Voidhawk

by Halstead, Jason

  “Uh-uh,” Dexter said with a smile. “I’ll have no slaves on my ship. She’s free as you and me. You’re laws say that can’t happen, but on my ship, my laws hold true. No such thing as slavery here. She’s free to do as she pleases, even free to leave service to the Voidhawk if she wants.”

  “You speak of blasphemy,” Aidan warned, though his tone was conversational and not damning. “I should arrest you or kill you for it.”

  Dexter shrugged. “Maybe. Point is, she was nothing to us a couple weeks back. Then the other day the ‘Hawk got caught in some wizard’s weather and damn near tipped us over. She went sliding off, heading for a long fall when Rosh there jumped to save her.”

  “He caught her and saved her, though damn near lost both their lives in the process,” Dexter told him, skipping the heroic details of the deed. “We was in rough weather and nearly down two deckhands. In my spot, what would you’ve done?”

  Aidan looked at him for a long moment, then decided to humor him. “Discipline them both, but mostly the big man for abandoning his post and risking the entire ship and crew for a single life.”

  Dexter smiled fiercely. “I thought about that,” he admitted. Aidan nodded approvingly.

  “Didn’t do it though,” Dexter said, turning to look down at the two of them. Rosh kicked a rock in frustration while Willa held a few pieces of broken wood in her good hand.

  “Why not?” Aidan asked.

  “Why’d you run back into the ruins to rescue your people from the Perryn when you first landed?” Dexter asked him.

  Aidan nodded in understanding.

  “And why’d you go back to get your sergeant when he crossed the barrier?”

  Aidan sighed. “Seems I make a poor leader.”

  “I don’t see it that way,” Dexter said. Then he chuckled. “Then again, maybe I’m a lousy Captain.”

  “Not to see and hear your crew,” Aidan said to him.

  “Thanks,” he said. “Your soldiers thought the same of you.”

  Aidan frowned. “What happened is a tragedy,” he said. “But it is one I understand. Life is cheap here, a few of us do our best to make it mean something and to help our men out.”

  “To advance high in an Azmarian Lord’s favor a man must put aside his kin and his feelings; he must sell his soul. And even then, it is as easy as misjudging tomorrow’s weather to fall out of favor with the Lord in question,” Aidan explained. He let out a deep breath and shook his head.

  “I understand what General Havamyr wanted now,” Aidan said and turned to share a haunted look with Dexter. “In unleashing this plague he will destroy his enemy. Once we are out of the way they will converge on their army, and once they are dead or destroyed, they will go toward Havamyr’s forces.”

  “Seems like he might not have thought this through,” Dexter said, spotting a rather obvious flaw. Every bitten person would turn and swell the ranks of the living zombies.

  Aidan shook his head. “They have been putting defensive works in for days now. I never understood why until now. Wizards, archers, and siege weapons will destroy these… things. Then, with no one left to defend against him, Havamyr will march in victorious.”

  “You’re talking like you’re not a part of that army,” Dexter pointed out.

  Aidan looked at him and smiled sadly. “With your airship broken, do you think any of us will survive this day?”

  “This day? Yes,” Dexter said resolutely. “I won’t be speaking for tomorrow right yet, but I’m feeling good about it.”

  “What plan do you have, Captain?” Aidan asked him.

  Dexter smiled. “The way I see it, there’s less of them things now then there will be after we leave.”

  “If we leave,” Aidan corrected.

  Dexter waved his correction away. “Better if we kill them all now to keep whatever this thing is from spreading.”

  “Just figuring on charging out there?”

  Dexter chuckled. “It gets tricky,” he admitted. “With the air devils above us, we don’t dare cast off until we’re ready.”

  “You’ve no plan yet?” Aidan asked him.

  Dexter stared into the dark ruins and shrugged. “Not yet,” he admitted.

  “Captain Silvercloud,” Aidan said, turning to face him. “I now know why you’re the perfect man for this sort of thing. You’re just crazy enough to try it!”

