The Pirates of Pacta Servanda

Chapter Four

“We’ll begin searching the entire city,” General Shi said. “With the entire army looking—”

“We must be dealing with Mages,” the middle-aged man interrupted. “They captured another Mage and killed your soldiers without creating enough disturbance to be noticed.”

“There have been no reports of unusual activity at the Mage Guild,” Shi insisted.

“Dark Mages,” Mari said. “It might be Dark Mages.”

“It might,” the man agreed. “Your Mage must still be alive, or they would have left his body with those of the soldiers. How can we find your Mage without a lengthy search that would give warning to those who hold him? They might kill him if they know we seek him.”

Mari buried her face in both hands, trying to think. If only that damned thread ran both ways… “Maybe it does,” she whispered.

“Lady?”

“I need to get back to my ship as quickly as possible. One of the Mages there might be able to locate Mage Alain.”

They rushed through hallways and down stairs, emerging into the open where General Shi flagged down a cavalry unit standing guard. “Two of you dismount and give your horses to Colonel Faron and this lady. Escort them to the waterfront. Do not delay and move as quickly as you can.”

Mari hoisted herself into the saddle of a cavalry mount, torn between her admiration of the fine horse and her discomfort at riding. The group thundered down the streets of Julesport, pedestrians and wagons dashing to clear the path and sometimes barely getting out of the way. A road blocked by heavy traffic caused the column to veer into an alley, gallop through a series of turns as they vaulted piles of trash, and finally come out beyond the stoppage. Fortunately, Mari didn’t have to guide her mount, which kept up with its fellow horses. She was fully occupied with trying to stay in the saddle.

At one point they raced past a corner where two Mechanics stood. Mari saw their faces only as blurs, impossible to recognize, but she thought one of the Mechanics looked indifferent to whatever emergency was causing commons to rush about. The other, though, seemed to gaze toward Mari as she and the cavalry passed by.

The column came to a halt at the quay, the horses blowing with exertion. Colonel Faron came to assist Mari, but she dropped from the saddle without help. As the cavalry milled about, Mari and Faron raced to the waiting launch. This time the rowers bent even harder to their task than before, the launch leaping across the water to the small clipper ship.

Mari jumped onto the ladder still hanging down the side of the Gray Lady and scrambled up it as fast as she could.

All of the Mechanics and Mages were waiting and watching her with visible alarm. “What’s up? Where’s Alain?” Alli asked as Mari caught her breath.

“He was taken,” Mari finally gasped out. “By Mages. Maybe Dark Mages. Mage Asha, is my beacon still there?”

Asha was actually betraying enough concern for Mari to see it. “It has never faded. But you do not wish me to speak of it.”

“Now I do. There’s a… Alain calls it a thread that connects him and me. He’s been able to use it to tell where I am. Can you sense that?” Mari asked desperately. “Can you track Alain through me?”

Asha paused for long enough that Mari felt like screaming in frustration. Then Asha said, “Try, yourself, to sense that thread, to feel where Alain is.”

“I don’t know how.” But Mari tried, pretending she could see the thread, thinking feverishly of Alain.

“I… sense something,” Asha said. She pivoted slowly, pointing into the city. “That way. It… feels like Mage Alain.”

Colonel Faron pointed in another direction. “The Mage Guild Hall in Julesport lies that way.”

“That is well,” Mage Dav said. “Any attempt to assault a Mage Guild Hall by those of us here would be futile. But if Mage Alain is held elsewhere, there is a chance.”

Faron pointed again, this time in a different direction. “That’s about where the Mechanics Guild Hall is. So he’s not there, either.”

“Let’s go,” Mari said. “Now.” She grabbed the Mechanics jacket that Alli offered, shrugging into it and then taking an offered rifle.

“Lady—” Colonel Faron began, alarmed.

Mari spun to face him. “I know. I also know that there’s likely to be some kind of fight when we find Alain. And a fight could spark the sort of unrest in this city that none of us want. But if the people of Julesport see that it is Mechanics and Mages involved, they won’t think it has anything to do with them.”

“Lady, if they see Mechanics and Mages working together they will know that only one person could be responsible!”

“Then… that should calm them, too, right?” Mari didn’t wait for an answer. “Who’s coming?” she asked the others.

Mechanics Alli, Bev, and Dav were already carrying rifles. Mage Asha and Mage Dav stood by the railing, clearly waiting to leave.

“Thank you,” Mari said. She spun toward the side of the ship, pausing as she finally noticed the captain of the Gray Lady standing not far away. “Get all the supplies you need aboard and do it as fast as you can. We may be leaving very quickly when we return.”

The captain nodded, as if hasty departures from port were routine for his ship. Then he spoke reluctantly. “There’s the matter of funds—”

“No, there isn’t!” Mari snapped. “It’s taken care of. Any supplies you need that haven’t shown up already should be here soon.”

