by Drew Wagar
Meru nodded. ‘Now I have to measure the angle that Mayura passes. That, along with the height of Lacaille in the sky gives us a position we can check on the map.’
Meru worked for a few moments before he had the numbers he needed.
‘There,’ he said. ‘Let’s see where we are. Come on.’
He vaulted up into the bridge, where Coran and Mel were waiting. Zoella followed behind him. Meru crouched over the map and ran his fingers down it.
‘Here,’ he said. ‘We’re about one third of the way to Amar from Nireus by this reckoning. There’s your course.’ He showed the plot to Coran.
Coran nodded. ‘Lacaille to the sunward, two points to starboard. Not far off. Mel, how is the engine?’
‘So far so good,’ she replied. ‘I’ve checked best I can, everything looks to be neat and tidy thus far.’
‘Best speed then,’ Coran said.
‘I think we can cruise at three quarters full,’ Mel said. ‘For now at least.’
‘Good work,’ Coran said. ‘Keep the ship moving. Let’s get home.’
For many stretches the Mobilis cruised across the undulating seas of Esurio. Fortunately for Zoella, the weather stayed fine for the most part. She had remained untroubled by any further dreams, the ’tricity seemed to be flowing, even Lacaille was calm. Their progress across the sea was swift and uneventful. The crew busied themselves with bits of maintenance work that Mel ordained were necessary. Zoella spent time with Ren, cleaning and tidying the ship from stem to stern.
‘Never seen the ship so clean,’ Coran commented to both of them, looking around at the scrubbed interior walls, floors and portholes. Zoella smiled and Ren gave a jaunty salute.
‘Ingratiating themselves is more the way of things,’ Fitch grumbled.
‘Just because you don’t like hard work,’ Coran said. He gave Zoella a wink and ruffled Ren’s hair. ‘Good show.’
The ship continued on its way.
‘If our measurements and course are good,’ Meru said at the first chime on the following stretch, ‘we should sight Amar … in the next stretch or so.’
He was on the early watch, with the rest of the crew still asleep. Zoella, standing next to him, caught a hesitation in his voice. He was hopeless at hiding his feelings.
‘Don’t you want to go home?’ she asked.
He looked at her before dropping his gaze. ‘Not really.’
‘Why not?’
Meru didn’t answer.
More secrets? Why can’t he just tell me? This isn’t about trust, this is about hiding things he doesn’t want to reveal …
Zoella changed tack, anxious to avoid another uncomfortable impasse in their conversations. ‘What is Amar like?’
‘It’s an island,’ he replied. ‘A big one, but still an island. Much of it is rocky and uninhabitable. Most folk live on the sunward and shaderight sides. Freezing cold streams and rivers flow down from the mountains to the sea. The main city is on the coast on the shaderight side, Amaris. A port; with fishing and trade. It’s where … where I came from.’
‘Do you have friends there?’ Zoella asked. ‘Family?’
Meru got to his feet. ‘Got to check the course,’ he said, turning away.
Zoella sighed and placed her head in her hands. The sense of loneliness returned.
Fleeing Nireus was supposed to solve problems, not make more …
She was interrupted by another set of footsteps. Zoella looked around to see Mel walking towards her.
‘Anything to report?’ Mel asked.
‘No,’ Meru replied. He stomped past. Zoella saw Mel watch him for a moment before turning to Zoella.
‘That boy still in a mood?’ she asked.
Zoella nodded. ‘I seem to keep saying the wrong thing.’
‘He’s in a huff and no mistake,’ Mel replied. ‘Gave him a piece of my mind and it doesn’t seem to have made much difference. What was it this time?’
‘I only asked about this place we’re going to. Amar. I thought he’d be pleased we’re almost there, but no …’
Mel nodded. She took a look at the ship’s controls and then settled herself down beside Zoella.
‘Did Meru tell you about how we first met?’
Zoella shook her head.
‘We found him adrift, clinging to a piece of wreckage from a ship,’ Mel said. ‘Fitch wanted nothing to do with him as you might expect, but Coran quickly figured out he had the smarts. Turned out his ship had been sunk in a storm and that he was a timekeeper, which came in pretty handy for us. Said he had no family that would miss him, so we never took him back to Amar.’
