“They’ve seen us,” he reported.
The wind was erratic. The breeze that had failed the Terrapin continued to breathe on the Steinadler. She added more sail, flying through the Breath while the Terrapin lumbered along, burdened by her shell.
Henry fumed. “We’re going to lose him!”
“Not if I can help it,” said Alan.
He gave the order to open the gun ports on the port side and run out the guns.
“We want to cripple her, not sink her,” Alan told the gun captain.
Henry watched as several members of the yacht’s crew ran to the front of the ship and hauled at a tarp draped over something on the foredeck. He had noticed the tarp before, but thought only that Ullr was trying to protect his comfy deck chairs from the elements. But when the tarp fell off, Henry sucked in his breath.
“Alan! A green-beam gun!”
“So it is,” Alan said coolly.
The green-beam gun began to glow with a faint green light. Henry could see the crafter crouched over it, bringing it to terrible life.
Alan watched a moment, then raised his voice. “A hundred silver talons to the gun crew that blows up the green-beam gun!”
“I will double that!” Henry shouted.
The gun crews bent over the cannons, eager to win both the prize and the glory. The Terrapin was armed with twenty-four-pound cannons, twelve on each side. The Steinadler was also armed, but only with nine-pounders that could do little damage to the Terrapin’s iron-clad hull. The green-beam gun made all things equal.
Alan went down to the gun deck and walked along the row of cannons, looking down the sights of each gun, adjusting the aim. The range was long yet, but he gave the order to fire.
“May the devil’s luck hold, Alan,” Henry said beneath his breath.
He stamped on the deck to warm his feet and felt the ship rock and heave as the cannons fired a salvo. He raised the spyglass to view the trajectory of the balls and watched with disappointment as they fell short.
But then, the devil delivered. The wind that had failed the Terrapin now failed the Steinadler. Her sails flapped, and her speed slowed. The Terrapin began to slowly gain on her.
The gun crews started to find their range. The guns went off sporadically as each crew sighted in on their target and fired.
A single cannonball smashed into the hull of the Steinadler, spoiling her gilt trim, but missing the green-beam weapon.
The cannons fired again. Another ball struck the hull, but the rest missed completely. Henry gnashed his teeth in frustration.
The cannonade continued, and finally he saw a ball smash into one of the airscrews that were attached to the keel, two forward and two aft, protected by metal casings. The ball knocked off the casing and destroyed part of the keel.
“A hit!” Henry shouted excitedly. “That will slow the bastard down!”
The green glow of the heinous green-beam gun grew stronger. It must have been mounted on a rotating platform, for as Henry watched, it swiveled about until it was aimed at the Terrapin, seeming to stare at him, an evil little eye.
Three cannons boomed simultaneously and the Steinadler’s airscrew seemed to dissolve, shattering into fragments. The loss of one airscrew was not particularly significant. The Steinadler could continue to sail, though she could no longer hope to outrun them.
The Terrapin drew nearer and the green glow of the weapon on board the yacht strengthened. Soon the Terrapin’s guns would be close enough to knock down the yacht’s masts, disable the remaining airscrews, and puncture her lift tanks.
Unfortunately the green-beam gun would be close enough to destroy the Terrapin. The beam could not penetrate the magical steel, but it could heat the plates red hot. Every man on board the Terrapin would roast like raw meat thrown on a red-hot gridiron.
The green glow strengthened even more. The crafter was preparing to fire. Henry stood on deck watching with a terrible fascination, unable to move or look away.
He had the joy of witnessing a cannonball smash into the green-beam gun, obliterating it. The green glow vanished.
The lucky gun crew that had fired the shot whooped and cheered. The rest of the Terrapin’s guns continued to fire and began to dismantle the yacht, piece by piece.
“Ullr must surrender!” Henry said exultantly as Alan returned to the quarterdeck. “He has no choice.”
A blast tore the heart out of the Steinadler.
