Stephano and Dag began to plan their assault. Miri voiced her opinions from the helm. Gythe sat in a deck chair, singing softly to the Doctor, who lay curled up in her arms. She looked pale and seemed troubled, but insisted she was fine. Stephano asked her if she had heard the voices again. She nodded. He asked if she wanted to talk about it. She shook her head.
“Gythe thinks about things,” Miri had said, when Stephano had urged her to force her sister to reveal what she knew. “Turns them over in her mind. She’ll tell us when she’s ready.”
Stephano sighed in frustration. He was curious about the demon raid on Westfirth, wondering about the strategy behind it. The demons had displayed their capability of using awful, terrifying, mysterious power. But, analyzing the attack, he realized that the targets the demons had attacked had been easy, vulnerable targets of opportunity, such as the merchant ships. The demons had attacked major military targets, that was true, but only two-the shore battery and the Royal Lion. With the shore battery destroyed, the city of Westfirth had been left completely undefended. But instead of sailing in to finish the foe, set fire to the city, slaughter thousands, the strange demonic ship had vanished, disappearing into the Breath and taking the demon bat riders with her.
“Maybe all they wanted to do was spread fear,” suggested Miri and she added somberly, “Maybe that’s all they needed to do.”
“They could have attacked other cities at the same time,” Dag pointed out. “We have no way of knowing.”
Stephano had a sudden image of the demonic ship with its green-beam weapon firing on the floating palace. He could picture vividly the terrible destruction, the walls cracking, towers falling as the castle, its magic destroyed, plunged to the ground. He imagined the chaos, the terror of the helpless victims trapped inside. He thought of his mother and he felt a pang of fear and dread.
The feeling startled him and even angered him. He thrust it away and told himself to stop daydreaming. Given a fight between his mother and a demon, he would back his mother. She could take care of herself. She’d managed well enough thus far. Besides, he had the feeling-call it the instinct of a soldier-that Dag was wrong. The attack on Westfirth had been isolated.
“I think it was an experiment,” Stephano said. “A test. To see if their weapon worked.”
“Then they must have gone back to Hell happy,” Dag said bitterly.
“Or maybe,” said Miri, “they were after Papa Jake.”
“All right, enough about demons,” said Stephano curtly, not liking the reminder the fiends were out there, hiding in the Breath, perhaps watching, listening. Undoubtedly waiting… “Our problem is how to free Rigo and rescue Alcazar.”
While the Cloud Hopper had been fending off demons, the Silver Raven had managed to rig her boarding nets. Stephano’s idea of boarding the ship while sailing the Breath was not going to work.
“It was crazy anyway,” was Miri’s pronouncement.
“Once the Raven lands, we’ll-” Stephano stopped. He had no idea what they were going to do.
“We’ve still got the same problem,” Dag pointed out. “Wallace is holding Rigo hostage. We fire at Wallace. He’ll kill Rigo.”
“You’re a crack shot, Dag. Could you shoot Wallace before he shoots Rigo?” Stephano asked.
“Maybe if I had one of those new rifled guns, sir…” said Dag, hinting broadly. “Otherwise…” He shrugged and shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to chance it.”
“We could aim our cannons at them and tell them we’re going to kill everyone on board unless they surrender and hand over Rigo and Alcazar,” said Miri.
“There are little ones on that ship!” said Dag, shocked.
They had all seen the children playing on the deck. Judging by the fact that they often clustered around Alcazar, they assumed they were part of his family, perhaps the children of his brother, the sailor.
“You know I wouldn’t do such a thing,” said Stephano.
“I know that. But the crew and the captain don’t know you,” said Miri. “You could be a bloodthirsty monster. They’ll be scared out of their wits.”
“Wallace won’t let the captain surrender.”
Miri snorted. “There are forty of them and one of Wallace! He’ll do what they say.”
“He could just shoot Rigo,” said Dag.
“He won’t,” Miri argued. “Wallace knows that if Rigo dies, he’s a dead man. You would burn that ship.”
“I don’t like it. We’re taking a risk with Rigo’s life,” said Stephano, shaking his head.
