“Yeah, whatevs...” Rowen shrugged.
Tybor still didn’t care for Rowen’s flippant attitude, but it amused him at the thought that he must have gotten that from Emelda. He decided to give the kids the benefit of a doubt and left them to figure out how they would spend their next hour. He knew the threat here was minimal, but he didn’t want to take too many chances.
“What are we going to do now?” Tat inquired, not sure of the plan. The only real thing she honestly wanted to do at this point was find some way home. She missed her ba and da something terrible, and she knew they missed her just as much.
“I guess anything we want to do, for a change,” Rowen smiled.
“Well I know what I want to do,” Aidan said with all the excitement of a kid in a candy store, “I can’t wait to take a peek at the engine room on this thing.”
“Engine room? Why would you want to go see a bunch of gears turning and dwarves shoveling stuff into burners?” Rowen questioned showing he had no interest in going.
“I dunno. I just think it’s interesting.”
“If you say so man. I saw on the sign in the lobby that there was a library in here. You go do your thing; I think I’m going to go see what they have in the magick section.”
“You sure we should split up?” Aidan asked, wondering why Rowen would want to waste his time around musty old books when there were so many other neat things to explore.
“Yeah man, it’s not like we ain’t got time to kill. And how much danger could there really be? This is the Ceil’s zypher after all. I’ll catch up with you guys on the hour mark like the old man said.”
“Ok. I guess that will work,” Aidan added, wondering if they really should split up or not, he’d gotten rather used to doing things in a group with them, “what about you Tat; you want to go to the engine room with me or go to the library with Rowen?”
“Oh. Well... I kind of wanted to just go stay in my room a while and catch up on sleep a bit if that’s all right.” She looked down at the ground feeling guilty. She knew she wasn’t being completely honest, but why bring them down too? They seemed to be enjoying themselves for a change.
Aidan and Rowen exchanged glances. For the first time, they noticed that something wasn’t right about Tat’s lack of enthusiasm.
“All right, if that’s what you really want to do,” Rowen commented.
“Just keep an eye on the time dial, we need to meet back up at the four mark so we don’t gotta hear another lecture,” Aidan reminded her and Tat nodded.
Both Rowen and Aidan hurried to the map on the wall as Tat and Tok returned to her room.
“Hey, do you think we should make Tat tell us what’s bugging her?” Aidan asked Rowen.
“Make her?” Rowen gave Aidan a strange look, before turning his attention to the map below the time dial. “Just how are we supposed to make her? ‘Sides man, she’s her own person; she will tell us when she’s good and ready to.”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right, but you know she has a tendency to hold things in.”
“True, but let’s give it a bit; she’ll probably work it out. Anyway, time’s a ticking. The library is down one deck on the starboard side, which is the other side of the ship from the looks of it. And it looks like the engine room is two decks down from here on port side, but you’ve got to go across the outer mid-deck to get to it.”
“‘K. Well, see you at four.”
“See ya,” Rowen called back to Aidan, already heading for the starboard side exit. He wasn’t sure what resources he’d find on magick in a library on the Ceil’s zypher, but he had some hope he’d at least find something worth bothering to look at.
The truth of the matter was Rowen loved anything about magick and would soak it up like a sponge. Even before his amma had let him in on the family secret, he’d pretend to be some great wizard while other boys were pretending to be superheroes or cops and robbers. Once he found out that magick was real and in his blood, he couldn’t stop himself from wanting to learn more about it, studying it every chance he got.
Finding the library without a problem, Rowen turned the brass knob on the darkened wooden door but it wouldn’t open. Is it stuck? He put his shoulder into it and it popped like a cork on a wine bottle, causing Rowen to almost fall once it sprang open.
The air in the room, thick with dust, choked him and he coughed loudly, trying to get his lungs able to breathe again. Apparently no one had been in here in quite a while. Running his fingers along the wall looking for a light switch, he drew back his fingers feeling the wet mold clinging to it. Clearly this room wasn’t on the rotation for the cleaning staff.
