“We’ll be there soon,” Yerdarva called to them as she flew lower and lower. Finally the first view of Lake Superior blossomed before them, and the first signs of civilization appeared. Ruined cottages and collapsed walls marked the remains of a village that hugged the granite cliffs of the North Shore. A few miles north of their position they saw the smoky cloud that covered the Isle of Lakes and the great shipyards that filled the industrial city built by Cain.
“Three hours till sunset,” Jacob muttered as he looked at his watch. “It’s six in the evening. We need to get a little closer and find a way into the city.”
Yerdarva ran along the coasts bringing them, as close as she could to their destination just as the sun began to set. Finally they soared down behind a hill that blocked their view of the island. The dragon landed and motioned for them to dismount.
“You must find a way to enter the city and see if you can free Jackie. I’m going to burn the outer guard posts and draw their attention to me,” the dragon said. “I’ll start at midnight even if you’re not in place. Good hunting to you.” Her voice seemed sad and her eyes even more so.
“We’ll see you again,” Jacob said hopefully.
“I don’t know, young Runner,” Yerdarva replied. “Cain has many powerful weapons at his disposal, some of them strong enough even to slay a full-grown dragon such as myself.” She stopped for a moment and then continued. “I truly hope to see you again, but if not in this lifetime then perhaps in the afterlife.”
“What of your egg?” Jacob asked.
“He has hatched and has ample food,” Yerdarva said with a touch of pride. “It was my last act as his mother. He will be safe inside the mountain until I either return to break the protections or break them himself when he is strong enough.” She turned her head and pulled her lips back in an imitation of a smile.
Jacob put one hand on the noble creature’s neck and patted it sadly. She seemed resigned to the idea that she would not survive the coming battle. “I’m not going to say good bye, just see you soon.”
Yerdarva nodded and then leaped into the air and disappeared to the west. She hunted one last time to fill her strength and prepare for the battle coming that night.
Chapter 15
The Ferry Crossing
Evening
Jacob and Flying Cloud followed a narrow trail leading to the lake shore, with Bella sitting on Jacob’s shoulder. Despite the massive collection of stone and timber buildings covering the distant shores of the Isle of Lakes, the nearby shore of Lake Superior was home to a simple dock and a tattered ferry. Three timber huts clustered around the dock, and four men stood nearby talking when they approached.
Jacob squared his shoulders and wore his anchor prominently on his chest. Bella wore a small collar around her neck, and a thin piece of leather that looked like a leash stretched to Flying Clouds hand. They had discussed the best options, and Jacob decided to approach boldly with his anchor out hoping that the lesser Adherents would be cowed by his supposed status.
“Who are you?”
Jacob turned his best arrogant sneer to the man and glared at him, “Get the ferry ready to cross.” He continued towards the rickety boat tied to the short dock. The boat was about thirty feet long and wallowed awkwardly on the waves.
“But we are done for the night,” complained one of the men.
Jacob whirled and drew his sword from its sheath, resting the blade moments later on the man’s neck. “I have business in the city. I will not be slowed down, even if I need to bury some of you.”
The rough looking boatman stumbled back as his face paled. He glanced at his friends and then hurried towards the ferry. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.” The ferry man’s voice shook as he ordered his fellow workers to ready the vessel for travel.
The sun was disappearing in the west as they pulled away from the dock. The lake surface calmed as the sun set, and the men slowly pulled with the oars, hoping for a favorable wind to speed up the journey.
“Sun’s almost gone.”
“What matter?” Jacob replied evenly to the master of the ferry. He turned a cold look on the man and waited for him to continue.
“It’s just that weird things happen in the open water after dark.”
Jacob let out an exasperated hiss. “Fine. Drop us on this side of the island,” Jacob replied shortly. Already they were half way to the Isle of Lakes and the last purple clouds were vanishing from the sky. Around them the water had gone calm, as if the lake was holding its breath and waiting to see what the night might bring.
“Yes, sir,” the ferry man nodded.
Another hour passed and the island slowly grew closer until they had come within a hundred yards of the city. The shore on this side of the island were covered with stone dwellings and smaller docks, the homes of fishermen with smaller vessels.
“Where do you want us to dock?” the ferry man asked.
Jacob looked at the man and noticed he wasn’t as nervous as he had been earlier. They’re planning something, he thought. He waited to answer and noticed several of the men looked at Flying Cloud with open lust. They wanted the woman and Bella and would do anything to have them, especially now that they felt closer to their own base of power.
“Any of the smaller docks,” Jacob motioned with a wave of his hand. He turned slightly and used the motion to place his hand on his sword hilt. “Get ready,” he intoned to Flying Cloud. As the ferry captain turned away, Jacob pulled his shield from his back and slipped his arm into the straps. About twenty feet of space separated them from the dock when the ferry master decided to make his move.
On shore, nothing moved as darkness settled fully across the island, Jacob heard the rush of footsteps and pulled his sword from its sheath, whipping around and swinging a wide blow that made all the men falter. He slammed the nearest oarsman across the head with his shield, sending him to the deck. From Flying Cloud’s shoulder Bella’s tiny bow hummed, and another man reeled backwards, an arrow sticking from his throat.