“Begging your pardon, sir, but what else we can do?” Dag asked. “The Raven has a crew of forty. There’s just the two of us.”
“Not bad odds,” said Stephano with a half-smile.
“True, sir,” said Dag coolly. “But if the two of us launched an attack, Wallace might kill Rigo out of desperation. This way, at least we have a chance.”
“The Raven being crippled is a gift from God,” Miri said persuasively. “She’s a fast ship and we’re a slow one, and if she hadn’t been hit, she’d be halfway to Freya by now and we’d have no chance of catching her.”
“And you realize, sir, that if they get away from us, Wallace will have no more need of Rigo. He’ll toss him overboard,” said Dag.
“Much as many of us have wanted to do on occasion,” said Miri.
Their conversation was interrupted by the Doctor, who jumped onto Dag’s knee and from there to the table where he made himself the center of attention by sprawling out full length on top of the map. Stephano reached out to pet the cat, his mind on his trouble.
Gythe came over to stand beside Miri at the helm and made signs to her sister, who translated.
“Gythe says it’s a good plan. Rodrigo will do something to help us.”
“Good God! That’s just all we need,” Dag exclaimed, alarmed.
They looked expectantly at Stephano. He sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
“It’s not much of a plan-”
“As if our well-laid plans have worked out so very well this trip,” Miri said crisply.
Stephano gave in. “All right. We’ll make ourselves look bloodthirsty and menacing, as if we slaughter small children every day just for the fun of it.”
“We can do that, sir,” said Dag.
He picked up the Doctor and placed the cat on his shoulder and gently rubbed him under the chin.
Wispy tendrils of mist swirled around the Cloud Hopper as they followed the Silver Raven in her slow descent. The mist was not thick enough to block their view of the ship, and they kept up with her as her captain sailed over the coastline, trying to find a clearing in which to land his crippled ship.
Scientific minds theorized that the floating islands known as the String of Pearls had been formed by silt-laden water runoff from the continents interacting violently with the magic of the Breath and exploding, resulting in the formation of these floating landmasses.
This particular island was about twenty miles across, with a single mountain near the center. A massive upheaval centuries upon centuries ago had caused horizontal layers of the rock to shift so violently that they now jutted vertically into the air. The rocky sides of the mountains were devoid of all vegetation except a few scrub pine trees. The rest of the island was thickly forested. The trees were so dense that Stephano had no idea where the captain was going to find a safe place to land.
Fortunately for the sinking ship, a broad stretch of reddish-brown beach came into view. The Silver Raven made a rapid descent. The Cloud Hopper was close behind. Stephano could see Rodrigo, whose lavender coat was a colorful spot against the brown background of the ship’s timber. The merchant ship was traveling light this trip, and Stephano guessed that the only cargo she was carrying was Sir Henry Wallace and the journeyman who knew how to enhance metal with magic.
The Raven made a rough landing. They were forced to throw out their anchoring grapnels and slam her airscrews into full speed reverse to slow down, and the shi
p hit the ground hard in what must have been a bone-jarring, teeth-rattling landing. Miri touched the helm and the Cloud Hopper ran out her cannons. Stephano and Dag stood beside her swivel guns, smoke rising from the matches they were holding over the guns, ready to fire. The armaments transformed an otherwise small and inoffensive Trundler houseboat into a gunboat, capable of blasting the helpless merchant vessel into fragments of splintered wood.
Stephano had his spyglass trained on Sir Henry Wallace, who had his spyglass and was looking coolly back at Stephano.
Stephano felt his skin crawl. He had expected Wallace to look angry, thwarted, defeated. Instead, Sir Henry Wallace grinned. Stephano lowered the spyglass and picked up the speaking trumpet.
“Captain of the Silver Raven. You will immediately release two passengers, Monsieur de Villeneuve and Monsieur Alcazar. If you do not, we will blow your ship apart.”
The captain made a gesture that needed no translation, telling Stephano exactly what he could do with his demand.
“Dag,” said Stephano, grim-faced and tight-lipped, “show them we’re serious.”
“By being careful not to hit anything,” Dag muttered.
