by Sam Ryan
“Have we identified the ships?” Jezebel asked the crew below her.
“One destroyer and one battleship,” someone reported. He was wearing a strange contraption over both of his ears, like earmuffs but thicker. “I think… the battleship is the RTA Equalizer.”
“The Equalizer.” Jezebel had a disgusted look on her face. “That’s a fourth generation airship. Do they really take us so lightly that they’d send that rotted down, termite infested tub after us?”
Madilyn could hardly believe it. Even if she thought it an old ship, the Equalizer was still a military battleship. That was not something to take on lightly.
“Well fair is fair.” Jezebel sighed, kicking her foot slightly in disappoint-ment. “Signal the Equalizer and tell them we have better things to do than deal with them. If they run away now, we’ll let them live.”
There was a slight chuckle from the crew as someone near the window started opening and closing the flaps to a lamp. After several seconds there was a flashing white light off in the distance.
“Reply,” the person at the lamp said. His words were slow as he waited for the words to be spelt out. “I will… see… you… all… hang. End message.”
“Alright.” Jezebel sighed, holding up her hands. “You can’t say I didn’t give them a chance.” Her gaze became ice cold as she gripped the railing in front of her, glaring hungrily out into the distance. “Commander Yates. Bring us about. Raise the colors and prepare to fire.”
“Aye,” Yates straightened his back as he began barking orders. “Bearing 45 degrees. All hands man your battle stations. Raise the Iron Rose!”
Above the bridge a bright beam of light suddenly appeared, cutting through the blackness of the night. The light was focused on a flagpole above the bridge that had a huge flag being raised, fluttering in the wind of the airships movement. The design on the flag was that of an iron rose compass with a rose in the center on the backdrop of a cog. The light was bright enough that Madilyn was sure everyone within miles would be able to see the flag. They really had no intention of hiding or running.
“Does she really intend to fight two warships?” Madilyn asked Sophia in a hushed whisper, not wanting the crew to overhear her doubts.
“I think she intends to do more than fight.” Sophia smiled back at her.
There was a sudden trembling sound on the deck. At first Madilyn was not sure where it was coming from, but could feel it vibrating in her chest. That was when she noticed that the crew were marching in place, stomping their feet against the deck. Then the chanting started.
“Abandon hope
The Iron Rose
Comes forth to claim her prize.
We seek your goods
We seek your gold
We do not seek your lives.”
Madilyn was left speechless. As they sang they used the rhythm of their marching like a war drum, setting their pace. Madilyn looked over at Sophia to get a feel for what she thought of this. To her surprise, Sophia had a huge grin on her face. Her lips were also moving as her foot tapped in unison with the marching. She was actually singing along with them.
“The Iron Maid who rules us.
The Iron Rose be rare.
Don’t fight with us
You will not win
But join us if you dare.”
Max listened to the crew chanting as they went about their business. Their movements all synchronized with the beat of their marching.
The alarm had sounded in the middle of Max’s tour with Clementine. She had followed Clementine to the heart of the Iron Rose where the engine room was located. She seemed to be the one in charge as she immediately started barking out orders to the people there. She grabbed a set of strange earmuff like device from the wall that had a string at the bottom that connected to brass speaker tubes. She seemed to receive orders from the bridge which she began relaying to the other members of the crew. Max did her best to stay out of peoples way. She knew she was out of her depth in a place like this.
The engine was like nothing Max had ever seen. It was massive and the cogs were larger than her. There were valves and levers that she did not have the faintest idea as to what they did. But at the center of it all was the true mystery. It was some sort of glowing or pulsating stone that floated in water inside a giant brass container. The container had a single port window showing what was inside.
Max had never seen one before but she instantly knew what the floating stone was and why the Iron Rose was the only ship of its kind.
Inside that dome, powering the entirety of the vessel was a Legendary Relic.
