Laurel placed her game piece down and leaned back to study her opponent. A fellow passenger, Beram had declared she couldn’t arrive in Merista without learning how to play byd, and had promptly taken it upon himself to teach her.
“You’re improving” the weathered man said while moving one of his own pieces across the board. “But I do believe that’s the game.”
Both travelers proceeded to pack the game pieces back into the case. They sat back to enjoy the silence and each other’s company. The sea had been calm for the two weeks of their journey, and Laurel could feel the peace and the company calming the storm in her soul. The captain had allowed a small table and chairs to be clipped onto an out of the way portion of the deck for Laurel and Beram to use, and to keep them out of the sailor’s way. Most days they spent playing games, or sharing stories of two long lives well lived.
“So, old man, are you finally going to tell me why you’re heading to Merista?” With little to do on the journey besides picking up the language, Laurel had taken to wheedling information out of everyone else on the ship. Especially how the steam stacks worked and why there was a faint trace of rudimentary enchanting in the engine room. She’d been curious to meet the only other passenger, and had been rewarded with descriptions of his adventures as a mercenary before retiring to join a smaller city guard several years before.
“Not much to it I’m afraid, lass. There are always rumblings about the Empire looking to go to war. Country that big, it's almost inevitable they have a conflict going somewhere. Don’t usually put much store by those rumors, but those whispers started taking on a different flavor. Started hearing the more credible folks and the old-timers saying there might be war with Merista, or Elgin. Then the papers start talking about how magic is evil and the Meristans are harboring demons. I saw what way the wind was blowing and decided it was time to head home.”
Laurel frowned at the explanation. “I don’t understand how they think they’ll handle beast waves or manifestations without more cultivators managing the cities. There are just too many people to avoid those, and guns won’t work on everything.”
Beram had been fascinated to learn Laurel was a magic-user, and had gotten an explanation of her own story, along with the dangers she was anticipating, in the first week on the ship. Laurel was bad at secrets. Given she was intending to establish a sect of magic users, she saw little use in trying. “I suppose we’ll find out, but I’m glad I won’t be in the thick of it. That is if your plan to avoid the same thing in Merista works out. If not we might all be in for some interesting times.”
They lapsed back into companionable silence. The day was clear and they could see uninterrupted dark water all the way out to the horizon. The sunlight glittering off the waves revealed an unnatural pattern.
“Look there” Laurel said as she pointed off into the distance. “Do you see that patch where the sunlight looks heavier?” Beram squinted as he tried to pick out what Laurel was pointing at.
Before he could answer Laurel flung herself off the side of the ship. The air currents diverted to carry her over to the patch of ocean in a smooth glide. The ability to finally return to the air after so long on the ground had been like dropping a weight she hadn’t realized she carried. The freedom to indulge on the voyage, without hostile empires around, was one she’d taken full advantage of. She smiled at the patch of ocean but resisted dropping in. Getting her clothes and hair covered in salt water was not a great idea on a ship without freshwater crystals installed. Deep below the surface, shadows darted between the sparkling plant life. A nascent water-attuned natural treasure was in the process of forming below, and it would anchor the whole magical ecosystem in place. Satisfied with the signs that the world was healing, she flew back towards the ship.
“What is it?” Beram asked when he rejoined her. Several of the sailors that had been on deck were in furious discussion, gesturing at Laurel and then the air.
“It looks like the beginnings of a diamond kelp forest! A year from now this place will be an absolute gold mine for water or life cultivators. I’m surprised it's so well-developed with the ambient mana situation, but I suppose areas like this have been acting as mana reservoirs while the levels have been so low.” Laurel’s eyes gleamed at the thought of what else might be hidden around the world after centuries with no cultivators harvesting. She whipped out a notebook to record this forest and wrote ‘search for mana ecosystems’ before ripping the page off and returning everything to her tattoo.
“Magic seaweed?” Beram was significantly less enthused by the prospect.
“More or less. They pop up sometimes at eddies in larger mana flows. Left alone a whole ecosystem of spirit beasts, plants, and natural treasures will form. Figuring out a way to harvest anything in the middle of the ocean without your ship being attacked is good fun for adepts or the enterprising initiate.”
Beram glanced at Laurel out of the corner of his eye. “I’m not sure you and I were raised on the same definition of ‘good fun’.”
They both laughed and continued to chat as the steamship pulled further and further away from the burgeoning forest.
******
Laurel and Beram were wandering the deck to stretch their legs when they happened upon the captain and first mate in heavy discussion in their customary spot.
Laurel opened her mouth to greet the men when Beram cut her off with a grave look.
“What’s wrong?” he said. Laurel noticed the frowns the two sailors wore. She tensed and spread her senses out as far as she could push them.
“We spotted another ship last night. It’s below the horizon now but it seems to be following our course.”
