Spirit of Empire 4: Sky Knights

by Lawrence White

  Galborae led Termae to a seat, then stepped up to the window and turned to face him, giving him and the Queen something to focus on if the outside view became too frightening. Havlock stepped to Atiana’s side but she ignored him, her sole focus Hawke and the view outside.

  Hawke leaned down and spoke softly into the pilot’s ear, then stood back. Slowly, so very slowly, the view outside shifted as the ship lifted. The whole length of the caravan came into view when they were as high as the highest battlement surrounding the castle. The ship stopped for a time, then resumed its climb. Before long they were truly looking down on the city and its surrounds. The Queen had seen this view from astride her sauron, but her captain sat transfixed, his knuckles showing white where he held to the edge of his seat.

  “Where are the gleasons?” she asked Hawke.

  He stared back at her, then looked to Havlock. “A little help, Sky Lord?”

  Havlock shook his head. “You’re on a roll, Captain. Please continue.” He added to the queen, “Your Majesty, your men are probably worried about you. Would you like to tell them you’re okay?”

  She thought for a moment, then looked to Captain Termae with a stricken look. He pulled the comm unit and translator from his ear and held it out to her. She lifted doleful eyes to Havlock. “They do not have one of these.”

  “No problem, Your Majesty. We’ll get them another.” He spoke to Lieutenant Fogel, then looked back to her. “Would it be appropriate to get the caravan started into the city?”

  She went back to Captain Termae and stood beside him. The two of them talked privately, then she waited for one of her guards to call her. When he did, she issued orders allowing the caravan and the sky knights into the city. When she was done, she turned to Hawke with a look that demanded he get on with it.

  Hawke came to her side, amazed at this woman who seemed able to absorb any amount of new knowledge. He would have liked Captain Termae to join them, but he knew the man could not leave his seat.

  “I told you there were many things here you would not understand, but in time you will. What you are about to see is just one of them. You are accustomed to seeing the world through your eyes, and your eyes do not see any gleasons, correct?”

  “Not until they’re wounded.”

  “The ship has other ways of seeing.” He directed her attention to another screen. Bright white blobs littered the screen, and smaller, dimmer smudges showed here and there. “Your Majesty, there are times we might not see well, like in a dark room or when it’s foggy and the air is still. At times like that we use other senses to paint a picture of our surroundings in our minds. We listen. We smell. We use our bodies to feel. We might even taste the air.”

  She nodded, not impatiently but as a student paying close attention.

  “Imagine yourself in a dark room. You think someone is in the room with you, but you cannot hear or smell or feel them. Still, you know they’re there. How is that?”

  “I would just know.”

  “You would know, but you would not be certain. You are sensing the life of a living being, but our minds do not sense this very well. We’ve built something into this ship that senses life much better. The white marks on this map are living creatures the ship senses below us. This large area is your city. There is so much life there that the painting is bright. So, too, is the painting of the caravan fairly bright. These smaller smudges here, here, and here are paintings of other living things, probably animals. Does any of this make sense to you?”

  She shifted her shoulders and grimaced, uncomfortable in her ignorance. “I understand the part about feeling things. The rest is not clear to me.”

  “Let me make it more clear. I’m going to shift this painting over to the window.” He spoke a few words to the pilot, and the images superimposed themselves on the forward screen. The brightness of the city and of the caravan matched perfectly with the view of what was really there and she instantly understood.

  He pointed to the smaller smudges. “These are animals. We can’t tell yet if they’re demons or cattle or game. So far, we can only tell they are something that’s alive. We have to go closer.”

  He spoke to the pilot, and the view shifted to one of the small smudges. The ship did not actually have to get closer to the smudge, it just had to magnify the image, but Hawke did not attempt that explanation. As the image moved in on the smudge, a deer-like creature came into view precisely coinciding with the smudge. Hawke moved on to the next smudge and the next with similar results. The fourth smudge did not coincide with anything. Hawke stayed silent while the image stabilized, giving the queen time to reach her own conclusion.

