Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Drogun waited until his ma left the room before getting out from under the bed. She sat on it and wept until they landed at the academy. He wanted so bad to comfort her, but stayed put. He had an idea.

The ship jolted when it landed. She left and he followed shortly after. Ainu and her family met Head Maestro Sulgur and Holden on the landing pad. Ainu hugged Holden first, holding tightly and not wanting to let go. Sulgur pulled her aside to speak and Drogun took his chance. He ran up to his brother and hugged him, whispering in his ear.

“The Chaelestans took pa. Borli is mounting a rescue.”

“What? When?”

“He leaves in a few hours.”

“Thanks, Dro.”

They released and Holden was attacked by two other siblings. His youngest brother, Gontor, reached him first and threw his arms around his brother's abdomen. Rosel was a second behind. She grabbed him around the chest. The weight of his school bag made him nearly tip over. Ainala came last and waited for the youngest two to let go and run off. Then she embraced her step-brother quickly.

“Ma told me what happened with pa last night,” she said quietly. Her brown eyes were puffy and he could tell she had been crying.

“Ainala, Drogun just told me he was captured,” he replied softly. “The prince is going to rescue him.”

“Mikol?” Ainala said, shocked. “He would put his life on the line for our pa? And how does Drogun know he was taken?”

“Because I overheard ma just a few minutes ago talking to the prince and Borli, one of pa's guards,” Drogun said behind her. They looked at him and he came closer so Ainu would not hear.

“I want to go with them,” Holden said.

“No,” Ainala said sharply. “You are the next steward. It's stupid enough that Mikol is going when the king is sick. We're not going to risk losing the heir to the throne and the heir to the stewardship in one go.”

“If I die, Drogun is next,” Holden said. “Then Gontor after him.”

“Don't you say that!” Ainala said angrily.

“Hol,” Drogun said, “I think you could really help them. They could use somebody with your powers.”

“Don't encourage him, Dro!” Ainala said.

“No, he's right,” Holden said. “It's not like life as a steward is going to be any safer. Look at pa's life and all the times attempts have been made on it. Besides,” he added, thinking of something, “I may be able to help rescue pa with my senior project. I've been working on- get this- a teleporter.”

“Whoa!” Drogun exclaimed. His eyes lit up. “Can I see it? Does it work yet?”

“It works for small object right now, but that's because I'm missing some catalysts. If I had the right amounts of magic, I could teleport people.” He opened his backpack and showed Drogun the pieces he had inside: two expandable plates and one steam engine. “The other engine is in my room. I'm repairing it. And I'm missing the catalysts right now.”

“That is really neat, Holden, but I still do not think you should try to rescue pa. Leave it to Borli and Mikol,” Ainala said.

A man stepped out of the aership. He looked at Holden and smiled.

“Uncle Imbert!” Holden said. The man looked much like Rembold, but shorter. He had graying hair that still had streaks of brown. It was tied back in a short ponytail. He wore his aviator uniform which consisted of a white leather jack and boots with blue breeches.

“Hey, Holden,” he said, coming up to his nephew and embracing him. “How is the academy? Meet any pretty ladies?”

Holden's face turned bright red. “Huh, actually, yeah,” he said as Imbert released him.

“Really?” Ainala said, interested. “What's her name?”

“L-Liseal.” Holden felt an arm slip under his as he said it. He turned and Liseal smiled up at him.

“And here she is,” Imbert said. “That was timely, lass.”

Holden quickly introduced Liseal to his uncle and siblings. Ainu looked over and saw he son with his arm around Liseal and asked the head maestro for a moment. She approached the group.

“Holden,” she said. “Would you like to introduce us?”

“Hello. I'm Liseal,” she said before Holden could find his tongue. She put out her hand and Ainu shook it.

“Ainu. How long have you been together?”

Liseal looked at Holden. “Has it been thirteen or fourteen?”

“Days?” Ainala asked.

“Months,” Liseal replied.

“Months!”Ainu said, surprised. “Why haven't you said anything, Holden?”

“You know Holden, ma,” Drogun piped up. “He's always embarrassed about his love life. Remember when he was kissed on the lips by Tilda next door? He blushed for three days after that!”

