For Steam and Country: Book One of the Adventures of Baron Von Monocle

by Jon Del Arroz

  Marina and Harkerpal returned to their seats after she left the inn. Marina tried to give me a reassuring smile. “Talyen can be a little rough. She’s taken your father’s death to heart, but she’s the finest military commander I’ve ever met. In some ways, better than your father.”

  “Different. The Baron had a knack for unorthodox strategies. The enemy couldn’t predict him because he liked to take risks. There’s more of him in you,” Harkerpal said, pointing at me, “than you realize.”

  I shook my head. “No, Captain von Cravat is right. I’m nothing like him. I shouldn’t have come out here in the first place. I belong back in Plainsroad Village.”

  Marina reached into one of her pockets and pulled out a gold coin. She set it on the table and slid it across to me. I’d had gold coins from what my father had left me, otherwise I couldn’t survive as a lone girl on a meager farm. This coin had different markings on it, ones I didn’t recognize.

  “What’s this?” I asked.

  “This, is a good story of how your father seized the day, just like you tried to do. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Right Harkerpal?”

  Harkerpal nodded several times. “That’s always the gamble. And that’s why he had people like the Captain behind him to keep him on a steady course.”

  “What’s this got to do with anything?” I asked, taking the coin between two of my fingers. I flicked it, and the coin spun on the table in front of us.

  Harkerpal pinched the coin, stopping its spin. He held it so I could see the markings clearly. “If you look at the imprint on this, you’d see this isn’t a Rislandia Kingdom gold mark, but the markings of a strange tree on the tail’s side, and the face of a man known as the One-Eyed King on the other.”

  “What’s that got to do with my father?”

  “Have you ever been to the ocean, Zaira?”

  I shook my head. “There’s a big lake about a day’s walk from my farm, though.”

  “Even the biggest of lakes don’t compare to the ocean. Its vastness is astounding, and the effect it has on air currents, well, it’s challenging to an engineer.” Harkerpal took the purse and stuffed it back into his pocket. He left one coin on the table. “Your father liked to take your mother to see the ocean before you were born. There was one place in particular, the Ebony Sands Coast. I’m sure you can imagine where the name came from.”

  I shrugged. “Somewhere with ebony sands, I’m guessing?”

  “Got it in one,” Marina teased with a wink.

  “That’s where these coins come from,” Harkerpal said, drawing the coin back to him before sliding it over to Marina. “The One-Eyed King’s name was Renawl, and he set up his domain by preying on travelers along that coast. These days it’s safe. Rich nobility from Rislandia, Wyranth and beyond build themselves vacation residences there. A true example of what peace in the world could look like. The black sands are such an attraction, so beautiful and rare. I’ve never seen another place so breathtaking, and the weather. Oh my, the weather!”

  Marina nudged him in the side with her elbow. “Baron von Monocle. Rash adventuring. Focus, Harkerpal.”

  I wasn’t the only one who noticed how Harkerpal loved to hear himself speak. That made me smirk. If I could relate to anyone since I’d left Plainsroad Village, it was Marina. She understood me.

  “My apologies, my apologies.” Harkerpal said. “What your father found there was someone who established himself along that peninsula who lived a king’s life due to his thieving and pillaging, his kind heart couldn’t allow the poor peasants to live in that kind of fear. He landed the Liliana by the One-Eyed King’s domain, feigning to be impressed by the king. He offered to work for Renawl as a mercenary. While he had the One-Eyed King occupied in contract negations, the Liliana’s commandos secured the rest of the island. The Baron meant to trick him, however. His job was to convince Renawl that he would be leaving his castle to receive his own airship with a full crew and supplies. An incredible negotiator, your father was, even when it was false.”

  Was there anything my father wasn’t incredible at? If this story was supposed to make me feel better about myself, it failed. “I’m sure he had great skill,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

  “Ah, but the Baron fooled himself with his own prowess, overconfident in his abilities. The One-Eyed King smelled that something was amiss. Baron von Monocle found shackles waiting for him and his crew when he returned to the Liliana. His plan of going in alone, being both military force and diplomat himself was rash. Like a certain young von Monocle who tried to test the limits of her new airship.”

