Rebel Skyforce (Mad Tinker Chronicles) (12 page)

“No, not that,” Kezudkan replied. He took a few paces for a dramatic pause, the clopping of his cane on the stone floor the only sound in the chamber. “No, I am fairly certain my slave Erefan used my machine to gather an army, and used explosives to destroy it so that I couldn’t use it to track him down. You see, my machine permits instant travel to or from anywhere.” There were gasps and muttering, not just among the spectators, but between the council members as well.

“Order! Order!” Chief Councilor Korsger shouted, banging a gavel to draw attention back to the front of the chamber. “Mr. Graniteson, if I understand correctly, you are claiming that your slave commandeered an experimental device of vast potential utility and used it to rally an army from across Korr? How is it that this slave was allowed unsupervised access to such a dangerous piece of equipment?”

Kezudkan turned his back to the council as he retrieved a mug of water from the witness table. Oration was dry work. “The crazed rat-eater worked twenty hours a day on the thing. Had to boot him out on holiday to get him to stop, and lock the estate doors behind him. Humans are obsessive creatures; terribly useful trait if you find a good task for it.”

The barrister stood. “I must insist that my client refrain from answering any further questions, on the grounds—
Mmph
.”

Kezudkan put the tip of his cane to the barrister’s gut and set him back down in his seat, driving the wind from the man at the same time.

“You may wish to heed your counsel’s advice,” Chief Councilor Korsger said. “In light of these facts, we may have to adjourn and reconvene at a criminal hearing.”

Kezudkan waggled a finger in the air. “Article IV, section 8a, I believe exempts me from liability for the actions of a runaway slave.”

“He was in your workshop, by your own admission,” Chief Councilor Korsger replied.

“He was a runaway the moment he used my machine for his own purposes,” Kezudkan countered. He spared a glance over his shoulder and tapped at the floor with his cane.

“Mr. Graniteson,” Chief Councilor Korsger said, “I’m afraid we cannot accept your—frankly dubious—claims without proof. I am afraid we are going to have to adjourn this hearing until such time as we can arrange a criminal inquiry into the events that took place within the Graniteson Estate on the night of the revolt.”

A side door to the auditorium opened, and two bailiffs entered, pulling a steel cage on wheels. “Oh, so this is the part where you declare me to be a risk of flight, and cage me until your inquiry? No, no I think I’d rather prove you right than win the moral victory.” He shook his cane at the chief councilor.

On cue, a crackling spark leapt from the nothingness a pace away from Kezudkan. It hung in the air, writhing and twisting as it grew to outline the edges of a circular opening in space. Through the hole was a scene of metalworks and spark. Humming dynamos crackled in rows, pumping spark into a sea serpent of copper wires, its tentacles spread across the floor. A cloaked and hooded figure sat at a formidable looking set of dials and switches.

“My proof,” Kezudkan declared to a stunned audience, then stepped through the hole. It closed behind him.

“You’re quite a showman, Kezudkan,” Draksgollow said, pulling back the hood of his cloak with his mechanical hand. “Wish I could have heard the speech.”

“A man can’t just disappear when an inquiry is ongoing. He’s got to disappear so that folk don’t want to find him,” Kezudkan replied. “I think they’ll be happy to just have my creditors write off my debts as a loss and stop trying to find me.”

“Bit of an optimist, aren’t you?”

Kezudkan put a hand on the controls of the wondrous machine. “I don’t think anyone’s going to be finding us.”

“Plenty of people know I’m here,” Draksgollow said. “It’s a business interest of mine.”

“Ahh, but machine three we will move to a secure location: somewhere remote, somewhere comfortable. I suggest you move your office there, and anything utterly essential. We can keep this facility running for as long as it remains undiscovered.”

“I take it back, you’re paranoid,” Draksgollow said.

“Not paranoid, prepared. I won’t forgive Erefan for what he tried to do to my sister. So long as that man still walks one world or another, I won’t allow my guard down.”

Chapter 10

“I won’t get on a wooden boat ever again. Our steam ships have double hulls and sealing hatches and compartments. I refuse to trust my life to glorified bucket and the whim of the winds.” -Cadmus Errol

The Katamic Sea fought the passage of the
Darksmith
with the weary sense of duty of a swordmaster sparring with a recruit. There was no question the sea could win the match any time it liked, but it badgered and tested the
Darksmith
, poking and prodding to see if the captain knew his lessons. When a trail of pink sky appeared over the port railing, the crew knew that the Katamic had played out its wrath. The storm clouds limped away to the east, their rains exhausted, leaving heaving swells in their wake.

Tanner had little love for ships, despite owning one of his own—off somewhere shipping who knew what for a pittance of honest coin on the side. He had developed a grudging respect for the service they provided, getting him off one forsaken continent and depositing him on one where he hadn’t worn through his welcome. Khesh was a large enough landmass that it took a long time to use up, but he wasn’t sad to be rid of it.

