Mapmaker, p.12
Mapmaker, page 12
“Very good,” Menta Kai responded with a smile. “I leave the Aeronaut in your capable hands, Doctor, excuse me, Major.”
“I don’t see why we have to wait for Queen Kai Lee,” the head of the Dolan Polici complained. “This matter doesn’t involve her. It involves Alden Wicker and the officers of the airship. On top of that, the High Sheriff has illegally detained my operators, one of whom is now deceased.”
“The Great High Queen went to get her daughter and fiancé, both of whom were on board the Aeronaut, and are material witnesses in this matter,” Emissary Gat explained. “Since I am the one charged with adjudicating this, we will wait.”
“This is a waste of time,” Chancellor Holder chimed in. “And I don’t see why Lord Truthbearer and Queen Iolena are even here.”
Gat started to explain, but Connor held up his hand. “We are here, Chancellor, because the Aeronaut is on a mission at my request. The Executive Officer is my son, my granddaughter is part of Miss Chart’s cartographic team, both my daughter’s and my granddaughter’s fiancés are part of the airship’s complement, and the fact that Emissary Gat asked us to be here.”
“There is also the fact that Lord Truthbearer is my father-in-law, and I also requested his presence,” Lochlain Wynfarin asserted.
“At the risk of sounding trite, Chancellor, Director, I am the High Sheriff of Gewellyn in addition to being its Queen. I am the law west of the Beleglad.”
“If that’s the case, then you should be arresting the ship’s officers who were attacking our errant gyrocopter.”
“Director, do you happen to have a name?” Connor asked.
“That is classified information, to which you are not privileged,” the other responded.
“You do realize where you are, and who you’re talking to, right?” Shannon said pointedly.
“Lord Connor, I ask a little bit of patience with these two,” Gat requested. Connor nodded mutely.
Tessa, Talindra, Nathaniel, and Anders entered the dining room of the Drapeau de la Mer. The director of the Dolan Polici jumped to his feet. “Seize them. Seize them and disarm them,” he directed his operators who started moving toward the four. Before anyone else could react, there was a blinding flash of white, and the six Dolan Polici were lying on the floor, dazed and baffled.
“Nobody is seizing anybody, until I say so,” Menta Kai strode into the room with Lona and Sage. “You,” she pointed at the director. “Sit, now.” Her hand glowed white and the director was shoved back into his seat.
“Witchcraft! You all saw it!”
“Director,” the Chancellor reached out and grabbed his sleeve. “It’s called Deep Magic, and it is a blessing from Creator. Let’s allow both sides to be heard before we do anything rash.” The Director glared at the Chancellor. “That isn’t a request, Director. It’s an order.”
“If everyone would take a seat, let’s see if we can put the facts together,” an exasperated Emissary Gat gestured to the empty chairs in the room. When everyone was seated, he continued, “The Director of the Dolan Polici alleges that one Alden Wicker, not currently present, stole two gyrocopters from the Dolan Polici.”
“I’m not alleging,” the Director raged. “He did steal them.”
“Silence,” Gat said evenly. “You’ll have your chance.”
“Commodore Sparo, on the other hand, alleges that although Doctor Wicker admittedly won the gyrocopters in a gambling competition, the transfer was legitimate and legal.” He looked at Talindra. “Captain Aradove, where is the Commodore?”
“Emissary, the Dolan Polici attacked the Aeronaut, shooting and wounding Commodore Sparo’s sister, Deidre Dur, a Warrior Princess of the Aerielands. After taking the attackers to the local jail, she returned to the ship to check on her sister. I expect she will be here shortly.”
Gat nodded. “For the second count, the Sovereign Republic of Bolandria alleges that the Aeronaut, a covert combat and espionage vessel, did open fire upon a Bolandrian gyrocopter that innocently crossed the border into Gewellyn by accident. The crew of the Aeronaut insist that the ship is an exploratory vessel armed for its own protection, and was confronted by the Bolandrian gyrocopter, and indeed it fired the first shot.”
There was a disturbance from the back of the room as Desara, Snee, Skye, Mira, and Deidre with her arm in a sling entered the Inn. “Let’s deal with the first issue first,” Gat continued. “Commodore, you allege that the transfer of the gyrocopters was legitimate even though your agent, Doctor Wicker, won the vessels at a gambling tournament. Is that correct?”
