by Eric Vall
“How so?” Aurora asked as she tilted her head inquisitively.
I gestured to the long bars that extended from below the handlebars all the way to the ground. “It runs on two wheels, one here and one in the back. The wheels have to be made out of a special, durable, and elastic material that I still need to figure out how to make, but I’m not worried about that. My biggest hurdle is going to be the power source.”
On Earth, gasoline and other fossil fuels were available on every corner. In Illaria, not so much, and my dream ride wasn’t going to ride at all if I didn’t figure out how to drive some power to the rear wheel.
“But what makes it move?” Cayla questioned as she frowned down at the bike.
I dismounted the frame and motioned for Aurora and Cayla to come a little closer. “Here is where the engine will go,” I said as I pointed to the square of empty space in the frame. “Think of it like a furnace or forge. The power and heat generated by the engine will propel the machine forward rapidly. Built correctly, this thing will travel twice as fast as a horse.”
“I doubt that it could truly outpace Nerfrina,” Aurora said with a cocky smirk. “She is the fastest steed in the Order, perhaps in all of Illaria.”
“We’ll have to have a race then,” I replied with an eager grin. “Care to wager?”
“Before money changes hands,” Cayla cut in as she waved her hand to get my attention, “perhaps you could explain more about how this engine works. I do not quite understand how burning wood will translate into transportation.”
“Well, it won’t run on wood,” I corrected as I glanced back at Aurora. “I have something else in mind.”
“Me?” the half-elf asked in confusion.
“You,” I responded with a nod. “I think I can build an engine that you would be the power source of. No, I know I can. The gods sent me a vision of it. All you will have to do is use your magic.”
This was the dream that woke me up in the middle of the night yesterday. I believed that Nemris had nudged the idea to the forefront of my brain from the lost confines of my memory. The gasoline dilemma had weighed heavily on my mind ever since the idea for the bike first began to form in my brain. And then, like a vision from the goddess herself, the solution came to me.
A Stirling engine.
Stirlings operated on a vast and cyclical temperature disparity. Air on one end of a container was heated and then displaced to the other side to cool down. A crank, piston, and displacer did all the manual work of shifting the air from side to side. This kinetic energy could then be transferred and used to operate machinery. On Earth, a Stirling engine would be unfeasible and vastly inefficient in something as small as a motorcycle. There was also the issue of RPMs. The reason that automobiles and motorcycles all used cylinder style internal combustion style engines was that the engines could be revved to different speeds quickly. It was inefficient to change the temperature on a Stirling engine rapidly, so they ended up being used on trains to drive consistent energy to a battery that could then be used to move the massive vehicles.
But with Aurora’s Ignis Mage powers… I might just be able to get a Stirling engine to work on a motorcycle.
The half-elf still looked dubious at best, but curiosity gleamed brightly in her emerald eyes.
“If you believe this is possible,” Aurora said as she lifted her gaze to mine, “then I trust you, Mason. I’ll do everything in my power to help you realize the gods’ vision.”
“Thank you,” I said with a grateful smile.
“You are expending a lot of time and effort on my account. I am greatly indebted to you both.” Cayla placed her hand on my shoulder, and my skin sang at the contact.
“Don’t thank me yet.” I grinned. “I still have to finish the thing. You can thank me when we’ve dealt with the darkness that threatens Cedis.”
As if to punctuate my declaration, the sudden blast of a trumpet resounded through the forest. Cayla and I both blinked in shock, but Aurora stood up straighter and turned due south, in the direction of Serin.
“That is the king’s herald,” the half-elf remarked as she stared off into the trees. “King Temin and Abrus shall be here shortly for the weapons demonstration.”
“Best not to keep them waiting then,” I replied as my heart rate kicked up a notch. “I need to get this frame inside real quick. Aurora, could you grab a rifle and revolver for the demonstration?”
The half-elf dipped her chin in response, and I turned to Cayla.
