by M. J. Sewall
“So have we,” said Aline.
Brenddel said, “Then we should meet with this living god as soon as possible.”
“I've told you, that's impossible. No one goes up there,” said Danette.
Aline asked, “What about the Jhalgon? Can't it fly to this tower?”
“That was the plan, but to attack it, not bring visitors,” Ardrell answered, “I had hoped the envoys would bring your lands together.”
“How do you know each other? Why are you involved here?”
Danette smiled at Ardrell. “My cousin searched for her. We heard of a legend. A man got lost on the fingers; we scavenge and sometimes rescue men whose ships get wrecked there. This man was a sailor, and he told a wild tale.”
“What his name Harlow?” asked Ellice.
“Yes,” Danette said, surprised.
“That's how he made a map,” Ellice said almost to herself.
Aline smiled. “And I think I know this tale.”
“Long after Dard fell to Extatumm,” said Danette, “this man Harlow told us a woman slave was rescued there by a Jhalgon fish, and there was a human rider on its back.”
Gordon asked, “It was you who rescued Sandrell from the Extatumm gas fields all those years ago?”
Ardrell nodded. “Yes. I had been taming the beast, learning how to ride one just for that reason. The old legends said that one man did, so why not me?”
“You mean the tale of Jasson and the Jhalgon? The old legend said Jasson did it and died when the beast took him down to the bottom of the sea.” Gordon said.
Ellice added, “It was a tale to warn children not to try and tame monsters.”
Ardrell shrugged. “I took a different lesson from it. I've discovered a way to dive with the beast. That's what the helmet is for.”
“I'm glad you didn't dive while we were on its back.” Brenddel said.
“Her back,” Ardrell said.
Brenddel didn't want to argue and held up his hand in surrender. He turned to Danette. “You should know that there are men with airships chasing us. I don't want to put you all in danger.”
“It may not be any safer here. There are tribes forming among my people. Some want to leave forever, some want to fight back. We lock up the boats and lift the walkways at night to protect us from them… and each other.”
Aline looked at Gordon, “Gordon, are you alright?” He was sweating and looked pale.
“I'm fine,” Gordon answered, “I just need something to eat.”
Aline helped Gordon get his machine out. He pricked his finger with the pin and placed the drop of blood over the hole. Gears clicked into place and Aline read the number. “Forty-three. That's way too low, you need something now.”
Ellice said, “I know you said you have little food. But my son has the sweetblood illness. He needs something to eat, preferably sweet.”
“Of course,” she went to another room, and came back with some strange looking fruit, “will these seed berries do?”
Ellice took them, smelled them quickly, and gave the fruit to Gordon.
“I don't know this illness,” said Danette, “will he be alright?”
Yes. His body does not balance his blood like others. Too much sweet can build up in his blood. My brother is a healer as well. Food will raise the sweet in his blood, and when it gets too high there is an oil he takes to lower it.”
After Gordon had eaten a few berries, Danette asked, “Feel better?”
“A little,” Gordon was embarrassed by all the attention, “I'm sorry to take your food.”
“It's alright. We grow just enough, if it is not stolen. The unrest is growing because my people know we must find a better solution, and soon. Please, eat.”
“Thank you,” answered Gordon.
Danette stood and said, “It's getting dark. Let's talk more tomorrow. I will lead you to your beds, then we will raise the walkways for the night.”
Ardrell said, “Aline, you can stay with me. We can catch up like schoolgirls.”
“The rest can stay in an empty house close to theirs.” As Danette led them, she asked Gordon, “As a healer, may I ask how you feel when this sweetblood attack happens to you?”
Not wanting to talk with food in his mouth, Gordon swallowed another seed berry. “When the sweet is low, I feel like… like I could eat the world. I can't get food in my mouth fast enough. When the sweet is too high, I feel dizzy and thirsty, like I could drink this whole river dry.”
“What if you can't stay in balance?” asked Danette.