“It is, Emissary.”
“If I may ask, where is Alden Wicker now, if you know?”
“I am right here,” Alden burst through the door in typically flamboyant fashion. “And Your Honor, if I may present evidence in this matter, I believe that we can put at least this part of it to rest.”
“I am not a judge, Doctor, just a neutral party, but please, proceed.”
“Emissary, may I present two bills of sale and title to the gyrocopters in question, signed and bearing the official seal of the Director of the Dolan Polici.”
“Forgeries!” The Director shouted. “Those are not real.”
“I assure you, Emissary, Chancellor, that they are indeed quite authentic, and I can prove it simply by showing them to the Chancellor.” He held them out to Holder. “I assume, Chancellor that you know the Director’s real name?” Holder nodded. “Well, until I received these, I did not. Can you confirm that these are his name and signature?”
The Chancellor looked at the documents that Wicker offered, closed his eyes and nodded his head. “Gat, I think we may be wasting your time here.” The Dolan Polici Director started to protest, but the Chancellor’s eyes flashed as he turned and commanded the Director to be silent. “You drunken fool. Not only did you put the credibility of the Dolan Polici on the line, but you caused me to place mine there as well. This will not go unpunished. Consider yourself removed from the position of Director. Dolan Polici operators, please take Mr.Zilmadim, into custody.” The same operators who had moved against Menta Kai moments before, now grabbed the arms of their ex-leader. Chancellor Holder looked around the room and stood. “King Lochlain, Queen Shannon, Lord Truthbearer, High Queen Menta Kai, and most especially, Captain Aradove, Sub-Commander Chart, and Lieutenant Yalerius-Clark, I apologize for the imposition and inconvenience that we have subjected you to. I sincerely apologize to you, Warrior Princess for the injury that one of our operators evidently has caused. We withdraw any accusations against the Aeronaut, its officers, and crew. By your leave, your Highness, Emissary, we will be on our way.” Emissary Gat looked at King Lochlain, who turned and whispered to his wife. She nodded, and he turned back to the Chancellor.
“Chancellor, on behalf of the Realm of Gewellyn, I accept your apology. The operator who shot Princess Deidre is deceased, so the High Sheriff will be directing the local constables to release the rest of your crew into your custody, and they will meet you at your airship, the Vulcar, within the hour.”
“Thank you, your Highness.” The Chancellor bowed and led the Dolan Polici operators and a very angry Zilmadim from the Inn. Desara turned to Snee and whispered something. He nodded and followed the Bolandrians from the Inn.
“Just a little security,” the Commodore confirmed.
“If there is nothing else, Connor, King Lochlain?” Emissary Gat asked.
Connor shook his head. “Thank you for your help, Gat. Would you please join us for dinner?”
The Emissary nodded. “I don’t get a lot of chance to talk to civilized people, particularly my brother. Thank you for inviting me.”
“Doctor Wicker,” Tessa came over to the inventor. “I’ve been playing with some drawings of the Aeronaut, and I’d like to show them to you. I think there may be some room for improvement, without expanding the ship to the dreadnought class.”
“Improvements?” Wicker grinned. “I’m always open to the next big thing. What did you have in mind?” She spread out some drawings she pulled from her coat on the table. “What is that in place of the rotor blades?”
“It’s a modification of an idea that Chief Joseph Spotted Eagle gave me. I actually saw them in action when we were in Israel. Of course, they use petroleum for fuel, and we use steam. But I believe this would work. They’re called jets.”
Chapter fifteen
Starduster
“What was in the note the street kid gave you? Kai asked Tessa.
“Oh, you know I totally forgot about it,” Tessa admitted as she fished the note out of her blouse and opened it. Her eyes widened, and she handed the note to Menta Kai.
“Beware. The kidnappers will come at night.”
Kai turned to her nieces, Abilynn and Tanya Joy, and handed Abby the note. “I’m afraid we’re going to have to call this family reunion short, ladies. We need to get Lona and Tessa back to the airship, now. Abby, you and Lona shift and fly back with Zedra. TJ and I will escort Tessa back to the Aeronaut. And, Abby, reach out for Dee and Skye. Skye can fly with you three, and Diedre and Mira can meet us back here at the Inn.”
