Mapmaker, p.34
Mapmaker, page 34
Torn between fighting and fleeing, the last remaining attacker chose the latter, turned to run, and ran right into Enesneth’s boot knife. She hit him just below the breastbone, drove the tip upward, and gave it a twist for good measure, then dumped him with the other two.
Tessa looked at the cowled figure who had saved them and trained her pistol on him. “Thank you, sir or ma’am for helping us. If you will return my friend’s weapon, I don’t mean to sound unappreciative, but we will be going.”
A deep chuckle sounded from within the hood. “Tessa Chart, or should I say Tessa Clark, I’m not a stranger. In fact, someday, hopefully, I’ll be family.” He pulled back the hood on his cloak.
“Anders!” She quickly holstered the weapon and embraced King Lochlain’s brother. “Thank you, Anders Wynfarin.”
“You’re very welcome, Princess Tessa.” He smiled with a glint in his eye. “They did tell you that in addition to the Great Secret, you also are Princess of the Great Forest Realm now, right?”
“They did, but it’s not something I care to dwell on. I’m just happy being Natty’s wife for the next five or six thousand years.” She looked at Enesneth. “Esse, are you okay?” Her friend tottered on her two feet.
“I’ll be okay, Tess. I’m just going to have one hell of a headache. Thank you, Prince Anders.”
“I know, you could’ve handled it, but I had just about caught up with you when these blackguards decided to try and have their way with you. What are you doing wandering around Southport without protection?”
Tessa pointed her thumb at Enesneth. “I thought I had protection, but they hit her first.”
Anders shook his head. “I don’t mean to sound chauvinistic, but in a town like this, two attractive women do not want to go without an armed male escort.”
“Well, unless you plan on going somewhere else, now we have one. Let’s get Esse back to the Starduster so that Ciliren can take a look at that lump on her head.”
“That sounds good to me,” Anders replied. “I had planned on being at the mooring tower when you arrived, but I got… delayed,” he said after a second.
“Are you the mysterious passenger we’re supposed to pick up?” Tessa asked.
“I don’t know how mysterious I am, but yes, I am supposed to meet the Starduster here and go with you into the New South Wilds.” They walked along, supporting Enesneth between them. “Out of curiosity, Tessa, why didn’t they try and take your gun from you?”
“Locking holster,” Tessa replied. “Adda Connor gave it to me. They tried, but unless you know how to draw the weapon out of it, it won’t come loose.”
“Excellent idea. If they’d gotten a hold of that weapon, we may have had a whole different outcome back there.”
“They didn’t,” Tessa reminded him. “And Enesneth was moving on the one holding my right arm. If I’d gotten it free, we would’ve had the same end result.”
“You’re pretty sure of yourself, Miss Chart.”
“It’s Mrs. Clark, or Captain Clark or Chart, your Prince-ship. And yes, I am a Eldarian woman, just like Lordess Alistronia. She was my role model, mentor and friend. My husband says I’m saucy, spicy, and self-reliant, and that’s the way he likes it.”
Anders chuckled. “Personally, I hope Nathaniel Clark knew what he was getting into when he married you.”
“He did,” she said with a smile. “It was meant to be.” Anders looked at her curiously. “I’ll explain when we get on board.” Tessa nodded at the Starduster, moored at the tower in front of them. “Natty and Sage will be glad to see you, Anders.”
“But not Lona,” he conceded. “Abby warned me about that.”
Tessa shook her head. “Not to be nosy, but where do things stand now with you and Abilynn?”
Anders smiled slightly. “In our hearts we’re still engaged. I guess we’re back at the boyfriend-girlfriend level in reality. She refused to call it off, and I refused to take the ring back.” He looked at Tessa. “When she came to visit Lona, did she have her engagement ring on?”
“She did,” Tessa affirmed. “But on a golden chain around her neck. She told me that it symbolized the commitment and yet, the indefinite status of the engagement.”
“She thinks very highly of you, Tessa. You and she are a lot alike, beyond the color of your hair.” He stopped and looked at her. “High Princess Abilynn thinks you’re an amazing woman, Princess-Captain Tessa Chart-Clark.”
