Chapter 4: The Raven's Reach

Despite its unfinished state, Lion’s Arch’s new Aerodrome was alive with activity. Scaffolding still lined parts of the partial stone walls, and piles of building materials had been left out along the perimeter, but that did not stop the eager airships from docking there to conduct business. Danae smiled and took in the comings and goings of workers, merchants, and dockhands alike. Seeing the bustling activity already fill the new space thrilled her, and her hopes soared at the possibilities for the future.

She made her way across the generously wide lobby and chuckled to herself while passing a captain barking orders to their crew. His sharp words spurred them into action, and they carefully scurried down the gangplanks, cautious not to knock into any of their passengers also making their way down. Transactions were finalized and goods carried away just as more commodities for transport out of the city arrived. It was a constant back and forth exchange, feeding the city’s economy and furthering the opportunities for more trade and transportation.

And the world keeps on going, Danae thought to herself. Blake would love this.

Danae stopped near the center of the lobby and took in the sight of the ships one by one through her glassy eyes. She imagined how many more would eventually port here, bringing with them people, goods, and tales of lands beyond. But what mattered most to her was the promise of freedom each ship provided their crew. The Raven’s Reach gave Danae and her crew that. But now as her eyes lay upon her ship—beaten down and near death—she had to fight to keep her tears from falling.

Grounded. She clenched her teeth as the words echoed in her head again. It felt like she had been collared and tethered to the ground, unable to escape the fate which had befallen them. She wanted to scream and lash out at the Order, at Halvora, at the Byrnes—at anyone responsible—but her crew didn’t need to see that right now. They had been through enough. They needed their captain.

“Cap’n.”

Danae forced herself to look away from the Raven and over at the dark-haired, young man hobbling toward her. “How does she fare?”

“I can’t say she’s lookin’ too good,” Markus Ferin, the Raven’s engineer, replied as he stopped at her side. He had seen to the wound on his leg with proper wrappings and constructed a brace out of scrap metal and canvas. However, it was obvious by the grimace on his face that the injury still pained him. “Her hull’s been breached on the port side from the shot, her envelope torn, and aft ballonet torn as well. I managed to find a pump and compressor to keep air cycling into them so I can find all the tears. The canvas will need to be patched and stitched up before she can hold air on her own. The hull’s starboard side has a big, nasty gash in it from where it met the hillside. But her engine, cap’n-,” Markus paused, knowing the news would cut his captain deep, “It’s not lookin’ too good. It’s been beat to hell. We were lucky we were able to limp her here, and that’s probably what set her over. To be honest, I’m—I’m not sure I can fix it. I’m afraid she’s grounded for now.”

Danae clenched her dominate right hand into a fist as her body tensed. Grounded. She hated hearing the word, and today she had heard it twice. “What will it take to get her in the air? The bare minimum.”

“Well,” he began with a heavy sigh, “We need to patch up the aft ballonet and the envelope, and the engine will need to be replaced.”

“The whole engine?”

“The whole thing.”

“Damnit!” Danae snapped. “Where are we going to find a compatible engine in a short amount of time? We need to get her in the air immediately.”

“You wanna go after them?”

Danae nodded.

“I don’t suppose we can get help from the Order like last time, eh?” he asked, raising his dark eyebrows. “Was handy after that run in with those centaurs’ catapults.”

“No, we’re on our own right now. Halvora didn’t sanction this mission. She doesn’t want us going after the Byrnes. Says it’s all too personal considering how—considering what happened.”

“What do you mean?” Markus replied, astonished. “This is the perfect time to go after them. We got in a good shot, and their ship is limpin’ over the mountains right now. They can’t get very far.”

“I know that,” Danae snapped. Her whole body tensed under the weight of the situation.

“So, we just sit around and hope whoever they send after them gets the job done?”

Danae looked at her ship again which was currently being held up by a series of ropes and chains. It had been sketchy getting the Raven to the aerodrome in the first place. She wasn’t sure the ship would make it, but one of the Six must have had pity for Danae and her crew. Her jaw set in a hard line. She would be dammed if she was going to let the Raven remain like that.