With a resigned look, Colonel Faron led the way back down the ladder. The launch was slightly overloaded with everyone aboard, but made it to the quay without incident. “How could they have surprised Alain?” Bev asked. “He’s pretty sharp.”

“Concealment spells,” Mari said. “Mages can make themselves invisible to everyone.”

“Except other Mages,” Mage Dav advised. “We can see a Mage using such a spell. Not as the person they are, but as a pillar of light being reflected from the Mage. Mage Alain should have sensed another Mage using such a spell near him.”

“Maybe he got knocked out,” Mechanic Dav said, “before the guards were killed.”

“That would require one of the guards to have betrayed us,” Colonel Faron said, his mouth a thin, angry line. “But it is the best explanation we have at this time.”

As she pulled herself quickly up the ladder and stood on the quay again, Mari remembered something and gazed out across the harbor. “Has there been any extra smoke from that stack, Alli?”

“Not yet. The Senior Mechanics must still be oblivious.”

Colonel Faron was issuing orders to some of the cavalry, who dashed off in a rattle of hooves. “Some of the other shipping in the harbor is about to reposition,” he said. “The other ships will block the movement of that Mechanic ship if it tries to get underway.”

“Won’t that cause the Mechanics Guild to target you?” Mari asked as they walked quickly toward land.

Faron looked regretful. “For what? We’re just dumb, foolish commons who can’t do anything right.”

They paused at the place where the quay joined land, nearly a full troop of cavalry jostling nearby, the tips of their lances flashing red from the rays of the setting sun.

Mage Asha stopped and looked around. “I must focus,” she told Mari, the Mage voice sounding so strange in its lack of feeling. “We must walk.”

“Fine,” Mari said. “Let’s walk.”

Asha started off a fast pace that startled Mari. She caught up and tried to match Mage Asha, but after two weeks of idleness on the ship Mari found herself straining to keep up. For her part, Mage Asha walked without any sign of exertion.

Alli caught up as well. “She’s in really good shape,” Alli puffed.

“All Mages are like that,” Mari said, most of her attention focused on thinking of Alain. “Their training as acolytes is extremely physically punishing.”

“Keep your thoughts centered on Mage Alain,” Asha told Mari.

“I am!”

They were walking up a broad avenue leading into the city, a detachment of cavalry riding a little ways ahead and contriving to clear the road without revealing who they were clearing it for. Citizens of Julesport were pausing to look, puzzled by the sight of Mechanics jackets and Mage robes together. Mari tried to block out awareness of the growing buzz of conversation, keeping her mind centered on Alain.

The sun set off to the west, plunging the city streets into gloom that was partially dispelled as lamplighters began their work.

Asha came to a stop, then turned herself slowly, as if, Mari thought, she was an antenna trying to pick up a faint signal. She pointed to the right. “They are trying to block his presence, but he lies this way.” She turned abruptly onto a side street, leaving the cavalry racing to get ahead again. The small group of Mechanics and Mages moved through the crowds of common folk who would have made way for members of the Great Guilds anyway but were particularly eager to avoid the grim-faced Mechanics carrying rifles as well as the impassive menace of the Mages walking with them.

As Mari checked her rifle again, she heard amidst the crowds the words she had been fearing to hear.

“… daughter…”

“… must be…”

“… it’s true…”

But then Asha turned quickly once more. The street they were on now was much narrower, barely wide enough for two carts to pass each other. People were lined up along the sides, staring at Mari’s group, further reducing the space available.

“The elders at the Mage Guild Hall will hear of this,” Mage Dav said.

“The Senior Mechanics will, too,” Mechanic Bev added.

Mari just nodded, keeping her focus tightly on thoughts of Alain.

“If I know my Senior Mechanics,” Alli said, “they’ll hold a meeting to decide what to do, and then likely call to Guild Headquarters in Palandur for guidance before acting. That should give us a few hours.”

Asha came to a sudden halt before a three-story structure that stood slightly apart from a similar building on one side, a narrow alley separating them. A vacant lot with only an old foundation overgrown with weeds was on the other side.

Colonel Faron rode up next to Mari. “It’s a former hotel. Now a place of ill-repute. You! Over here!”

The police officer summoned by Faron came running over, holding his helmet on with one hand and a hardwood club in the other. Like most police, he wore only a lacquered leather chest plate as armor over his uniform. “Yes, sir?”

“What can you tell me of this place?”

“We make arrests outside of it nearly every night but haven’t been able to prove anything against the owner.”

“The owner is paying off the police,” Mage Dav said, the coldly emotionless voice of a Mage even more intimidating than usual. “This shadow reveals it.”

“I… I…” Terrified to be the focus of a Mage’s attention, the police officer backed away.

Faron looked at Mari. “There are laws in Julesport. We would need a warrant to get that door open.”

“I don’t need a warrant,” Mari said. “I’ve got Mechanic Alli.”