“He could die,” said Aline.
Gordon elaborated, “Others with my illness, their blood gets so thick with built up sweet that they either get so low, they sleep forever. Others get so high, they waste away.”
Danette considered this.
Ellice said, “Without help, over time, the thickening of the blood by the sweet building up, the blood won't reach out from the heart. The blood moves slow. Many with this illness die young. If they live, they lose fingers, toes, limbs…”
Danette stopped and spoke to Gordon, “That must be terrifying.”
“I think it scares my mother more,” Gordon said as Ellice nodded her agreement.
Danette said, “You are a brave boy.”
“What choice do I have?”
They were shown to an empty house, brought baskets of food and bladders of fresh water. Gordon was fascinated to see how the walkways could be raised and lowered. The platforms were at least twelve feet long, and they were pulled up by rope until they were sticking straight up in the air. He could see the hinges at their bottom. Since everyone had a pole to pull the platform up, he was about to ask why a person from another platform couldn't simply pull the other person's walkway back down, but they were shown how to tie it in place tightly so only they could lower it.
Ardrell and Aline went to their own house, then they raised their walkway and settled into bed. The moon was bright and shown through the canopy of trees, making strange moving shadows. Gordon fell asleep looking at the dark cliff covered in vines that led to a living god.
Chapter 36: Welcome Visitors
Asa blinked his eyes furiously, frustrated that only dark shapes moved in front of him, still unable to see anything clearly. He listened to the report from Mantuan and Lozarian.
“I used to wonder why they only make you wear the crown for the ceremony, that one day. Now I know. It's because the weight hurts your head even when you're not wearing it.” said Asa.
Mantuan agreed, “These are tough things to hear.”
King Asa let out a long breath, “Go on. I'll stop complaining. Since I can't see the map, please explain again. I will try to picture it in my mind better.”
Asa's brothers, Mantuan, Stathen, and Lozarian stood around the large table. A map of their kingdom, and a smaller, more detailed map of the palace and surrounding area lay in front of them. Mantuan said, “They destroyed our airships to take away the advantage from above. We still have the few airships far from the palace here, and the ones out on patrol. They have been ordered to stay in the air, flying as low as possible to report on any unusual activity, but high enough that they can't be attacked. They report every two hours.”
“How much warning will we have before an attack?” asked Vance.
Mantuan replied, “I don't think they will attack, yet. But we should see them coming hours in advance, at least. Hopefully days. We will be ready.”
“It's not fighting back that will be the problem,” Lozarian said. “We have all the heavy weapons. We will win in that way…”
Asa finished his thought, “…But the more of our own people we have to fight, the worse we look.”
Devver said, “And more of the people will join the fight against the palace.”
“What about the pamphlet fight?” asked Asa, rubbing his eyes, willing them to let him see again.
Stathen spoke, “We have been posting the pamphlets in all of the villages as fast as we can. They tell of th
e plot to overthrow the King. But many are stolen moments after they're printed. We put them out, they disappear.”
Mantuan said, “Many of the pamphlets are still writing good things about our king system.”
“Less than half,” Stathen said.
“So, we are losing the hearts of the people,” Asa said, too weary for his thirteen years. “What about the soldiers?”
“We are going through the ranks and having each man sign a loyalty oath to you and Gordon. A few have refused, and they have been stripped of their duties and weapons,” Lozarian explained, “but it's just paper. We won't know where they truly stand until battles begin. I have handpicked the men inside the palace, of them I'm sure.”
“And the man from the bathhouse?” asked Asa.
Mantuan reported, “He confirmed that Tolan has indeed turned against us. He commands three airships. His plan is to kill Gordon, Ellice, and Aline along with the others. He will later join in the fight to offer air support here. He has all three of the new dragon weapons - he could destroy our other airships if he had the element of surprise. The means to make more dragon weapons for our existing airships were destroyed at the fields.”