“Get them, boys!” the ferry master shouted breaking the silence.
Suddenly there was a wash of light across the ferry. Everyone stopped to look towards shore. A dark shape swooped out of the sky and a line of dragon’s fire engulfed the buildings clustered near the dock where the ferry normally sat. Yerdarva’s massive wings rocked across the open water. She spit a line of fire over the smaller dwellings just north of them. Moments later the dragon was gone north, and Jacob grabbed Flying Cloud’s hand and picked up Bella. He leapt for the dock. They tumbled to the wooden planks as the ferry crashed into the rocks near shore with a grinding sound as the hull gave way under the sharp rocks.
Jacob led them up the dock and away from the shouts of the ferry men. North of where they stood the sickly glow of flames sprouted from the wooden building as the dragon scortched everything.
“We need to find out where the prisoners are held,” Jacob muttered. The city around them filled with chaos, every creature and man ran to the streets and streamed north to answer the tolling of the fire warning bells.
“Rumor says that the dungeons below the Viscount’s castle are filled with prisoners,” Bella muttered as she clung to Jacob’s shoulder. “We would have to find a way into the castle.” She pointed east and north where a series of blocky towers rose into the night sky.
“That’s where we’ll start then,” Jacob replied. He shouldered his way into the crowd with Flying Cloud clinging to him and started towards the fortress.
* * * * *
Earlier the same day
Eriunia and Tasker had rested very little after arriving at the mushroom circle just north of the Isle of Lakes. Up the shore from where they stood was a rough collection of buildings that surrounded the docks where the cargo ships carrying iron loaded and traveled throughout the Great Lakes. Filtering through the forest behind them came most of Puck’s goblins and almost two-hundred of the best warriors their small rebellion could find.
�
�We need to take the cargo docks quietly,” Tasker whispered one last time. “No one can escape. If word gets out, they’ll send out the army stationed on the Isle of Lakes, and we’ll have to run.”
Those gathered around him nodded. The beginning of the plan was simple enough—take the docks and continue to operate them as if nothing had happened. Rebels were dressed as Adherents and would operate all the key points while the goblins ranged through the forests, acting as scouts. Then a small party would stow away aboard one of the cargo ships in route to the Isle of Lakes and attempt to infiltrate the dungeons under the castle.
Tasker waited until he received word that the net of scouts was in place and then he led his force through the forest towards the docks. Four great buildings were arranged about the two long docks that stretched out into the lake. Around the four buildings was a scattered collection of small log dwellings and a pair of watch towers. Those watch towers had to be taken, and they had to be taken quickly. Luckily, the watchers atop the towers seemed more interested in the line of ore wagons rattling down the dirt road from the north.
“Go,” Tasker motioned Braun, and two elf warriors forward. The lithe fighters dashed out of the cover of the trees and sprinted across the hundred yards of open ground that separated them from the first tower. Tasker and Eriunia held their breath until the three were standing with their backs to the wooden structure. The tower was closed on all sides, and a thick oaken door guarded the stairs leading to the top. They saw Braun bend over the lock for a moment. A few minutes later the lock fell away and the three elves disappeared into the depths of the watch tower.
“They’re in,” Tasker said. He motioned to the rebels crouched in the forest behind him. “Let’s go. Remember no one can get away to raise the warning.” With those words he led his force from the trees, but quickly heard a startled shout from the nearest watch tower, but it was cut quickly. With a flash of knife blades, Braun and the others entered the top of the tower and made short work of the unsuspecting Adherents.
The battle to overrun the docks went quickly, with some confused shouts but very few fights. Three Adherents in the second watch tower managed to fire their muskets once before Braun picked the iron lock and overwhelm them. Tasker led fully half the rebel force across the docks, where two cargo ships were tied off to the wooden structure and the crews offered no resistance as the grim-faced rebels leapt over the railings and restrained them.
“What do we do with the crews?” a rebel asked.
“Lock them in a warehouse and keep a close watch on them,” Tasker ordered as the prisoners marched down the dock. Two buildings were filled with stalls, and empty wagons waited to return to the iron mines. One of the buildings was completely empty but showed signs of having recently been used to house cattle. The last one was filled with iron ore waiting to be loaded into the ships. “You know what to do,” Tasker said, nodding to the bearded rebel in an Adherent’s robe and toting a magical musket.
“We’ll keep things running and make no noise,” he confirmed. “We’ll force a few of the captives to show us their standard routines …” he held up his hands. “Don’t worry we won’t hurt anyone too badly,” he said with a smile. “Nothing permanent anyway.” His big toothy grin made Tasker chuckle before he turned to where Braun hand-picked the lock and forced his way aboard the fully loaded ship.
“Are we ready?” Tasker asked.
“Aye, the captain claimed this ship was heading to the Isle of Lakes,” Braun replied. “He claims they’ve been dropping iron there for the last few months. Says the shipyard there is working on something.”
“Did he say what?” Tasker asked.
“Nay, claimed he didn’t know,” Braun replied. “Claims the yard workers have been very close lipped about the whole thing.”
