sample a bit of high-altitude sunlight.”
“Later,” Meralda said. “I need to finish unpacking.”
“You unpacked last night,” Mug said. “Mostly, you unpacked the cargo hold.”
A soft knock sounded at her door. Meralda grinned and pushed back a stray lock of hair. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, as she shook the wrinkles out of her dressing gown. She pulled it over her head and made for the door. “Now hush.”
Meralda opened the door to reveal the Bellringers, both in uniform, both smiling identical smiles and shifting their weight from right foot to left and back to right again, in perfect time.
Between them they held a large flat parcel, wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with twine. A label read simply ‘GAS PLANE CHARGER #3 C/O MAGE OVIS.’
“We have the item,” said Kervis in a whisper.
“No one saw,” added Tervis.
“Come in,” Meralda said, stepping aside. “You’re sure no one saw?”
“Yes,” chorused the brothers. “We’re sure.”
Mug snickered as Meralda closed the door. “Mistress, if these are your accomplices in mischief, you might as well sign a full confession now and save yourself the court inquiry.”
“Over there, by the desk,” Meralda said. “Yes. Perfect.”
“That has a familiar shape,” Mug said. “Mistress. You didn’t.”
“Oh yes,” Meralda said. “I certainly did. Kervis, if you will?”
Kervis grinned, produced a small red penknife, and began cutting away the twine. Meralda tore at the paper, and in a moment Goboy’s Glass was revealed.
“The King expressly forbade you to bring the Glass,” Mug said. “I was there. I heard him order you to leave it behind.”
Meralda nodded. “Do you recall what I said?”
“You mumbled something about wasting an opportunity to test the range and capability of an ancient and mysterious artifact,” Mug said. “King Blowhard took offense, got all red-faced, and blustered something about his authority and your position and you said simply ‘Yes, Your Majesty’ and went to lunch, as I recall.”
Meralda frowned. “You mean I didn’t offer a sound, calm argument in favor of bringing the Glass? An argument of such powerful wit and inescapable logic that the king was forced to accede and give permission?”
“You did not, Mistress.”
“Well, I was busy.” Meralda waved off his rolling eyes. “But look. The Glass is here, regardless. Wisdom has prevailed.”
Kervis and Tervis finished securing the tall frame holding Goboy’s Glass to the bulkhead behind Meralda’s desk. Meralda leaned forward and tapped at her reflection.
“Tower?” she said. “Can you hear me?”
Meralda’s reflection shimmered. The glass went inky black.
“I am here.” The Tower’s voice was clear but soft. “Contact is weakened to the extent expected, but remains viable.”
“Good morning to you too, Old Stones,” Mug interjected. “We haven’t crashed yet, thanks for asking.”
“So noted,” the Tower agreed. “I place your position as six hundred and seven miles from Tirlin. I am now revising my estimate of the Glass’s effective communication range.”
Kervis and Tervis exchanged confused looks.
Meralda explained, “We won’t be able to talk to Tower for the whole trip. There are limits, even to magic.”
“Any news from home while you’re estimating?” Mug demanded. “Have the papers gotten wind of the King’s absence yet?”
“There has been no mention of the King traveling,” the Tower replied. “Mage. I detected three small airships ascending from the Lamp immediately after the Intrepid departed. They appeared to give chase, though they were unprepared for the haste of your departure.”
“Oh?” Meralda frowned. “How far did they pursue us?”
“They gave up after a few miles. One craft discharged a cohesive volume of thermal energies toward your gas envelope. I deflected it back toward the other two airships. I fear all three ignited and were
“Later,” Meralda said. “I need to finish unpacking.”
“You unpacked last night,” Mug said. “Mostly, you unpacked the cargo hold.”
A soft knock sounded at her door. Meralda grinned and pushed back a stray lock of hair. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she said, as she shook the wrinkles out of her dressing gown. She pulled it over her head and made for the door. “Now hush.”
Meralda opened the door to reveal the Bellringers, both in uniform, both smiling identical smiles and shifting their weight from right foot to left and back to right again, in perfect time.
Between them they held a large flat parcel, wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with twine. A label read simply ‘GAS PLANE CHARGER #3 C/O MAGE OVIS.’
“We have the item,” said Kervis in a whisper.
“No one saw,” added Tervis.
“Come in,” Meralda said, stepping aside. “You’re sure no one saw?”
“Yes,” chorused the brothers. “We’re sure.”
Mug snickered as Meralda closed the door. “Mistress, if these are your accomplices in mischief, you might as well sign a full confession now and save yourself the court inquiry.”
“Over there, by the desk,” Meralda said. “Yes. Perfect.”
“That has a familiar shape,” Mug said. “Mistress. You didn’t.”
“Oh yes,” Meralda said. “I certainly did. Kervis, if you will?”
Kervis grinned, produced a small red penknife, and began cutting away the twine. Meralda tore at the paper, and in a moment Goboy’s Glass was revealed.
“The King expressly forbade you to bring the Glass,” Mug said. “I was there. I heard him order you to leave it behind.”
Meralda nodded. “Do you recall what I said?”
“You mumbled something about wasting an opportunity to test the range and capability of an ancient and mysterious artifact,” Mug said. “King Blowhard took offense, got all red-faced, and blustered something about his authority and your position and you said simply ‘Yes, Your Majesty’ and went to lunch, as I recall.”
Meralda frowned. “You mean I didn’t offer a sound, calm argument in favor of bringing the Glass? An argument of such powerful wit and inescapable logic that the king was forced to accede and give permission?”
“You did not, Mistress.”
“Well, I was busy.” Meralda waved off his rolling eyes. “But look. The Glass is here, regardless. Wisdom has prevailed.”
Kervis and Tervis finished securing the tall frame holding Goboy’s Glass to the bulkhead behind Meralda’s desk. Meralda leaned forward and tapped at her reflection.
“Tower?” she said. “Can you hear me?”
Meralda’s reflection shimmered. The glass went inky black.
“I am here.” The Tower’s voice was clear but soft. “Contact is weakened to the extent expected, but remains viable.”
“Good morning to you too, Old Stones,” Mug interjected. “We haven’t crashed yet, thanks for asking.”
“So noted,” the Tower agreed. “I place your position as six hundred and seven miles from Tirlin. I am now revising my estimate of the Glass’s effective communication range.”
Kervis and Tervis exchanged confused looks.
Meralda explained, “We won’t be able to talk to Tower for the whole trip. There are limits, even to magic.”
“Any news from home while you’re estimating?” Mug demanded. “Have the papers gotten wind of the King’s absence yet?”
“There has been no mention of the King traveling,” the Tower replied. “Mage. I detected three small airships ascending from the Lamp immediately after the Intrepid departed. They appeared to give chase, though they were unprepared for the haste of your departure.”
“Oh?” Meralda frowned. “How far did they pursue us?”
“They gave up after a few miles. One craft discharged a cohesive volume of thermal energies toward your gas envelope. I deflected it back toward the other two airships. I fear all three ignited and were
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