“The Iron Rose a-flying
Means danger in the sky
We fight for gold
We fight as one
For we will do or die”
The crew continued singing as Madilyn gripped the metal railing in front of her. The warships off in the distance drawing ever closer. The Trevelians did not seem to be trying to hide their presence any longer as the lights from the ship illuminated them against the night sky. It would seem that Jezebel’s insult had infuriated the commander of the Equalizer enough to cause him to throw caution to the wind and charge at them.
The Trevelians were the first to fire. The cannon fire lighting up the night sky, soon followed by a thunderous sound of the cannons. There was a loud clang as the cannonballs struck the hull of the Iron Rose.
“Damage?” Jezebel asked, her voice flat and even.
“None reported,” someone answered.
“The cannon fire sounds like twenty pounders,” the man with the earmuffs said.
“They will never learn,” Jezebel said, shaking her head. “Bring us about.” Jezebel pointed a knife-hand. “Line us up with the destroyer. That should give the Equalizer a nice view of our starboard side.”
Yates began barking out more orders as the vessel slowly began to turn.
Madilyn held her breath as more cannon fire rang out from the Trevelian ships, followed by more clanking sounds as the cannon balls bounced harm-lessly off the hull. The Equalizer had moved alongside the Iron Rose and was delivering its full broadside, while the smaller ship had also come about and was firing everything it had into the bow of the Iron Rose.
“Don’t worry.” Jezebel gave Madilyn a reassuring smile, seeing her tension. “No ship blessed by the Goddess of Fortune can be sunk. And she has blessed every Iron Rose ever commissioned.”
“Who?” Madilyn frowned.
Jezebel only smiled, returning her attention ahead.
“She means me.” Sophia sighed. “Jezebel says that we Immortals are all goddesses descended from heaven to fulfil our purpose in this world. Tara is the Goddess of Fire, Allora the Goddess of the Ocean, Elena the Goddess of the Earth, and Jezebel is the Goddess of Wind.”
“Correction,” Jezebel said, turning her shoulders to face them her arms crossed in front of her. “I am the Goddess of the Sky itself.” She turned back straight ahead again. “Fire when ready Commander. Get these eyesores out of my domain.”
Yates raised his hand in the air. “All starboard and bow batteries. Fire!” He dropped his hand.
Yellow streaks began bursting out the front and side of the Iron Rose colliding into the two Trevelian vessels. With each impact, a small explosion lit up the night sky, briefly illuminating the area around them. Despite the ships being slightly higher in elevation than the Iron Rose, every shot fired upwards and struck the balloons of the vessels. The light armoring on the balloons was no match for the impacts and explosions that followed. With their balloons gone, the ships immediately began falling to the ground.
And just like that, the battle was over. Madilyn could hardly believe it. In a single volley they had taken out a destroyer and a battleship and had themselves received little, to no damage.
“All hands. Stand down,” Jezebel ordered.
“With a ship like this you could conquer the world,” Madilyn gasped.
“But I already have,” Jezebel said, turning a
nd walking over to Madilyn and Sophia, her arms still crossed in front of her stomach. “For you see?” She held out her hands, gesturing to everything around her. “I rule the very sky itself. No place is outside my reach. Who is to say what I can and cannot do? I am the subject of no one and all fear me. If that is not ruling the world, then what is?”
Madilyn felt a chill at seeing the smile on Jezebel’s face. Not only did Jezebel believe what she was saying, Madilyn knew it to be true. It was terrifying to think that if Jezebel wanted to, she could topple entire nations. But it was not only Jezebel. All of the Immortals could if they wished. They may already have dozens of times throughout history. She could recall several stories that were said to have had gods or demons aid one side. Madilyn had always thought those stories allegorical or mythical in nature. But maybe they had were closer to the truth than she had given them credit.
Jezebel had called them all Goddesses. Madilyn wondered if that was not far from the truth. If they were not gods, then they were the closest things to one there was.
