Mapmaker, p.1
Mapmaker, page 1
Mapmaker
The Amazing Travels of Tessa Chart
Hans and Ellen Erdman
Copyright © May, 2022 by Hans L. Erdman
Cover Art: © Alessandra DeBernardis https://www.artstation.com/alexdeb
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.
Dedicated to the crew of the original Starduster (including my father, front row, third from left) a B-29 bomber based on Tinian during World War II. That Starduster was the first American aircraft, badly damaged by enemy fighters, to land on Iwo Jima.
Contents
Maps
. Chapter
1. The Amazing Young Women of the Air
2. Dragon-Wraith
3. Southern Skies
4. One of the Crew
5. The Crew Comes Together
6. Old Friends, Belligerent Elves, and a Girl with Blue Hair
7. Becoming a Team of Friends
8. Run Along the Border
9. The Tunnel Below the Boulders
10. The Tunnel Folk
11. Finally, Proceeding On
12. Confrontation in the Sky
13. Seaside
14. Accused
15. Starduster
16. On StarFire Island
17. Bad Things That Fly
18. A Mysterious Island
19. The Nautilus
20. Good News and the Other Kind
21. Departures
22. My Place in Your Story
23. Survivors and Stragglers
24. And Then He Kissed Her
25. Under the South Sea
26. City Beneath the Waves
27. Together
28. Wedding Plans
29. The Bride of the Truthbearer’s Son
30. Chasm
31. Abandoned Below
32. Out of the Hole and Back Again
33. Below the Red Tower
34. To the Thin Places
35. A New Course
36. Dry Run
37. The King and the Liars
38. The New South Wilds
39. The First Place
40. Seeds of Hope
41. Stealing Away, Together
42. Epilogue
Afterword
About the Authors
Also By Hans and Ellen Erdman:
Adar – Father (Formal)
Adara – Mother (Formal)
Adda – Dad/Daddy (Term of endearment)
Amil – Mom/Mama (Term of endearment)
An Bhanrion - The Queen (High Queen) of Eyru’s Lands
Ard Bhanrionsa - Heir to An Bhanrion
Arancrist – The King’s Great Sword of Truth (Connor’s Sword)
H.A.G.S. – Heroes are Actually Girl Soldiers, Fiona, Menta Kai and Talia’s “Warrior Sorority” (for lack of a better term) identified by their forehead to heart Celtic scrollwork tattoos.
Laoch Bàn - The White Rage, white hot, all consuming Deep Magical fury weapon of Yalerius clan Elven women.
Melda – beloved
Melin er – dear one
Mellon - close friend
Nin Mel – my love
Sister-Friend – Unique strong bond between female Best Forever Friends exhibited by Tessa and both Lona and Sinead, Ciliren and Lianeth, Menta Kai and Arianna, and Fiona and Alistronia, among others.
Skystormer – Ruling family of Drohana in Eldaria
Tar (name) – Queen (name)
Téigh le Dia – Go with God
Yalerius (Yaleria – feminine form) – Ruling clan of the
Aerielands
Wynfarin – Ruling family dynasty of Gewellyn
Chapter one
The Amazing Young Women of the Air
Tessa thought, just for a moment, that she might get sick. It wasn’t the height that bothered Tessa Chart, it was the forward motion while looking through binoculars at this altitude. Still, the view of the Aerielands’ forest-covered northern mountains was nothing short of spectacular. The redheaded cartographer took a another look through the field glasses that Lord Truthbearer, Connor Clark had loaned to her, turned back to the drawing table and sketched rapidly what she had just observed.
“Wow,” Talindra Aradove, the airship’s First Mate commented as she glanced at the map around Tessa’s shoulder. “You are almost as good as my father’s photograph machine. Where did you learn to draw like that?”
The redheaded cartographer enjoyed the compliment. “Lordess Kitlaen says it’s a gifting from Lordabove, and I think Queen Fiona and her mother feel the same way. To me, it’s just something I was born with. My Papa back in Danedryl has been a mapmaker all of his life, and my grandfather, and his father before him. We have been making maps for the Skystormers and other travelers in Eldaria for generations. It wasn’t until I met Princess Lona that I started to realize that it was anything more than a talent I was born with. What do you call Lordabove here in the Aerielands again?”
