Plague of Tyrants

by M. J. Sewall

  “I didn't want to be alone after that strange meeting.” Asa said, trying not to rub his eyes.

  Devver offered, “Of course it was my king brother that gave him a good whack to get him to drop the knife. Your training with the staff is improving.”

  “Thanks, big brothers,” Asa said.

  “It's just lucky we were up late playing king's dice,” said Devver.

  Ellice shot him a disapproving glance.

  He continued, “No money involved, my Queen, just for fun.”

  “But why? Why would anyone from the Outlands go to this much trouble to hurt one of our kings?” asked Aline.

  Mantuan said, “I have no idea. But we must find out. It's still too dark to search now.”

  “No.” Said Brenddel firmly, “we need to leave right away. My men are already getting two airships ready. Mantuan and I will take the airships out and find the Outlanders.”

  Gordon asked, “Are you sure? There have been two sightings of shadow fins in just the last week. You won't see them coming at night.”

  “Forgive me for interrupting, my King, but it must be now. They tried to kill Asa.” said Brenddel.

  Gordon said, “All right, if you must. Just be extra careful.”

  Loren said, “And we'll keep watch over our kings here in the healing rooms. You can sleep in here boys.”

  “Ugg,” complained Devver, “But the king bed is so much more comfortable. So soft, and it could fit the whole family.”

  “Go ahead, if you want to sleep on blood and glass,” offered the oldest brother Vance.

  Devver gave Vance a scowl. Asa smiled to himself, glad to have family close again, no matter what the reason.

  Chapter 5: Fallen

  It was a bad idea and Mantuan knew it.

  Brenddel argued that even if the Outlander ship had left, it couldn't have gotten far. Mantuan knew it was a risky idea flying in the dark, especially with the shadow fin creatures always listening for their airship rotators. But Asa had been hurt, so Mantuan didn't argue. He knew that Asa had become as much of a son to Brenddel as the fierce Firstman had been to Mantuan.

  Brenddel took the large airship that Asa had named The Justice. Mantuan took The Shield. Since the young king had named the largest airship, the idea had caught on. A few of the older pilots still called the ships by their numbers, but unofficially all the airships now had names.

  The Outlands were the farthest distance from their kingdom in this part of the world, and so unexplored that the entire area was not on any maps, but they knew the general direction the ship would be heading. Mantuan wondered briefly what they called their own lands; they surely weren't called the Outlands if you lived there. Brenddel just thought of what he'd do to them when he caught them. Brenddel had been working on his anger, trying to find ways to cool it, but was having trouble with those practices at this moment. He popped a bit of chocolate in his mouth, but it didn't help.

  Since his trial, Brenddel felt he had a new personal mission to undo all the bad acts he had committed. Many believed that Trunculin was the only person responsible for the bad things done in the dark, but Brenddel knew the truth. Trunculin had warped him, true enough, but Brenddel knew very well the things he had done. He would spend the rest of his life trying to live up to the new man he wanted to be. But now someone had hurt Asa. The anger was like a fire he kept stoking in his chest. I need it now. I will put it out after this is done, he told himself.

  The two airships kept in sight of each other but were far enough apart that they could search a lot more sea. Even in the dark, they could see much. The moon was high, its light untroubled by clouds. There were many islands big and small in the vast seas between their kingdom and the Outlands, but Brenddel wagered they would not try to find a safe port on some small island. In half a night's time, they couldn't have gotten too far. The fastest watership was only half the speed of any airship, and they had left in a hurry. They were definitely running.

  The Outlander ship would be running dark as well, no lights aboard their ship. The moon's light helped, but the airship had the added advantage of height. They could see each other clearly in the distance from their own lamps, all lit, with a signal man on duty aboard both airships for messages. They had already spotted several fishing ships, out for delicacies that were best caught at night. Brenddel's spotter thought they saw a large sailing ship, perhaps a smuggler, but it was too big to be the Outlander ship. It slipped away into the night. They focused on finding the Outlanders.

