Faso walked over to join us. He looked up at Velos with an assessing glance, as if to check everything was in working order.
“Faso, you will look after them, won’t you?” Papo asked.
“With our new technology, I’m sure we won’t run into any problems at all,” Faso said. “We’ll go straight in there, my dragon automaton will unleash unsuspecting chaos on the factory, and we’ll be right back out in a jiffy. There’s absolutely nothing to be concerned about.”
I shook my head. Surely, the inventor didn’t believe it would be that easy. Mind, this was Faso we were talking about.
I gave my parents one last hug, and then I climbed the armour via the ladder on the side. I sat down in my place just behind Velos’ steering fin.
“Is everything in working order?” I called back to Lieutenant Talato.
“Affirmative, Maam,” she replied. “By the way, Faso told me to tell you he put the helmet in the crate underneath the seat should you need it.”
“Hopefully, I won’t have to use it for quite a while,” I said. I really wasn’t a fan of automatons. I didn’t like it when Faso had wrapped one around Velos in the form of the armour, and I certainly didn’t like the idea of wearing an automaton on my head. “Are you ready, Taka? You can sing the dragons into position. We’ll need fifty on the dragon carrier. Take no more, because they won’t have anywhere else to go.”
“Affirmative, Maam,” Taka said. I smiled. It sounded quite cute to have him imitating the way the other troops spoke.
“And how about you, Velos,” I said more quietly. “Are you ready?”
Velos crooned underneath my feet, sending a soft trill through the armour.
“Then we can get going. Gas masks on.” I secured my clip onto my nose, put the breathing-bit between my teeth, then I pulled back on Velos’ steering fin to launch him into the air. A green glow pulsed in the armour underneath as the tanks on either side pumped secicao into it.
This gave Velos an increased launch speed that pushed me back in the seat and sent a tremendous gust of wind over the troops, Faso, and my parents, causing them to stumble backwards in surprise. Not long after, we hit the clouds, which stung at my skin like acid rain.
“Woo hoo!” Taka screamed.
“It works, Maam,” Talato shouted from the back. “Now I know how to use the armour better, which should help if we ever get into a fix.”
“Lieutenant Gereve Talato,” a voice came from the speaker at Velos’ side. I looked down to see Faso speaking into a talkie below. “That was a waste of precious secicao resources. You’re to cut off the supply immediately. Do you hear?”
I laughed as I turned around to see Gereve silently mouthing Faso’s words out of her own mouth mockingly as the inventor spoke. “Ignore her, Lieutenant,” I said. “It’s good to know that it works.”
As the green glow subsided a little in the armour, Velos let out a loud roar into the sky. Soon enough, Taka sang a dragon song through his mask and a good four-dozen dragons also joined us in a three-layered V formation. The dragon automaton soon caught up with us, with Faso and Winda on board. Together, we sped towards the small flotilla that had already sailed ahead.
We met up with the Saye Explorer at the northernmost mouth of the Balmano River, before it opened up into the Costondi sea. The ageing frigate had recently had an extra command room installed at the top of it, that wrapped around the two massive funnels. The ship had with it a few thin cruisers, a heavily armed destroyer, and one of Gerhaun’s smaller dragon carriers with room enough for carrying fifty dragons. We had forty-eight greys, which together with Velos and the dragon automaton filled the capacity.
When I thought about it, I couldn’t believe how long it had been since we’d last taken the dragons on a sea journey. It had been over two years since our fleet had almost got destroyed by a superstorm on the way to East Cadigan Island, and then was virtually destroyed by King Cini’s forces during our retreat. We’d lost many dragons that day, and only the Saye Explorer had survived the onslaught. This time, we were taking a much smaller number of boats and dragons with us, and I hoped things would go a lot more smoothly.
A thick fog had settled at the Balmano northern estuary, bringing an unnatural chill to the Costondi sea. Also, the visibility was terrible. Although we could see the outline of the ships, we couldn’t quite see from our height who exactly was on deck.
We flew at the front of the dragon flock with Faso and Winda next to us on the dragon automaton. Yet, though they were only ten or so yards away, we found it hard to see even them.
