Skirmish (The Stork Tower Book 8)

by Tony Corden

  Besides the publican behind the bar, there were five tables, all save one of which were empty. Two rather menacing-looking men were sitting and talking, and neither had a drink. The publican looked up and said, “We’re closed.”

  Leah sat on one of the stools and said, “A dark ale and be kind enough to leave out the additional water.”

  “I said, ‘We are closed’.”

  Leah dropped a ten pound note on the bar and said, “I heard you the first time. If we are repeating ourselves, then I asked for a dark ale without water. Hurry it up as I have business to do and not much time.”

  The man looked at the money, then took a chipped but clean mug from behind the bar and filled it. As he placed it in front of Leah, he said, “What business would you have in this part of town?”

  “Personal business, although I was hoping for a recommendation.”

  “What sort of recommendation would someone like you be wanting?”

  “Someone like me?”

  “Aye! You aether worlders usually stay away from places like this.”

  “Surely not all of us?”

  “Those that come, they come when night is well and truly fallen, and there is something in their eyes that is not in yours. You have no blood lust.”

  “Ah, I see. It is true I do not seek to satisfy some darker appetite. Instead, I am seeking to discuss a matter of some importance with the Assassins Guild, and while I understand this establishment is not the guild headquarters I have it on some authority that you might expedite a meeting. Now, before you do something foolish that we will all regret, all I am asking is that you let the guild master know that assassins tried to kill me on several occasions yesterday and each time they failed. Either we need to discuss the abysmal training offered by the guild, in which case I am open to providing some pointers, for it must be said their skills were less than admirable. Or, it would seem that others are plying their trade without the guild’s permission in which case I am open to offering some measures whereby the guild might exercise some measure of authority, lest it lose its good name entirely. That is all. Good day.”

  With that, Leah got up to leave, and the barman said, “Hold on a moment.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous, you are only a go-between, and I make it a habit not to discuss business of great importance with go-betweens.”

  Before the barman could come around the end of the bar, Leah was out the door. The two men from inside were only a few steps behind her, and one called out, “Not so fast, Luv. You can’t go saying things like that and think you can just waltz on out of there.”

  Leah didn’t turn around but slowed and said, “Of course not. One does not waltz in an establishment with such a narrow profile, to waltz one needs something larger and broader. Now, be off with you.”

  The two men had rushed forward, and as one reached to grab Leah, she turned and ducked under the man’s arms and hit him hard in the stomach before pivoting the other way and swinging behind the second man. She brought a knife around and let the point sink in just past the point in the kidney area. She said, “Do you remember my message?”

  When the man nodded, she said, “Good. Then be a good foot soldier and pass it on. Understood?”

  “Yes, Miss. Who will I say the message is from?”

  “If they can’t work that out, then they truly are in trouble.”

  Leah used her shoulder to push him into the other man who was just coming to his feet, then strode into Bloodmist Lane. By the time the men stumbled into the lane, she’d disappeared. Leah kept the men in the sphere of her perceptions as she pulled herself onto the roof of a nearby merchant building. She then watched as a note was written by the bartender and handed to one of the men. For the next forty minutes, she followed one person after another as the message was passed up the chain. With her range, she was able to stay just outside the small cordon of people watching the one with the message. Once or twice she had to drop to ground level as the message bearer dropped into the sewers or went through a tunnel.

  The message progressed from the poorer portions of town into areas more frequented by the well-to-do. Finally, a well-dressed teen about Leah’s age entered a salon in the wealthiest part of Aeropile and left the message with reception. Leah had to move closer to keep the image of the paper in focus and waited until it was placed before a middle-aged woman having her nails done. The woman opened the message and after reading it, placed it back on the tray. Leah watched as the note was then destroyed by the attendant.