“But—”

“You don’t see me, right? Aren’t those your orders?”

Colonel Faron paused, then smiled. “And I must follow my orders.”

“Alli, we need a door down,” Mari said, looking at the door barring entry to the building. It was made of heavy planks reinforced with metal straps, the sort of barrier that could require some time to force.

“Right here,” Alli announced, sounding cheerful. She had a small lump of something in one hand and was poking what looked like a large stick into it. “Stand back.”

Everyone pushed away from the door as Alli pressed the explosives against the lock, did something to the fuse, and then ran back to rejoin the others. “How did you know I’d have some explosives with me?” she asked Mari.

“Seriously?” Mari said. “Mage Asha, are you sure that Mage Alain is inside there?”

Asha nodded.

“Four, three, two…” Alli counted down.

The explosion wasn’t large, but it was enough to leave the heavy door sagging on its hinges. Mechanics Dav and Bev hit the door with their shoulders, knocking it open. Mari found herself pushed aside by Mages Dav and Asha as they followed the Mechanics, long knives out.

She rushed after them to find a tall, thin man standing in the center of the room, his mouth agape. “How— How dare you!”

Asha was turning, her gaze sweeping the room. She stopped, eyes intent, then stepped forward, her long knife swinging in a fast, vicious arc. It rebounded from something unseen with a clang of metal on metal, but Asha whipped her knife around in a reverse circle that ended when the knife stopped in mid-air.

A man appeared, his mouth open as he grunted with pain from a deep cut in his side. A knife fell from his own hand as he staggered back.

Mage Asha pulled back her knife for another slash, but before she could strike again Mechanic Dav stepped forward and swung his rifle butt against the man’s head.

“This is no Dark Mage,” Mage Dav said as the injured man collapsed. “It is Mage Niaro. But there is another here.”

Both Mages swung to face another corner of the room. “Another hides there.”

Bev took two steps, leveling her rifle at the apparently vacant corner. “Should I just kill him?”

An older man appeared where nothing had been, his face a strange mix of Mage impassivity and terror, dropping to his knees with hands upheld in supplication. “No! I will not resist! I have money! You can have it all!”

“See if you can buy off Colonel Faron after you killed his soldiers!” Mari snarled. “Asha! Where is Alain?”

Asha swung slowly again, then pointed up a flight of stairs on one side of the room. Mari took the stairs two at a time until she reached the top and a locked door there.

She swung the butt of the rifle against the lock with all of her strength, shattering the wood around it. The door slammed open, Mari dashing inside so fast she barely stayed clear of it.

The sparsely furnished room was dominated by a bed. Mari faltered for a moment as she saw Alain lying on it face up, apparently unrestrained and wearing almost nothing. Standing next to him was a woman much older than Mari, who had obviously been startled in the act of undressing Alain. “Get away from my husband, you witch!” Mari yelled, her mind flaring red with rage at the unexpected scene.

“Dark Mage!” Asha warned as she entered after Mari, but Mari didn’t hesitate, rushing forward and slamming the barrel of her rifle against the Dark Mage’s head.

The force of the blow hurled the Dark Mage against the wall, where she fell to lie unconscious. Mari, all of her fears and angers of this day concentrated on the Dark Mage before her, brought her rifle up and centered it on the woman.

A strong hand grasped the barrel and pushed it to one side, holding it there while Mari tried to bring the weapon to bear again. “Alli! Let go!”

Alli shook her head, maintaining her grip. “Mari. You don’t want to do this.”

“Yes, I do! Let go!” Mari struggled, but couldn’t shake Alli’s hold.

“Mari,” Alli said in a voice strong enough to penetrate through Mari’s anger. “Remember what you said to me? About how you were afraid you’d change? That you would become someone else because of everything that was happening?”

Mari stopped struggling, gazing back at Alli. “Yes,” she panted, suddenly short of breath.

“Would Mari shoot a helpless woman? Even a Dark Mage? You put a bullet in her and you’ll feel good for maybe five seconds. Then you’ll hate yourself for the rest of your life.”

Mari stared at her friend, took a deep breath, then stepped back as Alli finally let go of the barrel of the rifle. “Thank you.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Alli said. “I’ll take care of—”

“Let me,” Mage Asha said. She walked over to the unconscious Dark Mage, who was lying against the outer wall. Asha tensed as she cast a spell, and a section of that wall disappeared, leaving an opening about the size of a person. Asha placed one foot on the Dark Mage and pushed, rolling her out of the opening.

Mari heard the thud of the Dark Mage hitting the ground as the opening vanished, leaving a once-again solid wall in its wake.

“That’s gonna hurt,” Alli said with a grin.

“Mage Alain is my friend,” Asha said.

“Are you guys all right up there?” Bev called from below.

“We’re fine,” Mari yelled back, then raced to the bed to look at Alain. His hands were tied but he wasn’t fighting the bonds, instead lying limply, his eyes partially open.

