“If he is out there we will find him. Together the Shin’Ar and Zidu’Si will save your friend,” Mallick assured Shuran, though he had his doubts.
The two of them continued on into late morning tracking game. They returned to the Vault with several rabbits, a few game birds and a large stag.
Shuran enjoyed the physical labor of building a sledge and hauling the game rather than using Essence.
Mallick complained of course but he too needed to work his muscles.
“‘Bout time you two hauled your arses back here! We were ‘bout to eat without you!” Codger complained through the pain of his headache.
Moona had forbade Shuran or Mallick from telling Codger how to ‘burn-off’ his hang over. They both decided that Codger’s pain was less of a problem then the ire of Moona.
“We reset the snares and hunted more game. There is a sizable stag outside the Vault door that will need dressing after our meal,” Mallick said.
Shuran dug into his meal. Moona noticed the change in Shuran. He was not slouching and the light had returned to his eyes somewhat. She caught Mallick’s attention and gave him a wink and a smile.
This was not lost on Shuran who knew they had conspired to get him talking. He smiled at the feeling of love for his family. “So what have you two been up to this morning?” Shuran asked Orian and Avrank.
“We poured over the books in the library looking for anything useful.” Avrank said.
“And what have you found?” Mallick asked knowing that he could immediately access anything he questioned. He simply was not yet skilled at asking the right questions.
“Did you know that elves make pointy shoes?” Avrank said jokingly.
“Ah yes, and little dwarfs are confused with brownies, because they always bump their heads into normal sized men’s arses!” Orian retorted.
“Ah, the blending of gifts has given the elf a sense of humor!” Avrank smiled back.
“According to what we have found, the giants hail from a deep valley somewhere north. Nothing here indicates where or gives description, not even a map,” Orian said.
“But there is an interesting mention of a reference book held once by the Edubba Lamadtu,” Avrank said.
“Pardon my dwarvish but what is that?” Moona asked.
“It is not dwarvish, it is ancient tongue for school of learning magic,” Codger said.
“So am I to assume you think this book would be in the possession of the Essence Academy?” Shuran asked.
“It makes sense, they were know to have collected all the materials from all the old schools after the Lalli Mah, when they consolidated and began sanctioning weavers,” Orian added.
“So what is this reference book?” Shuran asked.
“A ledger of sorts. It recorded all the ingredients for ancient spell work and where they could be found. There are spells created by the giants for working metals. Some of the items needed are likely from their homelands. If there is a record it may indicate where to find them,” Avrank said.
“So how do we get our hands on this book if it still exists?” Shuran asked.
“I can get it.” Codger said.
“What are you on ‘bout Codge?” Moona barked.
“Quit your mooin’ cow, and let me finish,” Codger grumbled back.
“Dur!” Moona scowled back.
“As a sanctioned weaver, I have privileges to the Academy library,” he said.
“You had privileges. We have no knowledge of what has transpired in New Draven and the Academy. Word is they have closed the city walls!” Orian said.
“Well, that won’ be a problem. I know a certain smuggler who has ways between the walls,” Codger said.
“And what may this smuggler extort for payment this time?” Moona asked.
“You know he did not get all the plans for the Mellamu Nanna,” Codger implied.
“That is your plan, you want to hand over the full plans on building magurmu over to a dwarf pirate?” Shuran asked.
“I was not planning on givin’ ‘im the means to power it!” Codger added.
“And if he were to hold you until you did?” Shuran asked.
“Hey, perhaps he would hold you instead Shuran. You could become a pirate. They could call you Shin’ARRRGH!” Mallick joked.
Even Shuran laughed this time.
***
They boarded the Mellamu Nanna early the next day. Since they planned on flying her down to smugglers cove, they needed to make certain the ship would be warded against multiple threats.
The night before Mallick accessed the Library, searching for spells of protection they could imbue upon the magurmu, flying boat. They used the knowledge gained to add a cloaking spell, a shield, fireproofing, and spelling the sails against damage.
Codger suggested the fire proofing, remembering the accident Shuran had that scorched the main deck and mast. Runes etched into the control panel on the pilot’s deck would trigger the spells. The shield and cloaking spell could be triggered with a spelled charm as well. They packed only essentials so to keep the load light for speed.
Shuran could call forth anything they needed.
They settled aboard the vessel and with the aid of the recharged Abnu Emuq, they lifted into the air and headed South. They engaged the cloak before clearing the trees as not to attract notice by anyone that would be near enough to see a boat flying through the sky.
Rather than head out to fly over the Great Sea, Mallick suggested they fly low over the land to get a sense of what might me happening. They headed southeast toward Birchshire and would fly along a path that would take them near the largest settlements and villages. Using spyglasses, they were able to see well enough to determine the state of the realm.
As they traveled past Birchshire, they could tell that thus far it remained untouched. Perhaps, having been visited by the Inquisitors and Royal Guard already, the need for the town being sacked was overlooked. Of course there was no reasoning for what the Order was up to. The death walkers were rampaging across the realm, destroying everything in their path.
Further east they flew past Elmwood. They already heard of the devastation, this was a chance to both confirm and appraise the damage. Elmwood was a burnt out shell of a village. Little was left of the town square. Every building was burnt down or blown to pieces. Here and there, a stray animal ran about, but there was no sign of the villagers that once lived here. Those who had escaped were not likely to return any time soon.
