Chapter six

ONWARD

EVELYN

Amélie and I knew everyone was aboard when we heard the call to cast off. We walked back onto the quarterdeck to see the dock drifting away as several city guards were flooding onto it. We gave them a cheerful wave as the ship turned away, heading directly west as if we were going to return to Vigilance. Despite the anxiety of why we were heading to Siren's Reach, I was getting excited to finally see the place. I felt a little guilty that I couldn't write ahead to warn Septimia that we would suddenly be dropping in on her, but I had a feeling she'd be happy to see us either way. I wasn't sure exactly how many soldiers my estate had, and I was feeling a little irresponsible about that. There was a militia, but they were not full-time soldiers. They did training on a set schedule, but that was about it. Grandfather had sent twenty men at arms to the estate after I'd gained possession of it, and they would still be present. They were professional soldiers of high quality. They all had horses, heavy armor, and a range of weapons. If Septimia had more professional soldiers on staff, we'd never discussed it. I assumed there were at least guards and perhaps a band of adventurers if only to keep the monsters away. Somehow, the idea of an actual war with a neighbor never occurred to me. I knew the possibility existed, but why would anyone bother?

"You look deep in thought, captain," Aric said as he stepped up beside me to look out over the sky.

I nodded, "Yes, I suppose I am. I'm not sure what we'll find when we get there. I don't understand why anyone would do something so reckless without at least trying diplomacy."

"We will find out soon enough. We are clear of the city if you would like to turn on a more direct route. This would take us very near Blackstone and give us an opportunity to scout their forces."

I mulled that over for a few seconds before shaking my head, "No, I don't want them to know we have Dawn's Light in the area. Let's circle around and come in low along the coast from the west."

Lilith, who was nearby, said, "That is a good idea. If we take the time to make port in Vigilance for a few hours, we can pick up Derik and his party—perhaps even a few mercenaries."

I looked over my shoulder to see her walking up from behind and smiled. "How much time will that add to the trip?"

Aric answered, "Half a day, plus however much time we're in port if we push hard."

I turned and led the group to the map table in the center of the quarterdeck, looking things over before glancing at the helm and seeing our mana reserves were full. "Alright. Let's burn hard, starting now. We can cut down some time. We'll only move under sail when we need to let the Mana Cells regenerate until we get close to our destination. I don't want to show off how much speed we can make unless we need to."

"Yes, Captain," Aric said before turning and giving orders.

While he got the crew moving, I looked at the other issue on the map table. The stack of paperwork and invoices that I'd need to go through after rushing this expedition. With a sigh, I sat down at the table and thanked the stars that the ship's enchantments kept the wind off the deck and the paperwork firm to the table.

It was about five hours later when the crew began to signal the skyship docks of Vigilance for directions on berthing. When I'd told them to burn hard, they'd taken that to heart, and we'd been running the mana engines at high speed for nearly the entire trip. When I thought about how that same trip would take five days in a caravan or carriage, it really brought home how much this world had lost. I'd taken some time after catching up on paperwork to change into a more reasonable outfit. I was back to my simple blouse and split riding skirt, though Ophelia made these, and they were much higher quality than those I'd worn in the past. Haunt had made his way to the quarterdeck with me after I'd changed and was lying against its rear bulwark, head resting on its ledge and tongue lulling in the wind for most of the trip. The only thing that had convinced him to leave that spot was Mirage offering to take him for a short walk after we landed, and the moment they returned, he was quick to reclaim it. I was going to need to put a comfortable rug there.

I worked with Aric to sort out what supplies we weren't able to pick up for the ship before leaving Lihume and what supplies I wanted to pick up for the war effort in Siren's Reach. I started with medical supplies because I was sure they were already needed. The ship was well stocked for most things, but we needed some materials for ammunition and repairs just in case. I wasn't sure of the armory at Siren's Reach, but weapons tended to break in war, and my lessons made it clear early on that often there were less than you'd like. We would be arriving with a large supply of spearheads and arrows if the efforts of the teams we sent out were successful.

With that taken care of, I thought about leaving to visit home and see Ophelia and Grandfather, but it was likely that they already knew we were here. This was their city, after all, and we had what everyone assumed was the last runeship in existence. It would be frustrating if they were to come here while I was on my way to the palace. Instead, I sent a runner with a brief letter letting them know I was here for a short while, and why. That proved to be the correct decision because not too long after Lilith went into the city to find Derik, and our master at arms, Korrin Bloodfang, went to speak with a contact about mercenaries, I spotted Ophelia and Tizo approaching the docks. I went to the gangway to wait for them, and Ophelia happily ran across it and into my arms.