Alli leaned close. “Drugged?”

Asha nodded. “It is one of the weapons of dark Mages. They sought to discredit and humiliate Mage Alain, altering his mind by physical abuse so that he would become feeble and irrational. They must have been hired by the Mage Guild here to strike at him. It is not enough that Mage Alain die. The elders want him shown to be a weak Mage before then.”

“Let’s get him dressed and get out of here,” Mari said, grabbing Alain’s shirt from where it lay beside the bed.

Alli grunted with frustration as she tried to help. “I can’t get his arm through this sleeve. He’s got his fist clenched and I can’t budge it.”

“Why would his fist—?” Mari looked. “It’s his left hand.” She felt tears starting. “Even when drugged he clenched his fist to keep them from taking his promise ring!” Her voice broke on the last two words.

Alli rolled her eyes. “Seriously? Even when one of you is unconscious, you two are still nauseating.”

“It’s love, Alli!”

“I know what love is. I just think you two go a little overboard on the whole thing.”

“Jealous,” Mari said, her heart still pounding from recent events. “We’ll just get Alain into his robes. That shouldn’t be too hard.” She realized that it should have felt weird to have two other women helping her to dress her husband, but at the moment Asha and Alli felt a lot more like sisters.

Once his robes were on, the three women hoisted Alain and began carrying him out of the room. “Wow,” Alli commented, looking at Asha as they headed for the stairs. “You’ve got some muscle hidden under those robes.”

“All Mages prepare for any physical demands,” Asha said, impassive even while helping to maneuver Alain’s limp body down the stairs. “All physical effort must be as nothing.”

They paused to adjust the load at the bottom of the stairs, Asha maneuvering Alain’s head so that his eyes were pointed toward the Mage who had been injured. “Mage Niaro, working with Dark Mages. You see, Alain,” she told him even though he showed no sign of being aware. “That is how the Mages found you in this city.”

Mari stared at the fallen Mage, whose blood was forming a widening pool. “Shouldn’t we help him? He’ll die.”

“He is nothing,” Asha said.

“No. Nobody is nothing. Not even this Niaro.”

Bev knelt down, looking over Niaro. “Well, this guy is nothing now. He just died. Hey, Dav, help me drag him out of here.”

Together the two Mechanics pulled Niaro’s body through the door as the others got Alain out as well. Bev laid out Niaro straight, his arms folded across his chest, as if he were anyone else who had died and needed to be laid out properly. She dug in one pocket and pulled out a coin, placing it on Niaro’s chest in the old ritual.

“Why are you doing that for him?” Mechanic Dav asked.

“I’m doing it for me,” Bev said. “So that I know I’m not like he was.”

Mari saw that the Dark Mage who had surrendered was standing blank-faced, his arms bound, amidst Colonel Faron’s soldiers. Some other soldiers were busy binding up the woman Mari had knocked unconscious.

The owner of the building followed them out, shouting angrily. “You will pay! This was illegal!”

“Hold on a second,” Bev said. She brought her rifle to her shoulder, causing the owner to stagger back and cover his head, but her shot went into the building and resulting in a tinkle of breaking glass. “Darn. My weapon went off and hit that oil lamp.”

“Did you do that for you, too?” Mechanic Dav asked.

“Nah. I did that for Mari.”

Firelight was already flickering within the doorway as Colonel Faron turned to a detachment of police officers who had just arrived. “It is unfortunate that you won’t be able to save this building.”

“If the fire wardens get here quickly enough—” one of the officers began saying.

“You won’t be able to save this building,” Faron repeated in a way that made it clear no more argument was allowed. “Don’t let the fire spread to any other buildings, though.”

Mari, suddenly feeling very tired, blinked at an empty, open-topped carriage sitting in the street.

“My unit is supposed to take this carriage down to the quay,” Colonel Faron said as if talking to the air.

“Get in,” Mari told everyone. It took some work to get Alain up and inside, but he was soon sitting limply between Mari and Asha.

Only then did Mari notice how crowded the streets were, how many people were there, all of them gazing silently toward the Mechanics and the Mages. A low buzz of conversation started among the crowd, and Colonel Faron turned a pleading glance her way.

“What do they want?” Mechanic Dav asked, glancing around worriedly and fingering his rifle even though the weapon would be useless against so many.

“They want me,” Mari said. She stood up carefully in the carriage and looked out on the crowds, feeling a chill at their numbers and their watchfulness. And all of them were watching her.

The fire inside the building grew in intensity with a sudden whoosh, the light spilling out to illuminate Mari. The buzz of the crowd grew in volume, and their eyes glittered at her like thousands of candles.

How did she even begin to address these people?

That dilemma was resolved as someone finally called out a loud question. “Who are you?”

