Alain nodded. “She has feelings. She has asked me about some of them.”
“What?”
“Asha has asked me about some of the things she is feeling,” Alain explained, wondering why Mari was acting so surprised. “These emotions are things we Mages have denied and been denied, and so it is hard to deal with them. I have been able to help her because I understand how love changes the entire nature of the world illusion. And it is sometimes difficult to comprehend the words of Mechanics.”
“It is, huh?” Mari looked around at the doors and windows being unlocked around the courtyard, fearful commons looking out on the scene of the recent battle, many of the drying fabrics still fluttering in the breeze like a rainbow broken into fragments. Practically all of the fabrics bore speckles of dragon head, but Alain knew those would vanish without a trace within several days. “Are you saying that you have trouble understanding me, Alain?” she added.
Alain gazed back at her. Something about the question made him wary. There were questions, he had learned, that it was best not to answer, or at least to answer with care. “No,” he said.
“Liar.” Mari smiled slightly. “Like a Mage. But you’re learning more about being married. We need to get back to the Mechanics Guild Hall. Is everybody ready?”
The Mages did not answer, of course, but Mechanics Alli and Calu nodded. Alli had picked up Mari’s discarded Mechanic weapon and was fiddling with it. “There. I cleared the jam. Here it is.”
“I don’t need it now,” Mari said.
“A pirate queen should have a rifle,” Alli said. “Right, Calu?”
“Right,” Calu agreed.
“When did I become a pirate queen?” Mari asked, accepting the rifle as she walked beside Alain.
Alain saw that the common soldiers, unasked, had formed lines to keep a clear path before Mari and their companions. More soldiers were rushing into place ahead, doubtless called in to confront the dragon but now facing a much less hazardous task.
Mari began pushing the pace as they walked, doubtless wanting to return to the Mechanics Guild Hall as quickly as possible. Alain suspected, though, that she was also uncomfortable with the growing number of commons who were lining the streets, all of them pointing at her or raising young children to see Mari.
His speculation was confirmed when Mari looked over at him with worried eyes. “What if I let them down, Alain? The task I’m facing is nearly impossible. What if I fail?”
“Should we fail,” Alain said, “neither of us is likely to remain in this dream long enough to have to face the disappointment of others. The Great Guilds would want to seal a victory with our deaths.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “That is so very pragmatic and so very not comforting, my Mage. I just hope we get out of Edinton without any more—”
They had just reentered the vast plaza surrounding the Mechanics Guild Hall, where the soldiers of Edinton had cleared a wide area ahead of them. Mari broke off her words as the high-pitched screech of an enormous bird of prey sounded right over their heads and they were suddenly shadowed by the sweep of immense wings.
Chapter Eleven
Mari cursed and aimed her weapon as the Roc came to ground directly ahead of them, the Mage on the back of the giant bird gazing toward the group of Mages and Mechanics.
Alain put himself between Mari and the Roc, his hands out. “Mari, it is not attacking.”
She glared at him. “I don’t have good experiences with giant birds. You do remember that, don’t you?”
“If the Mage riding the Roc meant to harm you or me, the Roc would not have alighted on this plaza. It would have remained in the air and struck at us.”
“Mari?” Alli called. Her own weapon was leveled toward the Roc. “What’s the deal with this one?”
Mari shook her head at Alain as she called back to the others. “Hold your fire. Alain thinks this giant bird isn’t out to kill me.” In a lower voice, she spoke sharply to him, indicating the Mage on the Roc. “Well? What do we do?”
“I will speak with the Mage,” Alain said.
“You will not get within reach of that thing’s beak or claws!” Mari objected.
“I will take care,” Alain said.
He turned to face the Roc and advanced several paces, then waited silently in Mage fashion.
The Mage riding the giant creature patted the Roc’s neck. The immense bird lowered its head so that the Mage could slide off onto the pavement. Dropping the cowl of her robes, the Mage walked up to Alain, expressionless face giving no clue to her motives.