  When she did, it was as if a light bulb went off. “Something is alive there, but we can’t see it. It must be a demon,” she breathed.

  “Probably.”

  “So you can’t see them either.”

  “Not yet, but I’m not done. You agree that we might have found one though.”

  She nodded, her gaze locked on the white spot on the ground.

  He turned to Havlock. “Sky Lord?”

  “Your Majesty, what comes next will not be everything it seems. We can kill gleasons from the safety of this ship without putting ourselves in personal danger. Your mind is quick: you’re going to realize that we could kill all the gleasons around your city without endangering your soldiers or people. I have good and important reasons for not doing so, but those reasons are not clear to you yet. Can we agree to disagree for a while, knowing that full understanding will come later?”

  “No. Why wait?”

  “Because the full truth is beyond your understanding.” He saw the instant fire in her eyes, and he held up a hand. “Your Majesty, you have grasped far more than we expected and I’m pleased, but there is much more that we have not shown you.”

  “Then show me. I am no longer a princess to be protected,” she said. “I command armies, and I lead from the front.”

  “So we’ve seen,” he replied drily. “I, too, lead from the front. The problem of the gleasons is so far beyond your understanding that I must insist you wait. I say this not to protect you—I can see you do not need protection—I say this as a fellow warrior who has your realm’s best interests at heart.”

  “You condescend.”

  “Never, Your Majesty. That I promise. I ask for your trust. In return, I promise you full understanding.”

  “How can I trust? It’s too soon.”

  “It is not too soon. We have already broadened your understanding of certain things, and it’s obvious you’re searching for more. I will give you more, lots more, but you have to trust me to give it to you in a way that makes sense. You did not go up against a master swordsman during your first lesson.”

  “Actually, I did. He was a wonderful teacher, wonderful enough to convince me that I will never master the sword. I do not have the strength.”

  Havlock nodded his understanding and stepped back. “I believe Captain Hawke is such a teacher. Trust him if not me.”

  She turned to Hawke, her mouth set in a hard, thin line.

  He did not hesitate. “We could kill whatever is out there, but we would rather not kill your cattle and wild game, so we make whatever is out there sleep first.”

  She stepped back, confused. “What?”

  “If it’s not a demon, it will sleep. If it is a demon it will not sleep. Instead, it will believe it is mortally wounded and we will be able to see it.”

  “That doesn’t make sense.”

  “I know it doesn’t. It surprised us, too, but it’s true. So now we either put an animal to sleep or we reveal a gleason.”

  He touched the pilot on the shoulder and a beam lanced out from the ship. A gleason materialized. It went down, but it quickly rose to a crouch, searched in all directions for the threat, then began leaping in random directions. The ship was too far away for it to see them.

  The pilot zoomed in on the gleason, giving her a good look at the creature while Hawke described it to he
r. “As you know, these creatures are difficult to kill even when visible. That’s because everything in their body comes in two’s—two brains, two hearts, two spines, four arms and hands with vicious claws, and eyes that see in the dark. Worse, what one gleason knows the others know. They mind link, and we think it’s a high level link much more complete than the melding you do with animals. They are pure killing machines.”

  “They appeared suddenly. It doesn’t make sense.”

  “We know. The Sky Lord will explain, Your Majesty. Watch carefully.”

  A red beam reached out from the ship, exploding a hole in the ground where the gleason had been. Captain Turmae was so surprised that he forgot to be afraid. He was on his feet and standing at the window in a heartbeat.

  Queen Atiana stared at the spot for a long time. When she turned to Havlock, the fire was back in her eyes. “You’re right. I do not understand why you haven’t killed all the gleasons from the safety of this sky ship. Your decision is unforgivable.”

  He nodded. “It has not been an easy decision, nor has it been a simple one. You’ve seen enough for one day. Your people are anxious for you to return.”

