Chapter 2 • A Fond Farewell
The sunlight streamed in through the window, drawing a line that slowly marched it’s way across the room, eventually striking Talin eyes and waking him from a deep slumber. He laid there for a moment before he realized what day it was. He got up, dressed in a hurry and made his way out to the patio. It was late in the morning but the air was still cold and crisp. Lennarra sat alone at the table sipping hot jasmine tea.“Good morning to you, Lennarra. Where is everyone?”
She looked up and gave Talin a big wide smile.
“Fine morning to you dear. They are all up at the gate house. Your father and uncle are getting the windskiff prepared for the transport. Are you hungry?”
“Not very. Maybe a little.”
“You should eat something. Nothing too rich or heavy, mind you. You shall be boarding the transport this afternoon and you never know how a meal will sit during long spells of air travel.”
She went inside and Talin poured him self a mug of tea, the steam rising in a wispy curl. Lennarra returned shortly with a warm loaf of coarse dough bread and a small tub of smooth whipped butter and fresh jackberry preserves. She sat down beside him and began slicing the loaf while Talin sipped his tea and looked out over the pond and the lush green meadow beyond.
“Your father figured there would be no harm in letting you sleep a little later than usual today. Might be your last chance for some time to come, particularly once you arrive at the Citadel and your schooling and training starts. But you’re not unaccustomed to rising early and working hard, so I imagine you will have a rather distinct advantage over those pampered Cartanian lads.”
“I guess so...do you suppose there will be a lot of cadets my age...like me?”
“I expect most of them will be your age, maybe even a few younger than yourself. I would not worry too much about that, my dear. It will avail you well to associate with others your own age. I know that life here on the farm can get lonely and monotonous at times and that is why you should make the most of your time away. You will see new sights, learn new things and meet new people. You are bound to form some good friendships and share many wonderful times. I envy you in a way, and we both know that your cousin certainly does as well. It has been many a season since I was last on Cartania and I can appreciate her fondness for the Citadel with all of it’s gleaming towers full of well dressed people bustling about executing all of their important duties. It makes our life here seem simple and unsophisticated “I would like to see the sun rise and set upon a different horizon. I suppose I’m just a little worried about leaving the farm and not being around to help with the next planting season.”
“Now that is just pure nonsense and you well know it. Your uncle and your father will manage quite admirably. His leg is nearly as good as the day he first climbed a tree and besides, a little hard work in the field would do Janna no harm either. Help her to build character and stamina, it would. For all those fancy dress balls she wants to attend.”
They both laughed and then Lennarra gracefully rose from her seat, brushing bread crumbs off of her apron.
“I suppose I should be getting on up to the gate house myself and see how things are coming along with the windskiff, it’s been awhile since it’s flown. You had better go and get your things in order, dear. The transport should be here anytime now and you know how Captain Ansak can be about strictly maintaining his schedules. Is there anything you I can do for you before I go?”
“You’ve done more than I could ask for. You’ve been just like a mother to me and I’ll always cherish your kind words and ways. I’ll take them with me all of the way to Cartania. Thank you, Lennarra. I’ll be along soon.”
In much earlier times, before powered flight had been mastered, the gate house was originally constructed as a watchtower. Once flying machines came more widely into use, an extended platform was added to the third level, allowing access to and from ships docking alongside of it. It sat at the center of a large open meadow, with plenty of room for even the largest airships to land upon. Talin came chugging up the path steering the noisy but sturdy steamcart. His footlocker was stowed on the cart’s front platform with Talin standing behind at the hand controls. He lightly squeezed one of the handles and gave it a bit more power, all four wheels digging into the moist ground. Morgon and Chandra were seated on a wide wooden bench at the end of the flower garden, enjoying the warmth of the morning The windskiff was used on infrequent occasions, and not recently. It mainly was employed for short hunting and foraging trips to adjacent land masses or the rare visit to neighboring farms, when they came within range. They also needed it whenever large ships such as the transport had to be guided into the meadow and lined up with the wind dock platform. The windskiff had a wide hull that tapered at both ends. Towards the bow was a cramped cabin, enclosed on three sides with only room enough for the operator’s seat and a short bench and cabinet along one wall. The boiler motor which turned the single propeller shaft was located amidship on the deck, behind the wheelhouse and further back was a hatch that opened to the small hold below. Galvon was rolling out the tubular air sacks which “Is that how you used to do it in the Engineering Division?” Galvon taunted jokingly, “An entire year of sophisticated Coalition training and all it takes is beating on it until its either fixed or it breaks.”
“There are times, dear brother, when a bit of force is not only desired,” Dar set his wrench down and straightened up on his crutch, “but required. Now if you could exert a little more force on persuading those bags into place, I’ll get the boiler up to pressure and we can start inflating.”
