Other than the electric lights, steam funnels, and a field gun mounted on each, the Mechanics Guild ships were otherwise like the ships around them, built of wood, with soaring masts and spars to hold sails. Professor S’san had told Mari that old records showed the Mechanics Guild had centuries before possessed four ships built entirely of metal. By the time that Mari became a Mechanic, only one of those ships remained. The others had deteriorated over time and were cannibalized for parts and metal to keep the last ship working.
A few months ago Mari had seen one of her ships, the Pride, sink that last metal ship. The Guild’s technology was slowly falling apart, but rather than make any changes that might imperil their hold on the world, the Senior Mechanics would rather cling to old policies and ideas. If the Guild was going to fail, the Senior Mechanics were determined that the rest of the world would go down with it.
Mari lowered herself to sit down, resting her back against the battlement. The coolness of the stone spread through her clothing to give her a slight shiver. Above, the stars gleamed in uncountable numbers.
The dragon killers lay beside her, her rifle next to them, constant reminders of what the morning would bring.
She was glad that Alain sat beside her, offering human warmth and comfort.
Some soldiers came walking along the wall, stopping when they reached her. “Lady Mari? I’m Colonel Teodor, commander of the Third Regiment.”
Mari struggled to her feet. “This is Sir Mage Alain. What can we do for you?”
“Ah…” The colonel seemed at a loss for words.
It took Mari a moment to realize why. Like all other commons, the colonel had spent his life being taught never to question or challenge Mechanics, only to do as they ordered. He had no idea what to do when a Mechanic asked him what he wanted.
The colonel recovered quickly, though. “Lady, my regiment is responsible for defending this portion of the wall. This is Sergeant Kira. Her platoon is stationed at this spot. We are at your service and command.”
“Thank you,” Mari said. “You have orders from Field Marshal Klaus?”
“Yes, Lady.”
“Follow them. If I need anything else, I’ll let you know. Mage Alain and I will help deal with any threats here.” Mari pointed down at her weapons. “I’ve got two dragon killers, and my rifle, and a pistol. I understand that the field marshal intends stationing some of the cavalry from Tiae along here with their rifles.”
“Yes, Lady,” Sergeant Kira said. She was several years older than Mari and wore her light armor with the casual ease of a veteran. Kira gestured to the side. “They’re right over there, just above the gate.”
“Sergeant Kira,” Colonel Teodor added, “is one of the Confederation’s best shots with a Mechanic rifle.”
“You’re not carrying a rifle,” Mari said, seeing only her sword and a crossbow.
“It broke,” Kira explained. “The Mechanics took it to repair, said they’d return it, but that was months ago and it never came back.”
“And they made us pay in advance,” the Colonel grumbled, then looked apologetic. “I’m sorry, Lady, for my harsh words.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Mari said. “You’re talking about the actions of the Mechanics Guild, which we are all fighting. I’m going to be busy, probably using the dragon killers, when the Imperials hit. If you’re a good shot, would you like to use my rifle for a while, Sergeant?”
Even in the darkness it was possible to see Kira’s eyes widen. “That—? It’s— Thank you, Lady!”
Mari bent down, picked up the rifle and handed it to Kira. “It’s called an A-1. Accurate out to half again the range of the old Mechanics Guild repeaters at their best. There’s no lever to work. It’s clip fed. Every time you pull the trigger it automatically loads a new bullet until the clip is empty. There are twenty rounds in this clip, and uh…” Mari dug into the pockets of her jacket. “Here are three more clips. Oh, I may call these magazines sometimes because that's what the banned technology texts call them, but I'm used to thinking of them as clips because that's the term the Mechanics Guild has always used. Don't ask me why.”
“Eighty…bullets?” Colonel Teodor asked in disbelief. At the prices the Mechanics Guild had charged for bullets, the number represented a not-so-small fortune. Entire armies had gone into battle with less than half as many rounds as that.
