by Perry Aylen
URGENT.FORCED TO GIVE UP SECRET OF WIZARD STRIKERS. SORRY. GRIM. MSG ENDS.
Chapter 41
The town hall on Orking Do was even grander than the one on Quayven. Jacob, summoned to a joint meeting of the island councils, was ushered into a vast room, with an immensely long table of dark polished wood, ranked on each side by ten imposing high-backed chairs with embroidered cushions. Already around the table were the mayors of the three districts, each accompanied by a clerk, seated at the table as their cantons sat around the great crevasse. Jacob had now met them all. Ben Thorn, mayor of Pelago, a slightly built, mild-mannered man, gave Jacob an apprehensive smile. Mayor Sleetfoot greeted him with an amiable nod, and went back to shuffling his papers. Kaya scowled down at the polished table top, seemingly oblivious of his arrival. Something had apparently upset her; Jacob only hoped it wasn’t him. Also at the table was Friedrich Cooper, spokesman for the Spinnyridge miners, tall and intense. Aulf had introduced him to Jacob when the tower building began on Spinnyridge.
Jacob wondered why he was here. The last he had heard, the miners were still at odds with the other islands and the strike still ongoing. They had provided iron and copper for the Spinnyridge tower, but were still refusing to supply it anywhere else.
The islanders, used to an easy supply of metal goods from Spinnyridge - where the huge gas furnaces were capable of turning out vast quantities of iron and copper - were starting to grumble. Local blacksmiths had picked up the trade, but they could not compete with the giant gas forges of Spinnyridge.
At the top of the table was an empty chair. Jacob had assumed that Kaya would be chairing the meeting, but Kaya was already in her seat at the side. Before he could speculate further, the big doors at the far end of the room opened and he realised in the same moment who was chairman, and why Kaya’s scowl was wrinkling the polish on the table. Gabriel breezed into the room, robes flowing, and took the empty chair.
‘I am very honoured to have been asked to chair this historical meeting,’ he began, smiling round at the gathered leaders of the districts. ‘It is the first time in living memory that the mayors of each of the cantons have met together around the same table, and we all very much hope it is a sign of things to come.’ He turned his penetrating gaze on Jacob. ‘Jacob, you have been invited here today so that the islands can extend their formal thanks to you for your help in respect of the signal towers. It seemed appropriate that Spinnyridge be allowed to send a representative to pass on thanks on their behalf, and so Friedrich Cooper is here today, in that capacity.’
Friedrich nodded an acknowledgement in Jacob’s direction.
‘Therefore, on behalf of Hexult, we thank you, Jacob, for your contribution to this new level of unity between our islands. Undoubtedly, the message towers have played an important part in this, although they have also brought their fair share of problems, an item we will be discussing in due course.’
Jacob opened his mouth to protest, but Gabriel forestalled him.
‘Although the towers are an important item on the agenda, there are a few other pressing matters to attend to before that. Firstly, we need to establish Mr Cooper’s position in this meeting. I understand, Mr Cooper, that you have brought a proposal with you.’
Friedrich nodded, and looked round the table. Jacob had to admire his confidence.
‘Firstly, I’d like to thank you for inviting me here today to represent Spinnyridge on such an important occasion.
‘As you know, we now have a wizard tower on Spinnyridge. My proposal is a simple one: that the people of Spinnyridge be allowed to run their own tower.’ A flicker of consternation passed over Mayor Potts’ face. Friedrich made no sign of having noticed. ‘In return for this act of trust, the miners of Spinny and Spinnyridge will return to work and recommence iron and copper production.’
Jacob looked at Friedrich with new interest. He knew little of the background to the Spinnyridge struggle, but Friedrich had explained some of the history when they met. The miners’ stand off on behalf of their cause had not worked, mainly because of the political strife between Thorland and the rest of Hexult. It seemed Friedrich was now using another, more subtle tactic. He had recognised the political potential of the new communication towers. Controlling the tower would give the people of Spinnyridge a foot up the ladder of independence.