He began filling the fire box with slabs of shiny black coal from a bin located on the side of the boiler plate. Talin had motored his way up to the top of the hill and pulled up alongside of the family steamwagon, a larger six wheeled version of the cart. He shut down the boisterous cart engine and it let out a long, steady trail of steam, as if it were exhaling.
“If I’m not mistaken,” Talin claimed, unloading the footlocker and setting it down on the grass, “that old cart gets more and more like a living, breathing thing each day. You know I actually had to coax it into starting this morning. First I asked it, nothing. Just sputters. Then I pleaded with it. It sputtered some more and then hissed at me. I threatened to take it apart and make a flower pot out of it. Then I gave it a good kick and what would you say if I told it started right up!”
“As I was just now telling your uncle, sometimes a little forcefulness is exactly what the situation demands. Here, hand me that tether ring and then you better get your gear up onto the dock.”
While Dar got the steam boiler’s pressure calibrated, Galvon boarded the skiff, connected the pipe fittings to the elongated buoyancy bags and they quickly began to inflate. The bags commenced to expand and in another moment the windskiff was gently hovering above the ground. Galving adjusted a lever in the wheelhouse and two propellers in the rear swiveled downward, causing the skiff to ascend up towards the wind dock. When it was just about level with it, Galvon shut down the props, leapt out and secured the bow and stern lines to the dock. Talin hoisted his trunk using a large weathered block and-tackle pulley up to a narrow balcony on the wind dock. His uncle strolled towards the gate house to the small abutment, grabbed hold of the rope and swung Talin’s foot locker in and onto the platform. “Any sign of it yet?” he asked, brushing the hair from his eyes and peering through the lens.
“Not as of the moment. It’ll be here. In all the time I’ve know him, Captain Ansak has yet to miss a pickup or a delivery. Particularly when a sizable financial gain is at stake. Mark my words, son, he’ll be here.”
Once everything was ready, there little left to do but wait. Time seemed to lapse slowly as the sun gradually passed over head, the shadow of the tower making a counter clockwise arc across the meadow.
Grandfather Morgon had taken out his specs and a small book and was engrossed in his reading. Grandmother Chandra had her eyes closed with her hands folded on her lap and it was hard to tell whether or not she was napping.
“I may as well head back and sort us out a proper afternoon meal.” Lennarra eventually announced, “No telling when the transport will arrive, and there is no use sitting here with anxious stomachs. Come along, will you Janna, and lend me your help. I am sure we can put something suitable together.”
“We’ll go with you,” said Morgon, setting aside his book, “The warm sunshine has made me a little drowsy and my dear dozing bride here looks like she could use a lie down herself.”
He slowly rose up from the bench and gently nudged Chandra awake.
“Come now Channy, let’s head down and have some lunch and a bit of a rest afterwards. We’ll be able to see the transport when they come in to dock.”
The four started walking down the hill to the main house, politely refusing Talin’s offer to drive them on the rough riding steam cart. Galvon was laying against the gate house wall relaxing in the shade and decided to get up and stretch his legs.
“Hold on a moment,” He shouted after them, “I’ll take you all back in the wagon. I need to get on over to the chill house anyway and make sure the cooler box is still running steady. Like everything else around here, it’s been real temperamental lately.”
“Give it a good kick!” Dar jested.
Awhile later, Galvon, Lennarra and Janna were just coming back up the path when the faint sound a long whistle blew just beyond the clouds, below them. It was followed by the ringing of a bell and another high whistle. In a brief moment the clouds parted and a massive yellow and blue buoyancy bag came into view just over the edge of the tree tops that surrounded the meadow. As it continued to rise, so did the enormous hull tethered to it. It was the transport ship Acadian Pride. The name was a bit misleading as the ship was strictly a working vessel with a certain look of neglect and disrepair about it. The wood was chipped and gouged, the paint was flaking and peeling. It had large sections that had been patched with plates of metal and parts of the deck that were hastily restored with warped, Galvon quickly made his way up the ladder to the wind dock, with Talin following close behind. Galvon stepped into the wheelhouse of the windskiff and opened the main steam valve, while Talin let loose the stern line towards the rear of the ship and then hurriedly ran towards the front and grabbed the bow line. He set one foot on the deck, shoved off from the dock with the other and with a slight bob, the ship nosed out and away from the tower. Galvon turned the wheel which controlled the directional fins on either side at the stern of the ship and steered towards the Acadian Pride which was hovering stationary just beyond the tree line. As they approached the massive transport, Talin could see that the crew were at their various docking positions standing at the ready. The windskiff eased up alongside “Salutations and good afternoon to you!” He proclaimed loudly, removing his hat and following it with a genteel bow, “Garvon, Madame Gables. How fares the family? Splendidly, I hope.”
