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Magic is known to us from a great many sources, she read, not for the first time. It is a knowledge that can be possessed in different ways, but it comes with a terrible price.
Aria was in her quarters. It was the third watch, and Lieutenant Zaffir had the conn. The Knight Fleet was slowly flying south, where it was rumored that the Cromah were gathering an impressive fleet bent on hunting hers. Aria wanted to find the proof of that.
The enemy battlegroups had been getting larger, Aria noted. Clearly, she was having an effect on the attitude of the Cromah command staff. They never encountered less than seven ships at any time.
Aria had been the commodore of her small fleet for five and a half months. The only word she had received from Commodore Rustic had been in the form of a trio of new ships - another galleon and two more schooners.
All her ships had suffered some damage and loss, yet none were serious enough to threaten their operations, so still, she remained at large, doing what she could to disrupt the Cromah fleet.
They had eliminated an impressive number of enemy vessels along the way.
Commodore Knight was certain that she was causing the Cromah no end of concern. The last few fights had been much more brutal. Clearly, they were aware there was a Huscarn attacker prowling the Ealantic. But with each victory, the Knight Fleet gained more confidence and more capability to meet any challenge.
She was proud of all they had achieved and was looking forward to the next opponents they might encounter.
Aria had very few possessions that meant anything to her. But among those were the one-of-a-kind books passed on by Master Enswai. Dreams of her ancient mentor had begun to be regular again a few weeks ago, and this she interpreted to mean that she needed to reacquaint herself with the books of the master’s teachings.
Aria Knight seldom recalled her dreams. But whenever she did, she knew it meant something, and she had never yet been wrong about her interpretation of one of her dreams.
So now she was reading the book called Magical Practicum, probably for the tenth or eleventh time in her life.
Magic is both a gift and a curse, she read. Magic-users with a strong enough will can control their power and can direct it in ways that would seem terrible and impossible to others. But the strength of will to control magic in this manner exacts a terrible price, and the users lose their ability to truly connect with their fellow man. As if to drive that point home, they cannot sire nor bear progeny. Their gifts are long life and free will. These are the wizards. The gift of free will that these users receive outweighs the curse other magic-users bear.
This next part always fascinated Aria. Magic use in the weak-willed eats away at their strength of mind, and in time, they will be enslaved to the magic. Those who wield magic of free will can control them, and they become nothing but tools, the machines of other men, used to produce engines and weapons and other common items for the non-magical to use. The sorcerers’ abilities become more single-focused over time, and their lives are never more than three score.
Most people knew that the sorcerers who produced the common magic items of everyday life were slaves, but they did not know it was the power itself that enslaved them. Aria often had wondered if anyone, not just wizards, might have the power to control the slaves. She had pondered what sort of power that would grant someone and what use they might make of it.
Images of hordes of enslaved sorcerers doing her bidding sometimes filled Aria’s head. If they could be made to use their power to direct energy at her enemies and slay whole armies, they would be an unstoppable, utterly expendable force. It was an amusing thought, but it did not strike her as very practical.
Aria had a goal, but she was not going to take the most megalomaniacal path she could think of to get there.
It was the next paragraph that Aria had read more than any other from any of the books her old mentor had passed her. Something about it simply resonated with her.
Most wizards deny the possibility of the third class of magic user, but that denial is borne of ignorance and arrogance. A very select few, some believe, can wield magic at will, casting spells unseen by other magic-users. Their strength is not much greater than that of the enslaved sorcerers, but the only price they risk is their sanity. One of great will and fortitude – as well as strong character - can make use of magic to gain for themselves a great many things. They can manipulate those around them in ways wizards are utterly incapable of, for they, unlike wizards, still possess desire. Their power is limited, their strength of magic has specific boundaries, but they can change the course of the lives of all those around them and may not even know it is magic that lets them do this.
I have foreseen that I will teach such a one. I await that day with great anticipation.