Talindra gave Tessa a questioning look and then realized what she was asking. “You mean Creator? Creator and the Great Lion, the Father, and his Son in the heavenlies. Lady Iolena says that our Creator, your Lordabove, and Queen Fiona’s Heavenly Father are all the same being, just different names for different places.”
Tessa nodded. “Lona tried to explain it to me, but she also said that if I wanted to learn more, I should talk to Queen Fiona, the Bishop Reverend Mother of the Faithful. Have you met her?”
Talindra chuckled. “I should think so.” She ran her hand down the left side of her face from above her eyes to the top of her uniform tunic and a line of Celtic scrollwork emerged.
Tessa’s eyes widened. “You’re a HAG?”
The other woman laughed out loud. “It’s HAGS, not hag. Heroes Are Actually Girl Soldiers. All of the female Rangers are part of the HAGS. Commander Alenia requires us to keep the tattoos subdued, but they are there. I think the only ones who wear them openly all the time are Queen Fiona and Princess Abilynn, and of course they were both raised in Ireland.”
“Have you ever been there, Ireland I mean?”
“Just briefly for Fiona and Berian’s and Glynis and Anyon’s wedding. It looks like a very beautiful place from what I saw.”
“Oh, it is,” Tessa smiled at the memory. “Abby, Princess Abilynn, and Lona took me there before all of this,” she gestured around the airship, “was decided. We had quite the adventure with leprechauns, trooping fairies, and a type of werewolf called Wolfen. It was all very exciting, but it’s a beautiful country.
Talindra nodded toward the bow of the airship. “Father wants to know where you want to go next.”
“How far are we from Aerielands Castle?” Tessa asked.
Talindra shrugged. “At this speed, a half hour maybe a little longer. Did you want to stop there for the night?”
“I think so. Princess Lona is there with Queen Kailee, excuse me, Menta Kai. It would be nice to see her.”
“I don’t think you’re going to have to wait half an hour for that, my Lady.” She smiled and indicated over Tessa’s shoulder. The redhead turned to see a Golden Falcon and two bald eagles flying alongside the Aeronaut, the airship Tessa was riding in. Her eyes lit up and she waved at the falcon excitedly. The bird responded by doing a series of loops and then flying alongside the airship door.
“Do you mind-speak, Tessa?” Talindra queried.
“Yes, but not very well. Why?”
“I do, but of course I’m an elf. Your best friend wants to come on board.” She turned and yelled back to her father, Doctor Alden Wicker, at the helm of the airship. “Permission to open the port hatch, Pa?”
Doctor Wicker pulled on a lever and the airship started to lose speed. “Permission granted, Lindy. Have Tessa help you.”
The two young women grappled with the big door and pulled it to the side, allowing the falcon and one of the eagles to enter the ship. The bigger bird found a convenient perch and landed, watching her charge intently. As soon as she was in the ship, the falcon shifted back to elf form, the beautiful blonde High Princess Lona Yaleria-Brice, Tessa’s best forever friend. The two young women embraced, and then Lona turned and hugged Talindra as well.
“Hey, Teacher. I see that Tia Leni cut you loose for a few days.” Before she became one of the Borderland Rangers, Talindra had been Lona’s tutor and the two of them enjoyed a close friendship because of it.
“It’s part of my job,” Lindy shrugged. “Your aunt wants a Ranger to accompany Tessa wherever she goes. We are going to pick up my husband at Caer Aerie and the rest of the crew at Great Forest Castle. Wait until you see what she was working on.”
“That’s part of why I’m here,” Lona beamed. “Tess does all the hard work and then I just add the embellishments.” She wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulder. “Besides, it gives me a chance to be with her.”
Doctor Wicker had secured the wheel and joined the young women on the foredeck. He bowed to Princess Lona. “Welcome aboard, Your Highness. We were actually headed toward Aerielands Castle, but we do have quarters right here on board the Aeronaut if you don’t mind sharing a room with Talindra and Tessa.”
Lona grinned. “I don’t know. I’ve shared a room with Tessa before and she snores.” Tessa batted Lona with her hand.
“And the Princess talks in her sleep. Argues with somebody even.”