Lozarian said, “But his ability to surprise us is gone. We will be ready for him.”
“But why did he turn?” asked Asa.
“We don't know, my King,” said Lozarian.
Devver said, “We also don't know when our own people will attack us. We're in a bad spot, little brother.”
A guard entered the battle room and handed a note to Lozarian. “My King. Two people approached the palace. They tell an amazing tale; you may want to see them.”
“Okay. Show them in.” said the king.
“I will go search them myself first,” said Lozarian, leaving with the guard, “I won't take any more chances with visitors.”
When Lozarian left, Vance asked, “What now?”
“Brother, the gods only know. Better to find out,” said Asa, letting Devver help him get to the king's chair. The king had been using his fighting staff to get around, but he was glad his brothers were with him.
Asa sat his king's chair and two people were brought in. They were dressed strangely, Devver whispered to Asa. They had obviously come from another kingdom.
They just stood there looking at the King and the other men, uncomfortable.
Asa spoke first, “I am King Asa. How may we be of service?”
The young man looked around, “I'm sorry, my King. The last kings we met were in Artoth. They were not very welcoming.”
“My name is Lyrra, this is Kett.”
Mantuan said, “It is customary to bow to a king.”
Lyrra said, “I'm sorry. In our land, we have a new king each week, it seems. Bending over gets boring.”
“It's okay, Mantuan,” said Asa, “they are visitors.”
“You are from Aspora, then?” Mantuan asked.
Kett answered, “Yes. And you must be the great Mantuan.”
“Not as great as all that,” answered Mantuan. Everyone stood stiffly, on guard. They all were ready for the other to draw weapons. Kett seemed visibly angry.
Lyrra said, “We have come to warn you. There is an army on its way to your shores.”
Asa sighed, “I see. I just knew it would be more good news.”
Kett arched his eyebrow. “It's true.” He noticed his harsh tone. “I'm… I'm sorry, it has been a hard journey.
Mantuan watched the Asporan carefully. “An attack from Aspora? Who could convince more than a handful of Asporans to fight for the same cause? Especially against another land?”
“Cayne,” answered Lyrra.
“By the gods,” said Mantuan, “I was hoping someone had killed him by now.”
Kett nodded, “He's alive, and has an army now. Cayne has brought much of Aspora together and slaughtered those that opposed him.”
Lyrra finished, “And he's headed here.”
Asa asked, “How do you know that?”
“We opposed him and fled,” said Kett, “But not before our two tribes were slaughtered. Many others joined him. We heard his plans whispered among his new army.”
“How did you get here?” asked Asa.
Lyrra and Kett told their story from escaping Aspora, to how they arrived with Santovan's ship.
“The family Xoss helps use again.” Mantuan asked, “How did Cayne manage to achieve this, what no one else has done in hundreds of years?”
Kett added, “He had help.”
“Airships,” said Lyrra, “We saw your airships as we came into your kingdom. The ones we saw in our lands were different, bigger. That confirms it was those of Extatumm.”
“Their fleet was destroyed, so was their ability to make the gas,” said Mantuan, “are you certain?”
“There were three airships, along with three women helping Cayne. His new Extatumm friends, we guessed,” said Kett.
Asa said, “Let's send airships to scout. Lozarian, make the arrangements.”
“There has been talk at the docks. Fewer and fewer traders from Aspora lately.” Mantuan scratched at his patch. “This would explain why.”
“Thank you Kett, Lyrra,” said Asa. “Please consider yourselves honored guests here for as long as you'd like to stay.”
“Thank you. But…” began Kett. He was obviously fighting several emotions at once.
Lyrra finished, “…We were hoping to join the fight.”
“I thought you might.” Mantuan smiled.
“Hmm…” Asa scratched his forehead, “There may be another way you can help me fight. Lozarian, send out pamphlets with the other airships, drop them while on patrol. Announce that I will speak to the people.”