“I know you won’t waste any,” Mari said. Which was true. With bullets so rare and expensive, anyone taught in the traditional ways of using the old Mechanic repeating rifles would fire only at high-value targets that offered a high chance of a hit. “You’re going to be near me when the Imperials attack. There are some important targets I’ll point out to you if I see them.”
“Yes, Lady!” Sergeant Kira ran her hands over the rifle. “I will use it well.”
“Thank you.” Mari realized that she had just described some other people, Mechanics and Mages, simply as “targets.” But she knew from experience that in the heat of battle that’s all they would be. It was only afterwards, when she had time to think and remember, that the faces haunted her.
Colonel Teodor and Sergeant Kira walked off a short distance, speaking to each other. Mari lowered herself back to a seat on the cold stone. Alain sat with her. To either side she could hear soft conversations among the defenders occupying this part of the wall. From inside the city came the occasional sounds of a unit marching by or the clatter of hooves as cavalry or wagons went past. It all felt strangely peaceful and calm.
“What bothers you?” Alain asked in a low voice.
She wasn’t surprised that he had picked up on her unease. “Shooting at people wearing Mechanics jackets. I’ve had to do that before, but this time it’s much more likely to be people I might know. I’ll do it because I have to, but every time I have to think about doing it, it still feels so wrong.”
“Would you be happy if you accepted it without any misgivings?” Alain asked.
“You know I wouldn’t.”
“The Senior Mechanics who give the orders to those we fight have no misgivings about telling other Mechanics to kill you, or anyone else.”
Mari shook her head. “Alain, I know we’re not morally the same as them. That doesn’t make me feel much better. We have to win, but I don’t have to enjoy what that requires of us.”
When Alain did not immediately reply, she knew he was thinking.
“Soon after I was taken to the Mage Guild Hall as an acolyte,” Alain finally said, “one of the other new acolytes rebelled, shouting that what the Mages did was wrong. It was not fair to treat others so. The acolyte was harshly disciplined, to show the rest of us that anyone who believed in ideas like fairness was foolish. The illusion which is this world contains no fairness, we were told. It simply is. The illusion does not care.”
Mari stared at him. “Are you trying to cheer me up, darling? Because if you are, it’s not going so well.”
“What I am attempting to say,” Alain explained, “is that I came to realize the fallacy in what the elders claimed. They argued that the world illusion was responsible for their actions against the acolyte. Yet if the world we see is an illusion which Mages must deny in order to make changes to the illusion, how can we blame the illusion for our actions? The illusion did not harm that acolyte. The elders did. Perhaps the world does not care what choices we make. But they are our choices.”
Mari gazed at Alain. “I still don’t quite get it.”
“The world illusion has forced us into this.” He waved about to indicate the wall they occupied and the attacking force beyond the harbor. “Those who give the orders to attack Dorcastle do not care that others will die. You care that your actions, no matter how well intentioned, will cause harm to others. They feel no remorse, no responsibility. You do. That is an important difference.”
“So,” Mari said slowly, “I should feel good about feeling bad about it?”
“Yes. You understand.”
“Um…yeah. You know, eng
ineering isn’t nearly this complicated.”
“There is something else,” Alain said.
“Why did I let you get to know me so well?” Mari squeezed her eyes shut, breathing deeply. “I keep remembering that Mage elder saying hope remains. That’s a lot better than no hope remains, but still…”
Alain’s voice took on enough somberness for Mari to hear it. “My thoughts also dwell on that. But then, I have been worried about you for so long.”
“Two years now?” Mari said, opening her eyes to look at him. “About two years. We started out together being chased by people who wanted to kill us.”
“They wanted to kill me,” Alain said. “They just wanted to kidnap you.”
“Oh, yeah, so much better. Then we almost died of thirst in the waste… And the train almost went off that broken trestle on the way to Dorcastle…on the way to here.” She leaned closer to him. “That’s when I knew I was doomed. I was watching the gap get closer and closer while we tried to stop the train, and all I could think about was you getting hurt or dying.” Mari had to pause before she could say more, as she finally realized what had lain beneath her other worries. “Just like now. I’m scared for both of us. You keep saying that you’ll die to protect me. Don’t do that, Alain. Don’t.”
