Pirate of the Prophecy

by Jack Campbell

  But how could she not some day become intimate with a man? Knowing how important her line was? If she didn’t keep it going, didn’t have children, the Great Guilds would win.

  Her mother had died in childbirth. That’s all that Jules knew. What exactly had gone wrong? Was it something that would also affect her? Would having that child be a final act of sacrifice for a future that she’d never see?

  Questions without number. No answers.

  After cleaning up the bath pan, she dressed carefully, taking time to check the polish on her boots. She took out the revolver and looked it over, seeing rough patches on the smooth surface. What was she supposed to do about that?

  Jules brought out the cloth she used to polish her dagger and rubbed it over the revolver. When she was done, it looked better. But there was something dark and sticky where the hammer moved. She remembered seeing a clear fluid there when she’d first been examining the weapon. And the hammer didn’t move as smoothly now.

  She cleaned off the dark, sticky places as best she could. The parts of the weapon seemed to move more easily after that.

  Despite the Mechanic woman’s warning that it would explode if she tried, there didn’t seem to be anything about the weapon that would prevent it being shot at a Mechanic.

  Someday she would try, Jules thought. Someday.

  Each of the three cartridges that she’d shot had left behind a cylinder that Jules had looked over. Sort of an empty tube made of brass, open on one end where the rounded projectile had once rested. What was she supposed to do with those?

  She removed them from the revolver, along with the one that hadn’t worked, placing them all in one pocket.

  She went up on deck again, the headlands of Caer Lyn’s harbor sliding by on either hand. A small home draped with fishing nets stood precariously on one of the headlands. “That’s Meg’s place,” Ang told her. “At night, ships can find the headland by looking for the lantern in her home. Caer Lyn is growing fast,” he added. “Last time I was here it was maybe half this size, and that was only a year ago.”

  Jules leaned against the railing, gazing at the buildings sprawling through the lowlands and spreading up through the valleys and heights surrounding it. “It’s a nice harbor.”

  “Great harbor,” Ang agreed.

  Jules’ gaze came to rest on a large structure being built in the center of a cleared area some distance from the water. “That’s a Mechanics Guild Hall, isn’t it? What’s the bridge thing leading to it?”

  “It’s called an aqueduct. The Mechanics always want water brought in,” Ang said. “I don’t know why. It’s a lot more than the people in a Guild Hall should need.”

  She saw the outlines of another structure farther off. “A Mage Guild Hall. That looks like a Mage Guild Hall.”

  “I think you’re right. I guess the Great Guilds are moving in permanently.”

  And this ship was going to tie up here. She really, really hoped that the Mechanics had some plan to keep the local Mages from killing her.

  The Mechanic ship was tying up at the best pier in the harbor, covered horse-drawn carriages arriving from inside the growing town to meet it. Jules watched figures in the dark jackets of Mechanics coming out of the carriages to meet their counterparts coming off the ship. She also saw with relief a line of Mechanics at the land end of the pier, blocking access. If they had revolvers with them, that ought to keep Mages away.

  One Mechanic stood on the stern of his ship, gesturing to the Sun Queen to tie up behind the Mechanic ship. “I hope this is just about me,” Jules said.

  “We won’t let them hurt you, Jeri,” Ang said.

  “Just stay out of the way.”

  The Sun Queen glided in to the pier, some of the crew in the rigging furling the last sails. A bump, lines across for the commons working the pier to tie up to bollards, and Jules was left wondering what she should do.

  Mak came down off the quarterdeck, nodding to her. “You look sharp, Jeri. Now what?”

  “I have no idea. Wait, there’s a carriage coming past the Mechanic ship and on toward us.”

  “Get the crew lined up,” Mak told Ang. “If they see us treating them with respect, the Mechanics are more likely to leave quickly.”

  “Yes, Cap’n.”

  The carriage halted near the bow of the Sun Queen, three Mechanics getting out of it. Jules saw the weapons two of them carried, much longer than her revolver. The woman and one man carried the weapons. The other man, older, appeared unarmed as he walked with a quick, impatient stride toward the gangway of the Queen.