Interesting as Friedrich’s proposal had been, the lengthy wrangling that followed soon lost Jacob’s attention. It went on for so long, he began to wonder why he had been invited to the meeting at all. Although he tried to remain interested, his mind eventually began to wander onto other things, and he had to stifle several yawns. It was the mention of his own name that finally snapped his attention back to the present. Kaya was speaking.
‘Since Jacob came up with the brilliant idea of the wizard towers in the first place,’ she was saying, ‘he might have some suggestions as to how to overcome these problems.’
‘Problems?’ Jacob looked at her blankly, realising the meeting had moved on and he had no idea what was currently under discussion.
‘Gabriel was just pointing out that the new communication system means more trade between the islands,’ explained Kaya. ‘As a result, there’s a lot more traffic on the ice, and this is causing problems.’
‘How?’
‘As I just explained,’ Gabriel reiterated with deliberate patience, ‘the extra trade means the barges are working non-stop. In the meantime, the raiders are thriving because the barges are such easy targets.’
‘On the up side,’ pointed out Kaya, ‘raider attacks have been less violent. Almost business-like, in fact.’
‘But the barge crews are nervous,’ said Ben Thorn. ‘They were always wary of sailing the open ice because of the Vajra, but now they don’t want to venture out because the chances of being raided are so high. If we’re not careful, we will find ourselves in a worse position than before, with traders too scared to do business with the other islands.’ He looked hopefully at Jacob. ‘The wizard towers have been an amazing asset to our islands, and your wonderful wizard strikers have made such a difference to our lives. Do you know any magic to help us with this new dilemma?’
Before Jacob had time to frame a suitable response to Ben’s plea, Gabriel interjected.
‘Bear in mind, Mayor Thorn, that we now know that the wizard strikers don’t actually involve real magic, after all.’ He exchanged a knowing glance with Friedrich, whose expression remained unaltered. ‘The Spinnyridge miners may be on strike, but there is a secret project they have been working on. Once production gets established there, wizard strikers will be as common as door latches. And just as magical!’
There was an awkward silence around the table. Jacob felt the blood rise hot in his cheeks. He opened his mouth to respond, but Friedrich got there first.
‘I’m afraid you might be premature there, chairman.’ His eyes flicked to Jacob, and his head inclined, almost imperceptibly, in a gesture of respect that took Jacob by surprise. ‘It seems there might be some magic involved, after all. Despite their best efforts, the ironworkers on Spinnyridge haven’t yet been able to produce a striker that works.’
Gabriel’s sharp eyes hardened, like frozen stones. Kaya lifted her gaze from the table top, her expression perceptibly brightened by Friedrich’s announcement. It was evidently news to them all.
‘Obviously,’ said Jacob coldly, his green eyes flashing dangerously at Gabriel, ‘they don’t have Elya’s magic.’ His pent up anger pushed him on. ‘Or maybe, if people had treated Elya better in the first place - or not beaten up an innocent blacksmith to steal the secret - they might have had more success.’
‘Beaten up an innocent blacksmith?’ repeated Friedrich, frowning. He looked at Gabriel for an explanation.
‘As your sister appears to have vanished from these islands, we are hardly able to consult the wisdom of her opinion, are we?’ returned Gabriel, his tone scathing. He returned Friedrich’s stare. ‘And I know nothing about any blacksmith.’ He
turned his attention back to the four mayors around the table, dismissing Jacob as though he had never spoken.
‘Returning to the problem in hand. There is a suggestion that goods be dropped off centrally at Orking Do and redistributed from there.’
Jacob’s mind was racing. When he had heard from Jeremiah that the secret of the steel making process had been stolen, he had imagined that the market would soon be flooded with steel products of all descriptions. The Spinnyridge smiths were skilled men. Why weren’t they able to make working strikers at the iron works? With their huge gas fired furnaces, they should have been able to turn out hundreds of strikers a day. Elya would have known the answer, he was sure. In the meantime, he could celebrate this unforeseen stroke of luck. He dragged his mind back to the conversation around him.
‘The organisation that would entail would be phenomenal,’ Kaya was saying. ‘And I don’t see how it would reduce traffic in the long run.’
‘What about an ice fair?’
Jacob wasn’t supposed to interrupt, but no one reprimanded him. All eyes spun in his direction. There was a moment’s hush in the room as they took in what he had said.