"It's so good to see you! I didn't think you'd be back for a few months at least!" she told me cheerfully.

I squeezed her back, "Technically, you were right. I got a notification that someone had declared war on Siren's Reach and started attacking it. We snuck away so we could go figure out what was going on and put a stop to it."

Ophelia stepped back, looking around the ship, "You snuck out? I hate to tell you this, Evie, but I have a feeling someone might have spotted the ship leaving."

I shrugged, "They did. But we were already underway by the time someone tried to stop us. I just couldn't risk them telling me that I couldn't go for one reason or another. I left a note telling them I'd be back and needed to take care of an emergency. By the time they figure out where I've gone, this whole ordeal might be cleared up."

Ophelia just shook her head at me, trying not to laugh. "I hope you're right."

"Ophelia!" Amélie called out and we turned to see her coming up from below decks, Mirage only a few steps behind her.

We walked to meet them halfway, where Amélie and Ophelia exchanged a hug while Tizo and Mirage greeted each other. We made our way to the quarterdeck in case we were needed for anything, and Kira and Constance joined us soon after. We began telling Ophelia stories of our time in the capital, and she let us in on some of the gossip of Vigilance. Soon into that, however, I was drawn away by Korrin, who I saw coming back onto the deck in a rush. Korrin Bloodfang was a very large man, even for a wolfkin. He stood nearly seven feet tall, and I wasn't sure if his bodybuilder appearance was from actually working out or just very high strength and constitution stats. But even without that, his dark grey and black hair and amber eyes would have made him intimidating – which was great for our master at arms.

I walked over to meet him as he ascended the stairs to the quarterdeck, where he immediately provided his report. "Captain Evelyn, I’ve found a capable mercenary company in Vigilance called the Silver Talons. They’re a mixed force of light cavalry and horse archers, about two hundred strong. If we employ them, they can be ready to depart for Siren's Reach within a day. They’re asking for an upfront payment of five hundred gold pieces, one hundred gold pieces per week of service, a share of any spoils, and medical supplies for their troops. They seem reliable and well-prepared for the journey."

My eyes widened a little. Not at the price but at finding such a force available. "Yes. Yes, please! Let's get them moving!" I told him.

Korrin crossed his arms, looking a little concerned at my response. At my raised, questioning eyebrows, he spoke his mind, "Captain, if I may, it’s unusual for such a sizable and ready force to be available on such short notice. I suggest we inquire about their recent activities and reputation in the area. Also, we might want to negotiate the terms a bit to ensure we’re getting the best deal. Your decision, of course, but it’s worth considering."

I stifled a giggle at my obvious mistake and the earnestness such an intimidating figure was putting into helping guide me. Maybe the cabin fever of being stuck in Lihume was getting to me. "Ah, yes, Korrin. That sounds like a fantastic idea. I have no idea how to do that. Can I trust you with it?"

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That seemed to ease his mind a little, and with a quick nod, he said, "Of course, Captain. I'll handle the negotiations and gather more information about the Silver Talons. You can count on me."

I had started learning warfare, and I even understood a lot of battlefield strategy. Hiring mercenaries, however, was something I still needed to learn about. Beyond understanding some of the rules for dealing with them, I had not been taught much about their employment. I did know that finding a band of two hundred soldiers that are actually worth hiring right now should be difficult. With everyone who was able trying to hire mercenaries to explore the Fallen Lands, not to mention the coalition army still helping clear the area between Westgate Fortress and West Peak, not many were available. I was hoping for a few bands of ten or twenty infantry or archers. This was better than perfect. Not only did I find more than I had hoped for, but they were mounted and could make better time. The cost was nothing to sneeze at but was easily within my means. We were still keeping it quiet that we had so much money set aside, but this seemed important. I returned to our conversation on the quarterdeck with a bounce in my step and happily rejoined it. Ophelia was just getting into a story about how Seraphina Arasgain was being groomed as the new heir to the family with the death of Weston and her father's endless pressure for her to marry now. Apparently, she had been spending more and more time with Ophelia as an excuse to be away from her family, and they'd become quite close.