The warning bells brought Aria’s focus out of her book. Swiftly, she was back in her tunic and breeches and out of her quarters, heading towards the aft deck.
“Lieutenant Zaffir, report!” she ordered as she climbed the stairs, pulling her jacket on. “We should not have come across our quarry much before dawn.”
“I know, Commodore,” responded Lt. Zaffir. Captain Orvin bounded up the stairs to the aft deck, followed by Chief Crang, heading for his post. “But the lookout has spotted sails on the western horizon, ma’am.”
“How many?”
“I was awaiting a count upon your arrival, ma’am.”
“I have the conn, Lieutenant,” stated Captain Orvin. “Mister Crang, take the helm.”
“Aye, sir,” stated the chief, relieving the sailor who had been at the wheel.
Lieutenant Zaffir was leaving the deck and moving smartly towards her regular duty post.
Aria picked up the speaker to contact the sailor high atop the mast. “Crow’s nest, report!”
“Still counting, Commodore,” replied the sailor from the crow’s nest. “I can confirm a dozen ships so far.”
Sergeant Novick was at her side. “Commodore?”
“Battle stations, Sergeant.”
“All hands to battle stations!” bellowed the sergeant.
“Commodore, I sight sixteen vessels, now. I am as yet unable to make out their flags. They have certainly seen us.”
“Captain?” Aria turned towards the aft deck and addressed Orvin.
Captain Orvin took up the lantern and began to signal the Tiger’s Claw, the other galleon of the Knight Fleet.
The western most ship, the schooner Magistrate, was signaling to the Talon now. Aria read it.
“Captain – signal acknowledgement. Lookout – can you confirm those are our ships?”
“I’m working on it,” came the sailor’s reply. Aria knew that even with the sorcerous night scope, seeing flags in the dark took time. Just as a signal came from the next ship to the west, the Scimitar, her lookout responded, “Aye! That appears to be the Valiant approaching, ma’am!”
“Stand down to general quarters!” called Captain Orvin.
“General quarters!” barked Sergeant Novick.
“Captain, signal the others. Change course to intercept our approaching allies.”
“Aye, Commodore!” he replied.
Aria took a moment to better compose herself. Commodore Rustic was unexpected, and she had been off duty. Aria buttoned up her uniform jacket.
Lieutenant Zaffir was returning to the aft deck and the conn.
The speaker buzzed, and Aria took it up. “Commodore? The approaching ships have surfaced!” said the lookout from the crow’s nest.
“Captain?” Aria spoke to Orvin.
“Helm, make ready to dial down the engine to stand-by. Prepare to surface the Talon. Lieutenant Zaffir, signal the rest of the fleet to follow suit.”
“Aye, Captain,” replied the young lieutenant.
Aria observed as Captain Orvin watched the signals pass between the ships. He would not be willing, in the dark, to do his trademark sliding surfacing maneuver, especially not while the fleet was holding such a tight formation.
“All ships have acknowledged, Captain,” came back Lt. Zaffir.
“Helm, dial the engine to zero.”
“Aye, Captain,” replied Crang.
Once more, the seaman turned the knob, and the answering bells let them know it was done. The forward motion of the Talon slowed.
“The others are slowing, sir,” stated Lt. Zaffir, her nightscope to her eye.
“Very good, Lieutenant,” stated Captain Orvin. “Mister Crang, steady as she goes.”
“Aye, sir.”
“Lieutenant Proggott, adjust sails and surface the ship.”
“Aye sir!” replied the deck officer. “Angulate the side sails, downwards to twenty-one degrees!”
The order was passed, and soon Aria felt the ship slowly descend.
“Adjust sidesail angle to forty-five degrees!”
The order was shouted, and in a moment, the Talon touched the surface of the ocean.
“Bring in and secure all sidesails!” ordered Lieutenant Proggott.
The side sails slid back into their holds, so as to be protected from the saltwater.
“Valiant is signaling us!” called the lookout.