‘An ice fair,’ mused Kaya, considering. ‘You mean, like a market out on the ice?’
Jacob nodded. ‘Why not? Lots of stalls, no shortage of space. Everyone could trade there.’ It was an idea that had been in the back of Jacob’s mind, half formed, for a while now, and as he elaborated, he got more enthusiastic. ‘The traders could travel in convoy, as they would all be heading to the same place at the same time. That would make it much safer for them. All the different islands could get together and do something enjoyable.’
He could see heads nodding around the table as they all considered the idea and found it appealing.
‘A wonderful idea,’ said Mayor Sleetfoot. ‘After so many years of mistrust and suspicion, it would be a perfect opportunity to let the people of Hexult feel united again. But would they be safe out on the open ice?’
‘We have sheriff’s departments on each of our islands, don’t we?’ pointed out Kaya. ‘We could each send a law enforcement contingent. It may be we could even see our way to setting up a joint security arrangement, if it was to be a regular affair.’
‘A regular affair?’ said Ben Thorn, looking excited at the prospect. ‘How often would we hold it?’
‘What’s to stop us from holding it, say, once a month?’ Kaya looked around the table to gauge response, and there were affirmative nods and murmurs all round. Jacob could sense the excitement growing as the reality of an ice fair began to form in their minds.
Friedrich leant forward eagerly and asked the others, ‘Where would be the best place to hold it?’
Gabriel, who had remained noticeably silent during the whole ice fair discussion, now spoke. ‘Before you get too carried away with details, I think there’s something you’ve forgotten.’
They all looked at him.
‘The Horde,’ he reminded them. ‘What an invitation! The whole of Hexult conveniently gathered together in a single place, with all the goods anyone could ever usefully require, all ready to be gathered up in one fell swoop. Would you refuse an invitation like that?’
The excitement evaporated in an instant. The very mention of the Horde had sent shards of dread hurtling around the room. Gabriel knew how to make an effect. Ben Thorn looked positively aghast at the possibility of a Horde strike; Mayor Sleetfoot was deeply troubled, and Friedrich’s long thin face had turned a pale shade of grey. There was a silence while they all turned over Gabriel’s words in their heads.
Kaya, however, was not ready to give up so easily. ‘We shouldn’t let a few worries deter us from such a good idea.’
Gabriel fixed her with his iron stare. ‘Put yourself in the place of the Horde, Mayor Potts.’
Jacob saw the faces in the room fall as Gabriel spoke. He fixed Gabriel with a resentful glare. It was going to be a hot day on the ice before he let Gabriel kill his idea stone dead.
‘The problem is surprise,’ he burst out, more loudly than he’s intended.
‘Did you wish to address the chair?’ Gabriel challenged him, with an acerbic smile, and Jacob felt his face flush red again. Gabriel looked round the table. ‘Our guest wishes to voice an opinion.’ He nodded graciously at Jacob. ‘You have permission to speak, boy.’
Jacob, trying not to sound as flustered as he felt, repeated, ‘The problem is surprise.’
‘The problem is, they kill people,’ Gabriel corrected him, deliberately unhelpful.
‘Does the Horde always come up the sides of the crevasse?’ asked Jacob, ignoring the interruption.
‘No one but you has ever come across the Ice Plain,’ Kaya told him.
Jacob opened his mouth to continue, but before he could say what he had been thinking, Friedrich got there first.
‘The wizard towers!’ exclaimed Friedrich. Jacob flashed him an approving look. Friedrich’s mind was as sharp as his bony face.
‘Exactly!’ Jacob nodded. ‘We can post lookouts. They can give us plenty of warning; flash a message across if they see anything suspicious. More warning than you’ve ever had before.’
‘We tried light beacons before,’ Gabriel reminded everyone. ‘People were too scared about giving away their positions to light them.’
‘But the light from the towers is not visible from the ice, remember?’ argued Jacob in return, unable to keep the small note of triumph out of his voice.
Kaya stepped in swiftly to back him up.
‘Excellent! That makes perfect sense to me. A positive way forward. I propose we vote on progressing the idea of a joint ice fair. Who’s with me?’
