Dragon Choir (15 page)

Elrin worked
his finger upon the dark side of the tablet with the suns
embellished around the borders. As he traced invisible words, they
then appeared, trailing behind like the script was rising from oily
water. The floral Calimskan text grew in confusing swirls and
kicks, spreading its creeping tendrils of who knew what sinister
plot across the magical device.

“
I can’t read that!” said Delik. “How do I know you’ve written
what I said?”

“
You don’t, Delik,” said Minni. “Now is the time to trust
him.”

“
It’s on your head then, just keep an eye on what he’s
writing.”

Elrin
continued to write the message with Delik hovering over his
shoulder.

“
How the hell do you know they can read your script?” Delik
wasn’t ready to let this go. There was something suspicious going
on; it made no sense.

“
The magic of the transcriber and seal interpret the intent of
the words not the words themselves.”

The young
Calimskan traced the golden seal over the words and the dragon
carving writhed about. The words lifted from the wooden blackness
and were sucked into the miniature beast’s mouth. Elrin walked to
the gunwale, twisted the seal and flipped the gilded dragon around,
setting it within the tube shaped body of the device. Now that the
seal was inside out, it revealed a series of lenses.

“
I hope you’re taking note of this, Minni.” Delik had no idea
what the boy was doing.

Directing the
lenses to the headland, Elrin pressed the back of the seal and a
buzz of magical energy coursed through it. The device clacked out a
series of flashes, paused, then repeated the series twice more.

High atop the
Rum Hill cliffs the Jandan beacon pulsed the same pattern in all
directions.

Delik paced
the deck watching the beacon, waiting for a response. The sea
sloshed against the ship’s side. A fish jumped in the distance. A
cormorant dried its wings in the sun.

Nothing.

With more
patience than Delik thought the situation deserved, Elrin kept the
device aimed at the beacon on the headland.

“
What’s gone wrong?” Delik stormed over to Elrin. “Why haven’t
they responded?”

“
Give it time,” said Minni.

Elrin kept his
position, trying to ignore Delik’s complaints, tension knotting his
dark brows.

A cool breeze
played across the harbour.

Then the
beacon sparked to life.

The flashes
were recognised by the seal and it buzzed with another magical
charge. Elrin let it finish then twisted the seal and refitted it
as before. He passed the golden dragonhead across the bone white
side with the carved border of flowers.

A message
appeared in Calimskan.

“
What does it say?” asked Delik.

Elrin read it without hesitation. “
Templestone
and
Fearless
on approach. Redeemers
aboard.
Deliverance
and
Lord’s Flame
holding.”

“
Signal!” The spotter called as the osprey lighted on his
arm.

He called
down. “Guns stowed. Approaching at speed. Full sail.”

Minni gave
Elrin a hug and kissed him on the cheek. “You’ve saved our
skin.”

“
Don’t think I’m done with you lad.” Delik slapped Elrin on
the back and dashed a reluctant smile. “I’m expecting a good
explanation on how the hell you knew what you were doing with that
bloody contraption.”

“
I played with a set when I was a boy.”

“
I twiddled my thumbs when I was a boy.” Delik wasn’t going to
be convinced by such a convenient intervention. He had a plan to
test the lad’s steel. “I’ve got a special job for you, Elrin.
Minni, he needs a promotion. Find a nice Jandan uniform. We have a
new acting captain.”

Delik left Elrin and Minni to work out their costumes in the
great cabin. He walked to the wheel on the quarterdeck and put his
whistle to his lips. With shrill precision and a worn voice, he
directed his dockers. They hauled supplies from the docks up onto
the starboard side hidden from the view of the approaching ships.
They soon had
Juniper
leaning like a drunk, shifting all the cargo off
centre.

Uniforms of
the captured Jandans were redistributed to those on the upper
decks. All of the men in the open who couldn’t find a uniform were
directed below deck and out of view. Delik had the men on the upper
decks set to their normal duties and set uniformed guards to patrol
as normal.

Tikis bounded
up to the quarterdeck and reported to Delik. “This and other ones
are ready for work.”

“
Just as we planned, Tikis. It has to be quick and precise.”
The first ship was peeking its bow around the headland, headed into
the harbour. “Right then, disappear. They’ll have their spyglasses
out.”

Tikis ran
across the deck and vaulted over the gunwale into the sea. That
drakkin was a bloody good soldier. He’d never found a more
versatile warrior since the rebellion began. He hoped more like him
would rally to the cause; an army of drakkin would be a fine sight.
If only all the tribes would stop fighting each other and see the
real enemy.

Delik ducked
into the officers’ quarters to get out of view. Elrin would need a
word or two of encouragement to carry this off. It was a fine way
to decide what his caper was without jeopardising the mission.

Elrin walked
out of the great cabin into the officers’ quarters wearing a fresh
uniform.

“
You stink like the bloody swamp,” said Delik

“
But he looks the part,” Minni picked a pill of lint off
Elrin’s blue coat. “They aren’t going to smell him across the
water.”

“
Why do I have to wear it?” Elrin asked Delik.

“
Not sure if you noticed, I’m a slip too short for the
thing.”

“
Surely there is someone else in your, er, group that could
wear it.”

“
Yes, but you’ve made yourself our only option since you know
how to work the magical light-message contraption.” Delik sat on a
bench with smug satisfaction.

“
It’s not a contraption! Together, the seal and transcribing
tablet are brilliantly designed. It’s called a solargraph,” said
Elrin, trying to educate them.

“
See! Delik’s right, you’re perfect for the task. You even
know what it’s called.” Minni repositioned Elrin’s cravat a little
and straightened his white waistcoat.

Elrin gave her
a curious look. “I think I’m dressed fine now. Thanks.”

