by Eric Vall
Chapter 13
The next day I had a quick breakfast with Aurora and Cayla that consisted of hard-boiled eggs, bread, and links of greasy and delicious cured sausage. As I tried to be subtle about licking my plate clean, Cayla cleared her throat delicately, and I looked up to see her shifting uneasily on the log beside me.
“Is it alright if I do not join you in the workshop right away?” the princess asked delicately.
My brow furrowed. “Of course, but… why? Are you okay?”
“I am fine,” Cayla replied with a half-smile but then lowered her eyes. “It is just…” She lapsed into silence, and her hands curled into fists atop her thighs.
Aurora and I shared a look of concern over the raven-haired maiden’s tone. When the princess did not speak again, Aurora nudged my elbow and tilted her head toward our upset companion.
“Talk to her,” the half-elf mouthed.
I gave a small nodded and then turned back to Cayla.
“Hey,” I said softly as I reached out and brushed the outside of her arm.
Cayla’s blue eyes darted to me for an instant before they went back to staring at the ground. Her hands clenched tighter, and her knuckles blanched bone white. Stan poked his head out of her shirt pocket and looked up at the princess as if in concern.
“Cayla,” I tried again, and when she still didn’t answer, I reached out and gently tilted her chin toward me. “Hey, come on, look at me.”
The princess exhaled sharply and finally lifted her gaze to meet mine. I could tell she was trying her best to keep her emotions hidden, but I saw the worry in the deep icy depths of her eyes, and she always chewed at her lip when she was upset.
“What?” Cayla asked shortly.
“Something’s upsetting you,” I said with a frown. “What’s wrong? I hate to see you anything less than happy.”
Cayla opened her mouth quickly as if she was going to dismiss me, but then her eyes roved over my face, and then she sighed as her shoulders drooped.
“I can’t hide anything from you, can I?” she muttered to her feet.
“Not very successfully,” I replied with a weak smile. “Now, tell me. What’s bothering you?”
“It is just…” She pursed her lips as she trailed off again, but then a torrent of words came spilling out of her mouth.
“I am useless,” she blurted as tears swam in her ocean eyes. “You and Aurora are using your powers to craft this amazing miracle together.” She gestured wildly to the workshop and presumably Big Guy inside, and an angry scowl twisted her beautiful features. “Yet I can do nothing to help. I must sit back and watch as other people save my kingdom. I am utterly useless and helpless.”
I suppressed a wince. The princess did have a point. Unlike when we had constructed the guns back in Illaria, we couldn’t exactly form an assembly line for the parts since I had to be the one to weld them all together with my powers. Yesterday I had noticed Cayla sitting listlessly in the corner of the shop more than once, but whenever she caught my eye, she’d smile and then speak idly about the Cedis of her childhood, about her mother before she died, and about diplomat trips she used to take with her father. As her soothing voice filled the shop, I lost myself in the muscle memory of my work and shook off the princess’s pensive expression for being a little bored.
But now I could see not having something to do really bothered her.
“Cayla,” I started with a frown, but she cut me off.
“I am sorry,” the princess sniffled, and then she lifted her hand to wipe at her eyes. “I did not mean to be sharp with you. Nor did I mean to sound ungrateful. I-I am very thankful for all you have done and continue to do for Cedis, Mason.”
“I know,” I said gently as I reached out and cupped her porcelain cheek. “It’s okay.”
“No,” Cayla replied with a shake of her head, “it is not. I am the princess of Cedis. I should have more decorum and composure if I have no talents for anything else.”
“Okay, that’s enough,” I said sternly as I turned her face to look at me. “I will not have you spread such slander about the woman I love.”
Cayla’s brows furrowed with confusion. “Slander? I--”
“No, you said your piece,” I interrupted as I placed my finger over her lips. “Now you will listen to mine, alright?”
The princess looked at me with wide blue eyes and silently nodded her head.
“Thank you,” I said, “and I’m sorry this has been bothering you, sweetheart, but you have to know everything you said is complete and utter horseshit.”