  Brenddel kept all the men on lookout. They were looking for the ship, but two men also scanned for shadow fins. Brenddel knew some of his men called them the old name from stories, Jhalgon fish, even fin monsters. Whatever you called them, Brenddel had no time for them tonight. But the moment I stop scanning for them, a fin will pop out of the water, attached to a monster, Brenddel thought.

  One man was in the nest, a large basket on the top of the floating section of the airship they had added to a few in the fleet. It was much like a basket high on a watership, but instead of standing above sails, the man stood on top of the floating part that lifted the deck. The experiment had been successful, with an even higher view from the top of the ship. The nest man called down, “Watership! Watership ahead!”

  Brenddel already had his spyglass out. He told the signal man to inform Mantuan. Mantuan saw the signal and headed The Shield toward the position of The Justice, which was nearly over the watership. Brenddel saw the crew working busily onboard the Outlander ship by moonlight. The back section was a long empty deck, and there was a lot of activity. They must know it's over.

  The Outlanders were lighting something on the flat part of the deck. As they worked, Brenddel could see the objects being lit were many different colors, round and almost delicate looking. They were beginning to float off the deck. Two dozen or more delicate and colorful round objects took flight, the wind guiding them toward The Justice. Brenddel could see that they were small, no bigger than the gas lanterns that hung from the airships, like round lanterns made of paper. It was still full dark, only a few wisps of clouds beginning to wrap ribbons around the moon. The colorful lanterns glowed softly as they floated up into the night.

  Brenddel was mesmerized by the floating balls of soft light as they got closer to his ship. The paper lanterns were blues, greens, and some as red as apples. He grew more concerned as they got closer. They reminded him of the strange sea creatures that floated like a blob of jelly, and he remembered that those jellied fish had a nasty sting. These people have killed his men, blinded Asa. They could not be trusted.

  Brenddel ordered his own lanterns put out, to run dark. The order was given to climb in height as well, out of range of the floating lights, just in case. One lantern floated close by.

  He looked at the small arrow gun strapped to his wrist, which had become his good luck charm on the airship, after killing a shadow fin with it not long before. He had a theory and shot a bolt from the arrow gun at one of the paper lanterns. It exploded. Damn! Just like that thing in Asa's room, he thought, as dozens more floated his way.

  The large floating section sat above the flat open deck. The four heavy ropes that secured the two sections together strained as he ordered the pilot to turn hard left, and the other men to fire at the weapons with small arrow guns attached to the railings. A few exploded harmlessly, but many were still floating closer. Brenddel knew how easy these new weapons would tear the canvas that held the gas. Once it escaped, there was nowhere to go but down.

  Their height was matched by the floating lanterns, the wind aiding them in their hunt for the airship. By now there were dozens. He could already imagine the floating gas escaping his airship as a red paper lantern exploded near the front of the floating section. Another exploded directly under the deck, catching the wood on fire.

  Then more exploded, some hit by his men's arrows, others on their own. The effect was the same, a deafening bang, thick smoke that hung in the air, making it even harder to se
e.

  His airship was going down. Brenddel grabbed his shoulder. Damn, he thought again. No time to test it. Another lantern exploded when it hit the floating section and Brenddel knew that the airship was lost. Brenddel saw several men blown over the railing by another explosion. He knew there was no hope for them. They were hundreds of feet over the water. At this height, they may as well have been landing on stone.

  Brenddel saw Mantuan's ship coming towards them. Too far, he thought. The Justice was falling fast. He looked around at his men still left on board. Another paper lantern exploded only feet from him and blew him into one of his own hanging lanterns, gashing his head. Before the darkness took him, he grabbed his shoulder and then he was falling.

  Mantuan saw the flashes of light around Brenddel's ship. But he could not see where they came from. Brenddel had signaled that he'd found them, and he was clearly under attack, but what were the floating balls of light, and where were they coming from? They looked almost like giant fire bugs from this far out. He saw the effect they were having, though, popping all around Brenddel's ship.