“You are Mage Alain of Ihris,” the Roc Mage said.
“I am,” Alain said.
“I am Mage Alera of Larharbor,” she said. Her eyes shifted from Alain to Mari. “The daughter is here.”
“Why are you here?” Alain asked.
“I am one of several Mages sent by the elders in Julesport to search for the daughter and report on her location to the nearest Mage Guild Hall.” Mage Alera’s gaze went back to Alain. “Instead, I have come to warn you. A Mage in Julesport had foresight of the daughter coming to this city. The elders did not trust in the foresight, but thought it wise to send me and others to search the south. They also thought it wise to inform the Mechanics that the daughter might come here.”
Alain was sure his surprise had shown despite his efforts to look as emotionless as Mage Alera. “Elders of the Mage Guild spoke with Mechanics?”
“No. The elders sent one they respected least to speak with the Mechanics.” Alera’s own impassivity cracked as she spoke, revealing anger and resentment. “The message was given, then this Mage was ordered to search.”
“Why do you warn us?” Alain asked.
Mage Alera did not answer for a long moment, then looked back briefly toward her Roc. “This Mage tires of disrespect and poor treatment. This Mage has seen her Roc ended early by orders of the elders. This Mage seeks a new wisdom, and whispers among the Guild are that Mage Alain and the daughter are finding such a path.”
“I will speak with the daughter,” Alain said. He walked back to Mari, who had lowered her weapon but was still pointing it toward the Roc. “Mage Alera came to warn us. The elders in Julesport learned by foresight that you would come here, and they told the Mechanics.”
Mechanic Calu stared at Alain. “Mages told the Mechanics?”
“I guess wanting me dead is making my enemies cooperate,” Mari said. “She’s telling the truth?”
“Mage Alera does not lie. She was sent here to search for you, but instead wishes to join us.”
“Alain, what are we supposed to do with a giant bird?”
“Like all illusions, the Roc will cease to be when the power put into it is exhausted,” Alain said. “I sense it has little time left. Have I told you that the elders have little liking for those Mages who create Rocs? The elders distrust the emotional connections those Mages have with their creatures, for every time such a Mage creates a Roc, it is the same Roc. That is one reason for Mage Alera's desire to join us. She says the elders have sometimes forced her to end her Roc before the spell would have been exhausted.”
“They’re like a pair?” Mechanic Alli asked, lowering her weapon and gazing at the Roc with a growing smile. “Like a rider and a special horse, or one of those people who work with a rescue dog?”
Mari’s face reflected growing alarm. “The Mages told the Mechanics Guild that I might be here. If the Senior Mechanics took that warning seriously, they might be sending reinforcements to Edinton.”
“Wouldn’t they have used the far-talker to warn the Senior Mechanics in Edinton?” Calu asked, then answered his own question. “No. They would have assumed there was too big a chance of some malcontent at Edinton hearing and passing a warning to you, and they never would have dreamed that you could capture the Guild Hall.”
“A ship could not arrive quickly,” Alain began.
“There’s a rail line, Alain! The regular train isn’t supposed to arrive until tomor
“It could be getting close now,” Alli said. “We have no way of knowing how much time we have left.”
Alain pointed back to Mage Alera. “There is a way to see if one of your Mechanic trains approaches this city.”
Mari gave him a skeptical look. “The bird? We’re going to send a Mage we just met on a giant bird to see if there is a train getting close to Edinton?”
“Yes.”
“How far can she see?” Calu asked.
“It depends on high the Roc flies,” Alain said.
“Yeah. Like somebody on top of a mountain looking out across the land.” Calu grinned at Mari. “This is an amazing capability, Mari. If Alain says we can trust this Mage, why not use it?”
“Because you and me and Alli all know a bird that big cannot fly!”
“The Roc creates the illusion of flying,” Alain said. “Or rather, the Mage creates the illusion of a Roc that creates the illusion of flying.”
