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The sun was two hours past noon when Grandma Sally’s Sloop approached the outskirts of New London. Thomas said earlier that in winter a smoky haze from coal stoves hung above the city and that he was glad spring had come. While nearing the city Lilly commented things didn’t look much different from the outer reaches of the King’s City. Small fishing villages and towns dotted the shorelines. The people’s garb differed, as did the occasional steam-driven boat and the metal-wheeled tractor on one farm that plowed a hillside field. All of the other farms used mules or oxen.
The homes and buildings were mainly brick with wooden-shingled roofs, different from the wood and stone construction I’d become used to seeing. What stood out as we neared the city were the groups scattered along the shoreline and small fishing docks filled with people, watching and pointing as our boat passed. Even some of the crews aboard the scattered fishing, cargo, and pleasure vessels stopped what they were doing and looked our way.
I asked Thomas if there was something special about Grandma Sally’s Sloop or if our arrival had been announced. He said he didn’t believe so. I walked to the foredeck. Major Jadd had also noticed the attention on us. Pointing and using his limited Crusader tongue, he said something about it to Luke Cromwell.
Several fishing boats and two pleasure vessels turned toward us, working their way closer. Luke Cromwell gave orders to the crew who went below deck and returned with rifles and cutlasses.
I stepped between Grand Wizard Seelain and the prow of the boat even as Lilly rushed up to me, bringing my spear and crossbow.
“What going on?” Lilly asked me.
“I’m not sure,” I said to Lilly. “Grand Wizard, stay seated, behind me. Lilly, stand to her right.” Major Jadd was already to Seelain’s left, discussing the situation with Cromwell. All of the crew but the steersman stood along the port and aft sides, listening to Thomas’s orders. They loaded their muzzleloaders. Quick barked twice, then stood alert at the bow.
A pair of steam-driven gunboats from upstream approached. Their hulls were lined with metal plates and they bristled with men and cannons. While both sounded their deep steam whistles, one sent signals using some sort of light flashing from behind slatted blinds. It was apparently directed at our boat.
Luke Cromwell removed his hat and waved it back and forth over his head and then said something to Grand Wizard Seelain and Diplomat Grimsby in the Crusader tongue.
Lilly said to me, “He says they’re gonna escort us in.”
That was some relief, but the gunboats appeared faster than Grandma Sally’s Sloop. And cannons were faster than any boat. Although their presence made me nervous, I saw no reason for them to open fire on us.
I began to wonder and worry. If New London was as big as the King’s City, and the citizens were as interested in seeing us as those on the shores had been...with so many of the Reunited Kingdom’s citizenry armed, and the fact that they’d invaded the Main Continent in the past with the intent of conquering to spread their morals and beliefs—those which left no room for magic such as Grand Wizard Seelain wielded. How could I keep Grand Wizard Seelain safe?
Lilly looked through her spyglass before handing it to Grand Wizard Seelain.
The gunboats continued to sound their whistles and the smaller boats turned to give them and us a wide berth.
Grand Wizard Seelain stepped forward, next to me. “All is in order, Flank Hawk,” she said. “The military vessels are to escort us to port.”
“If everything was safe,” I said, “would the crew be armed?”
“That was before Luke Cromwell knew of the escorting ships.”
Lilly said, “A lot of them carry guns, Grand Wizard.”
“We are on a diplomatic mission,” said Diplomat Grimsby from behind us. “They will not harm us.”
Luke Cromwell was saying something to us. I couldn’t understand what he said, so I spoke over him. “Lilly is referring to the citizens, Diplomat. Not the military escort. My responsibility is to see Grand Wizard Seelain remains safe.”
Luke Cromwell shifted to our tongue and addressed Wizard Seelain. “Rest assured, ye will be safe. A military escort will take us safely to the House of Parliament.”
I said, “It only takes one gunshot. Can your diplomats meet us somewhere else? Back at your estate?”
Cromwell said, “Now that many of my people know ye are here, if ye do believe there is a threat to Grand Wizard Seelain, the House of Parliament is the most secure place.”
Thomas spoke up from behind us. “My father’s people sent ahead would not have revealed your presence. Some politician must have.”
“To what purpose?” asked Jadd.
Thomas shrugged as did his father. “My countrymen are curious about your people, Major. They will want to see you. Wizards and warriors from the Kingdom of Keesee.”
“I am sure that is the extent of it,” said Luke Cromwell. Diplomat Grimsby nodded in agreement.
“It only takes one gun,” said Lilly.
Cromwell called out something in his native tongue to his crew. Then all nodded and said something I guessed to be a ‘Yes.’
“My men will stand close around ye,” Cromwell said. “Shield ye from any possible harm. As will I.”