“Very good, my king,” said Lozarian, leaving to attend his duties.
“Stathen, Mantuan,” said Asa, rising from his king chair, “When I speak to the people, I want Lyrra and Kett by my side. Let's show the people where the real enemy is coming from.”
Chapter 37: Attack by Night
A soft sound spread over the floating city. At first Gordon thought it was some bugs or other small creatures calling to each other. It was a few moments before he realized it was singing. A soft beautiful sound that soothed the river in the dark.
The beds were comfortable in the small round house, but Gordon couldn't sleep very long. It wasn't the heat or the music. He was glad to hear his mother's heavy, sleepy breathing. If she knew he was awake, she would worry it was his illness. Gordon felt fine, but his mind wouldn't turn off.
He asked quietly, “Brenddel, are you awake?”
“Of course, I am, Gordon,” Brenddel replied.
“Can't sleep?”
Brenddel said, “I am a soldier in a strange place. I don't know from where an enemy will attack. The situation doesn't allow me to sleep.”
“But the walkway is raised, their leader says the boats are chained up at night.”
Brenddel said, “There is always a way to attack.”
Gordon agreed, “I guess that's true.”
“Why are you awake, Gordon?” Brenddel kept his voice down, sure not to wake Ellice.
“I don't know,” whispered Gordon. “Thinking about all that has happened, all that may still be coming. For a while, I thought the challenges were over. But… they just seem to keep coming.”
Brenddel understood, “You've certainly had an exciting year.”
“Yeah. I guess we all have. I suppose I just wish it was a little less exciting.”
Brenddel gave a soft chuckle, “I agree with that,”
“By the way, how did you survive the fall?”
Brenddel said, “A cloud catcher.”
“You actually made one? It really worked?” Gordon said in excitement, then quickly lowered his voice back to a whisper.
Brenddel smiled in the dark, “Yes. I was hoping to test it outside of an attack.”
“Was it just like the drawing I saw? You jump, pull the little handle at your shoulder and the fold
ed blanket just shoots up and catches the air?”
“Shhh, your mother is sleeping. It's a little more complicated, but yes, the ropes attached to me let me float down under a cushion of air that catches in the thin cloth.”
“I wished I'd seen it.”
“I wish I hadn't. I jumped hoping to land in the water and save the other men that survived the fall. I felt terrible jumping, but there was only one cloud catcher and I was already wearing it. I saved no one. I hit my head before I fell, and I don't remember much after that.”
“Then the Sea Lord came along.” said Gordon.
“Must have.” Brenddel grew quieter, “I want to thank you, Gordon. For bringing back my memory. If I had hurt you…”
Gordon interrupted, “…But you didn't. I'm glad you remembered. You would have sliced me in half otherwise.”
“Maybe not,” Brenddel said. “You fought well.”
“Thanks. But I'm still thirteen. You would have killed me.”
Brenddel sighed. “I'm afraid you're right. The Sea Lord convinced me that's all I was, a killer for sport. I think… maybe my mind wanted me to forget. To forget how many bad things I've done.”
Gordon answered, “Trunculin made you do them.”
Silence for a long time.
“How much do you hate me for killing your father?” asked Brenddel.
A cold chill ran down Gordon's spine. Another long silence.
Gordon finally said, “I know what I said in the pits. I don't hate you… I, well, I found out the truth about my mother and father so fast, so much was going on. And suddenly my mother was alive. I guess, I haven't had time to really think it all through. I'm trying to be glad for the good things I have.”
“I loved your father, you know,” Brenddel admitted.
Gordon didn't know what to say. He had never spoken directly to Brenddel about any of this, “But you said you hated…”
“I grew to hate him, true, because of Trunculin's lies. But at the time, it didn't feel like Trunculin made me do it. Before the lies, I thought he was the best king we'd ever had. I would have died for him, killed for him. Instead, my blind stupid rage took hold.”