In the silence that followed that call, a silence broken only by the distant ringing of bells as fire wardens sounded alarms and the crackling of flames greedily devouring the building, Mari’s voice had no trouble carrying. “You know who I am. I have come from Altis. Before that I was in the Empire, and in the Northern Ramparts, and at Dorcastle. I came to Julesport to… to ask you to wait a little while longer. I know you have stopped believing that things could ever change. But they will! It is not yet time. The Great Guilds are very powerful. But they will be overthrown!”

The answering roar from the crowd felt like a physical force beating at Mari. She raised her arms, gesturing for silence, and for a wonder the crowd fell quiet again. “Do not act yet! It is not time! I do not want what the Great Guilds did at Altis to happen here. You will hear from me, and of me, I promise you. But do not risk yourselves and your city by acting before I am ready. You all have a lot to live for. Never forget that.”

A shrill voice yelled at her. “You’re a Mechanic! Liar! She would never be one of them!”

Part of Mari quailed at the accusation, knowing what would happen to her and her friends if this crowd turned into a mob. But part of her got angry. This was all hard enough. Too hard. Why did she have to argue with the people who should be helping her? “Jules was on officer of the Empire before she became something else. Have you forgotten that? Who am I? Ask the people of Altis!” Mari yelled back. “Ask the leaders of the Mechanics Guild, who have placed a high price on my head and already tried to kill me many times! Ask the Mages, who have told me I am that person, and the elders of the Mage Guild who also want me dead!”

Asha stood up beside her, the cowl of her robes back, her beauty making her look spectral in the light of the fire. “She is the daughter. It has been foreseen.” The Mage voice, loud but completely unfeeling, echoed among the suddenly silent crowd.

And in that silence a single person could be heard sobbing, crying softly. “At last. At last.”

Mari tried to sound calm and determined. “I have to go now. I have to leave Julesport in order to protect you. The days of the Great Guilds are numbered. Believe that because it is true. Together we will bring a new day to this world. Stay safe until then!”

Judging the moment right, Colonel Faron spurred his mount forward, the cavalry with him taking position around the carriage as its driver flicked the reins at the two horses hitched to it. The carriage began rolling toward the nearest edge of the crowd, which reluctantly gave way, everyone straining to see Mari as she sat down again. Mari held her hand before her, staring at how badly it was shaking.

Colonel Faron leaned down to speak to her. “I’ve sent for healers to meet us at the quay for the injured Mage Alain. There are reports that Mechanics are vanishing from the streets of the city, all withdrawing into their Guild Hall.”

“Wh—” Mari swallowed and managed to speak again. “What about the Mages?”

“There are small groups of them out. They don’t seem to be converging on any point. They’re just out.”

Mage Dav went to the edge of the carriage. “I will seek some of them.”

“Is that not dangerous?” Mage Asha asked.

“Yes.”

Mage Dav stepped down from the slow-moving carriage, vanishing almost immediately into the crowd, while Alli, Bev, and Mechanic Dav stared after him. “You Mages take some getting used to,” Alli finally said. “No offense.”

“Why should I care what you say?” Asha asked.

Alli’s mouth dropped open for a moment, then she looked at Mari. “Tell me again just how you got to know Alain?”

“We were running for our lives,” she said, holding Alain with one arm while she tried to suppress the nervous shakes that still shivered through her. “We didn’t have any choice. And yes, if the circumstances had been any different, it would have been very hard to get to know him enough to understand why he said things like that. It’s not an insult. Mage Asha isn’t trying to make you upset or angry. She’s just asking why she should be upset by anything you say, and that’s literally all she means by it.”

“If you say so.” Alli looked at the crowds on either side of the carriage. “Just how did Mage Asha help us find Alain anyway?”

“It’s my… beacon,” Mari admitted.

“Oh, yeah. You haven’t talked about that since Altis.”

“I don’t want to ever talk about it,” Mari mumbled.

Asha spoke again. “When Mari developed feelings for Mage Alain, and I learned to see Mari as not just a shadow, I began to sense her presence from afar. Whenever she thinks of Mage Alain, it is as if a distant bonfire lights for me.”

Alli didn’t answer, and when Mari looked at her she saw that Alli was trying desperately not to laugh. “That must be… really… embarrassing,” she finally got out.

“It is,” Mari said, trying to sound as cold as a Mage.

Mechanic Dav was giving her a funny look. “Does that happen every time a Mechanic and a Mage, uh…”

“You’ll have to let me know,” Mari said, which at least shut down further questions from Mechanic Dav.

The crowds were thinning as they reached the edges of the throng, the carriage horses trotting along streets where more and more soldiers were in evidence. As the carriage neared the quay, a cavalry soldier came riding up and saluted. “Colonel,” she called. “There is a group of Mechanics down there. They claim to be friends of the daughter.”

Faron turned a questioning look on Mari.

“Did they give any names?” Mari asked.

The soldier shook her head. “One of them said to tell Master Mechanic Mari that the next time she is in a blizzard to remember that nothing is real.”

