by Drew Wagar
The deck vibrated to the steady thrum of one of her engines. The other was incomplete, just the basic framework in place and a few of the major components.
So much more work to do. And this lad might be the ticket. No scholar would ship with us, but an apprentice …
The single working engine was not running much above an idle, but already a significant wake trailed the ship and spray flicked up from the bow. Turning his attention forward, Coran swung the helm slightly, angling the ship directly out away from the cliffs. There was nothing but the endless Straithian Sea ahead.
He turned, seeing Meru deep in conversation with Mel. They had pulled back a hatch on the rear deck below the aft mast. Coran could just see the whirling and moving components that formed the propulsive mechanism of the ship. They were a blur of motion from this vantage point, huge cylindrical workings that spun and whirred efficiently, accompanied by revolving and oscillating metal arms, weaving backwards and forwards in a smooth ballet of mechanical precision. Meru and Mel were pointing and gesturing at various bits and talking nineteen to the dozen. Coran could see Meru’s face was animated and vibrant.
‘A bright lad then,’ Coran said to himself. He leant out of the wheelhouse, whistled, beckoning with his arm. Meru came skipping forwards, bounding along quickly, clearly used to life aboard a ship. Mel followed close behind. Both of them clambered up into the wheelhouse.
‘How’s our new lad shaping up, Mel?’
The engineer gave a jaunty salute and snapped to attention with a mischievous grin on her face. ‘Knows his stuff, sir. Expect to be out of a job in a couple of stretches, sir. Might even get the second engine working, sir.’
‘Enough with the sirs, already!’ Coran said. Then his gaze fell back on Meru. ‘So, young Meru …’
Meru jumped to attention. Mel nudged him, gesturing with the salute she was holding and he belatedly saluted as well.
‘Captain.’
‘Power?’
‘Starboard accumulator good, Captain. We checked the connectors and they’re good and cool.’
Coran looked at Mel in surprise. She nodded and raised her eyebrows.
‘Revolutions?’
‘Adjusted. We even trimmed the ballast.’
Coran nodded. ‘Did you now? Excellent work, lad. What say we give this engine a proper workout?’
Meru’s eyes were like saucers. ‘You mean full power? Like you did before?’
‘I do indeed. Step lively, lad!’
Coran gestured to the controls and the regulator that would feed power from the accumulators into the engines driving the ship. It was currently set a mere quarter of the way forward.
‘That lever, push it forward.’
‘Me?’ Meru turned in astonishment.
‘Captain’s orders,’ Coran said, now finding it hard to suppress a smile. Meru stepped up to the controls and placed his hand on the regulator. He gripped the obvious safety release and unlocked it.
‘Now,’ Coran roared. ‘Full power!’
Meru gripped the regulator, pulled it back a notch and then thrust it fully forward to its final stop.
Above them a strange crackling sound erupted from the overhead sails. Meru felt a strange sensation, as if something was crawling across his skin. He looked across at Mel, alarmed to see her long blonde hair waving up around her.
‘What’s happening to your hair?’ Meru demanded pointing at her. ‘It’s … it’s floating!’
As Mel ran her hand across her hair to smooth it down, it crackled under her fingers. Above them flickers of light jumped across the sails, crackling from top to bottom and back again with sharp angry snaps.
The pulsing hum of the machinery deepened. The noise from the engine rose dramatically as the revolutions increased. The deck vibrated under their feet and the ship tilted as the bow rose, the whole vessel surging forwards. Within moments spray was flashing up at the bridge and the ship was flying through the water as fast as a herg could gallop, the wind whipping at their faces. The wake churned behind them, white and frothing as the vessel careened through the water at speed.
Meru clung on, his face pale.
‘How fast?’ he yelled above the wind roar. ‘And you want another engine?’
Coran laughed, shouting, ‘We need two, not so much for speed, but for reliability. I’m not about to go far to sea with only one. Having two will give me a measure of surety, these engines aren’t as solid as I would like. Leastways, not yet.’