“Gather everything you have. Every resource and every ounce of currency you can find. We are not going to let that highborn trash get away with killing Blake and grounding the Raven. We’ll get her in the air ourselves.”

Markus’ eyes widened. “Ourselves? What about the Order? They technically own the Raven, so don’t they kinda own us?”

“I’m well aware of our contractual obligations. I signed the papers myself.” A sly smile tugged at the corner of Danae’s lips. “Yes, the Raven is technically Order property until it no longer functions. Tell me Markus, does the Raven still function?”

Catching onto what his captain was insinuating, the airship engineer grinned. “No, she’s dead in the air.”

“Then the Raven is no longer owned by the Order. How convenient.”

Markus’ grin suddenly fell. “But what about all of us? Aren’t you worried what Halvora will do if she finds out we’re going against orders?”

Danae frowned. “She won’t be happy, but one rogue ship will be the least of her worries if those nobles get their hands on that weapon.”

“C—Captain Danae Morgan?”

The airship captain turned around to find a young man, dressed in rugged travelling clothes running across the aerodrome lobby toward them. He stopped just short of the two and bent over, resting his hands on his knees as he caught his breath. As the messenger straightened himself, he reached into the breast pocket on his vest and held out a folded piece of parchment for Danae to take.

“Message—for—you,” he said between labored breaths. Beads of sweat dripped from his brow, down the sides of his reddened face.

“Who’s the sender?” Danae asked as she snatched the message from the runner’s shaking hand.

The young man shook his head. “She didn’t say, but they were all heading east, last I saw, and they weren’t lookin’ too good.”

She eyed the messenger suspiciously. “Did you read this?”

“No ma’am,” he replied with his hands held up in front of him. His eyes went wide as he stood there under Danae’s scrutiny. “I swear on the Six, my eyes never saw a single letter.”

Danae stared at him for another moment before nodding and then handing him a couple of silver coins for his trouble. The young man thanked her and hurried across the lobby toward the exit. Waiting until he was out of sight, she then turned her attention to the missive.

“What’s it say?” Markus asked as he looked over her arm while she unfolded the parchment.

“Dear cousin,” Danae began as she read the message just loud enough for the two of them, “the family and I have grown tired of Lion’s Arch and have decided to seek adventure amongst the mountains. But first, we will be stopping for a little reading material along the way. I hope you are free to join us there before we move on. I still owe you a promise. One way or another, I intend on fulfilling it. You’re dearest cousin, Selene.”

“Selene?” Markus flashed his captain a confused glance. “Who’s that?”

A little smile pulled at Danae’s lips. “That’s the name Nienna chose to use while she was with the Order. There’s no way she would sign an open message like this with her real name, nor would she blatantly say what she and her people were up to. She’s smarter than that.”

The engineer made a thoughtful noise and rubbed at the dark stubble on his chin. “So, that mean we’re heading to the mountains as well? Where exactly?”

“The Priory’s Headquarters in Lornar’s Pass. We used to call it ‘The Great Library’ when we were in training,” she replied. “Bunch of book nerds hiding in their studies…maybe we’ll find if they are in fact useful after all.”

Markus brightened and flashed her a grin. “Excellent! I’ve always wanted to see what sort of blue prints or contraptions they hide in that place. Maybe I could find some ideas for my new gizmo. I’ll tell Harrisson.” He turned and began limping his way toward the Raven, but when he sensed Danae was not following, he stopped and turned back around. “Aren’t you coming?”

Danae shook her head. “You go on ahead. There’s someone I need to see first.”

Markus nodded then turned to go, but stopped once again. “Cap’n?”

“Yes?”

“She’d be proud, you know.” He managed a smile, but it faltered under the weight of his grief. “Blake would want us to see this through. You know how she is—was—about finishing things.”

There were a million things Danae wanted to say back, but all she could manage was an acknowledging nod. She quickly turned on her heels and made her way to the exit, trying with every ounce of energy she had to not let her tears fall.