“She is,” Enesneth put in. “She is the most amazing woman I know, and I know Queen Iolena, Queen Fiona, and the Kaia Leora.”
“Thank you, Esse, and I’ll give you your gold pieces later.” She grinned at her friend, and then looked back at Anders. “Do you and Abby still communicate?”
He nodded. “We do.”
“When you talk to her again, tell her the feeling is mutual.”
Chapter thirty-seven
The King and the Liars
“I know you well enough at this point to know that you won’t do what I suggest, so I’m going to make it an order, Lieutenant,” Ciliren said after she examined Enesneth’s injury. “Off duty for two days, light-duty for five, and no flying until I clear you, understood?”
Enesneth looked at Ciliren. “Understood, Major.”
Ciliren turned to Kipling. “I know she outranks you, but I expect you to enforce my orders.”
Kip smiled. “She outranks me on the airship because she’s a pilot, but we are equals in life. She’ll do what you say.”
“What about the bruise on Tessa’s face?” Nathaniel asked.
“There doesn’t appear to be anything broken. I wish I had an x-ray machine, but in palpating it, her jaw and cheekbone feel solid, and he missed her nose. She’ll probably have a black eye for a few days.”
Natty looked at his wife. “I thought you were looking for housing, not trouble.”
“Natty, I wasn’t doing anything but going from inn to inn. By the way, most everything I saw in this town is a dump. We’re best off staying on board.” Nathaniel glanced at Enesneth for confirmation and she nodded, and then winced.
“I’ve got to remember not to do that for a while,” Esse said partly to herself.
“What about the five that we killed?” Tessa asked. “Anders stabbed one, beheaded one, I shot two, and Esse stabbed one. Surely somebody’s going to come across the bodies.”
“From what little Anders had time to tell me before I came down here, the constabulary here is almost as corrupt as the Dolan Polici, and that’s not denying that they have influence here. Lona reached out to Minister Tanmar, Taeral Nichanova’s father and President Nichanova’s husband. He promised to send some enforcers to take care of the situation. He also strongly suggested that we head into New South Wilds as rapidly as we can.”
“Captains,” Thea Shire called down from the deck. “You had better get up here, sir. We have company.”
Nathaniel emerged on deck, with Tessa right behind him. Thea and Pipia stood at the gunwale gate, their weapons trained on three black uniformed officers.
“Captain Clark, these gentlemen claim,” Thea started.
The lead officer stepped forward, as did Thea forcing him back onto the gangway. “Captain, tell your security chief to allow me to pass.”
“That depends on who you are and what you want. This is a flagged vessel of the Gewellyn Navy and without my consent, you have no authority here.”
“I am the Reeve of Southport. I have total authority here. I have a warrant for the arrest of a male identified only as Anders, a redhaired female,” he looked directly at Tessa, “named Tessa and a tall blonde she-elf with the first name of en, esen,” he stammered, butchering the name.
“Enesneth,” Nathaniel corrected. “And you, pray tell, what is this warrant for? What crime are they accused of?”
The Reeve glared at Nathaniel. “What crime? Murder! These three assassinated five valuable, peaceful members of my community. I have a valid warrant for their arrest signed by the local magistrate.”
“I bet you do,” Natty laughed quietly. “Let me clarify a few things for you. First, again, you have no authority on a flagged vessel, and as such I cannot allow you entrance. That authority rests with Commodore Desara Sparo or her designate. Second, the names of the people you are looking for are Princess-Captain Tessa Yalerius-Clark, and yes, she is my wife. Lieutenant Enesneth Bluehavens, and Anders Wynfarin, the Prince of Gewellyn.” The Reeve’s face was stoic until Natty said Anders name and title, then his eyes widened. “So, Sheriff, or Shire Reeve, are you proposing to arrest the King’s brother and a woman from the house of Yalerius?”
He pointed at Tessa. “She is a round-ear, not elf-kind.”
“Allow me to formally introduce myself,” Natty continued. “As I said, she is my wife. My full name is Prince-Captain Nathaniel Celedar Yalerius-Clark, son of Lord Truthbearer, younger brother of Shannon Wynfarin, Queen and High Sheriff of Gewellyn, and Menta Kai Lee Silveran Yaleria-Clark, the Great High Queen of All the Elves in the Nine Worlds.”