“If an escort is waiting for us at the pier as you say they will be,” said Jadd, “professional soldiers would serve better.”
“Unless they want to take us prisoner,” Lilly said just loud enough for me, Grand Wizard Seelain and Diplomat Grimsby to hear.
Diplomat Grimsby turned red-faced, but a stern look from Grand Wizard Seelain stopped her from saying anything.
––––––––
MAJOR JADD HELPED with the buckles to my breast and backplate while saying, “Guess our diplomat’s firm belief that bringing our armor, even if stowed below deck, wasn’t bad form.”
“It won’t stop a Crusader bullet,” I said.
“Not a direct on shot,” Jadd replied. He slid on his serpent cavalryman’s helmet with its red plumes flaring across the top and dangling down his back. “But I bet you feel better nevertheless.”
I put on my helmet and buckled the strap.
He laughed. “Flank Hawk, you’ve never taken to helmets.”
“I’m thankful more than once that I’ve worn one, but you’d think I’d be used to the nose guard by now.”
The crew still stood protectively on the deck of Grandma Sally’s Sloop even though the two gunboats had taken up station on either side of us. Lilly stood near the prow with her spyglass, talking to Thomas. Grand Wizard Seelain sat between Cromwell and Diplomat Grimsby on the back bench. Cromwell continued to exchange words over his shoulder with the steersman.
“Looks like we’re going to disembark on a main pier,” commented Jadd. “With this small boat, it’ll probably require a ladder up or stairs up.”
I nodded while slinging my crossbow over my shoulder so it hung across my back. I picked up and checked the head of my boar spear. Jadd looked from me to Wizard Seelain and back but remained silent. Her safety had been entrusted to me, but I wanted his advice. “What do you think?”
“You go up first,” he said. “If it’s a ladder, I’ll hand up your spear. If everything is okay, the diplomat next, followed by me. Lilly will then follow up the grand wizard.”
It sounded good to me. “Cromwell will probably go up first,” I said after waiting for several soundings of the gunboat whistles to end. We went over to Grand Wizard Seelain and I explained the plan.
Lilly hurried back and said to me and Grand Wizard Seelain, “Only a couple hundred yards. Looks like they’ve got wooden stairs from the pier pretty close to the dock that reach down to about our level and there’s a lot of people with soldiers holding them back. They have uniforms like mine,” she said, referring to Roos’s dark blue wool jacket that she wore. “Some have rifles, but no bayonets on them. Others have red jackets and long shields and clubs.”
“To intervene themselves between us and curious crowds,” said Diplomat Grimsby.
“Or riot stiflers,” said Jadd.
“Useful for both, but only a precaution,” said Cromwell. He met Thomas’s gaze then added, “Let us hope.”
There were no other ships near the pier. About two hundred soldiers held back three times their number of civilians. Using her spyglass, Lilly reported that she didn’t see any regular folks carrying rifles, but that she saw two with revolver holsters. The red-clad soldiers were pressing the crowd back to a line of warehouses as our boat’s paddles reversed direction and we slowed. Not far beyond where the pier met the dock area stood two carriages. Big and black and each pulled by six sturdy horses. A dozen horse-mounted soldiers formed a loose circle around them.
Jadd and I stood in front of Grand Wizard Seelain with Lilly directly behind her. A moment later we were too close to the dock to see over its lip.
Cromwell and two of his men strode up the wooden steps and onto the pier. Diplomat Grimsby tried to step around me to follow them, but I blocked her and Major Jadd put his leather-gauntleted hand on her shoulder. I followed Cromwell, carrying my spear. I studied the horsemen, soldiers and crowd beyond before searching the tops of the warehouses while Cromwell walked forward to confer with an approaching officer. Two men stood at attention atop each warehouse, dressed in the blue garb of soldiers. I signaled for Diplomat Grimsby to come up.
Cromwell finished his conversation and the officer said something to me. Diplomat Grimsby joined them and nodded while Cromwell translated, “All is secure for thy people. I, mine son and Diplomat Grimsby will ride in the first carriage, and ye, Major Jadd, Grand Wizard Seelain and Scout Lilly will ride inside the other.”
I turned to see Quick bound up the steps, followed by Thomas working his way up the last two steps with the assistance of the oldest of Grandma Sally’s Sloop’s crewmen.
I strode back to the pier’s steps. “Major, all looks in order,” I said and then turned back and stepped onto the dock, watching the crowd. I wished we had Drux, giving us another set of eyes, his sword, and long experience as a city guard in the roughest parts of the King’s City. He looked like someone not to mess with. But we didn’t have him or, even better, the sword hand of Private Zunnert.
Thomas said to me, “There should be room enough for all of you in the rear carriage. They’re made of sturdy wood. Able to absorb a .58 caliber bullet.”