To their portside the cliffs of the island were fast falling behind them. The sea was growing choppier as they left the protective embrace of the island and entered the sea beyond.
‘Time to pull her back,’ Coran called. ‘Half power, lad.’
‘Aye, aye, Captain.’ Meru returned and pulled the regulator, watching as an ingenious ratchet took up the slack in the throttle cable. The Mobilis slowed, the tremors in the deck easing and the ship dropping at the bow after its sprint.
As the ship slowed there was a sharp crack from above them. Blue flickering light flashed between the wires holding the sails in place, like a miniature bolt of lightning. Everyone ducked instinctively.
What followed was a shrieking screech of sound. Bright lights flickered from the open hatches. Meru clasped his hands over his ears. A spray of sparks was shooting up from the machinery in the rear hold.
‘Scorched!’ Coran cursed. ‘Mel!’
‘On it, Cap. It’s a short!’
The engineer was already moving towards the rear of the ship, a tool bag in hand. Oblivious of the noise she started working on the offending wires and connectors. Meru could see she had strapped on a leather headpiece around her ears and a pair of thick gloves on her hands. Clearly such events were not unusual on the Mobilis. The ship seemed ramshackle, untidy and unreliable.
‘Just the coils I expect,’ Coran said, as the noise began to subside. ‘This one has been a pain since the day we tried it. Keeps going pop. We’ve got a better one ready though. Mel will be bolting it on in the next few stretches.’
‘Coils?’ Meru didn’t understand.
Coran nodded at him.
Mel had almost finished her work and was spannering something, trying to ensure it was tight. As she finished, the stream of sparks halted. She stepped to her feet and began walking towards them. Flickers of light still flashed overhead.
She’d just reached the base of the wheelhouse and was about to climb the ladder when there was a much more alarming crunch of something big and heavy below decks. The ship shuddered and the steady tone of the engine faltered, accompanied by the squeal of metal pushed beyond its limits. Something broke and the unpleasant sound of flailing mechanical components filled the air. Coran turned and instantly shut off the regulator and the engine shuddered to an abrupt halt.
‘Cut the accumulators!’ Mel called, lurching up on the ladder and pointing at a lever next to the regulator. Meru pulled it down sharply. Overhead, the flashes of light grew more intense. Bolts of lightning crackled above them making a fierce snapping sound. Actinic light flashed all about them.
‘Circuit breakers, quick!’ Mel instructed, now pointing at a bank of heavy looking wooden handles. Meru pulled them all down in sequence and was rewarded by the overhead flashes abruptly stopping. The Mobilis slowed and lost way, drifting in the slow swirls of the sea.
Mel jumped down on to the deck and ran aft, Coran right behind her. Meru climbed down and joined Coran and Mel as they looked down into the rear hold. The smell of grease, oil and hot metal rose around them. It was clear something serious had gone wrong.
‘What’s happened?’ Meru demanded.
‘We’ve burnt out the coil most like,’ Mel shouted, jumping down into the hold deftly and looking about her. ‘Yep, I was right.’
‘Bad?’ Coran demanded from above.
‘Not going anywhere until we fixed it,’ Mel called back.
‘How do we fix it?’ Meru asked, looking out across the sea. ‘Is there a spare coil on the o
ther side?’
‘Right you are, young Meru,’ Mel replied. ‘Alas, no, there’s not. We’ll have to do our best.’
‘And how long is that going to take?’ Coran demanded.
Mel was looking up and down the engine bay. She let out a sigh.
‘Half a stretch I’d say,’ she said wearily.
Meru looked from one to the other in confusion. ‘But isn’t this your ship? How come it doesn’t work properly?’
Coran leant back with a faint lopsided smile and patted the deck rail. ‘Let’s just say she’s a work in progress.’