“What’s going on, Kai?” Shannon came up to her sister and daughter. Quickly, Menta Kai explained the situation.
“Agreed, but let me get some of my deputies, and we’ll accompany you back to the airship. Joy, are you carrying?”
“Always, Mom. I’ve got my Jericho that Tali brought back from Israel for me. I never go outside of the castle walls without it anymore.”
Shannon nodded. “Where did Mom and Dad go?”
“They went somewhere with Emissary Gat, Lochlain, and Alden Wicker,” Abilynn replied. “Are we good to go? Zedra is overhead, and I think Lona will be a lot safer up there,” she pointed at the sky, “than standing around at the Inn.”
Deidre rounded the corner in time to hear what Abilynn had said. “Abby, wait just a few seconds for Skye. She’s on her way.” She turned to Menta Kai. “Is the kidnap threat aimed specifically at Tessa or Lona?” Shannon handed her the note. “Okay, neither.” As she was speaking, the grey falcon dropped to the ground and shifted into Skye McDonagh. Without a word, Deidre handed the note to Skye.
“Not good,” the former Assassin evaluated. “My initial guess would be Tessa, for her obvious talents, but people have been trying to kidnap Lona since before I came to the Aerielands.” She turned to her other partner. “Mira, you take point, and lead them back to the airship by the most direct backstreets you can find. DeeDee, stay by Tessa’s side and don’t allow anything to get between you and the mapmaker. I’ll be back as soon as Lona is safe on board the Aeronaut.”
“Skye, Amil knows what’s going on. She’s sending Zar to fly with you, Zedra, and Abby. She and Adda will be here very shortly.”
“Don’t wait, Kai. Keep moving and keep your mother informed by mind-speaking. Lona, Abby, are we ready?” The two younger women nodded, and the three shapeshifters leapt up and into the sky, where they were joined by the Guardian Eagles, Zar and Zedra.
“Let’s get Tessa back on board, now,” Mira advised. “Tanya Joy, are you okay with working with me?”
“Absolutely, Mira. Let’s go.” The group made their way through the back streets and alleys of Seaside, and were almost back to the docking towers when Skye rejoined them.
“Lona is safe with Thea, Kara, Ciliren, Tror, and Talindra. Nathaniel, Kipling, Enesneth, and Silva are on their way. Any threats so far?”
“None that we’ve seen,” Shannon responded. “And I won’t discount a dedicated kidnapper, but they’d be foolish to attack a party of this size that’s so heavily armed. We picked up my parents and King Lochlain along the way. We’ve got deputies, Cavaliers, and warriors protecting our precious mapmaker. Let’s get to the ship.”
They encountered Nathaniel and his party after the next turn, and the rest of the trek back to the Aeronaut was made without incident. “We’ll set up a perimeter around the airship until morning,” Shannon directed.
“Thank you, your Highness,” Talindra told her, “but I’ve had Mr. Senter building up steam in the engines. It’s a clear night, so we can navigate by the stars. I’m sorry to rush this, but everyone say your goodbyes. We’re headed to Desara’s StarFire Island.”
“It’s a beautiful night,” Tessa observed looking out over her mapping table about an hour after they left Seaside. “It’s a shame we didn’t get to spend more time with our families and friends.”
“That’s true,” Sage agreed, “but at least now, we have Lona for the duration.”
“I’m standing right here, Adda Sage. I can hear you.”
Sage put his arm around his daughter. “I know you can. I also know this was a tremendous leap of faith for Kai, Fiona, and probably your Amil Gwynlyn as well. Let’s make the best of it.”
“StarFire to Aeronaut, this is Mira Del Tor. Does anyone hear me on the airship?” Mira called, mind-speaking.
“Aeronaut back to StarFire, this is Ensign Bluehavens, How can we help you, Agent?”
“Aeronaut, Commodore Sparo wants to know if you’re running dark?”
“StarFire, negative, we have our running lanterns on, nav lights on the upper deck, and open lighting on the lower deck. Why do you ask?”
“Aeronaut, the Commodore thinks we’re two to three miles off your starboard stern, but we cannot see you. We’re running nav lights and running lanterns also.”