  Leah checked the time and knew she had less than half an hour to get to the palace. After considering her options, she stepped into the salon and waited. The woman who approached her was the one who’d taken the message, so Leah said, “Hello. I do apologise for my quite unseemly haste, but I do have another appointment for which I must not be late. The message you just delivered was truly less of a message and more of an introduction. Please inform the lady to whom it was delivered that I would appreciate her company tomorrow at noon in the garden area at Chesterton’s Tea House. If she cannot make it, then I shall, of course, make other arrangements. Thank you.”

  Without waiting for a reply Leah left the salon, then before the receptionist could follow, she had disappeared. Leah watched as the receptionist passed the message on, then she headed back to the Herrington. She was followed briefly but quickly lost those tailing her. Once back in her suite, she changed into formal wear even as Howard called for a carriage. Once again Billy had arranged for a carriage to be made available and less than ten minutes after arriving back at the Herrington, Leah was on her way to the palace.

  33

  December 27, 2073

  PNEUMATICA - AEROPILE

  When Leah arrived at the palace, she was ushered through into a room where not only were both Kate and Thad were waiting, but Sparrow was also there along with Major Daniels. Ian stepped forward immediately and said, “I: Commodore, I would apologise that I have stepped back momentarily from the task you set before me. I received a missive from Her Majesty late last evening with instructions to attend a gathering this morning. General Takobi suggested it was a matter of honour that I attend and accepted Captain Wills as my replacement liaison with your troops until I return.”

  “There is no need to apologise, Major. I agree with the general and am pleased you might be here that you might appreciate the magnitude of the quest which we undertook and to see the fruits of its success.”

  Leah greeted the others, and after reassuring Sparrow she was OK after her kidnapping, she turned to Thad who said, “T: So good to see you. Granite had to literally hold me back when Val described what happened.”

  “I’m glad he did. I take it Val managed to check the upper levels?”

  “T: All she said was you are a prisoner on the top level.”

  “Something like that. Truth be told it’s a little worse than that, but Val did the right thing in saying nothing. Let it go. Now, have you heard anything more about what’s happening this morning? I’ve been busy with the assassin search.”

  “K: Not much, the queen and Caoimhe talked briefly yesterday and asked me if any others were on the quest into Pyranthia. Since then, I’ve been out of the game and had no interaction. One of the ladies in waiting said there was a huge announcement and the entire court had been ordered to attend. Dirigibles and other craft have been arriving all morning from the outlying manors and estates.”

  Leah could feel hundreds of people waiting in the nearby Throne Room. She could only sense the edge of the room, so she asked Three to extend her range. She could then sense that the room was packed and held over a thousand guests organised facing three thrones at one end of the room. The thrones sat on a raised dais with three levels.

  All those around Leah suddenly turned and faced toward where Leah was focussed. Three said, “3: There was a loud blast of a trumpet.”

  Captain Ferguson, the royal guard from the day before, entered the room and said, “R: Please follow me in the following
order: Gunnery Sergeant Sparrow, Major Daniels, Lady Katherine Emerson, Lord Thad Emmerson and Commodore Charlotte.”

  The door in front opened inwards towards the Throne Room as the captain led the five through the centre of the now-silent crowd and then to one side of the dais. When they were in place, there was a fanfare, and Queen Alexandra and Prince Albert made their way from a nearby side door and onto the dais to stand in front of the central chair. Instead of sitting as the court expected, the queen and prince remained standing. Queen Alexander looked around the room then said, “Q: Peers, Lords and Ladies of the realm, and distinguished citizens of Aeropile, welcome. I have gathered you together to explain how some of the momentous events in recent history are merely the fruit of actions taken in the past by King Harold and myself and witnessed by the most senior of my advisors, William Danvers, Duke of the Iron Hills and Helen Billing, Duchess of Greenvale.”

  Two older members of those close to the throne stepped onto the second level of the dais and turned to face the room. The queen waited then continued, “Twenty years ago, Aeropile faced almost certain defeat in the battle against the Pyranthian hordes. At the time, we were not only waging that war but were being pressed from the other side by the Scardosian Empire. The King and I were approached by a delegation from the rulers of Pyranthia with the hope that some form of peace might be found. As ever, we as a people look for peace, and so we began talks with the delegation. After six months of negotiations, an agreement was reached, which while not giving the peace we sought, it would provide us with the breathing space to take stock and to begin to rebuild.