  Jules stood at the head of the gangway, hoping she was doing what was expected, and hoping that she’d keep her temper no matter what the Mechanics said or did. This wasn’t about her. It was about keeping the crew safe and getting them out of Caer Lyn again in one piece.

  The three Mechanics came up the gangway, the older man in the lead eyeing Jules. “That’s her, isn’t it? Yes. She has the revolver.”

  “I think that’s her,” the woman said.

  Jules waited, wondering why they didn’t simply ask her. Her eyes lingered for a moment on the female Mechanic, who looked to be maybe thirty years old. She seemed vaguely familiar, though Jules couldn’t say why.

  The older man looked around, seeing the stern cabin. “You,” he said, pointing to Jules. “Inside. Tosh, stay out here and keep an eye on things.”

  She followed them, with a glance to Captain Mak that both warned him not to try anything that might provoke the Mechanics, and sought reassurance in his steady gaze.

  The younger male Mechanic didn’t seem happy with his assignment, glowering at the crew and brandishing his long weapon.

  Jules closed the door behind them as she followed the female Mechanic and the older man into the cabin. Both looked around the interior of the sparse cabin with thinly veiled contempt before the man focused on Jules. “What’s your name?”

  “Jules of Landfall, Sir Mechanic.”

  “Sir Senior Mechanic.”

  Why did they all have to do that? How was she supposed to know which was which? “Yes, Sir Senior Mechanic.”

  He smiled. “You’ve been busy, common.”

  How was she supposed to answer that? Was she supposed to?

  Apparently not. The older man’s smiled faded as he looked at her. “Where did you get that holster?”

  “Excuse me, Sir Senior Mechanic? Hol-ster?”

  The female Mechanic answered in condescending tones. “The holder for the revolver. It’s called a holster.”

  “The crew made it for me,” Jules said.

  “They must have seen holsters Mechanics were wearing and copied them,” the woman told the Senior Mechanic.

  “Trying to imitate the works of their betters? Don’t make any more copies of Mechanic equipment,” the Senior Mechanic told Jules. “Not even clothing. That’s forbidden. If we want you to have something, you’ll get it from us.”

  “Yes, Sir Senior Mechanic,” Jules said, knowing that arguing the point would only cause trouble.

  “Give me that,” the Senior Mechanic added, pointing to her revolver sheath.

  Her “holster,” Jules corrected herself as she resignedly unfastened her belt.

  “Give her yours,” the Senior Mechanic told the woman. “If this common is going to be an agent of the Guild she needs to have proper equipment.”

  The female Mechanic didn’t seem happy, but she dutifully removed her own holster, taking out the pistol and placing it in a large coat pocket before passing the holster to Jules.

  She took a moment to look at it, seeing how much better designed the Mechanic holster was for its purpose, and how a flap at the top could be folded over and tied down to hold the weapon in place. Working hastily as the Senior Mechanic waited with ill-concealed impatience, Jules slipped the holster onto her belt and put her own revolver into it.

  “That’s better. Verona, check the weapon.”

  The woman held out her hand and Jules pulled out
the revolver, giving it to her. Verona examined it. “She’s kept it clean. Needs a little oil. Otherwise fine.”

  “Good. Return it to her.” The Senior Mechanic looked over Jules as she returned the revolver to her new holster. “You’re not pregnant yet?”

  Jules had to take a moment to respond, not wanting to sound as angry as that question made her. “No, Sir Senior Mechanic.”

  “Good. Try to continue controlling your physical urges. We don’t want that child appearing too quickly. I hear that you’ve killed two Mages.”

  She wasn’t about to explain what had happened with the second Mage to these two Mechanics. “Yes, Sir Senior Mechanic.”

  “Two Mages dead, and the Mechanics Guild can deny giving you orders to kill them. The Mage Guild is working hard to find you. They don’t like having a common they’ve marked for death walking around alive. It hurts their image,” the Senior Mechanic said with a smirk. “Not bad. And the Emperor is very displeased by the failure of his forces to find you and catch you. The attacks you’ve made on Imperial shipping are keeping his attention on you rather than other matters, exactly as the Guild desires.” He smiled again, a thin, humorless expression. “For a common, you’ve been unusually effective in advancing the goals of the Mechanics Guild. Those who do well get rewarded. Give her the ammunition.”