“Some storm, huh?” Dan said from behind him. Tanner could hear the idiot grin in his voice. Tanner attributed the boy’s lack of fear to the venom that ran in his veins.

“Yeah,” Tanner agreed. He watched the sun slowly edging over the horizon. Somewhere he had heard that red-tinged skies were a favorable sign—probably from someone who had never seen a city burn. “We’re lucky this iron beastie doesn’t go in for sails, or we’d be half a day waitin’ for repairs to the rigging.”

“What do you say I carve a few runes on her and we—”

“And we lose ten percent of a gold mine for robbing the Mad Tinker?” Tanner asked.

“Eat a blade, old man. You know I was just joking,” Dan said.

Wish I was sure, kid.
Tanner sized Dan up as an opponent, something he did by reflex to most men he met, and was doing with Dan more often by the day. The boy was within his sword reach, a bit
too
close, in fact. He’d have to take a step back as he drew to have room to thrust. He could have Dan spitted on the end of his runed sword in two blinks—which was probably one blink longer than he would have.

“Just watch who you’re sayin’ stuff like that around. The bossy one’s got a short temper and a quick trigger finger.”

“Yeah, and none of them speak Kadrin,” Dan pointed out. “Besides, I’m not afraid of her.”

“And there goes our ten percent, again.”

Dan let out a theatrical sigh. “What am I supposed to do for fun around here? You’re glooming off out to sea, the captain and crew seem to think I’m a mythological creature, and the two girls are dense as lead.”

“So, you tried after all, huh?” Tanner asked. He turned and rested his elbows on the ship’s railing. “I was wondering if you’d noticed them.”

“Well, Madlin a bit. It seemed like you were interested in Jamile, so I left her for you, seeing as you never get the skirt of a woman outside a whorehouse. Seemed sporting to let you have a go first.”

“Yeah, you little jackal? I don’t see Madlin stumbling around all doe-eyed and swooning over you. What happened, your voice break in front of her and remind her you’re too young for shaving?”

“Nah, it’s like a dog humping a chair leg. That girl’s got no interest in men, if you ask me.”

Tanner chuckled. “Maybe she’s just got no interest in boys. You think of that?”

“Nah, if she wants a man, she’ll build one out of springs and pipes. Then she’ll probably come begging after me to teach her magic to make it real.”

“Why don’t you just show her a little something simple? She’ll be months trying to get it right.”

“Yeah, and maybe I can give her just one utoru berry, too,” Dan said. “She’ll be after me the next day, looking for more, and then more. I don’t need an apprentice.”

“Well, you’re welcome to try your luck with Jamile. Ain’t nothin’ between us. Funny how old a young girl can make you feel sometimes. Feel like one of them crusty old bastards who hangs out in taverns grabbin’ the serving girls’ rumps and droppin’ tips on the floor.”

“I won’t be old like you for fifty years,” Dan said with a grin.

“You can take your life extension and cram it up your arse, you sorcerous little turd,” Tanner said with a dark look.

“Bit of a recursive metaphor, don’t you think?” Dan asked. “I mean—wait, what’s that?”

“What’s what?”

“Can’t you feel it?” Dan asked. He shook his head. “No, of course you wouldn’t. Something out there is drawing aether. A real draw too, not the piddling summer breeze you’ve got, but a storm in the aether.” Dan’s eyes took on an ominous gleam. Back in Veydrus, he had never known Rashan Solaran well, but those who did had told stories of the look in his eye when the prospect of battle arose, straddling the line between madness and a child getting his age-day presents.

Tanner pushed away from the railing. “We’ve gotta tell the captain—”

Dan caught him by the arm. “And tell him what? That the witch-boy’s seeing things and he better get ready for numpshins and gollywocks that are coming to get us?” Tanner stopped pulling and Dan let him go. “I’ll handle it when it gets here, whatever it is.”

“We should at least let the girls know,” Tanner said. “We can’t just keep it to ourselves.”

Dan waved a dismissive hand. “Do whatever you want.” He headed for the bow, sauntering as best he could with the shifting deck beneath his feet. “I just made it up. There’s nothing coming. Go have a game of Crackle and drink yourself stupid for all I care.”

Kthooom.

The sound thudded through the walls and floor of the darkened cabin. From across the room, Jamile whispered, “What was that?”

“PIRATES!” the shout from out on deck removed all doubt.

Madlin threw back the sheets and fumbled for her clothes as she wriggled out of her nightshirt. When the two activities got in the way of one another, she gave up removing her nightwear.

“What are you doing? Madlin, you can’t go out there!”

“You stay put,” Madlin ordered. “I’m going out to find out why Toller is chasing pirates again, despite my orders.” She hopped into a pair of trousers and pulled a jacket on over her nightshirt. On her way out the door barefoot, she snatched up her gun belt, buckling it on as she searched the deck for the captain.

