Spirit of Empire 4: Sky Knights

by Lawrence White

  Turmae’s chin retracted in thought. “I don’t understand your question. I am what I am. I will fight the demons until I can no longer fight.”

  Jaffey’s gaze moved to Atiana. “She’s counting on you to be around for a long time. I can help with that if you’ll let me. As a leader, you know that a little time spent now, if it makes you a better fighter, is the wise thing to do. You know how she would rule in this matter.”

  “You would touch me?”

  “Close your eyes, Captain.”

  Turmae was uncertain, so Jaffey stepped back to give him more room. When Turmae’s eyes closed, he said, “When I speak, I sound just like everyone else. Had you not seen me, you would never know I am different than you. In life, my body is different than yours, but our minds work alike. I would be your friend, Captain Turmae, and I would be the queen’s friend, but if necessary I will find you another healer who is more acceptable to you. Either way, we are going to look at your wounds before you leave this room. You may open your eyes now.”

  Turmae opened his eyes and looked with amazement at the creature before him. “I hear you,” he said. He put his sword back into its scabbard, took a deep breath, and stepped forward to Jaffey. When he held out a hand, Jaffey carefully took the hand in his own, then slid up the hand to grasp Turmae’s wrist. The two shook.

  Captain M’Kind scurried forward and lifted the front half of his body up toward Turmae with a hand outstretched. Turmae shook it, then turned as Havlock motioned two more aliens to come into the room.

  Turmae stared at the two new arrivals, a tall, thin man with four arms, and a giant human, then said, “I am Sir Turmae.”

  The man with four arms spoke. “I am Sergeant Guarl. I will be your weapons instructor. It sounds like there might be a slight delay in your training.”

  Turmae nodded and looked up at the giant. “And you, sir?”

  “I am Lieutenant Bossro. I am of the N’Ninwa race.”

  “And your purpose here?”

  The giant grinned. “I’m in charge of supplies. We brought a lot of extra food and weapons with us. You definitely want to get to know me.”

  “I do, sir. So will the Queen.”

  He turned back to Jaffey. “Let’s get on with it so I can start my training.”

  * * * * *

  Getting on with it would, in time, require a full week in the tank for Turmae. His body had been abused for years as a knight, and he was now paying a dear price for what he had demanded of it. Arthritis and damage to almost all of his joints would take the longest to heal.

  The relatively minor issues of local wounds were treated, but he refused to start the part of his treatment that required the tank until his queen was off the ship and back with her people.

  * * * * *

  Atiana woke up a few hours after coming out of the tank. Her eyes opened and she stared up at a white ceiling. She stretched both arms up and twisted them as a smile found its way to her face. She lowered her arms and closed her eyes again, reveling in the luxurious bed and lack of pain.

  Turmae, sitting beside her bed, stayed silent, enjoying her obvious pleasure. It had been a long, long time since he had seen her so at peace. She eventually turned her head toward him. She smiled and reached an arm out.

  “Of course you would be here,” she said softly.

  “You look especially peaceful today,” he said. “Are your wounds healed?”

  “I don’t know. I don’t want to know yet. I just want to enjoy.”

  “Then close your eyes and rest. There are no crises that require your assistance at the moment.”

  “You’re certain?”

  “I am. I have been in regular contact with my men.”

  “Mmm.” She closed her eyes and lay still for a long time. When she finally spoke, she did so without opening her eyes. “I am healed. I would meet my healer.”

  “In time. There’s no hurry. He said you have scars, but they will become less noticeable over time. He seemed quite proud of his work.”

  She sat bolt upright, pulling the covers tightly about her. “He?”

  “Yes, he is a man. Well . . . not exactly a man, but he is a he.”

  She frowned. “You speak in riddles.”