Beram flashed a grim smile, apparently having guessed something similar. “It's pirates then?”
The two officers shared a speaking look.
“It's hard to say for certain until they make a move,” the captain finally answered. “Could be pirates, could be privateers from another merchant company or the Empire, or it could be harmless.” Beram raised his eyebrows at this last option. “Either way I’d appreciate it if you could both be ready. You both indicated you were combat capable when you came on board. I don’t really want to push paying customers into service, but, well, if they attempt a boarding it will be all hands on deck.”
Laurel and Beram both readily gave their assent and the officers wandered off. They settled in to wait, staring out at the horizon for the hint of another ship. When nothing appeared after a while they started setting up another game of byd to while away the time.
“You seemed unsurprised at the news from the Captain” Laurel said as she made an opening gambit.
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“I’ve been around for a long time, lass. The shipping lanes that go directly between Laskar and Merista are always prone to attacks. When tensions are high, neither country likes sending their warships into no man’s land on patrol, so it makes the run even riskier. It cuts off months of the journey though so a lot of captains do it anyway.” Beram seemed nonchalant about the whole thing.
“Captain Stark and his men seem capable enough, plus of course they have you and I to help out in a pinch,” Laurel said with a wink. They relaxed into their usual chatter as the day wore on.
By midday, the other ship had appeared over the horizon and began to close the distance. Tensions on board increased as the deck hands stowed any extra items that might get in the way of a fight. One had politely asked to remove the passenger table and chairs as well, so Laurel and Beram were left leaning against the rail.
Bandoliers and cutlasses appeared on the sailors. Beram excused himself to go gather his own pistols from his cabin.
“How have they been gaining on us?” Laurel asked as they waited for the inevitable.
“Hmm. Lighter ship, and their steam engine is built for speed. The Tooth here is built for long hauls without stops to refuel.”
The strange ship was finally close enough that they could make out details without one of the sailor’s telescopes. It was nothing special, though Laurel noted it was built along slim lines to cut easier through the water. No obvious markings or flags pointed at a home port or country.
The Lion’s Tooth raised a yellow flag beneath where the Meristan crest was already flying above the steam stacks.
“Yellow means the captain is going to consider them hostile if they get any closer.” Beram pointed out.
“How will that work then? Do we wait for them to get close enough to board then fight them off? Why not attack now?”
Beram looked at her askance. “Appreciate the eagerness, lass, but we’ll start with warning shots from the cannons.”
Before Laurel could ask for more details, the air was filled with the thunder of multiple explosions. Projectiles went speeding towards the other ship, while just a moment later, the other ship fired on the Lion’s Tooth. Huge splashes sent water high into the air. Shouts echoed across the deck in some sort of shorthand as sailors began running to new positions.
“That was to dial in the aiming,” Beram said. The man’s usually cheerful demeanor had become steely as he watched unflinchingly, despite the chaos that had just erupted. “The next shots will likely hit on both sides, unless the gunners are drunk and blind.”
“Do you think the sailors will be upset if I use magic?” Laurel was cataloging her usual techniques to figure out what might work against the pirates. She was hampered by having to avoid their guns, and the mana levels were still low, but she had some options that would work. No matter how far mortal engineering had come, no one keeps fighting after being struck by lightning.
“No lass, sailors are a superstitious bunch. Most of the ones on our side will think it's lucky they have a witch on board. And as good a bunch as these lads are, they’re merchants, not soldiers. If we can keep the pirates from boarding for a close fight we should.”
Another round of cannon fire rocked the ship. This time, accompanied by cracking wood. Splinters flew through the air along with screams of one sailor that had been close to the impact spot.
The Tooth’s sailors took positions kneeling behind the railings.
“Alright boys” the first mate bellowed from the forecastle. “Take aim, fire!”
Curses sounded from the pirate ship along with an answering volley. The metallic tang of blood filled the air as more sailors on both ships were blown back. Laurel tuned out the mayhem and reached her senses across to the other boat. Exerting her will on the ambient mana, she gripped and mentally twisted. Steamers of wind picked up lighter splinters and began to fling them around. As the wind continued to swirl faster and faster, a small tornado formed on the deck of the pirate ship. The attackers scattered, taking cover anywhere they could find as more and more debris was caught up. Vague shouts about demons could be heard across the gap between the boats, causing Laurel a certain amount of pride, even as she congratulated herself on the subtlety. After all, the ship was still afloat.
The captain wasted no time taking advantage of the distraction. With more shouted commands, one final barrage of cannonballs hit the pirate ships’ steam stacks. An ear-splitting crack preceded a sudden lull in noise as everyone paused in their actions. A large sheet of metal peeled off and fell from the stack onto the deck of the pirate ship.