“What?” Colonel Faron demanded. “What does that mean?”

“I know what it means,” Mari said, laughing with relief. “Alli, you might want to run ahead and meet those guys.”

“Why?” Alli asked. “Hold on. Blizzard. Isn’t that when you met—?”

“Sure was,” Mari said, smiling.

“Wooo!” Alli jumped out of the carriage and ran ahead.

“I guess it is all right,” Faron said, motioning the carriage to move on. “Lady, may I ask a question before you take leave of us?”

“Sure,” Mari said, feeling totally worn out again and wondering just how much longer this day and night could last.

“What reward do you seek?”

Mari looked at the colonel. “Reward?”

“Yes. What will you gain?”

“Everyone will be free. The Storm won’t come. The Great Guilds will no longer control this world.”

“But, for you,” Colonel Faron pressed.

“I…” Mari spread her hands in confusion. “I have Alain. I’ll be able to practice my Mechanic skills freely. My friends will be free. Isn’t that enough?”

“I would think so,” Faron said. “Good luck, Lady. I must go to ensure your ship has a clear path out of the harbor.” He flicked his reins and rode away, quickly vanishing into the dusk.

The carriage rumbled to a halt and Mari roused herself to get Alain out, feeling an irrational resentment that he wasn’t helping more.

“Four more Mechanics,” Bev commented. “No, wait. Five. Alli is glued to one of them so it looked like they were just one.”

“Hi, Calu,” Mari called, realizing her hail sounded breathless.

What looked like the silhouette of one broad Mechanic separated into two, Alli leading Mechanic Calu. “Hey, Mari. Still causing trouble, huh?” He spotted Alain as the others tried to get him down from the carriage. “Alain’s hurt?”

Calu rushed to help, talking as he did so. “I’ve got four friends with me. When the Guild Hall supervisor ordered everyone into the Hall for a lockdown, we were outside and figured it was time to make a break. We planned to try to find you, but you were a lot closer than we expected. So you’re the daughter now, huh?”

“She’s already power-mad,” Alli commented to Calu as they got Alain down. “That’s why we had to rescue this guy. Alain is the only one who can control her.”

“He’s a better man than I am, then,” Calu observed with a grin. But the grin faded into a look of concern. “What’s the matter with him?”

“Drugs, we think,” Mari reassured Calu. “He’ll be all right,” she added, trying to convince herself.

“There are a couple of healers here. I guess they got sent to help him.” Calu tried to take more of Alain’s weight on his own shoulder. “Can I take over here? You must be beat.”

“I am beat,” Mari admitted, “but Mage Asha and I will get him the rest of the way.”

“Mage Asha? Another Mage?” Calu glanced at her, then his eyes widened as Asha’s beauty struck home. “Wow. I mean—”

Alli intervened, punching Calu in the shoulder. “We know what you mean. Behave yourself. She’s a Mage and she’s got a knife.”

“And I’ve already got a girl,” Calu said. “I’ve got to fill you guys in on what’s been happening.”

“Later,” Mari gasped as some of the rowers from the launch helped lower Alain into the boat. “Right now we have to get out of town fast.”

“It should be two trips with this many people,” the boat officer suggested.

“All right. I’ll…” Mari hesitated, torn between wanting to go to the ship with Alain and her sense of duty that she remain on the quay until everyone else was clear.

“You’ll go,” Alli said. “I can supervise things here for a few minutes.”

Mari nodded, grateful that Alli had stepped in. “Thanks. Mage Asha… Mage Dav! We can’t leave Mage Dav!”

Asha shook her head. “If Mage Dav means to accompany us, he will be here. If he does not meet us here, he will find us at some later time.”

Bev was gazing out over the harbor. “Sparks and smoke, people. That stack is showing signs that someone is trying to get a boiler lit and online really fast.”

“Move it!” Mari ordered, scrambling down the ladder into the launch. She sat in the back, pillowing Alain’s head on her lap, trying not to burst into tears over how sick he looked.

Bev joined them, as did two common folk with the snake and staff badges of healers, then three of the Mechanics who had accompanied Calu and Calu himself, hustled down the ladder by an insistent Alli.

The launch shoved off and began threading its way through the crowded harbor back to the Gray Lady. “I guess Alli and I are going to be trying to keep you out of trouble again,” Calu commented.

Mari couldn’t helping smiling. “Yeah. Just like old times.”

“These guys are Rob of Larharbor—” one of the new Mechanics nodded to Mari—“and Tess of Emdin and Amal of Farland.”

Mari saw how closely Rob was sitting to one of the healers, a woman about his age. “And you’re healers?”

The woman nodded. “Cas and Pol of Julesport. Brother and sister. We’ll do all we can for, uh…”

“My Mage,” Mari said.

“And then can we come with you?” She reached for the hand of Mechanic Rob. “My brother just wants to help you, but Rob and I have wanted to get married for years. The Guild blocked it.”