  The Justice was going down. All of Brenddel's lanterns were out, but with each colorful explosion, the airship was lit for one horrible moment after another. Each flash showed the ship falling lower and lower. It was like a dream, where a man might blink, and every time he opened his eyes, the monster was a few steps closer. In this living nightmare, each flash guaranteed the ship was headed for the cold dark sea.

  By the time he finally got to where the airship must have gone down, nothing was left. The clouds rolled in as well, hiding any moonlight that might have helped. There were bits of paper still floating, and they were able to save three men from drowning. But no Brenddel. Mantuan kept the ship searching, but when two of the rescued men were in danger of dying, he was forced to turn back for the kingdom.

  Mantuan stood at the back of his airship, still frantically scanning the water for any sign of Brenddel. Since the dark truths had come out, he and Brenddel had become like father and son again. He had heard of people surviving a plunge into water from a great height. But leaving now, with hours of flight back to the kingdom, and hours back the next morning to continue the search, no man could survive that long in the freezing waters. Not even the fierce Brenddel. Mantuan though of how far he himself had fallen from an airship and survived. The truth slowly sunk in that Brenddel was not as lucky.

  One thought echoed through Mantuan's mind on the way back, amplifying and growing darker.

  My son is dead. The Outlands will pay.

  Chapter 6: Kings Decide

  “Vengeance will not bring him back,” said Ellice as Mantuan stormed around the room.

  Mantuan replied, “Not vengeance. Justice. King Gordon, King Asa, we must see them pay for what they did to us, to Brenddel.”

  Asa was fighting back the tears. His eyes couldn't see, but they could still cry. Brenddel had been like another father to him, but he would have wanted Asa to be strong, to act like a king. He fought his own tears.

  Gordon asked Mantuan, “What do you want to do?” Asa was glad there were two kings, to save him from speaking just yet.

  “A full attack. At least half of the airship fleet,” replied Mantuan.

  “That's foolish Mantuan. We don't know these people, what they want, what other weapons they have,” said Ellice.

  “Mantuan's right. They blinded one of our kings, killed our Firstman, not to mention the guards and soldiers that have died. We must answer these attacks,” said Aline.

  “Gordon, what do you think?” asked Asa.

  “Well… everyone's right. This can't go unchallenged, but I think sending in our soldiers would be wrong until we know what they can do. They have weapons we don't understand, ones that can take down airships,” said Gordon.

  Mantuan shook his head, “Gordon, Ellice. I know Brenddel hurt your family. I can only imagine how you felt about him. Until last year, I wanted him dead too. But he had a trial. When the whole truth came out in the courts, he was judged innocent. Ellice, I fear you your personal feelings…”

  “I know he was found guiltless!” said Ellice hotly, “I helped set up the trial, so it would be fair. I can never forget what Brenddel did to my husband, but after we discovered that Trunculin was the true evil, I have begun to make peace with it. That is not clouding my judgment. This has to do with flying off in anger to lands we do not know. We have to keep our heads.”

  “He must be avenged,” insisted Mantuan, hitting the table with his fist.

  Gordon turned to Asa, “We agreed to make all the hard decisions together. Two kings, one crown, right?”

  “But Brenddel…” Asa's voice wavered for a moment, but he got up and went to where Mantuan's voice was, “I was with him at the forest. Brenddel learned a lot of lessons chasing after you, Mantuan. He wouldn't want us to let our anger lead us into what may be a trap.”

  Mantuan put his hand on the King's shoulder and led him back to his chair. Mantuan looked at the damaged top of the King's chair, where the heavy door had landed on it. He sighed, “You both are equally king. If after what they did to you Asa…” Mantuan forced down his anger, “…I will do whatever you both think is best.”

  “So, what do we do?” asked Gordon.

  They all sat, thinking silently. Asa finally said, “A King should go see them, talk to them. Gordon, I think you should go to the Outlands.”

  “I can have the airships prepped right now. I'll assemble the men.” said Mantuan.

  “Mantuan, I don't think you should go. You are too… too close to this. So am I.” replied Asa.

