by Drew Wagar
‘Focus!’ she snapped. ‘I don’t care what happened with you and her, I need you here now. Understand? We’ve got to get out of here and we need you.’
Meru swallowed and nodded.
‘With us?’ Zoella demanded.
‘Yes, sorry …’
They reached the connecting tunnel that led to the next hall. All seemed quiet. Ira was running ahead now, but she turned away from the entrance.
‘Ira, where are you going? It’s this way …’ Zoella called after her. ‘We can’t afford to waste time …’
Ira had run alongside the tunnel, tracing the edge of the hall. The roof was higher here, leading into an alcove. Ira gestured, waving her hand for them to join her.
They moved across to Ira, who was pointing up. Zoella frowned and heard Meru gasp beside her.
Up on the wall was a map. Zoella remembered it. It was one of the images Ira had shown her when they’d been struggling to communicate, as Zoella recovered in the hidden maintenance room.
Meru walked up to it. It was filthy, covered in untold rounds of grime, but when he rubbed at the surface the dirt came away.
‘Wow …’
The map was incredibly detailed, with a wealth of information that didn’t immediately make sense. It wasn’t printed on paper, but some hardwearing material that felt like the smooth surface of a glazed pot.
The outline of the continents was clear, they could make out Drem at the top, Scallia in the middle, Drayden off to the left and Taloon lower down to the right. There was also the island of Amar to the right hand side, surrounded by the Straithian Sea. Most of the names were marked, with the exception of Amar.
‘It’s so detailed,’ Zoella said in wonder.
‘And look here,’ Meru said. He had rubbed away the dirt on the lower portion of the map. Below Taloon was another continent, marked as ‘Kerun’ and below that a further one called ‘Nadir’. There was a small piece of writing in the very centre of that section. All the letters were in the strange austere block shapes that their ancestors seemed to prefer.
Substellar Pole Facility.
Atmospheric Processors and Magnetic Field Booster.
Obelisk Inc.
‘Obelisk,’ Zoella whispered. ‘That must be where it is, but the rest of that …’
‘Sounds like something Caesar would say,’ Meru said, his interest growing. ‘He talked about magnetics and atmospheres and things. If only we could take this map with us, it would help us get there.’
‘Ira has memorised it,’ Zoella said. ‘I think she might be able to draw it for us.’
Ira nodded. Meru traced his fingers across it, seeing contours and all manner of symbols marked.
‘The maps in the machines are better,’ he said. ‘But this shows everything …’
‘We still need to go,’ Zoella said. ‘Come on.’
They found their way back to the tunnel, the children in tow. It was dark within, but it didn’t take them long to emerge from the other side. The next hall was dead and dusty, with no living plants within the troughs.
‘Long walk,’ Meru said, looking around for one of the panels. There was one adjacent to the entrance, but prodding at it failed to give a response.
‘Let’s keep moving.’
It was a long slog through the hall, with nothing but the endless rows of troughs with long dead, dried plants within. A chime or more had passed before they reached the other side. Everyone was tired and footsore. The thought of the same distance again was weighing heavily on them.
‘There must be a working panel here somewhere,’ Zoella said. She thought an image of the panel to Ira and the group split up to look for one. It wasn’t long before one of the children located one. Better still, after it had been wiped clean, it came to life.
‘I’ll ask for a transport,’ Meru said, jabbing at it.
They waited, gasping in the dry air. They were parched, but there was no water to be found. Everything was bone dry and dusty.
‘There’s some in the flying machine,’ Zoella replied to Ira’s thought. ‘We’ll have to wait until we get there.’
With a rumble, one of the vehicles approached. Meru had been able to summon a larger one with an additional trailer being towed behind it.
‘Well done,’ Zoella said, relieved. ‘That should make things easier!’
Ira directed the children to climb into the trailer, whilst she, Zoella and Meru climbed into the seats at the front. Meru began to program the destination.