“StarFire, we’re not seeing you either, even by telescope.” Silva relayed the conversation to Natty, and then his response. “Standby a second, StarFire. We’re going to try something here.”
Nathaniel turned to Lona. “Using your falcon vision, tell me what you see in that direction.”
“There’s another ship there, Natty,” Lona reported after a few seconds. I can make out dimly lit slits where the foredeck would be, and a slight glow from what is probably the StarFire on the far side of it. There is definitely an airship there as big as Commodore Sparo’s.”
“StarFire, Princess Lona reports there is definitely another ship flying between us. They are running without lights, but with her shapeshifter eyes Lona can see slits in the front of the vessel that they’re using to navigate,” Silva relayed.
Natty turned back to his niece. “Who makes brighter light balls, you or Tessa?”
“Uncle, you’re half elf. You can make light balls,” Lona asserted.
“I can make them, but you two seem to make them much brighter, and, Lona, I know you are gifted with StarFire Deep Magic, just like Kailee. I need you to do something, quickly.”
“Mine may be brighter than yours, Natty, because Lona taught me to make them, but you’re right, she has the Deep Magic of the StarFire in her.”
“Okay, it’s settled. Lona, I need a bright white light ball, that direction,” Nathaniel pointed off the starboard side. “Can you send it out about two miles?”
“I think I can do better than that, Natty.” She turned to Sage. “Adda, I need you to hold me by the waist for what I’m about to do on the edge of the deck. When I have the Bridge Across the Stars under me, I don’t have to worry about the surface shifting. The Aeronaut is not nearly as stable.”
“Here, Lona,” Sage replied by grabbing up a coil of rope and wrapping a couple lengths of it around her middle. “Natty and I will hold onto you.” Lona nodded and raised her arms over her head, throwing them forward and a sheet of white light shot across the sky, lighting up a totally black airship between the Aeronaut and the StarFire.”
“StarFire, Mira did you see that?”
“Aeronaut, affirmative, Ensign. Commodore says it’s the Vultar, running dark between our two ships. They are most assuredly up to no good. Standby for orders.”
Talindra and Tror came up on deck from their quarters. “StarFire, this is Captain Aradove. We’re not waiting. We’re going to take on altitude.”
“Aeronaut, Commodore says negative, negative. Descend, descend.”
“That’s crazy, Mira. It will put us right in their grasp.”
“Aeronaut, this is Chadoc. I am the communications elf on the Chimera. Acting Captain Snee advises descend toward the sea monster’s eyes. He said you would know what it means.”
“Sea monster’s eyes?” Talindra asked.
“The lights on top of the deck tower of the Chimera,” Natty told her. “Look for the deck tower lights on the surface.”
“There!” Tessa pointed. “Off the port bow. There they are.”
“Descending,” Talindra directed. “Props 45° down.”
“Forty-five is awful steep, Lindy,” Tror cautioned.
“Awful steep is a lot better than awful dead,” she responded. “Do it! Swivel guns to the stern, armorer!”
“Aeronaut, Captain says stay in front of the eyes. Aim in front of the eyes. It’s crucial you stay ahead of our deck weapon.”
“Chimera, we’re trying,” Talindra answered. “We’re in an extreme descent angle.”
“Aeronaut, StarFire. Talindra, it’s working!” Mira reported. “The Vultar is following you.”
“Great,” Talindra growled. “That’s just what I wanted to hear.”
“Chimera, Electra,” came the mind-speaking voice of another communications elf. “Our coil cannon is charged and ready to fire on your command.”
“Electra, wait until the Aeronaut is clear in front of us, and the Bolandrian ship is between the two of us. Aeronaut, level off at 100 feet. Have Princess Lona light up the other ship again”
“Tell Snee he’s cutting it close, Chimera. We are ahead of you now, leveling off at 100 feet in five, four, three, two, one. Level and steady as she goes. Lona, now!” The sky went white.
“Electra, fire!” Came the command. Simultaneously there was a loud whir followed by a bang as the coil cannons discharged blue bolts that briefly illuminated the balloon of the Vultar, and then ignited it. The burning airship collapsed into the ocean.
“StarFire to Electra and Celantine,” Mira mind-spoke. “Prepare to pick up survivors, Commodore Sparo’s orders.”
