Chapter Four - A Demonstration

50th Day of Spring - Year 1758 of the Golden Era

The Sapphire Ocean

"Land ahoy! Land ahoy!"

Magus Maldrak glanced up from the tome he was reading. The sky outside of the porthole in his office was still the pale orange of early morning, having only just risen some scant minutes prior.

Standing, the Magus pressed a hand to the small of his back. He wasn't an old man yet, but sometimes his knees and lower back reminded him that years spent in secluded study weren't kind to one's health.

Pushing past the mild discomfort, he plucked his robes from the back of a chair and threw them on, then ensured that they fit correctly, with his shield of station emblazoned over his right shoulder and his inner pockets filled with nasty presents for anyone who sought to push him.

Leaving the office, he made his way through the narrow corridors of the Gentle Tidings and onto the main deck of the ship. The sailors in his employ were busily preparing for an eventual landfall and he noticed a few hanging from the ropes above, telescopes out to scan the horizon for trouble.

Walking to the port side of the ship, he stood by the railing for several long minutes before finally making out the faint brown of distant land. It could have been a mirage still, but he trusted the man in the crow's nest above.

"Magus," Jorvin said as he came up to Maldrak's side.

"Jorvin," Maldrak replied. He turned and nodded to the steely-eyed young man next to the mage-knight. "Captain Fernthorn, a good morning to you."

"A good morn indeed, sir Magus," the captain replied with a nod. "It seems as though we've made it to the mainland. If only this trip were like our previous."

Maldrak let out a long sigh. "Indeed. If only. I noticed few ships along our path, but I'll admit that I'm no eagle-eyed sailor."

"Your mage eyes didn't deceive you, sir," the captain said. "We crossed a merchantman yesterday afternoon, and a caravel in the same evening. I didn't think to inform you. Forgive me if I erred."

"No, I didn't ask for such information. Thank you for sating my curiosity. Would you say that traffic is significantly lighter?"

"Significantly so, sir," the captain replied. "I recall seeing entire flotillas heading to and from the mainland leaden with riches. And this close to land? We ought to have seen at least one patrol ship from the Draya Calyrex navy. Anti-piracy patrols and shows of force were common enough. But we're within sight of the mainland and there has yet to be anything. Not even a fishing sloop."

"Then the rumours are true, and I wasn't misled here," Maldrak said.

"Is that good?" Jorvin asked.

Maldrak considered it, then shook his head. "I'd rather I had been lied to all this time and discover that someone pulled the wool over my eyes, that some great treachery was afoot, than discover that this truth is true. I... have many ties to this land. And now I can't help but imagine them all lost."

Jorvin nodded. He wasn't a man of Draya Calyrex, but he could certainly sympathize with the loss of so many lives.

"So, now what? Still planning on letting those puppets of yours step foot on the mainland first?" Jorvin asked.

"I have several brave men who might volunteer for such a task," the captain said.

"The puppets first. They will be resistant to any blight and can return samples for the arcanists and alchemists we have onboard to study. If you judge them capable enough, Sir Jorvin?"

The mage-knight rubbed at his chin. "Barely. They can certainly walk about and pluck flowers, but if it comes to combat, then they will lose to a farmhand with a pitchfork. I would put even odds on a particularly aggressive crab beating them one on one."

"Hah," Maldrak said. "Then let's change that, shall we. Captain, when will we be nearing Shorefarm?"

"By nightfall, Magus," the captain replied. "At the earliest. Without anyone operating the lighthouses along the shore, it may be until morning. The Gentle Tidings isn't a ship designed for areas without a deep shore."

"I see," Maldrak replied. "Let's make good time if we can, and if not, morning it will be. The puppets cannot see in the dark in any case. Jorvin, can you fetch the three of them and bring them to the poop deck for me? And if you see Artisan Artificer Magus Woodbone, can you inform him that I'd like his attention in the same place?"

"Aye, can do," Jorvin replied. He nodded to the captain before heading off.

"Captain, a minor favour, if you would," Maldrak said.

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"I'm all yours, sir," the captain replied.

"If any of your men are particularly good at fishing, could you allow them to try to catch something local for me? I need a fish of some largess. Preferably a few, within the hour. Let the men know that a large catch means a copper coin or two."

The captain chuckled. "Then we'll have a competition. I imagine that the fish won't be edible."

"No. Best to avoid such risks for now. Let the men know to avoid drinking any water as well. The risks of contamination are low, but not nonexistent. Not that I expect them to swallow much sea water in any case."

"They aren't quite so foolish as that, no," the captain replied.

Maldrak patted the man on the shoulder. "Keep an eye on the horizon for me, captain. And good work so far. I'll see to my business for now."

"Aye, Sir Magus."

With that done, the Magus glanced one final time out across the ocean. The tiny sliver of land in the far distance might have grown a little, though it was hard to tell. They were sailing almost parallel to it, so it would take some time for the mainland in its entirety to become visible.

In the meantime, he walked up to the rear of the ship and found a seat along the ship's railing. The temperature was a little chilly, but it was still early in spring. The Magus tugged his robes closer and considered the worth of applying magic to the task of keeping the chill at bay.

Eventually, he created a small circle in the air with a twirl of a gloved hand and his magic filled it with a few simple arcane symbols. These glowed brighter for a moment as they activated, and the poop deck was suddenly encapsulated in a thin bubble that was only strong enough to prevent the harsher wind from entering.

Jorvin soon appeared, walking up to the deck with the three puppets clambering along behind him. "Found these three waiting in the mess," he said. "I think someone forgot them there. Too bad. I might have had them walk the decks all night to train their mobility otherwise."

"They have no muscles, you know," Maldrak replied.

"Ah, but they do need practice nonetheless," was the mage-knight's reply. "I saw the artisan. He's on his way, though you know as well as I how he is about punctuality."

"That's well and good," Maldrak replied before he eyed the puppets. "Perhaps a little more training is in order in the meantime?"

"Hmph, I suppose so. Come on, form a line you three. We'll be practicing with these today." The man pulled out a few wooden sticks from the crook of his arm. They had ropes bound around them and a small semblance of a guard on one end around a simple handle. They were a little short to be considered swords, but too long to be daggers.

"You're training them in the short sword?" Maldrak asked.

"It's a better alternative than anything heavier and more cumbersome," Jorvin replied. "I'd rather train them in the spear and shield, if time is so limited, but that can come later. I'm assuming we'll have some time on dry land to train?"

"Some, luck willing," Maldrak said. "The short sword will do for now. I believe we have some to spare in our armoury in any case. We certainly have some daggers."

"Figured as much," Jorvin said.

He gave each of the puppets a sword and then had them shift from a standing position into a fighter's stance. It wasn't something Maldrak himself was well familiar with, so he watched with some passing curiosity as Jorvin had them move through a few set forms. The man had the semblance of someone with no patience, but the Magus suspected that to be false.

Jorvin would demonstrate, then have them repeat the gestures and movements he did, often explaining why the motions were important. There was much talk about centres of gravity and footwork, as well as striking edges and the like.

After nearly half an hour had passed, the man shifted to sparring with the puppets one at a time.

It was around then that the captain arrived followed by a few men carrying three rather large fish. Living ones, bound by ropes. Maldrak indicated for them to place them off to the side, and handed out a few copper coins to the captain, to be given to the sailors.

Sharing wealth often led to some amount of easy loyalty with the simpler sort of man, he found, and this was as good a time as any to be generous.

It was then that the Artisan Artificer arrived, accompanied by a younger man.

"Looks like it's time to test some things," Maldrak said before he focused upon the puppets. "Come now, stand to attention, we're about to show you something rather interesting."

***