Lioness of Kell

by Paul E. Horsman

  ‘I smell trouble,’ the boy said. ‘Smelled it often since Isaudor died, so it’s familiar.’

  After a while, the captain came back. ‘There will be a delay.’ She sounded as if she blamed her passengers.

  ‘Trouble with the engine?’ Maud said over her shoulder.

  The captain hit the doorpost with her fist. ‘Sabotage! Someone’s been tampering with the wiring.’

  Maud turned around to look at her. ‘How?’

  ‘I don’t know. Sparks lives with that cursed engine. No one can come near it without him knowing it.’ The captain got a grip on herself. ‘I’m sorry to tell you we’re on half-speed for the moment. We’ll be very late on arrival.’

  ‘I see. I’m sure you are all doing what you can. Only... sabotage. Has it happened before?’

  ‘No!’ the captain half-shouted. ‘I ....’ She took a deep breath. ‘Forgive me for asking. Could it have something to do with your mission?’

  Maud stiffened. Our mission? ‘Not that I know. The prince-warlock didn’t tell us much, though. Just to travel to Port Brisa, pick up Jurgis here and bring him to his office. You’re not a lost heir, or anything, are you?’ she asked, and Jurgis burst out laughing.

  ‘Go on; that would be fun. No; I always knew I wasn’t Isaudor’s son, but I was my mother’s child. And she hadn’t been married before. What does that make me? Some accident, probably.’

  The captain sighed. ‘Well, it’s a matter for my superiors. I must return to the bridge. Rest assured we’ll do everything to get you in Winsproke as soon as possible.’ With a curt nod, she hurried forrard.

  Maud rose. ‘I’m going to see the engineer. You sit down here and watch the veteran. Call me if she speaks or anything.’

  Sparks was the ship’s engineer’s nickname. He was a Thali; one of those reclusive people from the icy south, who spent their lives tinkering and inventing the most marvelous contraptions. The few Thali Maud had met were imperturbable technicians; for the dirigible’s engineer to show his worry, things must be seriously wrong.

  ‘There is something playing snowdance with my wires,’ he said. ‘And I haven’t a notion what it is.’ He looked up, the strain clear in his face. ‘I know this blasted engine inside out, and I’ll swear there is nothing wrong with it. Nothing at all. Ahh, I’m going mad.’

  ‘Son of the Thi-a-Yuuk,’ Maud said formally. ‘Could it be magic?’

  The Thali looked up from his cross-legged position. ‘The Great-Grandmother would know; I don’t. I’m only a bliddy engineer. Yet there’s no other possibility left. Someone is sabotaging my engine with magic.’ He rose groaning and stretched his legs. ‘I’m sorry, Lioness,’ he said and he managed to make it sound true. ‘But I must ask the captain to halt the airship. The first officer and I will have to conduct a full search of her.’

  Thus, ten minutes later, the sound of the engine dimmed to a whisper, giving just enough power to keep the dirigible stationary. The first officer opened the outer door and kicked the rope ladder to the ground. Then he climbed down to fasten the mooring lines.

  Maud looked at Hala’s face. The veteran was still out, and her breathing sounded forced. The captain came from the bridge and halted at their cabin.

  ‘More delay,’ she said, and her eyes were anxious. ‘The engineer needs time to find whatever is interfering with his engine.’

  ‘So I understood,’ Maud said. ‘Where are we?’

  ‘It’s a rotten place to stop—we’re right over the Lornwood.’

  Maud had heard the name, but in what way, she couldn’t remember. She didn’t care, either. ‘I need something to ease the veteran’s breathing. Do you mind if I go down to search for some herbs?’

  ‘Here? In this cursed forest?’ The captain shivered. ‘Well, it’s your life. But I suggest you take your friend to watch your back while you search.’

  The girl thought it over. She had wanted to leave Jurgis with Hala, but her training agreed with the captain.

  ‘Give us a hail when you’re ready; I’ll not leave the ladder hanging out. The gods know what monsters would try to board us.’

  Monsters? Mentally, Maud shrugged. A couple of wolves perhaps, or at most a bear. Those don’t climb rope ladders. But monsters? This isn’t the continent, for Otha’s sake.

  ‘Get your things,’ she said to Jurgis. ‘We’re going down. I need herbs, and you’re going to stand guard. Got any weapons?’

  ‘Only my knives.’

  ‘You can take the veteran’s spear. Her sword is bound to her; I wouldn’t even dare to touch it. But the spear is just that.’