“Wait.” Madilyn frowned, realizing something. “What was Stella the goddess of?” Sophia had listed them all of but her. Why?
Sophia pursed her lips together, not wanting to answer that question. Her eyes glancing over at Jezebel as if asking her to do it for her.
“Calamity,” Jezebel said. “She was a diligent student of humans and how they reacted to things. She knew how to make little ripples that would make bigger ripples.” She held up her hands, expanding them outward to illustrate her point. “Her weapon was not swords or airships, but words and time and she was a master with them.”
“Captain,” Yates called out before Madilyn really had time to process what Jezebel had just said. “What is our heading?”
“Right,” Jezebel said, turning back to Sophia. “Where we going? Off to the ruins of Albion?”
“That seems like a good place to start.” Sophia nodded, though she did not seem very sure of herself. “But I feel as though we should go rescue Tara first.”
“So then we storm Noxiss,” Jezebel said like it was no big deal. “If she is not being held there, then I am sure we can find someone who does know.”
“The two of us alone can’t storm the capital,” Sophia scoffed.
“You’re right.” Jezebel nodded. “We need Elena.”
“That would work,” Sophia said, snapping her fingers in agreement.
“Before you do any of that,” Madilyn said, her voice low as she stared down at her bare feet.
The two of them stopped and turned, waiting for Madilyn to continue.
Madilyn looked up at Sophia, trying to summon up her resolve. “Would you take us back to Lear first?”
Sophia blinked a few times, not sure she was understanding it correctly.
“It’s like you said,” Madilyn continued, still looking at Sophia but unable to look her in the eye. “My mission is done, and I can see that my staying here will be nothing but a hindrance to people like you.”
“People like me?” Sophia shook her head.
No. Sophia would not understand what Madilyn meant. She would never understand what being truly powerless and inadequate would feel like. She could not die after all. Meaning she could try and try again for as long as it took to succeed. She could never understand why someone would feel insig-nificant when compared to her.
“Captain.” Madilyn turned away from Sophia to look at Jezebel instead. “I know it might be a lot to ask, but would it be possible to take us to Lear. Just to the border is fine. I fear with our current wantedness in Trevelia, it would be near impossible for us to return conventionally.”
“Sure.” Jezebel nodded. “If that is what you truly wish.”
Madilyn gave one last look at Sophia who still had a confused and almost hurt look on her face. “It is,” she said, making sure to make eye contact with her.
“Alright then.” Jezebel turned around, facing her crew. “Set a course for the Kingdom of Lear.”
“Aye captain.” Yates then began barking out the proper bearing.
“If that is all,” Jezebel said, glancing back at Madilyn. “Then I think I shall retire for the evening. Commander, you have the watch. Make sure there aren’t any more of them out there.” Jezebel turned and started heading for the door, walking in-between Madilyn and Sophia. As she passed, Madilyn could have sworn she heard her mumble, “Disappointing.”
CHAPTER 8
“Are we sure about this?” Max asked, as her and Madilyn walked down the now familiar corridors of the Iron Rose. “I mean before you were going on and on about honor and duty. And ‘at all cost’.” She clinched her fist in the air as she said those final words.
“That changed when I saw a battleship sunk in a single broadside,” Madilyn said, shifting her bag of armor over her shoulder.
“So you got scared,” Max said. “Never thought you of all people one to run in the face of adversity.”
“It has nothing to do with being scared or frightened,” Madilyn said. “It’s knowing when you’re useless.” Her voices grew soft and she lowered her gaze. She was taking out her frustration on Max and that was not fair to anyone. She took a deep breath, regaining her composure. “Sophia and Jezebel will see to it that the Relic is destroyed or taken someplace safe. As that falls in line with our mission, then the mission has been carried out.”
“If you say so.” Max shook her head as they walked on. “I do wish we could have stayed a little longer though,” she added, absently looking at the ship around her.
“You wanting to stay?” Madilyn asked. She could understand if she said yes. Being on a vessel like this was the dream of any airship sailor.