  The fire stayed lit. “I recognize a dismissal when I hear one. I’m not done.”

  “Your Majesty, I beg your trust.”

  She stared at him for a long time, visibly clamping down on her anger as she did so. “Very well. Will you stay here or in the city?”

  “Wherever you wish, Your Majesty.”

  She began pulling her gloves back on. “Take me home. You and your men are invited to dine with me and to stay the night.” She turned to watch out the window, then turned back to Havlock. “You have made it abundantly clear that I cannot stop you and your men from entering the city or my castle.”

  “We are not enemies, nor are we here to conquer. We will never stay without invitation. In time, a short time I hope, we will become allies.”

  “And if we do not?”

  “We will take our sky ships elsewhere. There are plenty of gleasons to fight in other provinces.”

  Her eyes shifted as she considered a larger picture, a much larger picture. Havlock glanced over to Galborae, knowing they both had the same thought. The queen had not the slightest concept of the true scope of the problem. Knowing what he knew of this woman, he suspected that would not always be the case.

  She interrupted his thoughts. “The first step toward becoming allies would be different attire for dinner. Your uniforms hurt the eyes.”

  He smiled. “We can do that, Your Majesty, but we are fighting men. We have not come with fine clothes.”

  “There have been no fine clothes worn here since the demons came.”

  Havlock nodded. “We brought a healer, and Sir Galborae’s wife is a healer. Will you allow them to examine your wounded and sick?”

  She considered, then shrugged. “Why? I have my own healers.”

  Havlock smiled. “Look around you, Your Majesty, and wonder at what cures we might have.”

  Her eyes flashed. “You condescend again.”

  “No, Your Majesty. I am a simple man who says what he means.”

  Her captain, Turmae, stood up. “Your Majesty, he’s right. You should be first on the healer’s list.”

  “I have no need for special treatment.”

  Havlock stepped back, stunned. “You’re wounded?”

  “All my soldiers are wounded.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  “It’s . . . personal.”

  “Will you let my healer examine you? She’s very good.”

  Atiana sighed. “Very well.”

  He led the queen and Captain Turmae to sick bay. After what they had seen on the bridge, he did not think they would be in for any more big surprises, but their eyes remained wide as they took in everything, understanding very little of what they saw.

  Kori shooed the men out of the room while she examined Atiana. Before long, she came to Havlock with a troubled look. She addressed him, knowing full well that Turmae would hold to every word concerning his queen.

  “She had a recent run in with a gleason, sir. Front and back torso and her buttocks. I can fix her up, but she’s a beautiful woman. She deserves better than my battlefield skills. I’d like to take her to the transporter where a real doctor can work on her, maybe even put her in a tank for a few days.”

  Havlock’s eyebrows rose. “It’s that bad?”

  “Sir, I’ve learned what it takes to stay on a gorlac. I can’t believe she was able to ride today, and none of us even suspected.”

  “What does she say?”

  Kori winced. “She’s a queen and doesn’t want to leave, but she’s also a woman. I know she’d give anything to have those wounds erased.”

  Havlock turned to Turmae. “We have a great healer who is far from here. Will you let us take the queen to him for a few days?”

  Turmae looked confused. “Your healer is a man? Just bring him here.”

  “Well, it’s not quite that easy,” Havlock said, rubbing the stubble on his chin. He looked to Hawke for help.

  Hawke didn’t mince words. “The healer can’t come here, Captain. We can help the queen here, but our skills will leave ugly scars and she will suffer a lot of pain. If she goes to our healer, she will heal very fast and any remaining scars will be small. She will, I think, be forever grateful to you. That’s how big a difference we’re talking about.”

  Havlock thought he understood Turmae’s dilemma. He added, “Captain, I’m willing to stay here under your protection until she returns.”

  Turmae considered, then nodded his head. “You’re volunteering to be my hostage. If she goes, she’ll decide. Whatever she decides, I will not leave her side.”