Ira grabbed her shoulder. Zoella turned around. The children were banging on the sides of the trailer in alarm.
‘What? What is it?’
Ira sent images to her. Zoella gasped.
Men and women, running! Bows, sticks, swords!
It was only when Rihanna had left that Kiri was able to let her guard down. The emotions were already close to overwhelming, but once she was no longer required to keep up the pretence …
Sobs wracked her, hot tears scalded down her cheeks. She muffled the noise in the blankets, rocking back and forth. The rage and the grief crashed about her.
He left me!
Her hands were so clenched that her fingernails cut into her palm, drawing blood.
And I know why he had to make that choice.
She didn’t want to admit it, but it burned around in the back of her mind, swirling and angry. Meru’s face swam in her mind. Fresh tears dripped down her face.
I didn’t tell him the truth. Why didn’t I tell him everything? I lied! I pushed him away. It’s my fault!
Her mind buzzed back and forth, regret boiling into anger, twisting through rage and then back to regret at her choices once more.
We’re supposed to be together, I know it. It has to be!
She clenched her jaw, biting her teeth together with a snap. Her determination came back to her, the ruthless side of her that had been honed by long rounds of fighting every stretch for life.
I do want to be Empress, Zoella saw it. She was right. I should have told Meru!
Regret was still burning within her, but a renewed flame of determination and desire was growing too.
It’s my right, my destiny. With everything that he told me, this world needs someone to put it to rights. I need not care about Lacaille or the Element, nothing matters other than what we make matter! Nerina will fall. It should be me, I’m ready for this! And with him at my side …
The dream was a pleasant one.
And it will be, I will make it happen! I will get him back, I will get everything! Scorch Zoella, scorch Nerina, scorch Amar and Scallia and Taloon, Drem and Drayden. I will take what I can from the women of Amar, I will have Zoella’s gift and I will depose Nerina. I will have Meru by my side. I will have what is rightfully mine whatsoever the cost!
‘Meru, priestesses!’ Zoella called. ‘They’re coming with the guards here – they must be looking for us.’
‘I’m almost done,’ Meru said, pushing at the controls before him.
The children were pointing now. Zoella leant out of the side of the vehicle to see better.
There were people, running towards them.
‘They’re here!’ she shouted. ‘Meru, we’ve got to go now!’
As she spoke an arrow pinged off the flanks of the vehicle. Meru pressed the last few controls and the vehicle jolted forward and began to move towards the nearby tunnel.
‘Can’t we go any faster?’ Zoella asked, shouting above the drone of the vehicle’s engine.
‘I don’t think so,’ Meru said. ‘There’s no speed control.’
More arrows bounced around them with a sharp twanging sound.
Zoella motioned for the children to crouch down in the trailer. The vehicle turned into the tunnel and the door closed behind them.
‘Made it …’
Their reprieve was short lived. Even as they were driving away from it the tunnel door opened again and they could see people silhouetted in the doorway.
‘Stay down!’ Zoella cried as more arrows fl
ashed past them.
Moments later they arrived at the end of the tunnel and the doorways ahead of them opened into the final hall. They could hear yells behind them, and more arrows flew.
The vehicle was still crawling forward.
‘They’re going to catch us,’ Zoella said, ‘It’s not fast enough!’
Meru continued to jab at the controls and then found something.
‘Override!’ he yelled. ‘I think that means …’
The vehicle lurched to a halt. Meru grabbed the controls and pulled on them. The vehicle began to reverse.
‘Not that way!’ Zoella shouted. ‘Forwards!’
Meru pushed the controls in the opposite direction as far as they would go. The wheels churned in the dirt and the vehicle shot forward, jolting and banging over the terrain.
It was fast enough now. A couple of arrows flew past and then they stopped. After a few moments Zoella pulled on Meru’s arm.
‘We’ve lost them …’
‘They might be able to use these machines too, we need to keep moving.’
Meru slackened the speed a little, but he continued to look over his shoulder at intervals. There was no sign of pursuit.