The explosion was powerful, massive. The concussive wave hit the Terrapin with such force it nearly sank her. The ship heeled, and men went sprawling. Alan caught hold of the helm and grabbed the helmsman, who had almost been knocked overboard. Henry seized the shrouds and held on for dear life. He feared for a terrifying moment the Terrapin might capsize.
The ship righted herself, saved by the weight of the metal plates on her hull. But nothing was left of the magnificent yacht and the one hundred souls who had been on board, except smoke and flaming debris.
No one on board the Terrapin spoke. No one cheered or celebrated. They had just seen the lives of one hundred men end in an instant.
Lieutenant Hobbs tried to say something, failed, and had to clear his throat. “Should I send out the boats to search for survivors, sir?”
“No, Mr. Hobbs,” said Alan. “No use.”
He walked over to stand beside Henry, who was gazing bleakly at the fiery remains raining down into the Breath.
“I guess King Ullr did have a choice,” Alan said quietly.
“That was not a lucky hit, was it,” said Henry.
“Could have been, but I doubt it,” Alan agreed. “Our gunners were targeting the green-beam gun. If I were to hazard a guess, I would say someone on board that yacht went down to the powder magazine and struck a match.”
He looked at Henry’s bleak face and added, “You have no way of knowing if King Ullr was on board.”
“He was,” Henry said harshly. “Who do you think scuttled his own ship? He could not face defeat.”
“Then he is dead and the war is over,” Alan said. “The killing can stop.”
“This war is over,” Henry returned despondently. “There will always be another.”
Alan regarded his friend with concern and rested his hand on his shoulder.
“But for now, there is peace, Henry. Our nation has won a glorious victory over a tyrant who sought to enslave us. Freya will soon be prosperous, Simon’s well will bring in untold wealth. Thomas Stanford will be a good king. He is young, filled with hope and the optimism of youth. You will help guide him. Our new king will need a spymaster.”
“So he will. All kings need spymasters,” Henry said. “But it will not be me.”
FIFTY-SEVEN
Alan and Henry stood together on the deck of the Terrapin as the ship sailed toward Haever’s harbor. They could see even from this distance the throngs of cheering people that had gathered on the wharf to welcome them home. The pilot’s craft sailed toward them. When the pilot came on board, Alan would have to join him at the helm to guide the Terrapin to a safe landing. But for the moment, he and Henry had a brief respite from duty.
“So—our last voyage together,” Alan said. “Are you truly determined to submit your resignation? As I recall, you threatened to do so in the past when Queen Mary exasperated you beyond endurance.”
“I did resign, on more than one occasion,” said Henry, smiling at the memory. “Mary would always tear up my letter and toss it in the fire. One time, she gave it to that damn monkey, who ate it!
“Queen Mary was a wise woman, Alan. We often clashed, but she knew that in a world of danger and threat, we needed each other. But when she needed me most, I was not able to save her. I will live with that regret all my life. At least,” Henry added, “I will not let it happen again.”
Alan cast him a questioning glance. “Let what happen?”
Henry shook his head.
“I still have a few secrets to guard. I have given thirty-five years of my life in service
to my country. It is time for me to retire. I hope my legacy to my children will be a world at peace. If so, I will be satisfied with my work.”
Alan gave an absent nod. He had seemed preoccupied all morning. He would give an order and forget he had given it. He would start to say something, then fall silent. He had done this several times since the two had been standing here and Henry was growing annoyed.
“Come now, Alan. You have been trying to tell me something this past half hour. What secret are you keeping?”
Alan faintly smiled. “I could never hide anything from you.”
“My dear fellow, you are so transparent you could not hide anything from a six-year-old,” said Henry, smiling. “That is the reason you are a captain and I am a spymaster. Out with it.”
“Very well, but you must promise not to tell anyone,” said Alan. “I am going to be married. At least, I plan to propose, and I have every reason to believe the lady will accept me.”
“You! Married!” Henry scoffed. “You are the most confirmed bachelor I know. I don’t believe it.”