  Dexter chuckled and clapped Aidan on the back. “When this is all over, we could use another good man on the ‘Hawk,” he offered.

  Aidan stared at him, incredulous. He started laughing, softly at first, then louder and harder. Finally he shook his head and walked away with one hand to his stomach and the other wiping the tears from his eyes.

  * * * *

  “Seems a bad time for laughter,” Bekka said to the first mate.

  Jenna smiled and shrugged. “I can’t think of a better time for it,” she answered.

  When Bekka looked up at her Jenna explained herself. “I don’t have the Captain’s knack for it, so I won’t try. But, when I spoke to him and told him of the fate that may be awaiting us, he rebuffed me. He told me we weren’t done fighting yet. He said… well, he gave me back my hope.”

  “He turned you down?” Bekka asked with an understanding smile.

  “Not because he wasn’t interested,” Jenna quickly replied.

  “I should hope not,” the sorceress said. “A person would be a fool to pass up such an offer.”

  Jenna stared at the bald half-elf. “Thank you,” she mumbled, still surprised at the compliment.

  “He is special,” Bekka said, staring at Dexter’s back as he tossed some repaired lines up to Bailynn in the rigging for her to replace.

  “Yes, he is,” Jenna agreed.

  * * * *

  The night and the repairs wore on. Occasionally from below they heard some thrashing and the sound of something heavy thudding into the wall or barred door of the cargo hold, but mostly it was the noises that came from the living ghouls pressing against the invisible barrier from all sides. The main mast was repaired as best they could slightly past the midpoint of the night, and by the morning the other sails had been fixed as well.

  Bekka was exhausted, but Dexter had a special project for her. Remembering something Kragor told him once, he figured if it worked in the solar wind, it should work with a wind made of air as well. He sent her off to work with scraps of cloth, some rope, and a crazy notion.

  Xander practically stumbled around the deck, moving out of fear that if he stayed in one place too long he might pass out from sheer exhaustion. Jodyne plied him with strong teas to keep him awake and alert, but after a time they wore off and left him more drained than before.

  Dexter approached him and asked how much longer he could hold it up.

  “As long as I need to,” he replied.

  Dexter nodded, understanding. “A little longer, I think,” he told the wizard. While Dexter would normally never admit to it, he knew they were outside the realm of normality now. He had to bolster the man’s ego and give him a little bit more to push for.

  “Xander, we’d be in bad shape if it weren’t for you,” he admitted. He waved into the ruins without looking and said, “That’s a fate fit for no man, woman, nor child. Even an enemy deserves better. I won’t be saying it again, nor will I admit I done it this time… good job.”

  Xander smiled and nodded, his pride blossoming. Even though he knew his accomplishments and his worth, it still felt good to know that Dexter appreciated what he had done.

  * * * *

  With the sun brightening the eastern horizon, Dexter watched as a weary Bekka all but staggered across the deck towards him. “It’s done,” she said, stifling a yawn.

  Dexter nodded and glanced to the sky. He could feel a faint touch of breeze coming from the west, and expected it would pick up as the sun warmed the air more. “My thanks, Bekka, I hope to say later that you’ve saved us all.”

  “It would be nice to be saved,” she admitt
ed.

  Dexter laid his hand on her shoulder. “Head for the bridge. Just a little longer, I think. I’ll need to be here and we need Rosh’s strength to help us with the sails when we make our run.”

  Bekka nodded. Even though her head still ached from being forcibly separated from the helm, she knew it only made sense to have her at it. She smiled at Dexter in spite of the nausea she felt and turned to head for the bridge again.

  Dexter glanced to the east and then around the deck of the ship again. Aidan was helping to keep Xander awake and alert, walking with him and talking of whatever the wizard wanted, and sometimes things the wizard had no interest in. Occasionally they would look into the darkness and listen to the sounds of the shadowy figures moving beyond the circle of protection.