‘That was a little close,’ Zoella breathed and then looked back at Ira, signing a question to her. Ira responded with a smile and a nod. Everyone was safe.
‘Let’s just hope they haven’t found the flying machine,’ Meru said.
His fears were unfounded. Everything was quiet at the far end of the hall. The flying machine was where they had left it, untouched. Both Meru and Zoella sighed with relief.
‘Let’s get aboard,’ Zoella said. ‘They will still be looking for us.’
Meru nodded and unlocked the doors.
‘Going to be cramped inside with all these passengers,’ he said. ‘Will slow us down too.’
‘We can dump some of the food,’ Zoella said. ‘We’re going back to Amar, we don’t need it.’
Both of them began unloading the machine, tossing the packaged supplies on the floor. The others joined in.
‘Quick as we can!’ Zoella called, herding them aboard.
Meru was right, it was cramped. Some of the children were crouched on the floor behind the main seats and all the remaining room inside was used by the others.
‘Just manage it,’ Zoella said. ‘Let’s get out of here.’
Meru jumped down and pressed the lift control buttons. The platform began rising, taking him and the flying machine with it. He ran back and jumped in, closing the door behind him.
‘Sandra, start launch procedure.’
‘Acknowledged, Meru.’
The platform continued to rise, overhead another platform slid out of the way, revealing clear blue sky. It jolted into place, the sand dunes rising above them.
‘Launch ready.’
Meru pulled on the controls and the flying machine ponderously lifted off the ground.
‘She’s heavy,’ Meru said, wrestling with the controls.
‘Maximum recommended carrying capacity has been exceeded,’ Sandra said.
The flying machine continued to rise, the dunes dropping down below them, allowing them a clear view of the horizon once more.
Zoella’s expression dropped in dismay.
‘Oh no.’
Meru was busy with controlling the machine, but he risked a glance out of the forward cockpit windows.
Above the distant city, flying shapes could be seen banking in the air and circling around.
The dachs of the priestesses.
Below them, the Taloon Armada was arrayed. Ships were set with full sail, already beginning to move up the coastline, heading shadeward in the stiff breeze.
‘It’s starting,’ Zoella whispered. ‘The invasion of Amar is starting!’
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Amaris, Capital of Amar
Round 2307, Sixth pass
On the island of Amar, preparations were still underway. Provisions and stockpiles of water and other supplies were coming into the city of Amaris from the outlying districts. Scouts had been posted around the high-cliffed edges of the island with instructions to report any sightings of ships or flying creatures. The scouts were supported by runners and riders, the fastest available, aiming to send messages of any sightings.
Janaid, Henoch and the other senators had devolved the strategy and tactics of the battle to Coran and Fitch and they had been working non-stop for stretches in their preparation. Mel and Ren continued to work on the flying machines and the archers as often as they could. The initial results were not promising, but everyone gained confidence with practice.
The threat of the incoming invasion had galvanised the entire population into action. Scores of messengers had been sent across the island with news, educating the people with the long repressed knowledge of the past.
The history stored in the vaults of the senate was piecemeal, but it corroborated Coran’s message. The records confirmed that the people of Amar had indeed come from the mainland, ejected from their home by an overwhelming hostile force. There had been an initial attempt to refer to their adversaries as the priestesses of Drayden, but the term ‘witch’ was taken up. It was simpler and far more pejorative, falling easily to the tongue and conjuring up images of ruthless evil, hell bent on their destruction. It was also how the records described them.
Many were scornful of the tales as they were told across the island, but Coran got Ren and his team to organise a fly past of the ancient flying machines and the few remaining dissenters were silenced when they encountered the awesome spectacle of their ancestors’ remarkable accomplishments.