This time he stayed silent.
“Alain, will you promise me—"
“No.” He touched the promise rings on his hand and on hers. “I have made my promise to you. And you have made yours to me. Let those be the promises that guide us.”
She exhaled loudly, exasperated. “I don’t want to live in this world without you.”
“Then we both must survive the battle,” Alain pointed out.
“Serves me right, for trying to argue with a Mage.” Mari turned her head and smiled in welcome as Sergeant Kira returned, grateful for the distraction.
“Lady Mari?” Kira held the rifle as if afraid that someone would take it from her. “Where do wish me to stand, Lady? When the Imperials come?”
“Is over there all right?”
“Yes, Lady.” Kira paused, then spoke in a rush. “I didn’t believe it when I first heard people saying that the daughter had finally come. And then I didn’t believe it when I heard she was a Mechanic. I’m sorry.”
“I’m sure you’ve had your share of unpleasant encounters with Mechanics,” Mari said. “But all Mechanics aren’t like that. Please sit down. Talk.”
Kira sat down nearby, crossing her legs, the rifle in her lap. “They say you’re from the Sharr Isles.”
“That’s right. Caer Lyn. Are you from Dorcastle?”
“Me? Yes, Lady.”
“So you’re defending your home.”
Kira looked into the city. “Home and family. I’ve no man of my own nor children yet, but my parents are from Dorcastle, as were their parents. It’s a nice place. My brother lives here, as well, with his promised wife and children.”
Mari nodded slowly. “Is your brother on the wall, too?”
“No, Lady. He’s at sea. His ship is somewhere in the Umbari, still safe, we hope. His family left several days ago, going south to Danalee.”
The Umbari Ocean was where the Syndaris were preparing to hit Tiae. They might have already attacked in the south. “What will his ship do if they see any Syndari ships?”
“Do their best to stay clear and lose them,” Kira said. “No one smart lets a Syndari get within reach of their back. We hear the Syndaris have gotten a taste of their own medicine lately, though, from pirates.” She gave Mari a grin.
Mari returned the smile. “The pirates haven’t sought out the Syndaris, but they have given Syndari ships some bloody noses when pushed,” she said.
“I see your knife,” Kira said. “A gift?”
“Yes.” Mari touched the sailor’s knife at her belt, given her after she had helped capture her first ship. “I suppose Jules would approve.” She still wasn’t used to being thought of as a descendant of the old pirate. It felt odd to have sailors want her touch to bring them luck at sea.
Kira chuckled. “I’m certain that she would, Lady. My brother said his ship never fears a ship flying your banner. I’ll have to tell him I met you. He’ll be jealous.” Kira paused. “They say you’ve never lost a battle, never been defeated. Is that true?”
Mari thought about that. “I guess, in a way. Mage Alain and I have had to run more than once, but in the end we’ve always managed to achieve whatever we set out to do. Sometimes that was just staying alive, though.”
Sergeant Kira hesitated again. “You, and a Mage— How did you and— I mean, how could— No. Forgive me.”
Alain, who had been sitting silently beside Mari, suddenly spoke, his voice carrying more feeling than usual so that it sounded almost natural. “Master Mechanic Mari has bound me to her with a spell that is impossible to break.”
Kira stared at him.
“Alain!” Mari punched his shoulder. “She’ll think you’re serious!”
“I am,” Alain insisted. “I am bound to you by love, the most magical spell of all, which instead of quickly fading can grow more powerful over time.”
She couldn’t help smiling at him. “You’re trying to distract me, aren’t you?”
Alain nodded. “Unsuccessfully, it appears.”
“I appreciate the effort. Sergeant Kira, the truth is—" Mari felt Alain’s body suddenly grow rigid with tension. “What is it?”
Alain scrambled to his feet. “Mages are on the waterfront or near it. They use spells to hide themselves from sight.” He pointed. “There. And there. And there. Six Mages at least.”