The conditions are getting worse on these seas,” Faso said over the speaker system. “I still don’t agree with a lot of what Gerhaun wrote in Dragons and Ecology. But one thing’s for sure, cold weather like this is becoming more and more commonplace.”
I shook my head. I didn’t need to be reminded about it. Once, my father had owned quite a prosperous vineyard in our hometown of the Five Hamlets in Tow. But as I grew older, it became too cold to grow grapes there, which is why I started flying Velos on runs to the Southlands to harvest secicao for the king. But then Sukina Sako came to visit and informed me of how my efforts were actually harming the planet. On that day, everything changed.
I pushed down on Velos’ steering fin and took him closer towards the Saye Explorer. Taka could command the dragons into the hatches on the dragon carrier, but I thought we’d be better placed on the flagship.
“And where are we supposed to land?” Faso complained over the speaker system. “There’s only room enough for one dragon on the Explorer’s quarterdeck.”
“Can’t you make yourself useful on the dragon carrier?”
“Dragonheats, Pontopa. I need to make sure I also have a say in the decisions. Winda and I are the only ones on board who understand technology.”
I sighed. Faso could have tried being nice for once when asking for a favour. “I’ll send Velos over to the dragon carrier once we land.” And that caused a deep growl from Velos. Perhaps because of all the time he spent around Gerhaun, he seemed to be starting to understand our language more and more. And he hated being stuck in confined quarters.
“Good,” Faso said. “I’ll wait for you to complete the operation.”
I could now see General Sako and Admiral Sandao sitting at the trestle table waving us in. I landed Velos at our place on the quarterdeck, and I removed my harness, as Faso wheeled the dragon automaton overhead.
“Hurry up,” Faso said over the speaker system. “We shouldn’t be wasting fuel.”
I turned around and gave Lieutenant Talato and Taka a sly grin. I scurried down the armour’s ladder, and Lieutenant Talato came behind me, while Taka slid down Velos’ tail, landing with a thud against the iron deck.
I sang a dragonsong to instruct Velos to fly over to the dragon carrier. He turned to look at me, and although I couldn’t see the expression through his helmet, I felt his reluctance in my heart. So, I sent out a song with harsher notes to remind him to follow my instructions. Velos whacked his tail against the floor, causing the deck to rock and the teacups on the table to spill some liquid.
“Blunders and dragonheats!” General Sako stood up and turned around to see Velos lifting up into the air. I didn’t even bother to watch the dragon automaton land and instead went over to join the general and the admiral for tea.
During the early hours of the next morning, I woke up in a cold sweat. We’d been sailing for around half a day now, and I checked the luminous dial on my bedside clock on the metal compartment besides my cabin bunk. Unlike my bed in Fortress Gerhaun, the cabin beds on the Saye Explorer were as solid as planks of wood. Though, admittedly, the room was well heated.
“Wiggea,” I said out loud. Had I dreamed him? No, he was close. I could sense him. Flying somewhere nearby.
“What is it, my acolyte?” Finesia’s voice came again in my head. “Now, you’ve stopped blocking me out, I see no reasons why my minions shouldn’t be allowed to accompany you.”
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Wiggea, my former dragonelite guard and the last man I’d kissed had fallen into the volcano in East Cadigan Island. Admittedly, I’d heard his voice in my mind, when the black dragons had arisen from the erupting lava. But that had to have been a fabric of my imagination, surely. He couldn’t truly be alive.
Beneath me, I could feel the gentle rocking of the boat and other than the clock dials, I could only see darkness straight ahead.
“Why do you insist on trying to escape your fate?” Finesia continued. “Do you not understand that you’re the chosen one? Chosen by prophecy not to save the world but destroy it. And despite your efforts, you unwittingly sail closer and closer to your ultimate destiny. You might as well submit, because there’s no way you can stop the inevitable.”
As my sleepiness subsided a little, I realised that I didn’t have to listen to this. I could bang on the wall, wake up Gereve Talato sleeping in the room next to me, order her to give me a tablet of cyagora. But no, I could keep Finesia out, and besides I’d instructed Talato only to give me the cyagora when absolutely necessary.