  I bashfully ran a hand back through my hair.

  Marina chimed in, spinning the coin on the table herself this time. “I should mention that the One-Eyed King had two eyes at this point, he hadn’t earned his name yet.”

  With both of their expectant gazes upon me, I could tell I was supposed to bite at that. I took the bait. “How did he lose an eye, then?” This time I stopped the coin, letting it fall on its heads side, which displayed the visage of this One-Eyed King.

  “He put a knife to your father’s throat, ready to slay him after the Baron was placed into shackles. Oh my, this is the most exciting part.” Harkerpal wiggled his fingers over the table. “Even chained, the Baron kicked the knife right out of the king’s hand, grabbing it midair, and driving it into Renawl’s good eye! The guards were so stunned and distracted, it allowed the Barron to escape from the square and make it back to the airship. Once there, he had his crew to protect him again.”

  Several people at another table took note of our conversation and whispered amongst themselves. The Innkeeper shook his head and disappeared into the kitchen.

  I silently reminded myself not to bring Harkerpal with me the next time I wanted to be in a subtle situation. “That’s awful violent,” I said. “I don’t see how it’s funny at all. Or how that’s supposed to apply to me. His story worked out in the end because he knew what he was doing. I crashed the ship.”

  “Yes, but he put himself into peril, just like you. He relied on others to get him safely off the island. He couldn’t have done it without his crew,” Marina said. She crossed the table, crouched down, and patted my arm. “What you need is a balance, someone to guide and teach you. You need a crew of your own to make up for your deficiencies.”

  “What Marina is trying to say, is that the Liliana’s yours now,” Harkerpal said. “We understand where you come from, and your lack of experience. Like I told you before, I owe your father my life several times over. We would be glad to help. Captain von Cravat will come around eventually.”

  I sat thinking for a long moment. They were trying to cheer me up after Captain von Cravat verbally ripped me in two. The part they left out of their story, however, trumped any reason I could think of to restore faith in myself. My father was larger than life. He’d had talents that no one else could replicate. No matter how perilous the situation, he had the wit, experience, and combat capability to find a way out. The list of his skills didn’t stop there, either. Every story I heard only made the man sound like the greatest hero that ever lived. That wasn’t me. My capabilities only included digging postholes and growing vegetables. I could make a mean vegetable stew, but that didn’t help.

  “The Liliana’s more than a job to you, Harkerpal.” I said. He was so selfless, and I could tell from his eyes he truly wanted me to assume my father’s mantle, even after the mess I’d caused. I took a deep breath. “But me, I’m not sure I actually want to fly the airship again.”

  Harkerpal tried to stay impassive, but disappointment overcame his face, revealing wrinkles that showed his age. “I see,” he said.

  His lack of verbosity jolted me in surprise.

  Marina stood from beside me. “It’s okay, Harkerpal. We did what we could. If she’s not ready, she’s not ready. This is a big shock to her, you have to remember. The Baron kept his worlds separate. It’s probably safer for her without the weight of a whole airship on h
er shoulders anyway.”

  “I’m sorry I crashed the ship, Harkerpal,” I said. This time I stood, ready to return to my room. “Sorry to you too, Marina. I hope you can figure out what’s going on and stop the Wyranth.”

  “Where are you going?” Marina asked.

  “To my room. I need to collect my things. It’s time I went home.” Back where I belonged.

  “Over the years, I’ve looked many an enemy in the eye before I slew them, yet today marks the first time I’ve experienced fear. There’s something different in this current crop of Wyranth soldiers. Something inhuman.”

  An excerpt from Baron von Monocle’s log

  Day 23 of the Month of Queens

  16th Year of Malaky XVI’s Reign

  The sun loomed high above me, beating down with its relentless heat. I pulled weeds from the field. Sweat dripped down my face. Those three days I’d been gone had decimated my weekly crop yields. Without the help of the Gentrys, I’m not sure how I’d survive. Since my return, I’d spent far more hours working than the usual sunrise to sunset. Even with the hard labor, I couldn’t help but think about the different way of life I’d briefly gleaned in Loveridge.