Holden tried to whack his brother in the arm, but Drogun dodged and laughed.

“We should get inside somewhere and speak of matters,” Head Maestro Sulgur said, walking up to them.

They ended up on Imbert's aership, named the “Tidalwind.” Before they had all settled in, Holden pulled his uncle aside. He told of how Rembold was captured and asked if Imbert could take him to help the rescue.

“Holden, that's a really risky and really dumb idea,” Imbert said with a serious face. “But I understand your desire to help my brother. And it sounds like a lot of fun.” He smiled mischievously. “I'll do it, but we need to get these people off the ship, then fly away. And it must be soon if we want to reach the prince.”

They sat in the dining area of the ship, sending Drogun and the two youngest to another room while the adults talked. Sulgur spoke first about Tumus and his attempt to shoot him. Then Ainu filled them in on the condition of the king as far as she knew it.

“The other matter is that of my husband,” she said. She kept a brave face, but they could see the anguish as she spoke. “He has been captured by the Chaelestans, who plan to perform a ritual to steal his stewardship.” She ignored their reactions and continued. “The prince is mounting a rescue. But meantime, we need to keep my family safe. Sulgur, I know the school is also threatened, but I feel that we are safe here at least for a time.”

They spoke for a few more minutes until Imbert pointed out that it was nearly dinner time.

“Head Maestro, I hate to ask, but may we eat in the academy? I would rather not use the storage I have on board the ship.”

“Of course. We will go to my private dining room and eat there.” Sulgur looked at Holden and Liseal. “Though I would ask that you two eat in the mess hall, if that is all right.”

The group got up to leave and Holden pulled Liseal aside.

“I'm leaving with my uncle,” he whispered.

“Your sister told me,” she said. “You're a fool, but you're a fool I love.” She waited until Ainu was out of the room, then kissed him. They held each other for ten seconds, then he released. She ran to catch up to the group.

“Ready, kid?” Imbert asked.

“Uh, yeah,” Holden said, distracted.

“All right. I'll get the steam engine started. Come with me and I'll tell you what to do.”

They ran to the bridge of the aership, trying to get into the air before anyone noticed their absence. The bridge was a large room with great windows allowing a one hundred eighty degree view. Holden went right to the window where he could see the group walking away from the ship. Drogun and Ainala were carrying everyone's bags. He noticed his mother stop and look around.

“She's noticed we're missing!” Holden called to Imbert, who was at the control panel, flipping switches.

“Luckily we can get into the air, even if we cannot truly take off until you get to the engine room,” Imbert said.

“She is coming back to the ship!”

He felt the ship jostle and begin rising. The ground was slowly moving away.

“Get to the engine room and I'll direct you what to do!”

Holden ran out of the room. He had been on his uncle's ship as a passenger before and knew where the engine room was. When he entered, he felt the steam of the engine hit him.

“You there, kid?” came his uncle's voice over a communicator above him.

“Yeah!”

“Good! There are three levers I need you to pull when I say. The first is at the back of the room and is red.”

Holden waited for the cue, then pulled the lever. He heard the engine roar to life.

“Good! Get to the blue one just a few feet to the right.”

He waited again at the next lever, and pulled when told. The ship jolted again as it started getting higher. Next he felt it jerk forward.

“Now, get to the yellow one back by the door!”

Holden ran to the yellow one just as his uncle told him to pull it. He cranked the lever and the ship started picking up speed.

“Come back to the bridge!”

He rejoined his uncle a couple minutes later and looked out of the window. The clouds gliding by. He looked down and saw the forest below him.

“I love flying,” he said simply. He took in the view of the Giganski mountains to the north. Even at their cruising altitude, the mountains stretched far above them. Some people said they were the tallest mountains in the world.

“Holden,” Imbert said seriously. “We're flying into death. Please tell me you have at least some form of plan?”

“Yes,” he said, looking at his uncle, who sat at the console and kept his hand on a control stick. “I have a teleporter in my bag here, but I'm missing one of the portable steam engines. I also need some magic baubles for catalysts.”

Imbert was shaking his head. “A teleporter? You really are Rembold's son. I wonder if my kids would have been as bright as you if I'd married. Let me see that engine.”