“Turn us to starboard, heading oh, five, five!” Captain Toller’s voice carried over the sounds of the crew taking battle stations. He was dressed much like Madlin, with his captain’s jacket over bed-trousers and a bare chest. Toller had taken the time for boots, however.

“What’s going on?” Madlin demanded. “I thought we’ve been over this? No pirate-hunting.”

“It’s not us,” Toller insisted. “They were firing on us before we even caught sight of them. First ranging shot was well short.”

“Well, turn us about and evade them.”

“Not that simple,” Toller replied. He marched over to the ship’s guns with Madlin in his wake. “Momentum is against us. We’re being carried right toward them. If we turn and run, we’ll give them a chance to fire on us with no danger to themselves.”

“I thought this ship could bounce cannonballs off its hull like they were peas.”

“Your father’s claim, not mine. Plus it doesn’t do us any good out on deck if one comes in high.”

Kthooom.

“Shit!” Madlin swore, ducking her head. The splash came on the far side of the ship. Whoever was out there in the darkness had the
Darksmith
inside their range.

“Where’s Dan?” she asked suddenly. “Maybe he can do something to—”

“Fine,” Toller snapped. “Just get out of the way.”

Madlin wove her way around the flurry of activity from the crew, cursing herself for leaving her feet bare as the deck plates sucked the heat from her skin. She spotted Dan at the bow of the ship, a pace away from the ship’s telescope, watching the water by starlight. He was lounging against the forward railing, propped up on an elbow with his ankles crossed. Madlin broke into a run.

“Dan!” she shouted. He didn’t turn, but she caught a flinch of his head that told Madlin that he’d heard her. “Dan, do something.”

She came up beside him, huffing for breath. He turned with the languor of a waiting lover and graced her with an easy smile.

“Not yet. Let your friends play with their tinker toys a while longer. Once we get close enough, I’ll handle things.”

“What about a fog?” Madlin asked. She pointed out to the suspicious bank of fog on the water where the cannon fire originated. “Hide us like they’re doing?”

“Oh, they’re not hiding. Not from me at least.”

“Dan!” Madlin grabbed him by the shoulder and turned him to face her. In the starlight he looked so young, his beardless face smooth and shining. “This isn’t a game. If you can help us, then do something.”

“So you’re looking for my magic to solve all your problems again? I remember that not working out so well for you last time.”

“This isn’t the same at all. This is
you
using your magic, not me trying to follow your instructions from another world.”

A gleam of mischief crept into Dan’s eye. He gave a quick glance down and back up, taking in all of Madlin in a blink’s time. “What’s it worth to you?”

Madlin’s face flushed and twisted into a scowl. “How dare you!” Dan was tall and willowy, with a lot of filling out to do in both limb and torso before he’d have a manly frame. He was also still leaning on the railing. Madlin put both hands to his chest and shoved.

Dan let out a startled yelp as he pitched over the bow of the ship.

Madlin let out a gasp of her own, only slightly less surprised by her action than Dan had been. She bent over the railing and saw a flash of spark where Dan bounced off the hull before splashing into the water.

Kthooom.

Kthooom.

The first shot hit the water not far from where Dan had gone in, sending up a spray that soaked Madlin’s hair and trousers, though her jacket at least proved resistant to water. The second hit with a great crash and a clatter of protesting metal. It sounded nothing like she would imagine if the shot had ricocheted off the steel hull.

“Hit on the starboard, above the waterline,” one of the crewmen shouted. There were unintelligible shouts from below decks that hinted at injuries or repair efforts, possibly both.

Madlin felt her breath quickening. She leaned out over the forward rail again and looked for any sign of Dan. She didn’t know why she should expect him to still be there when the
Darksmith
had continued on course after he fell. Still, Madlin watched the choppy froth at the bow and waited for evidence that he might have clung on or used his magic to bob to the surface. There was nothing.

The
Darksmith’s
guns opened fire, targeting the unnatural fog that clung to the Katamic like a burr, blotting the reflected starlight from the water’s surface. The return fire drowned out any hints of whether their shots had been effective.

Kthooom. Kthooom.

Kthooom. Kthooom.

The hidden ship opened up with their full broadside. Madlin felt the
Darksmith
shudder with multiple impacts, but she couldn’t get a count. She clung to the forward railing to avoid getting pitched headlong into the Katamic after Dan.

When the initial jolt passed, Madlin leaned over the rail again. “Dan!” she screamed. “Dan, please! Get up here and do something!” There was no answer, no response from the Katamic that indicated a boy was listening from down below the surface.

“Hit below the water line,” a crewman shouted. “Man the pumps!”

The
Darksmith’s
deck guns fired, cracking the air, but providing no sound of a hit within the fog. That fog was growing closer, or the bank was growing, it was difficult for Madlin to tell which.

“Get us out of here!” Madlin shouted in the direction she had last seen Captain Toller. “Full about, bring the engines to full!”

“You don’t command here, Miss Errol,” Toller shouted back. “Get below and see to those pumps, tinker.”

Kthooom. Kthooom.