“You must believe it, for you are responsible,” said Alan. “You and Lady Ann invited the lady to the dinner party where we met.”
He looked back on that occasion, smiling. “Do you remember? That was a momentous evening! I met my future wife on the same night you and Simon and Randolph and I thwarted Smythe’s attempt to steal the Valor.”
“I remember the Valor incident, but I am hazy as to the details of the dinner party,” said Henry.
“Lady Ann was so kind as to seat me next to Lord Alfred’s charming niece, Lady Annabelle. She and I have been corresponding since then, and we have reached an understanding.”
“My wife, the matchmaker,” said Henry fondly. “Lady Ann will be pleased, and so am I. If you find the same happiness in marriage that I have found, Alan, you will be fortunate beyond your fondest dreams.”
The two men shook hands, then stood quietly for a moment, each reflecting that when the ship docked, they would walk off the gangplank and into new lives.
“But always the same old friendship,” said Henry. He gestured to the crowd. “Look, Alan, His Majesty is waiting to greet you. You will be promoted to Commodore, of course, and receive a knighthood.”
“Good,” said Alan, grinning. “As a newly married man, I will need the money. I expect you and Simon and Randolph to stand with me at the altar. I will need the Seconds for support.”
“You will need the Seconds to keep you from fleeing,” said Henry, laughing. He added, touched, “I will be proud to stand with you, Alan. We will all be proud.”
Moments later, the pilot arrived, and Alan hurried off to join him. Henry leaned against the rail, watching the king, who had come to greet them. Thomas was wearing his ceremonial naval uniform in their honor. He had one arm in a sling. Henry had heard from Randolph that the king had fought valiantly. He reached into the inner pocket of his coat, where he kept the queen’s letter. Through all his adventures, Henry had never lost it.
Queen Mary had asked him to show the same loyalty to Thomas he had pledged to her. Henry had made a promise to his queen and he would keep it.
* * *
When Henry arrived at his house in Haever, he found it achingly empty without his wife and children, so empty that he left and moved to his rooms in the Naval Club. Henry immediately wrote to Ann, urging her to make arrangements to return home as soon as possible.
He sent his letter by griffin-rider, then had to wait a week for her return letter. He had work enough to do in the interim to keep him busy. He missed Mr. Sloan, who had remained at the site of the White Well, and was apparently still there, according to Simon.
Henry had to make his own arrangements to hire workmen and crafters to start repairs to his house, which had been damaged in the magical fire when Smythe’s soldiers had come to arrest him. Henry had to locate his former butler, Jacobs, and bring him back to supervise the staff as they began to set things to rights.
He finally received a letter from Lady Ann. She wrote to tell Henry to express her joy to Alan on his choice of wife and to say that her return would be delayed. The Countess de Marjolaine was sailing for Freya to meet with the king in an effort to establish closer ties between Freya and Rosia. The countess had offered to take them with her on her yacht.
The children long to see their father, as I long to see my husband. We must be patient a month more, for the countess insists we should wait until the weather improves to sail. She is right, of course, but I do miss you, my dearest.
I remain forever and always your loving, “Mouse.”
PS. Wear your flannel waistcoat, Henry. The nights are chill and I know you will not think of it if I am not there to remind you.
Henry smiled and sighed, and went to his dressing room to put on the flannel waistcoat.
He wrote his letter of resignation to the king, but he did not immediately submit it. He shut the letter in the drawer for the time being.
He and Alan and Simon went to the hospital to visit Randolph. Still confined to his bed, he was in a bad mood. He damned all physicians for quacks, complained about the food, and raved that they would allow him nothing to drink except water and small ale.
“Stop grousing, Randolph!” Henry told him. “They saved your leg, and you are to be knighted, along with Alan.”
“All that means is that I have to get down on my knees before the king and ruin my stockings,” Randolph grumbled, but they could see he was pleased.
