by J. P. Wagner
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The building was a long, open shed whose roof was held up by wooden pillars along the center. Down the middle ran two long tables. At each of the tables sat three pairs of workmen in staggered positions along each side of the table. In the middle of each table stood a completed paper balloon to serve as a model for each group of workmen, and in front of each man was a stack of paper, a glue-pot, and a pair of scissors. Also in front of each man was a partially completed balloon.
“They’re doing quite well,” said Carrtog to Yakor. “I have Gryff inspecting the finished work, mostly because if I were inspecting it, it would give the balloons more importance and thus make them a more likely target for sabotage.”
“That won’t last, you know. The mere fact that you’re having them make so many will finally bring someone to guess that they’re important. All it will need then is a small spark in the storeroom.”
“Give me credit for some sense, Yakor! Both they and the building they’re stored in are fully covered in fire-proofing spells.”
#
When the first two balloons were fully prepared Carrtog sent them down along the railroad to Gwarasai, watching for anyone approaching the railroad. “They won’t replace your patrols,” he told his officers, “not by any means. But I’m hoping they’ll be of some assistance. When our spells tell us that someone is attacking the railway lines at some point, I’m hoping to be able to steer the nearest balloon to that point and sometimes to track them as they head back to their camp. We’ll also use our little communicating devices to inform the nearest patrol and give them directions as to where to go to follow the rebels.”
Captain Fordibrach was frowning. “If you have a dozen or so of those balloons in the air at one time, Lord, how will you know which of them is sending a particular message?”
“That’s no real problem, actually; I’ll give every one of them a number, or perhaps a name, and when their controllers send a message, they’ll speak their designation first of all. So we look at the map and see where that balloon is supposed to be at that time and inform the nearest patrol.”
“The Northies’ll probably start carrying crossbows to shoot the things out of the sky, Lord.”
“They won’t be that easy to hit in the first place, and in the second place, I plan to put spells on them to delude the eyes as to just where they are. Any further problems?”
Fordibrach drew a deep breath. “Nothing further, Lord. It just seemed a little too good to be true.”
Carrtog smiled. “Oh, I’m quite sure that we’ll find problems enough as we try to make these things work. We’ll just have to solve the problems as we go.”
After talking with his officers, Carrtog spoke to Yakor. “I need to find someone to watch the pictures as the balloons send them back. For this, I’ll need someone I can trust to do the job, not just anybody off the street. They’ll also need to be willing to learn a little bit of magic, enough to command the balloon to hold its place, or to carry on along its previous path. Do you think you can find someone like that here in Kilgarhai?”
“I might be able to. There’ve been some folk moved up here from down south, hoping to get jobs with your household, or in shops that opened up to serve you and your soldiers. Trouble was, you brought most of your household with you, and you’ve been dealing mostly with shops that were already here so there’ve been a lot of people doing what work they could get, sometimes even begging in the streets just to get by. We’ll have to do some sifting to find the ones who’ll really work and aren’t just looking for a comfortable position somewhere, but they’ll be out there. How many do we need?”
“I’d say half a dozen to start, but keep some names in hand in case we need more.”
Yakor nodded. “And to replace those among the first half-dozen who don’t work out. Yes, Lord.”
Some of the people who had moved up to Kilgarhai from the south had done so in the expectation of finding a fortune in the wake of the advancing Royal Army. The defeat of General Malgwyn’s army had disillusioned many of them, some to the point where they took on illicit trades, some to the point that they found themselves begging in the streets.
When it became known that Lord Carrtog, general in charge of the garrison at Kilgarhai, was hiring men his official quarters were immediately besieged by several score seeking work. Yakor immediately set them to work turning earth for a garden behind Lord Carrtog’s house.
The second day found the numbers halved, and by the fourth day, the garden was ready and the number of workers was down to eight. Two of these were put to work planting the garden, and the rest, nursing their blisters, were led away to a room inside the lord’s quarters where the lord himself explained to them what he wished of them.
#
Carrtog surveyed the group before him. “My first question is, ‘Do any of you know anything of magic?’”
He paused and looked over the group. They were all looking at each other and at him, and most seemed unsure as to how to answer the question. “Let me assure you, if you know nothing of magic, you will not be discharged; I will just know how much I have to teach you.”
There was still doubt on several faces.
“I can see that some of you are feeling doubtful about magic. Tell me your difficulty, and I will try to ease your mind. I need people to learn some little bits of magic to help me in the fight against the rebels, so let me assure you I will discharge no one unless there is some serious reason why you cannot or will not deal with magic. Even in such case, I will let you go with a small fee for your time, so you need not think you have spent all this time for nothing.”
He looked around, but there was still silence. No one was willing to be first to speak against a lord. He chose one man whose face looked very grim and pointed at him. “You, you look like you have serious reservations about this project. I cannot ease your concerns if I do not know what they are.”