CHAPTER SIX
Serenia, Coastal town in Scallia
Round 2306, First Pass
Zoella wished she’d planned ahead. She could have secreted away a store of food, spare clothes and some tools if she’d had the presence of mind to do so. She should have anticipated this outcome, but her hopes had still rested on her guardian. If she went back now she’d never have the courage to try again, beside, Tarq would likely take her on the spot once he awoke from the sleeping. She shuddered.
It is what it is. So Zoella, what’s it to be?
Zoella climbed to her feet and tried to calm her heart as it hammered in her chest, her breathing sharp and rapid. She turned her back on the hall, the fields and the town, walking quickly to the edge of the forest.
She could not see far, the shades grew tall, their huge saucer like tops angling towards Lacaille, fighting each other for the best position, blotting out the sunlight for anything below. On the fringes there was plenty of green, but it quickly faded further in.
She paused.
No going back after this. I’ll be missed by the first chime and when they find I’m gone my life will be forfeit. If they catch me …
She had just made her up mind to venture into the forest when she saw Raga raise his head and peer into the gloom as if noticing something. His ears pricked up and swivelled atop his head.
‘What is it, Raga?’ she whispered.
Raga got to his feet, sniffing the air.
Zoella stood behind the carn and listened hard herself. For long moments she heard nothing, but then a faint crying sound reached her ears. It was unlike anything she had ever heard. She thought it might be a child, but it was the wrong pitch and tailed off into a rasp at the end which no human could have made.
Something from deep inside …
The noise sounded again, closer this time. It was an eerie sound, a keening yowl that set Zoella’s teeth on edge and caused Raga to flap his fans in agitation. Still she couldn’t see anything. Raga growled softly, sidestepping closer to her. She backed away from the forest wall, scanning it, trying to peer into its depths, but the thick vegetation was almost impenetrable.
Something cracked in front of her. She snapped her head towards the sound, still seeing nothing. Raga retreated behind her, whimpering softly. She could hear her own breathing loud in her ears.
What is it?
There was a crunch in the undergrowth ahead and then something dark and sleek leapt from the darkness of the forest. Zoella only caught a brief glimpse of a thin sinewy body coated in sleek dark fur and big padded feet with extended claws as it launched itself over her head and disappeared behind them. In a moment it was gone, the creature had leapt the stone wall into the next field in one bound. Zoella heard the trumpeting of startled hergs before it was quiet once again.
She let out her breath, looking at Raga in surprise. The old carn looked equally bewildered.
A fellin! At least I think it must have been. Those claws! I guess there must be a lot of strange creatures in there, but why did it choose this moment to flee the forest?
Zoella puffed out her cheeks and straightened, looking at the forest wall, trying to pull herself together. Raga growled softly again. A faint thumping noise reached her ears. Raga swung around in front of her, baring his sabre teeth and growling from the back of his throat.
‘Not again,’ she said, touching the soft hide of the beast.
Something else!
Raga vibrated his fans in agitation.
The thumping became more pronounced and Zoella crouched abruptly when she spied flags appearing between the shades. A group of riders astride hergs fairly exploded from between the tall trunks, galloping fast across the field.
Zoella instinctively flung herself flat in the green, crawling backwards to the edge of the forest, hoping not to be seen.
Guards. Already? They’re searching for me?
She raised her head a little, feeling the ground vibrate under her. A group of seven armed men had appeared a little below her, further down the field that bordered the forest. She caught a brief glimpse of sleek-flanked hergs with spit and froth trailing from their mouths, their fans bright red and fully extended as they charged at a terrifying rate across the field.
She ducked low for a moment before raising her head as the thump of their hooves faded away.
The men wore burnished metal helmets, dress armour and brightly coloured cloaks. Flags, emblazoned with flamboyant heraldry and insignia, were flowing out behind them, whipped into long streamers by the speed of their passing. They were arranged in a neat arrowhead shape, with one rider in the lead, with the others strung out, trailing on either side. The two riders on the outside flanks wore grey cloaks in contrast to the bright colours of the others. Spare hergs travelled behind.
Zoella gasped, recognising the heraldry. These were no ordinary town guards. Nobody in Scallia could have missed those symbols.
