Valkyria (11 page)

Rather than risk going to the tavern,
he decided to investigate the young engineer. Gathering information
was a necessity and engineers were prized men and women. Surely
this young man can tell me something.

He was working on connecting a strut of
metal to his new contraption now, which seemed more like a
miniature train than anything else.

“
Good sir,” said Seran,
“what, may I ask, are you working on here?”

“
Well now, you certainly
speak in a funny way, ‘good sir’. Why do you want to know? You
think I will just tell a stranger about my work?”

Seran coughed a little before changing
his tone of voice. I am supposed to be a Traveller, not a Lord. He
shuffled a little before giving a slight smile.

“
Well my name is Seran,” he
said. “I have just got to the Ringlands and will stop here for a
short time before continuing on my way west.”

“
West? Why in the world
would you go west? There is nothing out there but sea.”

The young engineer was right. Nothing
had ever come of anyone heading west. Sailors or pilots would
either return with stories of endless sea or not return at
all.

“
Just because no one else
has found anything does not mean I will not. You are looking at one
of the greatest Travelers in the known history.”

What am I saying? If he asks any
questions about travelling I will have no answers. Seran could feel
the sweat beginning to slide down his face. I hope I have not
ruined my cover already. The engineer stared at him with eyes half
closed and one eyebrow raised for at least ten seconds.

“
Well, if you really want
to then why should I care? As for this little wonder; it is a new
type of catapult, designed to fling bombs at super-intense heat and
great speed.”

“
Why would you need
something like that here in the Ringlands?”

“
Simple. I need it to
remove Eerhart from his little throne up on the mountain over
there. Word has it that he is an Alexandria Empire supporter so we
need to remove him.”

Well Lord Eerhart, it seems you are not
so well versed in the methods of keeping a secret. Seran moved
closer to the engineer.

“
This Eerhart man, how
would I meet him?”

“
Why would you want
to?”

“
Well, I would like to see
what kind of man would support the Alexandria Empire after
everything they have done,” replied Seran. If this fool can get me
there earlier that will be far better than waiting.

*~*~*

16

EINAR

The storm had cleared completely, and
it seems as though it had never touched Argent. The city was so
much more than beautiful to Einar as he stepped off the
boat.

The buildings stretched into the sky as
if they wanted to fly, reaching at least ten floors. Between them
flew air-taxis like most cities, but also other airships. Cargo
ships! I cannot believe I actually get to see cargo ships! Through
the windows of the higher level apartments he could see red walls
and stunningly carved furniture, but in the lower windows the
apartments resembled his own hut.

The screams and wails of children
running through the street kicking a pig’s stomach echoed in his
ears. Men in fine shirts with bow ties conversed with women in
exquisite dressed of blues, reds or purples.

Steamcarts rolled around the
cobblestone roads alongside horse-drawn carts. The steamcarts were
uniform black in colour but stretched out at the front to hold the
engine as steam poured out of them. On the side of the road stood
an aging man playing the violin as people dropped coins in front of
him.

The city was alive with energy, and
Einar could not help but succumb to the magnificence of it all. As
he stared around the area he noticed a group of young girls pointed
and laughing at the group of boys kicking the pig’s stomach. The
girls were dressed in long gowns with their hair resembling a
finely carved statue. The boys, however, were wearing rags and
tunics much like Einar and Alexia wore. Alexia. I have to find
her.

Einar started forward, wondering where
to begin when he noticed a great airship coming into the port five
floors above him. It was a delicately designed machine yet it was
obviously strong in build. The young boy continued on his way,
every now and then gazing in awe at the airship once again. After a
good ten minutes he arrived at a small tavern, the smell of ale in
the air giving away its position.

Inside, the sound of a harp and horn
filled the atmosphere as smoke filled Einar’s lungs. A youthful
woman was spinning and dancing on a large platform in the middle of
the tavern, her surprisingly short skirt fluttering around a she
moved. The men were gawking at her with their mouths
wide.

Einar made his way to the bar and
placed four coins on the counter. A rather elderly man hobbled over
to him, his hair seeming to run away from his face leaving a very
pale area of skin behind.

“
What can I do you for,
boy?”

“
I want some information.
My sister is missing and I need to find where she is.”

Einar stared at the bartender who gave
him a most strange look. The man turned and poured some ale into a
glass and passed it to Einar before continuing.

“
What do you mean by
missing, lad?”

“
Well,” started Einar, “she
was home with me a day ago when we went to bed, but when I awoke
she was gone. I have reason to believe she has been
kidnapped.”

“
You sure she did not just
run away?” Einar shook his head and gave a very forced
smile.

“
She took no food or
possessions with her, so she must have been taken. Have you seen
any young girls around here that seemed as though they were not
sure where they are?”

The bartender stroked his chin, which
was covered in a slightly red beard.

“
Well, there was this
strange little girl trying to get in through the north gate last
night. She did not seem to understand why we would not open the
gate.”

“
What happened next? Where
did she go?”

Einar lent forward on his elbows as the
bartender poured himself a drink. The smell of ale was almost
getting too much for the young man now.

“
Well,” answered the
bartender, “she was not allowed to enter the city so she walked
back up the mountain path. That only leads to one place, Lucia
Village.”

“
Lucia Village? Alright,
thank you for the help.”