“Nah,” Max said, scratching the back of her head. “I’ve been away from Rouen long enough.”
It had taken less than a week for them to cross the Trevelian border and cross over most of Lear. Now the Iron Rose hovered behind the mountains that surrounded the city of Rouen. Out of sight from any onlookers.
Madilyn opened the large iron door and stepped into the hanger. Inside was the much smaller airship that they had flown in on.
“Morning.” Clementine waved, stepping down from the entrance ramp of the airship. “She’s all prepped and ready to shove off. We’ll have you in Rouen in no time.”
“Thanks Clem,” Max said, giving the woman a wave.
“You two sure have become friendly,” Madilyn pointed out.
“Yeah, and?” Max shrugged, not understanding what the big deal was.
Madilyn only rolled her eyes as she looked around the otherwise empty hanger.
“Looking for someone?” Clementine asked, stopping in front of the two.
“No,” Madilyn said, snapping her attention back.
“Uh-huh.” Clem hummed, a look of skepticism on her face.
“All ready to go?” came a booming energetic voice.
There was no mistaking the source as Madilyn turned to face the eccentric pirate captain, Sophia a few steps behind her. Sophia was dressed in more formal attire, having swapped out her leggings and skirt for a dress, much like the one she had been wearing when she and Madilyn first met. She still had her cane though, clanking against the metal deck with every step she took.
“We are.” Madilyn nodded. “Thank you for taking us this far. And for your hospitality.”
“It was no trouble,” Jezebel assured, her hand absently resting on her cutlass. “However, if anytime in the future I come asking for a favor-”
Her words were cut off by a backhanded slap to the shoulder from Sophia. Jezebel took a step back like she was sorry, but as soon as she was behind Sophia, she gave Madilyn a wink and a thumbs up with a slow, silent nod.
“Sorry I can’t see you the rest of the way,” Sophia said, looking at Madilyn and Max. “It might get a little awkward if the person who is supposed to be dead comes with you.”
“I understand.” Madilyn nodded. “You’ve already done more than enough.” Letting out a breath, she l
ooked down at the space between them. She raised her hand, offering it out to Sophia. “Thanks for everything.”
“Thank you,” Sophia said, taking the offered hand. “It wasn’t how I wanted my departure from Rouen to go, but it was certainly memorable.”
“You’ll forget about it eventually, I’m sure.” Madilyn had meant it as a joke but she could not help but noticed how embittered she must have sounded.
Sophia only gave a weak smile, letting go of Madilyn’s hand. Such formal farewells was not good enough for Max, who moved in, throwing her arms around Sophia’s neck, having to stand on her tiptoes in order to reach her.
“Goodbye,” Max said. “Don’t forget about me now. Ya’hear?”
“I couldn’t even if I tried,” Sophia assured, squeezing Max tightly.
Max let out a laugh, giving one last squeeze before letting go.
“If we’re ready to go,” Clementine said, turning and walking towards the airship.
“So long,” Jezebel said, giving them a wave. “And Clem, don’t take too long. I would like to depart before sun down.”
“Right, right.” Clementine waved her hand over her shoulder dismissively as she walked up the ramp.
Madilyn gave one final nod before turning and heading up the ramp into the airship. She was probably more nervous this time around about riding in the thing then she had been the first time around. Now that she knew what to expect she had even less to look forward to.
Setting her armor down at her feet, she sat down in her original seat. Max sitting herself down across from her.
“The Rabbit should be able to make the trip from here to Rouen in about half an hour or so,” Clementine said, sitting down in her chair at the front of the airship. “So just sit back and enjoy the ride.”
“Not likely,” Madilyn mumbled, resting her head back against the bulk-head behind her.
The airship roared as the engines started and a few minutes later it lifted off, moving out of the hanger and into the open sky. Max turned and gave one last look back at the Iron Rose as it disappeared behind the mountains.