The King’s guard! Like Tarq said, but they’re early …
Zoella watched in astonishment as they rushed past below her. As they thundered away, the ground shook with the heavy hooves of the hergs thudding into the soft ground. Clots of soil and green were flung up behind them. They turned downhill, following the lie of the land.
So fast …
But they weren’t facing in her direction. In brief swift moments they had passed; not looking to the right or left and oblivious to a young woman crouched low in the safety of the forest fringe.
Zoella raised her head further, watching them continue onwards, their pace not slackening an iota. They were heading straight for Tarq’s hall.
She lost sight of them as they dropped into the creek she had been swimming in just a few spells before, but then they reappeared having gained the other side, their helmets and shields sparkling in Lacaille’s light, cloaks flowing out behind them. She saw them fan out into a phalanx, light glittering from something else, each guard surrounded by crackles of light, intermittently flashing back at her. Zoella squinted to see better. Then her breath caught in her throat.
Swords …
She could see more clearly now as the guards changed position. Many of them had swords held aloft. Faint cries reached her ears as they galloped across the grounds of the hall. Zoella could see a few people looking up in surprise as the guards approached; they turned abruptly and ran, dropping tools and implements. The guards did not slacken their pace.
Zoella gasped in horror as the riders closed with those fleeing …
…and rode them down. Swords glittered as they rose and fell. Zoella saw bodies tumbling and lying still. Faint splashes of red; screams and shouts.
The guards surrounded the hall, some riding around the flanks. Zoella could just make out the stagnant pond she’d fallen in earlier that stretch. Others rode straight into the hall itself. For a few brief moments nothing seemed to happen.
Then guards emerged from the hall dragging another man out between them. Even at this distance she could see it was Tarq. He was jerked roughly forward by two guards and flung at the feet of a third. Zoella saw him raise his hands in supplication; she imagined he was begging for his life.
Zoella could only see gestures, no words reached her. Tarq shaking his head, clasping his hands in front of him. The guard was also gesturing.
Tarq had a parchment or something similar in his hand. As she watched the guard grabbed it, inspected it briefly a
nd then threw it at Tarq. Tarq scrambled for it and then seemed to collapse in on himself, his head bowing in apparent despair.
The guard stepped forward. Tarq scrambled backwards, stumbling as he tried to rise. He was gesturing expansively around the grounds and then pointing to the top field.
The top field where he’d sent her just before …
It’s me. It’s me they want!
The guard was unimpressed. A sword flashed out. Zoella heard the scream from her hidden position. It gave her the chills, sweat cooling on her forehead. She ducked down in horror as the scream continued, long, shrill and keening.
It cut off abruptly. There was silence.
Trembling, Zoella raised her head. The guards had already moved, leaving something crumpled in the soft green of the hall’s grounds. Zoella recognised Tarq’s body, full length on the ground, a small round object lay a few feet away …
She had to bite down as bile rose in her throat.
Fresh screams drew her attention. The other guards had not been idle. Zoella could see smoke starting to rise from the lower rooms.
The pantry …
More faint cries reached her remote position. She saw small figures leaping from the doors and windows, falling on to the grass outside before picking themselves up and running across the grounds. A group of the guards intercepted them. Zoella couldn’t see how it was done, but all those fleeing were suddenly cut down, falling headlong into the grass and lying still.
Smoke was now billowing from the upper windows of the hall. As she watched Zoella saw the roof erupt and become an inferno. Huge flames licked up at the sky, spreading inexorably along the length of the hall. Faces appeared at the upstairs windows, backlit by scarlet flames, screams reached her ears. Even from here she could recognise some of them. Girls and a handful of boys she had only recently slept next to in the stuffy rooms at the top of the hall.
No!
Horrified, but unable to tear her eyes away from the slaughter, she watched as some tried to escape the burning hall by clambering down the walls. It was to no avail, as they emerged the guards cut them down. Zoella could see them using small bows at close range. So couldn’t see any escape the ring of guards.