The next couple of hours passed similarly, with minor interruptions for reports, the return of Lilith with her adventuring party, and not long after, the return of the crew sent to gather more supplies for the ship as well as buying up medical supplies and weapons to deliver to Siren's Reach. Finally, Aric approached to tell me that we were ready to leave.

"Captain, all crew members are aboard, and all supplies have been delivered. The ship is fully provisioned and ready to depart at your command. All systems have been checked, and we are prepared for immediate departure."

I gave a nod and said, "Very well, thank you Aric. We will say our goodbyes."

It was a little sad to have such a short visit, but we all understood the necessity. I promised we would find an excuse to stop and spend a few days with Ophelia on the way back, though. That idea made us all feel better about things. For the outbound trip, I took over the watch so Aric could rest. Our short stay in Vigilance had allowed the mana capacitors to mostly recharge, but I set a more sedate pace under sail to begin our trip. With us expecting trouble, I wanted to keep the capacitors from dropping below half power. We could use regular mana fuel in an emergency, but that was a finite resource, and I was sure we had some time. The day was quickly turning into evening when we left the city, and we aimed directly south at a low altitude over the waters of the Shallow Sea for a few miles before turning east toward Siren's Reach. I didn't really think that Blackstone would have spies in Vigilance watching out for me or that they even realized who I was, but it was better to be safe than sorry. The whole thing was just too bizarre. I stayed on the quarterdeck through the night, switching to mana engines after the sun had fully set to save some time and back to sails in the morning before Aric came to relieve me. The flight over the ocean had been peaceful and calm, with clear weather and the warm, comfortable night air you only get in the summer. I was more than relaxed enough in the morning to fall into my bed and immediately pass out.

The next two days of travel passed quickly with myself, Aric, and our tactical officer, Penelope Hawkwood, rotating command of the ship on six-hour shifts. I only had one additional notification about a thwarted raid, which thankfully did not include any losses or destroyed homes. It prompted me to spend some of my downtime reviewing my estate management menus. I hadn't done much with them because I had always planned to have Septimia teach me about the menus when we finished tutoring in Lihume, but I did look at them from time to time with our lessons. I had never tried to find anything related to the military, however. Now, there was a War Summary tab that laid out all forces and territories under our control and their current status. This also made it easy for me to follow it back to find where this information was in peacetime, and I made sure to take note. I noticed right away that the mercenaries had already been spotted on the menu by Septimia, and she had assigned them to take over patrols in a border region when they arrived. From what I could tell, they'd automatically appeared in the "Forces Overview" section. I found that interesting as no one aboard my ship was listed, but as I reviewed the menu, there was a lot more on it than I'd expected. The overview was divided into five sections: Coastal Defense, Town Guard, Special Units, Command, and Current Disposition. Each listed the units matching its type, and the final section listed the current location and status of each unit, their readiness level, and their current assignment. In the case of the Mercenaries, it also showed their estimated time of arrival – in three days. They were moving quickly I noted with a smile.

I had been thinking of Siren's Reach as a cozy, peaceful place, but looking through this menu was giving me serious second thoughts. In the Coastal Defense alone, there were sixty marines, four heavily armed monster hunting ships, and a list of coastal defenses, including siege weapons on a sea wall fortification. Two of those ships were marked as "On Patrol." I wasn't sure if that meant Blackrock was sending ships or if it was typical for the level of monster activity in the area. From what I could tell, the town guards were the bulk of the fighting force in the conflict. It included one hundred and twenty soldiers, primarily assigned around the town, and twenty-five cavalry on patrol. I was sure that the mercenaries she'd assigned to help support their numbers would be well appreciated. That gave me a thought, though. So far as Septimia would know, I'd hired her some mercenaries, and that was what she had to work with. It might be more than enough if Blackstone had a similar-sized force, but I wanted to brighten her day a little. So, I started figuring out how to configure the Forces Overview.

The first thing I did was look for a way to add Dawn's Light. There were no "options," much like my status, which worked entirely off of intent. So, I tried willing Dawn's Light to the Forces, and a moment later, the Special Units section expanded. Previously, it listed "Heavy Dragoons," "Alchemy Corps," and "Scouts," but now included a section for "Sky Fleet." The single populated item was "Runeship Battlecruiser – Dawn's Light," with statistics showing my crew at one hundred forty-two and thirty sky marines. I grinned at the new entry before assigning it to make port at Siren's Reach, and I saw that the estimated time of arrival had appeared as just over six hours.