Holden pulled it out and showed him. It was about the size of his head, with two pistons and a chamber where the water was stored.

“Portable engines are only ten years old, and you are already creating a teleporter with them. Remarkable.” Imbert inspected it, then gave it back. “I may have something like that that you could use.”

“Really?”

“It is currently running the ice box in the kitchen. You could remove it, though the food will spoil.”

“That's great. Thank you!” Holden said. “I still need catalysts, though.”

“We have on board baubles of energy, water, and various gases. What ones do you need?” asked his uncle.

“I have here the water and fire. I need an electricity one, an oxygen one, and one more.”

“We have the first two. What is the last one?”

Holden hesitated. “Well, it's not easy to find.”

Imbert gave him a look of curiosity.

“I need a lifeforce bauble.”

Imbert stared ahead at the clouds. Holden was not sure what his uncle was thinking. Lifeforce magic was used to heal. A bauble of such magic would require the death of someone.

“I see. And how much would you need?”

“That's just it. In order to teleport a person, I need the amount a person gives,” Holden said.

Imbert nodded. “And how much of the others?”

“The further the distance and larger the object, the more of each that I need. Every person and animal is made up of each kind of magic. The air we breath, the energy we create, the earth we come from and return to, and the water that sustains us. And, of course, the soul, which is the source of life itself.”

“Holden, using lifeforce magic in such a way is, well, immoral,” Imbert said simply.

Holden sighed.

“I know. I've had this idea for this device for years now, but that's what held me back.”

“And have you used this teleporter yet on anything?” Imbert asked cautiously.

“Oh, yeah! I've teleported a cat, a dog, and lots of inanimate things. The objects don't require lifeforce magic because they aren't living. The cat I was able to teleport because I found a dying badger in the forest. The dog, I found a nearly dead deer to use.”

Silence for a moment except the hum of the engines working. “And what do you plan to do with the teleporter?”

“I haven't thought it through much, since we just found out, but the basic idea is this. Get into the ruins where they have pa, give him the teleporter, then use it to get him out.”

“You can teleport two people with one device? And at the same time?”

Holden realized he had not tried teleporting two things at once, let alone two living things. And he did not have two other plates for another person to use.

“I guess I didn't fully think it through. I would need two more plates to stand on, one to send and one to receive. And I don't know about sending two people at once.”

Imbert looked at him with compassion.

“I know you're trying, kid. Go get that engine from the ice box and bring it here. We can do whatever experiments you need to make this thing work.”

Holden left for the kitchen. As he passed the living quarters, he heard a familiar jingling. He entered one of the rooms and saw a missive bowl on a table. He approached it and recognized it as his mother's.

“Holden! Are you there? Holden!” came his ma's voice. He peered over the edge of the bowl and into the liquid.

“Hey, ma,” he said shortly.

“HOLDEN!” she yelled. “How dare you leave with your uncle! Are you asking to get killed? Are you insane? What are you doing?”

“I'm going to rescue pa,” he said calmly.

“You're WHAT! No you are not! Turn that aership around and come back to the academy NOW!”

“Ma, I love you, but I'm not coming back yet. Pa needs help and I can help him.”

“Holden!” Ainu started crying. “I've already lost my husband. Don't make me lose my son! Please turn around!”

“Ma, don't cry. I'll be safe. I'll pray for Jot's protection. I'll make sure to protect myself against magic and anything that might hurt me.”

“Please, son. Come back,” she sobbed.

“I love you, ma. Don't worry, we'll rescue pa and be back to the academy by tomorrow morning. Just help protect the school, please.”

“Ainu,” came Sulgur's voice. “We have an emergency.” He appeared in the image. “Holden! Where are you headed in that ship?”

“He thinks he can rescue Rembold,” Ainu said, sniffling.

Sulgur looked at the young man. “I'm sure nothing said is going to dissuade you, Holden. Just know that I have confidence in your abilities. You are by far the most talented and gifted upcoming steward this nation has seen since magic was restored two hundred years ago.”

“You're not helping, maestro!” Ainu said angrily.

“But Holden, do not let your identity as Rembold's son be revealed. They will kill you if they know. Ainu, we must talk. I'm sorry.”

She looked at Holden.

