Captain Rainbrain and the Tanglevine: Part Four

By: Josprel

Until Noiman’s father, Japhtho, and his grandfather, Methusha, fell out of favor with the throne, Uris, the administrator Larsia, had been a close friend of both. On several occasions, the administrator witnessed the supernatural powers with which The Three had anointed Methusha. Believing Noiman possessed similar powers made him disinclined to oppose him; the risk of confronting the boat builder tremendously intimidated him. For several days after returning home, he delayed acting on his commission, until Prince Ludani reproached him.

“You are delaying the fulfillment the emperor’s command, Prince Uris. Since I have been sent to assure your obedience, do you wish me to send a report of your delay to my brother? What do you think he would do upon hearing such a message?” Ludani threatened.

"There is no need for such a report. My militia and I already are making preparations to ride with the Guardians of the Royal Throne, under your cammand, my lord prince. Together, we shall bring glory to our great god, Lord Lucifin, by destroying the ship and capturing its buliders. Together, we shall bring Noiman and his family in shackles to our great lord, Emporor BanKan," Uris assured him.

“And when shall we ride?” Ludani, inquired.”

“At the zenith of the sun, my lord prince. The ride is not a long one and the builders shall be resting from their labors to eat. It is known that all the women carry food to them, because they are curious about the progress of the ship. We shall find the entire family together, and thus have no need of searching for the women,” Uris declared with pretended insight.

“Yes, that is a good tactic, Larsian. It should work well,” Ludani offered, with an inflection veiling his resentment that he had not thought of the move.

“I thank you, my lord prince. But I am aware I would be unable to accomplish such a tactic without being sustained by the anointing granted to you by our infinite god, Lucifin. It is Lucifin’s spirit within you that shall bring success to this mission, my lord prince. Without you with me, I could do nothing,” the Larsian said.

Habituated to the obsequious fawning of his court underlings, Prince Ludani took the administrator’s sly, toady remark at face value.

“Yes, that is so, Uris. I accompany you at the will of Lucifin, the only true god. Our god, Lucifin, inspired our mighty lord emperor to commission me to ride with you. At my request, our god, Lucifin, has endowed you with his wisdom for this mission,” Ludani boasted.

“I thank you for making such a request, in my behalf, my lord prince . . .”

The beat of horse’s hooves interrupted Uris. Shortly, a high-ranking officer of The Guardians of the Royal Throne hurriedly came before Prince Ludani. Placing a clenched fist in salute over his heart, he dropped to his knees and waited for permission to speak.

“Stand and speak,” Ludani smugly ordered, “What is it that you find so important that you dare disturb my talk with Prince Uris?”

“My great lord prince, an unknown horseman wearing a strange battle uniform and who rides a white stallion accosted me and my Guardians! When we tried to capture him to bring him before you, we could not touch him. Instead, all of us fell backward to the ground, my lord prince! When he permitted us to stand, the horseman ordered that I bring his message to you, my great prince,” the Guardian reported.

Moving in the direction from which the Guardian had come, Ludani asked with incredulity, “And where is this horseman. What is his message? I see no one by our Guardians and the militia of Prince Uris. Speak!”

With evident fear, the messenger replied, “My great lord prince, the horseman rode away. And his message is not one of anger.”

Ludani approached the officer and shouted, “I shall not harm you unless you do not immediately tell me the horseman’s message.”

“Yes, my lord prince. The horseman said to warn you not to destroy the ship or do harm to the builders. He said that the ship and the builders are under his protection. He also said that all who attempt harm to the builders or their families would face his wrath and die. They shall never return to their homes,” the officer reported, his face pale with the fear produced by his own words.

It was Ludani’s turn to pale. He had heard of this horseman from his father, but secretly considered it ludicrous that such a person really existed. Until now! He knew the officer could never invent such a tale, even if he dared do so. The Guardians of the Royal Throne were fighters, not inventers of strange tales.

Despite an increasing sense of impending catastrophe, he haltingly told the officer, “You may withdraw. Tell the commanders of the Guardians and the militia. To make ready for an immediate mission.”

“At once, my lord prince,” the officer replied, respectfully backing a way. He then turned and hurried to obey.

“Do you still intend to destroy the ship and capture the builders, my lord prince,” Uris inquired.

“Yes, Prince Uris, I do not fear a person simply because he rides a white horse,” Ludani said with a façade of bravado, “There are many such riders and many such horses. We shall now depart to destroy the ship.”

“Then, my lord Prince Ludani, I fear that indeed we shall never return to our homes,” Uris responded, in the haunting tone of someone approaching an executioner’s blade.

Continued in Part Five

© Joseph Perrello (Josprel)

Josprel@verizon.net

Article Source: http://www.articles.narrowisthepath.com

Josprel is an ordained evangelical minister whose stories and articles have appeared in print and on the Internet. Josprel currently is authoring two novels, "Beloved Apostate" and "Kanfal."

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