The Keystone Staff Read online

  Jorthen stopped at the top of the cargo ramp. "How would the Freehold take it if they found out that a captain of an airship was smuggling weapons aboard? I take it my usual cabin is available in the lower decks. Please find a private cabin for my companion." He walked off towards the aft of the hold.

  The young Warden turned to Vessa. "Hello, can you please carry this to my room?"

  "I'm the Quartermaster, not the bloody cabin boy!"

  "Follow Jorthen to his cabin for now," said Fitch. "I'll send someone momentarily to find you suitable accommodations."

  Only once the young redhead walked away and disappeared into the ship did he turn to Vessa. "I want to get underway as soon as possible. Tell the men to raise the sails and empty the ballonets," he said. "Get Rogo to make a cabin ready for Jorthen's companion in the upper-decks. Make sure it's as far away from Jorthen's quarters and as close to yours as possible. Then come see me."

  Vessa nodded and headed off to prepare the ship while Fitch took the hoist back to the upper-decks. He poured himself a cup of wine once he entered his cabin, closed the door and sat down on his bunk. He could hear the bellows stir and suck the air out of the ballonets. The familiar creaking of the sails being unfurled meant they would be up in the air soon. Fitch finished his cup of wine and as he got up to pour another glass, Vessa walked in. He offered her a cup. She declined.

  "We have a problem," he said as he took a sip of wine. "Jorthen is up to something. And it's not his usual scheming."

  "Agreed. He wouldn't have threatened us like he did unless something was up."

  "It's more than that. He knew that I wouldn't smuggle him into Qattan without risking at least a few weapons on board in case events spiral out of control. He counted on me breaking the Ahrsai treaty to get that girl on this damned expedition."

  "So you want me to spy on her."

  Fitch raised his glass to Vessa. She was catching on more quickly these days.

  "They're after something in Qattan but it doesn't seem to be the usual magick rock. This girl has to fit into that somehow so I want to know who she is and what they want. For now, they need us so let's use that to our advantage."

  He downed the rest of his wine and Vessa got up to leave. As she was about to open the door, she turned back to face Fitch. "Do you think they know?" she asked.

  "No," he said. "Things would have gone differently on the docks if they did."

  "What if they double cross us?"

  "Then you'll have to make sure our little secret will be the last thing they learn," Fitch promised.

  The Silent Star rose into the sky and began its journey south.

  Chapter Four: Kera

  Kera's eyes burned from poring through the documents she had brought from the athenaeum. The Silent Star had no portholes and she never ventured to the open decks so her only light had been the lantern she read by. Her world was her cabin's walls that surrounded her.

  They had been in the air for a week now. She spent her days and nights secluded trying to find any clue as to where the Keystone Staff could be located, occasionally stopping for food from the mess deck. During those excursions, she often crossed paths with the ship's quartermaster, who was far friendlier now that they were in the air.

  She had been re-reading passages from a guide to old Qattan which had notes about the city's geography in Luindre's hand. He must have travelled there in the past, she thought.

  Qattan was an old city at the edge of the Mortira Desert, a desert so vast no one had ever crossed it end-to-end. It survived the horrors of the Necromage War of the ancient times. It survived the final battle in the War of the Heavens. But, in the end, it was a natural disaster that toppled the city. Half of it was swallowed up by a giant sink hole that opened to an underground lake. When neighboring cities tried to pillage what was left, the surviving residents protected themselves in an old necropolis on the edge of the crater. Eventually, they built a wall around the crater and carved a new city into the walls of the cavern, abandoning the surface.

  Kera's back began to hurt as she tried to work through the burning sensation in her eyes. Hunger also took hold of her which was a welcomed feeling after spending the first few days getting her sky legs. She decided it was time to grab something to eat.

  Kera walked out into the narrow corridor and up a flight of stairs until she found the mess hall, which was fortunately empty of crew. The food aboard the ship was almost unbearable and consisted mostly of salted meats, dried hard bread, and cheese. She gathered up some indiscernible meat, dried peas, and a bit of cheese into a bowl. She turned as Vessa entered the room and sauntered up to her.

