Mapmaker, p.11
Mapmaker, page 11
“I understand,” Talindra told him. “It just seems a shame to break up such a good team.” Sage nodded.
Tessa looked up at Lona for the first time since they had slowed the airship down and spoke for the first time. “Seal the map?”
“Last time we did that, we ended up at the Three Boulders,” Lona responded.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen this time. Besides, we’ve already been there on this trip.” Tessa grinned and the two of them ran their hands across the map. She turned to Talindra. “What do you think, Lindy?”
“I think it’s amazing, Tessa, but that’s why we’re here.”
“Look!” Lona pointed down a wide thoroughfare, on which they could see two lines of horsemen moving at canter pace, the lead riders and the column behind them were dressed in the blue and gold of the Gewellyn cavalry and the brown of the High Sheriff, respectively. Lona’s eyes automatically shifted to falcon vision. “It’s Uncle Lochlain and Tia Shannon,” she exclaimed. “I guess that means I am going to have to go back.”
Nathaniel put his arm around his niece’s shoulder. “Let me see what I can do, Lona. Can I borrow the map that you two just completed?”
“What are you going to do with it?” Tessa asked.
“Show my big sisters just what the two of you can accomplish if we continue to let you work together. Are you with me on this, Sage?”
“Absolutely, Natty.” He looked at his daughter. “Don’t give up hope, Lona.”
“I’ll try not to Adda Sage. I really feel what I’m able to help Tessa do is valuable.”
“We do too, Pumpkin.”
“Nin Mel,” Silva came up to Nathaniel, “a suggestion.” He raised his eyebrows in expectation. “Your parents and your sister are going to be going back on their Quest to take the Truth to the Nine Worlds. Lona would be with Fiona and Abilynn a Caer Aerie in the Aerielands, or maybe with Tanya Joy in Gewellyn. I know that Fiona fills in for Menta Kai when she is traveling, but she is grooming her own daughter for her own role, and it just seems logical to me that Lona would get more experience traveling with us in working with Tessa.”
“She makes a very good point,” Talindra agreed. “And I’ve been Lona’s teacher before. There’s no reason I can’t do so again,” she glanced around, “with everybody’s help.”
“It’s worth attempting,” Sage admitted. “However, I’m picking up a strange feeling here. I don’t think that Shannon and Lochlain are here simply to escort Lona.”
As they watched, a grey falcon circled above them one time, and then dropped to the deck and shifted into Skye McDonagh. With scarcely a nod toward the others, she immediately turned to Talindra. “Captain, what happened on the Beleglad River yesterday?”
Although Skye could be extremely intimidating, Talindra was not one to be intimidated. “It will be in my report, Skye.”
Skye gave an exasperated sigh and nodded toward the harbor. “The airship on the left, that is the Vulcar, Bolandria’s airship equivalent to the Celantine. The Chancellor himself has come to meet with King Lochlain and Commodore Sparo about whatever happened.”
“Whatever happened was we were set upon by a giant gyrocopter,” Tessa said with her fists on her hips. “Evidently the head of the Dolan Polici, the Bolandrian secret police, claim that our two gyrocopters belong to Bolandria. He asserts that they were illegally taken when Doctor Wicker, Talindra’s father, won them in a card game.” Skye winced.
“Okay, just so you know that is not the version that the Bolandrians are giving. They say you fired upon them without warning when they accidentally crossed the border into Gewellyn, and they want the officers and the gunnery crew arrested.”
“Skye,” Nathaniel looked over at her. “In addition to the Chancellor, Lochlain and Shannon, who all is here because of this?”
She inhaled. “Emissary Gat, because he’s the one who is trying to patch this up, the head of the Dolan Polici, whose name we are not being given, Desara, Snee, Deidre, Mira, and myself, and the Trinity of the Truthbearer is on their way. Basically, we’ve been waiting for you and for them.”
“Amil Kai is coming?” Lona asked.
Skye nodded. “Your sister is here too, Princess Abilynn. She travels with Lochlain, Shannon, and Tanya Joy.”
“Sissy is here? I can’t wait to show her what we been working on.”
