Dragon Choir (27 page)

Pelegrin
waited and Uighara prayed. The seats grew uncomfortable; too soft
for Pelegrin’s liking. He was used to life at sea with the constant
movement of wind and wave shifting the deck under his feet. He
paced, listening to another hymn finish and the even tones of the
High Priest leading a prayer.

“
Is this the same night, or have I slept a day, or four? When
did we leave Rum Hill?”

“
This very night,” said Uighara, his hands still clasped in
prayer, eyes unmoved from the door.

“
But, how?”

“
A miracle of the Lord’s power. Let that be
enough.”

Pelegrin found
himself staring at the door as well, wondering about the events of
the day. The impossible distance travelled in a moment. No steed
could match that pace. It was faster than a ship with an air savant
feeding the sails, faster even than a dragon.

“
We must find a way to use this power! Can you imagine what we
could do?”

“
Indeed, I can.”

The pipe organ played a joyous tune, leading the congregation
and choir in the final hymn for the service,
The Chosen’s Return
.

There was
movement in the other room and a heated voice rose in a berating
tone. The voice continued in a rant with no opposition for several
minutes then went quiet and a moment later the door opened. Brother
Brennan entered first his head lowered and face red.

“
The Lord’s most Holy, High Priest of Jando.”

Pelegrin and
Uighara dropped to their knees and bowed.

“
Rise Brother Uighara, Commodore Pelegrin, take my
blessing.”

Uighara kissed
the High Priest’s proffered hand, then rose to his feet. Pelegrin
also kissed the outstretched hand, but could not rise, his legs
overcome by weakness. He had never received an audience with the
High Priest and never expected to find the old man so daunting. His
sacramental vestments radiated power like it was the Lord himself
standing before them. The silken robes of white were woven with a
thousand black stars and each one stared at him, judging his soul.
A black stole scarfed his neck, hanging on either side of a thick
iron chain, the last link on each end bent open. This was the chain
of Saint Jan, the very one that the Lord broke to set him free.

“
Rise child.”

Touched by awe
and nervousness in equal measure, the Commodore snapped his gapping
mouth shut. He tested his legs and found them strong again, rising
with aplomb to stand before the holiest of the chosen.

“
Is this your proof, Brother Uighara?”

“
He will affirm my testimony, Your Grace.”

“
Brother Brennan, invite the Lord’s High Admiral in, would
you.”

“
Your Grace,” Brennan bowed his head. “Shall I bring more
refreshments?”

The High
Priest furrowed his brow and shooed him away, “Did I ask for that?
Stop trying to think for me. Go!”

Brennan
hurried away and the High Priest huffed, raising a hand to the
heavens in a plea for help. He took a bunch of the plump red grapes
in hand and sat on the elegant bone seat at the back of the room.
It was a humble model of the grand Lord’s Throne, which resided in
the temple proper. This one was raised on a small dais, just enough
to set it above the other seats in the room, lending the High
Priest the authority of any conversation. The legs were stout
femurs and the arms were indeed arms. A humerus, radius and ulna
ending neatly with a full hand of varnished white fingers.

The High
Priest inspected each grape before eating. “Nice to have you here
in the flesh again, Uighara. This project has been diverting you
from your obligations to the Temple.”

“
Respectfully, Your Grace, my work will serve the Lord’s
interests far more than sipping wine and listening to the Council’s
trivial debates.”

“
Bah! You left me with Brennan. Brennan! That fool doesn’t
know his carpals from his tarsals.”

“
Is there something from the Council meeting I missed that you
wish to discuss before the Lord’s High Admiral arrives?”

“
Don’t get glib with me. You know very well the agenda was
devoid of interest. Why else would you leave me?”

Uighara
refrained from reply.

“
You there,” the High Priest thrust a skinny finger.
“Firstborn Pelegrin, eh?”

“
No, Your Grace, my elder died in—”

“
Tragedy, yes it was. I remember, he thought he had the little
ones cornered too, eh. As sure as sin, he was.”

Brennan burst
through the door, saving Pelegrin from a response.

“
The Lord’s High Admiral,” he announced.

“
Well, of course it is! Now, shut the door as you
go.”

“
Are you sure you don’t need any refresh—”

“
GO!”

A flash of
energy burst from the High Priest’s hand, encircling Brother
Brennan and ejecting him from the room. The door slammed shut.

Pelegrin’s
father wore a face of cool reserve and dutifully dropped to his
knee before the High Priest. “Your Grace, I thank you for this
audience. I hope the Commodore has not imposed.”

“
Rise, let’s not pretend you have anything presently to thank
me for.”

The Lord’s
High Admiral abstained from greeting Uighara and stood before his
son. The Commodore saluted the chief military commander, who
returned the salute with crisp authority.

“
I have reports that you lost the fleet in your command, can
you account for this?”

Pelegrin
swallowed, sunk by a wave of pride to see his father and torn by a
tempest of guilt for the loss of his men.

“
Juniper
was docked at Rum Hill on
resupply. We were ambushed in dock by rebel forces. They
lured
Templestone
and
Fearless
to dock and seized our ships with heavy losses to Jandan
forces. Five pirate vessels intercepted
Deliverance
and
Lord’s Flame,
assisted by rebels on
our hijacked vessels.”

“
Kobb?”

“
Yes, sir.”

“
Jaspa?”

“
No, sir, this was Delik; the son we thought had fled. Kobb
has Jaspa at his hideout on the Hoard Islands.”

“
You know this, how?”

“
Kobb was gloating, sir, he gave away that he and the rebel
command were plotting together.”

“
I presume they let you two go to pass on this
information.”

“
Yes, sir.”

