by Henry Vogel
I sheathed my sword and gave a sweeping bow. The captain had trained his crew well, though. Their slack-jawed amazement at my theatrics broke and, belaying pins and boat hooks raised, they charged at me.
I could feel the Boost taking its toll—my system hadn’t fully recovered from the fight with the trogs. I had to get off the airship. I sprinted to the point along the stern railing where the rope had been tied and dove into the darkness!
Chapter 45
Night-blinded by the lanterns on deck, I saw nothing but darkness below me. I had no way to judge how far out I’d jumped. Was it too far? Not far enough? Had the Pauline moved?
With a muted thump, I landed on the Pauline’s envelope. Grabbing the first line I found, I squirmed and pulled until my body was underneath the line. Once I was secure from falling, I canceled Boost. I had Boosted for less than a minute, well under the safety limits. My muscles ached, but I didn’t black out. It looked like I could begin counting on Boost again, within reason.
“David, that is you up there, isn’t it?” called Princess Callan.
“Yes, it’s me, Highness,” I called back, “Please ask Nist to move the Pauline away from the other ship as fast as possible!”
I watched the Pauline turn away from the larger craft. When we were clear of it and I was sure I wasn’t suffering any after-effects of the Boost, I slid out from under the line and climbed toward the deck. A minute later, Callan and Raoul helped me onto the deck. Callan swept me into a tight hug.
“I knew you’d come for us, David!” she said.
“It is the man’s job, Callan,” Raoul said, a frown making him look like a petulant child.
“Raoul is correct, Highness,” I said. "And I expect my job to get a lot easier with you and His Highness safely aboard a friendly airship!”
“Quite right, my boy,” Tristan said. "It would be my honor to transport their Highnesses safely home!”
Smoothing his face into a smile, Raoul said, “A generous offer, good sir! I will gladly accept, provided you agree to return Princess Callan to Mordan, first. Her parents must be worried sick about her!”
“No, much as I want to go home, I can’t yet,” Callan said. Turning to Tristan, she continued, “I ask only that you return me to Beloren.”
“Highness,” I said, “why would you want to go back there?”
“Have you forgotten the trog army?” Callan asked. "They were but two days march from the Mordanian border. Our southern border was never heavily defended, as we rely on the desert to deter most invaders. With the navy mobilized to search for me, the border may be entirely undefended. Even now, the trogs could be attacking my people! I will not turn my back on them!”
Tristan asked, “I understand your concern, Highness, but why stop in Beloren?”
Callan responded, “I need to speak with Martin Bane!”
Chapter 46
“You need what?” Raoul asked.
“To speak with Martin Bane,” Callan repeated.
Raoul said, “But he kidnapped you!”
“I know,” Callan replied. "You may remember that I was there when Bane did it.”
“Yes, but- but—” Raoul sputtered.
“He kidnapped me,” Callan finished for Raoul. "Please stop repeating yourself. I have to look beyond the kidnapping, Raoul. The safety of my people outweighs everything Martin Bane has done!”
“What can Bane do for you, Highness?” I asked.
“If I’m going to defend Mordan’s southern border, I’ll need a fleet,” she replied. “Martin Bane can provide one.”
“I don’t know the man, so please pardon me for asking this, Highness,” Tristan said. "What makes you think this Martin Bane can procure a fleet?”
“He’s already done it,” she said. "When we were trapped in the trading post cellar—you were still unconscious David—Bane described how he had hired the other raiders, how he had molded that rabble into a fleet, and how he had devised the tactics to separate my ship from the rest. The man would not shut up about it! At the time, it was really quite irritating. Now...
“I need a fleet as soon as humanly possible. There simply isn’t time to look for other options,” she continued. "So, Martin Bane it is.”
“Will raiders be willing to fight trogs for you?” I asked.
“They’re a rather mercenary lot, as I understand it. If the pay is right, we should be able to hire a fleet,” she said.
“What of the Tartegian navy?” Raoul asked. "If this airship is as fast as we’ve been told, we could fly to the nearest base and I could lead a squadron of trained airmen against these trogs!”
“No, Raoul,” Callan said. "We cannot have the Tartegian navy in Mordan before the wedding. There’s been animosity between our countries for too long. The Mordanian people would not stand for it! Nor would the Tartegian people stand for it if the situations were reversed. It must be Martin Bane.”
“If your kidnapping is any indication, Bane will honor a contract to the letter,” I said. "No more and no less.”
Callan was surprised, “Are you saying my kidnapping was contracted? But who would do-?”
She was interrupted by the rasp of steel as Raoul drew his sword!
Chapter 47
I stepped between Raoul and Princess Callan, grabbing his sword arm with both hands. He may have the nickname Spare Prince, but Raoul had received the full martial training a prince would be expected to have. Raoul dropped backward, pulled me off my feet, planted a foot in my chest, and flipped me over him.
I’d had martial training, too! Tucking and rolling, I drew my sword as I came to my feet. But that left Raoul between me and the princess! Unable to risk allowing him to turn away from me, I attacked. Raoul parried and then pressed an attack. Behind Raoul, I saw Tristan pull Callan away from us. At least she was safe for the moment.