“Fine, Captain, everyone is just fine.” answered Lennarra. “Thank you graciously for asking. Dar broke an ankle towards the beginning of the season, but he is nearly mended now and should be back walking without a crutch shortly.”
“Sorry to hear that. How did you manage the harvest with him out of commission all season? Must have been rough.”
“We made do, Hess. Talin and I did most of the picking, Janna helped some.” Galvon replied, “As a matter of fact, with the amount of product we have in the chill house, you would never know we were lacking a set of hands out in the field.”
“Good harvest then, I surmise.”
“The best we’ve had in a long time. Maybe one of the best ever.”
“Well then, I’ll get my crew to the loading directly. I’m behind schedule as it is.”
“Rough weather, Hess?”
“Nay, not at all. We’ve had the good fortune of fair skies the entire trip. Nay, it’s not the weather. It seems they have been having a bit of trouble along some sections of the lanes. Rogues. Been targeting merchants and transports primarily, taking their cargo and scuttling the ships, crew and all. So recently, we’ve been skirting those sections and taking lesser know routes. Not that I fear for myself or my crew, mind you. Nay, we’ve yet to be intimidated by such vermin. But this voyage is different. I have my grand niece with me on this trip. Which reminds me. Where have my manners gotten off to? Aila,” he gestured the girl forward, “May I introduce to you my grand niece Aila Ansak. Aila, this is Garvon and Lennarra Gables.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” She said shyly.
“And it is an honor to know you, my dear.” smiled Lennarra. “This is my nephew, Talin. He will be accompanying you on this trip. He is going to the Citadel to fulfill his term of service.”
“I am escorting Aila as well to Cartania to serve her contribution, as well. She’s been pre-qualified for the Ministry of Medicine. Has a certain talent with poultices and bandages.Why, she’s patched me up more a time or two. Could be even a fine surgeon some day, she could. Her father has a large vineyard operation on Acadia, so you two should have lots of things in common. Grapes aren’t that much different from berries. They both can be fermented into a fine brew.”
Garvon gave a chuckle and Lennarra gave him a scolding glance.
“Come to think of it,” Garvon said, “Chandra made a fine strong batch just recently that I’m quite sure you will find to your liking.”
“I have just prepared the afternoon meal.” added Lennarra “ We would be most pleased if Aila and yourself were to join us.”
“What do you say we head on over to the house,” suggested Garvon, have a bite of lunch, and a taste of that brandy while your crew is taking care of the loading.”
Splendid suggestion!” roared the Captain with gusto, “Just splendid! Come along, my dear Aila, my dove. After we dine, young master Talin can show you around the farm while we wait. Do you have your gear ready, Lad?”
“Yes, sir. Just this one foot locker.”
“Fine then, lad, fine. Mr. Standrews, will you see that young master Talin’s things are stowed aboard and then, if you please, take the liberty to join us in a bit of refreshment.”
They descended the gate house ladder to where Dar was waiting below.
“How was the journey, Hess? Any problems?”
“None to speak of. How’s the leg, Dar?”
“I manage pretty well. I’m lucky to have help when I need it, but I should be up and about shortly.”
“Heard your lad Talin did most of the harvestin’ this season. No small feat to be taken lightly. That’s quite a boy you have there.”
“Yes, he is. Too be sure, he can be a handful at times, but he does the work of two full grown men and rarely do I hear him complain. I’m really quite proud of him, I am, and I’m afraid I won’t realize how much he truly means to me until after he’s gone away.”
“Don’t you cause yourself too much worry now, I’ll take as good a care of his as if he were my own. Now let’s go have a sampling of that berry brandy your brother keeps prattling on about.”
Talin and Aila situated themselves on the steamcart, as everyone climbed aboard the wagon and started down the hill towards the main house. Talin tried to engage the motor, but the fire box had gotten cold from sitting idle all afternoon. He gave Aila a sheepish grin, who in turn smiled back at him. He could feel his face begin to flush, and immediately set about getting the fire restarted. Once the water in the boiler had heated sufficiently to produce enough steam to drive the piston, the motor still would not engage for some reason. Talin fiddled with the valves, spindles and pulleys until finally, as a last resort, he gave it a good kick. The motor engaged with a bang and they were soon chugging and bouncing their way down the path.
Everyone was already seated in the patio when Talin and Aila eventually arrived. As they walked through the archway, Janna gave them a raised eyebrow and a crooked smirk.
“I had some trouble with the cart again.” Talin said hesitantly, almost as if he felt the need for an explanation.
