She tried to distract herself by observing the scene that was sliding by. They were passing the storefronts once again. Shann wondered for the first time what they used for currency here. She was certain that it wouldn’t be silver astrias. The unfortunate truth was that she was a stranger in this world and completely dependant on others. She was coming to grips with the odd dialect that these people spoke, but there were a thousand and one everyday things she didn’t understand. How did these people heat their homes? Hannath’s house adjoining the observatory was warm and comfortable, but although she had walked the length of it, she had never seen a fireplace. What were those strange-looking staff weapons that the drach carried? What was this power called “electricity” Rael had spoken of? So many questions–so few answers. Yet she somehow had to deal with it all, and with Boxx’s help, complete the mission which was the reason she had risked her life to cross the Barrier in the first place. She had to find the instrument and destroy the Prophet’s weapon for the sake of the Kelanni on both sides of this world.
If only Alondo were here. He would be the one to figure all of these things out. And Lyall–he would know exactly what to do. Even Keris, she had to admit, had the competence and skill to handle almost any situation. She missed their stability, their strength. I don’t think I can do this on my own.
She stared out the widow, idly picking out individuals. A tall, stately woman with flowing golden hair. A wizened old man, bent over like a tree in a gale. A little boy, jumping up and down to get his mother’s attention. A thin, pale young man lost in a fur overcoat too big for him. A…“Stop–stop this thing.”
Rael came to with a start. “What’s the matter?”
“Stop,” she yelled again.
Solvi did not look back. “I can’t stop in the middle of a thoroughfare, miss.”
Shann lunged forward, snatching at the driver controls. Solvi cried out in surprise. “What the–” He made a grab for her arm, but she was too quick for him. She grabbed one of the two levers that corresponded with the bronze layer in her flying cloak and pulled down on it hard. The front end of the phaeton dropped instantly, impacting with the roadway. A horrible grinding. Rael was thrown forward, landing on the floor of the carriage in an ungainly pile of arms and legs. Solvi cursed and fought to regain control. As their vehicle lurched to a halt, the rear of the carriage spun round violently. They finally came to a halt, the phaeton pointing almost back in the direction they had come.
There were cries of alarm from outside. Shann ignored them–she ignored everything. She fumbled for the door latch. It gave way and she stumbled out into the street. Bystanders moved toward her, arms stretched forward. She pushed past them roughly and bolted down the cobbles. Men jumped out of the way and women clutched their children protectively. The ground was slick with compacted ice and slush. Shann slithered to a halt and cast about wildly.
“Shann.” The voice behind her was Rael’s. He caught up to her, breathing hard. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“A red hat.”
“A what?”
“A red hat–I saw a red hat.”
“W-what are you talking about? Look, you just crashed the phaeton. People could have been…”
“Alondo. He was one of those who crossed the Barrier with me–the musician. He always wears the same outrageous hat.”
Rael shook his head angrily. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
“I’m telling you, it was him.”
“All right,” Rael challenged, “so where is he now?”
Shann turned slowly, scouring the immediate area. Passersby were glancing nervously at her, giving her a wide berth. It had been nothing more than a flash, a scarlet blur, but it had been him. Hadn’t it? It was as if she had just awoken from a dream–vivid in its intensity, yet already the memory was fading, giving way to doubt, like a painting left out in the rain–colours running and blending together until she could no longer be certain what it represented. “I…don’t know…I’m sorry.”
Rael turned on his heel and started back toward the carriage. After a moment, she followed him meekly. The scene was one of controlled chaos. The wrecked phaeton sat forlornly on the roadway. Its front end was lowered where it had impacted with the road surface, and the undercarriage was a mass of buckled and torn metal. A large knot of people had gathered, along with four drach in their distinctive blue coats. Two were busy trying to keep the crowd back, one was trying to redirect phaeton traffic around the crashed obstacle and the fourth was talking to Solvi. The driver was making animated gestures.
“Wait here,” Rael ordered her.