“Please, Holden, please be careful and safe and don't do anything stupid. I love you,” she said.

“I love you, ma. I'll be all right.”

He emptied the liquid into the vial on the desk and left the room. He retrieved the engine, which took about twenty minutes to extricate from the ice box, then returned to Imbert.

“My ma sent a missive,” Holden explained. “She was pretty angry and sad.”

“Understandable,” Imbert replied.

Holden worked on the portable engine while Imbert flew southeast toward Suuri. He estimated they would arrive around ten that night. As he worked, Holden was thinking about recent events. He finished working on the engine and held it up to the other one to examine it. The engine from the ice box was slightly larger, but that would not make a difference.

“It would be nice to know what time Prince Mikol plans on leaving to rescue your father,” Imbert said. “Just so we'd know if we're going to catch them or not. I'd rather not land at the port if they have already left.”

“Well, my ma had been in contact with them through the missive bowl,” Holden remembered. “Which means they probably have my dad's bowl! I'll go get my ma's and we can use it.”

He left to get the missive bowl. He was walking down a hallway on the port side when he heard something clang in a room to his right. He paused and listened.

“Damn Joenic machines!” he heard someone say behind the door. He recognized that voice. Quietly, he turned around and walked back to the bridge.

“Imbert, we have somebody else on board,” he told his uncle.

“What?”

“A stowaway. And I think I know who it is. Tumus.”

“Tumus?”

“He is the Chaelestan student who tried to attack Head Maestro Sulgur this morning. He was detained, but he must have escaped and gotten on the ship,” Holden surmised.

“So he's dangerous. Great. I can't leave the controls, Holden. Do you think you can take him and detain him again?”

Holden considered how he might do that. He was sure Tumus did not know they were now aware of his presence. He could surprise him, if the Chaelestan boy was still in the same room.

“I might be able to.” He looked in his bag and found the fife from that morning. It would be a good back-up plan in case he could not take Tumus down quickly.

Being the oldest son of the steward, Holden had been given training in hand-to-hand combat until age fourteen. Although he no longer took lessons, he still trained on his own to keep himself in shape. He took a few minutes to warm up his body, stretching and doing some aerobics. His uncle glanced over at him every couple minutes. When Holden was about to leave, Imbert spoke.

“Chaelestans also have their own form of martial art,” he informed his nephew. “Whether this kid is trained or not, who knows, but be aware. Also, to help you, there is a drink in that ice box you took the engine from. The label says “Rage Tonic.” It will numb you to the pain and give you a boost of energy. It effects different people differently, so I don't know how much of an effect it will have on you. You could fly into a rage, or it could barely dull the pain.”

“You have Rage Tonic on board?” Holden asked his uncle. He knew what it was, but had never used it.

“Yeah. Only take about four ounces.”

Holden waited for some explanation, but could see his uncle was not going to give one, so he left. He walked silently toward the kitchen, pausing at the door again to listen for Tumus on the other side. He heard nothing. He continued and found the tonic. It was in a red bottle, but the liquid itself was blue. He took a sip. It tasted like strawberries initially, but left a horrible after taste in his mouth that was reminiscent of sour milk. He kept himself from gagging and drank more until he remembered to only drink four ounces. HE looked at the bottle. He had consumed twice that amount already.

“Uh oh.”

He checked the label. All he could see was a warning to not overdose. It gave no further instruction.

“Tuho's bow!” he cursed quietly. He felt a warm sensation spreading from his stomach. It seeped slowly through his limbs, making them feel warm and tingly.

He placed the bottle back in the ice box, then headed toward the room. He paused again at the door to listen. After waiting a minute, he heard a slight creak from inside. He prepared his mind, focusing on controlling his breathing. He could feel anger starting to boil inside him. Imbert's warning came to mind.

He swiftly opened the door and scanned the room. It was a passenger sleeping area, with bunk beds along both walls. The beds were bare of any blankets or pillows. There were brass alarm clocks on nightstands between the bunks.

Holden could not see Tumus anywhere, so he walked into the room.

