by Drew Wagar
‘She wants to stop the priestesses …’
‘No. She. Doesn’t!’ Zoella snarled out the words one at a time, her voice rising to a high pitch. ‘That was just a story for you, don’t you get it? She was after my powers, nothing else. She’s a backstabbing, lying, manipulative, evil bitch. I should have killed her when I had the chance.’
‘She’s your sister.’
‘So?’ Zoella argued back. ‘That grants her nothing, doesn’t excuse what she’s done or who she is. What am I supposed to do, embrace her as a long lost relative? I don’t care that she’s my sister. She’s a liar and a murderer. That’s all she is.’
‘You don’t understand …’
Zoella sneered. ‘Oh, I think I do. She’s pleasant enough to look on, isn’t she? I bet she taught you a few things in that bedroom she had you locked in.’
Zoella could tell from the flush on Meru’s face that she wasn’t far from the mark.
‘Don’t even bother denying it,’ Zoella added. ‘Seems you can’t think with your head, only your …’
‘Shut up!’ Meru yelled. ‘Just … shut up!’
‘Thought you were better than that,’ Zoella fired back. ‘I was wrong. Don’t be thinking I won’t tell Coran and the rest of the crew about all this. They need to know. They’re going to know.’
Meru looked at her, his face going pale.
‘Yes, that’s right. You’re a liability,’ Zoella said, looking back at him. ‘I don’t trust you, and neither will they. You’ve betrayed us, you betrayed me …’
The tears she had fought back forced their way through. She could feel them dripping down her cheeks.
‘… and you betrayed yourself.’
‘Zoella …’
‘Don’t,’ she said, her voice cracking.
Zoella turned away. Time ticked away in the uncomfortable silence that followed. Zoella wiped at her eyes, listening to the interminable drone of the flying machine’s engines.
‘She doesn’t really care you know,’ she said, almost talking to herself. ‘Women like her … You’re just a trophy. Once she’s …’ Zoella shuddered. ‘Once she’s sated herself she’ll throw you away too just like some old toy.’ Her voice turned acid sweet. ‘You’ll see.’
The flying machine droned inexorably onwards, the sea rolling away beneath the windows. Zoella dozed. She felt the flying machine turn.
‘You’d better wake up,’ Meru’s voice was toneless. ‘We’re here …’
Zoella stretched and sat up. She looked at him. He was staring out of the front windows of the flying machine, his mouth open. Zoella turned to see what he was looking at.
‘Oh no,’ Zoella said, her voice dropping in dismay. ‘We’re too late.’
Hundreds of ships, perhaps even a thousand, were stretched out below them. The island of Amar was beyond, the city of Amaris besieged. Even from here they could see fires, both on the walls and within the city, and smoke was rising far into the sky.
Ira and some of the children were just behind them, stretching forward to see.
Dachs circled over the city, their shapes flitting in and out of the smoke. Where they dived, new fires flashed.
‘Hang on,’ Meru said.
He pushed the flying machine into a dive, directing it straight towards the battle.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Amaris, Capital of Amar
Round 2307, Sixth pass
Coran and Fitch watched from the harbour walls as a flight of the priestesses’ dachs swooped overhead. There were five of them in a tidy delta formation. As they watched the formation broke up, the leader’s dach descending to the breakwater at the far point of the harbour. The dach landed at the far end and they could see a figure step down from it. The four other dachs remained hovering nearby.
‘Looks like they do want to talk after all,’ Fitch muttered, shouldering his rifle.
Coran nodded to senators Janaid and Henoch. ‘Let’s go see what they have to say.’
The four men walked down the harbour wall. As they approached they could see the figure was a woman, standing before the great winged dach which opened its wings as they approached and roared at them. Henoch and Janaid staggered back, but Coran and Fitch were unfazed.
Looking up, Coran could see the other four riders were perched upon their dachs with arrows notched in the bows they held. The dachs hovered in the air, their great wings sweeping back and forth to maintain their position.