  Dexter nodded again, finalizing his decision, and moved to the side of the Voidhawk. He glanced over it and saw Rosh and Willa discussing something animatedly pertaining to the strut. There were a few additional ropes and pieces of wood attached to it, but nothing that showed any sign of helping it.

  “There’s nothing more to be done, come aboard,” Dexter called down to them.

  “We ain’t done yet,” Rosh snapped up at him angrily. Dexter stared at him, reminding himself of the short fuse they all had.

  “This ain’t advice,” Dexter said back to him. “Get your tails on or get left to deal with them.”

  Dexter pointed towards the circle beyond them. The sun was slipping over the edge of the horizon as he spoke, shining light into the ruins and illuminating the threat. Bodies shuffled back and forth, seeking an entry. They moved somewhat awkwardly, but remained coordinated enough to maintain balance and to be a threat. The drying blood upon many of them was testimony to their savagery. That, and the bloodshot and hateful look in their eyes.

  “Son of a-“

  “Rosh, he’s right, let’s go!” Willa said, losing her nerve quickly once she realized she had worked the entire night through less than 20 feet from the living ghouls.

  Rosh nodded and guided her to the side of the ship, then helped her loop the rope around one foot and steadied it while Dexter called Keshira over to help pull her up. Rosh clambered up the rope ladder quickly once she was safe, then they secured the remaining ropes and waited to hear Dexter’s plan.

  The Captain stared into the ruins, studying the former humans and perryns that now circled his ship like sharks. “Cap?” Rosh asked him after seeing Xander swaying on his feet with fatigue.

  “Xander, just a little longer,” Dexter said to his wizard. “When I tell you to, I want you to let them in.”

  “We’ll be gone first, right?” Rosh asked him.

  Dexter turned and grinned at the larger man.

  “Aw hell,” Rosh said. “Dex, we ain’t gotta die for these dirt-kissin’ fools. Let’s just get out of here and keep going!”

  “Captain,” Bekka said, stepping forward, having returned from the bridge white faced and troubled. “They won’t stop. Every one of them will come for us. Using fingers and teeth, they’ll claw at the hull until they tear through it, even if they wear their fingers to the bone.”

  He nodded. “Every last one of them, right?”

  She nodded. Dexter smiled. “Good. Rosh, Logan, Aidan, grab the last of that alchemist’s fire we got down below. Grab as much lamp oil as you can too.”

  Rosh stood, staring at Dexter a long minute. He opened his mouth but Dexter beat him to it, “Go, damn you, we got no time for wasting!”

  Rosh shut his mouth and ground his teeth. He nodded and headed towards the stairs below deck, catching up to the others at the cargo hold. In three trips, they had brought up enough oil that Dexter felt they were ready.

  “Over the side,” Dexter said. “Pour it all, save the alchemist’s fire,” he instructed. “We need a ring around the ship big enough to get them all. None of them can escape.”

  “Voidhawk’ll burn too,” Rosh pointed out darkly.

  “Not if it’s not here,” Dexter said.

  Rosh looked at him then nodded, finally understanding the plan. He picked up one of the kegs of lamp oil and headed towards the bow. Logan and Aidan followed suit, each heading to a different part of the ship. By the time they had emptied all of the casks, Xander was leaning against the railing of the ship, fighting the urge to fall asleep on his feet.

  Jenna, who was closest to the wizard, sighed. “Sorry about this,” she said to him, then moved with a speed he would not have been able to dodge had he been awake and expecting it; she slapped him hard across the face.

  Xander stumbled, falling to his hands and knees from the force and the surprise of her strike. He shook his head and looked up at her, rage showing on his face. “Why the...”

  The wizard trailed off, understanding why she had done it. He nodded, but continued to glare at her. Finally he stood up stiffly. His eyes narrowed when she had to stifle a chuckle at the red hand print forming on his cheek.

  “You gonna just let a girl slap you around like that?” Rosh asked as he walked by with an empty barrel. The deckhand tossed it overboard and smiled as it shattered into pieces.

  Xander scowled at him but said nothing, knowing he was being baited.