“Probably my mother,” Lona said ruefully, but before the others could ask which one, she con tinued, “Don’t ask. It could’ve been any one of the three. I love my Mamas but sometimes a girl’s just got to have fun again. I suppose that’s why Creator gave me Abby,” she smiled, “and you,” she hugged Tessa. Princess Abilynn Enya Yaleria-Brice was Lona’s older half-sister and her other best friend, the daughter of Queen Fiona and Lord Berian Brice, who was also Lona’s brother.
“So, you do have permission to be here, right?” Doctor Wicker looked at Lona with a parent’s eyes.
“Zedra,” she glanced at her Guardian eagle, “wouldn’t have let me come if Amil hadn’t allowed it, so yes, I do have permission. I’m here to help my best friend make maps, and to prepare all of you for a surprise.” Tessa looked at her, but Lona just arced her eyebrows and smiled.
“Felicity is down in the galley preparing dinner. Lindy, go let your mother know that there will be one,” he glanced at Zedra, who actually shook her head, “more at the dinner table.”
“One of the Eagles will stay with me as long as I’m on the Aeronaut, probably Zedra,” Lona explained at the dinner table. “When we get close to Caer Aerie, Zed is Mama Fi’s Guardian, so he will return to the caer.” Lona glanced around before continuing. “Zedra is almost as bad as my Tia Ali. If I misbehave when I’m in falcon form, I can count on Zedra correcting me the way an eagle would correct an eaglet. I suppose it’s the only way she knows.”
“I hear you, Lovely Lona,” came a voice from up the gangway. “I only discipline you when you need it, Love. It’s what Mistress Fiona and Mistress Alistronia have told me to do.”
Lona blushed. “I know. I love you, Zedra.”
“And I love you, Lona,” the Eagle replied. “I would give my life for you, Mistress Lona.” The tall Eagle came down the stairs in elf form and smiled reprovingly at her charge.
“I know you would,” Lona replied softly. “I hope it never comes to that again, Zedra.” Zedra just nodded.
“Would you care to join us for dinner, Zedra?” Felicity Aradove asked. “We have plenty of food, and obviously,” she added, gesturing around the almost empty galley, “plenty of space.”
“Thank you, my Lady, but even though I am in Elven form, I am still an Eagle and must eat what Eagles eat. I would like a little water if I may?”
“Of course. Can you use a glass?” Zedra and Lona both cracked large grins, as Felicity realized her faux pas. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, I’m not used to shapeshifters and I’m a little verbally clumsy.” She handed a glass of water to Zedra, who sipped from it quietly.
“Now, Lona, no lies, no fibs, no secrets.” Tess looked at the princess. “You know the rules; out with it! What’s this big surprise that you have for us?” Lona looked across the table at Doctor Wicker.
“Do you want to tell them, or do you want me to?” she asked the inventor.
“How about, I tell them my part and you tell them yours? Will that work?”
“That works for me,” Lona replied. “Go ahead.”
“Lindy, your mother and I have been talking, and you’ve gotten a very strong recommendation from Commodore Sparo. How would you feel about taking command of the Aeronaut for as long as Tessa needs it?”
Talindra looked shocked. “Pa are you sure? I mean, this thing is your baby other than me. Do you really think I’m ready for a command? What would you do if I’m going to be flying around in your airship, and we need to get Captain Alenia’s permission, wouldn’t we?” The words came spilling out.
“That’s part of why I’m here, Talindra,” Lona put her hand on her friend’s hand. “Tia Leni, your Captain, has given you and Tror a leave of absence from the Borderland Rangers for as long as Sub-Commander Chart requires you.”
“She has?”
“What do you mean, Sub-Commander?” Tessa asked simultaneously.
Alden and Felicity leaned back in their chairs and smiled at the exchange going on between the young women. When his daughter looked back at him, the airship’s commander handed her an envelope bearing the seal of the Royal Gewellyn Navy. “Open this, Captain.”
Talindra took the envelope hesitantly and used her dinner knife to break the seal. She looked at the contents, shook her head, and passed it to Tessa.
Tessa’s eyes widened as she read the communiqué. “The letter is signed by both Desara Sparo, and Alenia Yaleria, appointing you as Acting Captain of the Aeronaut, and me as the mission commander, with the rank of Sub-Commander.” She paused, and then looked up at Lona. “Is this the surprise you were talking about?”