  ‘Ah, what do I do with it?’ Jurgis turned the weapon around in his hands.

  Maud stared at him. Then she grinned. ‘You stick them with it. Like this.’ She made a few rapid passes. ‘Don’t try to throw it; you wouldn’t hit a bear if it was five feet away from you.’

  ‘To be sure. But I’m not going to stick this thing into a bear either,’ Jurgis said firmly.

  ‘Don’t worry; I don’t think we’ll meet any in the Lornwood.’

  Jurgis’ pale face reddened. ‘You said ... Lornwood? Is that where we are?’

  ‘According to the captain, yes.’

  ‘Blast! It’s supposed to be a bad place.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Spooks. Witches, wyrms, wolves.’

  Maud snorted. ‘Old men’s tales. Now, come on. The captain wants to raise the ladder.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because of the wyrms and the witches.’

  It was at the break of dawn, and raining. The branches of the trees around the clearing were heavy with water.

  Jurgis shivered. ‘Chilly.’

  ‘You’re afraid,’ Maud said teasingly.

  ‘I’m not. When I’m burgling a house, I am afraid. Now I’m not ... at least not yet. Which herbs do you need?’

  ‘Kornullia and everline. Won’t be difficult; they’re common enough. While I’m searching, you watch my back.’

  ‘Gladly,’ the boy said. ‘It’s very pretty.’

  Maud’s breathing faltered for a second as sudden desire exploded in her belly. ‘Don’t say that!’ she snarled.

  ‘Hey! Don’t be mad, I’m not Atark! I didn’t mean anything,’ Jurgis said, stepping back. ‘It was a compliment.’

  A deep sigh escaped her, and she unclenched her hands. ‘It’s all right. You have much to learn about Kells.’

  ‘Tell me what I said wrong.’

  Maud looked at him; the boy seemed earnest enough. ‘Another time. It’s rather personal.’ She felt embarrassed by her feelings and went tight-lipped around the clearing, searching the high grass and underneath the bushes for the herbs she needed.

  At last, with her hands full of stems and leaves, she stretched. ‘We’ve got quite a haul and all fresh. She’ll ....’

  ‘What’s that?’ Jurgis’ puzzled voice interrupted her and she gazed at the sky.

  ‘I thought I saw a bird,’ Jurgis said.

  Maud looked at him. ‘So?’

  ‘A giant bird. Red-spotted green. Breathing sparks.’

  ‘You’re trying to be funny?’

  ‘Only it isn’t a bird, it’s a lizard.’ Jurgis waved upward. ‘Gosh, look at those teeth!’

  Now Maud saw it, too. A great winged reptile, child of a salamander and a crocodile. With a tail easily twice its body length, and four taloned limbs. It grew larger as it came near, its body undulating as if swimming in the air. The spots on its green scales were blood red and its toothy mouth smoked as if fires stoked its flight.

  ‘Divine Otha! That’s a wyrm!’ Dropping the herbs, Maud put her hands to her mouth and cried, ‘Hallo, the boat! Alarm! Alarm!’

  The dirigible’s captain appeared in the cabin door, and Maud pointed. At that moment, the wyrm dove. The captain slammed the door closed, but whatever she planned to do, she didn’t make it. With a roar, the wyrm attacked, spitting lightning. The balloon’s outer cover wasn’t made to withstand fire; it crackled and melted,
and with an indescribable sound, the gas compartment burst into flames. Then, while the wyrm climbed higher for a second dive, the clearing became bright as daytime as the floatgas in the balloon turned the whole dirigible into a ball of fire.

  Maud lifted up her head and uttered a cry of bone-chilling rage.

  ‘Back!’ She felt Jurgis gripping her biceps, but she couldn’t move. ‘It’s goin’ to crash.’ His excited voice tugged at the rage that shook her. Deep in her mind, a small spot of sanity agreed with the thief, and she didn’t resist as he dragged her into the forest’s edge.

  The boat came down in a mass of flames. Instinctively, Maud wanted to run toward it, but Jurgis still clutched her arm and with all his strength held her back. ‘Stay! You can’t!’

  Again, she let his voice overrule her impulses and she watched from a distance as the airship burned. The heat was so intense that the leaves on the nearest trees shriveled and died, the ground mist boiled away, and the grass blackened.

  The great shadow of the wyrm darkened the ground where they stood. Lightning crackled, and flames spat everywhere.

