Towers of Redact

by RG Long

  He let out a chuckle as he glared at them both with hungry eyes.

  "Right, boys?" he nodded in the direction of Serinde and Alma. As one, the four of them began making their way towards the elf and the girl. One by one they produced daggers and short blades from their coats.

  "Scum though they may be," Serinde said quietly. "Let’s not end any life tonight. We don’t want any trouble with the authorities."

  "Depends," Alma said, making her hands into fists. "The law might be on our side."

  Serinde shook her head and said more forcefully.

  "No killing," she said as she reached behind her back.

  One of the men on the side gripped his knife and rushed at Serinde.

  His first mistake.

  She pulled out her short sword from behind her and flicked away the weapon he held his hand. With a kick, she said the man flying into the stoop where he let out a loud groan.

  "She’s a fighter!" the first man said with a look of glee.

  Two of the men changed from walking towards Serinde to coming for the girl. They probably assumed that Alma would be the easier target. As one, they both dash for her. They were terribly wrong.

  Arcs of red energy filled Alma's hands as she shoved one of her fists right into the first man’s chest, sending him flying back several paces and landing squarely on his back. He coughed several times before grabbing his stomach, rolling over, and retching.

  The second man did not run away fast enough. Alma's second fist sent him flying through a window, shattering it and causing several people inside the brothel to run out screaming.

  The last man looked between Serinde and Alma and seemed indecisive. Serinde made the choice for him.

  She stepped up to him and put an elbow and his ribs. She heard a satisfying crack and a yell of pain as he went to the ground. Alma flicked her hand, and an arc of red energy carelessly flung him away.

  The leader of the group stood stunned as Serinde put her sword to his throat and Alma at the same time, pointed a ball of red energy right at his face.

  Serinde noticed an upside-down triangle tattooed under one of his eyes.

  “I was told to be on the lookout for that mark," she said through gritted teeth. "Before we teach you a lesson in manners, let’s have a chat."

  15: Optimism

  As they moved along the outskirts of the city, Ealrin, Elise, and Blume did their best to avoid being seen by anyone. Ever since the guards came looking for them at the inn, it seems like the whole city of Poral knew that the Commodore's children and a powerful speaker were on the run.

  "We’ve got to get out of the city," Elise said.

  "And go where?" Ealrin asked, feeling frustrated.

  They both peeked over the barrel they were hiding behind.

  The Commodore's ship was still at the docks with a flurry of activity all around it. Other ships were moving around it. Some were even being dismantled in the air as their parts were then used to replace bits and pieces from the airship.

  The orange glow of the speaker's magic kept things running smoothly as others on the dock went running for supplies here and there. Compared to when they arrived, the dock was now a flurry of activity and constant motion.

  "To go find the Blackthorn gang and figure out who caused the explosion. Maybe get a confession out of them as well."

  "I thought you said my idea was terrible," Blume said, incredulously. Ealrin could see the look of confusion and anger on her face.

  "It is terrible," Elise said. "But I can’t think of any better idea either."

  They all three ducked back underneath the pile of goods as a column of soldiers marched by. Ealrin felt ridiculous hiding from the very colors he had just a day or two ago found great solace and comfort in. Was he really a rebel who had tried to rise up in a coup against the king? That wasn't who he was now. At least he was fairly sure that wasn't who he was. How in the world could he explain this to his father?

  And what about his sister? Was she genuine in her belief that Rerial really used to be a country not worth serving?

  All of these questions and doubts whirled inside of his head as he tried to think of what they could do.

  "We talk to dad," he said without looking at either of the two ladies who are accompanying him.

  "What?" Blume and Elise said in unison.

  "I take back what I said," Elise said. "Blume, Ealrin thought of a more terrible idea than yours."

  "We have to make him believe us," Ealrin said.

  "Believe what?" Elise whispered harshly. "That his kids were part of the rebellion and tried to kill the current king's father but had absolutely nothing to do with the current king's assassination even though it looks extremely like we did it? That won’t go over well. Especially after Miss Magic's blasting us across the city."

  Blume let out a hiss, but Ealrin spoke over her.

  "We’re his kids," Ealrin said plainly.

  "Ugh," Elise said, putting her head in her hands.

  "Look Ealrin," she said with what Ealrin had come to recognize was Elise's patient but annoyed tone. "You can’t remember dad before a couple of weeks ago. You don’t know what he’s like when he’s threatened. You don’t know when he’s like when his loyalty is called into question. He is fiercely loyal to his nation and his fleet of airships. If we get in the way between him being commodore and his duty being questioned, he will choose Commodore. I know this. I know him. I know you want to do the right thing by talking to him and trying to convince him, but it won’t work!"

  Ealrin looked her hard in the face.

  He knew she was speaking from experience. He knew she was also reacting out of fear. The man he had met a few weeks ago loved his family. That had to stand for something.

  "Then I’m gonna go talk to them," Ealrin said. "You two make your way out of the city, and I’ll come and find you."

  He didn’t wait for a response. He began crouching his way towards the docks behind barrels of goods and crates, ducking and dodging troops as they marched along the pier.