The man stood slowly. “Lord, don’t lay heavy punishment on me for this, but though I need work badly, I can’t see myself working at laying curses, not even on the enemies of the King, long may He reign.”
“Will you accept my assurances that you will be asked to lay no curses, only to work spells that will allow my troops to track down the rebels who are out to destroy the track between here and Gwarasai?”
“Begging your pardon, Lord, but if I’m working some magic, how will I know that it is no curse?”
“I can assure you of that. Listen for a bit, and I will explain just what will be needed of you. First, I will have balloons floating up and down above the railroad line. You may have seen them being tested. These balloons will be moving along the railroad line with a small package attached below them, which has several spells on it. One of these spells will keep watch on the ground to one side, and another of these spells will keep the balloon slowly revolving so that it is continually looking all around. Another spell will send the picture of what is seen back to a device in this room.
“When any picture of rebels, or what look like rebels, appears on the device in front of you, your task is to speak the words that stop the balloon’s rotation, and ‘fixes its gaze’ so to speak, on the rebel party. You will then pass the word to a soldier on duty here, as to where the party was spotted and when, and troopers will be sent out to deal with them. You will also set the balloons to following the rebels so that you can give directions to the troopers who will be pursuing them. Does that satisfy your concern?”
“Yes, Lord. Thank you, Lord.”
“Good. Now is there anyone here who has any concern about using magic? No? Then we will commence. Magic consists of drawing power from something, in the cases you will learn from burning gunpowder, and using that to perform the task at hand. Drawing the power from the burning powder is done by means of an incantation, speaking certain words in a certain way.
“The reason we use certain words is b
ecause, having been used for the same purpose often before, they have a certain amount of power in themselves. I am told, by men whom I have reason to believe, that if one is sufficiently practiced in drawing of the power, one could use any words, so long as the intent is clear in your mind, and have the same result. I myself am nowhere near that state, and I doubt that any of you, in the amount of time we will probably be working together, will reach that state either.
“It is easiest to use a pistol to burn the powder, since a pistol-shot burns the powder rapidly and produces more power. Firing off pistols in a garrison town, however, is not a good idea, so we will simply burn a pinch of powder each time.”
He paused for a moment then went on. “The procedure of watching the images from the balloons is a complex one, so we will start with something simple. You will each cast a spell to make a glass globe light up. On the small table behind me are a number of glass globes. There are also a number of powder-flasks, some small lamps, and a handful of straws for each.
“You will all need one of each. Before you go to pick them up, the powder-flasks are to be left closed until I tell you to open them, and each time you open them to pour out a measure, you are to close them immediately. If I see any man with the powder-flask open when it ought not to be, he will be dismissed immediately, without pay. Do you all understand that?”
He paused, and there was silence. He asked again, “Do you all understand?”
There was a mutter of assent.
He looked them over. “Let us try that once more. If I see any man with his powder-flask open when it ought not to be, he will be dismissed immediately, without pay. Do you understand?”
This time the answering “Yes, Lord!” was loud and clear.
“I assure you that this is not a mere matter of my not trusting you. The fact is, each of you will have enough gunpowder to cause severe damage at a loose spark, and accidentally leaving your powder-flask unstoppered when you are about to set off a small charge of powder is an invitation to setting off an explosion which might well kill the lot of us, including myself. And if you don’t care whether you kill yourself, let me assure you that I do care if you kill me. I will therefore always be cautioning you to stopper your powder-flasks when you have poured out the measure for a particular spell. Now I know that you are very careful yourselves, but the man next to you might not be quite so trustworthy, so please understand if I am always harping on caution.
“So, each of you now come up and get your equipment, and we will begin.”
#
The six men sat looking at the glass globes before them, all shining with a green glow. “Well-done,” Carrtog said. “This one took you only three tries before you all succeeded. I know of times when it took well over three tries before the whole class was successful. Best of all, no one has been discharged for failing to stopper his powder-flask. That is nothing short of admirable.” He raised a hand in warning. “Don’t become complacent, however. Complacency can lead to carelessness, which can lead to disaster. Now, let’s try another. This time…”
Chapter 23
The first balloon was sitting on a table across the track from the Railway Station fully inflated and ready to go. The full group of balloon-controllers were standing round watching with the man in charge of this particular balloon seated at a chair by the table. Carrtog was also seated at the table; he would give the final order, after which the balloon-controller would speak the words that would send the balloon into the air following the railway track toward Gwarasai.
They had all been fully trained up to the point that each one had sent his balloon down along the track to the first bend, then had that balloon turn round and come back, all the while watching what the package beneath the balloon ‘saw.’ They had all practiced taking shifts at watching the balloon’s progress, and checking when the spell needed to be renewed on the basin of water in which they saw what was below the balloon. This involved emptying the basin, cleansing it, and refilling it with clear water. Even still, Carrtog hadn’t spent all day, every day, training these men. After he finished seeing this first balloon off, he would be going out to watch another flight of the glider.
