The Starfall Knight (9 page)

The blue roan snorted as Devan adjusted the stirrups.  His mind raced with anticipation.  Given the order for full equipment and horses, their assignment was clearly no simple drill.  Along with the increased movement of Centaran military, Devan had no doubt that something unusual was afoot.  He mounted and directed the horse to the gates.

“Form up!” Lora ordered and the squad rode out with Benton at the lead.

They passed through the outer boroughs of Centara within an hour.  Benton maintained a firm trot until they reached the farmlands in the surrounding area.  The rolling fields to the south-east of the city descended towards Lake Centara, which shimmered in the distance.

Devan heeled his horse forward as Benton slowed the pace to a walk, allowing the horses time to recover.  “Captain, what’s going on?”

“You’ve heard about the aerock to the south,” Benton replied, loud enough for everyone.  “We’re to assist with any contact.”

“That’s not ranger duty,” Devan said.

“This time it is,” Benton said.  “According to lookout calculations, it’s moving fast.  Maybe propelled by the storm winds.  But we have to be ready.”

Rika asked, “What if it hits us?”

“I trust it won’t,” Benton said.  “But if it looks like it, all the more reason to be there.”

Devan peered to the south.  Verovel floated behind Centara, the three sets of ropes and cables appearing as thick black lines.  No signs of settlement were apparent on Verovel as everyone had relocated to Centara after allying with the larger aerock.  Masteney – with a small but loyal population – lay to the south-west, peeking over the Iselt Ranges.  Elade was attached to the eastern edge of Centara while Saruwa was on the west.  No, if the new aerock were to crash, it would likely strike Verovel.  Although it was the home of Devan and Benton and held many precious memories, at least no one would be hurt on their side.

Benton led the squad around Lake Centara, the main body of water on the aerock and the source of much trade.  Heavy woodlands surrounded the lake’s edge, the forest extending out to cover much of Centara’s eastern flank with varying lushness.  A pair of longwings skimmed the lake’s surface, fishing for easy prey.

As they rounded the southern tip of the lake, the squad approached a look-out post.  The ranger on duty called down, “Captain Benton?”

“Yes, ranger,” Benton replied.

“You’ve drawn the short-straw.  Looks like the aerock will approach to the south-east.”

“You make it sound like a bad thing.”

“I hope they have pigs.  I’ve been missing a good cut of ham lately.”

Benton nodded and the squad rode on.

By mid afternoon, they reached the edge of south-eastern Centara where a company of army soldiers had set up an enclave with fortified bulwarks and spiked trenches.  The tents rippled in the sharp winds that gusted past the edge of the aerock.  Benton ordered the squad to set up camp a short distance away.  As Devan followed, he spotted the army semaphore officer – the one who would attempt to communicate with the incoming aerock with common trader signals – and the mobile grapple team, who were easily identifiable by the ballistae and coils of cable.  If all went well, they would soon have a new aerock to trade with.

His squad reached a suitable site and Devan wheeled his horse around, still examining the army company.  He couldn’t help but notice that the soldiers consisted not only of swordsmen, pikemen and archers, but also a squad of andonite riflemen.  The bullets fired from an andonite rifle could pierce all known armour but they were slow to reload.  Yet, such firepower was reserved for specific occasions.  Devan hoped it was simply a precaution.

The ridge of dirt led to the northerly look-out post which was nothing more than slabs of timber driven into the raised earth.  Two thrashers stood guard next to the rough-hewn steps that descended around the outer edge of the aerock to the cave underneath the ridge.

Alessa slowed, allowing Tarius to step onto the high point.  Behind them, countless Sirinese had gathered to witness the spectacle before them.  An aerock with spider-like protrusions floated beyond the storm clouds.

Vantanis emerged from the cave and approached the look-out platform.  He was dishevelled and stank of old vomit.  He cast a curious glance at Alessa and said to Tarius, “I think we’re through the worst of it.”

“Good,” Tarius said.  “How big do you think it is?”

Vantanis turned around and shielded his eyes against the glare and weakening rain.  “Largest aerock I’ve seen in a long while.”

“Will we hit it?”

“We’ll scrape by,” Vantanis replied.  “I’ve put us on a good speed.  We’ll reach it by dusk, weather permitting.”

Alessa said to Tarius, “You plan to raid it?”  The old smith did not reply and she continued, “From what I can see, it’s larger than Sirinis.  It’s tugging along aerocks larger than Sirinis.”