Finding a lever, the room came alive with bio-lamps along the shelved corridors illuminating the labyrinth of the forgotten archive. The library was way bigger than he’d imagined, taking up a good chunk of the deck. He found what must’ve at one time been a librarian station desk, but it looked like it hadn’t been manned in years. Poking around the station he found a map listing the sections of the rows of books, happy to see there was indeed a magick section in an adjoining room to this one.
Ready to go exploring with map in hand, Rowen carelessly bumped the desk knocking off a small round brass case. Out of curiosity he picked it up, flipped the locking mechanism on the front of it, and it folded out to be some sort of portable spring-loaded time dial.
A brass ring plate that displayed the dial extended upward rather than lying flat like most pocket watches. It surprised him to see it had the correct time, just one tick before the one thirds mark after the third hour. Deciding that this thing could be useful he borrowed it, figuring no one would miss it.
Nothing seemed to be in the exact order it showed on the map. Books were mostly unshelved, stacked haphazardly in unorganized piles on the floor, or partially tucked in boxes. Rowen surmised that they must be planning to do away with the library and were in the process of packing it all up. Well, this is going to make things a little more difficult. Determined to find a book on magick that would be worth spending his time on during the next three days he decided to not let it deter him.
Aidan loved the feel of the warm wind brushing against his cheeks as he walked across the outer mid deck. He wished he was allowed to go without his cloak so he could soak up more of the sun’s rays. Heeding Tybor’s warning, he took great care to not get too close to the dark wooden and brass spindle rails. An elven couple sunbathed in minimal attire on leisure deck chairs. Things in this world really weren’t all that different than home to some extent, he noted.
He thought about Rowen’s question, why did he want to go see a bunch of gears turning and stuff’? He still didn’t have an exact answer; all he knew is that it fascinated him. And for the first time since he’d been in this world, this ‘stuff’ felt right to him. It drew him to it, and he just couldn’t explain why.
While he was loving the feeling of the wind and sun on his face, he was eager to get down below and look at the engine that was powering this flying beast. Not to mention, out in the open air the whirring noise of the propellers was more than he cared for. Knowing it would be more muffled on the inside, he ran across the deck at a full run.
Approaching the end of the deck, he came to a steel gray metal door marked ‘Engine Room’ with a sign just below it saying, ‘No Unauthorized Passengers Allowed’. He sighed; he’d gotten his hopes up for nothing. Tempted to go in anyway, he silently debated the idea, knowing that it might get him in a lot of trouble. If they cut off hands and feet for stealing, he wondered what would be the penalty inflicted if he disobeyed a sign? Worse, what would Tybor do about it if he found out?
Just as Aidan turned to head back below deck he heard the heavy door swing open. Startled, he spun around to see a bald dwarven man with a full mustache and a long dark gray braided beard. He wore olive green coveralls, a tan linen and leather apron, with a matching sooty billed-cap perched on his head. Aidan was sure he must be one of the engineers.
“‘Scuse me,” the dw
arf said as he stepped out onto the deck, “Can I help you?” Aidan wasn’t sure how to respond, so he just stood there, mouth gaping open.
“Are ya lost?” the dwarf questioned.
“Huh? Oh, eh... no. I was just wondering if I could look at the engine room. I mean, well...” Aidan stammered, “This is my first time on an airship and I’m just curious.”
“Well, the thing is, we don’t normally let passengers come down to the boiler. It’s a bit dangerous.”
“Oh. Ok. I understand,” Aidan said rather disappointed.
“I’ll tell ya what though,” the dwarf said not caring for disappointing the boy and seeing that Aidan was showing genuine interest, “I’m the Chief Engineer. Marko they call me, an’ I guess if I give you a private tour, it wouldn’t hurt nothing. That is, if you promise not to go bothering anything.”
“Really?” Aidan’s hope returned. “That would be great!”
“But, uhmm...” Marko hesitated, “If you don’t mind, I was just heading out for a late lunch. Can you come back at 4?”
“Well, I would but I have to meet up with some people at four for just a short bit, but I can probably come afterwards though.”