The mood swung again. After that, the meeting talked of nothing else but details of the proposed fair, and it was agreed to site it at the Dragon’s Teeth on the understanding that Jacob would build a wizards’ tower there to receive communications and, if necessary, warnings, directly from Zanzo. Eventually, even Gabriel seemed to warm to the idea. When the meeting ended, the mayors were all eager to return home to spread the news and start planning their own contributions to the fair.
Chapter 42
‘It’s not Tomas and Noah on duty,’ Aulf said, as the Aurora sailed into Quayven harbour, and he looked up to see who was on harbour gate duty. ‘Looks like I’ll have to go and find them.’
‘I can deal with the mail,’ volunteered Ingar, once they had berthed. Aulf had already hefted the crate of wizard strikers onto the deck.
‘Thanks. That’ll be a help. Keep an eye on the boat, will you?’
She grinned. ‘Of course. Say hello to Noah and Tomas from me.’
She watched him disappear along the quayside, carrying the heavy box. Tomas and Noah were enjoying their new found roles as wizard striker salesmen, and particularly pleased with the extra income it provided. Ingar brought up the mail bag and set off the short distance along the quay towards the harbour marshal’s office.
Quayven harbour was never as busy as Orking Do, and there were only a few barges and other boats berthed along the dockside, but there was still a pleasing sense of bustle. A couple of workers called out a friendly good morning to Ingar as she made her way past.
The harbour marshal wasn’t in his office when she arrived, but his new deputy was, a young man called Herman. He took the mail sack from Ingar willingly enough, but then confessed he had never dealt with the mail before, and wondered if Ingar might spare a few moments to show him what he needed to do. He was an affable young man, with a comical, lopsided smile, and Ingar liked him straight away.
‘Delivering the mail, you must see all the other islands,’ he ventured, with undisguised eagerness and she nodded. ‘I’d like to see the whole of Hexult,’ he went on, lifting the mail sack onto the table and opening it. ‘I’ve only ever been as far as Pelago Town, once. What’s Orking Do like?’
Ingar, normally reserved with strangers, found Herman surprisingly easy to talk to, and they chatted effortlessly for som
e time before Herman said, ‘Why don’t you stay for a cup of tea and tell me more about yourself?’
Ingar hesitated, surprised by how tempted she was by the offer, but shook her head. ‘No, I really should get back to the boat. I promised Aulf I’d keep an eye on it.’ Reluctantly, she took her leave, Herman coming out of the building to watch her go. She waved to him as she headed back down the quayside, feeling inexplicably light-headed and happy, humming a tune to herself as she went.
So absorbed was she with her own pleasant thoughts that she didn’t at first notice the man standing on the deck of the Aurora, until she was quite close. She drew up short, all her senses suddenly alert. Even under his capacious fur hat and thick rolls of woollen scarf, Ingar recognised the man. His name was Rolf and he was one of Ivor’s cronies, leaning casually against the wall by the door to the cabin, and looking up and down the quay.
He had to be on lookout, decided Ingar, thinking fast, and he hadn’t noticed her approach yet, although he was likely to do so at any moment.
Without wasting any more time, Ingar slipped swiftly over the edge of the jetty, and keeping out of sight, darted along the slippery ice with her usual sure-footed speed, until she was close beneath the hulls of the Aurora. Rolf was facing the quayside, watching for any approach from the road. He wasn’t looking aft. Ingar sprang lightly over the rail at the back of the boat, and pressed herself to the cabin wall, listening intently.
There were men’s voices, muffled but unmistakable inside the cabin, but she couldn’t make out what they were saying. Silently, she drew her knife from its sheath and, keeping close to the wall, slid her body around the side of the cabin until she was crouched by the front corner, only an arm’s length from where Rolf stood watching.
The cabin door was ajar. She could now make out the conversation from within. Two voices. She recognised them both. Ivor and Thorold. Trouble for sure.
‘There’re some of those wizard hands here in a box too,’ said Thorold’s voice, and Ingar heard some scraping and bumping, and the sound of a locker banging shut. ‘Shall we take those as well as the wizard strikers?’