“He is also the older brother of Fiona Bridget Yaleria-Clark, High Queen of the Aerielands and Eyru’s Lands,” Lona said from behind Natty.
The Reeve frowned. “Who are you, little girl?”
Lona stepped forward, and Natty and Tessa realized for the first time that she was wearing her crown. “I am the Great High Crown Princess Lona Yaleria-Brice, daughter of the Kaia Leora.”
“Reeve, you will leave my threshold now,” Nathaniel warned, “or I will have you removed. We have sent word to Commodore Sparo, and to President Nichanova. Both have assured us that assistance is on the way. And as for the upstanding citizens that you claim were brutally murdered by my wife, my brother-in-law, and an officer of my airship, they were attempting to rape my wife when Prince Anders intervened. You can chew on that until the representatives of the president arrive.” He turned to Kipling. “Petty officer, uncover the lightning cannon, Private Vatris, the portside rotary cannon.” He turned back to the Reeve. “Any attempt you make to board, seize, attack or harass this vessel will be met with equal and greater force. You are still a subject of Gewellyn, and you will not attack nor will I permit you to arrest members of the royal household of Gewellyn and the Aerielands. Do I make myself very clear?”
“Clear as crystal, Captain,” the Reeve scowled. “But until I hear from those in authority over me, you will not leave this mooring tower. Any attempt to do so will be considered an attempt to escape justice, and we will bring down your airship with all aboard, princes, princesses, and crew. Do I make myself clear?”
“I think you made your point. Get off of my ship now!”
“What are we going to do, Natty?” Tessa asked after the Reeve and his men had returned to the dock.
Nathaniel glanced over at Sinead. “How are we on foodstuffs and related supplies?”
“We’re good, Natty. I do need to talk to you and Lord Sage in private after this meeting, though.”
“No problem. Thea, ammo and weapons?”
“Fully stocked, Captain,” the Lieutenant of the protection detail answered. “We’ve been preparing for an extended journey, so we are well supplied. When do we expect relief from President Nichanova?”
“By morning, if our friends below don’t interfere. It sounds like it will be a substantial force.”
“Brother-in-law?” Anders questioned. “At first I thought you were referring to Sage?”
Natty laughed. “Brother-in-law was a lot easier than my niece’s former and future fiancé who is also my sister’s brother-in-law.”
It was Anders’s turn to laugh. “I suppose you’re right. Lona has also reached out to Tanya Joy, so Lochlain is aware of the situation here.”
Natty nodded. “Okay, let me talk with Sinead and then we can go into this a little more. If this does actually go to court, we’re going to need to get Fiona down here. She’s the only member of the family qualified as a lawyer.”
Nathaniel, Tessa, and Sage went down the steps into the galley where Sinead was waiting. She shut the door behind them. “What’s up?” Sage asked.
Sinead pursed her lips. “All three of Lona’s mother’s, Kailee, Fiona, and my mother, have been mind-speaking with me about the situation with my little sister. We all know that Lona is very advanced for a thirty-seven-year-old elf girl, but she is still of a formative age. None of the three realized how potentially dangerous this expedition was going to be, and while they all admit that she has been a valuable part of the crew, they are unanimous in wanting her back in the Aerielands with Abilynn.”
“Why didn’t they communicate this to me?” Sage queried.
“Probably because they felt you would take her side,” Sinead reasoned, “but Adda and Berian both agree with Amil and Fiona.” She was quiet for several seconds.
“What is it, Sinead?” Tessa asked.
“Two things. First, when she went into the Laoch Bàn the other night, Fiona and Abilynn knew it, all the way from the South Sea to Caer Aerie. They felt it. Normally, Abilynn is the only one who does that alone. Lona is developing powers that she needs to be around other magic wielders to learn to control. That is the biggest reason they want her to come home.”
“What was the second thing?”
“They want me to come with her, and so does my fiancé, Arel.”