  “The Sky Lord came from a far land, as you know. He brought with him creatures from other civilizations. Some of them are the stuff of nightmares, but only until you get to know them. Your healer is one such. He worked some of his magic on me and we spoke long. I do not call him friend, not yet, but I do call him a brother-in-arms. I have met others here who I call the same. They did not have to come here to fight the demons, they came because they wanted to help us. The Sky Lord awaits outside.”

  She lay back down and closed her eyes. “Not yet. I’m not ready for this peacefulness to end.”

  “You’re more right than you know, Your Majesty. More than you can ever imagine.”

  “I can imagine a lot.”

  “Reality is far more amazing than fantasy could ever be. I’m told that if you are up to it, today some of your questions get answers.”

  She sat up again. “Really? Where are my clothes?”

  He got up and retrieved a pile of clothes and equipment. “These are all new and fine, made to resemble the clothes you wear when riding, but feel!”

  She felt the leg of her new pants. It looked like the leather she had worn onto the ship, but it was soft.

  “It’s stronger than your old clothes,” Turmae said. “I tested it. I could not drive my sword through it.”

  “You jest.”

  “No, Your Majesty. I told you reality is more amazing than fantasy. The cloth is soft until struck, then it hardens instantly. As soon as I remove the sword, it softens again. All the warriors here wear it. They also made you new boots and a helm with their talking thing in it.” He raised a leg, proudly showing off his own new boot and pants.

  “I don’t know what to make of all this.”

  “Nor do I, though I have learned a lot in the past three days.”

  “Three days!”

  “Yes. The healer insists that you remain at least one more day. Colonel Havlock promises to fill the day with learning. After what I have seen here, I can tell you our futures are changed forever. We have a lot to learn, and the more we understand what lies before us, the better will be our decisions.”

  “Colonel Havlock? I thought he was Sky Lord Havlock.”

  “To us he is a lord. Among his own men, he’s just a soldier like me.”

  “A soldier like you? You are far more than a soldier, my friend.”

  “So might he and his men be, Your Majesty. Like I said, reality is more amazing than fantasy.”

  “The demons still await us.”

  “I have used the new weapons. Our swords and bows are relics now.”

  “I will always cherish the bow you made for me.”

  He shrugged. “It was just my way of telling you you’re not a swords-woman and never will be.”

  She smiled and reached a hand out to him. “I’m probably alive because of that advice. It’s time to get back to work. Leave so I may dress.”

  A female marine came in to help her with the new fastenings. When the queen was properly attired, Turmae rejoined her for breakfast. The food was strange but acceptable, certainly better than the gruel they had been eating. Havlock and Galborae joined them when they were done. Both entered and bowed, wishing her a good morning.

  Though a queen, she stood up and bowed her head slightly. “I’m healed, and the new clothes feel wonderful. Thank you.”

  “Our pleasure, Your Majesty. I trust you’re feeling well?” Havlock replied.

  “I am. May I meet my healer?”

  Havlock coughed into a fist and looked to Turmae. “What do you think?”

  “I think today is a day for learning and you are our teacher. There’s no easy way to do it.” To Atiana, he said, “Your healer will seem a beast to you, though he is not.”

  Havlock clarified the thoug
ht. “Your healer is a person of great skill and wisdom. He will be the first of many strange things. Your body is still healing, so you might tire easily. There’s no particular hurry to move ahead.”

  “I’m dressed and fed. Why wait?”

  Turmae stepped around a divider and returned arm-in-arm with the devil. Atiana stepped back, a hand coming up involuntarily in defense, her eyes widening. No one moved in the long silence that followed.

  Jaffey broke the silence. “Your Majesty, I am Healer Jaffey,” he said in a soft voice, bending one knee to the floor and lowering his head, his tail curled around his feet.

  Atiana struggled for control, and Jaffey gave her all the time she needed. Her eyes darted between Turmae, Galborae, Havlock, and Jaffey, exposing her alarm.

  “I know what you see,” Havlock said. “So does he, Your Majesty. Your fear does not offend either of us, but it is not necessary. He saved your life, and in the process he gave you a quality of life for which you will be forever indebted to him.”

