Blood and Honor

Dria edged around the constructs and reached the passage that led to the rest of the complex, her face a mask of horror. Pushing Tarrel in front of him, Mordan followed her. The Brelander shuffled along numbly, his eyes still seeing the death of the woman he had been sent to recover. Haldin shot a questioning glance at Adalrik, who nodded and motioned him to go. The horror was completely focused on the constructs, as if curious about them; it struck one experimentally with a ray from its single eye, and watched as nothing happened. Adalrik stayed with the half-golems till the gnome was out of the temple, and then left them to their fate.

The storage area was deserted as the companions emerged from the passage, although there seemed to be great activity in the landing-cave. As they ran toward it, they could see that the skeletal flying creature had launched itself into the air again, apparently recovered from the damage it had suffered in their previous battle. Heedless of its own safety, it was grappling the side of the Ministry airship, chewing at one of the elemental binding struts and sweeping crew members off their feet with great buffets of its bony wings.

Haldin, however, pointed with a shout to the dark airship that was still moored in the cavern. An ant-like line of figures was running toward it, carrying books, chests, barrels, and other items, as robed figures on the deck exhorted them to greater speed. Standing on the foredeck, still holding his great scythe, was Marbulin Dravuliel.

Chapter 24

Pursuit

Olarune 26, 999 YK

Tarrel launched fireball after fireball at the ship. Flames erupted from the stern, and Dravuliel turned sharply, gesturing to his crew. Ropes were cut, and a ring of black energy flared from the binding struts as the ship lifted into the air.

Haldin took aim with his repeating crossbow and sent bolt after bolt into the winged undead. Struggling to keep their feet on the lurching deck, the crew of the forward ballista reloaded their weapon with one of the ceramic globes, and sent it flying into the creature’s head. A cloud of vapor erupted from the creature as it shattered. Mordan skidded to a halt at the edge of the landing-platform; pulling a flask of holy water from his bandolier, he hurled it with all his strength, but it fell short.

The necromantic airship was almost clear of the cave mouth. Tarrel’s fireballs kept striking her, and the stern of the craft was blazing fiercely. As it turned to escape along the valley, a couple of her undead crew fell from the afterdeck, blazing like shooting stars as they plummeted to the valley floor.

Dria yelled a command, and her homunculus launched itself from her shoulder, following the escaping airship. It finished its turn and set off along the valley, lost to the sight of those inside the cave. Tarrel stood still, his wand still aimed at the place where the ship had been, emotions chasing each other across his face.

Haldin pulled a new magazine from his bag, slapped it onto his crossbow, and continued to sent bolts at the flying creature. Another globe from the ship’s ballista struck it square in the face, and its skull began to dissolve like icing in the rain. Slowly its grip weakened, and it fell off the Ministry ship, pinwheeling to the valley floor below. A cheer went up from the crew, and the companions in the landing bay joined in.

The airship dropped to the cave mouth and hovered partway inside as the crew let down a climbing net from the side. Dria was first on board, and Mordan climbed awkwardly after her. Haldin and Adalrik helped Tarrel to the net, and Adalrik’s construct climbed aboard with surprising ease. At Haldin’s command, the helmsman swung the wheel round and the airship moved out of the cave, rising into the air.

Dria’s eyes had a faraway look as she monitored the enemy ship through her homunculus. Rising above the network of canyons, the airship sped away as crewmen pulled in the boarding net.

Tarrel sat on the deck with his back against the rail, his head bowed. The wand was still held loosely in his hand, as if forgotten. Mordan looked at him, thought about saying something, but decided against it. Having lost the person he had been sent to find, the inquisitive was probably wondering what he would tell his client. For the first time he could remember, Mordan felt lucky; his family already thought Gali was dead, so he wouldn’t have to tell them anything. He wouldn’t even have to face them again unless he chose to do so. Tarrel would have to go back to Thrane and give an account of his activities.