  Ellice said, “My King. Gordon has had enough adventures. Let him stay. I will go and find out what this attack meant. Send me, please. I don't want my son to be in any more danger.”

  “Mother. I'm a king too. I can decide for myself.” argued Gordon.

  “Gordon, it has to be you.” Asa turned toward Ellice's voice. “My Queen, no mother would want this. But he is one of the most famous boys in the world, after the battle of Thure. His story is being told all over our world. And right now, I'm pretty useless.”

  “You're never that, Asa.” Gordon said, “I think we should go by watership. Sorry, Mantuan. But they've already destroyed one airship. It will be less threatening.”

  “And if it's a trap?” Mantuan demanded.

  “I'm taking Aline and soldiers to help me.” Gordon said, averting his gaze from his mother. He'd learned to know when she was angry. “It's true though. I've had enough adventures. I was hoping you'd go on the next mission, Asa.”

  “After hearing all the scary things you went through, I'm almost glad I only had Trunculin to deal with. Even the Outlanders will have heard of you. It's best you go.”

  “You're at least taking our best soldiers. I will pick them,” insisted Mantuan.

  Asa said, “An army and Aline? Nothing will happen to Gordon.”

  Ellice bowed slightly, “Good points, all. I'm proud of the kings you are both becoming. Of course, I'm going too.”

  “Of course,” Asa and Gordon said at the same time.

  Gordon went to Mantuan, “I know you're angry. But I think this plan makes more sense.”

  Asa said, “And I need you here, Mantuan. I hope my sight comes back soon. Will you serve as Firstman?”

  Mantuan scratched at his patch, “The last time I was Firstman, a king died. With your pardon, I think Tolan should get the honor. He's Secondman, it's only fair. We shouldn't break the chain of order. I will stay on as your personal guard and advisor. I will do whatever you require.”

  “Thank you, Mantuan,” Asa said.

  Mantuan asked, “But what if the Outlanders treat Gordon, Ellice, and Aline like they treated Brenddel?”

  Asa considered the possibility of losing them. The idea was almost too much to imagine. Feeling tightness in his throat, the tears threatened again. Then he thought of Brenddel and decided to be strong for his memory, “If the Outlanders hurt anyone else, we go to
war.”

  Chapter 7: Angry Queen

  Seefer ground the mixture carefully. The mother of the living god was coming. She frightened him, but he couldn't let her know that. He knew what she wanted most, but she wouldn't get any of his secrets. He'd made more than enough, more toys than she had asked for. She would have to be content with that. He would never give up his newly acquired secrets to the mad woman and her god.

  The door to the shack shook with the pounding. Seefer was surprised they even bothered to knock; they already treated him like they owned him. “Come,” he called as calmly as he could, finishing the grinding of the black powder.

  The mother of the living god entered with only one guard. She did not fear Seefer. He smiled inwardly as he thought, but you should.

  “Queen Crys. Always an honor. What can I do for you today?”

  “You insult me, dog. You will speak only my new title as the mother of the living god.”

  “My apologies. 'Mother of god' or 'god's mother?' I forget just what it is this week…”

  The guard came forward and slapped the back of his armored hand across Seefer's face. Seefer grabbed his bleeding face and picked up a dark metal tube. He lit the wick of the weapon and stood defiantly. The guard grabbed for his knife, but the Queen stopped him.

  “Put it out at once!” screamed the Queen.

  Seefer just looked around at the wooden tables filled with similar pipes and bowls of black powder. The wick burned closer to the tube in his hand.

  “Put it out… please. Seefer, our friend.” The woman nearly purred. Seefer saw her smile, but he also saw a bead of sweat on her brow and the anger she was trying to contain in her eyes. Seefer licked his fingers and put out the burning wick.

  Crys told the guard, “Get out,” The guard looked confused. “Now!”

  The guard was the one sweating now, afraid of failing his queen and god. He left the shack, probably happy to be farther away from the dangerous pipes and black powder.