“Ms. Zaffir?” addressed the captain.
Lieutenant Zaffir had the nightscope to her eye and was reading the signal. “Talon, break from your fleet and come up portside. Prepare to receive Rustic,” she read.
“Captain,” Aria ordered.
“Helm, starboard fifteen degrees.”
“Aye, Captain.”
“Mister Proggott, adjust the sails so we get a little more speed!”
“Aye, Captain!” replied the deck officer. He called the proper orders, and not long afterwards the galleon was moving on the wind.
They were soon near enough now that Aria could see the mighty sails of the larger brig. She knew Rustic must have been up to something, to be out here meeting her in person at this hour.
The Valiant was sailing upon the ocean’s surface, also letting the winds control her course. Considering how long they had been on their own, Aria was impressed that Commodore Rustic had succeeded in coming across their path.
“Mister Crang, rudder amidships,” called Orvin.
“Aye, Captain.”
“Slow us down, Lieutenant Proggott.”
“Yes, Captain!”
“Nice work, Captain,” addressed the commodore. She liked to show her appreciation in front of her crew. Everyone liked to hear compliments from their superior officer.
Sometimes loyalty was not so hard to come by.
The larger brig was now only a few feet away, beginning to pass. Aria saw the crew on board the Valiant looking at her ship and sailors with some degree of awe and envy. Obviously, her reputation was not unknown.
Once more, she noted Commodore Rustic on the aft deck, but his uniform was different, and his jacket was buttoned up. Again, he swung over, and immediately Aria noted what was new when he landed upon her deck.
“Welcome aboard, Admiral.”
“Thank you, Commodore,” he replied, wearing a rakish grin. “Captain Orvin, would you be so kind as to come about and take up position to the starboard side of my ship? Lines will be thrown, so we can link up.”
“Yes, Admiral,” replied Orvin.
“Join us in the Commodore’s stateroom once that’s done.”
“Aye, sir. Thank you.”
“Commodore?” the admiral addressed her, gesturing down the ladder. Aria took the lead, and they went to her stateroom.
Once there, Admiral Rustic closed the door.
“Rum, sir?” she questioned.
“Thank you, Commodore,” replied Rustic. He sat in the same seat as he had when last he’d been aboard the Talon, and he propped his feet on Aria’s desk.
She gathered the goblets and took up the rum which had not been touched since Rustic’s last visit.
“To what do I owe the pleasure, sir?” To have him here, this close to the Cromah shore, and now in an admiral’s uniform, was an intriguing mystery.
“Always this formal, Commodore?” chided Rustic.
“I expected a message from you before I ever expected to see you out here in person, sir,” she answered honestly.
“Truth be told, Ms. Knight, a lot of things have happened that were unexpected. Thank you.” He accepted the goblet and took a draught. Aria took her seat across from him.
“I have no doubt you want answers, but I would prefer to go over all this but once, so I thought we’d wait for Captain Orvin.”
“Of course, sir,” replied Aria. She took a draught of her own rum. “I presume our work out here has not gone unnoticed, sir?”
Rustic chuckled. “That would be an understatement, Commodore.”
There was a quick rap on the door, and soon Captain Orvin was within.
“I brought us about, then turned the conn over to Lieutenant Zaffir,” he stated.
“Very good, Captain,” remarked the admiral. “Please, take a seat.”
Orvin did so and nodded to Aria when she pushed the goblet of rum towards him.
“As you have both noted, I was promoted,” began Rustic. “You recall, of course, our last conversation?”
“You refer to the business of Admiral Tirkan, sir?” questioned Orvin. Aria could always count on him to know when to take the lead.
“Indeed,” replied Rustic. He took another drink from his goblet. “It would seem that the emperor finally got wind of the whole of Tirkan and Vail’s scheme.”
“Admiral Tirkan and Admiral Vail, sir?” questioned Aria.
“Yes. It would seem that, together, they were embezzling funds earmarked for fleet construction on the Ealantic and contributing about a third of the total number of ships they should have been producing.”