  The female Mechanic stepped closer, dropping six cartridges onto the table one by one.

  “Six,” the Senior Mechanic said. “For six more enemies of the Mechanics Guild. Use them well, and there’ll be more.” He gestured toward the long weapon held by the female Mechanic. “You might even earn one of those rifles. If you keep us happy.”

  “I understand, Sir Senior Mechanic.”

  “Pick them up,” the female Mechanic said impatiently, gesturing at the ammunition.

  Jules gathered the six cartridges, holding them tightly in one hand. “Thank you, Sir Senior Mechanic. Lady Mechanic. Am I supposed to return these?” she asked, pulling out the three empty cylinders from the cartridges that she’d shot and the one that hadn’t worked.

  “You kept your brass?” the woman commented. “Will wonders never cease. Give them to me.”

  “Am I supposed to keep doing that, Lady Mechanic?”

  “Yes,” she said. “You could have figured that out without asking.”

  Jules wondered if Mechanics were actually taught to say everything to commons in the most insulting way possible.

  “Not this one,” the female Mechanic said, holding out the fourth cartridge. “Why’d you give this one back? You haven’t used it.”

  “I tried to use it, Lady Mechanic. But nothing happened.”

  The other woman frowned, examining the cartridge. “It’s a misfire.”

  “Did I do something wrong, Lady Mechanic?” Jules asked, certain that she must have.

  “No. I can see where the hammer hit the primer. It’s just a misfire. It didn’t work.”

  It hadn’t been her fault? She hadn’t done anything wrong?

  Sometimes the devices of the Mechanics didn’t work?

  Sometimes the devices of the Mechanics didn’t work.

  Jules tried her best to hide her surprise and elation at the news. “Yes, Lady Mechanic.”

  “Use those cartridges wisely,” the Senior Mechanic said.

  “I will, Sir Senior Mechanic.” Jules hoped she still looked calm and obedient. Inside, she was imagining loading the cartridges and shooting both of these Mechanics and then their friend outside the cabin. But better to save them for Mages.

  “Oh,” the Senior Mechanic added, “one other thing. You’re headed for the area around Landfall, aren’t you? Don’t. They’re waiting for you. A lot of Mages and a lot of Imperial warships. They may be working together to try to get you, some sort of bargain among thieves.”

  How had the Mages and the Imperials known? And, for that matter, how had the Mechanics so quickly known what the others were up to? “Thank you for the warning, Sir Senior Mechanic.”

  The Senior Mechanic waved a negligent hand at her and walked out, the woman following him. Jules came behind them.

  The younger male Mechanic was berating the crew as they came on deck, standing in front of Captain Mak as he complained about their attitudes.

  Mak glanced over their way to ensure that Jules was all right.

  Jules saw the eyes of the female Mechanic meet those of Captain Mak, and suddenly the resemblance between the two was clear. Mak seemed turned to stone, frozen as he stared at the woman. The woman looked back at him with what seemed a curious mix of anger, love, resentment, and longing.

  Mak’s daughter. Taken by the Mechanics. One of them now.

  The female Mechanic looked away, scowling.

  “Hey! Common! When I talk, you look at me!” the male Mechanic facing Mak yelled. Furious, he jammed the end of his weapon into Mak’s stomach and did something to a lever on the bottom, causing the weapon to make an odd, metallic click-clack noise. “You commons need an example of what happens when you don’t act respectfully!”

  Jules stared, horrified, knowing she couldn’t load the cartridges and try to use the revolver against that Mechanic in time to save Mak.

  “Wait, Tosh,” the female Mechanic said, her voice rough. “Should we waste ammunition on him? He’s not worth it.”

  The male Mechanic hesitated. “It’s only one bullet.”

  The female Mechanic looked at Jules, a message in her eyes. Say something.

  “I need him, Sir Mechanic,” Jules said. “Please. He’s a…valuable assistant.”

  “So what?”

  The female Mechanic spoke again, as if disinterested. “Don’t we want her to stay effective? For the Guild?”