Cayla’s mouth fell open under my finger, and I could practically see the argument welling in her throat, so I barreled on before she could get a word in otherwise.
“Cayla, you are the furthest thing from useless or helpless,” I said ardently as I looked deep into her eyes. “You are the sole reason Aurora and I are even here. You got the ball rolling on the demise of Camus Dred by crossing Cedis and Illaria, alone I’ll remind you, in search of a solution.”
“Yes, but I didn’t actually do anything,” the princess retorted as she jerked her head back and frowned at me. “All I did was travel for two weeks with a hood pulled over my face. You have done all the work.”
“I’m sorry,” I said as I cocked an eyebrow at her, “was that not you in Lindow the other night pumping bandits full of iron?”
Cayla opened her mouth again, but then she froze. Her lips pursed into a thin line, and a contemplative look settled on her face.
“Was it not you who helped me put together fifty guns back in Illaria,” I continued, “and then helped me train Mayard’s men? Was it not you who told me about the copper in the treasury to help me solve Big Guy’s connectivity problems? Was it not you who told me about this mine?” I gestured to the clearing around us and then looked deeply into the princess’s eyes. “Tell me, does any of that sound useless or helpless?”
“No,” Cayla replied quietly, and now she looked sheepish.
“No,” I agreed with a nod, and then I reached out and stroked her cheek again. “We all have different abilities, love, and those abilities are useful at different times. You have a little reprieve right now while I worry about all the nuts and bolts, but that doesn’t mean I won’t need you, a lot, when the time comes.”
“What do you mean?” the princess asked as she cocked her head to the side.
“I mean that Big Guy is awesome,” I started, “and he’s going to be even more badass when I finish his left arm, but it comes at a price. Operating him takes nearly everything I have in me. I’ll get better with a little practice, but he still requires all my focus and attention. Which means I will need someone to watch my back when we finally face Camus and his cronies. Do you happen to know anyone who’s a damn good shot with a rifle?”
As if in answer to my question, Stan climbed up out of the princess’s pocket and scaled up her arm. Within moments, he perched herself on her shoulder and patted gently at her cheek before he turned to look at me.
“Good eye, buddy,” I said with a broad grin.
Cayla actually giggled at the motion, and then she reached up to pet Stan’s head.
“Thank you, Stan,” she said.
“I know this isn’t easy for you,” I went on as I reached out and squeezed Cayla’s hand, “and I can’t imagine exactly what you’re going through, but I do know this: I gave you my word that I would help save your kingdom, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. Help you save your kingdom.”
I emphasized the last five words and squeezed her hand again.
The princess sniffled, but then a warm smile bloomed across her face. Tears still clung to her lashes, and as I watched, one broke free and cascaded down her porcelain cheek.
I reached out with my thumb and wiped the droplet away before I cupped Cayla’s face.
“Thank you, Mason,” she whispered as she nuzzled into my hand. “I do not know what I would do without your strength and reassurances.”
“And you�
��ll never have to find out,” I promised with a smile. Then I sat back and patted her knee. “Now, what do you say about joining us in the workshop and saving Aurora from listening to me endlessly talk?”
“Yes, please,” the half-elf chimed in as she leaned around me to look at Cayla with wide, imploring eyes. “Do not abandon me to a fate worse than death.”
Cayla giggled and wiped the last of her tears away.
“Alright,” she said as she grinned at the two of us, “only because Aurora looks in desperate need of saving. But may I request just a small reprieve alone? Only half an hour or so. I just want to compose myself again, perhaps take a stroll around the clearing. I am… a little embarrassed for my earlier episode.”
A sweet blush tinged the princess’s cheeks, and she averted her eyes to the side.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about,” I reassured her, “but take all the time you need. It’s gonna take me a while to perfect Big Guy’s next weapon. Take Stan with you, too. He’s probably eager to continue exploring.”