Mel had also been working on the Mobilis. Amar had no military vessels at all, just a fleet of fishing boats that were neither fast nor armed. As the Mobilis was the only vessel capable of mounting an assault, she had been working with Fitch on how to make it more potent. Fitch had issued instructions to the blacksmiths to copy some of the contraptions he had put upon the ship. The end result was that the Mobilis now had three sets of the rocket launchers rather than one. Two were positioned on the forward hull, with the other aft. A long metal beam had been attached to the bow, ready to act as a ram.
Mel had come up with a plan.
‘No, absolutely not,’ Coran said, once she explained it.
‘We have to take the fight to them, you need this,’ Mel protested.
‘One ship against an armada?’ Coran replied. ‘That’s insane.’
‘I’m not planning on a suicide mission,’ Mel answered. ‘Just to slow them down and make them think twice.’
‘Taking the Mobilis into battle?’ Coran protested. ‘She’s no warship. She’s supposed to be a small freighter, that’s all.’
‘She fought off those pirates,’ Mel said. ‘Remember that?’
‘That was my idea,’ Coran said. ‘And you didn’t like it as I recall. This is different, a pitched battle …’
‘She’s by far the most able vessel on all the seas,’ Mel said. ‘You know it, I know it. Maybe there have been better ships, our ancestors must have had warships, but right here and right now, she’s the best there is. She’ll do you … she’ll do us all proud. You’ll see. She’s a good ship.’
‘But you’re talking about one ship against …’
‘I’ll assail the lead vessels with Fitch’s rockets,’ Mel said. ‘Yes, we’ll be first in the firing line, but we won’t engage with them at close range, just see if we can set some of them ablaze. We’ll retreat if they get too close and we won’t get into bow range.’
‘What about the dachs?’ Coran protested. ‘Remember how Meru described them, they’ll drop fire on you. You’ll be the only target! We won’t be able to help.’
‘I’ll keep her close to full throttle at all times and keep coming about – we’ll outrun any flames,’ Mel said. ‘The Mobilis is fast, hard to hit, even for a witch on a dach.’
‘But if fire hits the ship …’
‘Daf and Creg have been pr
actising drills for extinguishing fires,’ Mel said. ‘I’ve more than enough volunteers from the fishing fleet. Fitch has taught them how to use the rifles too, so that should discourage those witches if they take a fancy to us. If any do get too close, we’ll shoot them down. Coran, it will make them think twice, throw their fleet into disarray, give you more time …’
‘Has Fitch agreed to this?’
‘Yes,’ Mel answered. ‘He’s keen to give the witches a bloody nose after all this.’
‘And the witches’ powers?’ Coran said, saving his best argument to last. ‘What about them?’
Mel shrugged. ‘You know as well as I do we don’t have an answer for that. But the more targets we give them, the more spread out they are. I’m guessing they won’t be able to deal with everything.’
‘That’s a big guess.’
‘No risk, no reward.’ Mel smiled at him.
‘You’ve thought of everything,’ Coran said, sighing.
‘Yes, I have.’
‘Wish you hadn’t,’ he said. ‘Then I could find a way to stop you.’
Mel smiled. ‘We need every advantage we can get remember? Your words, not mine.’
‘Yeah, you chose a great time to start listening to me!’ Coran said. ‘All right. She’s your ship. Always has been really. But you’re the captain now.’
Mel shook her head. ‘I’ll be the captain for the duration of this fight, but I’m giving her back to you afterwards.’
‘I’ll hold you to that,’ he said. ‘Not even a dent, agreed?’
‘Not even a dent.’
Coran had walked up out of the city to see how the aerial defence preparations were going. Ren had organised the flying machines in a fallow field a couple of marks away in a natural sloping valley behind the cliffs.
Men, women and children were swarming around the various flying machines. Ren saw him coming and waved.
‘How are you doing?’ Coran asked.
‘Good, good,’ Ren said. ‘Folk, bows, arrows.’
‘And flying?’ Coran asked.
Ren showed him. The big equipment transport was open on both sides and now strung with ropes to allow the people within to brace themselves and shoot their weapons.