  War with the Wyranth crept over the horizon, and I would have never known about it if I had minded my own business. Outside of crashing the airship, I had fond memories of the beginning of my lone flight. I couldn’t escape thoughts of the unparalleled rush when we lifted off, the weight of the air pushing against me when we accelerated, each sensation more thrilling than the last. I daydreamed of leading soldiers into the battle, raining down death from above. My laughter resounded throughout my fields at the ridiculous thought. “That’s not me. That’s my father. What am I thinking?” I asked no one in particular.

  Toby flipped over to his backside, puffing out his chest at me and wiggling in the dirt. He chirped.

  “That’s right, Toby. It is much better to be here with you,” I said.

  A round object whizzed past my head.

  Panic overcame me, and I dropped to the ground. Thoughts of war loomed in my head. Could the Wyranth be this close? Did they know who I was? I relived the shock of anti-airship ballistics bombarding the Liliana. Two more objects flew from behind, narrowly missing me.

  I quivered, just as I had that day on my airship. Shouting for help would do no good. It would lead whoever was targeting me that much closer to me before any of my neighbors could respond. As always, I was on my own.

  Toby showed no fear. He climbed atop me and hissed at the assailant. My eyes were shut tight. I hoped whoever it was wouldn’t hurt my little ferret.

  One of the objects smacked against the back of my skull. I tensed, but it didn’t hurt like I expected. The sting of the hit was quick. My hair became slimy and moist. Juice dripped down my neck and crept into my blouse. I smelled a familiar odor, faint, yet somewhat acidic.

  For the second time in as many weeks, tomatoes made a mess of me. My fear waned and returned as rage. I balled my fists and pushed Toby off me. He fell to the ground, landing on his feet. Within moments, I regained my own footing. I spun around, eyes narrowed. Only one person would be brazen enough to pull such a prank. “You scared me halfway to Wyranth you numb-witted imbecilic—”

  James doubled over in laughter in front of me, dropping another tomato he held in his hand. “The look on your face! Ha! Oh, I’m going to die, Zair-bear,” he said, laughing so hard it interfered with his breathing.

  “You have to stop calling me that. I can’t think of anything more embarrassing than being called Zair-bear in front of proper strangers from the capital,” I said, pushing him with both my arms. James was a complete idiot, and he needed to pay for his shenanigans. Before he could regain his balance, I pummeled him and drove fist after fist into his belly. It felt good to show him who was stronger.

  James’s eyes went wide. My shoulder knocked him square in the chest. He lost his balance and gripped onto my coveralls to try to steady himself. In a far more embarrassing situation than the moment I had admonished him, James crashed to the ground.

  I fell atop him.

  For a moment, neither of us moved. Our eyes locked. I was but an ear of corn away from his face, and I mean the width, not the length. I could feel his hot breath on my face. It was… pleasant.

  Looking in his eyes just then, seeing his depth and genuine concern for me, I seriously considered the possibility of more than friendship with him. He was sweet and handsome, though I wouldn’t tell him that. He didn’t need the ego boost.

  I held still, eyes staying fixated on his. Neither of us moved. Was I supposed to kiss him, or was he supposed to kiss me?

  Neither of us would have the chance to answer that question. Toby poked his nose between us, chirping. He licked my face.

  Both of us laughed heartily, and I rolled off to the side. The moment had passed, but I’d not soon forget the brief connection we shared. I had to think on it. Decisions like kissing or courting, especially a friend since my childhood, deserved more than an impulsive response.

  “Your ferret sure is a character,” James said, dusting his clothes and popping back to his feet. He took my arm to help me up.

  I accepted his assistance without protest for once. Though I was still splattered with tomatoes, my clothes had no holes. No worse for the wear. “C’mon knucklehead, least you can do now is help me carry back some of these baskets.”

  “To my folk’s place?” James asked.