He was lowering the match to the fuse in the gunport when Sir Henry Wallace raised his hand and pointed toward the mountain.
“As if I’m going to fall for that old trick,” said Stephano. “Fire-”
“Stephano!” Miri cried, gulping. “It’s not a trick.”
The man-of-war sailed out from behind the mountain where the ship had been hiding. Her cannons were run out, her men standing beside them with smoldering matches over the guns’ touch holes. The man-of-war mounted thirty-two cannons to the Cloud Hopper’s two. Named the Resolute, the warship flew the Freyan flag.
Sir Henry Wallace removed his hat and made a bow. “A pleasure knowing you, Captain!”
And as if they had been waiting for the signal, the man-of-war fired on the Cloud Hopper.
On board the Silver Raven, Rodrigo watched in horror as the Trundler houseboat, struck by the cannon fire, burst into flame and fell precipitously from the sky. He could not see what became of the boat as it disappeared among the thick trees. All he could see was a coil of smoke rising up from the vegetation.
Standing beside him, Pietro Alcazar’s face went white. “Those are your friends.”
“Yes,” said Rodrigo in a voice he didn’t recognize.
“I’m sorry,” said Alcazar and it sounded as if he was going to cry. “I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, quit whining,” said Sir Henry.
He rested a hand on Rodrigo’s shoulder and added coolly, “Don’t worry, Monsieur. The damage to your vessel looks much worse than it is. I told Admiral Baker to see to it that he cripple the boat, not blow it apart. I fancy the houseboat will be difficult to repair, especially given that there are no shipyards on this God-forsaken place. Still, Captain de Guichen is a most resourceful fellow. With your help, he’ll find a way to get off this island. Though you might be marooned here for some time, I fear.”
Rodrigo watched the smoke rising from the trees, then turned to Sir Henry.
“I don’t understand,” said Rodrigo, puzzled. “I thought you were going to throw me in the Breath.”
“Oh, I was, I assure you,” said Sir Henry. “But events have occurred that have led me to revise my plans. Come to my cabin.”
The man-of-war floated overhead, casting a shadow upon the Raven, whose crew was making her ready to sail. The damage to the vessel had been much more minor than Wallace had made it appear. The crew had already made the necessary repairs. They were waiting only for Sir Henry to give the orders to depart for Freya.
Sir Henry took Rodrigo to what had once been the captain’s cabin, but which had been given to him. The cabin was small and dark and smelled strongly of tobacco. Sunlight crept through a small porthole. The cabin was sparsely furnished with a desk and two chairs, a bed bolted to the bulkhead, and a large portmanteau.
“I would invite you to be seated, Monsieur, but this won’t take long,” said Sir Henry.
He walked over to the portmanteau, leaving Rodrigo standing in the middle of the cabin. Rodrigo could tell by the faint afterglow of magical sigils that the portmanteau had been bound by powerful spells, recently removed. Sir Henry inserted a key, lifted the lid, and took out an object. Shutting the trunk, he carried the object over to Rodrigo.
“Give this to the Countess de Marjolaine when you see her. With my compliments.”
He handed Rodrigo a pewter tankard.
Rodrigo regarded the tankard in dazed astonishment. He had been prepared to die and now he was being handed a tankard and told to take it to the countess. He couldn’t for a moment think what the elegant Countess de Marjolaine would do with such a lowly object as a pewter tankard when suddenly he realized what he was holding. He gave a soft gasp and looked at Sir Henry for an explanation.
“There’s a message that goes with it,” said Sir Henry. He was smiling, but only with his mouth. His eyes were cold, in deadly earnest. “Tell the countess: ‘The same green fire that sank the Royal Lion struck this tankard. As you can see, the green fire had no effect on it whatsoever.’ ”
Rodrigo blinked. The words meant nothing to him for a moment, jumbled up in his scattered thoughts. When he finally understood, he was so astounded he nearly dropped the tankard.
He looked at Sir Henry. “The demonic weapons had no effect on this tankard. Which means the magically enhanced metal Alcazar designed can withstand-”
Sir Henry waved his hand impatiently. “You should go, Monsieur. Your friends will be concerned for your safety. I am sure you are concerned for theirs.”