“I can see that, girl,” Tarius said.  “Like I said before – great opportunity.”

“Tarius,” Vantanis said, “my daughter raises a valid point.  An aerock that large is a risky undertaking.”

“Find me Nasius and Dene,” Tarius said. 

A murmur ran through the crowd.  Thrashers, whores, beggars and traders from all of the factions had gathered.  There was nothing that brought everyone together like the prospect of a raid.

Leonus, Pelio and Brunos frog-marched Nasius and Dene forward.  Elina trailed behind, a dagger in hand.

“Father,” Leonus said, “here they are.”

“Good.  Leave us.”

Leonus glanced sidelong at Alessa.  “You heard him.  Go.”

“No, Leonus,” Alessa replied.  “He meant you.”

Leonus took a deep breath for a retort but caught a glance from his father.  Swallowing his words, Leonus retreated with Elina muttering in his ear.

“Apologies for the disruption,” Tarius said to Nasius and Dene.

“Of course, Imperator,” Nasius said.  “Sons and daughters, what are we to do?”

Tarius chuckled perfunctorily.  Alessa looked to the leaders of the next two largest factions, neither of them acknowledging her.  Nasius, the head of Ceres, appeared much like he had before – an average man with thinning brown hair.  Alessa had previously missed his carefully groomed beard and moustache in the darkness of the mineshaft but in daylight, the identity of Nasius was unmistakable.

Dene had long black hair and youthful features that she purportedly used to gain leadership of the Serpens, as far as Alessa had gathered.  But like Nasius and Tarius, her eyes bore a deep hunger and the promise of unbending will.  Alessa simply knew it as stubbornness – if she had learned nothing else from reading her father’s books, it was that survival came in many forms.

“Curious that the two of you were located together,” Tarius said.

“Nervous, ya?” Dene asked, flipping her hair back.

“Hardly,” Tarius replied.  “It’s about time the two of you forged an alliance.”

“Alliance?” Nasius scoffed.  “I’d not be seen with this glorified courtesan.”

“Ya’d only do so in ya dreams,” Dene said.

“That will be quite enough,” Tarius said.  “I don’t care if the two of you have an alliance or an agreement to bed each other.  We have larger issues.  Vantanis?”

Vantanis pointed to the aerock in the distance.  “Do you see it?”  Both Nasius and Dene nodded.  “It’s not a single aerock – it’s multiple.  Hooked together somehow.”

“Impossible,” Nasius said.

“Not impossible,” Alessa said.  “I’ve read of them.”

Nasius looked up and down at Alessa.  “Imperator Tarius, who is this?”

Tarius nodded at Alessa and she replied, “I am Alessa.”

“Famed daughter of Vantanis?”

“If you say so.”

“Takin’ up the family trade, then?” Dene asked.

“Not as yet.”

Nasius coughed.  “So, what makes you qualified to speak?  Why are you even here?”

Alessa’s nape prickled.  Before she could fire off a retort, Tarius raised a palm, as if to fend off further questions.  “I asked her here, Nasius.  As to your original question, it’s clearly not impossible to tether aerocks.  It’s right in front of your eyes.”

Nasius sneered and spat on the ground.  He grumbled underneath his breath.

“So, what ya want from us?” Dene asked.

“With our current heading and speed,” Vantanis said, “we will reach the aerock by dusk.  By our estimate, it is at least five times the size of Sirinis.”

“If we assume it is inhabited,” Tarius said, “this time, we will not have the advantage in numbers.”

“And you still plan to raid it?”

“Yes.”  Tarius crossed his arms.  “But the size of the aerock means that we will have to co-ordinate ourselves.  Divided, we will fail.  We must be a united force if we are to seize our spoils.”

“Agreed,” Dene said.

Nasius hesitated and then nodded.  “Fine.”

“Good,” Tarius said.  “Alessa will command and strategise for our combined forces.”

Alessa suppressed a catch in her throat as surprise bloomed in her chest.  Dene snorted and said, “Now, ya talking dung, Imperator.”

“Am I?”  Tarius asked.  “Have you read
The Dialogs of Ilara the Black
?”

“Why would I read that rot?”

“Alessa, tell Dene what that book contains.”