“They’re cracking down on any relationships with commons,” Rob explained.

“It’s gotten even crazier lately,” Calu agreed. “You’ve really got them scared, Mari.”

“I haven’t done all that much,” she said. “Alain and I have mostly just tried to stay alive.”

“And get your hands on forbidden Mechanic texts,” Bev added.

“Well, yeah, that, too.”

The other Mechanics stared at her. “Forbidden texts?” Amal asked. “From the Guild vaults?”

Despite her fatigue, Mari perked up a little at the topic. “Yes. There is some amazing stuff in there. Wait until you see it.”

“We’ll all get to see the texts?”

“Everyone will,” Mari said. She knew they wouldn’t think she meant literally everyone. They would assume that she only intended other Mechanics. But she was too tired at the moment to explain, and argue, that the texts should be seen by commons and even by Mages as well.

She was surprised when the hull of the Gray Lady loomed above them, the masts of the ship rising skyward like angular trees shorn of leaves. A barge lay next to the ship, its open deck laden with crates, boxes and barrels which were being hoisted up and onto the Gray Lady using lines that ran through tackle on some of the spars. The crew, who didn’t seem to find the need to haul a limp body aboard the least bit unusual, brought over one of the lines being used as a hoist, passing a large loop over Alain’s head and arms and using it to pull him up to the deck. “They’re familiar enough with it,” the captain explained to Mari. “In every port one or two sailors takes on way too much booze and needs a bit of help up the side.”

Mari stood on deck, trying to decide what to do as the healers and some of the crew carried Alain into the cabin. Once again she was torn by conflicting responsibilities. She finally went to the rail, watching as the rest came aboard and the launch headed back for the quay. “Captain, we need to be ready to leave as soon as the launch returns and the people it carries get aboard.”

The captain looked at the sky. “Lady, it’s not the best night for sneaking out of a harbor. A bit too bright and clear, with a nearly full moon.”

“Make the best of it,” Mari ordered. “The Mage Guild is not going to be happy when they realize we got Mage Alain away from the Dark Mages.”

“The Mage Guild?” The captain blew out a long breath. “I once saw a leviathan turn a bigger ship than this to matchsticks. What about the Mechanics Guild?”

“You can see they’re trying to get steam up on their ship. That’s going to take a little while, but we want to have disappeared before they can start chasing us. Did we get all of the supplies that we need?”

“Aye,” the captain said. “Better quality than we usually have, as well, and I was told it was all paid for.”

“All of it? I didn’t—” Mari exhaled heavily. “It’s too late to argue now.”

“How many more are coming, may I ask, Lady?”

“Four or five, I think. It depends if Mage Dav makes it back.”

She looked over to where the Mechanic ship was working to get up steam, smoke gushing from its stack visible even against the night sky. “What are they doing?” she asked Bev. “There’s way too much smoke.”

“I’m not a steam specialist,” Bev said, “but I’d guess they’re trying to get the boiler going as fast as possible.”

“They’ll crack the bricks lining the boiler if they’re not careful,” Mari said. “Why do I think that there’s a Senior Mechanic standing over the captain of that Mechanic ship demanding they move faster?”

“Rules are for regular Mechanics,” Bev said. “How are you going to run things once the Guild is gone?”

“What?” Mari turned a baffled gaze on her.

“Once the Mechanics Guild is overthrown, somebody is going to have to make new rules. Somebody is going to have to set up some way of running things if the Senior Mechanics are out of the picture. I know Alli and Dav are just sort of assuming you’ll be that somebody, and I bet everyone else will, too.”

Mari stared at the waters of the harbor, aghast. “Oh, no.”

“You can’t do worse than the Senior Mechanics have,” Bev said, a sudden dark edge entering her voice. “They—” She struggled to control herself. “They’ve got a lot to answer for,” she finally got out.

“Bev, I’m sorry. Whatever it was.”

Bev pointed over the side, changing the subject. “Here comes the launch. Looks like Mage Dav collected a few friends.”

Mari stared. There were five figures in Mage robes among the others. Mage Dav and Mage Asha made two. Who were the other three?

Mage Asha was first on deck, looking as unconcerned as ever.

“Asha,” Mari said, “who are those other Mages?”

“Mage Dav found some who sought us,” Asha said. “They seek different wisdom.”

“He’s sure they can be trusted?”

“Mage Dav would not have brought them along if he was not certain.” Asha turned her gaze on Mari. “My uncle… likes… you. Is that the right word?”

“I don’t know,” Mari said, startled. “Why does he like me?”

“He is a Mage, and one of no great standing, but you treat him with the same courtesy and concern you grant Mechanics. Your trust is also welcome and unexpected, for Mage Dav knows how Mages are seen by others.” She paused, her face shadowed. “That has always been difficult for Mage Dav, to know he was seen as a monster.”