“Well, there’s little we can do about it right now,” Tasker said. The last of his small group boarded the ship, an iron-hulled vessel similar in design to the Ironships that prowled the Great Lakes to protect the iron trade but without cannons or defenses. It was simply a great iron hull with rough crews quarters and a steam room that harnessed the earth’s magnetic lines to drive a propeller and a simple steering mechanism.
“The cargo hold’s about half full,” Braun reported. “Hopefully it is enough to keep the watchers on the Isle from suspecting anything more than incompetence at play here.”
“Good,” Tasker replied. It was already well past midday and they still had a two hour journey by ship to reach the far side of the Isle of Lakes and carry out the rest of their plan.
* * * * *
Present day
It was another week until Jackie saw Carvin again. This time he slipped inside the door and motioned for her to be quiet. He stood at the door listening for almost a full minute before turning and walking to where she was waiting.
“Something is happening,” Carvin whispered. “My father has had soldiers running everywhere all day.”
“Something?” Jackie asked in confusion.
“Remember when I told you about the Temple of Adherency and the dwarf that controls it?” Carvin asked. When she nodded he continued. “There’s a rebellion stirring around the Lakes. Word has begun to filter back to my father and the leader of the Temple on Manitoulin Island of what has happened. Apparently the rebels are led by a young woman from the other side of the Divide who looks a lot like you.”
“Jane!” Jackie gasped. “But how could she have come here?”
“There are people who can pass back and forth,” Carvin admitted.
“Why didn’t you tell me that before?” Jackie asked in a hurt voice.
“Because it is rare,” Carvin said as he defended himself. “Without the aid of a talented map maker and someone who knows how to craft the anchors it is nearly impossible. I didn’t want to get your hopes up until I found someone who was willing to help us escape.”
“Wait a minute, help us escape?” Jackie said. She arched one eyebrow at him and waited for him to continue.
“Well, I was hoping to escape with you,” Carvin admitted. His face turned red as he stammered over the words. “I hate this place and I hate my father. He’s horrible, you’ve seen what he did to me last time he caught me coming to visit you. I would join the rebellion if I thought I had a way to escape the Isle of Lakes.”
“So what do we do?” Jackie asked. She huddled on the edge of her bed and whispered the words softly, trying to make sure she would not be heard outside the cell. Suddenly from outside the room there was a chorus of shouts and Carvin’s face paled.
“I’ll be back for you,” Carvin hissed. He rose and hurried to the door. “I promise you, we are going to escape this place tonight. I don’t know how yet but I’m not letting you stay in this cell any longer.”
A look of determination filled his face, and for the first time in almost a year Jackie felt a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she would finally escape this place and return to her own world.
Chapter 16
Reunion
Jane walked up the wide stone steps to the fortress under the watchful eyes of dozens of Adherents in crisp uniforms, each carrying the newest version of the magic musket. Unlike the Adherents she had seen up until then, these soldiers were professionals and showed no signs of weakness. Stern faces watched her, but their eyes widened slightly at the sight of her escort and no one dared to interrupt them.
“This way, my dear,” Averill said. They turned right after entering the imposing fortress. Thick stone walls almost thirty feet tall guarded the outside and three buildings, forming an open sided square, and filled the area to the right of the gate. To the left and before the gates a sprawling series of buildings, all connected to each other, filled the open area where Jane could see dozens of people moving about. Many of those inside the walls wore the black robes of the Adherency but some were dressed in brighter colors.
“Who are they?” Jane asked pointing to the men and women all wearing white robes. Their skin was olive color and
their hair almost completely black without exception.
“A group of clerics from the Persian Zoroastrians,” Averill said as he motioned for her to continue walking. “They came here from half way around the world to see Overmaster Cain’s factories and to bargain for his science.”
Averill led Jane to the middle of the three buildings and entered through an open gate. The first room was a massive vaulted affair with many soldiers standing guard over a half dozen tables with stacks of papers and worried men and women studying them. One glance at Averill, and they motioned him through the maze towards a staircase that led down. As far as Jane could see, the stairs continued into the ground, but Averill had her exit on the first floor. The tunnel was well lit, and a barred gate blocked their progress. A stern soldier stood nearby.
“I have a special prisoner,” Averill said to the dwarf fingering his pistol-like weapon and watching them.
The soldier looked at Jane with an appraising stare before he keyed open the door and allowed them to enter the passage. Two more dwarf soldiers waited for them beyond the gate, and they guided Jane towards a distant cell protected with an iron door. When they arrived, Averill stepped forward and tapped the iron with his knuckle.
“You know what this is?” Averill asked.
“Iron?” Jane replied.
“Not just iron. But cold iron. It’s nearly immune to magic,” Averill explained. “Your skill as a Map Maker is useless inside here. Of course you understand the dangers of trying to cross over without an anchor or a map. Death … lost forever in the darkness of the Divide.”
One of the dwarf escorts opened the door and motioned for her to step inside.
“Besides, when Cain receives the report I’m going to file, he’ll bring you both to Lake Huron to see him,” Averill said with a shrug.
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