Spotting my grin, Amélie leaned up against the bulwark beside me and said, "You look excited to see Siren's Reach for the first time. It is unfortunate that this war is overshadowing everything."

I slowly nodded, "Yes, I suppose that's correct on both accounts. I was just sorting out some management menus for it. But don't worry about the war. It doesn't seem to have escalated very far. I have high hopes that we can talk to whoever is in charge at Blackstone and work out whatever the problem is."

Amélie looked at me and then back out over the water to the coastline. "I suspect there is more going on than we understand. I hope it is so simple, but I have a bad feeling."

I gave her an appraising look and asked, "I thought you disabled that oracle trait? Are you doing prophecy again?"

She barked out a laugh, "No, no. After the second time it happened, I never want to deal with that again. Having the system flood into me and use me like a puppet… It is so alien. No, not for all the foresight in the world. This is only a feeling."

I nodded and reached over to rub her back. I had been keeping my "Light in the Darkness" title effect disabled for a similar reason. I hated how it forced everyone to be super honest. It was unnatural, but I also didn't like it when I asked someone at court how my dress looked, and they told me I looked like a child playing dress up. One time of that was enough. Still, that was nothing compared to the seeming possession that overtook Amélie when a prophecy flooded her entire being.

"Don't worry, Amélie. I'm taking things seriously. I intend to show them that we're more than strong enough to stand up for ourselves. They are going to know diplomacy is the right path. I just want to do my best to keep this from turning into a pointless bloodbath."

She turned to look at me again and then smiled. "Good. You know, I think you have grown up a lot since we have been here."

I snorted a laugh, "Yeah, thanks, I think. We did get thrown in the deep end, didn't we?"

She nodded, going back to watching the coast, "We did. And it could have been a lot worse. Imagine if we did not have our friends here to guide us. Anything could have happened. Even if we managed to get somewhere safely away from the Fallen, one false step could have ended with us as little better than slaves."

"I'd rather not imagine that. I'm already having a hard enough time imagining how we're going to get through the next couple of years with all the good fortune we do have."

Amélie grinned, "Yes, I suppose so. It is a little intimidating, but not nearly as much as it used to be. We are flying into a war, and even that isn't frightening. This is a good time for us to learn and grow."

I thought about that for a moment and shrugged, "I worry about the people here. This seems stupid. People are going to die for nothing. And eventually, we're going to have to finish what we've started with the last two greater demons. They won't be like anything we've dealt with so far. Did you know Jalmonnoth was over level eighty? The others will probably be just as powerful. I don't even know how we're going to fight something like that without cheating."

Amélie laughed at me again, "Who says we cannot cheat?"

I was about to reply when a notification appeared in my vision. It was different than others, and I could feel how it wasn't just for me. Aric and Penelope had received it as well.

* Dawn's Light mission update. New Destination – Shallow Sea.

* Interdiction Mission. Locate and assist allied vessels Stormbreaker and Kraken's Bane. Repel or neutralize enemy vessels.

I whirled back toward the helm, but Aric was already calling out commands.

"Sound general quarters! Helm, elevation to two thousand, get the mana engines online! Bosun, reef the sails! All hands, prepare for immediate course change. We have an interdiction mission. Let's move swiftly and efficiently!"

A drumbeat hammered out to announce general quarters as commands were shouted at the crew, and everyone went into motion. Seeing Aric had everything in hand, I stopped and let him do his job, but Amélie was beside me in a blink.

"What is this all about? Are we under attack? I do not see anything."

I shook my head, "No, but two of the ships from Siren's Reach are. Septimia used the war menu to update the orders I'd set for our ship to let us know. I guess we're going to see some fighting sooner than expected."

Amélie cracked her knuckles. "Good. We can show them that we are serious."

I nodded, a little uncomfortable with going back into combat again, but resolved to see it through. We stood there together and watched our weapons crews arming and deploying our heavy ballista in a chorus of clanking gears and tensioning lines. I pulled up the War Summary and watched our estimated time to arrive at the destination begin to drop rapidly as the mana engines whirred to life. Soon, all eyes were on the water ahead, searching for our targets.