“I think she got pressed into this because she was with Tanya Joy at the time of your confrontation.” She pointed to a spot to the right of the StarFire and the Starlight. “They’ve built mooring towers for the airships. Yours is on the right side of Desara’s two ships.”
“You said Snee was here?” Talindra asked. “What about those two malcontents he sent with us?”
“I know it’s been dealt with, but I don’t know exactly how. I wouldn’t ask Desara about it right now. Wait until we get this other issue resolved.”
“Understood. XO, take us into the mooring tower.”
“Snee,” Commodore Desara Sparo, in full uniform, pointed at the half-dozen Dolan Polici operators waiting for the Aeronaut officers to disembark. “Deal with the riffraff.”
“Yes, Commodore.” Snee replied. From their perch on the Aeronaut’s deck they could see that he no longer wore the gold braid of an Over-Colonel. He gestured to the four Naval Rangers accompanying him to stand between the Dolan Polici and the Aeronaut.
“Thea,” Talindra nodded toward Snee. “You, Kara, Esse, and Kip go down and see if you can back them up.”
“Right away, Captain.” She turned to the two elves. “Kipper, Esse, Quick like, get a couple of rifles out of the armory. Kara and I will wait.”
“I’d be more comfortable with a crossbow,” Kip groused as they came back on deck.
“There’s an old saying on Terra,” Ciliren told him, having come up on deck when the airship docked. “Never bring a knife to a gunfight. The same thing applies to a bow and arrow.” Kipling nodded.
“I want two of us on each side of the gangplank,” Thea directed, “after Commodore Sparo comes on board. I don’t think they’ll try anything while she’s here, and our job is to make sure they don’t try anything after she leaves.”
“They won’t, Sergeant,” Desara Sparo told Thea. “Snee and the Rangers will stay in place after I’m gone, just to prevent any hijinks from the Bolandrian secret police. Permission to come on board, Captain?”
“Permission granted, Commodore. Welcome back to the Aeronaut. Skye briefed us on what the Bolandrians are claiming. It’s total bunk, Commodore.”
“I’m sure it is, but the Chancellor is trying to make an international incident out of it. The Director of the Dolan Polici is insisting that your father stole those gyrocopters.”
“And what does my pa say?”
Desara made a face. “Unfortunately, Alden is making himself very scarce right now. Rumor has it that he won them in a card game.”
“Get out of my way!” came a woman’s voice from outside the airship. “I don’t care who you are. Get out of my way or I will pick you up and throw you out, just like I did in Belldonna.”
Desara and Skye looked at each other. “Deidre’s here,” Skye quipped.
Desara nodded. “I picked up on that, yeah. The question is, is she yelling at Snee or the Dolan Polici?”
“I rather imagine that it’s the latter,” Skye indicated. “She’s had run-ins with them before. I’m sure Mira is with her, but I’d better get out there before she literally levels the playing field.”
Before Skye was even out of the Aeronaut, a male voice rang out, “This is Gewellyn, and I am the King. Dolan Polici lay down your weapons now or face the consequences by my command. You are surrounded by cavalry and sheriff’s deputies, in addition to the Naval Rangers and Mountain Troopers. Surrender now!”
A single shot rang out, followed by a whir, a hiss, and a metallic bang. Talindra, Nathaniel, and Skye looked at Desara for an explanation. “Snee has a coil gun. A new invention of your father’s,” she said, glancing at Talindra.
“It’s safe to come out now, Commodore,” Snee’s voice came up from the dock. “The threat has been controlled.” Desara nodded at the others and led the way off the Aeronaut. Outside they found five Dolan Polici with their hands in the air, and one very dead operator with a smoking hole in his chest. “He fired at the Governor-General, Commodore. I took assertive defense.”
“Understood, Lieutenant. Well done.” Desara looked at her sister, who was holding her arm just above the elbow. “Are you all right, Dee?”
“I just got shot in the arm. No, I am not all right, Desara!”
“Let me look at that,” Ciliren worked her way around her crewmates. “It’s okay, Deidre, I’m the ship’s doctor.” Deidre looked at Skye, who nodded, and the Drow woman allowed the Terran elf to examine the wound. “It’s a minor wound, but I’d like to clean it up and put some stitches in it, if you would come on board the airship.”