The door slammed shut. He turned quickly and was kicked in the gut. He flew back a few feet, further into the room, and landed on his butt. Tumus launched toward him and pinned him on the floor. Holden's rage exploded and he roared, using his legs to lift Tumus over his own head and toward a bunk. Holden ended in a pushup position and pushed himself off the floor. Tumus had hit a cross bar of the bunk with his back and was gingerly getting to his feet.

Holden back up a few steps and they faced each other, both in stance. Holden took a step forward and feinted right, but Tumus saw it and kicked to his own right. He connected with Holden's thigh, then swung the other leg up and clocked him in the jaw. Holden barely felt the attacks and stayed upright. He grabbed Tumus's right arm, then turned his back to the boy and pulled. Tumus flew over Holden's back and landed in his own, the wind getting knocked out of him.

Holden pinned his opponent's arms and legs down with his own. Tumus looked at him with a steady gaze.

“Damn Chaelestan!” Holden spat, still unable to control his anger. “What are you doing on this ship?”

“Get off, brute!”

“Answer!”

“Or what?” Tumus asked snarkily. “You'll kill me?”

“Why not!”

Holden grabbed Tumus's throat. Tumus's face started turning red as he struggled to breath. His free arm was hitting Holden in the face, but he felt no pain. Tumus reached for something in his own pocket.

Holden saw the glint out of the corner of his eye. He let go of Tumus's throat and grabbed the other arm, keeping the knife from going into his side. He felt something warm on his left hand and glanced at it. Tumus was biting it and blood was covering it.

Holden brought his right knee up, releasing Tumus's left leg, and brought it down on the younger boy's stomach. Tumus went lax for a second, allowing Holden to twist the knife out of his hand and stand up.

Tumus groaned and slowly stood, clutching his stomach. He glared at Holden.

Holden held the knife, trying not to give in to the urge he had to throw it at Tumus's stupid face. Rage still boiled in his veins, but he controlled his breathing again.

“Tell me why you should live,” Holden threatened.

“Because,” Tumus said coolly, “despite your attempt to kill me, I could actually be of use to your country.”

“What?”

Tumus was still holding his stomach as he rolled his eyes.

“Have you ever been to Chaelesta? Do you know what it's like compared to Neljan Joen?”

Holden considered that for a moment. The academy had taught him little about other countries, but he did know that Chaelesta was currently a dictatorship. The king there was king in name only.

“I only know a little about Chaelesta,” Holden admitted. The rage was starting to subside. He did not put the knife down, still holding it toward Tumus.

“The people who brought me to the Akademia Magia were not my family. And they kept me away from other villages for a reason. I realize now that they wanted to keep me from seeing what kind of a difference there is between our two nations.” Tumus held his hands up and slowly moved toward a bed. He sat down. Holden stood up straight and put the knife down, but kept it in his hand.

“What difference?”

“Oh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that you have freedoms we only dream of?” Tumus said mockingly. “Seriously, does the academy not teach you about other places? Chaelesta is a dictatorship. The king is a horrible man, and so is the steward. Neljan Joen should never have given air magic to my country. Since that time there has been nothing but domination and slavery and horrible things. When they came to my family and told me they were taking me away to train me, I was afraid. But, I got used to the harsh way I was treated.

“But when I arrived to the academy, I was amazed. So many teenagers just being themselves, not afraid for their lives or their families. They had hopes for bright futures and there was so much opportunity and beauty. When head maestro showed me that music device, something started to doubt inside of me. I tried to snuff it out and accomplish my mission. Afterward, I realized I had lost an opportunity to be free of my evil country.”

“So you escaped and stowed away? Why not just tell Sulgur your change of heart?” Holden asked. He was still suspicious.

Tumus looked at him. “I wanted to escape, maybe make my way in one of the cities. My country thinks I'm at the academy, so they would come for me there. I was supposed to complete my mission within a week, then meet a party outside the academy to get me home. I didn't want to go home. They'd kill me for failing.”

Holden was not angry anymore. He pondered Tumus's words for a moment, then decided he would bring Tumus to Imbert.

“Tumus, I want to believe you, but I have to take precautions. May I bind your hands and bring you to my uncle?”

Tumus sighed. “I get it. I know. Fine.”

“And you won't attack me? I mean, I did just kick your butt.”

“Eh, considering I'm younger than you by two or three years, I think I did well.”