The Lord’s
High Admiral withdrew a message from his inside breast pocket. “And
this?” He waved it around. “Do you corroborate this?”

“
Sir, I have not read it.”

“
Then you had better do so and explain yourself.”

Pelegrin read
Uighara’s detailed message. It outlined the same information he
gave his father with the addition of the miraculous transport home
to Jando. Further, it included a recommendation to approve the use
of specially armed and warded barges to capture a dragon to
sacrifice.

“
Sir, I don’t know about the capture of any
dragon.”

“
No, you don’t. What of the ... How does he call it? ‘Blessed
transportation’. What say you?”

“
It is true, sir. Though I don’t understand it. In one moment
we were in Rum Hill, the next here in the Lord’s High Temple.
Uighara is very ... adept with the gift. He—”

“
The Lord himself will be the judge of Uighara. So, you say it
works for us then, the chosen?”

“
I stand before you as proof, though I do not know how it is
possible.”

The Lord’s
High Admiral considered them in silence.

The High
Priest leant forward. “Share your mind. Does this satisfy your
earlier reservations?”

“
Somewhat, Your Grace.”

Uighara
clutched his hands in fists “What could possibly remain an
impediment to you understanding? Everything is for the benefit of
the Lord’s work in this land. We have a chance to crush the
rebellion that gnaws at our heels, destroy the pirates that harry
us at sea, and smoke out the nest of evil dragons. Do you not see?
The grand new dawn of the Lord is upon us!”

“
I see risk, I see a trap, and I see your grasping insidious
schemes coming to naught but grief.”

“
Father, this is our chance to end it. We outnumber them. What
trap could hold the armada?”

“
What trap could ambush five of our finest ships? Your command
outnumbered the rebels at Rum Hill. Yet you and this scheming
Calimskan outcast stand as the only survivors.”

“
Many more survive, they—”

The Lord’s
High Admiral barked his son down. “Enough!”

“
Yes, sir.”

The High
Priest finished the last of his grapes and rose from his chair.
“Tell me, Admiral, do we have the superior force for the
engagement?”

“
Yes, of course, Your Grace.”

“
Would the death or capture of the rebel leaders, rid us of
their insurgency?”

“
It would mark their decline, Your Grace.”

“
Would Jando benefit without dragon’s harassing the coast
every year?”

“
Yes, but how can you trust him? How do we know he isn’t in
cahoots with the Golden Shield of Calimska?”

“
I trust no man, I trust their deeds. Brother Uighara’s work
with the infidels has borne us black powder and cannon, silk and
steel. He has delivered your own son to safety. What has your
tenure as Lord’s High Admiral built for our nation, eh? The
rebellion has grown stronger. Merchant ships avoid our ports for
fear of piracy. What of that, eh?”

The Lord’s
High Admiral was not to be defeated, even as his arguments crumbled
around him. “Your Grace, every trade we make favours Calimska. We
suckle at their teat till seasons come, then they leave us to the
dragons, hiding behind their sorcerous corruptions.”

Uighara
sneered. “And that truth will remain as long as the dragons do.
They stole the Lord’s treasures and divided it among themselves. He
won’t rule this orb from a throne of bones. His chosen will gather
unto him all Oranica’s treasure, and they will build him a seat of
gold, silver and platinum, studded with precious gems, enough to
envy the stars. And he will rule again.”

“
This is preposterous! I will not be sermonised by
you!”

“
Father, please listen.”

The Lord’s
High Admiral turned on his son. “You listen! And fall in line,
Commodore. You’d choose the ravings of an exiled shiner over your
commanding officer? Uighara has no military experience and this
entire strategy is flawed.”

The High
Priest rapped his knuckles on the bony arm of his chair. “Then you
must improve the strategy.”

“
Your Grace, I cannot advi—”

The High
Priest cut off the Lord’s High Admiral. “I have heard enough. You
called for more proof and rightly so. Such has been provided. I
will summon the Council and make my proclamation. You can abide by
my authority or resign your post. What is your choice?”

“
I abide your authority, of course. Your Grace, I wish to
install Commodore Pelegrin to Admiral of the fleet, and recommend
we reserve a fifth of the armada as a contingency.”

“
Agreed. Now then; let us rally the faithful.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Sanctuary

The delicate
blush of dawn kissed the rolling sea. Elrin stretched his back,
thinking of his bed in Calimska, hoping the next night’s sleep
would involve something other than a barrel. Minni rested against a
crate beside him and Amber lay on the deck, her head cradled in
Minni’s lap. Minni had a protective arm draped over the girl while
Hurn lay across the deck, a barricade of muscle fencing them off to
sleep in safety.

They had
talked into the night, sharing stories and telling jokes,
forgetting the blood and battle of the day past. Delik and Tikis
had spent the night in Kobb’s quarters, Minni wouldn’t say why.
Elrin guessed they were smoothing out their differences for what
was to come. They could have their secrets as long as they let him
find the Dragon Choir. With Amber safe, they had the key. Even if
the prophecy was a cartload of rot, having Amber on their side had
to be a good thing.

With dawn came
the change of shift. Crew from below decks emerged to trade their
hammock for a day of sweat. They were in high spirits, whistling
and singing bawdy tunes as they took to work. Elrin navigated past
the arms and legs of his new friends, careful not to tread on
anyone. Minni woke, alerted by the movement. She relaxed, seeing it
was just him and raised her arms up in a deep stretch, arching her
back and yawning.

Bone Dancer
led the column of
ships,
Juniper
behind her, sleek and powerful. The three larger Jandan
galleons trailed behind with the rest of Kobb’s ships holding the
rear of the line. Flashes beamed back and forth along the convoy as
Kobb’s captains practised with the solargraphs, most likely
exchanging crude jokes rather than important strategic
information.