“Would you mind grabbing some ammunition?” I asked the raven-haired maiden. “They’re on the table in the boxes beside the gun rack.”
“How many should I gather?” Cayla asked.
I shrugged. “A handful. The revolver only holds six rounds. The rifle holds seven.”
“Understood,” she replied, and then the two women ducked into the workshop to collect their supplies.
While they did that, I busied myself with hiding the bike frame. I didn’t know why, but something told me to keep my travel plans a secret from the king and Abrus just a little while longer. Something about the Lux Mage still didn’t sit right with me, and the king was a stranger. Best not to show all my cards at once.
With a little nudge of magic, I floated the metal frame behind the workshop and leaned it up against the back wall. Then, I called upon my Terra powers and sculpted a small, hidden alcove around the bike. When I was done, the wall looked the same as it did before, but with a little secret stashed inside a hidden compartment.
A few minutes after the first trumpet blast, a second echoed through the trees. This time, it sounded a lot closer. I walked back around the workshop and found Aurora and Cayla already waiting by the door, guns and ammo in hand.
“Ready?” I asked the two of them with a smile.
“And eager,” Cayla replied with a nod. She wore the rifle strapped across her back with the barrel pointed to the ground. The raven-haired beauty was already sexy as hell but with a gun?
I willed my blood to remain north of my belt. I was mostly successful.
“I am sure Temin is eager as well,” Aurora remarked as the distant sound of hoofbeats drifted through the air. “It sounds as if he brought the whole army.”
A strange expression flittered across Cayla’s face, but it was gone before I could tell what it was. Then I frowned and opened my mouth to ask if she was alright, but a third trumpet blast rang out then, louder than the rest, and barely a moment later, a rider entered the clearing on top of his steed.
He was the picture of a knight, dressed from head to toe in shining armor. He gave the clearing a cursory glance, barely even pausing on us before he turned to look over his shoulder and whistled sharply into the trees.
A second whistle answered him, and then the rest of the king’s guard entered the clearing. There were five of them in total, including the scout, and they rode two abreast astride gleaming black stallions. King Temin and Mage Abrus were in the middle of the party, and their eyes immediately found me and latched on. Like Aurora had said, even from this distance I could tell the king was eager. He practically jumped off his horse before it even came to a full stop.
Abrus, on the other hand, was a little more reserved. I couldn’t read his stony and stern face more than usual, but I did feel the hairs on the back of my neck raise. Since my meeting with Temin, I hadn’t seen much of the Lux Mage at all. I had almost forgotten how disquieting his presence was, especially to the magic that roiled in my veins.
“Mage Flynt,” the king cried as he approached us with a wide smile on his face. “I did not expect to see you this soon.”
“Well, I am all about defying expectations, sir,” I replied amicably as I shook Temin’s hand. “Thank you for traveling for this demonstration. I know it must be hard for a king to leave his capital.”
“On the contrary, thank you,” Temin responded as he adjusted the gold crown atop his head. “It feels good to get out from behind Serin’s walls once in a while. Sometimes I f
orget how lovely my kingdom truly is.”
“It is rather beautiful,” I agreed with a nod, “which is why I hope these weapons I have made will protect her.”
Pure excitement gleamed in Temin’s brown orbs. “Then let us see this demonstration! I am very keen to see how the hydra was slain.”
“Yes,” Abrus added quietly, the first word he had spoken today. “Quite keen.”
I looked over to the Lux Mage and saw that his two-toned eyes were locked onto me. Goosebumps rose up on my skin, but I shook off the uneasy feeling that roiled like snakes in my gut.
“This way,” I said as I cleared my throat. Then I led my party of spectators across the clearing to a spot I had already marked out in the grass. The kingsguard remained stationed at the perimeter, but I noticed all of them had turned in our direction. It seemed the soldiers were curious as to what new weapons they’d soon be receiving.
“Stand here,” I instructed Temin and Abrus. “Again, this weapon principally functions as a bow and arrow, so caution needs to be practiced. Please refrain from moving downrange between me and the target so we can avoid potential injury.”