Holden conceded that point. He took his red belt and strapped together the young man's hands. He had Tumus walk in front of him as they walked back to the bridge.

“Uncle, I found our stowaway,” Holden said as they entered. Imbert looked around at them and saw Tumus. Holden brought him over to stand in front of his uncle.

“Looks like you guys went at it pretty hard,” Imbert observed. Tumus's neck was red and bruised in spots. Holden was starting to feel the pain in his jaw and gut. He was sure he had a bruise on his cheek. “But it seems Holden won?”

“He's older than me, give me a break,” Tumus said.

Imbert looked at him in surprise, then at Holden for an explanation.

“Tumus here stowed away not to escape the school alone, but to escape going back to his country. He doesn't want to go back to Chaelesta,” Holden said.

Imbert nodded. “I wouldn't want to go back, either, knowing how awful it is there. I can't imagine growing up there.”

“Don't ever try to imagine it,” Tumus said glumly.

“Anyway, what do we do with him, uncle? He tried to attack Sulgur, after all.”

“Only because my superiors forced me to!” Tumus objected.

Imbert was quiet for a moment. “What do you think, Holden? You know the whole situation better than I do.”

Holden leaned against the control console and looked at Tumus, pondering what he had said a few minutes earlier.

“Tumus, you said you realized what kind of things your country was keeping from you. You saw our academy and how the kids are happy and normal and free. So, what if I can guarantee that kind of life for you? What if I can ensure that you don't have to go back to Chaelesta? Or that you won't be punished for attacking the head maestro? Would you take that opportunity? Or would you prefer to return to your country and face the consequences of failing your mission?”

Tumus looked at him with a look that said 'are you stupid?' “Of course I don't want to go back! I'll do whatever I have to to stay here, even if I do get punished for trying to carry out my mission. Neljan Joen has so much more opportunity than Chaelesta ever had.” A look of concern passed over his face, but was gone just as fast as it appeared.

“Then what we need is to know how much you know about the Chaelestan plans against Neljan Joen,” Holden said. “If you give us as much information as you can, I will see to it that you are not punished for your crime.”

“And you have that power?” Tumus asked.

“I'm the steward's son. I know the royal family personally, as well as many of the dignitaries in our government. I will have your crimes remitted so you can live normally here,” Holden promised.

“That sounds great! I'll tell you whatever I can,” Tumus said, relief showing.

“Then we need to get to Prince Mikol as soon as we can,” Imbert said. “Oh! The bowl! Go fetch that, Holden. I'll keep an eye on Tumus.”

“Wait, you're not releasing me?” Tumus asked. “I said I'd tell you anything!”

“Just until we get to Suuri,” Imbert said. “Holden may trust you, but I just met you, and this is my aership.”

Holden retrieved the missive bowl and brought it onto the bridge. He set it on a console and poured in the liquid, then swirled it around. He pictured Prince Mikol's face. The song he hummed was one that had been popular about five years before, and one that Mikol had invited Holden to listen to live at a concert in Suuri.

An image formed on the surface of a ceiling that seemed strangely familiar. Holden looked up and realized why. It was the ceiling of an aership bridge.

Borli's face appeared.

“Hello? Oh! Holden?”

“Hey, Borli, you're with the prince, right?” Holden asked.

“Oh, yeah. He's at the controls, though. Are you on an aership?”

Holden nodded. “Uncle Imbert and I are headed to Suuri to catch up with you. We're going to help rescue my pa.”

“What? Holden,” Borli said, rubbing his face in concerned frustration. “We've already left for the ruins. And you shouldn't-”

“I know, I shouldn't be risking my life,” Holden said in exasperation. “Prince Mikol is, though. Besides, I know I'll be fine. I'm not helpless, you know.”

“But how would you help us?” Borli asked.

“Hey, Holden,” Imbert interrupted. “I'm correcting my course toward the meteor ruins. We'll meet them there.”

Holden nodded, then dove into his explanation of what he was planning to Borli, who listened quietly.

“Holden,” came the prince's voice, “Are you certain your teleporter will work?”

“I just need two more plates, and some lifeforce magic, but yes.”