  “Enough,” Dexter snapped. “To your posts, Bekka I thought I told you I need you on the helm.”

  “I can’t,” she said. “I tried… I can’t connect with the ship yet.”

  “You… why not?” Dexter asked, stunned.

  “The dump, it messed me up. It’s going to take some time before I can merge with the ship again. I hope.”

  “You hope? What do you mean?”

  “I’ve heard of some people that could never helm a ship again after a bad dump,” she said with a forced calmness.

  Dexter’s eyes widened. He needed her on that helm! “Alright… um,” he turned to look at his other option, Rosh. Rosh was learning how to fly a ship, but he was no match for Bekka or himself. Dexter knew he had his own reasons to not be on the helm, he was the Captain and had to react to what was sure to be a difficult escape.

  “Cap, let Willa try it,” Rosh offered, his hand resting on the former slave girl’s shoulder.

  Willa looked up at him, her mouth opened and eyes wide. Dexter’s own expression was not so terribly different.

  “The way she’s been feeling the flow of the ship, it reminds me of how things feel when I’m in the helm,” Rosh explained. “I bet she’d pick it up right quick!”

  “Right quick?” Dexter repeated in amazement. “Right quick isn’t enough! We have to time it right so them things get burnt and we don’t! Then we gots to get away from those things in the sky before they cut us up again. We need more than right quick, especially with the rigging and sails not running full from the damage they already done.”

  “We ain’t got a choice!” Rosh protested. “Bekka can’t do it, you can’t do it, I can’t do it…you think I’m wanting to risk my neck on someone that ain’t never flown before?”

  Rosh squeezed Willa’s shoulder encouragingly. “I reckon you can do it. You’re special, and I’ll have words with anyone here that says different.”

  His last statement was accompanied with a challenging gaze at each person gathered on the deck in turn. Dexter shook his head, then glanced at Xander. The wizard looked like he was starting to glaze over again.

  “Oil’s gonna be soaked into the dirt soon,” Dexter said. “Willa, go sit your pretty behind on the helm and see what happens. You got one shot at it.”

  She looked on, wide eyed for a long moment until Dexter made a shooing motion with his hands to get her going. Bekka went over to her and grabbed her hand, leading her below to the helm and talking to her along the way, trying to offer her some hurried advice and suggestions on how to make the connection.

  After a long and tense couple of minutes on deck, Dexter cursed and unbuckled his sword belt. He tossed the sheathed weapon to Jenna and turned to head towards the bridge. “That’s one of the few weapons that will hurt those things,”
he said over his shoulder while pointing at the small dark cloud of wind spirits high above them.

  He paused at the top of the staircase and looked back at them. “Soon as you feel the ship under control, let them things come. Somebody yell when they’re all around us in the oil, then when we lift, throw the alchemist’s fire.”

  Dexter started down the stairs but was halted by Bekka coming up from the bottom. “Where’s Willa?” he asked.

  “She’s on the helm.”

  “And?”

  Bekka shook her head, wincing as she did so. “Never seen anything like it,” Bekka said. “I don’t know how she figured it out so quick, but you should have seen her face when she merged with the ship. Like a child with her first sweet.”

  “Think she can do it?” Dexter asked her, putting his own surprise behind him.

  Bekka shrugged. “She’ll die trying.”

  Dexter nodded. “So will the rest of us,” he said darkly, then turned and headed back up the stairs.

  The Voidhawk’s Captain caught the tossed sword and buckled it about his waist again. There were nervous smiles around them, save for Xander who was pinching his arm in an attempt to get one last burst of energy to keep him going. Dexter called for everyone to get ready, then told Xander to drop the spell.

  With a sigh of relief, Xander, blinked his eyes slowly. When he opened them, he opened his mouth to confirm that it was done but the sounds from around them did it for him. The infected carriers discovered the dropped barrier almost immediately, and rushed towards the ship. There were dozens of them, nearly all of the members of Aidan’s troop as well as many of the Perryns that contracted the magical plague.