“Yes, yes,” Temin waved impatiently. “I am well acquainted with weapons and their dangers. We will exercise extreme vigilance.”
“Where should I stand, Mason?” Cayla piped up softly as she sidled up beside me. She had been oddly quiet since the king and his men had arrived. Perhaps she was still upset with him for refusing to help her.
“Stick close to Aurora, and you should be fine,” I replied with a smile. Cayla nodded and then stepped back.
I turned to Temin again and opened my mouth to start the true portion of the demonstration, but the words stuck in my throat as I saw the king’s expression. He was staring at Cayla with his eyebrows pinched together, and a slight frown had even turned down the corners of his mouth.
“Cayla?” Temin asked curiously.
My eyebrows raised up toward my hairline. I was surprised that the king remembered her. I’m sure he received numerous supplicants every day.
“Pleasure to see you again, Your Majesty,” Cayla replied with a deep and respectful bow of her head.
“What are you doing here?” the king questioned, and his frown deepened.
“Well, when you said you could not help Cedis,” the blue-eyed woman explained with a defiant tilt of her chin, “I decided to find someone who could, and who better than the fabled mage that slew a hydra in a single blow? Once you and your army have your weapons, Mason has agreed to help me eradicate the darkness that threatens my home.”
“Has he now?” Temin’s eyes flicked back to me, and I schooled my face into a neutral expression, even though I was mentally cursing. So much for keeping my travel plans a secret.
“I have,” I replied to the king firmly, but then tried to soften the news with an easy smile. “After all, how could I say no to a request from such a lovely maiden?”
Cayla blushed beside me, but Temin still looked upset. Perhaps he didn’t like the idea of sharing his special weapons maker.
“As enchanting as it is to watch this courtship,” Abrus cut in dryly, “may we move on to the demonstration? The king and I have other matters to attend to later.”
“Of course,” I said quickly, happy to change the subject. “If everyone could take their places, I can begin.”
Aurora and Cayla passed me the guns and a small cloth bag of ammo, and then my four spectators lined up slightly behind and to either side of me.
“I’ll start with the revolver first,” I told my audience as I carefully loaded six bullets into the cylinder. “This weapon is most useful in close-quarter combat, but it still has some distance on it. Be warned, though, each of these weapons makes a very loud noise when fired.”
“We are prepared,” Temin said impatiently. His eyes were latched onto the revolver. “Proceed already, Mage Flynt.”
“Yes, sir,” I replied with a crisp nod. Then I turned to face the opposite direction and took a deep, calming breath.
A circular target that I haphazardly made out of a tin sheet sat twenty-five yards ahead of me. It was about three feet in diameter, and the dull metal glinted faintly in the morning light.
I lifted the revolver before me and squared off my stance. I closed my left eye and sighted down the burnished, silver barrel. My pulse pounded steadily in my ears as I thumbed back the hammer and placed my finger on the trigger. I took another deep breath, double checked my aim, and then squeezed.
The gun bucked in my hand, and the resounding crack echoed throughout the clearing. Without pausing, I kept my eye on the target and continued firing until the cylinder clicked empty. My ears rang as I lowered the revolver, but a fierce grin broke out across my face as I surveyed the target.
Six neat holes had punched clear through the tin, all of them tightly centered around the black bull’s eye I had drawn on the metal sheet with charcoal.
“And that’s how it’s done,” I muttered to myself triumphantly. I wished I had a cowboy hat to tip over my eyes dramatically right now. Perhaps I could find something comparable in the marketplace before we departed for Cedis.
As I opened the cylinder gate to extract the individual casings, I turned back to my audience with a little bit of swagger. Aurora only looked marginally impressed since she had seen the guns in action before, but Temin and Cayla were having trouble picking their jaws up off the ground.
Abrus, on the other hand, had the oddest expression by far. He quickly schooled his face back to a stern neutral when he caught my eye, but I could have sworn I saw anger, almost rage, in his two-toned eyes.