I relaxed my mind and focused on ignoring Finesia’s nattering inside my head. After a while, I drifted back off to sleep.
The next morning, I woke up, realising I’d overslept my alarm. I cursed, since I had wanted to be getting up at a decent hour and setting an example to the rest of the men. I emerged out of my cabin into the foggy murk. Lieutenant Talato was standing outside the metal door, her hands against the railings and looking out to sea.
“Good morning, Maam,” she turned to me. “I hope you don’t mind, but I did keep checking on you. It seemed like you were having quite a fitful sleep.”
I nodded. “I didn’t sleep too well.”
Gereve turned back towards the sea. “We’re almost at Port Szutzko,” she said. “We sent some men ahead on dragonback to scout the city, and Mr Segora is approaching to meet us now.”
“Glad to hear it,” I said. It would be good to see old Candalmo again.
The lieutenant pointed out at a colossal form ghosting through the murk. A trawler, three-times the size of the Saye Explorer. “Say, is that him now?”
Indeed, it was Candalmo Segora’s ship. I’d sailed on it many times when I was a child, so I knew it well. Its funnels were lower than usual though, which probably meant it was already stacked full of cargo – a good thing.
From the distance, Candalmo’s boat sounded his foghorn. We responded in kind, and then Velos let out an immense roar from the dragon carrier. Every single Grey on board his ship joined in Velos’ chorus, sending out a sound so loud that it whisked up waves around the boats.
Not wanting to alarm Candalmo or any of his crew, I sang a dragonsong to calm the dragons. Once things were a little quieter, I turned to Talato.
“Come on, let’s get to the quarterdeck,” I said.
I bumped into Faso coming out of his cabin on the way, Winda followed sheepishly behind him, her hair mussed and her glasses askew.
“Faso, I need you to get the dragon automaton out of the way, so I can call Velos over and greet Candalmo on board.”
“Wonderful,” Faso said. “It looks like Segora’s ship is big enough for two dragons… Much better than this piece of junk.”
I put my hands on my hips. “Since when are you Candalmo’s friend?”
Faso scowled at me. “I have you know that I often met the good man sipping tea in your parents’ teashop and he expressed significant interest in the progress of the dragon automaton.”
I furrowed my eyebrows. “Faso, we’re on an important mission here, and I remind you we’re going over to secure the icebreakers, not to boast about your latest technologies.”
“Affirmative, Maam,” Faso gave an annoying half salute. “But I’m coming anyway.”
“Suit yourself, just don’t get in the way.”
And the inventor nodded to Winda and skipped ahead. Winda shook her head and looked down at the floor.
How she put up with the man, I had no idea.
Candalmo Segora was a tall, lithe man with a full beard and neat moustache, who I’d always thought looked more a city type than a sailor. He waved us in on deck as we approached.
Velos landed just behind him, and the dragon automaton touched down next to us. I scurried down the ladder quickly, and Talato followed in my wake. We’d left Taka behind on the Saye Explorer, since we realised we might need to ferry Candalmo across for negotiations. Candalmo didn’t believe in chairs and was already sitting on the floor by a low table that only came up to ankle height and had a cafetière of secicao laid out on it.
I looked down at the floor. The temperature had really dropped since we set sail, exacerbated by the fog that had followed us through the journey.
“Don’t worry, I put some coals underneath to heat it,” Candalmo said.
I nodded, placed myself down on the floor, and beckoned Lieutenant Talato to do the same. Faso and Winda soon joined us.
“Secicao?” Candalmo offered, and he lifted the cafetière over the delicate and tiny china cup in front of me.
I shook my head. “No, thanks. I’m abstaining.”
Candalmo scratched at his beard. “Nothing changed there then. Really, I don’t know how you can live without it. How about you, Mr Gordoni, and Ms Winda, is it? I believe this is the first time we’ve met.”
Winda nodded, her hands folded over her crossed legs. At the same time, Faso grinned.