Rodrigo clasped the tankard tightly and walked toward the door. Once there, he stopped and looked back over his shoulder.
“You know what Rosia will do with this knowledge, sir. We will use it to attack Freya. Why are you giving this to us?”
Sir Henry was silent, his lips compressed, his expression dark. “Others look at the road at their feet. I look far ahead, Monsieur de Villeneuve, to the distant horizon. As Father Jacob and I stood together to fend off the demons, when your country and mine will one day stand back-to-back battling a foe intent on destroying us both. In that eventuality, I want my ally to be as strong as I am. And now, good day to you, Monsieur. Give Captain de Guichen my regards. I trust his little houseboat is not much hurt. Ah, and do accept my condolences on the death of your father.”
Rodrigo clutched the pewter tankard and left the stuffy cabin. Climbing the stairs, he emerged, blinking, into the bright sunshine. In the distance, the smoke was still rising from the Cloud Hopper.
Rodrigo did not bother to bid good-bye to Alcazar, who stared, openmouthed, at the pewter tankard in Rodrigo’s possession. The captain lowered the Raven’s gangplank, and Rodrigo walked down it onto the sandy beach. The merchant ship was making ready to set sail, filling the balloons with Breath from the barrels stored in the hold. The captain had deliberately released the air, allowing the ship to give the impression it was crippled. The Raven would be accompanied back to Freya by the man-of-war.
Once on the beach, Rodrigo considered going to find his friends. He took one look at the thick and impenetrable forest in which he’d most certainly end up lost, glanced down at his fine leather shoes with the silver buckles and his silk stockings and decided to sit on the beach in the shade of a tree and let Stephano find him.
Rodrigo sat on the beach, waiting to be rescued, and turned the pewter tankard over in his hands, studying its smooth, unblemished surface with wonder. He thought about the treatise in which he had postulated the idea of mixing metal with the Breath of God. He’d written the paper one night after imbibing a bit too much wine and submitted it for publication in a vain effort to keep from being tossed out of University. He had never imagined anyone would take his theory seriously. He thought about the green fire, the demons who wielded it, the destruction of the concrete bunker,
the sinking of the Royal Lion, and how this tankard had survived unblemished, intact.
Two foes, standing back-to-back, defending against an enemy intent on destroying them both. Rodrigo believed Henry Wallace. The countess would believe him, too, though it might be some time-some considerable time-before he and the Cadre managed to make their way back to Rosia.
“And what will I wear when I do return to court? I never had a chance to pick up my new clothes,” Rodrigo wondered sadly.
The Silver Raven lifted up off the beach of the unknown, uncharted island and sailed into the Breath, scuttling along in the wake of the enormous man-of-war, a single gosling trailing after an overprotective goose.
In his cabin aboard the Raven, Sir Henry gazed out the dirty porthole to watch the ship make her ascent. Far below, among the trees, he could see the wreckage of the Cloud Hopper. They were close enough that he could make out Captain de Guichen and the mercenary battling the flames. The captain and his crew wouldn’t be going anywhere for a long, long while.
On the deck of the Raven, Pietro Alcazar was chatting happily with his brother and his brother’s wife. Sir Henry could hear him promising that he would give up baccarat, mend his ways.
Damn right Alcazar will give up gambling, Henry thought, amused.
The genius would have his every wish fulfilled. He would be provided with luxurious living quarters, the finest food and drink, the best tools and equipment, apprentices and journeymen to work under him. And he would be guarded around the clock; soldiers armed to the teeth escorting him, watching his every move.
Sir Henry Wallace yawned and stretched his long frame luxuriously. For the first time since he had opened that package and seen that pewter tankard, he could let down his guard. He crossed to the door, flung it open, and shouted for someone to bring him a bottle of wine from his private stock.
Hard to believe only a few weeks had passed, he reflected. It seemed a lifetime.
He sank into a chair and glanced with distaste around the cabin. He would eventually transfer to more luxurious quarters aboard the man-of-war, but Admiral Baker had been forced to wait two weeks here at the rendezvous point and was liable to be in a very bad mood. Henry would give him time to recover.
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