“We are headed into battle,” Borli said morosely. “I am sure you can get plenty of lifeforce magic from the dying soldiers during the battle.”

Holden nodded, realizing how gruesome this was really going to be. “That would work. I'll need probably four lives in order to send myself and my pa all the way back to the aership. Two each.” Holden noticed Tumus, sitting on the floor with his back against a wall, staring at him with apprehension and a bit of fear. He supposed hearing such things was not just foreign to the other boy, but frightening as well.

“I just request that you do not take Joenic soldiers' lifeforces,” Prince Mikol said.

“I won't,” Holden promised.

“As for Tumus, let me speak to him for a moment in private,” Mikol said. Holden brought the bowl over to Tumus and placed it in front of him. He went back to the console and spoke to Imbert as the others talked.

Holden watched from across the room, the sounds of the engine drowning out the other conversation. He wondered about Tumus, trying to decide if the boy was really sincere in his desire to help.

“Uncle, what do you think of Tumus?”

Imbert looked at him, then back at the sky ahead.

“I think. . . I think he really wants to help. But I think his motives are for his own self-preservation and not because he wants to help our nation.”

Holden nodded slowly.

“But,” Imbert added, “knowing Chaelesta, he was probably coerced into doing this mission. It's likely the government has threatened his family or others if he did not carry this out.”

“Then, if he's deserted, wouldn't they harm them now?” Holden asked.

“Perhaps. But they probably won't know whether he succeeded until he doesn't meet them at the appointed time and place. That gives him some time.”

“Hopefully I'll be able to reach them before the week is up,” Tumus said. He was standing behind Holden, listening, the bowl in his bound hands. Holden took it from him.

Holden faced him. “So your government does have somebody you love hostage?”

“Yes. My little sister and my father.” Tumus's head dropped as he remembered his family. “They're going to kill them when I don't meet the escorts outside of the academy.”

Holden empathized with him.

“That's a week away, right?” he asked.

“Six days,” Tumus replied.

“Holden,” Prince Mikol said from the bowl. He had returned to view a few seconds before. “Can we talk in private now?”

Holden took the bowl to the other side of the bridge.

“I spoke with Tumus and got some of his story, as well as some information he wanted to share,” Mikol said. “I know he tried to kill Sulgur, but I do trust him. His motives are not all that selfish, actually. He knows that, since he failed his mission, he would either face the Chaelestan government, which would result in the death of him and his family, or face us. He said he how good Joenic people were to each other, and decided to put his trust in us. But he was afraid Sulgur would not treat him kindly, and so he fled out of panic. Really, he's just a scared kid. He's only fourteen.”

“If you think we can trust him, I trust you,” Holden said. “Does he know anything about the Chaelestan plot against our nation?”

“He does. Ask him, though. Perhaps he will 'remember' some details that he didn't with me, considering I'm royalty.

“Will you take the bowl and set it near Imbert? I'm going to tell him our strategy for the battle.”

Holden nodded and took the bowl to his uncle. Then he took Tumus aside.

“Tumus, I know you're concerned for your life and your family. Honestly, so am I,” Holden said, trying to connect with him. “My pa has been captured. I don't even know if he's still alive or not. For all I know, his powers could already be taken and he could be dead.”

Tumus was shaking his head. “No. He's not dead yet.”

“What?”

“On the journey to the academy, I overheard my commanding officer talking about the plan for the steward. He said the ritual takes a full day to complete.”

“Really? So, if they had to get him back to the ruins, then that gives us probably until sometime tomorrow morning,” Holden guessed. “Imbert!” He went over to his uncle and told him and the prince what Tumus had said.

“From where they attacked on the hill, it was about five hours back to the ruins by horse,” Borli said. “Which gives us until about dawn tomorrow morning to rescue him.”

Tumus spoke up. “You all realize you're flying aerships into an army of air mages, right? Maybe not the smartest idea.”

“We are aware, Tumus,” Prince Mikol said form the bowl. “We have strategies for that. Imbert, you know the strategy now. We are not waiting for you to arrive. We are engaging the enemy as soon as we see them.”

“If there's nothing else, Holden, we're going to say goodbye. I need to prepare for the battle,” Borli said.

Holden nodded, then poured the liquid back into the vial, breaking the connection.