“All right then. How’s about four and a mark past?”
“Yeah, I think I can do that. Thanks so much, you just made my day!”
“What’s your name son?”
“Oh, sorry, it’s Aidan.”
“Well Aidan, see you after four then,” Marko strolled past Aidan and gave a quick wave, undoubtedly on his way to the ship’s galley.
“See you after four... And enjoy your lunch!” Aidan called back, giddy with excitement and anticipation of getting a guided tour of the engine room from the chief engineer.
Tat closed the door behind her once Tok was also in. Three days. What was she going to do for the next three days? At least it will be mostly over by then. All they had left to do is go to the temple and ask to speak with the Goddess Serendi. Surely that would be the last of it. With the setbacks they’d had so far, she wasn’t sure if she could handle yet another one.
Maybe she should have went with Aidan to the engine room. Nah, I would just be my clumsy self and fall on something important and probably make the whole ship come down. Well maybe she should’ve gone with Rowen to the library. No, no need to be a bother. Besides, I just need some alone time. I can’t possibly cause any more problems if I’m in my room alone, she thought to herself.
Tat dropped face down onto the bed like a stone falling into a still pond. It was almost a divine feeling. So soft and comfortable, just like home. She rolled to her side and drew her knees into her body, wrapping her arms around them.
Why did she have to be so stubborn? Why did she take that stupid stone and go in the first place? The guilt had been welling up in her since the beginning of this journey, and now it was about to spill out all over the place, starting with the tears streaming down her face.
She couldn’t help but remember what Tybor said to her yesterday. “All of dis happen’d for a reason, it’s not yer fault.” ‘Well, if it wasn’t my fault, then whose fault is it? Why is all this happening?’ she asked herself.
“Mister Tybor... He must know what the point of all this is,” she whimpered aloud to Tok, sniffling as the tears gushed from her eyes, “I need to find him and ask him. I can’t handle this anymore”
She forced herself to sit upright on the side of the bed. Her head ached and her eyes were red and sore. She knew she had to stop crying before she set out to find him. Taking a few moments she willed herself to stop crying, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. She inhaled a deep breath trying to quiet her nerves before heading out, leaving Tok to sit on the bed and wander what all that was about.
Tat searched above and below on each deck of the bow, never running into anyone, then remembered Tybor said his room was on the starboard side, so she figured she’d check there. This is stupid. I can’t even follow a stupid map. Maybe it is pointless. Maybe I should just go back and...
“Tatyana,” Tybor called her name from behind her.
“Hi… uhm... Mister Tybor...” She turned to face him, trying to be calm.
“You’s a’ight missy?” He noticed she’d been crying, even if she did try to erase all the evidence.
“Uh... well...”
“Le’s go in my room an’ talk, it’s jus’ up yon’er,” he pointed to the end of the hall.
“Oh, all right then.” Her legs and feet felt like oatmush and she could barely take a step forward. Seeing this, Tybor put his hand on her shoulder to steady her, thinking he might have to catch her before she fell and carry her into the room.
“Wha’s wrong?” Tybor asked opening the door.
“Why? Why do you think something is wrong?” Tat stepped in, trying to pretend she was all right, then gaped at the enormity of his room. Her room was large enough and sophisticated, but this room defined splendor, and was three times the size of the other rooms!
A king-sized darkened wood poster bed made up with lush satiny dark red sheets and pillows with gold trim sat on a high platform with steps leading to it. Adjacent to it sat a beautiful fireplace decked out with black marble and brass. Near another wall sat a good-sized marble top table with four chairs. A davenport and a matching grand wardrobe and other smaller furnishings also had a home in this room. She remembered he’d said this was the Ceil’s private quarters, but never realized how nice it would be.
“Now you’s not tellin’ me dat I don’t know when somethin’s wrong are ya?” he asked, pulling up a dark red crushed velvet winged-back chair for her to sit in. He sat down in an identical one across from hers, hoping she would feel more at ease that way.