Nist caught my attention and signaled toward a point on the deck. Once he was sure I had seen his signal, he ran toward the boom with the net. Of course! If I could draw Raoul to the net, Nist could drop it on us. Steel rang as Raoul blocked all of my thrusts and slashes. Hate blazed up in his eyes and he attacked me with cold fury. I was sure no one who called him the Spare Prince had ever crossed blades with Raoul. There was nothing "spare" about the lethal warrior before me!
Callan was calling for us both to stop fighting. I was willing, but I doubted Raoul would go along with the idea. I fell back again, stepping beneath the net, and smiled as Raoul pressed after me.
“Now, Nist!” I yelled.
The net dropped on top of the two of us. Nist pulled another lever. Raoul and I were thrown off our feet as one edge of the net swept along the deck and under us. Ropes from the boom hoisted the net off the deck. Immediately, Raoul began sawing at the net with his sword.
“Push us over the railing, Nist!” I said.
Nist shoved the boom. Raoul froze as we swung over the railing. Fear replaced the hatred in his eyes as the net bobbed and swung, nothing but open space yawning beneath us.
“Tristan, will you take her Highness to her meeting with Martin Bane and safely home once the trogs are defeated?” I asked.
“You have my word,” he replied.
“Nist,” I said, “release the net.”
Chapter 48
“No! Don’t do it!” shouted Raoul.
Nist had never made a move. I had already seen how he and Tristan used the net to frighten potential criminals, so it was what I’d expected of him.
“You can pull them back over the deck, Nist,” Tristan ordered.
I added, “But don’t release us from the net until Raoul drops his sword.”
Nist looked to Tristan, who nodded. Raoul looked to Callan, who nodded, too.
“You will not be harmed,” she said. "You have my word.”
“Provided he doesn’t attack anyone,” I amended.
Callan rolled her eyes, “Rob taught you too well!”
The pain of Rob’s death lingered in Callan’s eyes, belying her
light tone. But the issue of Raoul required all of her attention now. I could almost see her push the pain aside.
Raoul slid his sword through the net and dropped it to the deck. Nist grabbed it before freeing the two of us from the net. Callan glared at Raoul.
“You drew your sword for no reason. You must have known it would provoke David’s reaction. Explain yourself!” she demanded.
“May I add a question of my own, Highness?” I asked.
At her nod, I said, “Why were you wining and dining with the captain of that cargo ship?”
“I...was...negotiating with him,” Raoul said. Seeing disbelief on my face, he continued, “I was! I offered him a reward if he returned us to Beloren. He’s a merchant, not a slaver. All I had to do was make it worth his while to take us back!”
“That sounds reasonable to me, David,” Callan said. She turned her glare on Raoul again, “Of course, he could have told me what he was doing!”
“It does sound reasonable,” I conceded. "But on deck, the captain called to his crew in your language, Highness, and he does not speak it. I think Raoul taught the captain that sentence during his negotiations.”
“I did no such thing!” protested Raoul.
“I think Raoul had escape plans of his own,” I said. “Plans which would make him appear to be dashing and heroic.”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” Raoul sneered.
“How better to throw off the mantel of Spare Prince than to pull off a daring rescue of your future queen? And that’s why he drew his sword,” I said. “He had to kill me before I revealed just how pathetic he really is!”
Raoul responded, “I drew my sword to protect Princess Callan from the real traitor among us! I drew it to protect her from you!”
Chapter 49
Raoul’s accusation hung in the air. Tristan, Nist, and, worst of all, Callan stared at me. Not one voice was raised in protest.
Sensing he might have an opening for attack, Raoul struck again, “It’s obvious that he’s working with Bane! Think about it, Callan. They both claim to be one of these Terran Scouts, whatever that means. They both have that Boost thing. Bane understood Rice’s weapon and used it to save Rice’s life when Bane had the upper hand! What kind of raider would risk losing such a powerful weapon merely to save an enemy?”
He looked at Callan, “Haven’t you wondered why Bane just walked away after you shot the tammar with the Onesie? He knew it couldn’t be fired again. Bane could have simply used the Boost to recapture you. He didn’t because his agent was in place! Rice and Bane have been manipulating events from the beginning!”
Raoul turned to me, “Who were you saving Callan from? Why, Bane and his men! It’s easy to be the hero when the villain is planning your every move to make you look good! Go ahead, Rice, try to deny it.”
I looked at the people around me. Nist was enthralled by the whole story, caught up in the excitement of heroism, villainy, and betrayal. Tristan looked thoughtful, as if considering Raoul’s accusations. Callan looked torn between the undeniable logic of Raoul’s charges and the emotional bond events had forged between us.
“Of course I deny it,” I said. "Though I must say you’ve given a masterful performance, Raoul—”
“Prince Raoul!” he said.
“Oh, shut up,” I retorted. "I have sworn no oaths to you and owe you no allegiance. And, after your action in all of this, I have no respect for you. I will no longer grant you any unearned honorifics!”