‘Really?’ Zoella asked. ‘He’s an orphan?’
Mel grinned. ‘There’s the rub. With no family there’s no way he could be even an apprentice timekeeper. That’s a rank in Amar and you have to pay for it, you don’t just decide to be one. He’s got to have had someone back there looking out for him. Coran and I have a bet on what the truth is. We reckon he’s run away from something, bad blood, argument, something like that. I don’t think he ever expected to be away for so long. If he does have folk back home they’ll have long since given him up for dead. Maybe that’s what he’s worried about.’
‘So he’s lying about that too,’ Zoella replied.
‘He’s keeping secrets,’ Mel said. ‘That’s for sure, but there ain’t no one aboard this ship who isn’t. Don’t be too hard on him.’
Zoella pursed her lips.
Mel smiled at her. ‘To be fair, we’ve all got mixed feelings about going home. I’m not sure we’ll get much of a welcome in Amar either.’
‘Why not?’
‘We’ve broken the law you see.’
‘How?’
‘The senate and the councils of Amar decreed that no one should travel out of sight of land rounds ago. The history of our island has been hidden from most folk. Scared of it. They don’t know of the exile, Nireus, or any of the lands you came from. Everything is just myth and legend. They want it to stay that way. We’re coming back with a story of what’s actually there. I don’t think they’ll be all that delighted about that.’
‘Then why return?’
‘Got to be done,’ Mel said. ‘We’ve got to warn our folk, haven’t we? Coran is firm on that score, whatever the consequences. I think he’s right.’
Zoella looked out of the windows of the wheelhouse. The sea was as unending as ever, but the ship was still moving fast. Amar couldn’t be that far away now.
‘What might they do?’ she asked.
‘No idea. Still, we’ll find out soon enough. What about you?’
‘Me?’
‘I figure you must be pretty scared about all this,’ Mel said. ‘You’ve got these powers too, only reasonable that you should be worried about what reception you might get. For most folk on Amar these powers are nothing but half-remembered stories of witches and evil from long ago. Safest not to mention them I think.’
Zoella nodded.
‘I wish I never had them,’ she said. ‘If I could give them up I would. They’ve caused nothing but grief and hardship.’
‘You’ve got to have them for a reason,’ Mel countered. ‘That old man of yours kept you safe, made snuttin’ sure you survived. Your dreams, this Obelisk thing. Once we figure it all out I’m sure they’ll be important.’
Zoella nodded.
‘And we won’t let anything happen to you,’ Mel continued. ‘Let Fitch grumble. He always grumbles; he’ll come around eventually. He just doesn’t like change.’
‘Your captain …’
‘Coran always has to have an eye out for trouble,’ Mel said. ‘But he’s said you’re staying and that’s final. He’ll keep you safe and that young lad safe, have no doubt of that.’
Zoella smiled when she thought of Ren.
‘That little one thinks a lot of you,’ Mel said.
‘He lost everything,’ Zoella said. ‘Doesn’t talk about it, but his home was scorched when the flares hit.’
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‘And you’ve looked after him since,’ Mel said. ‘You’ve got a heart for it. I can see that. But sometimes you need looking after yourself.’
Zoella looked around. ‘Thank you for everything you’ve done for me.’
Mel put an arm around Zoella’s shoulder. It felt warm and comforting. Tears sprang into her eyes and she found herself sobbing.
Daf and Creg were stationed at the forepeak of the Mobilis when Amar came in sight. First a series of mountains rose from the sea, wreathed in misty cloud. Before long, the wider island could be seen growing before them. It looked lush and green, much as they remembered it. Lacaille blazed in the sky above and the sea was flat and calm.
Cheers greeted the news and everyone rushed up on deck to get a view, glad of the change and looking forward to setting foot on dry land once more.
‘Your course was pretty much perfect,’ Coran said, grinning at Meru. ‘Down to the spell, nice work.’