“Just slap a bandage on it, I’ll be fine,” Deidre protested.
“Listen to the doctor, Love,” Skye insisted. “You could have both arms hacked off, and you’d still insist you were in fighting condition. Let Ciliren clean it up.” Deidre rolled her eyes but acquiesced and followed the physician back into the airship.
Shannon, who had been supervising the arrest of the other five Bolandrians, approached Talindra, Nathaniel, and Lona, as Lochlain dismounted and joined her. “As you can see, Lona, there’s been a bit of a change of plans. When TJ and your sister get here, they’ll explain it to you, and I expect that Kailee will go into much more detail with you tonight. Suffice it to say that your Adda Sage and Uncle Natty have been very persuasive, but particularly Nathaniel’s girlfriend, Silva?” Natty nodded. “Well, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting her yet, but I look forward to it because any woman, scratch that, anyone who can change Menta Kai’s mind deserves some sort of medal.”
“Tanya Joy and Abilynn have been mind-speaking with Kailee and Iolena. They are still about an hour away, and Kai suggests that you stay on the airship until she arrives, Lona. You too, Tessa. Commodore, I need you and your sister, Talindra and Nathaniel to come with me. We need to find Emissary Gat and tell him what happened here.”
“Mr. Snee,” Shannon called over, “can you and your Rangers help my deputies with these three. The town is crawling with Bolandrians and I don’t want any escape attempts.”
“With pleasure, Sheriff. What would you like us to do?”
“For now, we’ll put them in the local jail, and see if we can get a magistrate to do an urgent hearing. Sergeant Tuckerman,” she directed one of the deputies, “Mr. Snee outranks you, so follow his commands and get these invaders into the jail. Arrange with the local constabulary for around-the-clock guard.” After she said that she appeared thoughtful and turned back to Snee. “Lieutenant? Could your Naval Rangers lend some support to the constables and deputies in protecting the local jail?”
“Of course, Sheriff, if it’s acceptable to the Commodore and King Lochlain.”
“Okay, I have to ask,” Tessa said under her breath to Desara, “what caused this major change with your son?”
Desi smiled. “His father. For once he came through for me and told Snee that he was lucky to retain officer rank at all, and if he wanted to keep it, he’d better do whatever I told him to do without complaining. He signed a confession in agreement, got busted down to Lieutenant without seniority, and has been the model sailor ever since.” She lowered her voice. “The alternative was ten years of hard labor in the mines of Orcney, in Hevanok.”
“I see he made the wiser choice,” Tessa replied.
“I certainly hope so. I love my son, but he is even more hardheaded than his father at times.”
“Okay, then my other question is, what’s a coil gun?”
Chapter fourteen
Accused
“What’s this?” Tessa looked at the folded bit of paper a street urchin had pressed into her hand.
“Shhhh, my Lady,” the boy replied. “T’ain’t nobody supposed to know I gives that to you.”
“But who is it from?” she asked. “I don’t know anyone at Seaside.”
“Nay, my Lady, and he don’t want ‘chu to know him, he says. It were one of them sky sailors from across the Beleglad. The ones dressed all in black.” The urchin looked at Tessa hopefully. “A few coppers, my Lady?”
It took Tessa a second to realize what the boy was asking. “I’m sure that the sailor gave you money as well, but here,” she tossed him a silver coin. “Make sure he knows that I got it.”
“Oh, yes ma’am, yes my Lady. Thank you, my Lady.” And the lad took off at a dead run.
“You shouldn’t encourage him,” Skye warned. “Those kind are nothing but trouble. What did he give you?”
“It’s a note. Let’s get some place with better light so I see what it says.”
“Not out here. I think we’re too open a target,” Deidre cautioned. “Let’s catch up with Shannon and the others.”
“I don’t think I want to read this at the jail before I have a chance to look at it, Dee. It could be something that we really don’t want shared in the company of other black-clad sailors.”
“Agreed. Put it somewhere you won’t lose it.” Tessa looked at Skye quizzically.
“I think she means down your neckline,” Deidre clarified. “Your corset will keep it from going anywhere you don’t want it to go.” Tessa rolled her eyes but obligingly tucked the piece of paper down the front of her blouse.”