Ignoring Raoul’s sputtering, I continued, “Raoul’s words twist events to his benefit, Your Highness. But back on Terra, we have a saying. Actions speak louder than words. You’ve witnessed my actions and heard Raoul’s words. Your Highness, I have a simple question for you.”
Capturing Callan’s eyes with mine, I asked, “Who do you believe?”
Chapter 50
“You must believe me,” Raoul said. "I am a prince of Tarteg. My integrity cannot be questioned!”
“Sure it can,” I said. "And after I question your integrity, I’ll question your intelligence!”
“You insolent, common dog! I’ll—”
“Be silent!” Callan demanded.
It never occurred to me to disobey.
“Have any of you heard how Rob became captain of my guard?” Callan asked us.
“I... No,” I answered.
“Just before my fourth birthday, there was a conspiracy to kidnap me. Several renegade nobles wished to use me as leverage to force my father to support something or other. I was too young to understand the details and, even now, cannot imagine how they expected to succeed,” Callan said.
“Many among the palace guard were bribed, including the captain of the guard. Others cooperated because their families had been threatened. On the chosen night, no guards stood between the kidnappers and my room. Just past midnight, the door to my room burst open, frightening me terribly. I began to cry as my lone defender, a young guard recently assigned to my detail, leapt to defend me.
“That guard was Rob. He placed me into a nook in the room, one designed specifically for such a purpose, and drew his sword. Though there were five kidnappers, no more than two could attack Rob at one time.
As I huddled in the nook, crying, his voice rose over the ring of steel. He told me to stop my crying, that there was nothing to worry about. And then, out-numbered five to one, Rob began to tell me my favorite bedtime story. The familiar cadence of the story and his deep, reassuring voice calmed me as he spoke and his sword sang. One attacker fell. Then another. When the third man dropped, the other two ran.
“Rob sagged onto the floor, holding the worst of his wounds with one hand and cradling me on his lap with the other. Servants and other guards arrived, but he refused to leave my side until my parents were escorted into my room by their own guards. And he finished telling the story.”
“A month later, as part of my birthday celebration, Rob was named captain of my guard. My father had his best smiths work around the clock to forge a special sword in honor of Rob’s actions that night. As a special birthday treat, I was allowed to present him with the sword.
“In all the years he served me, I never saw him voluntarily part with that sword—until the day he died, when he gave his sword to David.
“That action spoke volumes. You ask who I trust, David?”
Callan raised her eyes, brimming with tears, to meet mine.
“Rob gave you his sword. How could I not trust you?”
Chapter 51
“Callan, you can’t be serious!” cried Raoul. "Some guard gives his sword to a man you barely know—”
“Rob dedicated his life to my service. He never married nor had children, because those kidnappers used threats against wives and children to suborn some of the guards,” Callan said. “He was a mentor, a shoulder to cry on, the one person I could count on to always be there for me. He was like a second father to me. Rob was not just some guard!”
“I guess that settles the question of Raoul’s intelligence,” I said. "Though I still want to question his integrity.”
Raoul started sputtering again as Callan said, “Have a care, David. Raoul is my future brother-in-law.”
“Perhaps,” I said, “but I’d like to know what else happened when he was in the captain’s cabin.”
“I have answered that question,” Raoul announced. "I negotiated for our release. Nothing else.”
“You didn’t teach the captain to say ’Our prize is getting away’ in the Mordanian language?”
“Why would I do such a thing?”
“I’ll answer that once you’ve answered my last question.”
“I taught the captain nothing!” Raoul replied. "Ship’s captains have been known to memorize foreign phrases for business purposes.”
“Yes, they have. It’s a common practice everywhere,” I said. "But why would he memorize a line in Mordanian to use when he was talking to his crew?”
“You’re asking me to ex
plain the actions of a common sailor? I have no idea why the captain would do such a thing,” Raoul said. "Callan, this indignity has gone on long enough!”
“Princess Callan, do you understand the language spoken by the captain?” I asked.
“No,” she said. “I never was very good at learning foreign languages.”
“Am I safe in assuming Raoul translated for you on the ship?” I asked.
Callan nodded, turning doubting eyes toward Raoul.
“There’s your reason, Raoul" I said. “That line was the perfect cue for your heroic entrance, but it only worked if its intended audience—the princess—could understand it.”
Raoul protested, his voice filled with indignation, but I barely heard him. The events of the last few days cascaded through my mind and everything clicked.
“It was you!” I said, interrupting Raoul. "Everything that’s happened over the last several days—from the raider plot to kidnap the princess to the escape from the slave market to the fight on the merchant airship’s deck. It was all staged to let you play the hero and rescue the princess!”
Without conscious thought, the tip of my sword flashed, pressing against Raoul’s neck.
I said, “You hired Martin Bane!”
Chapter 52
The silence stretched as all eyes regarded Raoul. Under the combined weight of those stares, Raoul broke.
“I did not hire the raiders,” he said.
“Look at me,” Callan commanded.
Raoul’s eyes rose to meet Callan’s.
“I believe you, Raoul,” she said. "But I also believe you know who did hire them.”
Raoul nodded fractionally, “I didn’t find out until it was too late to warn you. Your airship was already on its way to Tarteg.”