  She turned back to Jaffey. Knowing what needed to be done, she forced herself across the few steps separating them and joined him on one knee. She stretched out a shaking hand and lifted his chin to look into red eyes that frightened her to the depths of her being. “I know not what you are, but I know who you are. I owe you a debt I cannot repay. Thank you.”

  “It has been my great pleasure to be of service, Your Majesty. How do you feel?”

  She stood up, and he stood with her. “Embarrassed that a man saw me unclothed. Otherwise, I feel wonderful.”

  “No need for embarrassment, Your Majesty. That is the way of healing. I serve people of many species, though on the inside you and I are far less different than you might think. Your wounds are repaired, and a few other maladies have been taken care of as well.”

  “Others?”

  “Not important at the moment. We can have a private discussion later if it pleases you.” He stepped back. “Your body is strong again. Now your people need you to be strong in mind for what lies ahead. From my viewpoint, that of healer, what you will go through today is regrettable and should not be forced on any intelligent creature. Sadly, we have little choice.”

  “I’m a good learner. You need not fear. Will you stay with me?”

  “No. You are going to dream. While you dream I will watch over you. Colonel Havlock, my commander, will guide you through the dream.”

  She turned to Havlock with a frown. “Sky Lord, how many do you command?”

  “How many live in your city?”

  “About five thousand.”

  “So you can count.” He held up a hand when the fire lit in her eyes. “Sir Galborae only knows the concept of many.”

  She nodded impatiently. “I can count. How many?”

  “Three thousand, all of them warriors.”

  Her eyes widened. “So many! You are a lord. What is this about dreams? I just woke up.”

  Havlock reached beneath a cart and pulled out a shiny black helmet. He handed it to her and let her examine it, then said, “It won’t really be a dream, but it will seem like one. Each of us will wear a helmet like this, and all of us will be together with you in your dream. I think you’ll like it.”

  She looked across to Sir Turmae. “You have done this?”

  He nodded. “Just for a little while. Galborae came yesterday to be my guide. He went through the same process many months ago. He has not forgotten what he felt then, so he’s a good teacher. Though strange, the process did not harm me. I know not the purpose of the dream, but I think we will soon find out.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Galborae took Atiana’s arm and led her around a partition. There, two beds had been arranged side by side. He led her to a bed, waited while she made herself comfortable, then handed her a helmet attached to a long cable.

  “You wear the helm in the dream,” he said. She placed it over her head and looked at him, waiting expectantly. Galborae pulled down the shield, saying, “Be patient, Your Majesty. It will be dark for a little while, then we’ll join you in the dream.”

  The rest of them put on helmets, though Havlock and Galborae chose to sit in chairs rather than lie down. The net knew the three of them and let them in instantly. They waited patiently for Atiana. When she arrived, they felt her confusion.

  She looked around and discovered herself standing inside the bridge of the shuttle just as she had several days earlier. The shuttle rested on the road leading up to Tricor’s front gate.

  She looked to the three of them, then around herself at the inside of the shuttle’s bridge. “Where’s the pilot?”

  Havlock joined her virtual persona, a bright and focused persona. “I will be your pilot and guide today, Your Majesty. The four of us are going on a journey.”

  She studied him, sensing through the magic of the net not only his physical person but his feelings and thoughts as well. With practice, some thoughts and feelings could be guarded within the net, but not personas. She knew his worries: worries of demons, worry for his men who daily fought the demons, and concern for how she would adjust to the net. Too, she sensed his respect—no, his admiration of her, of her quick acceptance of the new things she had experienced since his arrival, an acceptance he had not expected.

  She looked around at the others, knowing their thoughts and concerns as well. “Some dream,” she said.

  Havlock grinned, grateful and once again amazed at her willingness to accept strangeness. “It’s time for you to fully understand what has happened to you and your people,” he said. “When we are done you will have a more complete understanding of the problems ahead of us. I get the feeling you’re ready to begin.”

