Karloth sat with his back against the first step. If Zill was still on the ship, she must be in the machine room by now, and as the door was still shut tight…
“She must have jumped ship, or she’s already dead,” he whispered.
Either way, there was little point staying there.
Standing, he shakily made his way up the stairs.
He was three from the top when he heard the door to the conduit room bang open. Someone pushed past him. She was halfway down the stairs before Karloth realised who it was.
“Crasindra, why are you still here?”
She ignored his question. Instead, she rattled the bar until it was free of the door and swung it open. Even from the top of the stairs, Karloth knew there was something going on inside the machine room – there was an odd light emanating from the now open door, a peculiar green light that was nothing natural. Crasindra took a step back, her hands raised; then, steadying herself, she stepped up for another look inside.
“No,” Karloth shouted. He all but fell down the steps in his rush to stop her. At the bottom, and with his aching head throbbing like a thumb stuck in a vice, he spun Crasindra around.
What he saw made him step back. “Gods, woman. Your face! What happened to you?”
Crasindra neck was a mass of puss. Her chin was all but gone, hidden under a thick layer of what looked like saliva. Her hair was falling out, and there were thick red lines in the whites of her eyes.
Karloth reached up to touch her cheek, then flinched, when Crasindra let out a loud screech.
“Don’t touch it!” she spat. “It’s the mist. I had to come through the mist.”
Karloth frowned. “You have passed through the mist before, my lady, but it has never done—”
“It’s different now, stronger.” She waved off the comment. “Never mind that. Help me into the machine, the tunnel is growing, it will open soon.”
Karloth was incredulous. He gaped at the woman. Had she gone mad? “After all this” he waved a hand at her face “you still want to go in there?”
“Of course I do. What do you think we have been doing these past weeks? This is what I’ve been waiting for. Now, hurry, help me into the machine.”
“I’ll do nothing of the sort,” Karloth growled. “I’m getting you out of here.”
He grabbed her arm. Crasindra cried out in pain, and Karloth was nearly sick when the top layer of her skin came away in his hand. Crasindra grabbed her arm and, bent over in pain, she leaned against the door frame. She was moaning like an injured cat, her shrill cries like a knife in Karloth’s ears. His headache, which had started as a thump, was now a storm of broken glass and splintered ice. He pushed a finger across his forehead, doing his best not to scream himself. When he could open his eyes, he reached out for Crasindra.
She flinched back. “No,” she cried. “Leave, if you won’t help me, but I’m going in.”
With that, she stood straight and turned to the door.
Karloth did not want to grab her again, not after the skin had come away from her arm, but he would if the woman would not see sense.
“Do I have to drag you away from there? That thing will kill you. Come away!”
She seemed not to hear. Instead, she took a tentative step into the machine room.
Cursing the woman for the fool she was, Karloth followed her in.
“Come now, please,” he begged. “Let me—argh.”
He felt the blade slide through his ribs. The stab was to the left of his breastbone. He had killed enough men to know the cold blade was in his heart, and if not his heart, one of the great veins – the spurting nature of the blood gave that much away. Looking down, he felt his lips curl away from his teeth. There was nothing he could do. If he pulled the knife out, he would only bleed to death all the sooner.
She has killed me, he told himself. The bitch has killed me.
Lady Zill gave him a contemptuous look, then turned back to the machine. Karloth, his back pressed against the wall, slid to his knees, then onto his side. It would not be long now – a minute, maybe two.
“Damned ship,” he whispered.
* * *
Elspeth followed Olivia into the corridor – or did they call them gangways? Chrissa was by her side, still chatting about how it felt to be lifted by the haba spell. Despite the smoke, and according to the rough outline of the ship Morn had drawn for them, Elspeth thought they were one deck above the kitchens. Here, the air was warm. Too warm for the close quarters to account for the heat. To her left, Elspeth could see an orange glow, which was obviously a fire, but without investigating further, she did not know which room it was coming from.
“…someone grabbing you by a rope attached to your breastbone,” Chrissa was saying. “A truly odd feeling. It did not hurt, but I knew, if I struggled I would not be able to break that connection. Do you think a witch could…?”
“Do I think a witch could what?” Elspeth asked.
“If you used that… hobo spell on another witch, do you think she could break the connection?”
“I have no idea,” Elspeth said. She was not really paying attention, too busy trying to remember where the passageway to the so-called conduit room was. She thought it was at the end of a short flight of stairs. They were heading in the right direction, she knew that much, but which deck were they on now, and did they have to go up or down to find the door?
“Think of the potential,” Chrissa was saying. “As a tool to aid in a fight, the possibilities are—”
“Yes, I’m sure they are,” Elspeth interrupted. “But can we turn our minds to finding the witches before we think about the next battle.”
“Oh, yes. Sorry.”
Chrissa shot her a shy smiled. She seemed hurt, which made Elspeth feel guilty for causing it. She told herself it was the smoke that had caused her rebuke and returned the bodyguard’s smile.
“I promise,” Elspeth said, “soon as we are free and clear, and the witches are safe, we can discuss how we might use the spell to protect the princess.”