  "Hi there," she smiled.

  "I'm sorry, I'm just grabbing a snack," Kera murmured, backing away. "I'll get out of your way."

  "Stop."

  Kera froze, unsure of how to respond. Vessa had been the only crew member to utter a word to her these past few days but Kera had tried to keep their conversation to a minimum. The first night aboard the Silent Star, Jorthen instructed her to steer clear of the crew and not to interfere with them.

  "I'm sorry I snapped at you when we began our journey," Vessa said. "But you're the only other woman onboard. I rarely get a chance to just talk with another woman."

  "I'm just very busy at the moment," Kera responded.

  Vessa's eyes narrowed as she made her way to the exit. "Well, I'm sorry to disturb you and your fine meal."

  The Quartermaster was about to leave the mess deck when Kera, in spite of her self, spoke. "Vessa?"

  Vessa stopped at the threshold and looked back.

  "I'm sorry. Have a seat with me?" Kera said. "Please?"

  She picked a small table in the corner next to a tapped barrel and sat down as Vessa eyed her from the open hatch. Kera was unsure whether the young Quartermaster would sit down or walk out the door.

  "You should drink the grog," Vessa said finally and sat down across the table.

  "I don't drink."

  "It's not to get drunk. The lime in it will stave off scurvy. It's pretty weak."

  Kera hesitated. She had never had an alcoholic drink as per her order's traditions. She had read about the disease and how fresh fruit prevented it but there was no fresh fruit aboard. It made sense they would preserve the lime with alcohol. She poured a modest portion of the drink into a wooden cup from the nearby barrel and sat back down.

  Vessa's pale blue eyes studied her. "It won't hurt you. And one cup won't make you drunk," she said.

  Kera put the cup to her lips, took a small sip and gagged. Vessa threw her head back and laughed.

  "You said it wasn't strong! It tastes like dirt and rotten fruit!" said Kera.

  Vessa continued to laugh, "I meant the amount of alcohol in it! I should have given you a better warning."

  "It's vile!"

  Vessa rested her elbow on the table. "It's better than your teeth falling out while your gums bleed."

  "How do you drink this?"

  "You get used to it."

  "You mean you actually like it?"

  "No, I mean you get used to it. Captain's got some of the better drink in his cabin, though."

  Kera took a bite of her dried meat, which may or may not have been beef. At least the drink makes the food taste better in comparison, she thought.

  "How long have you known him?" Kera asked.

  "Who? The captain? Near most my life, it seems. Brought me on board to see the world but you've probably seen more going on missions."

  "I've never left Valtan until now."

  Vessa's eyes went wide. She stood and leaned forward over the table. "You mean you've never left home? Never been airborne? Have you even left your cabin?"

  Kera shook her head, a piece of dried beef hanging fr
om her lips. Vessa pulled Kera by the arm from the table, through the mess deck hatch and up a flight of stairs leading to the top deck. For a small lady Vessa is incredibly strong, Kera thought.

  As they approached the exit from the stairwell, panic kicked in and Kera struggled against Vessa. Too late. Both of them stood exposed to the sky. The sun was setting, and bands of orange, red, and violet stretched across the sky. The Silent Star sailed a thousand feet above the Disc Sea.

  Kera had lived her life surrounded by the walls of Valtan City and was now terrified and exhilarated by the endless sky and sea of the world around her. She walked up to the rail on the port side of the ship and looked off towards the horizon.

  "Jorthen is up here every morning practicing with that staff of his. Conjuring up fire and water and whatever else," Vessa said.

  "He's practicing, it's normal."

  "I mean, why aren't you doing the same thing? I'd have thought you would have been practicing as well. All you've done is just linger in your dingy cabin."

  Because the crew would laugh at me? "I'm a bibliothecary's apprentice. I only carry a Luminstone pendant with me."

  "What for?"

  "To read by if I can't find a lantern, mostly."