  “We looked forward to announcing these plans throughout the realm to give hope for the future. The Pyranthians, however, needed the agreement to be kept secret for they feared that peace on these terms was not something their people would agree to. They found such an agreement dishonourable even though we had discovered they were almost as close to defeat as we were.

  “The King and I promised that we would keep this a secret, for we preferred peace in the realm over the continuing wastage of our young and noble warriors. The Pyranthians trusted us not and demanded a hostage, for they said we were a people without honour. Both the King and I offered ourselves as a hostage that our land might not be brought to ruin and endless suffering, but our offer was refused. Instead, the Pyranthian delegation asked for the soon-to-be born heir.”

  The silence in the room, which had grown heavy during the queen’s recitation was shattered by this statement as hundreds exclaimed their horror at the suggestion. Alexandra waited patiently until the room was once again quiet, then she continued.

  “Q: Our reaction was much the same as yours, and we refused. Then, after several nights of deep reflection, we were reminded of our responsibility to this land. We understood that of necessity, we must allow the full burden of this decision to fall upon our shoulders that the realm and its people might prosper. In the terms of the agreement, it was finally agreed that the heir would live in Pyranthia and be raised there for as long as we kept the secret deal we had made. By this, we understood that they would always be under the threat of death. We had intended to inform the land that the heir had died in childbirth, but to our surprise, on that fateful day so many years ago, I gave birth not to one, but to two children.

  “The firstborn was a girl, our daughter, whom we named Katherine Adelia Lillian. The second was a boy who was named Albert George Lewis. The true heir was taken in the dead of night and given to the Pyranthian delegation even as the city celebrated the birth of Prince Albert. For three years, we had relative peace, and then we received news from the Pyranthians that our daughter, the heir to the throne of Aeropile, was dead. The peace we had given so much for was ended. Yet, even as our hearts were broken, we felt honoured that one of our blood might buy the breathing space we needed to rebuild the fleet and find within our realm the courage to press on.

  “Then, three years hence, the recently deposed Lord Emerson did approach myself and Prince Albert with news that the princess was not dead, but still alive and living within Pyranthia, a prisoner still. We sent agents to look for the truth, but none could ascertain the genuineness of his words. With the promise of more information, Frank Emerson did require the prince and me to show some favouritism for his endeavours in the kingdom. This news of a sister was new to Prince Albert, but he joined me in working to find a way to free the princess and return her once more to her people.

  “Over one month ago, I was approached by a newcomer to our realm. She stands before us today and is known by many as the Privateer Commodore, Charlotte. She and Lady Katherine Emerson, the niece of Frank Emerson, did uncover that Lord Emerson was in fact in league with the Pyranthians and had knowledge that the Princess of Aeropile was to be executed at the Pyranthian Festival of Blood. At my request, they were sent to Pyranthia to uncover the truth and if possible, to return with my daughter, your princess, the heir to Aeropile’s throne. The Commodore left in secret and her fleet returned after the Festival with over three-and-a-half-thousand rescued. The Commodore, Lady Emerson and Lord Thaddeus Emmerson had not returned, and all attempts to discover their whereabouts bore no fruit.”

  The queen paused and looked over the room before saying, “Q: When my child was to be taken from me I was concerned that the fiends might replace my child with an imposter and through deceit seek to claim Aeropile. Unknown to any except King Harold and the two peers who stand before you today, certain precautions were made that might go unnoticed by the fiends but would be readily understood by myself or those few entrusted with the details.