Shann watched as he strode over and interrupted the conversation between Solvi and the drach officer. This is it. They’re going to take me away and hurl me into a deep, dark dungeon someplace–and then they’re going to throw away the key.
After a few moments he returned. “Come on.”
He turned his back on her and walked away without waiting for a reply.
~
They climbed the hill to the observatory in utter silence. She couldn’t really blame him. Let’s see. During their first outing together she had managed to act the fool, embarrass him in public and cause a serious accident. He must hate me.
It was growing late and the light was starting to fade. The clouds had returned, and a few flakes of snow had started to drift down. Shann felt an utter failure. Not only was she no nearer to locating the instrument she needed to save her world, or to finding the others–if they were still alive–but now she had alienated the only ally she had. No-one who knew what had happened today would be likely to trust her again.
She had no idea what she ought to do next. At least now that she had a fair grasp of these people’s dialect, there was a chance she could make it on her own. Maybe she could just take Boxx and quietly slip away. But where would she go?
She peered past the gently falling snow toward the observatory. Something was going on. Two phaeton carriages were parked outside, and there were figures beside them, clad in the unmistakeable blue uniform of the drach. Shann’s stomach knotted. Then it occurred to her–there was only one lodestone track to the top of the hill where the observatory sat, and nothing had passed them on the road, so how could it be in connection with the accident?
They passed through the large metal gate and into the observatory grounds. Two drach were standing near the entrance, but they did not challenge the young people. There was a third in the hallway–a stocky man with close-cropped fair hair. He nodded to them and then disappeared behind the door at the end of the hall, leaving it ajar. A moment later, Hannath’s voice bellowed from behind the door. “Rael, get in here.”
He had disobeyed Hannath and taken her to the launch site. She had gone along with him because she was bored and wanted a change of scenery. And now he was in trouble because of it. What had started out as an exhilarating adventure was fast turning into the worst day of her life.
She started to think rapidly. She could still limit the damage if she chose the right approach. Take the blame–that was her best option. Rael could be punished, even lose his position here. Then she would be utterly alone. However, she doubted they would have any practical means of punishing her. They might reinstate her drach guards, but she could live with that. Tell them it was your idea–that you fluttered your eyelids and begged him to take you–they’ll understand that. Hopefully, the boy would have enough sense to shut up and not contradict her story. And taking the blame would maybe go some way toward restoring his faith in her.
She waited patiently in the hall. Finally, the inner door opened once more and Rael poked his head around it, reminding Shann of the day she had first met him. He came out to her, but his expression was not one of upset or shame. It was one of excitement.
“Your ship, Shann. It’s been found.”
~
“What do you mean I can’t see it?” Shann stood looking defiantly up at the boy who was twice her size, fists balled on her hips.
&n
bsp; They were still standing in the hallway of Hannath’s house. Rael held up his hands in a placating gesture. “It’s been sealed off by the Scientific Directorate. They are studying it. It’s definitely a seagoing vessel, although it seems to have suffered a fair amount of damage. We’ve never seen anything like it. The name on the hull was ‘Annata’s Reach’, just as you described. There’s no mistake–it’s your ship.”
“Did they find anybody with it?”
“No, Shann, I’m afraid not.”
“Where is it?” she demanded.
“It’s beached…a little way up the coast.”
“Take me there.”
“I can’t. No-one is being allowed anywhere near it right now.”
“But it’s our ship, not yours,” Shann protested. “You have no right to keep me away.”
Rael touched his chin. “Well, you have a point, I suppose. Look, why don’t you rest and change? I’ll see what I can do.”
He hadn’t mentioned her actions earlier or the accident. It felt like she was pushing her luck, but she didn’t care. She had to know what had happened to Lyall and the others.
She was sitting in the room with the whirring timepieces later that evening, with Boxx lying at her feet, enjoying the feeling of clean skin and a full stomach, when Rael entered. “Be ready to leave first thing tomorrow,” he announced. “We’re going to visit your ship.”