I shook my head. “No. We’ll not all be shut up inside. I will replace one of the two soldiers standing on the back platform. Lilly will sit next to the driver.”
Major Jadd came up next to me and surveyed the crowd while I continued. “I trust you and you’re armed,” I told Thomas. “I’d ask that you ride in the carriage with Grand Wizard Seelain, along with Major Jadd, and Quick.”
The dog gave a sharp bark at the mention of his name.
A murmuring rose from the crowd as Grand Wizard Seelain and Lilly stepped onto the pier. Jadd said to me, “I will see your arrangements are put into action, if Thomas agrees to ride with Wizard Seelain.”
Before Thomas finished his first nod, Jadd turned and marched toward the officer standing with Grimsby and Cromwell.
“I’ll go on ahead,” Thomas said, and whistled for Quick to follow him to the big-wheeled, fancy carriage waiting twenty yards away.
“Grand Wizard, you’ll ride in the second carriage,” I said. “Lilly, you’ll ride next to the driver. I’ll ride on the rail behind. Major Jadd and Thomas will accompany you inside. The diplomat and Cromwell will ride in the first carriage.”
Grand Wizard Seelain stood tall with her white staff in hand. “One would certainly think the city leaders might have a larger carriage so that we need not be divided.”
“They may not have large ones built like those,” I said, meeting her eyes only fast enough to acknowledge her, and then returned my focus to the crowd. “Small windows. Thomas says the sides can stop bullets.” Grand Wizard Seelain came up next to me as I spoke. Lilly moved to stand several steps in front of her.
It was obvious we were in a weak tactical position, and I knew that Grand Wizard Seelain’s status would not allow her to cower or retreat. I didn’t face Grand Wizard Seelain as I reminded her, “Many of them have guns. Do not expose yourself unnecessarily.” The crowd was pressing forward to get a better view. It didn’t seem to bother Grand Wizard Seelain. Maybe she was used to such attention in the King’s City. But it made me increasingly nervous.
Major Jadd stepped between Diplomat Grimsby and the officer as he spoke using his command voice. Without turning to us he signaled to me.
“With me, Grand Wizard,” I said. Gut instinct kicked in. “Hurry!”
Wizard Seelain placed a hand on my shoulder. “Flank Hawk, I believe you are being unduly cautious.” That was when I spotted the first rock hurled from somewhere in the back of the crowd.
The oblong stone was the size of my fist. Before it reached the top of its arc two more joined it, thrown from the packed mass of onlookers a little to our left. Everyone—the crowd, the soldiers, and even the riverboats behind us fell silent as the first rock sailed over the horses, toward us.
I warned Grand Wizard Seelain, but she whispered, “I see them.”
The first stone landed wide left, smacking into the dock’s brick-paved surface before clattering into the river. The second rock flew short, slamming with a thwack against the far side of the lead carriage. The final stone flew at us with less of an arc. It barely cleared the heads of the lead carriage’s team of horses and right between two horse-mounted soldiers. It was certain to fall a few yards short but a swift magical gesture by Grand Wizard Seelain sent a narrow wind-gust, stopping it from bouncing and skittering among us.
Shrill whistles sounded as the red-clad soldiers drove into the crowd toward the stone throwers. I didn’t know if their goal was to capture them, club them, or drive them off. Chaos ensued, shouting and screaming. But, for the moment, no rocks flew. It was one of the few times I wished I carried a shield.
The cavalry mounts stood steady, but the carriage drivers worked to calm the six-horse teams. A soldier on the back of our carriage hopped down and pulled open the door facing us.
“Let’s move,” I said to Grand Wizard Seelain, striding forward at a measured pace—one that spoke of confidence, and one that she would not feel inappropriate to follow. I remembered Lilly saying some onlookers carried revolvers. That thought made me want to take Wizard Seelain by the arm and drag her as fast as I could.
I didn’t understand what the crowd shouted, but it sounded like two, or maybe three, sides arguing. Grand Wizard Seelain stepped up into the carriage, followed by Major Jadd.
“Lilly,” I said, “you don’t need to ride outside.”
She ignored me and nimbly climbed up to the driver’s bench and sat on the anxious driver’s right. I slid my spear into a slot meant for a rifle and tightened the leather strap to hold it in place. The soldier holding the door looked at me as I stepped up, taking his former station on the back of the carriage.
He started to protest, but the soldier standing on the back board to my right give him a sharp rebuke.
We were ready to go, but the crowd pushed forward, against the soldiers as they tried to wedge an opening so that the carriages could pass through. Punching fists and kicking boots met the red-clad soldiers’ slamming shields and swinging clubs. Although better armed, the soldiers were outnumbered, especially as a rush of new citizens appeared to have joined the growing fray.