Alessa said, “It’s the collected correspondence from Ilara the Black to her friends, family and fellow officers.  She was the commander of an army on an old aerock called the Blackridge.  It contains her philosophies as well as military tactics and strategies that won her rule over the aerock as well as victory over all invaders.”

Tarius glared at Dene.  The younger faction leader looked at the sodden ground.

“Tell me,” Tarius said to Dene.  “Have you read
The Foundation of Bladed Combat
?”

“No, I have not.”

“Funny,” Tarius said.  “Alessa has.”

But she has never wielded a blade in anger, Alessa thought to herself.

Dene nodded.  “Point is taken, Imperator.”

“Good.”

Tarius eyed off Nasius and Dene.  “Not that I don’t trust either of you but I will remind you that if the aerock ahead is even sparsely inhabited, they will have a military equal to our whole population.  If any of us falter, all of us will fail.”

Nasius snorted.  “Now, you
do
sound nervous.”

“A simple warning,” Tarius said.  “Besides, if you do decide to betray me, I hope that your alliance was forged in fire.  Moons know that you’ll need it.”

Devan settled into the low brush next to Rika.  In the deepening dusk, the light of the two waxing moons made possible simple navigation in the forest as well as surveilling the aerock to the south.

“Anything yet?”

Rika shook her head.  “It has slowed in the past hour.”

“I wouldn’t think an aerock could move so fast.”  The small isle had drawn to the south-east of Centara but Devan could not see much besides a general outline in the gloom.

“I seen one get thrown from a storm before,” Rika said.  “When I was a child.  It was from a distance, though.”

“Maybe the same happened here,” Devan replied.  He swatted a mosquito.  “The army has been signalling but no answer.”

Rika made a sound, halfway between a hum and a grunt.

“Others come past?”

“No.”

“Sergeant Lora, Mikis and Lei were furthest south,” Devan said.  “They should’ve followed the aerock as it passed them.”

“Not if we’re being cautious,” Rika replied.

“The others?” Devan said.  “If Lora holds the end, then Terson and Enkel, Rodyn and Arrot should be around soon.”

“Who knows what that lot are up to.”

“Aye.  Rodyn has fallen into Terson’s little gang quite nicely.”

Rika snorted.  “He’s just a younger Terson.  Anyway – so that leaves Olban, Derald and Vannton.  But they’re the next post down.”

“I don’t like this.”  Devan wriggled out of their plant and branch cover.

“Wait, where are you going?”

“To see my br– I mean, the captain.  We need new orders.”

“He’ll send a runner.”

“Maybe.”  Devan gathered his field rucksack and checked his weapons.  “If you see anything, send the usual signal.  I’ll be back soon.”

Rika sighed.  “All right.”  She turned back to the edge.

Devan jogged back to the copse where they had left their horses.  He mounted and headed back to the camp.  Centaran protocol dictated that every aerock encounter was handled by the military and a Council representative.  In the space of an afternoon, the small army enclave had grown to the size of a modest village as news spread that the new aerock would likely make contact on this side of Centara.  As always, the involvement of the rangers was peripheral but vital.  Their camp remained separate and their duties were largely secret but held in tandem with the army’s procedures for contacting an aerock.

An abundance of cooking-fires and smoke guided Devan to the enclave as night fell.  He veered off the rough trail and entered the ranger camp.  The tents were arrayed in a tight circle around a central firepit with the latrines dug to one side and the makeshift stables a short distance away.  With the entire squad on duty, Benton squatted next to the fire, preparing the squad’s evening meal in a large iron pot.

Before Devan entered the circle of light, Benton said, “What are you doing back?”

“I came for new orders,” Devan replied.  “It’s a strange aerock.”

“What?  Where’s Rika?”

“She’s at the site.”

“You left behind your scouting partner?”  Benton rose, a steaming wooden spoon in hand.

“She’s fine.”

“That’s not the point!” Benton said.  “Vaere take me!  This is exactly what people are saying about you.  Thank the moons that Terson and the like aren’t here to witness this.”

“You think they’re right?”

“Well, aren’t they?” Benton asked, gesticulating with the spoon.  “You broke the cardinal rule of scouting.  You separated from your partner!”

“Fine!” Devan said.  “I’ll go back!  I just thought you would like to know that the aerock hasn’t signalled a single reply in the entire time the army has initiated contact.”

“The enclave is right there,” Benton said.  “There are runners.”  He shook his head and returned to the pot of stew.  “I don’t know what you were thinking, Devan.”