The woman was diminutive, her skin so pale as to be almost white. She was dressed all in black, her hair shining with a single silver streak. The left side of her head was shaved to the skin, with the hair grown long on the other side. It was topped by an elegant tiara that flashed and sparkled in the light of Lacaille.
‘Who speaks for Amar?’ she called.
Her voice was quiet, almost sepulchral, but it echoed around inside their heads in some strange fashion.
Henoch and Janaid both looked to Coran. He stepped forward, Fitch by his side.
‘I do.’
‘And who are you?’ the woman said, looking him up and down.
‘I’ll have your name first,’ Coran replied. ‘You who come to our shores prepared for war.’
The woman raised her hand as if to strike. In a swift movement, too fast for Coran to see, Fitch had raised his rifle and taken aim just before the woman’s feet. The abrupt noise, puff of dust and sharp impact made her jump back in alarm. The dach roared again, beating its wings.
Fitch reloaded and aimed the gun at her. She looked angry now, raising her arms out towards them.
‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you,’ Fitch said, his aim sure. ‘You’ll be dead before you can utter one of your magic spells.’
Coran pushed down on the butt of the rifle.
‘Peace,’ he called. ‘But I will have your name, woman.’
The woman looked at him for a long moment.
‘I am high priestess Nerina Helios, of Darek, Daria, Kerchin, Farren, Goshe, Drem, and Daine in the realm of Drayden. Now, your name, man.’
‘I am Coran,’ Coran replied. ‘Of Amar alone. Why have you brought a fleet of war to our shores? Depart these waters and we will not trouble you.’
‘You are the exiles of Drem,’ Nerina said. ‘Cursed by Lacaille herself long ago and subject to her judgement. You were found wanting long ago, your death ordained. We come to finish that task.’
‘We are not subject to your laws or your religion,’ Coran replied.
‘All are subject,’ Nerina replied. ‘Whether they believe or not. It is so written.’
‘We do not want a war,’ Coran said. ‘Can there not be a peace between us?’
‘We will spare your women and girls from that fate,’ Nerina replied. ‘Have them assemble in the harbour. We will take them away and they will be treated fairly. Your men and boys will be executed. We will be merciful. We will ensure it is done as swiftly and as painlessly as possible.’
‘Quite the offer,’ Fitch muttered, rolling his eyes.
‘You think we will stand aside as you take our folk?’ Coran asked.
‘If you value their lives,’ Nerina replied. ‘Refuse and we will raze your city to take them.’
‘Our people would rather die free than live as slaves,’ Coran replied, his voice dark. ‘Nor will we line up to be slaughtered by you.’
‘So be it,’ Nerina replied.
Her voice echoed in his head.
‘You will soon be slain, Coran of Amar!’ Nerina called. ‘Your city in flames and your people massacred. History will count you as the greatest of all fools to defy the priestesses of Drayden.’
Coran turned away and then looked back.
‘On the contrary,’ he shouted back at her. ‘History will record the people of Amar fighting against oppression and tyranny. We will not bow the knee to you or any other who seeks to impose their evil will upon us.’
‘We have defeated stronger foes than you.’
‘Then bring your battle
!’ Coran roared. ‘You will not find us easy to overcome!’
Around them the dachs roared. Coran watched as Nerina mounted her own dach. It took to the air, back-flapping its wings as it gained height, rejoining the others in the sky above.
Then the entire flight turned, banking over the city with a rush of air and beating wings, before turning out to sea and retreating into the distance.
‘Good,’ Fitch said, shouldering his rifle once again. ‘The pointless posturing was commendably short. Now we can get down to it.’
The Mobilis raced out of the harbour to the cheers of the people lining the walls. Coran and Fitch could see Mel leaning out of the wheelhouse with Daf and Creg aft and forward respectively, manning the rocket launchers. Lining the decks were six other men, volunteers from amongst the fishermen, armed with rifles provided by Fitch.