“
You’ll be doing the talking, lad.” Delik handed Elrin the
spyglass, the magical seal and the tablet. “Just stay at the helm
and do as I say. When they get within earshot you’ll be on your own
for a whisker. We want to keep them on the far side of the ship, so
get them to double up and dock over there.” Delik jabbed his finger
in the direction of the neighbouring pier. “You ready?”

“
No.”

“
Good. Head up to the wheel and follow my directions. Can’t be
simpler.”

The reluctant
young Calimskan left the cabin and made his way up onto the
quarterdeck. Delik followed, sneaking behind barrels and crates as
he went. Both ships were in full view now, tacking into the harbour
together at a steady pace.

Pulling an oilskin over his head and hunkering down behind a
barrel, Delik dictated another message to Elrin. “All haste to
south pier. North pier under repair. All troops to disembark and
secure dock perimeter. Vulnerable to rebel attack. Reserve units to
disembark and proceed with haste to
Juniper
’s bilge. Redeemers to board
and proceed to great cabin. Healing required
immediately.”

With quivering
hands, Elrin sent the missive and held the seal aloft, ready to
receive a return communication. After a moment, flashes beamed
across the water from the leading ship and he translated the
signal, calling it back to Delik. “Proceeding as directed.”

Even from his
sheltered position, Delik could see Elrin looked nervous, and so he
should be. This was going to be quick and bloody if things went
their way. But, if the rebels failed, a slow agonising death was
the best Jando would offer. He hoped the lad handled the pressure
if the fight came to him. If he really was green with a blade he’d
need help, and if it was an act, then Delik would keep an eye on
the lad anyway.

Either way,
he’d not be left alone. May as well keep the lad alive and see what
he was really after. If Elrin was an agent of Calimska, a dead
letter was the perfect cover to get in bed with the rebellion. That
humble, innocent runaway act had to be all bluff, Delik saw right
through it. No matter, he would play along for now.

Delik wondered
if the Jandans were playing along with his own grand bluff. Would
they get in close and spring out their cannons? Or were they so
self-assured by their military strength that they didn’t even
question Elrin’s communication? Delik knew the ignorance of
Jandans. They thought themselves superior to all—the Lord’s chosen
ones. The Council were so high and mighty they couldn’t grasp the
roots of the rebellion. They only cut the shoots back, and with
every cut the roots grew stronger, deeper. Spring would come and
there would not be enough blades under the sun to keep the
rebellion from blooming.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

To Sea

Elrin stood
squarely behind the wheel, trying his best to look like he was in
charge of the situation. The two galleons headed to the north pier
as they had been directed. First came
Templestone
, her figurehead a dour
cleric holding a holy book under one arm and a corner stone under
the other.
Templestone
navigated downwind before coming in to stand off the pier.
The crew dropped all of the sails and the captain wheeled her
around into the wind.
Templestone
slowed and slid in, docking snug with the
pier.

Back home in Calimska, Elrin had been impressed when he saw
this manoeuvre at the docks on the Lake of Tears, but the ships
that traded up the River Tash to the Lake were half the size of
this. The precision was a marvel to behold. While
Templestone
had her
lines secured,
Fearless
came around and docked in the same way. Her
figurehead was a knight in full plate, carved to attention and
layered with enough silver paint to reflect the morning light like
polished steel. She gave a gentle nudge to the pier, her forward
momentum diminished by the drag of the water and wind.

Both ships were bigger than
Juniper
and to Elrin’s relief they
kept their gun ports closed. They appeared to have every intention
of following the orders Elrin sent on the solargraph. If the
Jandans had other plans, the rebels would be
slaughtered.

A tall white robed figure stood on the main deck of
Templestone
, shadowed by
another shorter figure in red. Both wore identical white cowls,
emblazoned black with the holy star of Jando’s foreign god. These
were the redeemers come to heal the Commodore, nothing but sly
poachers stealing essence to fuel their corrupted magics. Barbarous
practices like that were outlawed in Calimska long ago, only true
sorcery was allowed. Elrin caught himself in his own naivety. What
did it matter that the Guildmaster was the greatest sorcerer since
Calim himself? It didn’t stay his power against an innocent. Elrin
had to be wary of man and magic.

The Jandans
had arrived with both in force. Five units of marines stood armed
and ready on each deck. Elrin tried to grasp their numbers
estimating three Jandans for every rebel. Delik and Minni must be
insane to try and fight this many men. There was no hope against a
force of these proportions, even with the extra men who had
volunteered to help the rebels.

About thirty
marines and crew had formed bucket brigades. One in each brigade
cradled a timber hand pump and the rest carried pails, ready to
relieve the bilge.

While the
dockers assisted in securing the ships to the pier, the Jandans
poured down the gangplanks in pairs, surging along the pier onto
the main storage area of the docks. They formed a tertiary
perimeter then pushed forward again, extending the defensive line
to prevent anyone getting into the area. Access from Rum Hill and
the headland was cordoned off and units took positions watching
over the swamp and wilderness to the south.

As the soldiers secured the docks, the so-called redeemers
were escorted by a small troop of elite marines carrying longswords
and dressed in chainmail. Their shields carried the Jandan crest; a
black star on a sea of blue. Pulling behind them, the bucket
brigades jogged down the southern dock and around to board the
listing
Juniper
.

The Jandans left a small unit of marines on
Templestone
and
Fearless
, patrolling the
decks and ensuring the crew continued to follow orders of the
commanding officers. Elrin fancied the crew on board the galleons
were waiting for something. The rebels had dosed
Juniper
’s crew with
their own men to execute the mutiny, so it made sense for them to
have done so for
Templestone
and
Fearless
too. They would need to have a surprise to
overcome this formidable enemy.