The stickman nodded his head as he stood on Cayla’s shoulder and clung to a piece of her hair for balance.
“Thank you, Mason,” Cayla replied with a smile as she slid to her feet.
“You’re welcome,” I said as I stood up and drew her into my arms. “I’ll miss you.”
“I will miss you, too,” Cayla chuckled as I pecked a kiss against her nose, “but we won’t be away for long.”
“It’ll still feel like an eternity,” I declared dramatically as I squeezed her tight against me.
Cayla giggled and then leaned forward to press a kiss against my cheek. “I will see you soon. Don’t finish Big Guy without me.”
“I promise,” I said as I released her.
The princess smiled at me before she turned to Aurora.
“I will return to save you, Defender Solana,” she intoned solemnly, but the effect was ruined by the grin on her face.
Aurora put a hand to her heart. “Thank the gods. I will hold out as long as I can.”
“Alright, alright,” I chuckled as I nudged the half-elf toward the workshop, “we should get started now.” Then I turned back to Cayla. “Be careful, okay?”
“Mason,” the princess said as she began to walk away backward, “there is a thirty-foot-high wall all around us, and I will be cautious as to where I walk. I will be fine.”
Then she flashed me one last smile before she spun on her heel and began to saunter across the meadow. She left only her unique scent of strawberries and cream behind.
“It seems like it is just the two of us then,” Aurora said when Cayla disappeared around one of the old ruined buildings.
“Just like old times,” I chuckled. “And by old times I mean… a week ago? Maybe two.”
“Time moves as fast as the wind,” the Ignis Mage remarked, and then she placed her hands on her hips, “which is why we must get a move on. We are wasting precious daylight, and I need to work off some of that greasy breakfast sausage.”
“Nothing burns calories like magic, but did last night not count at all?” I said with a sly smile and a waggle of my eyebrows.
“I do not count anything so fun as a workout,” the half-elf replied as her heated emerald eyes dragged over me from head to toe.
I laughed and shook my head. “I think you need to update your criteria then. But you’re right, let’s get started. I’m excited to build my new toy.” I clapped my hands and rubbed them together excitedly.
Aurora smiled at my enthusiasm, and then we turned and walked toward the workshop. As we approached the building with its wide-open windows and doorway that I sealed during the night, a thought occurred to me.
“You know as beautiful as this place is and as much as I enjoy the sunlight and breeze,” I remarked as I stopped before the shop and looked over it with a critical eye, “I kinda miss Gwain’s shop. And the Oculus back in Illaria for that matter. Is that weird? At first, I thought being underground would make me claustrophobic, but somehow it had just felt cozy and… right in some way.”
“That is an effect of your Terra magic,” the half-elf replied as she glanced at me with a smile. “You feel at home when surrounded by your element. It is similar but a little different for me. I do not necessarily want to live in a house on fire, but when I am amidst flames, I do not feel the terror that others feel. Instead, I experience a sense of… calm serenity.”
I hummed in thought. “Does that mean Flumen Mages feel most comfortable near water? Can they breathe in it?” Now there was an interesting idea.
Aurora shrugged. “In a way, they can. It is difficult to describe. A Flumen would be able to explain it better.”
“There’s still so much I don’t know about magic,” I mused as I looked down at the Mage’s Mark on the back of my hand. The brown and silver lines seemed to gleam in the sunlight.
“I still have much to learn too, Mason,” Aurora said softly, and then she reached out and took my hand in hers. “It is a lifelong process, becoming a mage. You will learn something new every day, actually probably more than that given how different your powers are.”
“You mean like making a little metal soldier?” I suggested with a broad grin.
The Ignis Mage laughed and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Yes, precisely. Just take it a day at a time, and once we deal with Camus Dred, and the mysterious ‘master,’ we can focus more in detail on your magical education.”
I snorted. “If only Mage A--” I froze mid-sentence and my eyes darted to the Ignis Mage in worry.