Traveling the countryside by magurmu, would normally be exciting and an adventure. Seeing the realm is such a state of upheaval sapped the joy out of the trip for everyone except for Avrank.
He jumped and ran from side to side of the deck looking at everything there was to see. “I have never been this far south. I am also unaccustomed to this warmer air,” he said.
As much as Orian and Avrank teased each other, they were becoming best of friends. Orian moved some crates to create steps and a platform for Avrank to reach the rail and see over the sides.
“Signs of the death walker army and ogre movements are nonexistent as they must travel by some dark magic,” Mallick said.
“There is no ‘dark’ magic Mallick.” Codger said.
“Weaving is all about intent. If you intend something dark then the working is dark and the opposite if you intend good,” Mallick said in a trance-like state.
Shuran looked at him sideways.
Mallick held up his hand and wiggled his ring finger.
“How could resurrecting the dead ever be anything but dark? The shi has left the body,” Shuran asked.
“A shi can be anchored to or trapped in an object. You would need to bring the body back to life and reverse the damage of rot, but you could put the soul back,” Orian said. “I read something about it in the library as well,” he added.
Shuran assumed that Mallick had shared their conversation about Bastien.
They continued south along the Napalkua River where they passed the Zig’Mada falls. It was an unnatural break in the river that formed into a waterfall when the ground rose up.
Shuran took a moment to feel out with the Essence. He had sensed the falls a few days earlier when searching the Emmuku’Gu to find a place to drop the ogres. When he felt the falls, there was something there he could not take the time to explore.
“Codger can you move us a bit lower and closer to the falls? I would like to check on something,” Shuran asked. When he reached out to feel for the oddness of the falls, he explored what first drew his curiosity. There were tunnels behind the falls and they were lined with deposits and something else.
“We will have to come back here when there is time. Beside gug and crystal deposits there is a full tunnel system that is not natural. The gug is preventing me probing deeper,” Shuran shared.
New Draven crept into view over the horizon soon after they passed Two Bridges and Castleton.
Codger took the ship a bit higher making certain to clear the turrets and towers of the buildings and castle.
“Codge, engage the shield,” Shuran said.
“Are you expecting trouble Shuran?” Orian asked.
“No, I plan to avoid it, the shield will block out any spells designed to detect intrusion. Unless someone knows to look for a shielded vessel they will not sense us. If someone looks close enough they might see a ripple in the sky, but if we are higher it is unlikely to be detected.”
Shuran took out a spyglass and began examining the goings on in the Aurderian capital city. “There are Royal Guard everywhere. And the gates are sealed shut.”
“It is not but two hours before Utu sets below the horizon, why would they close up the gates?” Mallick asked.
“Because they are under order to keep everyone out,” Codger said. “We’re off to see the smuggler,” Codger said as he turned the Mellammu Nanna west toward the coast.
***
The site before everyone’s eyes was surprising. The once nearly empty bay of smuggler’s cove was full with ships that were a near double to the Mellamu Nanna.
“That sneaky little bastard!” Codger spat.
“What did you expect scat for brains!” Moona whispered. “Time for a laugh!” She continued as she released both the shield and cloak spells.
The ship glided over the docks to the nearest slip available. Luckily there was one near the office. A crowd of dockworkers and smugglers gathered after they gained their senses. More than a few had wet their breeches.
Codger began the decent into the available slip. The wings folded in and tucked up along side the ship as the vessel came to rest in the water. The dock was crowded with onlookers but they cleared quickly when the smuggler’s guild leader came barreling down from his office.
“What is the meaning of this? Who are you and what is this…” he stopped in mid bark when he saw Codger standing ready to disembark the vessel, now docked in Aknrad’s personal slip.
“Codger you old bastard, I knew you left something out of those plans but I had no idea!” Aknard said.
Codger stood staring at the dwarven guild leader as the Zidu’Si set out the gangplank. He wore a grin from ear to ear as he headed down to meet his old friend.
“Of course I didn’ give up all her secrets, fool! I only left out an important bit or two,” Codger said.
“I should think you left a bit more off the list than that you scoundrel,” Aknard replied.
“All right, you two dullards shut it and get up to that office. We got business, and time is shorter than Avrank!” Moona yelled as she pushed past them.
Shuran, Mallick, and the Zidu’Si followed behind. As the last member passed he nodded.
“Hello Uncle!” Avrank said to Aknard as he scrambled up the pier chasing after the others.
“What is going on here? And why is my nephew out of the Orenthal and among the likes of you? He is royalty for Damkianna’s sake!” Aknard scowled.
“I am Zidu’Si now Uncle, my brother sits as heir apparent,” Avrank said as his uncle took him into a huge embrace.
“Oh how I have missed you, my little turd!” Aknard said.
“TURD?” Orian, Mallick, and Shuran all said in unison.
“That was my little name for him when he was young. Being so small people got to calling him ‘tur’ meaning small in ancient tongue. He always acted the little mischievous shit as well. So I began calling him turd!” Aknard said.
“HA! You are a little shit! Bumping into arses!” Orian laughed.
“REGARDLESS!” Moona said. “We have a need, and you have the means, Aknard. Let us get to business!” she took charge.
“So let me get this through my mind, you want to break into the city or you want to get into the Library of the Academy?” Aknard said.
“Ultimately we only need access to the Academy,” Shuran interjected before Moona could continue bullying Aknard.
Aknard was somewhat relieved. “You want to break into the most secure magical institution on all of Ersetu?” he asked.