Clear of the harbour walls, the ship’s wake churned thunderously and the ship surged forward towards the line of incoming vessels now approaching from the horizon.
‘The flying machines are ready,’ Fitch said.
‘Don’t want to play them too early,’ Coran said, watching the receding Mobilis. ‘Mel is under strict instructions not to get too close.’
‘I’ll keep an eye on the dachs,’ Fitch said. ‘That’s where the fight is going to come from first.’
The Mobilis was running at a furious speed, leaping from wave crest to wave crest, spurring its way through the seas like a vast metal sword. It was closing fast on the front running vessels of the invading fleet. Mel could see them, row after row of moving wooden vessels, sails aloft, crammed with men.
‘Ready on port side!’ she yelled, turning the Mobilis to starboard. Daf and Creg swung their mounts around, aiming at the nearest vessels.
Five hundred hands I’d say, keeps us out of range of their bowmen …
The Mobilis was now running adjacent to the line of ships, cutting across their direction of travel.
Crossing the T!
Mel squinted through the spray, judging her moment.
‘Fire!’ she yelled.
Daf and Creg yanked levers on their respective mechanisms. With a shrieking hiss, trails of smoke jetted from the Mobilis, arching out across the water towards the nearest pair of vessels. The first ship was struck a glancing blow, fire blossoming around its port side, blowing part of the hull and decking away.
The second vessel was not so lucky. The rockets hit it square on, the resulting explosion ripping out the centre of the ship, blasting its mast into the air and obliterating its crew. Timbers spiralled through the air as the mast crashed back down, the sea erupting with foam as the ship broke in two.
‘Reload! All about!’
Mel pulled the throttles to half and swung the helm full to starboard. The Mobilis swung around, leaning hard with the speed and then headed back in the direction it had come from, splashing through its own wake.
‘Ready on starboard side!’
More ships were approaching from the right, Mel adjusted course to bring the Mobilis across their bows. The captains had seen what she intended and the nearest ships were turning, but they were no match for the ferocious speed of the Mobilis.
They were in range once again.
‘Fire!’
Rockets leapt from the Mobilis again, blasting across the water between the ships. Two more of the wooden vessels burst into flame. Mel could see men jumping away as the flames rose. A smattering of arrows splashed into the sea nearby, but the Mobilis roared out of range.
‘Reload! All about!’
This time the Mobilis turned to port, turning back once again to commence a third run against the line of wooden shipping.
But this time there was something else. The men on the decks were gesturing to the sky. Mel leaned out of the wheelhouse to look.
Shades!
The sky was full of dachs, great wings of the beasts, travelling at different heights.
As she watched, the closest flight of the beasts folded their wings, diving down upon the Mobilis. Mel pushed the throttles to their stops and the ship leapt ahead, but even then, the dachs closed.
‘Riflemen!’ she yelled.
They were already prepared, braced in position with their rifles raised. Mel heard the shots fire, ringing out across the decks. With a roar one dach was felled, crashing down into the sea. Mel didn’t see what happened to the rider.
Then, fire erupted around the ship in a plume of fury. Mel ducked as a flaming splash of some burning liquid exploded close by.
The Mobilis’ prodigious speed saved it. The ship was through the flames in a moment, unharmed and unbowed. The dachs peeled away. Mel could see another group preparing to attack.
But now it was their turn again.
‘Fire!’
A third series of rockets blasted from the Mobilis. Daf and Creg were practised now and the barrage was devastating. Two more ships were blown to pieces, with two more catching fire from the flaming debris that was flung around them. Mel could see men struggling in the water, sinking from the weight of the armour they wore.
Hundreds slain already …
Her expression hardened as she watched.
They’ll show us no mercy …
More gunfire. The dachs were circling. Mel saw Daf duck as a shadow passed overhead. One of the fishermen was grabbed right off the decking by the claws of a low flying dach and cast, tumbling, into the sea.
‘No!’