  “I am.”

  He turned to Turmae. “We’re in a sky ship that will take us on a voyage. We know how you feel about heights. Many feel as you do, so it’s nothing to be ashamed of. Sir Galborae will stay by your side until you no longer need him. Know this: we are in a dream. We cannot fall and we cannot be hurt no matter what you see. Because it’s a dream, we can do anything and be anywhere. We’ll begin our voyage from your city.”

  Galborae placed a virtual hand on Turmae’s shoulder and Havlock did the same for Atiana. At his touch she lifted her eyes to him in surprise. The magic of the net let him know without her saying anything that touching queens was inappropriate, but she did not pull away.

  With a thought, he brought the shuttle up to the highest spire above her castle. Because they were in the net, Atiana and Turmae felt the calmness emanating from Havlock and Galborae. That calmness spread to them, and though it did not remove fear, it made it more palatable.

  “We’ve been here all along?” Atiana asked.

  “No, Your Majesty. This is a dream. We are not in the same sky ship you rode before. That one we call a shuttle. Twenty shuttles call the ship we are in right now their home. This ship is larger than your city.”

  “I would see more of it.”

  He nodded. “Later. We have to work up to it little by little. Will you trust me?”

  She studied him openly. “In this dream I do trust you, Sky Lord Colonel Havlock. Do you have a first name?”

  “Yes. I’m Gar.”

  She nodded. “Fitting.” She looked to Turmae, then Galborae. “We’re sharing thoughts and feelings in this dream that queen’s do not usually share, that anyone usually shares. They’re connecting us in ways I’ve never imagined. Because of them, I’m Atiana while we’re in the dream.”

  “Are you ready to visit your province?” Havlock asked.

  Her eyebrows rose. “I have been to each of the kingdoms. It’s a long ride even on a sauron.”

  The view from the shuttle changed as she talked. The ship rose higher and circled the city. Turmae had real problems with the height, so Havlock changed his plan.

  “Turmae, I know your fear. We’re going higher. If you’ll bear with me, your fear will go away.”

  “Uh, higher?”

  “Yes, higher. With great height
you will not see so much detail and it will be easier. Let’s try it.”

  The ship climbed rapidly. Turmae stood rigidly until a certain point, then just as Havlock had predicted, it got easier for him. He stepped up to the window and leaned against it to look down on the kingdom. The city of Tricor was still visible, but not in minute detail.

  He turned to Havlock with a look of sheer relief. “You speak true, Sky Lord.”

  Atiana stepped over to Turmae and put an arm around his waist. He in turn put an arm around her shoulders and the two of them looked down on their domain, pointing out roads, towns, and rivers. She turned to Havlock and pointed into the distance.

  He took the hint and the ship started moving, slowly at first, then briskly. Galborae’s kingdom of Shanloc soon came into view. They flew once around the city, then headed off to another of the five kingdoms. Within a short span they had flown over all of them and come back to Tricor.

  Atiana looked down on her domain thoughtfully. “It seems smaller now. Our lives seem smaller. Clearly, there’s more beyond our borders than we ever knew.”

  Galborae spoke up. “Our purpose here is not to make you feel small. Holding kingdoms together is important at all levels. Do not despair.”

  “I won’t. Are we done?”

  Galborae grimaced. “No, we have barely begun.”

  At a thought, the ship began moving toward the east, following the river that flowed beside Tricor. They followed it all the way through a gap in snow-capped mountains to a broad plain, then to a great ocean. They crossed the ocean and came to another continent and crossed it for a time.

  Atiana stepped back from the window and faced Havlock. “Does it end?”

  “Not exactly. It has no end, but we will come back to the beginning.”

  She frowned and gave the words no little thought, but she did not yet see the whole picture. “You speak in riddles.”

  “I do. What I show you next might be difficult, but it will reveal all, or nearly all. Are you ready?”