What the hell was that about?
Before I could wonder further, Temin finally seemed to regain control of his facilities, and he cleared his throat. I looked back to the king to find him staring at me in awe.
“You were not jesting when you said this weapon was the most lethal thing I have ever witnessed,” Temin remarked hoarsely. His eyes still looked a little dazed.
“Are you pleased with the product?” I asked with a smile.
“Very much so,” the king replied with an enthusiastic nod of his head. He then looked to the rifle I had set in the grass. “And that one is even more powerful you say?”
“More powerful and more accurate over longer distances,” I said as I bent to pick up the long-range weapon and put the revolver in its place. “Think of the differences in range and precision between a javelin and an arrow.”
“Show me,” the king commanded, but not in an arrogant way. It was more like a child so overly excited that he forgot basic manners. Temin’s eyes looked so bright I would have thought it was Christmas and I was Santa Claus.
“As you wish,” I replied, and then I loaded the seven long bullets into the rifle. When the ammo bag was empty, I dropped it into the grass with the revolver.
A minute later, those same seven bullets had turned the tin target into scrap metal.
“Incredible,” Temin cried as he applauded. He was practically drooling over the rifle. “These weapons are truly exceptional. The gods have blessed you indeed.”
“Thank you, sir,” I replied with a smile as I rotated my shoulder. The rifle stock smarted after a while due to its strong recoil. “I’m glad you’re pleased.”
“More than pleased,” the king corrected. “You have the fifty I requested, yes?”
“Correct,” I nodded. “Thirty-five rifles and fifteen revolvers.”
“Excellent,” Temin said with a wide grin. “When can you begin the next batch? I have over five-hundred men in my service.”
“Well, I am only one man, sir,” I explained. “It would take me weeks to complete a number that large, but I’ve come up with a solution.”
“Oh?” Temin asked as he raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
“I can teach the blacksmiths of Serin how to make the guns themselves,” I revealed with a wide grin. “No magic required.”
“Really?” the king asked in surprise.
The frown had all but evaporated from his face as he leaned forward anxiously. “You mean to say magus abilities aren’t necessary at all?”
“Necessary, no. Helpful, yes,” I chuckled. “My powers, combined with Defender Solana’s, makes the process go by much quicker. She superheats the metal so that I can mold it into the proper shapes. However, with the right machinery and my detailed instructions, the blacksmiths will be able to craft these weapons as easily as any other.”
“Outstanding!” Temin exclaimed. He clapped his hands together and laughed. “The beasts that have plagued my people will now swiftly meet their demise.”
“After your soldiers are trained a little, of course,” I added with a smile, “which I am happy to do as well. It will take a little getting used to, but I’m sure your men will adapt just fine. These weapons are actually easier to operate than the simplest bow and arrow.”
“My army will be the most powerful in all the lands,” Temin said with a wild gleam in his eye. “Now, I dare my enemies to strike!”
“Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves, sir,” I chuckled. “Production and training have yet to even begin. I would, respectfully, of course, suggest you wait a month before throwing down any gauntlets.
“Sage advice,” the king grinned as he laughed and clapped me hard on the shoulder.
“It seems Mage Flynt is a master of many talents,” Abrus remarked idly.
My eyes went back to the Lux Mage to find him staring at me intensely again, but this time I couldn’t read the emotion in his eyes. It seemed the older mage was carefully guarding his thoughts now.
However, he wasn’t as successful in hiding his body language. He stood ramrod straight several feet away from the rest of us and a muscle ticked in his cheek as he clenched his jaw. His knuckles were also blanched white as he grasped the staff in his hand so tightly that I was afraid it would snap in half. I couldn’t help but notice it was a different one than the staff I had melted in my fist during our duel.
“I still have much to learn, Mage Abrus,” I said carefully as I met his eyes again. “I am not so arrogant to think I’ve mastered all there is to know yet.”