  “Two days hence, news was received that Commodore Charlotte had in fact returned from the new lands recently discovered in a portal under our great city. Yesterday, the Commodore and both Lord and Lady Emerson did meet with me. They did deliver up into my hands the fruit of their labours and the object of their quest. The two peers and I have checked and are convinced of the identity of the young woman rescued even during the Festival of Blood itself.

  “It is with the utmost joy and with immense pride that I present to you Caoimhe Katherine Adelia Lillian McKenna, Princess and rightful Heir to the throne of Aeropile, Duchess of the Western Vale and Countess Steam.”

  As the queen finished the introduction, Caoimhe stepped into the room from a side door and slowly made her way to the dais. She made her way to the top tier and, standing beside her mother, turned to face the room. As she did, the room seemed in shock until Leah, Thad, and Kate each went to one knee to acknowledge the princess. Almost as one, the room copied the action. After an extended silence, the queen said, “Please rise.”

  Once everyone was upright, the queen continued, “Q: To give Aeropile and its surrounds time to comprehend the depth of the princess’ sacrifice and the joy with which she is returned to us, I have declared the next week will be one of great celebration throughout our land. It is also appropriate that we reward those brave souls who against almost insurmountable odds did rescue the heir. For all who had employment in the Commodore’s fleet, I have gifted three month’s salary and the right to wear a medallion specially crafted in their honour. Their names will be added to a new memorial which will be erected in their honour and placed on the boulevard of heroes.

  “Five individuals did make their way alone into the Pyranthian stronghold and deserve our highest praise. Two not only found their way into the stronghold but then arranged for the recovery of our citizens on the carrier Iapetus. These were Major Ian Daniels, once of the Royal Marines, and Lady Katherine Emerson. Major Daniels.”

  Ian stepped forward and had to go to his knees as the queen instituted the Order of the Royal Eye with Caoimhe as Sovereign over the Order, and knighted Ian and installed him as a Commander in the order. She also bequeathed him an estate and the title of Baron Deepwater to him and his heirs in perpetuity. To Kate, whom she also made a Commander in the order, she gave an estate and the title of Marchioness of the Nickel Hills.

  When Kate had stepped back,
the queen called on Gunnery Sergeant Sparrow and after explaining her role, made her a Commander in the order and bequeathed her an estate and the title Earl of the Broken Plains.

  The queen then said, “Q: The final two to be honoured today did more than rescue a princess. I have discussed this with my daughter and discovered they also allowed her to step away from a life of sacrifice with her dignity and honour intact, and helped prepare her for the life of service to Aeropile and its people. Lord Thad Emerson fought with honour and not only killed his uncle who had made another ploy to take hold of the princess’ life, but he did face down a horde of Pyranthians to help rescue Princess Caoimhe.”

  The queen added to Thad’s estates, and besides making him a Knight Commander of the Order of the Royal Eye, gave him the titles Duke of Mount Zinc and Count Light. Finally, the queen called Leah forward and said, “Commodore Charlotte went above and beyond the terms of the quest she was given. Not only did she commit her entire fleet to the exercise but she also led the raid into Pyranthia. She, of all those who went in, did not return. Instead, she sacrificed her freedom to ensure the princess’. She was sent to the new world of Grah as a slave. She not only escaped but found a way back to Aeropile that she might fulfil the quest. Yesterday, she not only brought our daughter home but when an assassin sought to kill the princess before she could take up her mantle, the commodore did insert herself bodily between the assassin and both the princess and myself without concern for life or limb. That she was alive is only by the forethought of her tailor who did add armour to the commodore’s coat.”

  The queen then made Charlotte a Knight Grand Cross of the order and gifted her with land and titles. Leah’s new title was Charlotte, Duchess of Mont-Noir, Marquess of Dark River, Earl of the Black Forest and Countess Coal. Each of these, Three informed her, had been the titles held by Cassius. As Leah stood after receiving these gifts and stepped back into line, Caoimhe stepped forward and said, “C❄: Peers, Lords and Ladies of the realm, and distinguished citizens of Aeropile, I look forward to meeting many of you in the days to come.”