Having waited for this signal, the Lion’s Tooth began pulling away from the pirate ship, quickly gaining speed with the steam engine roaring. Laurel did her part by directing a strong wind into the sails, and they were soon out of range of the pirate’s cannons. She clapped Beram on the shoulder as they watched the enemy ship recede into the distance.
“A good battle,” she declared.
“We were lucky.” Beram countered. “Some pirate companies send small armadas after merchant ships like this one. We escaped one ship but any more and it could have been a massacre.”
“In my time, wandering cultivators would make money by signing on to protect ships like this one, or merchant caravans overland. Maybe I’ll bring that back. Of course, back then mortal weapons would never have been a threat, and a single capable cultivator would turn most ships back on their own.”
Laurel and Beram turned their focus to the rest of the ship. Lucky they may have been, but there were still sailors clutching various body parts to try and staunch their wounds, and one or two that had descended into shock, staring blankly ahead. Laurel made her way over to the Captain who was giving a nonstop string of orders to repair damage, maintain a lookout, and put distance between them and the pirates.
“Captain - “
“Apologies ma’am,” he cut her off, “ but we need to focus here.”
“Captain,” she tried again, “I believe I can help heal some of the sailors.”
“Well, get to it, lass!”. He shouted over his shoulder as he scrambled up the ladder to the next deck.
The injured had gathered towards one end of the ship where an older man with a neatly-trimmed gray beard and a tan apron was organizing them along with a harried assistant. He had barely glanced back at her before gesturing to the other end of the line.
“If you’re here to help, start there,” he said.
When no more instruction was forthcoming, Laurel made her way to the sailor she’d been sent to. Cultivation was a dangerous lifestyle, and no one made it through a sect education without learning how to heal at least basic injuries. She could splint a limb or seal a wound as well as anyone. Laurel reached the first man and set to work.
They continued to heal and repair as they continued on their way. Despite the tension left by the attack, they made it to Merista without any more excitement.
**********
“So this here’s the firebox. Our coalies are good lads, keep us moving along in top form.” The chief engineer on the Lion’s Tooth was a stout woman named Claudette.
The engine room was sweltering but the woman was still covered neck to toe in thick, treated cloth. Only her head was bare, hair shorn close to her scalp. All to avoid any stray sparks, as Claudette had happily informed Laurel.
“And through here is the bit you’re interested in.”
They arrived at a thick metal door, bolted and locked in three places. A pane of glass at around eye level – for someone taller than Laurel – revealed a tiny room with a metal contraption attached to a glowing stone. Pipes lead from the stone back towards the rest of the engine.
She swept her spiritual senses through the room, as Claudette made no move to open the door. Laurel would describe her enchanting as basic at best. A few of her acquaintances might have gone with “dismal” or “pathetic” instead. So it was a surprise that she actually recognized the power source. It wasn’t an enchantment, at least not exactly. These types of items were considered too basic to actually count as enchanted.
It was a heat stone. Just a chunk of crystalized mana, created by any cultivator with their meridians burned in, infused with will to give off heat. In the same realm as a glow stone or other basic device, which was then being piped as best they could to alleviate the need for coal in the engine. Laurel could create something like that without any trouble. Though this example was old and barely functional. She could see where mana was being lost and the stone itself was degrading. Her hopes that there was a thriving collection of cultivators in this new country was dashed. This was a relic someone had gotten lucky finding, and then gotten clever in figuring out a way to use.
“I’ll tell you what Claudette, I’m impressed.” The other woman preened at the compliment. “If you and the captain are willing to let me in there, I’ll do a quick repair, make sure your power source works for a long time to come.”
After some waffling back and forth, and a long consultation with the captain, they decided the good will she’d earned in the fight could be spent on this. They let her into the room, both Claudette and the captain crowding in behind her. It was not a room that fit three people. More of a cubby really. Laurel got to work. The ambient mana levels meant it was a slow process. Focusing on the stone, she pulled the mana towards it, careful not to overtax the surroundings. She urged the mana to give off heat, while keeping the stone stable. The framework was there, she just filled it in. Reflexively she added a way to turn the effect off. The same function had once existed, she was fairly certain, but it had worn away over time. One of the reasons for the well-insulated pipes and separate room, most likely.
When it was as good as it was going to get, she stepped back. Laurel was rather pleased with herself and let it show. Claudette swarmed over the fire stone, pulling instruments from various pockets and taking readings. The captain, perhaps realizing that there would be nothing from his engineer for some time, ushered Laurel back out.
“I appreciate that lass, and what you did against the pirates. So how about we call it even on the second half of your fare.”
“I was happy to do it, Captain, but I won’t say no to the discount. New start to finance and all that. Thank you for a good crossing.”
“You’re welcome, lass. Now get up top. First sight of Verilia’s not something you want to miss.”