“It was hard for Alain, too,” Mari said. “I hated knowing how the commons looked at me behind my back. Oh, they’re very respectful to Mechanics to their faces, but if you turned around quickly enough you’d see their true feelings. And I couldn’t blame the commons, seeing how some of my fellow Mechanics treated them.”

“Mages have always treated shadows as nothing,” Asha said.

“They don’t have to be nothing, Asha. Alain is a Mage and he sees me as real, and I think he’s seeing a lot of other people that way, too.”

“I watch and I listen,” Asha said. “I learn.”

Mage Dav came up the ladder, followed by the three other Mages with their faces concealed under the hoods of their robes. Mage Dav nodded to Mari and led the other Mages to a spot on deck where they would be least in the way. There all four sat down facing each other in a tight circle.

“Are those… safe Mages?” the captain asked in a worried voice.

“Mage Dav vouches for them,” Mari said. “If they can’t behave themselves they won’t stay. For now, try to work around them. How soon can we get underway?”

“We’re taking in the line to the anchor buoy now.”

Mari looked over the side, seeing that Alli, Mechanic Dav and the fourth new Mechanic were all coming up the ladder. The launch was just pushing off, the boat officer and the rowers pausing to wave enthusiastic farewells.

Waving back, Mari felt the Gray Lady begin moving as her sails unfurled and began catching the wind.

“We have the tide with us,” the captain said, “but it’s a long ways out of the harbor. Hopefully any galleys outside the harbor will be caught napping when we leave.”

“Whoa!” Bev said loudly enough to cause everyone to look at her, and then at what she was looking at.

Mari saw the cloud of smoke from the Mechanic ship was now lit from beneath by showers of sparks and a few actual flames coming from the stack. “They split their boiler. Lucky it happened before they had pressure up, or half this harbor would have felt the explosion.”

“Think they’ll lose the ship?” Alli asked, coming up to Mari. “I hope it was all right to let Mage Dav bring those other Mages with us.”

“Yeah. I trust Mage Dav.” Mari took another look toward the stricken steamship. “The flames seem to be subsiding. I think they’ll save the ship, but it’s not going to be going anywhere soon. Alli, we have to keep everyone alert and ready until we clear this harbor. Get the other two rifles distributed. I’ll give mine to Calu since I have my pistol.”

“Got it.”

Mari leaned on the rail, feeling exhausted, grateful that she could depend on Alli to manage the other Mechanics. Calu could do it, too, for that matter. “Mage Asha, can you tell if any Mages are working on big spells?”

Asha shook her head. “I do not sense such activity near the harbor. The elders have no doubt been surprised. But it would not be wise to give them time to overcome their surprise.”

As badly as she wanted to run into the cabin to find out how the healers were doing with Alain, Mari held herself at the rail, watching the dark shapes of anchored ships slide by with increasing speed as the Gray Lady tacked through the harbor. They were so close to getting out of Julesport in one piece.

The Gray Lady glided gently toward the exit from the harbor, her sails drawing well on the light breeze. Of necessity, her course was bringing the Gray Lady close by the largest Confederation warship in the harbor, a three-masted frigate mounting two big ballistae on her deck. Looking like giant crossbows, the ballistae could be pivoted to fire off either side. But Mari saw no reason to be worried about the Confederation warship. She kept her eyes forward, searching for any signs of Syndari galleys near the harbor mouth.

Her complacency was rudely shattered by a hail from the Confederation warship. “Ahoy the clipper! Shorten your sails!”

Mari spun to look at the warship, seeing crewmembers running along the deck and up the rigging while others rushed to the ballistae. “I don’t believe it. Why is the Confederation moving against us?”

Alli was standing beside her again. “Alain’s still out cold, isn’t he?”

“As far as I know.”

“Can any of the other Mages do that fire thing?”

“Asha?”

“No,” Asha said, her lack of emotion making the single word sound oddly complacent.

Mari ran through options in her mind and didn’t find any good ones. Without Alain, their ability to defeat the big warship was pretty much nonexistent. “Alli, get our Mechanics lined up and ready to fire. Mage Asha, if you or the other Mages can disable that ship somehow, let me know.”

“We are on the water. There is little power here.”

“Of course,” Mari grumbled. “Captain! Tell that warship that we’ve got clearance to leave this harbor! Colonel Faron gave us clearance!”

The captain of the Gray Lady complied, raising his speaking trumpet. “Ahoy the warship! We’ve got clearance to leave! Courtesy of Colonel Faron of Julesport!”

Mari watched the crew of the warship continue their frantic activity, bringing up the anchor and loosing sails. Others were swinging out the ballistae. Mari saw her small group of Mechanics at the rail of the Gray Lady, measured them against the number of sailors on the warship, and knew even six Mechanic rifles couldn’t hope to deal with this threat.

“Ahoy the clipper!” the hail from the warship came again. “Shorten sail now!”