“Go ahead, Hwydach.”
The stocky, dark-haired man touched a lit splinter to a touch of gunpowder in a small bowl, at the same time speaking the incantation that increased the heat, lifting the balloon into the air. As it rose, he spoke the further incantation that set it moving down the track, slowly rotating as it went.
There were a few cheers from the gathered group; though they all had successfully sent balloons up and along the track for a short way, Hwydach was first to be sending his the full length to Gwarasai.
They all watched as it went out of sight, then Carrtog spoke. “Now, back to the balloon-shed, and set up your basin there to watch the balloon’s progress. All is arranged as to who is taking the following shifts? Good. If everyone has their equipment in good order, you may have the rest of the afternoon off.
“Hwydach, you may have the equivalent time off after your shift is over, and the same for those taking shift from you. Parmavon, you will be ready to launch your balloon about eight hours from now, and Hachenbra, eight hours from then. All clear?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Then off you go.”
#
The glider, in its present form, was somewhat different from the original form, different even from the gliders that had hunted them out of the North. It was somewhat narrower, and the wings were somewhat longer, and a bit narrower as well. All this had the effect of increasing its lift, and thus increasing the distance it could go before it finally set down.
It was piloted, this time, by a volunteer from among the troopers. Carrtog — after a discussion with Yakor — had been forced to admit that it was at least a little more important that he stay alive than that he demonstrate to his men that he was not afraid to do anything he might ask them to do.
There was a large flat space of cobblestones somewhat beyond the steam engine that would provide the power to initially put the glider in the air. This section of cobblestones had a spell on it that was putting out heat, sufficient heat, it was hoped, to provide a significant updraft, which would permit the glider to climb to a fair height.
Another new thing about the glider, a thing that was not immediately visible, was that the wooden frame of its fuselage had been remade into a magically reinforced material that Carrtog had developed using inspiration from Enemantwin’s near-iron conversion spell. Not only was the craft lighter than it had been when constructed of wood, but the fuselage was further strengthened magically as it was shaped to make it much more sturdy.
All this had rendered glider flight a much less dangerous occupation. Though, it was not so much less dangerous that Addy did not become tense whenever Carrtog took the glider up.
He’d only tried once to convince her how much more safe the glider had become, and decided, having escaped a quarrel by the skin of his teeth, that he wouldn’t try to convince her again. He would force himself to settle for only the occasional flight.
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Carrtog gave a tug at the rope where it was attached to the nose of the glider, then turned to the pilot. “All solid, Pilot Brachgwyn. Do you want to test it yourself?”
“With your permission, Lord.” The pilot tugged fiercely on the rope himself. There had been a time when the pilots were leery of checking anything that the lord had checked until they had found that he encouraged them to check things for themselves.
Carrtog held out a hand, and Brachgwyn took it. “Gods be with you, Pilot.”
“Thank you, Lord.”
He did not bother giving the pilot any last-minute instructions; the man knew quite well what was expected of him. Brachgwyn climbed into the cockpit and fastened the belt that would prevent him from being flung around at the shock of landing.
He looked around to b
e sure that the lord and the other people were well out of the way, then gave a wide wave of his hand to Gryff at the control of the steam engine. Gryff, in his turn, engaged the pulley, and the glider began to roll down the field.
Carrtog, hiding his restiveness, watched until the undercarriage pulled free of the ground, only then noticing that he had been holding his breath. The glider’s forward momentum allowed it to continue picking up speed, which in turn allowed it to gain a bit more altitude. It was just beginning to lose speed when it reached the edge of the area of rising warm air. Brachgwyn clearly knew what to do, for the glider began to move in a circle, nose up.
The artificially warmed air would cool soon, losing its upward motion, but he would take advantage of every inch of climbing force it provided.
Carrtog found himself muttering, “Keep it climbing! Keep it climbing!”
Yakor chuckled beside him. “That’s not one of your incantations, is it?”
Carrtog turned, grinning. “Perhaps it is, it seems to be working.”
“You plan to stand here watching, muttering, during the entire flight?”
“I think not. He’s trying for distance.”
“Which I already knew, boy.”
“Of course you did. Sorry. I’m just a little on edge. Those balloons bid fair to be quite useful, but having a working glider, perhaps two, would be a serious advantage.”
“You think so? They didn’t do so well spotting us when we were on the run.”
“No, but there were only a few of us. There’re what? Thirty to fifty of the rebels, maybe two or three bands of that many? They’ll have a harder time hiding themselves, I’d think.”
Yakor pursed his lips and nodded. “Possibly so. I haven’t had any experience trying to spot groups of men from the air, let alone trying to do that spotting while trying to keep a glider up in the air. Speaking of which, what do you plan to do while you’re waiting for Brachgwyn to get back?”