  ‘Wake up! It’s coming for us!’ Jurgis tugged at Maud’s arm, and she turned to face him.

  ‘What?’

  Another beam uprooted a copse of young firs, broke them and sent them flying.

  ‘We must run!’ Jurgis screamed in her face.

  At last, the shock cleared from her mind and allowed her training to take over. Danger! She turned, dragging the boy around with her. ‘Come,’ she snarled as she pulled him with her into the woods. Together they ran, zigzagging from tree to tree. The wyrm followed them, hidden by the canopy of the trees. Its fiery breath struck around them, as if it couldn’t see them either.

  Bless the rain, Maud thought, as another beam struck a tree behind them. Or we’d have a forest fire on our heels as well.

  ‘Ratla-Mother-of-Thieves!’ Jurgis jumped as a tall tree splintered and crashed down in his wake.

  ‘The forest is protecting us. It’s keeping us out of the wyrm’s reach.’ Maud’s mind was clear. The dirigible, Hala’s death; all filed away for later. Now she had to keep Jurgis safe from the monster overhead. The little thief was a city boy; agile enough, but not used to the wilderness. She heard him pant and stumble behind her.

  ‘You all right?’ Jurgis’ answer was an expletive, and she smiled, pleased at his defiance. ‘Keep going, mate; we’ll outrun the beast yet.’

  After a while, the ground became stonier, and the undergrowth changed to grass-covered rocks that made the going hard. Jurgis’ breath came in gasping sobs now, and Maud wondered how much longer he would keep it up.

  She spied a massive outcropping of rock with a dark opening. For three hundred feet around it, nothing grew but sparse grass, so they’d be in full view. She grabbed Jurgis’ shoulder and pointed. ‘Over there! A cave. We must make a run for it.’

  The boy’s face was red and sweaty, but his eyes returned her glance unwaveringly. ‘I’ll manage.’

  ‘Now! Fast as you can!’ They spurted over the open ground, hearing the wyrm’s triumphant screech. The wind from its wings blew dust and rubble in their faces as the beast maneuvered into position, and there was a distinct smell of sulfur in the air. Maud heard the beast’s intake of breath. She gripped Jurgis around his waist and dove with him into the cave. Behind them, fire cascaded off the solid rock, and the wyrm bellowed in anger.

  ‘Y’ alright?’ Maud said.

  Jurgis groaned. ‘Crushed.’

  She laughed and rolled off him. ‘You’ll live.’

  For over an hour, the wyrm circled around, spitting bolts of fire until it had had enough. With a cry of frustration, the beast changed course and winged away, trailing smoke and fire.

  ‘We’ll stay here,’ Maud said as she watched it go. ‘I want to be sure the beast won’t come sneaking back.’

  ‘A wyrm,’ the boy said, and his voice quavered. ‘A flippin’ wyrm.’

  Maud reached out in the narrow space and patted his leg. ‘You did all right, mate.’ For a moment, she was silent. ‘Better than I,’ she said. ‘My rage overcame my training. I reacted like a novice, dammit!’ She looked at Jurgis. ‘You saved the day.’

  The boy gave a shaky smile and curled up. After a while, she heard him snore. She lay down beside him in their small hiding place, her head resting against his thigh. Dammit, girl, she said to herself. You must do better. With Hala gone, you’re in charge now. She growled deep in her throat, a lioness’ growl. I’ll show them.

  CHAPTER 5 - YARWAN

  ‘Captain Darquine!’ The ship’s master met them at the gangway with a broad smile. ‘How’s ya doing?’

  ‘Captain?’ Basil said, surprised.

  ‘We’re old friends,’ the girl said. ‘I’m fine, Naching. I see you’re sailing soon?’

  ‘Aye, on the top of the tide. Why? Was you thinking of goin’ a-piratin’ with us?’

  Darquine grinned. ‘It would be fun. Alas, I only want to go home.’

  Captain Naching frowned, serious now. ‘I’m bound for Towne. Are you sure?’

  ‘At least for a while,’ Darquine said. ‘After a year in Winsproke, I need a change. The Spellwarden is coming with me.’

  ‘Your father will be delighted. He’s running out of people to fight.’

  The girl snorted. ‘Well, I’m in the mood for a good quarrel.’

  The captain roared with laughter. ‘All right then. Get on board, you two. We’ll sail in twenty minutes.’