“I have no doubt Simon will be knighted also, once news breaks of the White Well,” said Henry. “Think of it, friends. All four of us are Seconds—second sons with no prospects—and we four are or soon will be lords of the realm. I can honestly say that in my wildest imaginings, I would never have dreamed it.”
“We have you to thank for our success, Henry,” said Alan. “You were the brains, as I have always said. Without you, I would have been hanged as a pirate, Randolph would be an aging midshipman, and Simon a clerk in some dingy office.”
Henry was touched. He protested, of course, but his friends insisted on giving him credit. Alan had smuggled a jug of Calvados past the healers and he poured them each a glass. The four drank a toast.
“To friends,” said Henry simply.
The next day, he visited Simon at Welkinstead to receive his report on the Eye of God and its effectiveness against contramagic weapons.
“I hope and trust all the green-beam guns have been destroyed,” said Henry. “Still, it might be adapted to counter some other type of threat. Tell me about the Eye.”
“I assume you mean the refocused energy emitter and generator,” said Simon, frowning. “There’s nothing to tell. I dismantled it and burned the plans. It had serious flaws.”
“But you said the weapon was lethal!” Henry protested.
“It was,” said Simon. “That was the serious flaw. I will not rid the world of one heinous instrument of killing, only to introduce another. Besides, I will be much too busy overseeing the work on my well.”
While he was at Welkinstead, Henry greeted Sophia and Phillip and Bandit, who were staying with Simon and Mr. Albright to help them clean up, put the books back to rights, and make adjustments to the lift tanks that were still not working to his satisfaction.
Henry congratulated Sophia and Phillip and promised to attend their wedding.
“I think it will be a double wedding,” Sophia said, adding with a sly smile, “But you must ask His Majesty and Kate.”
“Truly?” Henry said, amazed. “I have heard nothing!”
“Thomas has not yet made the announcement public, for their union will require an act of the House of Nobles. Still, since Kate is celebrated as a national hero who saved the king’s life, I believe the vote to approve the marriage will be unanimous.”
Henry was still trying to envision this remarkable pairing as Phillip and Bandit escorted him to the door.
“May I speak to you in confidence, my lord?” Phillip as
ked.
“Certainly, Your Grace,” Henry replied.
“I want you to know that if you ever need him, Pip is always available. I have spoken to Sophia and she is in agreement.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” said Henry, smiling. “But as Pip is in truth the Duke of Upper and Lower Milton and His Grace is marrying Her Highness, Princess Sophia of Rosia, I believe our profligate clerk should try to lead a reformed life from now on.”
Phillip laughed. “Thank you, my lord. That comes as a relief to my liver.”
He and Henry shook hands, and Phillip picked up Bandit, who had been attempting to chew off the buckle of Henry’s shoe.
Henry returned to his place of employment, the Foreign Office. He entered the building with considerable trepidation. The night of the queen’s death, he had witnessed soldiers of the Army of Royal Retribution storm inside, arresting people and ransacking offices.
He need not have worried. Kings and queens might come and go, nations rise and fall, but the bureaucracy ground on forever. One undersecretary to an undersecretary told Henry in a peeved voice that the soldiers had smashed his favorite teapot, but that appeared to be the only major disruption.
Henry found his own small office untouched. Located in an out-of-the-way corner of the building, it was often mistaken for a closet, and the soldiers had apparently not considered it important. Nor, apparently, had he been missed in all the time he had been gone, for the mail room had thoughtfully continued to deliver his mail, which was piled up on his desk.
As Henry sat down to sort through his correspondence, he reflected that it was well he hadn’t died. Years might have passed before anyone noticed.
He was still in the office, reading reports from his various agents, when there came a familiar tap on the door. Mr. Sloan entered and Henry rose to greet him with delight.
“Tell me the news about the White Well.”
“Captain Rader and his troops have established a base at Nydrian’s Cove to guard it. I spoke to Governor Crichton—”
Kingmaker (The Dragon Corsairs) Page 55