“Oh, well, why didn’t you explain that before? Now it all makes sense!” Mari said in what Alain thought of as her sarcasm voice. She sighed. “I’m never going to get used to this stuff. What’s her name again?”
“Mage Alera.”
Mari walked up to her, Alain at her side. “Lady Mage Alera,” Mari said. “Thank you for your warning.”
Alera looked back blankly.
“She does not know what thank you means,” Alain murmured to Mari.
“Right. Lady Mage Alera, would you do something for us?”
“You do not order? You…ask?” Alera said.
“Yes. I ask. Do you know what Mechanic trains are?”
Alera shook her head. “I do not know this word. I know nothing of Mechanics.”
“You have seen these trains,” Alain said. “They move more swiftly than anything that runs, and put out smoke from their front.”
“Yes,” Alera said. “I know those. The smoke snakes. They follow the shining lines across the land. Sometimes we have heard them scream.”
“Scream?” Mari asked. “Oh. The whistles. Um, we can explain that later. Could you…fly…up and see if one of those is coming toward this city from the north?”
“My Roc and I can do this.” Mage Alera paused, her head lowered, then looked at both Mari and Alain. “Does your wisdom permit my Roc to have a name?” Even though Alera did her best to hide any feeling in her voice, a note of yearning came through in the question.
“Yes,” Mari said, her attitude finally softening. “You are welcome with us, Mage Alera. You and your Roc.”
“He will cease soon,” Alera said. “But he will be again, and then his name will be Swift.” She ran to the Roc, vaulting up as the huge bird bent his neck once more. As soon as Mage Alera was settled, the Roc spread his vast wings, raised them, and leaped into the air with a push of its legs and a downward sweep of wings that sent a powerful gust of air to stagger everyone nearby.
Alli watched the Roc rise into the sky. “For the first time in my life, I wish I was something other than a Mechanic,” she whispered.
Mari had broken into a trot, heading for a group of Mechanics and commons visible near the Mechanics Guild Hall. Alain caught up with her, the others trailing, as Mari reached the group.
“I see that you survived,” Professor S’san said. “I hadn’t seen this side of you before, Mari. Reacting to a crisis, taking charge, giving clear orders, and leading by example. I knew that you had moral courage to spare, but it was nice to see you demonstrating great personal courage as well.”
Mari laughed incredulously. “Oh, please, Professor. Courage? Do you have any idea how scared I was?”
“And you fought anyway. Just what do you think courage is?”
“I…never mind. There are more important issues.”
Alain listened as Mari explained to the others what they had learned from Mage Alera. “How soon can we get out of here?” she finished.
“There is a problem that must be resolved before we can answer that,” Captain Banda said. “I’ve sized up what Mechanic Ken and the others want to take, and there’s far too much for the Pride to carry.”
“We can’t easily choose what to leave,” Master Mechanic Lukas added. “We need it all. Lathes, punches, small forges, drill presses, you name it. We need them.”
“Can we buy another ship?” Calu asked. “How much money was in the Guild Hall treasury?”
Professor S’san shook her head. “Not that much. Contrary to rumor, Guild Halls rarely have large amounts of currency on hand, especially out-of-the-way Guild Halls like this. It all gets forwarded to headquarters in Palandur or to the Guild offices in Longfalls.”
“Do any of you have any idea,” Mari asked, “what the Guild might have sent if they took the Mage elders’ warning seriously?”
“The assassins, if they could get some in time,” S’san said.
“Maybe common soldiers,” Lukas suggested. “As many as they could get their hands on. Mercenaries or loaners from anyone wanting to ingratiate themselves with the Guild. I doubt the Senior Mechanics would use commons whose loyalty might shift to Mari.”
Alain saw several commons standing nearby, obviously waiting but equally obviously not wanting to interrupt a discussion among Mechanics. “Mari, perhaps these officials have information.”