“That would explain to some degree Tirkan’s stance,” remarked Aria.
“It would indeed,” replied Rustic. “It also explains the lack of growth of this fleet in response to the Cromah numbers. Suffice it to say, things are different, now. They have both been removed from their offices and summarily executed.”
“Really?” questioned Aria.
“Their actions would be paramount to treason, so says the emperor,” replied Rustic. “And so, High Command finds itself devoid of a couple of key officers.”
“And you, sir?” questioned Aria.
“Yes, well, it would seem Admiral Margrave will not leave me be any longer,” he said, a mixed note of amusement and distress. “And thus, I have been promoted to the rank of Admiral.”
“Are you replacing Admiral Tirkan, sir?” questioned Orvin.
“Not exactly,” replied Rustic. “While I have been promoted to the rank of Admiral, I have not, in fact, been named the Ealantic Fleet commander.”
Aria noted that in her head. “But you command the entire fleet now, sir?”
“I do. I am the ranking officer of the Ealantic Fleet,” replied Admiral Rustic. “Admiral Margrave and the emperor want me to remain a-sea, which is part of why I am not being named official Ealantic Fleet commander. Rumor has it that Admiral Olang is considering promoting one of his commodores to a position similar to mine...or possibly himself going back to sea.”
Aria had never been overly impressed with Admiral Olang before, but she found his change in attitude fascinating. Something she would keep in her head for a later time.
“So, there is more to this?” questioned Aria.
“Of course, there is,” replied Admiral Rustic. He chuckled. “Patience, Commodore.”
“Apologies, sir,” she replied. He was one of the more aloof command officers Aria had ever encountered. Rustic intrigued her.
Rustic laughed more heartily, now. “I find your forwardness refreshing, Ms. Knight. Please, don’t let me put you off too much. I have already come to see that you are someone I can speak plainly with. You are aware that you have made quite a statement out here?”
“I did intend that, sir,” she replied bluntly.
“Good,” he remarked. “Because thanks to your activities, we have completely cut off all dominance on the part of the Cromah Navy. Our sources say they are loath to take an aggressive posture, but you have whittled their forces down quite a bit. More than that, they are working rather hard to find you. Too hard.”
Rustic took a drink. “Now that the rest of our fleet has the same working orders, matters will only be getting worse for them. They missed their chance - and their dominance is finished.”
“So the Knight Fleet is not alone in harassing the Cromah shipping?” questioned Aria.
“It goes beyond that, Commodore,” remarked Admiral Rustic. “Admiral Margrave has ordered us to wipe them out completely.”
Captain Orvin whistled low. “That is a change in tactics, sir.”
“And a welcome one,” added Aria.
“It is,” responded Rustic. “Many of the other commodores were getting frustrated with having nothing much to do and making little to no contact with the enemy. And your success was...beginning to annoy some of them.”
“They have not taken my place well?” queried Aria, unsurprised.
“You knew this would be a bit messy, Commodore,” responded Rustic. “Truth be told, several of them are not taking my new place all that well. Tirkan was no fool...he had several allies among the Ealantic commodores. Probably why I have often been sent farthest out to sea.”
He took another draught of the rum. “Nevertheless, you have served a great purpose, and even gotten the notice of the emperor. In fact, he has standing orders to meet you when you return to shore.”
“Really?” questioned Aria, intrigued.
“Oh yes. He was deeply interested in all you have done.”
“Have you come here to order me to shore then, sir?” questioned Aria.
Rustic laughed heartily. “Oh no, Ms. Knight.” He took another draught of his rum. “No, no. You have work to do. The rest of the fleet gets to engage the enemy...but not like you do.”
“Oh?”
“None of my other commodores have had real combat experience, either as individuals - nor with their fleets - in some time. They cannot work like you and your fleet does.”
“Will my officers be split up and sent to assist them, then?” questioned Aria.