Sensing something in her tone, Nathaniel asked, “What did you tell them, Sinead?”
Sinead sighed. “I think I may have been hanging around Lona too much. I told them no, that I was not coming home. I don’t think my father was too surprised, and I don’t think my mother was too pleased. Arel was not happy at all. I don’t think I’m engaged anymore, but time will tell on that. Captains, if you will have me, I would like to stay on board the Starduster until the end of this mission, and maybe longer.”
“Oh course, Sinead,” Tessa replied, glancing at Natty who nodded in agreement. “You are part of this family.”
“There’s more, Tessa,” Sinead admitted. “I’ll stay the head cook, but I’d like to learn to do something else.”
“Of course,” Natty replied. “Did you have a position or job in mind?”
“Yes sir,” the cook replied. “I would like to learn to fly. I would like to become an aviator, Captain. Also, I taught Lona how to paint. Tessa, I would like to help with the embellishments on the maps. I may not be magically gifted, but everybody says I am a good artist.”
Nathaniel’s eyes popped open, roused by the shouting coming from outside of the airship. He glanced over at Tessa, whose eyes were wide open too. “I’ll go see what that’s all about,” he told his wife.
“I’ll come with you,” she responded, and they both rolled off the bed, grabbing their clothing and quickly throwing it on.
“Button your blouse, beautiful,” Natty reminded Tessa.
“Maybe I should start wearing one of those bra things,” Tessa grinned, then added, “Not going to happen.” She buttoned up the shirt to just below the neck and threw her captain’s jacket on over it.
“What’s going on, Corporal?” Natty asked Pipia as they came on deck.
The Lance Corporal smiled. “Who would be the last person in the Nine Worlds that you would want to get in an argument with?”
“I can think of several, at least,” Nathaniel replied and then realized what she was saying. “Snee.”
Pipia grinned. “Praise Creator, our reinforcements have arrived.”
“Permission to come on board, Captains,” Captain Snee asked that the gunwale gate.
“Permission granted, Captain,” Nathaniel responded and held out his hand after returning Snee’s salute. The two embraced and then Snee turned and looked at Tessa who smiled warmly and reached out and hugged him.
“I thought you didn’t like me,” he grinned.
“I don’t not like you,” Tessa replied. “Right now, I am extremely happy to see you. Who all came with you?”
“Mother and the StarFire, and the StarGazer from Sailinto, are about five miles out. I have the Chemira and two squads of Naval Rangers, including an old friend of the family. It appears a couple of the deputy Reeves will be guests in the brig on the StarFire when it gets here.”
“Is that what all the shouting was about?” Tessa asked, and Snee nodded.
“It seems that their boss told them that nobody was to approach the Starduster. I think they were a little surprised when we popped up in the middle of their harbor, literally, and twenty-four Marines told them to basically, eat squid.” He looked at Anders and Enesneth, who had joined them on deck. “You three have created quite a little brouhaha here. It seems that at least one of the fine upstanding rapists that you encountered was something like a cousin to the Reeve. There are dwarves coming from the west and President Nichanova is on the Stargazer. They should all be here just after daybreak. So, does that cute redhead,” he stopped and looked at Tessa’s auburn locks. “The other cute redhead have the coffee on?”
Tessa smiled at this humanesque display of emotion from the imperious Drow submariner. “Not only does she have the coffee on, but from what she was telling us last night she doesn’t have a fiancé anymore, Snee.” Tessa cocked her eyebrows at him. Later she would tell Natty that she didn’t realize that Drow could blush.
“Permission to come on board, Captains?” The imperious Drow Commodore Desara Sparo stood at the gunwale gate. “Myself, and those accompanying me.”
“Permission granted, Commodore, Madam President, Minister.” Nathaniel, Tessa, and Ciliren saluted, and Desara returned the salute. “Deidre, Skye. Welcome back.”
“Nemit Grimshoulder will be joining us shortly, with the Reeve. Evidently it took some convincing for the Reeve to accompany two thousand dwarves in battle armor. Go figure.” Hannah Nichanova explained to the Starduster’s crew. “Tessa, Lord Anders, and you must be Enesneth Bluehavens?”