  On the high tide, the Willowdrake left Winsproke harbor. Basil stood in a quiet corner of the deck and stared at the town of his birth growing smaller. For the first time in his seventeen years, he was leaving the security of his father’s tower. The thought laid frozen knots in his stomach. Basil didn’t see himself as an adventurous type. Experimenting with magical spells was exciting enough, and not without danger. The outside world he would gladly leave to daredevils like Darquine. His eyes teared up. Those fools on the Council with their humiliating summons! They had forced him from his nice rooms. Curse you, Volaut, with your tricks, he thought. And to the hells with you, impostor guy with your ten toes. In impotent fury, he slapped the railing.

  Behind him, someone gave a polite cough. Basil turned with a start and stared at a Chorwaynie of his own age, wearing the uniform of a ship’s officer. Basil felt hot blood rushing to his face, and he snapped, ‘Yes?’

  The young man saluted. ‘Excuse me, Spellwarden, sir, but might I ask you to move two paces to the left? I must make my daily sightings.’ He lifted a copper contraption that Basil didn’t recognize.

  ‘Your sightings?’ He stepped aside, and the other took his place. ‘What are these?’

  ‘I am checking the position of the ship, sir.’ The young man put the copper object to one eye. After a few minutes, he jotted down some numbers on a slate.

  ‘Explain, please.’ Basil considered himself an experimentalist, and he liked to tinker with things, combining apparatuses with spells and seeing what came from it. ‘What is that thing you’re using?’

  ‘It’s a sextant, sir, a most modern instrument. I use it to measure the angle between the sun and the horizon.’ He stopped.

  ‘Go on,’ Basil said impatiently.

  ‘It will be rather technical, sir,’ the young man said. ‘I don’t know ....’

  ‘I love technical things. Tell me.’

  Obediently, the young man began to explain the intricacies of celestial navigation. When he noticed his listener’s interest wasn’t feigned, he warmed up and after a while the two talked away as if they’d known each other for years.

  ‘Now you’re using the sun,’ Basil said. ‘But what about when it’s dark?’

  The young man smiled. ‘We use certain stars instead. I can show you tonight, after sundown, if you want to see it.’

  ‘Of course I want to.’ It was a new field of discovery and Basil felt excited at the thought of delving into it.

  ‘I will be back at two bells
of the first watch. That’s at nine tonight, sir.’

  ‘I’ll be here. What’s your name?’

  ‘Apprentice Yarwan, sir; of Towne-Harbor.’

  Basil nodded. ‘Right, then; two bells it is.’ That sounded nicely nautical to his ears. He touched Yarwan’s hand and saw the young man lower his eyes. Unusually pleased, the Spellwarden walked away.

  ‘Watch it, little bird,’ a sailor said as he passed.

  Basil frowned, puzzled, and looked at the man. ‘You were addressing me?’

  The sailor leered and made a kissing sound.

  Disgust flamed hot in Basil’s face. He lifted his hand, and dark flames dripped from his fingers. ‘Keep your dirty mind to yourself, lowborn,’ he snapped. ‘Or by the gods, I’ll incinerate you on the spot!’

  The man blanched and backed away. His stammered excuses died unheard as Basil limped away without another glance.

  Captain Naching must have overheard the sailor’s vulgarity, for he was fuming when Basil returned to the afterdeck. ‘The honorless dolt!’ he spluttered. ‘I’ll send him home in disgrace for this.’

  Basil shrugged. ‘It was nothing. A stupid joke, no more.’

  ‘You’re a guest, and such behavior insults both of us. Besides ....’ Naching hesitated. ‘Young Yarwan is my nephew, the son of my brother’s widow. He gets harassed enough already and to have his failings affect you because you were so kind as to speak with him makes it extra painful.’

  Darquine joined them. ‘What in the world were you and Yarwan talking about? You seemed quite happy all of a sudden.’

  Basil sniffed. ‘I was quite happy, thank you. We were talking about positioning. Yarwan explained how to, eh, work a sextant. He seemed to know quite a lot about it.’

  ‘He’s got the makings of a good ship’s officer,’ Naching said.

  ‘He is that.’ Darquine smiled. ‘I’ve known him a long time.’

  ‘Well,’ Basil said decidedly. ‘I like him. Tonight at two bells we’re going to do it with the stars. I’m getting all kinds of ideas.’

  ‘Yeah?’ Darquine said, raising an eyebrow at the Spellwarden.

  ‘Yes,’ Basil said, oblivious to her sarcasm. ‘When I bombard something with fire, I tend to burn much more than what I’m aiming at. Perhaps positioning could help me be more precise.’