She knew that was what had Chrissa excited. The woman took her duties extremely seriously, and what with all the strife, the Karakin, the dragons, and the riots which had recently trouble Bhail, Chrissa would grab a tight hold on any advantage.
Elspeth supposed she should be excited, too, for was she not also a bodyguard? The events of recent weeks had pushed that fact from her mind. Simply protecting the princess seemed only part and parcel of her other duties. And besides, was it not Olivia who had rescued her from Zill? Still, soon as this were done, she would have to give Chrissa some time, practice scenarios where they could both take advantage of her new spells.
And it would not hurt if you found your bodyguard’s armour, she added for herself. After all, was she not Chrissa’s partner as much as she was Olivia’s?
“I’m sure it is down this way,” Olivia said, pointing to her right, and yet another set of steps.
“If my ears aren’t lying,” Chrissa said, “I’d say there was fighting down there. Best we avoid it.”
“There’s fighting all over,” Olivia said. “We’ll have to face it sooner or later, or we may as well have stayed on the beach.”
“And do what Nini suggested?” Chrissa said.
Elspeth could hear the smile in her voice. She expected the princess to respond, but Olivia just huffed indignantly.
“Well, I think it is this way,” Elspeth said. “Remember the map? Morn said the conduit room was down the passageway from the kitchens, and I’m sure we are right above the kitchen. If we go left, I’m sure we will find the right door. Or at least another passage that isn’t crowded with fighting men.”
Olivia sighed. “I suppose so,” she said, turning to her left. “But if we go around in circles again, I’m heading for the fighting.”
No sooner had they reached the promised stairs, than they heard the sound of footsteps coming up the steps. With all the smoke, Elspeth could not see who it was, but there w
as a lot of them, maybe as many as ten.
“Quickly, hide in here,” Chrissa whispered, half-pulling, half-guiding Elspeth into a doorway. The door was locked, but there was enough of a shadow to conceal the three of them, Elspeth hoped.
The footsteps came closer. They were uneven, the step of men or women who were not sure where they were going. They were also light, barely audible. These were not the footsteps of Kel’mau, thank the gods. More like slippered maids or children.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” a small voice said.
Elspeth recognised it as a young girl’s voice, and was delighted when she heard Morn answer.
“I’m sure,” he said. “And if not, at least we are heading up.”
“Morn?” Elspeth said in a loud whisper. “That is you, isn’t it?”
The children flinched back, and there were more than a few gasps as Elspeth emerged from the shadowed doorway. Morn calmed them with a quiet word, then said, “Gods, am I glad to see you. I really did think we were lost.”
The little girl – the top of her head barely reached Morn’s elbow – hit him on the arm. “You said you were sure.”
Elspeth could not help but grin.
“I was sure we were heading the right way, Harmony, I did not say I knew where the hatch was.”
Harmony folder her arms and glared up at him.
“Seems you have found a friend,” Olivia said.
“A few, actually. There are nine of us, five from the kitchens and four more we found over in the crew quarters.”
“When you took us the wrong way,” Harmony added.
“Yes, when I took you the wrong way,” Morn agreed. “Now, do you mind staying quiet while I talk to the princess.”
Harmony’s eyes widened as she gawped up at Olivia, but Morn ignored the look. “Is the way clear,” he asked. “Some of the younger ones are starting to suffer with all this smoke. I need to get them out.”
Olivia nodded over her shoulder. “Go down that passage. There’s a hole in the hull. You’ll have to jump a pace, but once out, you should be able to climb down. If nothing else, you will have fresh air. Chrissa, go with him.”
“Me?” Chrissa said. “My place is at your side, Princess, I cannot leave you amidst battle. The king would have my head, and I would not blame him for wanting it.”
“There is no fighting here,” Olivia said, a little impatiently. “See to the children’s safety, then come back. I’m sure we won’t have gone far.”
The look on Chrissa's face said what she thought of that idea.
“I’ll go with the children,” Elspeth said. “Chrissa is right, she should stay with you. And besides, I can… you know? I can use my…” She wiggled her fingers, hoping the princess would understand what she meant. “If any of the children can’t leap the gap, I can… lift them.”
“Oh, yes. Good idea,” Olivia said. “You go, then. When you are done, you’ll likely find us down this passageway. Knowing our luck, I doubt we will have found our way around by the time you have done.”
Elspeth nodded, then gestured for Morn to follow.
At the hole in the hull, she helped see the children across the gap. The ship had tilted more to starboard, and even Morn had to do a running jump. Elspeth lifted a few of the children over. In truth, she could have thrown the smaller children, but no sooner had one been carried over with a haba spell, than all of them wanted a go. It was nice they were not scared of her Power, but Elspeth worried if she might not be tiring herself.
When the last child was safely across, Morn thanked her profusely for her help, and she turned to leave.
“What is it you were looking for?” Morn asked, just as she was about to disappear back into the bowels of the Tower Ship.
“The conduit room,” Elspeth said. “We still have to rescue the wi… the other women.”