  "Can I see it?"

  Kera took the pendant out from under her maroon robes. She almost forgot it was there and was about to undo the clasp behind her neck when Vessa spoke. "No, I want you to show me how you use it."

  She concentrated on the stone to produce a low light. Suddenly, the stone shone as bright as the midday sun. Both she and Vessa turned away from it as Kera quickly disengaged the stone.

  "The hell was that for?" Vessa exclaimed.

  The spots in Kera's eyes dissipated as her mind raced. That shouldn't have happened. That's never happened. Something's wrong. "I'm sorry," was all she said before a bell from the crow's nest rang out.

  Vessa cupped her hands and yelled towards the crew member at the top of the mast. "What is it?"

  "Incoming off the port side," the crew member responded as he climbed down the rigging to the top deck.

  "What do you mean 'incoming?' We're in the air!"

  Vessa looked out towards the mountains in the east. Kera did the same. They both scanned the horizon when Kera saw them: twelve large birds headed straight for the Silent Star.

  "Sound the alarm!" Vessa commanded.

  Kera had never seen such birds before. Their wings looked strangely rigid as they flapped. "What types of birds are those?" she asked.

  "They're not birds, they're Aramkeen ornithopters!"

  The ornithopters were made of wood and canvas and shaped like bat wings. Kera had read about the Aramkeen and while little is known about them, one thing is certain. "Assassins," Kera whispered as a glider landed before them.

  Chapter Five: Fitch

  Fitch was looking out towards the horizon from the upper bridge. To the west, the sun was setting where sea met sky and all signs pointed to a quiet, smooth flight through the night. He liked taking the helm alone before dusk just to see the world one last time as they glided above in silence. He felt free.

  This evening, however, Fitch's silent contemplation was disturbed by a commotion on deck. Fitch couldn't make out what was being yelled from the crow's nest. He locked down the helm but before he could reach the bridge door, a large burly man whose nose and mouth was covered by a bushy moustache came rushing in.

  "What's happening, Rogo?" Fitch asked.

  "Aramkeen gliders, cap'n!" Rogo responded.

  "Get the men armed!"

  Fitch pulled a plank from the wall and hidden behind it were two rapiers and two long swords. As they burst through the door, he gave the long swords to Rogo and took a rapier in each hand. Fitch gathered that they must have flown in from the Einorn mountains.

  As Rogo went below deck, Fitch saw a glider land amidships near three crew members on the top deck. No, not three crew members, he thought in alarm. That's Vessa and Jon with the young Warden Kera. He rushed over towards them. Before he could reach the trio, a small crossbow bolt struck the deck as a second glider almost landed on top of him. The pilot, clad in a black hood and face mask, released the buckles attaching him to the glider. He unsheathed his sword in midair, striking from above as he landed.

  Fitch crossed his swords and blocked. He glanced over to the trio as an unarmed Jon tackled the other Aramkeen to the ground. A third glider landed on the bow of the ship. The assassin Fitch faced swung his sword again and again. Fitch blocked with one rapier and then the other before the assassin swept his feet from under him.

  Fitch fell onto his back as the assassin's sword swung down. He rolled over as the sword hit the deck and stuck. Thrusting up with both swords, he penetrated deep into his opponent's side. With a sickening scream, the assassin buckled and collapsed. Fitch leapt up off the deck and hurried towards Jon, Vessa and Kera. A quick motion from the Aramkeen's sword hand and Jon's head had been severed from his neck. The two assassins now turned their attention to the women.

  Without warning, a brilliant light emanated from Kera and shot towards one of the two incoming assassins. He arched back in pain and clutched at his eyes as his skin began to turn a bright reddish-pink. After a few moments, the Luminstone suddenly shattered in Kera's hand. The searing pain traveled up her arm.

  She blinded one of them with a Luminstone, Fitch thought. I didn't know the Wardens could do that. He turned his attention to the arrival of another glider depositing a tall and slender figure. The new assassin was clad in white, with pale skin and piercing red eyes.