~
The pair of avionics were perched on the crest of a sand dune–brooding silver birds, resting on their haunches, overlooking the wide inlet. Two blue-coated drach stood guard over the flying machines.
Rael and Shann half walked and half jogged down the dune’s seaward side. Early morning sunlight glinted on the wave crests as wide breakers fell against the beach. Ail-Gan burned steadily in a clear blue sky. Ail-Kar was still below the horizon. They reached the foot of the dune and made their way across the hard-packed sand. The shoreline, undisturbed for countless turns, was now crisscrossed by numerous tracks. Ahead of them a beached ship reared up, canted slightly to starboard, its prow half buried in sand. The single foremast angled skyward, its crosstrees decorated with the ragged remnants of what was once a sail. Proudly emblazoned on the hull behind the bowsprit was the ship’s name, Annata’s Reach. Their ship. Her ship.
She walked slowly around the vessel. The tide had receded to the point where the Reach was wholly above the water line. There was a ragged hole on the larboard side where the Prophet’s ship had blown a hole in their hull with its lodestone cannon. Shann started to climb up, using the shattered strakes as handholds.
“Be careful–it looks dangerous,” Rael called out. She ignored him, scrambling inside the opening. Inside the ship’s hold it was dark and dank, with a layer of bilge water which reached to her ankles. Shann allowed a moment for her eyes to grow accustomed to the reduced light and noted the position of the ballast before sloshing her way to the ladder and climbing up. Pushing the hatch open, she stood once more on the Reach’s sloping deck.
It was an eerie feeling–like returning to the house you grew up in, long after it had been abandoned. This was where she and the others had battled Saccath. The deck was a jumble of smashed wood and tangled cordage. She picked her way to forecastle. The door was open–it creaked gently on its hinges. Inside was the table where they had shared meals and spread charts. The charts were gone, perhaps removed by Rael’s people. A couple of stools were overturned, and there were some shards of pottery on the floor.
Shann went back out into the light and made her way to the launch. It still sat in its berth on the ship’s larboard side. There had been no attempt to float the craft, and she immediately saw why. A huge gash was visible in its side–a result of the bombardment by the pursuing vessel. Patris’ unconscious form had been placed in here. She searched inside, but there was no sign of the thief.
She continued aft, toward the stern castle. Her hand went to the latch and the door opened outward. Inside were cots with blankets thrown carelessly aside, as if only lately vacated. Here was where Boxx had tended to Keris’ injuries and where Alondo had lain, pale and stricken with seasickness. A broken oil lamp lay on its side. There was nothing of value left here, other than her memories.
Shann cast about looking for something–anything that might indicate the fate of Lyall and the others. She went to one of the cots and felt the sides. To her surprise, her hand came away with a small pouch of black cloth. She opened it at the neck and immediately knew what it was. Inside were the white discs of natural metal and the dark, swirling discs of lodestone that Lyall had used to teach her about lodestone at the farmhouse near Lind. Among them was the very disc that Lyall had pressed into her palm on that wet night in Corte, so long ago. She pulled at one of the atramentous discs and felt the unnatural smoothness–the familiar resistance. She tucked the pouch into her tunic and made her way back down the hatch and out through the ship’s damaged side.
Rael’s face reflected the concern on hers. “Are you all right?”
She nodded without looking at him. “The ship has been deliberately run aground.”
“How could you know that?”
Shann pointed forward. “See the prow–the front part of the hull–how it’s driven into the sand? I checked the hold. The ballast has been moved forward to weigh down the bow.”
“But…why would anyone run your ship aground?”
She gazed out to sea. “A heavy swell and the ship holed just above the water line. The anchor cast off back at Sakara and a launch that’s no longer seaworthy. Running her aground would probably have seemed like the best option.” She turned and began walking back up the beach.
“Where are you going?” Rael called after her.
“Home,” she replied without looking back. “There’s nothing left to see here.”