“Colonel Teodor!” Mari called, her voice piercing the night. The colonel came running up, but before he could say anything Mari gestured to Alain. “Mage Alain senses Mages coming onto the waterfront. They’re using spells to make themselves invisible.”
“They’re scouting us?” Teodor asked.
“No,” Alain said. “Mages would not be employed just to scout. Their goal is to find and kill your scouts before they can sound an alarm. In this case, I would expect the Mages to then come close to the gates in this wall so they can allow entrance for Imperial forces, who will strike without warning.”
Mari wondered why Teodor and the others were hesitating. “What’s the matter? Didn’t you understand?”
“Yes, Lady,” Colonel Teodor said, “it is just that…”
She heard the worry in his voice and realized that it was not aimed at the enemy. “My Mage,” Mari said, trying not to get upset. “My Mage just told you something and you don’t believe him? Is that what’s happening here?”
From the reactions of the soldiers, she apparently hadn’t done too well a job of keeping anger from her voice.
“Forgive us, Lady, it’s just that…a Mage…”
“I’m a Mechanic!” Mari said. “Do you trust me?” Without waiting for a reply, she pointed to Alain. “Yes, he’s a Mage. Any Mage who follows me will tell you the truth, but Mage Alain in particular is absolutely trustworthy. You must have heard what he did in the Northern Ramparts! And you hesitate to believe him?”
“I’ll go to the Field Marshal and tell him of the warning,” Sergeant Kira volunteered.
“Yes,” Colonel Teodor agreed. “As quickly as possible. Let him know the scouts and our sally gates may both be in danger. Sir Mage, my apologies,” he added as Kira ran off.
Mari was pleased to hear Alain’s voice stay even but not emotionless. “It is nothing,” Alain said. “In an emergency, it is important to know who can be trusted.”
“It is,” Teodor agreed.
Mari peered into the night. “Can you spot any of them?” she asked Alain.
“Not directly,” he said. “From this distance I can only sense the spells and the general direction.”
Soldiers all along the wall were stirring as the alert spread. Her attention on the waterfront, Mari was startled when Field Marshal Klaus, breathing heavily from his run to the battlement, arrived beside her
. “Where and how many, Lady?”
Alain pointed again several times.
“They want to take out our scouts?” Klaus asked Alain.
He nodded. “To clear the way for legionaries.”
“Or Mechanics,” Mari said.
Klaus nodded, one hand cupping his chin, his eyes narrowed in thought. “I have seen this done, though not in conjunction with Mechanics. Mages take out the scouts without us knowing, then the Imperials post special attack forces near the sally ports to try to force them by surprise.”
“The Mages can also create temporary openings in the gates to allow sudden entry at the desired moment,” Alain said.
“I have seen that, too. With our focus on that Imperial fleet lit up to draw our attention, it might have worked.” Klaus paused. “We must bring the scouts in, but the risk to them will be high if they retreat now.”
“They will all die if they remain where they are,” Alain said. “If they come in quickly, I may be able to save some of them.”
“Good enough and more than I had hope for, Sir Mage. Vern! Sound the alert, followed by the recall.”
One of the field marshal’s aides stepped to the edge of the battlement, raising a trumpet to his lips. Two tones rang out, carrying easily through the silence of the night. After a pause, he played the tones a second time, then a third. The aide waited for a longer pause, then played three sharp notes, followed by the same three again.
“Kaede, Bruno,” the field marshal ordered two lieutenants, “get to the sally gates and let them know that there may be Mages and legionaries pursuing our scouts. Be ready to hold those gates shut.” Klaus sighed. “In the face of the scouts, if necessary.”
“But Field Marshal—" Bruno began.
“They knew the odds. Get going.”
As the two aides dashed off, Alain spoke. “I have to go to one of these sally gates.”
“Then I’m going, too,” Mari said.
“Lady, the risk—" Klaus began.
“My Mage is going! So am I.”
Klaus nodded, wisely deciding not to argue further. “Follow Lieutenant Kaede. The sally gate she goes to will have the most scouts heading to it for safety. My thanks to you, Lady, and to you, Sir Mage.”