“Make sure you don’t forget where you put it,” came a familiar voice from behind them. All three women spun around, hands on their weapons.
“Menta Kai?” Tessa responded in astonishment. “When did you get here?”
Kai chuckled. “Just in time to hear you say you were putting that note down your cleavage. I saw you from Alatar and had him land just around the corner.” She stepped back a few feet and gestured to the Great Eagle, who took off, arousing the attention of more than a few eyes on the street. “I told my parents I’d catch up. What the heck is going on, Tessa, and where is my daughter?”
“What’s going on is going to take more than a few minutes, your Highness,” Tessa explained, “but Lona is with Sage, Sinead, and Silva Bluehavens on board the Aeronaut. I would’ve stayed there also, but your older sister arrested five Dolan Polici, and we’re supposed to meet her, Desara, and hopefully Emissary Gat at the Drapeau de la Mer (Flag of the Sea) Inn.”
“Adda and Amil will meet us there as well. Let’s go back to the airship and gather up Lona, my future husband, and my brother’s marvelous young fiancée. I’m looking forward to knowing her better. We didn’t have much time when she showed up at the Juncture.”
“Lona Yaleria, where are you daughter?” Menta Kai bounded up onto the deck of the Aeronaut.
“Mama?” Lona shot up from the lower deck, and into Menta Kai’s arms. Lona loved all three of her mothers, but Kai was the center of Lona’s universe. “Amil, I have missed you so much.”
Kai smiled. “Lona, Nin Mel, it’s only been a week or so.”
Lona looked up into the eyes of the elf Queen who she loved more than life itself. “Mama, I love you, Lady Queen. I always want to be with you, to be like you, to be everything you want me to be.”
Tears filled Menta Kai’s eyes. The one-time rock-hard Bounty Hunter couldn’t deny the tremendous love for, and bond she had with a little elfling from the Westlands who was now the beautiful young woman she held in her arms. Lona had melted Menta Kai’s hard heart from the moment they met, the very first time she said, “I love you, Lady Queen.”
“How about your soon-to-be husband,” Sage said as he came up onto the deck. “Or are you going to use up all your hugging on our daughter?” Kai smiled, and keeping one arm around Lona, hugged and kissed Sage.
“Are you taking good care of our girl?” Kai asked.
“As good as she will let me,” Sage grinned. “She’s a little precocious, you know.”
“Oh, I know. I know, all too well. Just like her mothers.” Kai looked at Sage seriously. “You think you could take care of her for six or seven months, maybe up to a year?”
“Mama?” Lona looked up at Kai hopefully. She smiled at her daughter, and then back at her fiancé. “Gwynlyn, Cadel, Berian, and Fiona have all approved, as long as Sinead and Sage,” she looked back at the cartographer, “and Tessa agreed to keep an eye on you, you little imp.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, Adara, I’m not so little anymore.” Lona stood up to her full height, puffing out her chest.
“You’ll always be my little girl,” Menta Kai kissed the top of Lona’s head. “While I have Sage, Sinead, and Tessa here, before we all get distracted with the goings on in town, I want everyone to agree to this or tell me why you don’t. Also, where is Silva Bluehavens? I really want to get to know this very persuasive girlfriend of Nathaniel’s better.”
“Your Highness,” came a voice from the door to the galley. “I am Silva of the Azure Havens, Bluehavens for short.” Silva dropped to one knee and bowed her head in respect to the Great High Queen of All the Elves in the Nine Worlds. Menta Kai let go of Lona and Sage, and stepped over, raising Silva to her feet.
“Silva Bluehavens, you are going to be part of this family. We do not bow to each other, and when we use titles, it’s usually to make a point.” She looked around the ship. “Is there someone that we can leave in charge here?”
“Lady Kai, I was a major in the Israeli Defense Force medical service,” Ciliren volunteered. “I am used to command and comfortable with weapons if you would like me to stay here. Mr. Senter, Thea, Kara, Kip, and Enesneth will all be here, as well as Commodore Sparo’s Naval Rangers, and Sinead, and Lianeth. The airship will be in good hands, Kai.”
