“Let’s! It might come in handy if we have to pretend you have a gift at some point. Arcantons do not normally display the name gifts Narisis impart on their girls…at least not naturally. There have been some abominable experiments on changing gifts throughout history, but… well that’s a discussion for another time. Chastity… Temperance… these aren’t the sorts of gifts you would find in the natural world. Usually it is something simple like bending an element or growing things, sometimes mental gifts or physical ones. Nothing so esoteric as the ones chosen on Nar.”
“Yes, Deliverance is a gift-name I have yet to figure out,” Deliverance admitted. “I often have wondered if my mother was addlepated with birth pains when she selected it. I seem to have had no magic up until this point. And this magic was merely mirroring yours. It is not mine.”
“Yes…Deliverance is a bit of a mysterious choice, although I am sure Cat had her reasons,” Jack allowed.
Deliverance’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know so much about my mother?”
Jack put up his hands in placation, saying, “I have not met her in person. But I think that is probably a question best left for Lord Asher. Let’s work on extinguishing the flame, so that we can have a better understanding of your control.”
Deliverance quelled her urge to demand further information and focused on the task at hand. They worked on extinguishing and relighting the little orb of fire floating in Deliverance’s palm until she felt confident she could do so without coaching.
“Excellent. I thought perhaps it might be much more challenging to teach you. Children usually grow into their gifts as their gifts grow, if you see what I mean,” Jack said, and Deliverance nodded. That made perfect sense. As the children matured, so did their powers. “This is most promising,” he added, although Deliverance did not know to what end it might be promising. In the back of her mind she wondered how long it would take the Daedalus to reach Lord Asher.
By this time the sun had shifted high overhead, and Deliverance was beginning to feel cooped up in the cabin. She had not spent so much time inside since last winter. The thought of winter drew her mind to her animals. She hoped someone was caring for them and she hoped most of all that someone was her own mother.
“Shall we get some air? I should explain the next phase of our journey soon, as it will be taking place this evening if the charts are accurate,” Jack said, standing and stretching. Deliverance looked away as his shirt slipped up, revealing a taught stomach. Life at sea must have its physical advantages, Deliverance thought abashedly.
She followed him out of the cabin after donning her gloves, up the metallic staircase and out onto the open-air deck. It was still foreign to her to see so much metal surrounding them, despite the cabin’s furnishings being wrought in masterful woodwork. When she was a child, she used to spy on the smithy, watching the blacksmith pound away with his hammer and forge. It was a wonder to watch him meld metals, forming something stronger than either of the parts, and then bend them to his will with the white, searing heat. It was a little like magic, although she never would have insulted the blacksmith by saying something was feminine about his work.
Being aboard this ship made Deliverance feel like she had shrunk to the size of a fairy and landed softly like ash in one of his metallurgic works. There was something alive about the ship as it broke through the whitecaps, causing a spraying wake. It was like those strange creatures she would glimpse far out at sea from the top of the seaside ridge during the autumn season…whales? Yes, whales. She knew alive things could not be made of metal, but even so, the ship reminded her of the elegant seafaring motion of those beasts. Perhaps it was a physical bond between creatures and things adept at navigating the sea.
“Ah Finley! The weather seems good for it tonight, yeah?” Jack said, raising a hand in greeting and heading off to talk to the captain. Deliverance followed more slowly, savoring the tang of the salt air. She used to sit amongst the sea oats at home and pull the sea air in great inhalations, like a drink for her lungs, although she knew not yet what she was thirsting for.
“Aye, should get you back before anyone knows you’re gone,” Finley replied, slapping Jack on the back heartily. His impressive grey dreadlocks shook as they dangled like Spanish moss.
“Good man!” Jack returned the gesture by locking their arms. They must sail together frequently, Deliverance thought as she sidled closer. Finley was rather pungent, although Deliverance tried not to notice.
Jack turned to her and clasped his hands together. “Alright, so let me explain what is about to happen as best I can.” He reached out and took her gloved hand, indicating she should follow him from the quarterdeck to the upper deck. There, men were busily carting loads of what looked like canvas material onto the deck of the ship in a systematic manner. Shouts of instruction volleyed back and forth between the men as they worked to move the heavy, massive cloth.
“It is of the utmost importance we enter into Arcanton undetected,” Jack began. This made sense, Deliverance thought. Pirates would not want to announce their whereabouts or have to pay taxes on the goods they plundered or whatever it was that happened when one sailed into a port. She honestly did not know for sure, but could only guess. “And this is how we do it,” Jack said, gesturing to the piles accumulating before them.
She frowned. “Are you going to…cloak the ship in that?” Deliverance asked doubtfully, pointing at the canvas with the toe of her leather boot. This plan seemed…ridiculous.
Jack paused, then threw his head back and laughed. He had a pleasant, rolling laugh, Deliverance thought. Like the heaviest bells pealing in the Abbey.