“How could I refuse?” he said. “I’ve certainly missed this stuff. Not had a cup for months. And Winda will have some too, won’t you, darling?”
“Yes, please,” she said, but I couldn’t miss the expression of annoyance that momentarily washed over her face.
Candalmo poured out the secicao and then called down to one of his crew to bring up a pot of tea. I waited for the navy-suited sailor to emerge carrying a small dainty teapot, blue wispy dragons painted on the sides. From it, Candalmo poured into my cup a stream of light green, delicate tea. I raised the cup to my mouth, inhaling the fumes before taking a sip.
“Thank you, Candalmo,” I said. “Not just for the tea but coming out to meet us here such short notice. I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t offered to secure some icebreakers. We’re really not equipped for these kinds of operations.”
“Oh, think nothing of it,” Candalmo replied. “You know I’m always willing to help. Although I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to risk my neck and crew, before King Cini cottons on that I’m not always on his side.”
“You do what you do for the good of the people, right?”
Candalmo laughed. “I’m a merchant trader, meaning there’s always a little cash at the end of it. Money buys me happiness, or at least a home in the Towese countryside where I can hide away from the wrongdoings of our monarch.”
I smiled and took another sip from my teacup. Faso finished his cup and reached out for the cafetière and poured him and Winda another cup without even asking. Instinctively, I wanted to slap his hand out of the way and tell him he shouldn’t be drinking it. But then, how could I admonish Faso for taking advantage of this rare opportunity when General Sako smoked secicao every day?
“I’ve sent a couple of tugboats out to escort the icebreakers,” Candalmo said. “They should be bringing them back from Port Szutzko as we speak. But shortly after, I have a run to South Saye to acquire supplies for the king’s pharmacy. Hopefully, I’ll also be able to get you some good tea.”
That reminded me. South Saye was where Doctor Forsolano got the cyagora from. I considered asking him for some. Perhaps I wouldn’t use it, but Doctor Forsolano might need to prescribe it to other patients.
“Surely, you don’t want to become reliant,” Finesia said in my mind. “You need to keep the drug away, remember? You don’t want to become addicted.”
And even though I didn’t want to listen to Finesia, on this occasion I felt she was right.
“Captain Segora…” The same crew member who
had brought us the tea emerged at the top of the ladder to the quarterdeck, looking rather alarmed.
“Yes?” Candalmo turned to look at him.
“The tugboats have just returned from their mission,” he said.
Candalmo stood up quickly and walked towards him. “What? They weren’t meant to come back without the icebreakers.”
“It’s not their fault, Captain,” the man said. “King Cini has sent his forces in and Port Szutzko is under lockdown. They’re lucky they didn’t dock as no boats are now allowed to leave the harbour.”
“Dragonheats,” I said and stood up. “King Cini knows we’re there. Candalmo, I need to get back to the ship. Perhaps you’d like to accompany us?”
Candalmo nodded and headed towards Velos.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Finesia said in my mind. “I’m sure I’ll find a way to help you. The king’s soldiers cannot get in your way.”
But I wasn’t listening. Instead, I was rushing towards Velos, helping Candalmo up the ladder, mounting, checking everyone had strapped themselves in, and then pulling down on Velos’s steering fin to lift him up into the sky.
“It never goes smoothly,” General Sako said. “There are always complications.”
We were now on the upper bridge of the Saye Explorer, and General Sako sat at the head of a long oval meeting table. This was in the centre of the long room built around the two ship’s funnels. I sat on the side of the table facing the windows that looked east. The fog had lifted a little, and I could vaguely make out the cliffs of East Island in the distance.
“This is the way of the military,” Admiral Sandao replied. “Nothing is ever certain.”
“I know, I know,” General Sako said. “Lieutenant Candiorno, have you sent out the Hummingbirds?”
“Yes, sir,” the ruddy-faced lieutenant said sitting opposite me. “No word as of yet.”
“But I’ve already scouted the perimeter with my dragon automaton, General,” Faso said. “There’s no sign of boats anywhere outside the port.”
Dragonseers and Airships Page 67