“Read the letter all the way through, Love.”
If it was possible, Tessa’s eyes got even wider. “It appoints Tror, Talindra’s husband, Kipling of the Azure Havens and Enesneth Orora, husband and wife, and,” Tessa stopped and looked at Lona. “Really? With us?” Lona nodded her famous really big nod. “Did you get down this far in the letter?” she asked Talindra, who raised her eyebrows and shook her head. “Your executive officer is going to be one Nathaniel Yalerius-Clark.” She let out a low whistle. “This just got very interesting.”
“I thought you liked my Uncle Natty?” Lona chided her friend, knowing just how much the cartographer did like the Prince of the Great Forest Realm.
Tessa rolled her eyes. “I do, a lot, and you know that. Whose idea was it for him to be part of the crew, anyhow?”
“Kind of everybody’s,” Lona replied. “Between Doctor Wicker, Commodore Sparo, my grandparents, Tia Leni, Shannon, Lochlain, and my mamas, it was pretty much unanimous that Natty was the right choice.”
“A bit of illumination, if I may,” Alden Wicker offered. “For a number of reasons, Lord Connor, Queen Iolena, Queen Fiona and High Queen Kai Lee feel that, while they are thrilled to have their son and brother here with them, they feel that he doesn’t exactly fit into the Song of Prophecy. It speaks numerous times of Menta Kai, Fiona, Princess Abilynn, and High Princess Lona. Not by name, mind you, but what their role and the role of the other sisters will be before the end of all days. It never mentions a brother.”
“That doesn’t bode very well for Nathaniel, does it?” Tessa asked.
“Lady Fiona brought that up, but as we all know there are parts of the Song that have not been interpreted yet. Indeed, there may well be parts of it that haven’t even been located or are in that blasted library in Ellandaril. Lord Hrodebert wasn’t very forthcoming about that, either.”
“Do you accept the appointments, Talindra and Tessa?”
“You still haven’t told me what you’re going to do, Pa. Somehow I don’t see you just taking it easy, particularly if Tror and I are gallivanting around the Nine Worlds, instead of trying to make a baby, a grandchild.” Wicker and his wife had moved from Gewellyn City to Aerie Village at Caer Aerie when Talindra and Tror had talked about starting a family.
Her father shook his head. “We are going to take a tropical vacation, all-expenses-paid by King Lochlain Wynfarin and Commodore Desara Sparo.”
“I presume that will be a working vacation, then,” Talindra grinned. “Mama, make sure he manages to get a little bit of rest in.”
“Oh, trust me, my dear, your father will get plenty of rest, even if I have to haul the good Commodore out of our cabana by her long, pointed ears. I only agreed to it with the condition that he only works on the commodore’s airships part-time.” Felicity stood up from the table. “Is everyone ready for some dessert? I made a celebratory cake, for our new Captain, Sub-Commander, and vacationer.” She eyed her husband before retreating into the galley kitchen.
Lieutenant Nathaniel Celedar Yalerius-Clark looked up at the Aeronaut as he approached from the stern, where he was less likely to be noticed before he was ready. He remembered the history behind this, the first ever airship in the “Three Civilized Worlds,” Gewellyn, Eldaria, and the Aerielands. When the airship’s inventor, Doctor Alden Wicker had proudly shown the vessel to Nathaniel’s father, Connor Clark, for the first time, it had been little more than a 75-foot brigantine borrowed from Wicker’s friend, the then privateer Desara Sparo, suspended beneath an oblong balloon. Now, a decade later, it was almost 150 feet long and the brig had been raised into the semirigid lifting structure. The airship was over a third as tall as it was long, with a three-deck superstructure beneath the massive silver envelope. From where he stood, Nathaniel could see the windows that he presumed made up the officer’s quarters in the stern of the airship and a cluster of eight curious looking cylinders jutting out just below them. As he walked forward toward the gangway, the Lieutenant admired the steam powered propeller screws, and the neatly folded wind sails directly in front of them. He squared his shoulders and climbed up the narrow walkway to the gunwale gate. “Permission to come on board, Captain,” Nathaniel Clark saluted Talindra at the open door to the Aeronaut.