“No, although it would be rather funny to try to sneak into port that way.” He laughed. “These are…how to explain it…large air containers. In a few minutes, once they are battened down, we are going to inflate them with hot air and the hot air will cause these sacks to expand and lift the ship from the water.”
She blinked at him. “Lift the ship from the water?!”
“Yes, it seems quite daunting when I say it, but it is a rather fun experience. You will be fine,” Jack reassured her, then added with a bit of a wicked glint in his eyes, “You can hold onto me if you like.”
Deliverance cleared her throat and raised her chin. “Thank you for the kind offer, but I can handle whatever comes without dissolving into an ineffectual sop.”
He chuckled. “Alright then.”
Just then, a shout rang out to Jack from Finley across the way. “Care to do the honors, mate?” he called.
Jack winked at Deliverance and bounded over to the captain, who was standing in front of a large, cylindrical tube. It was made of shiny material, like metal, but somehow flexible.
With a flash of green, Jack ignited his fire gift. Green light seemed to crack and shimmer off his entire body, growing with some intricate manipulation of his hands, and he sent the flames pouring like dragon’s blast into the tube, which connected to the underside of the canvas. Deliverance gasped for a second—he was going to light the whole Faded ship on fire! But after a pause it became clear the canvas was not catching fire, but holding the hot air. Deliverance watched with abated breath as the canvas expanded rapidly, inflating and then miraculously lifting from the deck of the ship. The ropes attached firmly to the canvas monstrosity bega
n to creak and strain as the heaving sack of air ever expanded.
Then, impossibly, the ship itself groaned in protest, a loud mauling bellow as it lifted from the salted sea. Showers tumbled from the sides of the ship as it climbed, cubit by cubit, into the air.
Deliverance, in her excitement, ran to the edge of the gangway, grasping the railing to watch as the ship detached itself from the sea. She was not expecting the lurch as the ship settled fully under its hot air sails, and found herself thrown against the railing, clambering for purchase.
“Careful now,” Jack warned as he caught her firmly in his arms.
“Ooof, sorry. I was just so overcome. I had to see it!” Deliverance exclaimed, delight brimming in her voice. They were flying!
“Yes well, best stay toward the insides of the ship for now until we find some smooth air. Going overboard at this point is quite a lot more traumatic than when we are in the water, if you see what I mean,” Jack said, nodding at the whitecaps growing smaller as they climbed. He righted her, and somewhat reluctantly dropped his arms from around her.
“Don’t they need you to keep the fire going to keep the ship afloat?” Deliverance asked curiously, entirely distracted by the events at hand to pay any mind to Jack’s attractions.
“Nah. They have a mechanical fire going under it now. They just like to see me light it because it’s a neat trick,” Jack replied good-naturedly.
“Oh, so they can pilot the ship with the everyone magic…physics?” Deliverance asked. “I would have thought maybe someone with an air commanding gift would be needed for such a task.”
“No, just simple science. Well, I suppose it is not that simple. But yes, it is accomplishable through engineering. Besides, it would take someone with a hell of an air gift to lift an entire ship,” Jack explained.
Deliverance thought he must have a hell of a fire-gift to produce such a raging blast from his person. On Nar even the women with the strongest gifts were barely a spark compared to the great conflagration she had just witnessed. It was terrifying and yet awe inspiring.
Just then Finley strode over, clasping Jack’s hand in some sort of complicated handshake.
“Impressive as always, Jack my man. The crew always gets a kick outta that!” Finley exclaimed with his crusty ale voice. “Not many firebreathers could do what Sir Jack here can do. Takes a damned talent. Crew always marvels at it.” He elbowed Jack in camaraderie. Jack cleared his throat, looking uncharacteristically embarrassed. “Oh Jackie boy, I keep telling ya, it’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Jack scowled. “The gift comes with some unpleasant memories, Finley. But enough of that. Let me take Miss Deliverance here and finish explaining how events will transpire this evening.”
Finley shook his head with an emotion Deliverance could not quite put her finger on…regret, perhaps? Pity? She did not have time to ponder this interaction though, as Jack was tugging her along to the…what did they call it? Oh yes, poop deck. Very odd term. There were no privies there.
“That was quite the show, Master Quentin,” Deliverance said. She absentmindedly tugged at her own gloved fingers. Could she do that?
“Yes, let’s take a peek and see if you still retain my fire-gift,” Jack prompted, noticing her fidgeting. He pulled her away from prying eyes and nodded to her. She removed her gloves, pulling them with her teeth to get them started shimmying off her fingers. She took a breath and focused the way Jack had taught her before, below deck. A small green crack alighted in her palm and became a dull candlelight glow, she grew it taller for a second, but then as diligently as she concentrated, the flame snuffed out. She could not relight it, try as she might.