“No,” replied Rustic quickly. “Breaking up you and your fleet at this juncture would be foolish. No, they will be joining forces and engaging the enemy by playing the numbers game.”
“Ah, superior firepower with superior numbers,” commented Captain Orvin.
“Give them more chances at victories?” queried Aria.
“For now,” remarked Rustic. “In the meantime, you and yours will continue your actions. But I will be giving you more ships. I want you to get them trained, too.”
“I don’t really need more, sir,” remarked Aria. “But I presume these will be more temporary, with captains who are not so set in their ways to go back to the other commodores to get them better able to do as the Knight Fleet does?”
“Awful presumptuous, don’t you think, Ms. Knight?” chided Rustic.
Aria took a drink from her own goblet now. “That’s as may be, sir. But I suspect this is all because you know my tactics have been unique - and effective - and you want to have more of your fleet similarly capable, now that you have overall command. You want to hold me up as an example to the rest of the command staff of this fleet.”
Rustic grinned. “Yes, I do prefer how forward you can be, Commodore. And you are, of course, correct.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“So, of course, there are a few formalities I need to take care of, while I am here,” stated Admiral Rustic. “First and foremost, it is official now, Ms. Knight. You are fully promoted to the rank of commodore. This should come as no surprise.”
“Thank you, Admiral.”
“And you, Mister Orvin, are also hereby formally promoted to the rank of captain and commanding officer of the Talon, while your commodore commands her fleet.”
“Thank you, sir,” replied Orvin.
“It would, in some ways, be more fitting for you to move to a brig or a new barq,” Rustic mused a moment. “But honestly, I think it suits you better to remain aboard this galleon. Besides, that will help to keep the Cromah off balance.”
“They know of me, but not what my ship is?” questioned Aria.
“That’s our best intelligence, Commodore,” replied Rustic. “And we’d like to keep it that way.”
“So, what are our new orders, sir?” questioned Aria in all seriousness. Something told her the time for banter was over, and it was time to get to the point of it all.
“I want you to continue your operations, Commodore. But I want you right up on their shore,” stated Admiral Rustic. “I want you to bombard some of their seaside towns and let them know that the Ealantic belongs to the empire.”
“Is there any specific target you wish us to take on, sir?” questioned Aria.
“Not yet,” replied the admiral. “But in two months, I will want you to return to this place, to meet me again. If all goes according to plan, at that time we may have a new mission.”
“Aye, sir,” replied Aria.
“One more thing, Commodore. Contrary to my predecessor’s orders - and his predecessor’s - you may sail under black skies with blackened sails.”
Aria was intrigued. It was considered by many sailors dishonorable to sail with darkened sails at night. First, there was the obvious hazard. Dark sails on dark ships at night were a danger not only to other ships at sea but also to the crews. Rigging dark sails was tricky.
Further, there were certain long-held protocols about courtesy and honor, even to an enemy. Dark sails meant that either you did not care about your honor, or you did not care to see honor and courtesy in your enemy.
“We’ll do as we must, sir,” replied Aria, making no commitment either way.
As she suspected, that was the answer he’d sought. “Very well, Commodore.” Admiral Rustic arose. “I should return to my ship. Supplies will be traded. You will be gaining another pair of sloops and another corvette - temporarily. In a month, send them back to sea, they will know where to sail to.”
“Aye, sir.”
“In two months, when we next meet, I will likely call upon you to be my right hand, Commodore Knight. I cannot tell you how that will be, as of yet, but I expect you will be willing and able to offer me any assistance I will require.”
“I am yours to command, sir,” said Aria seriously. She suspected what he might have in mind and would have no problem with anything he might ask of her.
Rustic, Aria was finding, may well be one she could count among those she called a friend in short order.
“Continue your operations, Commodore. The emperor is watching you. Make me proud. And then...as I asked before...”
“Aye, sir. I shall not forget you,” replied Aria honestly.
“Very good.”