“Well,” Tat felt embarrassed as she sat down. “I know that you usually know what’s going on...”
“So’s, wha’s wrong?”
She couldn’t stop herself from bursting out in tears. She covered her face with her hands. “I’m sorry, I made a mistake. I shouldn’t be bothering you; you’ve got important–”
Tybor gently grabbed her wrists and pulled her hands down from her face. “I asked wha’s wrong. Polite ding ta do is ans’er me Missy.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry again Mister Tybor...”
“Stop apologizin’ an’ jus’ tell me.”
“It’s just that, well, I don’t think I belong here. I mean...” She tried to collect her thoughts so she’d make sense. “Aidan is the one that needs help, he’s got a whole Otherworld to get back to, and Rowen, you’ve promised his grandba to help him and he’s determined to help Aidan, and well, you’re here because of your missions and all... but I don’t belong here.
“All I do is cause trouble. I’m no good to anyone. I thought maybe if I helped Aidan out, and do stuff for him, because you know... well, it’s my fault he’s here and all, and now I suppose I should be helping Rowen and you too.”
“I dought we’d settle’ dis problem already,” Tybor let go of her wrists and shook his head, “now look, as I says before, dis ain’t yer fault, an’–”
“I know you said that sir, but I can’t help but feel like it is. I mean I’m Errata, I should’ve never taken the keystone and gone to the Otherworld to begin with. I was being stupid and stubborn and–”
“Yep. You’s were bein’ stupid an’ you made a stupid mistake. Is dat what you wanted ta hear?” Tat wasn’t sure what Tybor would say, but she didn’t expect to hear him say that. Dropping her head, she stared at the floor and started sobbing again.
“But all dat is in da past an’ it doesn’t make any of dis yer fault. Da Fates,” he sighed. “Well, dey’s got dere own agenda. An’ I dun know really what it is all about, but I will tell ya somethin’, maybe I shouldn’t, but I’m gonna. De ‘higher ups’, de missions deys have given me. You’s know, it’s not da Crown I’ve been talkin’ ‘bout; it’s da Fates demselves.”
Tat nearly fell out of her chair, unable to believe what she was hearing. “What do you mean? The Fates
sent you on a mission to help us get to the temple? But why? I thought they wanted all of us Errata eradicated. Isn’t that why they sent the Annokai after us?”
Tybor resisted the urge to grip his hands into fists as he stood up. “I can’t answer all dat. I jus’ gotta do as I been tol’. Let me jus’ say, not all da Fates dink Errata needs ta be eradicated. An’ I know you’s all got an important part to play in all dis. It’s not fer me ta say what dat is...but ya do have a big part ta play. All three of ya. Meaning all of ya has ta be here Tatyana. Aidan an’ Rowen an’ you. You’re all meant ta be righ’ here righ’ now – jus’ as I’m meant ta be righ’ here to protect ya.”
“Well, I think somebody made a mistake. I’m no use to anyone. I can’t do anything right. I don’t know what the Fates need from Aidan or Rowen, but I know they will probably be able to do it better without me getting in the way. Me, I’m just a screw up. I deserve to be an Errata. When we get to Breah Dorn I’m just going to go straight to the Annokai and ask to be eradicated–”
“No! You’ll do no such thing missy!” Tybor stood and shouted, startling Tat since she never heard him raise his voice to this volume. “You’n un’er my protection an’ I won’t stan’ fer it. You jus’ get dat notion outta yer head righ’ now. It’s not goin’ ta happen,” he paused for a short moment. “I can’t believe dat’s what you’s want. Tell me Tatyana, do you’s really wanna stop existin’?”
“I just,” she sniffled, “I don’t really know what I want. I guess I want Aidan to get home, and Rowen’s grandba to get better so he can go home and be with her, and I want... I don’t know... I just miss my ba and da so much. I just want to go home!”
“I know chil’, I knows,” Tybor said lifting her out of her chair and giving her a gentle hug as the tears spilled from her eyes.
“I... can’t... stop thinking... it’s my fault.”
The Fateless: Errata Page 17