  "Witchwarrior!" he cried out.

  In her left hand, the Witchwarrior uncorked a vial from where a green mist rose. With a quick motion of her right hand, the green cloud shot towards Kera, whose Luminstone now grew dark. The Aramkeen assassin lunged towards the pair of women. "Now Vessa!" yelled Fitch as he ran towards the witch.

  Vessa stepped between Kera and the incoming Aramkeen. She extended her right arm and a flame burst forth from her palm. The assassin, engulfed in flame, was knocked over the side and to a certain death in the turbulent sea below. The Witchwarrior waved her hand over the green vial but Fitch intercepted her, putting both his swords to her neck.

  "Yield!" he said.

  The witch glared. He pushed his scissored swords into her neck and drew blood. Fitch wouldn't hesitate to cut her head clean off at the slightest movement.

  "I am yours," she spat and looked down.

  Crossbow bolts began to rain down from the remaining Aramkeen gliders as Rogo, Jorthen, and a few more shipmates poured out onto the deck. His men were armed with bows and swords.

  "Take them out of my sky!" said Fitch.

  As the crewmen fired, Jorthen looked over at Kera before pointing his staff towards the remaining gliders. A blue gem glowed on the stave as an icicle formed at its tip, firing into the closest ornithopter. Most of the assassins were killed in the air as their gliders crashed onto the deck. The few who survived to the deck were butchered with swords.

  "Rogo, you're late," Fitch said.

  "Aye, but you've seem to have done well without me."

  Fitch pointed to the Witchwarrior. "Remove her vials and get her into the stockade. She shouldn't be a problem for the time being."

  As Rogo escorted the witch below deck, Jorthen was already walking towards Kera demanding to know what happened. Fitch's heart sank and his mind raced as he tried in vain to come up with a reasonable explanation for what Kera witnessed.

  "We were attacked from the sky. Aramkeen flying gliders," Kera said, clutching her bleeding hand.

  "And you fought back?" asked Jorthen.

  "No. That one," Kera nodded towards the decapitated Jon, "defended us and attacked the first to land before..." Kera closed her eyes mom
entarily and took a deep breath before continuing. "Captain Fitch dispatched a second. Vessa knocked another overboard as the Captain held the Witchwarrior at sword point. The witch has temporarily taken away my gift. Then you and the rest of the crew appeared on deck."

  "And that's all that happened?" he said, looking at her bleeding hand.

  "Yes master."

  Jorthen studied the young Warden but his stern look softened.

  "Your gift should be back in a few hours, the Witchwarrior's alchemy will wear off by then. Please see the ship's medic and remain below deck. Luindre would not be happy if I returned without you."

  Fitch watched as Jorthen walked away. He now had far more questions than answers and it was high time he got some. Once Jorthen was out of earshot and below deck did he turn to Kera.

  "May I please see you in my cabin? You too, Vessa."

  ***

  Fitch's cabin was only slightly bigger than any of the other cabins on the Silent Star. There wasn't any standing space for the three of them which made any discussion awkward. Vessa wrapped Kera's hand in gauze as he sat down at his desk. Fitch stroked his beard, trying to find a delicate way to approach this situation. He looked into Kera's golden eyes.

  "You lied to him." Well, that was delicate, he thought.

  "I did not. Vessa knocked an Aramkeen off the deck," Kera responded. "I just left out a few details," she sheepishly added.

  "You could have told him," said Vessa as she tied off the gauze.

  "Told him what? That you can manipulate fire without a Lenstone? A natural-born like you hasn't been seen in two centuries. I didn't even believe they existed at all until now."

  "No one knows about it other than the three of us in this room," said Fitch. "I would prefer it if it stayed that way."

  "Captain, I've lived my entire life in the confines of Valtan City so I may be naïve, but I'm not stupid. There are things Jorthen isn't telling you or me and obviously there are things you haven't told us. What I know is that Vessa saved my life by revealing something you were hoping to keep hidden. All I want is to do my job and go home. I'm not here to recruit."