  I nodded. Everything I harvested on my farm these days, I brought back to the Gentrys. Mr. Gentry took it to market and did the selling for me, said it wasn’t a place for a young girl alone. I wasn’t particularly interested in selling anyway. All the better to focus on growing and harvesting.

  James helped me harvest the remaining tomatoes until the baskets were filled to the brim. We each picked a basket up and started for the Gentry’s house.

  “What was your big inheritance all about?” he asked.

  The question nearly made me drop my basket. I recovered my grip and considered. Was there any harm in telling him what occurred? The story made me look like an idiot, but he’d seen me make plenty of blunders before.

  After determining there was no harm, I repositioned my grip on the heavy basket, and told him about my misfired adventure. I spared no detail about Mr. Du Gearsmith, Miss von Cravat, Harkerpal, Marina, Loveridge, and the airship. As the Gentrys’ home came into view, my arms burned from carrying the basket for so long. I set it down for a moment, finding a clean spot on my blouse to wipe sweat off my brow.

  “That’s quite a tall tale,” James said with the shake of his head. “Put it to song and maybe you can become some sort of traveling minstrel!”

  I gritted my teeth. He didn’t believe me? How dare him!

  “While you were gone, I joined up with the Knights of the Crystal Spire and travelled to Panderica. We ran into some brigands and—”

  “I wasn’t making up stories, you jerk!” I reached for the tomatoes, but held myself back, knowing that I’d lose that battle.

  He saw what I was doing, and smirked at me with a knowing gaze. It was no fair, not being able to beat him at his own game.

  “I’m serious. Your da can vouch for me,” I said.

  Uncertainty crossed his face as he picked up his tomato basket. He motioned for me to do the same. I crouched and tried my hardest to lift with my legs, supposing it was enough of a break. The basket felt twice as heavy as it had before, and the burn in my arms became a familiar friend. This was the life I knew. Could I have truly left it for airship adventuring?

  We arrived at the Gentry’s barn, setting our baskets inside. The barn had two horses in stalls, a cart, as well as some of their equipment. It was a small barn, enough for the needs of our families, with a chicken coop attached to the side closest to their house. It was quite the relief to be able to set the tomatoes down. My arms felt like noodles.

  Toby hurried through the barn, doing a lap and pausing at the horses. He enjoyed
the smell of their dung. I was too tired to yell at him.

  James paused at the barn door, frowning with a scrunched forehead. He looked cute when he was thinking. “So, all of that was real? You have your own airship?”

  “Yes,” I said. Toby bolted from his spot and used me as a ladder until he reached my shoulder. From the smell of his face, he’d grazed horse manure at some point, which he rubbed into my coveralls.

  “And you gave it up? Are you crazy? That’s the chance of a lifetime!” Horror filled James’s face.

  “I was no good at it, James. I told you.”

  “I’m sure it takes practice. Where is it now? Can we go? We could work for the king aboard an airship, enter into the service. This is my ticket to becoming a knight!”

  I crossed my arms. “Do I have to repeat everything to you? It doesn’t work. I’m not going back. That’s not my life.”

  “Can I have it then?”

  “Ugh!” I didn’t dignify him a real response, storming away from the barn and over to the Gentry’s house. James followed, but I was finished dealing with his immaturity. I resolved to no longer think about airships or war, but important things, like Mr. Gentry selling my tomatoes. I needed to speak with Mr. Gentry about his plans, how much coin he thought he could obtain. Then I could go home and take a bath and forget about James.

  “Hey, wait up!” James jogged after me. “What’d I say?”

  “You don’t ever consider other people’s feelings, do you? It’s whatever strikes your fancy in the moment. I hate boys.” I rapped on the door to the Gentry’s house.

  Though James lived there, and could have opened the door, he waited. “That’s not fair, Zair-bear. I have feelings too, and I care about you,” he said.

  Those words plucked me like a fiddle. I stopped and turned toward him. “You do?” I asked softly.

  “Yeah, of course. That’s why I’m telling you how great of an opportunity you have. How many of us have the chance to become something more than this?” James motioned toward the farm land.