  Before he was out of earshot, he heard Elise say to Blume.

  "He’s always been stubborn," she said.

  Blume, who had known Ealrin for as long as he had known himself, answered back just before the marching sound of boots covered their voices.

  "Optimistic to a fault."

  16: A Measure of Heart

  The docks were extremely busy. Even though the suns were beginning to go down over the city of Poral, it looked like the sailors, and dock hands there planned to work well into the night. And an orange glow from the magic used by the speakers kept everything within sight.

  It also made it very few shadows for Ealrin to sneak around in.

  He didn't know dear where his father would be at this point. Whether on the ship seeing how the inside of it was being repaired or on the docks inspecting the outside, he was unsure.

  What’s more, he still wasn’t sure what he was actually going to say to him when he saw the commodore. He kept rehearsing a script over and over in his head, but none of it made enough sense for him to repeat it out loud.

  "I’m sorry I was involved in a rebellion, but since having regained my memories, I don’t think that’s what I would do now?"

  "I saved the life of a king, so why would the world would I blow him up two days later?"

  "I don’t know what my sister used to do, but I don’t think she’s involved in any rebellious coups anymore?"

  Definitely not that last one. He didn’t want to involve Elise or speak for her. He would very much like for her not to be punished or to face repercussions from anything Tucker might’ve told the lady of Poral. For that matter, he had a lot of questions about Tucker.

  Like how they got Tucker in the first place. And what he actually told them. Even though he had said "everything," there was still a possibility it wasn't every word the man knew. It was still a mystery that Ealrin did not have time to work out.

  All he knew was that he had to find hi
s father.

  Many of the great ships of Poral were being deconstructed in order to repair the commodore's airship. It was a small wonder how much wood and metal was needed to construct such a large ship.

  Some of it under workings were plainly visible to Ealrin as he got up close to it. Large gears and wheels and belts lined the inside of it as more orange glow came from within, telling him that the rimstone required to keep the airship in motion was large and active.

  He had not yet seen the inner workings of the massive airship from the outside yet, and the look was awe-inspiring. The Sky Dart, which had successfully taken them to two different continents, was several years behind the technology that he now could see inside the ship of his father. How had Rerial grown in the time between Ealrin's airship and this one? And what have they been choosing to do with the things that they had learned?

  Ealrin shook his head.

  He had to find his father.

  Checking his surroundings, Ealrin saw that there were several guards stationed further up by the airship itself. He wondered if they anticipated his sister and him to return to the airship in order to talk to the Commodore?

  A hand clapped over his mouth, and Ealrin nearly jumped out of his skin. He flipped around to see Elise and Blume right beside him. He jerked his face away from Elise's grasp and gave them both a hard look.

  "Blume!" he whispered in a harsh tone. "Why did you follow me?"

  "Because you're trying to get yourself thrown into jail or killed or both!" Elise said as she crawled up beside the two of them.

  "How would they throw a dead man into prison?" Blume asked, rolling her eyes.

  Elise didn't reply.

  "This was certainly not how I had expected the trip to the Court of Three to go," Blume said by his side.

  "Agreed," Elise said. She was still looking hard at Ealrin as if the trip going poorly was all his fault. That wasn't fair. He hadn't been the one who had planned the coup. Or at least he didn't think he had been. It was all still jumbled in his mind. He truly wished all of his memories would have returned to him at once. At least that way, he could say with certainty that he was or wasn't as involved as he thought. He sought to change the subject.

  "I haven't seen him," Ealrin said.

  Elise shook her head.

  "Me neither."

  "Do you really think your father will believe that you're innocent?" Blume asked.

  Ealrin didn’t have a ready answer. He hoped his father would believe him. He wished his father would believe him. But Elise's words echoed in his mind. He didn’t know the Commodore when times were tough. Or at least he didn’t remember.

  "Maybe he will believe us. I have to try," he said.

  "I agree the effort would be worthwhile," said a voice from the other side of the barrels.

  The three of them jumped, and Ealrin nearly drew his blade but stopped when he saw the familiar face of his father looking at them with a stern expression.

  The collar of his coat was pulled up, and he was not wearing the traditional military jacket of the commodore. It was like he was trying to hide his identity. Had he been scouting around for them as they had been looking for him? If that had been the case, Ealrin thought he might have worn a different expression. He looked at all three of them with hard eyes.

  He seemed to be deciding between Elise and Ealrin. He settled on his daughter.

  "Stay hidden," he said sharply, looking over his shoulder before returning his gaze back to them. "Explain yourselves."

  Elise looked at Ealrin and then back to the Commodore.

  Ealrin noticed that even though he had taken his hand away from his blade, she had not.

  "I’m not sure what all Tucker told you and the Governess of Portal," she began. "But I know you won’t like to find out that some of it is true."

  The commodore said nothing, but rather stared more intently at Elise.

  "Three years ago," Elise said, looking back at him and matching his expression in intensity. "Ealrin and I were ready to overthrow the king of Rerial in order to set up a new government. One that was not corrupt and one that did not desire war for profit. The day Ealrin went missing was the day we were to take over both the military and replace the royal family."

