

“Until the line of kings was presumed dead and the Swabians started to expand once more?” asked Jack.

Bill nodded. “I see you’ve been paying attention to our nightly talks.”

Jack cracked a smile. “What can I say? You’re a good storyteller.”

Bill chuckled. “You’ll enjoy the story of King Renard then. He was the first true King of Galicia.”

“Renard, you said?” asked Jack. “What was his story?”

“King Renard was an ancient ancestor of yours,” continued Bill. “In those days, Galicia was more of a geographic area rather than a country. The islands that made up the country all had their own separate kings and warlords. Renard put an end to that. From his capital at Kalmar, he subjugated all the other existing lords under one banner. For the first time in her history, Galicia was united under one throne and one king. King Renard was the founder of the Galician state.”

“How long ago was this?” asked Jack.

“About two millennia,” replied Bill. “Around the time we started keeping records. You’d be hard-pressed to find information much older than that. Supposedly though, it was Renard that crafted the king’s sword as well as was responsible for the bond with his people.”

Jack arched an eyebrow. “Supposedly?”

“Well, we aren’t very sure,” admitted Bill. “Both the sword and the bond have some supernatural elements to them that aren’t well understood in our world today. There are some that say they were created with the help of magic. Most academics would say that’s near impossible but then again, most academics haven’t laid eyes on your sword or felt the bond in some time.”

“I imagine those people might be very confused after I showed up in Kalmar,” said Jack.

Bill grinned. “I’d imagine you’re right.”

“That was one thing I’d always wondered about,” said Jack. “I do believe it to be some kind of supernatural force that controls both aspects but finding someone who knew about it was always going to be the difficult part.”

Bill held open his hands helplessly. “I’m sorry, Jack. My knowledge doesn’t extend to those subjects very well. I don’t know much regarding the bond between you and our people, nor the sword that you wield.”

“It’s something I can still research on my own,” said Jack. “Just because we don’t know the answer now doesn’t mean we can’t find it. You said the library at the castle in Kalmar is huge. I’m sure they have some ancient texts there that might guide the way.”

“It’s very possible,” admitted Bill. “Eric Rosdahl was never one to let anyone have access to those old books. My guess is that someone knows what’s back there and they don’t want it getting out to the public.”

“Just another thing for us to do when we eventually recover Kalmar,” said Jack.

Bill actually hesitated before he spoke again. “Do you really think we’ll get back there? Do you think we’ll make it back to Kalmar again?”

“Having second thoughts, Bill?”

The old man shook his head vehemently. “No second thoughts. I will spend the rest of my life at your side, I have no doubt about that. Although if I was a betting man, they would be odds I wouldn’t surely put against. We have a small force and have drawn the ire of both Swabia and Rosdahl. A daunting prospect indeed.”

“You’re right,” conceded Jack. “Ordinarily, I wouldn’t want to go up against such a force but I have every amount of faith in our cause. Even more so now that I’ve been to Galicia. This feels like the right thing to do. And not to mention, there are some that would say this is what has to happen.”

“Ah, yes, the prophecy,” replied Bill. “That’s one thing I’d like to discuss with Katherine when we do get to see her. No doubt it’s from one of those secret libraries that only the Rosdahls had access to.”

“She has a copy of the entire prophecy as it concerns me,” said Jack. “According to her words, events have unfolded just the way they’ve been written.”

“According to her?” asked Bill.

“Well,” admitted Jack with a reddening face. “To me, it still looks a bit like gibberish. She’s always placed more faith in it than I have. I’d have to blame that on my upbringing.”

“She does sound like a fascinating person though,” said Bill with a more neutral tone. “There are some days when I believe the gods will never forgive me for the way I’ve treated her.”

“If it helps you at all, Bill, you have to know that it has molded the person she’s become,” said Jack. “She’s a fighter in every sense but she’s still remarkable when it comes to being a woman. You don’t see that too often in people who’ve gone through what she did. The tendency to become bitter is usually quite strong. Kat is not.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing then,” said Bill. “After all, if she indeed becomes queen again someday, I’d rather she not want my head for it.”

Jack chuckled. “I think I’d be able to restrain her if it ever came to that. Not that I think it would.”

“I would hope not,” said Bill with a deeper laugh.

“You know, there is one more thing I’d like to ask you tonight,” said Jack after another moment. “It’s something that I haven’t really given much thought to until recently. But it’s something that if I’m going to really be the king, I think I ought to know.”

Bill gave him a serious look. “What’s that, Jack?”

“My family’s name,” he answered. “I’m afraid I don’t even know my family name, the name of all the kings going back centuries. You’ve taught me much about Galicia but this one detail still remains unknown to me. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Kat mention it either.”

“It’s not one that you’ll hear too much from most Galicians either,” said Bill. “The name is a pariah due to the regents. They don’t like to hear it uttered around them because of the threat it proves to their power. The last time someone did it in front of Eric Rosdahl, the man foamed at the mouth for the next half hour while repeatedly striking the offender across the face.”

“More reason to do it then,” said Jack with a small smile. “Especially if it pisses off Eric Rosdahl.”

Bill chuckled. “Pissing off Eric Rosdahl usually means you’re on the right track. But anyway, back to the name. Let me ask you something. Are you dissatisfied with your own last name? Don’t you want to keep using the name Easterbrook?”

Jack shrugged. “I haven’t made a decision about that. Easterbrook is the name of the people that raised me. It’ll always remain special to me but I was thinking about this last night before I went to bed. As a person, Jack Easterbrook has always held his allegiance to the Javan Empire. Everything that he’s known and fought for has come back to Java but to me, that old life is dead. I’m embracing my new role and my new allegiance. It seems to me that the only right course is to embrace my heritage and my past. That includes the last name.”

Bill smiled. “Wise words, I’ll say. Perhaps when this is all over, you’ll spend more time with my son? He could use some parted knowledge from someone who’s not his father.”

Jack laughed. “When all this is over, you have my word.”

“Good, well, then to answer your question, there is one family name that is tied to Galicia forever. It goes back to the first king, the same one that united Galicia two thousand years ago.”

“King Renard,” answered Jack.

“Yes, Jack. King Renard Kincardine was his full name,” said Bill. “The Kincardine family has held the throne of Galicia all this time. King Stephen Kincardine the Great was the one that conquered Dagobern and ended the Fourth Swabian War. King Robert Kincardine was the last king, up until very recently. That means you, Jack, are a Kincardine as well.”

“Kincardine,” Jack repeated. “That’s my family name.”

“Aye, Jack,” replied Bill. “I suppose if you wanted to be correct about the whole matter, your real name is Jack Kincardine. As was the name of your father and your grandfather going all the way back to the baby that lived.”

There was a moment of silence as Jack digested those words. His name was the very root of his identity. Never in his life had he ever suspected that his last name would be different from Easterbrook. However, with his changing fortunes came changed ideas of identity. If he was to be the Galician King, should he not adopt the trappings of his ancestors?

Should he not inherit the name of his family?

“It gives me a lot to think about,” said Jack after a few minutes. “Something that won’t be easy to swallow but I think it was something that I needed to know.”