  Hawke gave Havlock an apologetic look and took Turmae’s arm, leading him a few steps away for a private conversation. “Captain, I know how difficult today has been for you. To go with her will be far, far more challenging. I don’t recommend it.”

  “How can you say that? You’re a soldier. You understand duty. I will not leave her under any circumstances. Actually, I’ll be surprised if she agrees to this crazy plan. She won’t leave her city in the middle of a siege unless it’s to lead her knights in battle.”

  “Our healer is pretty convincing, sir. In the long run it will be best for your queen and for your people.”

  “Why have you made this offer?”

  “You mean what’s in it for us? We want to earn your trust. We cannot complete our mission without allies. There are too many demons for us to kill without the help of your people. She speaks for a whole province.”

  “What is your mission?”

  “To eliminate the demons. Completely.”

  Turmae’s eyebrows rose. “You can do that?”

  “Maybe, but only with help from her, you, and many others. If she goes to our healer, I promise her safe return.”

  “She can’t leave now. She’s been in your sky ship too long. Her people must see her returned to the palace as a free person.”

  Hawke nodded. “Good advice, Captain. She could leave after dinner, or we could wait until tomorrow. The whole city can watch her leave. What is your decision?”

  “The decision is hers. Take me to her.”

  * * * * *

  Dinner that evening was a desultory affair. The great hall had been cheerfully decorated with pennants and tapestries, but they showed wear. The queen’s knights filtered in as their duties permitted and took seats, most of them as far from the sky knights as they could get. The air in the room smelled of distrust and fear. Too, most of the knights bore wounds, leading to apathy and unhappiness. Sergeant Kori had a busy night ahead of her.

  Everyone rose when Queen Atiana entered. She began by raising a glass in honor of the visitors who stood behind their seats in a long line on her left side. When she lowered her glass, her knights sat. She remained standing.

  Havlock and his men remained standing as well, not sure what to do. She noticed and di
rected them to sit. “It’s just a wound in an inconvenient place,” she said.

  Food came, food which took Havlock by surprise. He had expected a sumptuous meal, wonderful food such as they had been eating on the road with the caravan, but each of them received only a large bowl of gruel with a few pieces of meat stirred in. Havlock tasted his and admitted to good flavor, but the food was definitely not a high point of the day.

  Atiana noticed, as she seemed to notice everything around her. “The food is not to your liking?” she asked.

  “Actually, it tastes good,” he said sheepishly. “We had more variety with the caravan.”

  “I expect you did. My kingdom is on siege rations until you have completed your work.”

  “Our work—yours and mine,” he replied instantly.

  She nodded. “As you will. The food before you is better than most here receive. My fighting men need and deserve a few morsels of meat each day.”

  Havlock nodded. He had not sensed the same issue with King Tennisol, but that did not mean it was not there. He decided the whole planet was on short rations. He shook his head in partial defeat. There was just no way he could help the whole planet. Not yet, and maybe not even when the rest of the marines arrived. A thousand shuttles would barely dent the problems this planet had ahead of it.

  “I hope we can have your farmers back in their fields in a few months,” he said.

  “We’ve already missed this season. They’ll be ready for spring planting.”

  “We’ll do our very best, but I can’t promise complete safety for them.”

  She stared hard at him, her mind considering what he’d said. She looked to Captain Turmae in frustration, then back to Havlock with hooded eyes. “You raise our hopes, then dash them? I had thought better of you. It’s clear you do not see the problem in its fullness.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “No, I do not offer pardon. Open your eyes, Sky Lord. My kingdom is not just the homes and businesses and roads within the city. I need my farmers and craftsmen back in their towns, not here in the city. I need my sailors and traders transporting goods. The towns and farms and boats are the true wealth of my kingdom. Without them, we’ll starve. Worse, sickness will consume us. Already, the city is severely overcrowded. Illness spreads like wildfire under such conditions.”