“Hmm, seems your imprint of someone’s gift lasts only a few hours. Or maybe it is based on the strength of that person’s gift. More experimentation will shed more light on the matter, no pun intended,” Jack noted, then caught her gaze. “With your permission, always, of course, m’lady. There will be no atrocities under my watch.”
“There were atrocities…before?” Deliverance asked carefully, not sure how to broach the topic.
“Mmmm, yes indeed. Much of history is littered with actions our forebears would deem unrighteous. There were periods in time, not just in Arcanton but throughout the world, when this leader or that got it into his or her head they could meddle with the forces of magic. There were periods of purging people with certain kinds of magical gifts. Others in which scientists sought to control which gift a child could develop and to magnify some gifts while wiping out others. It’s rather a complicated, messy business. Once we are settled in Arcanton, I can lend you a few books to read if you are curious—oh, blimey. I mean, that is…can you read?” Jack bumbled.
“What? Of course I can read!” Deliverance cried. What kind of ignorant woman did he take her for?
“Well, it’s just from…studies, we have noticed a propensity for Narisi women to be kept from learning. Even basic literacy,” Jack said sheepishly.
Oh, he did have a bit of a point. Most of the girls in the village could not read or could only do basic sums. Deliverance had taught Effie to read herself when they were both girls. Cat had always insisted she be educated, and yet at the same time told her to mask her education when around the rest of the villagers. When Deliverance was old enough to understand, Cat explained the main islanders believed women reading was untoward and there was no reason to draw unnecessary attention to themselves.
“My mother,” Deliverance said, her voice catching, a mariner’s knot in her larynx. She cleared her throat and began again, “My mother, Cat, always insisted I learn to read, although reading material was scarce. I never knew where she obtained the few volumes we had, although at odd intervals she’d manage to produce a new one here and there.”
“Right, Cat would have insisted such. She seemed so determined you be different. At least from her correspondence. I wondered if perhaps she meant for you to blend in more and not focus on such things,” Jack explained without really explaining at all. How on earth could he fathom what her mother intended for her? Deliverance was not even sure herself what her mother had intended her future look like.
CHAPTER 8
Jack
Watching Deliverance’s eyes light up as the ship wrested itself from the briny sea amused Jack more than he cared to admit. The girl had come alive with excitement rather than the fear he had expected. Hopefully that remained the case into the night. They had some difficult maneuvering to do to get themselves into Arcanton undetected. It was best for everyone, especially Deliverance, if they remained undetected. Good thing his little clandestine forays outside of the Republic allowed him plenty of practice in such matters.
Deliverance let out a gasp, suddenly, as she leaned far out over the water in her enthusiasm to watch the ship lift higher into the air. The railing, however, was slippery with salty sea and she’d lost her balance—she was about to topple overboard!
“Christ! Whoa there,” he said, jumping forward to wrench the girl back from the railing. “Careful, now.” His heart thudded in his jugular. “Sorry,” she said with a smile.
He shook his head as she turned back toward the water again, thankfully not as close to the edge this time. She’d nearly given him a bloody heart attack. Being responsible for her, which un
fortunately destiny seemed fit to shackle him with, was going to be a difficult task but he was determined to keep her safe.
It was not that she was stunningly beautiful in a way he had never seen before, not like the trussed-up hens strutting about the high society of Arcanton’s elite. No, it was that she was unique… scientifically unique, he meant. One of a kind. Someone who could hold the key to unlocking secrets and perhaps even doors. Shackles, even? There were many who would not protect this woman if they knew about her but would use her or worse. He simply hoped Lord Asher would be willing to help. He thought he would be…but with that man, one could never know exactly what he might do.
Jack wrenched himself from his unpleasant reveries and set himself to the task at hand. He motioned for Deliverance to come follow him as he took her to the lazaret. There he pulled out several large, what probably looked to Deliverance like knapsacks.
“This is a parachute,” Jack began.
“Para-shoot? Is that a bird we are going to fell? I do not see any other quarry up here to shoot.”
The girl never ceased to amuse him. Earlier he’d had to explain that toothpaste was not glue for teeth, but rather for maintaining their cleanliness. She seemed dubious about it, but after sniffing it, admitted it did smell rather like the mint and alcohol regiment they used on Nar.
He could not manage to stifle a chuckle. “No, it’s rather like the canvas balloons above our heads only made for a single person, or in our case, a double set of people.”
“It does not look like a balloon. It looks like a pack,” said Deliverance, reaching to poke the knapsack. Jack swatted her hand away gently.
“Ah ah, no touching. For professionals only,” Jack chastised her playfully, then explained, “When I pull this handle here, a curtain of strong cloth comes out and slows our rate of fall so that we can land safely. The ship is cloaked in a sort of camouflage paint that avoids radar…well that avoids detection and we turn our beacons off once we enter Arcanton airspace.”
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