~
Shann sat under the stars on the roof balcony, hunched beneath a heavy cloak, wracked with sobs. A half-imagined glimpse of Alondo back in Kieroth and her self-control had deserted her. Since then she had promised herself that she would not allow emotion to get the better of her again. Yet seeing the empty ship, broken on the shore and bereft of the lives that had given it purpose, had tested that promise to the limit.
They had flown back to Kieroth in silence. Rael was full of questions, but whenever he tried to engage her, she closed him down. Finally he gave up, and Shann was left with nothing more than the modulating drone of the engines and her own thoughts.
Back at the house she had gone straight to her room. There was a knock at the door and Meira’s voice. Shann didn’t answer. A while later she went to the door and found a plate of food under a cloth–cooked yellow roots, some spiced bread and a jug of some kind of fruit cordial. She brought them in and picked at the meal before setting it aside. It had grown dark. Shann tried to lie down, but sleep fled from her. Finally, she rose and went to the closet, pulling a heavy purple cloak around her bare shoulders. She’d left her room and headed for the stairs that led to the roof.
During her earlier wanderings she had discovered an outside balcony area. It always seemed to be deserted. Indeed, there was no evidence that anyone ever used it, so she had adopted it as her “private space”–a place she could come to think. The air was cold and still; the stars hard and unforgiving. She went to a low wall, sat down and closed her eyes. Faces passed before her. Faces she knew: Alondo with his wide grin and crazy hat, Lyall, fair hair and piercing blue eyes; Keris, flowing raven hair framing her sharp features; Patris the thief, with straight dark hair and intelligent eyes; Hedda, Gallar...all lost to her now. She was finally, completely alone.
Something inside Shann snapped. Her eyes filled with tears and her chest started to heave involuntarily. She covered her face and wept.
Gradually, her breathing slowed, and she became aware of a presence nearby. She raised her head and rubbed away the tears. To her surprise, Boxx was standing on its hind limbs watching her, its black eyes like two shining beads. She had no idea how it had fou
nd her here. Now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen the Chandara since she had returned from her trip to the beach. She had been too preoccupied with her own thoughts.
“Boxx,” she sniffed, “I’m sorry, I–”
“Explain The Meaning.”
“I…don’t understand.”
“Kelanni Exude Water, Respire Deeply,” it said in its high-pitched voice. “It Is A Sign They Are Unhappy.”
“It’s just–well I miss Lyall, Alondo and the others, that’s all.”
“You Visited The Ship.”
It must have talked to Rael. “Yes…it’s pretty much of a wreck, I’m afraid. And there was no sign of anyone.”
The creature cocked its round head to one side. “Explain The Meaning,” it repeated.
“Well. I can’t be absolutely certain, but I think it was beached deliberately. Someone had moved all of the heavy items to the front end to weigh it down. The Reach was holed badly. Without an anchor and with the launch damaged–”
“No.” The Chandara’s mouth rippled. “You Are Unhappy. Explain The Meaning.”
Shann frowned. “I told you. I miss the others.”
“The Others Are Here.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Others Are Here. On This Side. Before The Ship They Were Gone. Now They Are Here. It Is A Matter Of…Statistical Probability…”
Shann didn’t understand the last part, but she realised that it was right. If the ship had made it to land, then there was a very good chance that a least some of her crew had made it as well. Yet in fifteen days there had been no sign–no hint of their presence on this side of the world. It was as if they had disappeared utterly.
“The Others Are Here,” Boxx insisted.
Shann felt the tears welling up once more. “Then where are they?”
<><><><><>
Chapter 8
(Sixteen days earlier)
“They’re gone.”
Lyall stood on the foredeck of Annata’s Reach, his hands cupped around Alondo’s cheeks. Rain and spray were rolling down the musician’s screwed-up face. He might have been crying; it was impossible to tell. Lyall shouted over the roaring tempest in an attempt to galvanise his friend into action. “We’re nearly through the Barrier. I need you to man the rudder. Can you do that?”
The Lodestone Trilogy (Limited Edition) (The Lodestone Series) Page 41