She looked. “Maybe they do. Are you waiting to talk to me?”
The officials walked forward, then as one began to kneel.
“Don’t!” Mari said. “Don’t! That’s better,” she added as the officials straightened again.
“Lady,” said one of the richly dressed officials, “we are in your debt. But we hope that you understand our ability to aid you is hindered by our obligations to the safety of our city and our people.”
“But we still want to help!” another said, looking daggers at the first to speak.
“We have been told that you intend leaving Edinton very soon?” a third asked.
“Yes,” Mari said. “We need to load this equipment, which requires another ship.”
“It also requires more heavy wagons and more laborers to get the equipment down to the docks,” Lukas said.
The officials bent into a whispered discussion and debate that was ended by one woman yelling at the others. “You fools! Here we are being threatened by a pirate whose forces are strong enough to capture a Guild Hall of the Mechanics and to defeat a monster of the Mages! If she takes a ship as well, what can we do? Our military is not capable of resisting such a force!”
Alain studied the woman, trying to understand her words and her tone. “Is she speaking a lie or does she believe this to be the truth?” Alain asked Mari.
“It’s the kind of lie that everyone knows is a lie but can pretend is the truth,” she replied.
“I do not understand.”
Another official nodded, speaking with mock grimness. “And if this pirate also demands our cooperation in providing wagons and laborers, how can we deny her? We must do as she demands. The safety of the city requires it.”
“No one is going to believe this!” the first official to have spoken insisted.
“They will when they see that dragon! And even the Mechanics will know that their own Guild Hall fell to this pirate!”
“I would not want to fight the Lady’s forces,” a woman in uniform with gold shining on the collar said as she approached the group. “My soldiers are in awe of the Lady, of her Mechanics, and of her Mages.”
A man with her, in a different uniform but also high-ranking, pointed to Mari. “She wears a knife. May I see it, Lady?”
Mari pulled the sailor’s knife from the leather belt sheath that the crew of the Pride had crafted.
The man examined it, nodded, then looked to the officials. “A sign of the fellowship. The pirates of these seas have accepted her as one of their own. My cutters are not adequate to confront this pirate’s forces, and the warships of the Confederation that are in port would require orders to act.”
“Where are the Confederation’s representatives?” demanded the first official, still reluctant. “What do they say?”
“They cannot be found,” the uniformed woman said with mock regret. “It is most distressing.”
“No one will believe any of this!” the official insisted again..
“But it is true,” Alain said, his impassive Mage’s voice demanding everyone’s full attention. “A pirate with a strong force entered this city. You could not stop her. Her force captured the Mechanics Guild Hall. Her force defeated a Mage dragon. Her force will take another ship with them, and she requires of you laborers and wagons. You can say all of that, and not even a Mage will see a lie in you.”
“We do not need lectures on truth from a Ma—” The reluctant official suddenly realized that he was about to insult a Mage to his face. His mouth twisted in a frantic attempt to let no more sounds escape.
The man in a blue uniform gazed toward the harbor. “It is unfortunate that the pirate is demanding…the Worthy Son. I will ensure that the ship’s crew is replaced with volunteers, and that the ship is brought next to the dock for loading. How quickly must this be done?”
“How quickly can it be done?” Mari asked. “Here is Mechanic Captain Banda. Please work with him.”
“Please? I have never before heard a Mechanic use that word in my presence.” The officer saluted. “It will be my honor to do as you say, Lady. Under duress, of course.”
“There may be Mechanic forces on their way to Edinton,” Alain told the woman in the red uniform.
“We cannot fight them,” she replied. “Not unless the daughter wants us to rise up now.”
“Can you remain uninvolved even if the Mechanics Guild demands assistance?”
“It would take time to respond to the Guild’s demands,” the woman said. “Perhaps a lot of time. My forces have been greatly stressed by the pirate attack and the dragon.”
“Thank you,” Mari said, awkward with gratitude. “I need to talk to my people about some other things.”
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