  She shook her head.

  "After the dragons had done their part, everyone in our rebellion was dead. Except for a handful including Ealrin and me, even though we didn't know it at the time. The coup died that day, and those of us left waited to see what kind of King Belfast would become."

  "And did you kill King Belfast?"

  There was a long pause. Ealrin expected Elise to deny this quickly. That’s what she had done to him. He knew that she had no part in it. Why was she hesitating?

  "At one point I thought I would want to," Elise said. "But no, I had no hand in what happened to him. Nor did Ealrin. He had become a better king the Beltrame was. One who ruled and wanted peace instead of war. Though now that we’re starting another war with the Court of Three, I don’t know what will become of our nation."

  "You were ready to betray me," the Commodore said, looking directly at Elise. "To throw away our family and our future in some plot to take over a kingdom, you do not understand and replace a king you did not serve."

  "Father..." Ealrin began.

  Commodore Evan held up a hand to stop him.

  "This one thing I must know," Lord Evan said.

  He looked back-and-forth between Ealrin and Elise again and asked a question that Ealrin did not expect.

  "Was your mother ever truly involved? Was she a part of the plot as well?"

  Ealrin raised his eyebrows in surprise.

  In all the time he had been back in Rerial, he had understood that his mother had passed away sometime before his return. Perhaps even before he had flown away in his airship. He had been so glad to see his father and sister that he had not pressed the issue. Why was this so important to his dad at this very moment? He had hardly talked about their mother at all.

  Elise swallowed hard as she looked up at the Commodore.

  The next words out of her mouth seemed to cause her great pain.

  "Yes," she said in a whisper. "She was."

  For a moment, Ealrin was unsure what the commodore would do, how he would react. And why it mattered.

  He wouldn’t get answers.

  "Guards! Guards!"

  His father had taken several steps backward as he pointed in their direction and continued to shout out loud.

  "Over here! I found the rebels! Guards!"

  Ealrin felt his face fall. He had not even been given a chance to defend himself. He had not been able to tell his father that he was not a rebel who sought to undo all that his family had worked for. That he felt differently now than he must have before the death of the previous king.

  Hands tugged on his arms as Blume and Elise pull him away.

  "Guards!"

  The sound of boots on wood came thundering in their direction. A Speaker cast light over them.

  The last thing Ealrin saw was the expression of fury on his father's face as he glared at his children. His son and his daughter who had betrayed him and their country.

  The family that had turned their back on their father.

  There was a blinding flash of light and Ealrin and felt his feet being pulled out from under him. Instead of landing on the wood of the docks, he landed on the unsteady ground of sand below him. Far away on the horizon, he could still see the glowing orange rimstone that lit up his father's airship.

  Ealrin shook off Blume and Elise's hands. They fell away easily. He took several steps in the direction of the light where his father stood on the docks, probably still yelling for his guards to come and apprehend the rebels.

  His children.

  But that was far away. They had travel several miles from his father. And Ealrin felt the distance growing larger, both in measure and in his heart.

  17: Surprises in the Street

  Soldiers still marched
through the street as Teresa and Urt made their way quietly through the city of Rerial. They did their best to keep to the shadows and not draw attention to themselves. It seemed like others had the same ideas as they did.

  When the world had come crashing down on top of them, many of the residents of Rerial had lost homes and businesses and family and friends. Disaster can make people run towards desperation. And Teresa knew first hand that desperate people do dangerous things.

  The country of Rerial already did not think much of the Skrilx and their kind. If they saw Urt at this point, she worried that they would try to ask him way too many questions about where he was supposed to be. Or, even worse, skip the questions altogether and go right to accusing him of looting or being away from his master or some other punishable offense.

  And in desperate times, people decided to become judge, jury, and executioner all in one. She shook her head. Urt had done too much for her. She would not allow such a fate to fall on him.

  "We have to return to the hangar," Teresa whispered. "To see what Lord Evan suggests, we do and figure out our next course of action."

  Urt nodded in the darkness, and Teresa understood that he was aware of the need as well.

  It was too dark in the sky to see any of the airships flying by at this late hour. The lights that had accompanied the city by this point were much lower in intensity. The destruction had taken down many of the rimstone lanterns that had lit the streets. Only every so often did one such lamp still stand, casting a pale orange light over the mess.

  Teresa thought she heard the hum of one or two airships, but couldn’t be sure. All around them, it sounded like a curfew was being enforced, and soldiers were shouting at residents to get inside whatever building they could. It would make sneaking around that much more difficult if they were the only ones out on the streets. They needed to get to the hangar.

  After another group of soldiers made their way past their hiding spot in a dark alley, Teresa tapped Urt on the arm, letting him know they should get ready to move.

  Dodging behind debris and rubble and piled up goods, they made their way through the streets as quietly as they could. It took much longer than the first time they had walked through the streets of Rerial. Teresa didn't look down to get a good glance at what blocked their path every so often. She knew that sometimes it was rocks and debris, but she wasn't completely sure that sometimes it was the bodies of the fallen residents of the city. After an hour of the grim march forward, she could spot their target.