The Heavenly Host

“Okay, at some point you can. As the steward says, we have a long queue,” Tom said. He really was not sure that big game hunting was the greatest idea for a kid. Although it could not be any more dangerous than being caught in a tent with Talarius and his sword. In addition, if they were in Astlan, Rupert could not be permanently killed. Okay, maybe not a bad idea, Tom decided.

Tom turned to Zelda. “Speaking of beds, I want to rest a bit before the first gate is needed. Powering this place up is still quite draining.”

Zelda nodded. “I will have rooms made up for the others. What assignments do you want?”

Tom thought for a moment. “Maybe a two-bedroom suite for Boggy and Tizzy, and then a three-bedroom suite for Antefalken, Estrebrius and Reggie? Or whatever combination they want, I don’t care.”

“The rooms will be ready later this afternoon. I will be down near kitchen one, awaiting the first kills,” Zelda said.

“Thanks!” Tom said.

“Fer-Rog, you will need to be in the kitchen when the kills arrive; you need to learn how to prepare them,” Zelda said. She looked at Tom. “As do I, for that matter. I’ve been taught but never done it, since I’m not that old.”

∼

^{DOF +7}

^{Midday (Murgatroy Time) 16-04-440}

“I am starting to think this place is a very comfortable prison,” Gastropé said to Maelen as he entered the port observation lounge, where Maelen was relaxing on a sofa and sipping tea as he gazed out the large port viewing lens. He sat down next to the seer.

“A very nice prison with good food, wine and a very nice library of work done by non-humans,” Maelen said, smiling and gesturing to the wall of books to their left. “I have to tell you, getting access to alvaren texts is quite a treat for me. Add in Modgriensofarthgonosefren works, as well as several others, and I could spend years floating on this cloud.”

Gastropé chuckled. “I should probably be a better scholar. Although I am learning a lot about aerial combat magic with Peter, Zed and the other carpet warriors. This ship truly is incredible. That, in fact, may be the problem.”

Maelen gave him a questioning look.

“On a ship, you feel the sea’s rocking motion continuously. You can walk on deck and get the wind in your hair, smell the salt of the sea. You feel the movement, the progress of the ship’s journey. This cloud moves incredibly smoothly when not under attack. I cannot even discern that we are moving other than by staring at the ground so far below us. And that is through a lens, not even a real window!” Gastropé complained.

It was Maelen’s turn to chuckle. “You will, however, at least admit it’s a far better view than you get in the middle of a sea, yes?”

Gastropé grinned. “I will give you that. It’s a view I could not even have imagined from a flying carpet until this trip!” He shook his head. “It just doesn’t feel quite real.”

“And during your combat practice? I heard you were drilling with the carpet warriors,” Maelen asked.

“That is more surreal than real. I try very hard not to look at or even think of the view there; otherwise, my muscles would freeze over faster than a storm lich’s butt.”

Maelen grinned. “I will take your word concerning flying on a combat carpet. As for the Nimbus, I understand. I have been a traveler nearly my entire life. I have never traveled in such luxury or with such ease. I doubt the gods themselves could arrange better transport than this cloudship.” He shrugged again. “So, I shall enjoy it. It’s a rare luxury in this world — or any, I should imagine.”

“I just like this piped-in water they have!” Jenn said, joining the conversation as she entered the lounge. “Imagine, just turn a knob and a pipe delivers water into a basin or a tub. Then imagine two pipes, one with cold water, the other with hot! This is wizardry at its finest! It would be an unbelievable luxury on the ground, but in the air, leagues above the ground? It’s like living in some sort of fairy tale!” She grabbed a biscuit off the tray next to the teapot.

“If your fairy tale has dragon-riding liches that like to attack you every so often.” Gastropé grinned at her.

“True, I could do without them in my fairy tale.” She shook her head. “Everything has its price.”

So where are we now?” Jenn changed the subject, leaning over the sofa back to look out the lens.

“The forest below us is The United Federation,” Maelen said, pointing to the large forest that they were passing over. “A very large and dense forest, with significant logging operations and paper production.”

“Yeah, at my old school we ordered all our paper and books from the UF,” Gastropé said. “I didn’t exactly know where it was, just a long way southeast of the school. Over-Grove One, Master called it.”

“It and Murgandy have somehow managed to survive millennia of wars with the jötnar races without using extensive defenses,” Maelen said.