Then came more flames. The attackers were dropping small ceramic pots of some substance. It was catching fire the moment it came into contact with water. They were hitting the water about them, sending roaring flames up around the ship, but being left behind in her wake.
Then one struck the bow.
It did no immediate damage, but flaming liquid splattered across the forward part of the ship, forcing Daf and the two remaining forward riflemen to back away from it, struggling to douse the flames.
Before Mel had a chance to react another blast came from behind. She turned in horror to see the riflemen on the rear quarter aflame from head to foot, leaping into the sea in panic.
I can’t save them … we can’t go back …
Creg was further back, still clinging to the rocket launchers. She watched as he swung the mechanism around and pulled the levers again.
Rockets blasted up into the heavens, roaring into the formation of dachs that were dropping down to cast their fire at the Mobilis. With a devastating blast the rockets detonated, a plume of red flashed out in the sky, followed by huge trails of grey and black smoke.
Two dachs fell from the sky, their wings torn asunder and their riders dashed upon the surface of the sea. The others turned aside, abandoning their run against the ship.
That’s all we can do. Time to retreat!
Mel turned the Mobilis towards Amaris and pushed the throttles to full.
Coran and Fitch watched the battle unfold. The Mobilis gave good account of itself and then the dachs swooped down upon it. Fire erupted across the ocean. There were dozens of dachs in the sky, taking turns in strafing the metal ship.
‘That’s enough, Mel,’ Coran whispered. ‘Get back now …’
As if she had heard him, the Mobilis came about, driving headlong back towards Amar, the dachs forming up in the air and pursuing it.
‘They’re not just after the ship,’ Fitch said. ‘They’re going to firebomb the city!’
Coran nodded.
‘Archers to the walls! Fitch, raise the flag for the aerial defence!’
Kiri had been assigned to a tertiary wing of dachs by Rihanna. She and her group of priestesses were stationed on a ship on the far right of the fleet. Kiri watched as a single ship left the harbour. She recognised it as the one she had seen fleeing from Nireus. The strange metal ship seemed ridiculous sailing alone towards the fleet that outnumbered it. She gasped as it unleashed smoke and noise at the wooden vessels in the leading line, smashing them into flaming timbers.
Such weapons! Can
we prevail against them?
Rihanna’s voice echoed in her head.
Priestesses, to your dachs! Attack that vessel!
By the time they were aloft, the leading line of Taloon vessels had been decimated, nothing more than flaming wrecks. The metal ship was moving with unbelievable speed. From high up they could see its wake trailing far behind, the water at its stern churned white by its strange motive power.
Rihanna led the attack. Fire was dropped on the ship. Kiri watched as it turned in a vain effort to evade the attack. She could see men on the decks holding up weapons.
Not those …
A dach was slain, crashing into the water behind the ship. Fire erupted around it as Rihanna’s flight swept past. The second flight had even less luck, with two dachs killed as they swept around the ship, unable to damage it.
Kiri, now you!
Kiri signalled to the priestesses with her and her own flight turned and swept down upon the ship. Kiri could sense the trajectories of the defensive fire that was aimed at her and brought her dach in low. She saw an opportunity …
Grab him!
Her dach swept across the decking, its talons outstretched, bodily grabbing one of the men from the ships and casting him, screaming, into the sea. Fire blazed out as her companions dropped their vials of oil upon the ship.
A third wave of dachs assailed the vessel. Kiri, now climbing back to altitude, watched as they dived down.
With a thumping detonation, red fire, smoke and flames erupted in the sky. Kiri watched in horror as two dachs were ripped apart in the air, their bodies and those of their riders tumbling into the sea. The ship was turning below, now running for the safety of the harbour.
Rihanna’s call sounded in her head.
It is time! Attack the city!
The fleet of ships was closing on the harbour, but it was the aerial attack that had the defenders of Amar staring in dismay. Hundreds of the winged beasts filled the sky, their shapes silhouetted against the bright light of Lacaille.
Archers lined the walls of the harbour and the high towers of the city.