Quick barked as rocks once again flew our way. One came straight for Lilly. She calmly caught it with one hand—and surprised me by simply dropping it instead of hurling it back into the crowd as I expected her to do.
Thomas shouted something to the guard at the door waiting for the one-legged man to climb in. They argued for a second before Major Jadd climbed back out of the black carriage.
A stone struck one of the lead horses in the shoulder. It neighed and reared, and the diver spat curses as he struggled to control his team.
“Flank Hawk,” shouted Jadd. “Help me boost Thomas atop the carriage.” When I looked questioningly, Thomas had already handed his crutch to the door soldier.
“Are you sure?” I shouted to both Thomas and Jadd.
Thomas nodded while Jadd locked the fingers of his two hands together to create a step for Thomas. I helped him onto Jadd’s hands and, with the help of the nearby soldier, boosted him onto the carriage roof.
Thomas, having only one leg and arm, struggled to stand, but Lilly leapt to his aid atop the rocking carriage. The horses threatening to bolt any second. Even so, Thomas stood steady, leaning on his crutch with Lilly at his side.
With an almost casual effort, he drew his revolver and fired it once, into the air. The carriage shot forward a few feet, but the driver pulled hard on the reins, halting them. Lilly kept Thomas from losing his balance and tumbling down.
Everyone turned toward the single crack of gunfire. The whistles and shouting ceased. The soldiers disengaged and took a step back from the crowd.
Thomas’s voice boomed as he shouted out to everyone in his view. I glanced in the carriage and stood to block Grand Wizard Seelain from exiting. I couldn’t understand what he said, but Grand Wizard Seelain translated for me.
She said, “Thomas says, he is ashamed. He says, ‘These are friends of our country. They fight alongside us against the Corpse Lord, our enemy. They sacrifice and die for our mutual cause.’”
A woman’s voice from the crowd shouted a response.
“She calls us pagans,” Seelain said. “Wizards and beasts.”
I didn’t know what pagans were, but I could guess.
Wizard Seelain said, “Thomas says, we’re gentiles and should be welcomed as his Lord the Savior welcomed them.”
The woman replied and Wizard Seelain translated through clenched teeth, “She says we are evil!”
“‘No,’ says Thomas. ‘Lieutenant Colonel Paul Jedidiah Roos. Many of you knew him. His faith. His judgment.’”
The crowd murmured amongst themselves.
“‘He named two here Friend.’” As Wizard Seelain continued to translate, I decided I should be seen as Thomas spoke about me. So I moved around the carriage, into full view. Wizard Seelain followed me, but it wasn’t the moment to argue. Major Jadd joined us.
“‘Lilly and Flank Hawk. They fought alongside Paul Roos. He died, sacrificed his life for them as they brought destruction to the Corpse Lord’s war machine factories.’”
Thomas pointed down at me. Wizard Seelain said, “He says, ‘This is the one you’ve heard about. The mercenary Flank Hawk, who turned the tide of the war. This is his scout, Lilly. They are our friends.’”
The woman shouted again, more shrill than before. “She says, ‘We are not to take council from wizards. Scriptures say so.’”
Thomas replied evenly. “‘Scripture also says to let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’” He reached his arm across to grasp the stump of his missing one. “‘Stones have already been cast—’”
The woman interrupted Thomas. “‘She is a beast, I can see and so can you!’”
“My hound Quick, purebred Starhound, sits quietly. Do hounds lie? She is not evil! She...she is gentile. Like Paul Roos, I name her Friend.’” He stood tall and scanned the crowed with his good eye. “If you know her heart, if you find me corrupted, cast your stones upon me as well.’”
In response a stone flew from the crowed, straight and true toward Thomas. Grand Wizard Seelain began a spell, but Jadd grabbed her arm and whispered harshly, “No.”
There was nothing I could do but, like the silent crowd, watch it strike Thomas who did not move, did not duck. At the last second, Lilly leapt in front of Thomas, hugging him and took the fist-sized stone in the small of her back. I heard the thud and her grunt as she absorbed the painful blow. The rock clattered off the carriage’s roof and onto the paved brick dock.
Quick growled and shot toward the stone throwers in the crowd. New shouts erupted in the mass of people, but now directed at the woman and her band of supporters.
Thomas called his hound back.
“With haste,” said Wizard Seelain, “help him down.”
We got Thomas into the carriage. Lilly remained next to the driver and I took my place on the back of the carriage as the onlookers gave way, opening a path through them and into the city.
The lead carriage moved forward and our driver snapped his reins to follow. We departed amid angry-fisted shouts matched by nearly as many waving cheers. Quick ran alongside, barking at no one in particular.