  The young male Mechanic hesitated again.

  The Senior Mechanic looked aggravated. “Don’t kill him. This time. You can consider that another reward,” he told Jules.

  “Thank you, Sir Senior Mechanic.”

  “Can I hit him?” the male Mechanic pleaded.

  “Go ahead,” the Senior Mechanic said, “as long as you don’t hurt him so badly she can’t use him.”

  The Mechanic grinned and reversed the weapon, using the other end to hit Mak in the face.

  Mak went down without a sound, two members of the crew lunging to grab him before he hit the deck.

  Everyone else stood silently, watching the Mechanics.

  The younger male Mechanic spoke up again, his voice loud as he looked around the deck of the Sun Queen. “The next time some common acts like that, he or she takes a bullet. Got it? You do what you’re told!” He turned to stomp off the ship but had to pause and wait for the Senior Mechanic to precede him, somewhat spoiling the effect of his departure.

  The female Mechanic followed behind the other two, her weapon held so the open end pointed at the sky. Jules tried to catch her eye again, but she kept her gaze fixed on the backs of her fellow Mechanics.

  The sailors who’d caught Mak helped him stand, but he still looked like a man frozen in a moment of pain. “Ang,” Mak said in a whisper, “please take the ship out. We don’t want to stay here. Too many Mages about.”

  “Yes, Cap’n,” Ang said. “No worry. Get the cap’n to his bunk,” he ordered the two sailors supporting Mak. He raised his voice to the rest of the crew. “Prepare to get under way!”

  As the other sailors milled about, Jules started running forward. She ran all the way to the bow, leaning over next to the bowsprit, looking down at the horse-drawn carriage the Mechanics had arrived in. The two men must have already gotten in, the woman in the act of stepping inside. “Lady Mechanic!” Jules yelled.

  The female Mechanic paused in the door of the carriage, looking up at Jules, her face a carefully neutral mask disguising her feelings. The woman shook her head once at Jules, then ducked inside the carriage, closing the door.

  Jules stood watching the carriage roll away as the driver urged the horses into motion.

  “What were you going to say to her?” L
iv asked from beside Jules.

  “I don’t know. That was Captain Mak’s daughter.”

  “I guessed. She didn’t want anything to do with him, though.”

  “She saved his life, Liv. You saw that.”

  “I don’t know that she-”

  “She did. I could see it.” Jules shook her head, remembering the look on the face of Mak’s daughter when she recognized him. What had that woman been told once she was taken from her family? How had she been told to think? Why couldn’t she reach out to her own father? “How is she going to do it?” Jules whispered.

  “That female Mechanic? How’s she going to do what?”

  “No.” Jules watched the carriage turn off the pier and head down a street off the waterfront, vanishing from sight behind buildings. “The daughter of my line. How is she going to talk to Mechanics? Get them to help her? How?”

  Liv frowned. “Why would Mechanics help her?”

  “That’s what the prophecy said, Liv. That she’ll unite Mechanics, Mages, and common folk like us to overthrow the Great Guilds.”

  “She what?” Liv made a derisive noise. “Mechanics? Help us? And Mages? How could anyone get them to help? And to overthrow their own Guilds? The prophecy couldn’t have—” Realizing who she was talking to, Liv stopped speaking.

  “That’s what it said.” Jules looked at Liv. “I’ll never forget a word of it. It said she’ll do that. Somehow.”

  “Nobody’s repeating that,” Liv said. “I guess because it sounds too hard to believe, and we all want to believe the rest, about the Great Guilds being overthrown someday.”

  Jules took a final look at the carriage, fast disappearing away from the pier. “That woman still felt something, Liv. Despite whatever the Mechanics Guild did to her, part of her wanted to talk to Mak. Part of her still loves him. I saw it. But she wouldn’t listen to any of us.”

  “Mak’s going to be a wreck,” Liv said. “You could comfort him, because you mean a lot to him, Jeri.”

  “We’re not like that, Liv. People don’t think we’re like that, do they?”

  “No. I didn’t mean that. Mak cares about you. He’ll listen to you. Go talk to him. Ang and I can get the ship underway without the two of you.”