Morn shrugged. “I’m sorry. I only know how to get there from the—”
“You were just there,” Harmony said. “That last stairway, the door to the conduit room was right in front of you, silly. You should have asked, I could have taken you to them. Are you going to save the witches? Say you will? My sister is in there? Say you will save them?”
Elspeth gave the little girl what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “I promise, I will do everything I can.”
Harmony nodded as if the deed were done. “Melody,” she said. “My sister’s name is Melody. You can’t miss her; she looks just like me… only taller… and her hair is longer… and she has dimples.”
Elspeth laughed. “If she is anything like you, I’m sure I will find her.”
Harmony looked like she wanted to cry, but hugged Morn’s leg instead. “She was like me, but not now. I can’t hear her anymore.”
Elspeth felt her throat tighten. Why did she have to open her big…? “I’m sorry, Harmony. I promise, I will do all I can to bring your sister to you. Now, you go with Morn.”
Morn nodded. “Back to Raff for us. Come on, you lot. Let’s go find our boat.”
“But we just jumped off a sinking ship,” Harmony said. “You want to get on another boat? And what about Livvy? We have to wait for her.”
“Livvy?” Elspeth said. “Who’s this Livvy?”
“One of the guards,” Harmony said. “She helped us through the kitchen. Morn likes her, don’t you Morn?”
“A guard?” Elspeth said.
“Long story,” Morn replied. “She’s gone back for her friend.”
Elspeth frowned. “She left you with all the children?”
“Yes, well, she told me which way to go, but I…”
“You got lost,” Harmony reminded him. “She’ll be angry. I bet she’s already out.”
“You should find her,” Elspeth said. “And before she runs into any of Juran’s men.”
“Oh, Livvy will be fine,” Harmony said. “She’s clever, not like this one.” She nodded up at Morn.
Laughing, Elspeth left Morn to it, hoping with all her heart she could keep her promise to the girl.
You’ll do your best, she told herself. Whatever happens, you will do your best.
With that thought in mind, she walked back the way they had come, to the last stairway, and the door they had passed.
CHAPTER 27
The Machine
The passage had all but filled with smoke when Olivia decided enough was enough.
“We are lost,” she told Anooni. “You are the only other person we have seen. We have to face facts; the conduit room is not down this way.”
They, her and Chrissa, had bumped into Anooni and Nini on their way down yet another flight of steps. The lieutenant thought they were on the same level as the rear crew quarters, and they should be able to find their way into the tower from there, but that had been two passageways and three more sets of stairs ago. Now, they were simply lost. In fact, Olivia was almost certain they were back where they had started. Worse, there was no sign of Elspeth.
“If we don’t get the witches out soon,” Olivia went on, “they are all going to burn.”
“Maybe we should try calling to them,” Anooni said. “We could use the Voice, tell them what has happened, try to force them to come to us, somehow. I mean, the gods alone know what those poor women must be thinking.”
“I doubt they are thinking much of anything,” Olivia said. “If they were, they would already be on their way out. But your right, we should try using the Voice. We can at least tell them to move.”
“You think they are just sitting there?” Chrissa said. “Won’t they see the fires?”
“Apparently not,” Olivia said. “Come on. Let’s go back to the upper decks. We’ll use the Voice from there.”
Nini sighed. “You could have done that from the safety of the beach.”
“Don’t start that again,” Olivia said.
Slowly, they made their way back to the first deck. Looking out the porthole, Olivia could see the beach through the smoke. They were toward the front of the ship, maybe
one more passage from the hole in the hull.
“This is far enough,” Olivia said. She turned to Anooni. “Can you do it? Do you think you can send them a viewing?”
“I didn’t mean me,” Anooni squeaked. “I meant you. You are stronger with the Voice than I am.”
“But I can’t send them a vision. These women have been sitting around with smoke ever rising all about them, and they still have not moved. I do not think telling them will be enough, you need to show them.”
Anooni pursed her lips, thinking. “Maybe we could do both. You put a Voice thought in their minds, and I will show them the fire. If they don’t leave after that, I don’t think it will matter much if we do find them.”
“All right, we will try that. But first, let us find somewhere that isn’t so full of smoke. I can hardly see in here, never mind breath.”
“We’ll head east along this passage,” Nini said. “If we are lucky, we will find the hole we came in through. You can do your calling from the beach.”
“That will take too long,” Olivia said. “Just find us someplace where we can sit quietly for a few minutes without choking.”
Nini ground his teeth, but nodded his ascent. He turned away from the porthole and started up yet another set of steps. Olivia followed, Anooni on her heel.
A few minutes later, they found an area of the passageway where one of the smaller portholes hand been smashed in. It was not perfect, but with most of the smoke flowing out of the hole, it was better than anything else they had found. Olivia sat on the floor under the broken portal and patted the space next to her. Anooni joined her on the floor.
“Should we join hands?” Anooni asked. “I’ve never tried Sending two messages to the same group of people before.”
The Ship of Tears_The Legend of the Nine_Part One Page 30