“You can say Abrus’ name, Mason, I will not dissolve into tears,” Aurora sighed as she tugged at one of the small braids she had woven into her hair this morning. “But yes, if things had been different and Abrus was the mentor he was supposed to be, he’d be floored by what you have accomplished in so little time.”
“Sorry,” I said with a wince. “I didn’t mean to bring him up. It slipped out, but thank you for the compliment.”
“There is no need for an apology, and you are welcome. But shall we get to work now?” Aurora turned to me with a quirked eyebrow and a dangerous smile. “As you have said in the past, I am eager to put some evil bastards in the dirt.”
I laughed in surprise at the vulgarity coming out of the half-elf’s mouth.
“Sounds like music to my ears,” I replied, and then we continued through the doorway and into the workshop.
As we entered, my eyes immediately traveled to the far corner of the room. I found Big Guy exactly where I left him, still as stone, and a smile stretched across my face.
“Mornin, Big Guy,” I called as I walked over to him. “How are you this morning?”
The animatron didn’t move, but I didn’t expect him to.
“So what is our plan for the day?” Aurora asked as she drew up beside me. “What can I do to help?”
“Well, I’m going to need you to melt a lot of metal,” I said as I turned to the Ignis Mage. “Both Iron and copper too, so I can save a little bit of energy and just focus on putting everything together for my toy.”
Aurora sighed. “That look in your eye tells me it is going to be a long and potentially dangerous day.”
“Hopefully!” I cackled. “Now let’s fire up those forges and get Big Guy his other arm!” Then I turned to the machine in the corner and put my hands on my hips.
Today was going to be fun.
Once Aurora had all the necessary metals melted down, she turned to me with a cocked eyebrow and her arms crossed over her chest.
“Will you at least tell me what you are making today?” she asked.
I considered refusing again, but then another voice chimed in from the workshop doorway.
“Yes, please,” Cayla said with a smile as she walked over to join us. “Do not keep us in suspense all day.”
“Have a nice walk?” I questioned the princess as I leaned over to press a kiss to her sun-warmed cheek.
“I did,” she replied with a
nod, but then she pointed a finger in my face and frowned. “Wait, do not change the subject. What are you making today?”
“Well since you asked so nicely,” I said with a smile, “I’ll tell you. With his tracks and his sword hand, Big Guy is lethal in close-quarter combat, but what about long range attacks? What if I could make Big Guy an archer as well as a swordsman?”
Cayla’s eyes went wide, and Aurora’s eyebrows shot up toward her hairline.
“You think you could do that?” the half-elf inquired.
“Sure, why not?” I said as I walked over to one of the tables to shuffle through my schematics and diagrams. “All I need to do is mount a crossbow on his left arm, and that should be easy enough. A bow is basically just a cable and tension.”
“I think that is a brilliant idea,” Cayla said with a broad smile. “With a mechanical archer and swordsman on our side, Captain Mayard’s men would not have to do a thing when we take on Dred.”
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” I chuckled. “Mayard doesn’t strike me as a man to sit back and let another man fight his battles. He’ll probably insist on riding out to meet Dred, too, but with Big Guy, his sword, and his bow, we’ll drastically reduce the risk of injuries and casualties for Mayard’s men.”
“Then what are we waiting for?” Cayla asked as she put her hands on her hips. “Let’s begin crafting Dred’s demise.”
Stan stood up in her pocket, and by the outline pressed against the material, I could tell he was mirroring her stance.
“Yes, Your Highness,” I laughed as I dipped my head in a bow. “Your wish is my command.”
And with that, I got to work.
I might have been overdoing it with both the sword and the bow on one machine, but better safe than sorry. If the animatron ran out of bolts, and it would eventually unless I could retrieve them from the battlefield, I wanted Big Guy to still be able to fight.
I picked up the machine’s left arm off one of the workshop’s tables. Before I added anything, I tested the dexterity of the limb with a little burst of magic. Everything operated as it should have. The shoulder and elbow joints rotated smoothly, and the fingers were nearly as flexible as my own.