Meru nodded, but didn’t respond. Coran rolled his eyes at Mel, who shrugged. Meru took over at the helm.
‘Let’s hoist our flags,’ Coran instructed, climbing down from the wheelhouse. ‘Amaran colours. Haven’t flown them in a while!’
Daf and Greg busied themselves at the masts and the maroon flags embossed with a white fellin were soon fluttering in the breeze above.
Ren was watching the approaching land with fascination.
‘Amar?’ he asked.
Zoella nodded beside him. ‘Yes, far across the sea we’ve come.’
Mel had grabbed the ’scope from the bridge and was looking through it at the coastline.
‘I can see the harbour well enough,’ she said. ‘Looks like all the ships are home and moored, there’s no smokes. Fisher-folk should be out to sea at this time of the stretch.’
Coran gestured for the ’scope and looked for himself.
‘No ships out at all,’ he agreed. ‘Nothing. Seems strange.’ He adjusted the course of the Mobilis. ‘We’ll come wide through the harbour entrance and see where we can moor up. Doubtless they’ve seen us by now, they’ll be wondering who in the world we are …’
The Mobilis continued to cruise forward, closing to around a mark from the coast.
‘I can see folks on the harbour wall,’ Mel said, having retrieved the ’scope. ‘Definitely seen us, quite a commotion it seems.’
‘None of them have seen a ’tricity powered ship before.’ Coran watched the lower levels of the coastal city grow clearer. ‘Going to give them something to think about that’s for sure …’
Fitch was watching the coastline too, squinting and leaning on the handrail. He jolted upright and spun around, his expression full of alarm.
‘Get down!’
A shrieking noise followed his sharp yell and then a huge plume of water rose from the sea perhaps a hundred hands off the portside bow. Spray lashed across the deck and a wave caused the ship to rock.
Zoella had no idea what had just happened. Ren squealed and ran into her arms.
‘They’re attacking us!’ Mel exclaimed. ‘Can’t they see our colours?’
‘Turn us to starboard!’ Coran yelled. Meru was already swinging the wheel. The Mobilis came about, turning away from the harbour.
Another whistling shriek. The crew could see a lump of rock arcing through the air towards them. The thump of impact was closer now, water erupted close by, showering the crew. Zoella could see the water running off the deck and splashing back down into the sea.
They could see a pair of contraptions at the end of the pier, large wooden constructs festooned with twisted ropes. As they watched, part of one was being winched backwards by a team of men and hergs clustered around it.
‘Catapults!’ Fitch called out. ‘They’re flinging rocks! If one of those hits us …’
With a faint cry, just audible over the distance, the weapon was triggered again. The crew watched in horror as a large rock was flung towards their ship, whistling and tumbling through the air.
‘It’s going to hit!’ Fitch yelled.
The Mobilis rang like a gong. Tremors ran through the deck, throwing everyone to the floor. Ren squealed again as he and Zoella lost their footing.
Before them, just short of the bow, part of the forward hull on the port side had been buckled by the impact.
‘They’ll rip us to shreds,’ Coran muttered. ‘Daf! Creg! Raise a white flag!’
Amidst the commotion, the two burly men made their way towards the foremast and were soon busy yanking on the ropes which raised the flags.
‘Amar has never attacked a vessel before,’ Mel said.
‘Times have clearly changed,’ Coran muttered. ‘Meru! Bring the ship around again, keep our stern towards the harbour, it’ll make us a harder target.’
The Mobilis turned again.
Daf and Creg yelled. Coran could see the flags were up.
‘Come on,’ he muttered. ‘Stop the attack. Let’s be friends.’
The whole crew held their breath looking at the pier, trying to see if the catapults were being reloaded.
Ren was still whimpering in Zoella’s arms. She did her best to comfort him, keeping her hands over his ears and murmuring reassurance to him. Moments passed and the whistling sounds of incoming rocks did not return. She looked up.
The crew looked around at each other.
‘Look!’ Fitch said, pointing to the harbour.
Two flags had been raised over the entrance, Amaran colours.
Coran gave a low whistle.
‘Looks like they’re going to let us in,’ he said. ‘Meru, bring us about, quarter speed into the harbour. Nice and slow.’