The bartender nodded as Einar stood
from the bar and manoeuvred his way around the ever growing number
of men that started open mouthed at the dancing girl.

Outside of the bar he glanced around to
find directions until he noticed a map of the city. From his
current position the North Gate was just twelve streets away.
Alexia, I am coming. He turned around the first corner and began to
work toward the large stone wall that surrounded Argent.

*~*~*

17

NATE

As Nate entered the cockpit of the
Valkyria, following Irving as he hobbled along, his eyes opened far
wider than they were supposed to.

Glass surrounded him. They were
standing on a balcony suspended inside a glass sphere that allowed
those inside to see almost every direction, except behind them.
Brass and steel lined the glass sections, holding them in place,
whilst navigators and officers sat in small bays of brass that
connected to the balcony with small bridges. Each bay was held up
by small steel rods that stretched to the brass above.

The room glowed silver and gold as the
sun reflected off the metals. The balcony was made of fine,
polished oak and lined with yet more of the golden coloured
metal.

Clouds soared by as the propellers that
Nate could see on both sides span furiously. Below them stretched a
vast sheet of blue.

“
I am sorry, Sir Irving,
but I must ask something,” said Nate as he tried to ignore the
beauty around him. “Where are you taking us?”

“
Well, that depends
entirely on you,” the man replied as he span around on his cane to
face the young engineer. “It depends on the strength of your
loyalty to the Three Peaks.

For you see, the airship you and Master
Charles built was to be used to take control of the Alexandria
Alexandria Empire after they had taken back the
Ringlands.

The Peak Lords have always wanted
power. Your little invention was to be their way of securing
it.”

Nate took a step back, his head
shaking. That cannot be true. They wanted to protect
themselves.

“
They said they accepted
the project to help in the defence of the country’s
borders!”

“
The best defence is a good
offence. You would do well to remember that, as it is the general
mentality possessed by those who hold the most power.

How do you feel knowing the reality of
the situation? Would you still allow them to use your invention in
such a manner?”

Nate’s lungs were grasping at any air
they could fill themselves with. The man before him stood calm and
relaxed, his eyes fiercely staring into Nate’s. Could he be right?
It would explain the sudden interest they showed but why would they
do such a thing? No, I will not let Seadawn be used like it. It was
made to bring peace, not war! Nate breathed in deep and looked up
at the captain of the Valkyria once again.

“
Whilst I do not speak for
Charles, I will not have my creation used for warmongering. It was
designed to bring an end to the violence, not create
more.”

He noticed Irving’s mouth curving
upward slightly as he spoke. The captain reached out a hand and
nodded.

“
If that is truly your
hearts answer, then I offer you my hand. For you see, we are
determined to aid in the resolution of war. We wish to remove the
need for violence from Rhythlan. Yet we know the only way to do so
is to use that violence to destroy itself.

If this pleases you, then please take
my hand and join our cause. We need as many people as we can
have.”

Nate glanced around the cockpit, its
beauty still forcing its way into his heart. Anastasia had arrived
on the bridge and was giving a surprisingly hopeful expression. The
clouds were still flying pass and no land had come into sight
whatsoever. Nate stretched out his own hand.

“
I accept your invitation.
If the Peak Lords are the same as the Alexandria Empire then I want
nothing to do with them.”

He and Irving released their hands
before Irving put his on Nate’s shoulder.

“
Welcome to the Valkyries,
Ensign. Now that you have joined us, I wish to tell you of what I
was thinking the past few hours.

Even though you are an engineer and not
a pilot, you were able to make a relatively safe and controlled
landing in a broken airship. That is most impressive.

So my second offer is that after the
Seadawn has been repaired, perhaps Anastasia here could give you
some flying lessons.”

He glimpsed at the young woman whose
eyes were now giving off a sense of happiness and
hatred.

“
An engineer should never
fly,” she spurted out. “They are meant to stay in the machine room
and fix things. Even the great engineers, the Arcana, do not
interfere with things that are not within their
ability.”

“
And yet,” started Irving,
“he was able to fly a broken machine single-handedly as an
engineer. Perhaps it is just natural talent? Would you not want to
see for yourself, dear sister?”

The beauty simply turned and walked
away. Her legs carried her softly far the opposite of her
personality thus far.

“
Never mind her,” continued
the captain, “she is always cold around new faces. She will warm up
to you in time.”

I certainly hope so. How could Nate say
that he found the captain’s younger sister so attractive? Instead
he tried to hide his eyes as he watched her walk away.

“
Perhaps you could talk to
Master Charles,” said Irving, drawing Nate’s attention away from
Anastasia. “He seems to be rather uncomfortable talking to
me.”

Nate nodded. He does not trust you.
Irving gave him a salute, his hand open and flat as it touched the
man’s forehead. Nate copied the gesture and walked away.

*~*~*

18

EINAR

The sun was starting to set, slowly
falling behind the hills and small mountains as Einar made his way
up the long dirt path. The trees seemed to grow taller and more
vicious as he rose up from the valley that held Argent.

“
Come on, Einar. Get a hold
of yourself,” he said aloud as he forced his legs to keep going.
The young farmer boy had always been in good shape, but the travel
and the worry that weighed on his heart seemed to sap all energy
from his body. Each step felt as if he were pulling a boulder with
a piece of string. But he had to continue; he had to find
Alexia.