‘Aye, captain.’
The engine of the Mobilis throbbed again and the ship turned back towards the coastline.
‘Could just be making sure they have a perfect shot,’ Fitch muttered. ‘At close range one of those rocks will go through us like a scalpel through parchment.’
‘Where else are we going to go?’ Coran asked. ‘Ship’s damaged.’
Fitch shrugged.
‘Don’t make any sudden moves,’ Coran instructed.’ Everyone stay on deck where you can be seen.’
The Mobilis cruised forward, the steep harbour walls growing before them. Along the top they could see people milling around stony emplacements spaced evenly along the walls. They could make out the large catapults stationed at each position.
‘None of this was here before,’ Meru said. ‘Where has it all come from?’
‘Looks like they were expecting trouble. These catapults …’ Coran began.
‘More dangerous than our rockets at this range,’ Fitch said. ‘Amar has had ’em for many rounds, but they’ve never been brought out like this before. A normal ship could be smashed to smithereens if it was hit.’
‘So we saw,’ Mel said, eyeing the dent in the Mobilis.
The Mobilis cruised into the lee water within the harbour walls. They could see all the fishing vessels were moored up, not a single ship was at sea.
Coran jumped up into the bridge and looked around the harbour.
‘There,’ he said, pointing. ‘That quay, we’ll tie up there.’
Meru brought the ship around and reduced power to the engines. Already they could see a crowd of people was building at the base of the quay they were heading for. As they came closer it was obvious many were soldiers armed with swords and bows.
‘Doesn’t look too friendly, does it?’ Mel said, under her breath.
‘Let’s hope they don’t lynch us the moment we step off,’ Fitch said, tucking a knife into his belt.
‘No weapons,’ Coran said. ‘These are our folk. There’s to be no violence from us.’
‘Captain …’
‘No weapons.’
Fitch sighed, pulled the knife out and put it away in one of the bridge lockers.
‘If I die, I’m blaming you,’ he muttered.
‘Noted.’
Daf and Creg were now standing fore and aft, ready to ju
mp ashore and secure the ship. Meru brought the Mobilis alongside and reduced the power, letting the ship drift the rest of the way. With the faintest of jolts, the ship came to rest and was made fast with ropes.
The soldiers surged on to the decking, the crew of the Mobilis backed up against the bridge bulkhead.
‘You the captain?’ the lead soldier demanded.
‘Aye,’ Coran replied, squaring up to him. ‘Captain Coran of the Mobilis.’
‘You’re coming with us,’ the soldier replied. ‘All of you.’
‘Are we now?’ Coran replied. ‘Under whose authority?’
‘The council and senate have decreed all vessels entering port are subject to inspection and seizure …’
‘Seizure?’ Mel said.
‘Crews to be interred for processing …’
‘Now just wait a spell,’ Coran began, but he was pulled aside by the soldiers. Behind him the others were wrestled into a line.
‘You boy!’ the soldier called. ‘Your name?’
Coran saw that the soldier had turned his attention to Meru. He stood just before Zoella with his head hung down, she was looking around her with eyes wide with fear. Meru muttered something under his breath.
‘Speak up!’
‘Meru,’ Meru managed to say.
There was muttering between the soldiers.
‘Meru? Meru Farstone?’
Meru looked up, sighed and nodded.
The soldier gestured to his companions and Meru was pulled out of the line.
‘What are you doing?’ Coran demanded.
‘Abducting the son of a senator,’ the soldier said. ‘That ties up with piracy too. Not going to go well for any of you.’
‘We’re no pirates!’ Coran stammered. ‘Senator? Meru … what?’
‘Told you he wasn’t on the level,’ Fitch said from somewhere behind.
‘Meru?’ Mel demanded as Meru was led away. ‘Meru! What’s all this about? Meru!’
But he was gone, hustled away into the crowd.
‘Lock ’em up!’ the soldier called.
The rest of the crew of the Mobilis, along with Zoella and Ren, were marched away.
CHAPTER FIVE
Daine, Capital of Drayden