The women were setting out large platters of assorted meats and cheeses accompanied with warm loaves of sliced, fresh baked bread. The brandy was flowing freely amongst the men who were gathered on the stone benches near the fire pit discussing news and recent events. A cool breeze had begun to blew outside the patio and taking into account Captain Ansak’s considerable height and girth, Lennarra was somewhat relieved that he had chosen not to set on one of her hand carved wooden dining chairs and instead settled himself around the warm fire. After his previous visit last season she had to reweave the backing, tighten three of the legs and replace the fourth.
“So these attacks on the lanes,” Dar queried to Captain Ansak, “Have they been able to identify what rogue nation is responsible?”
“It’s not been officially confirmed, but the word is it may be more than one. There’s some fairly well founded speculation that it could be a union or an alliance of a number of nations.”
“Could it be possible if we discuss something else perhaps?” pleaded Lennarra, “I do not believe that this is particularly something the younger ones need to be hearing about right now.”
“They’re not children anymore, my dear” stated Morgon as he refilled his mug, “They are off to Cartania for a year of service, perhaps even in the Militia, for that matter. Regardless, they’re sure to learn plenty more about this matter once they arrive at the Citadel.”
“Go on, Hess,” Galvon urged, “You were saying that it may be more than one nation causing all of this havoc? That there could be some sort of unified pact between hostile enemies? It doesn’t seem likely.”
“No. No, it doesn’t indeed.” replied the Captain, dabbing d few drops of brandy from his beard, “The nations that have resisted our efforts to join the Alliance have generally contented themselves to fighting and raiding amongst each other. Few nations would actually contemplate taking on the might of the Alliance all by themselves. That is one more reason why it is believed it is a joint effort, these attacks. If so, it is expected to escalate until the Alliance introduces a strong response. Either it be diplomatic, which has had little or no effect in past times, or a military action, which I know we all wish to avoid, if possible.”
The bottle of brandy had been just about emptied when Ansak’s First Mate came hurrying over the pond bridge and entered the patio.
“We’ve completed the loading,sir.” he announced to the Captain with a weary salute. “We’re ready to make way on your command.”
“Fine, Mister Standrews, just fine! Would you care to partake a nip o’ brandy before we set course?”
“No, sir. Thank you all the same. Mr. Gables, I’ve taken the liberty to have the crew place your supply order outside of the chill house. Will there be any thing else, sir?”
“Not a thing, Standrews. If you’re quite sure that you won’t join us for a drink, then I suppose that I should be finishing mine and be on our way. The sun will be setting shortly and I would like to make it to open sky before nightfall. Thank you all for a splendid time, as always. It is a pure pleasure of mine each time I get the opportunity to sit amongst such fine company as yourselves.” He drained the last of his mug, and hoisted his barrel chested body up with a mild groan. “Come along Aila, my dove, and you young master Talin. We have many clouds to put behind us.”
“Galvon and I will take you back to the dock.” Dar said, raising up on his crutch, slightly unsteady from the overpowering effects of the strong brandy.
One by one, Chandra, Lennarra and then Janna said their goodbyes and exchanged heartfelt hugs and kisses. Talin even thought he saw Janna wipe a tear or two from her eye.
“Fair skies to you, Hess.” Morgon bid farewell to Captain Ansak with a firm handshake, gripping his shoulder with his other. He then turned to Talin, “My lad, your to old for a kiss on the forehead anymore and a handshake just doesn’t seem to be enough. For the moment, I’m at a sorrowful loss for appropriate words or gestures.”
Talin grinned from one side of his mouth and looked his grandfather square in the eyes. Holding back on his anguish and attempting to appear as stouthearted as possible, he gave him the best salute he could summon, which Morgon returned with a gleam of admiration in his gaze. Talin released his salute and gave him a long, warm embrace nevertheless. Aila and Talin then climbed aboard the steam wagon, waved farewell to Morgon and the women and began their short ride up the path to the gate house.
The crew of the Acadia Pride was already standing in position ready to make way when they arrived. The procedure for launching from the meadow was similar to that for docking, except somewhat in reverse. Before Talin climbed the tower ladder for the final time prior to his departure, Dar gave him a firm, but warm embrace.
“Son, you know that I’m not usually one to be much on sentiment, and I don’t have a way with fanciful words like your Aunt Lennarra. I could say something trite such as ‘Make me proud’, but you already know how truly prideful I am of you. All I can say is to to be careful, be respectful and never forget that you have a father and a family that loves and cherishes you more than you can may realize.”
“I love you too, father and I’ll miss you as well. Don’t worry, I won’t give you any cause for concern or disappointment.”
“I have no doubt of that, Talin, that’s to be sure. You have never in your life disappointed me, and I can rest assured that you won’t start now. Farewell, my son. We’ll see each other again soon, when the year is over.”
Dar smiled at him affectionately and playfully messed his hair. Talin grinned and brushed it from his eyes. Galvon gave him a strong handshake and a solid pat on the back.
“Don’t you fret any about the farm while you’re away, lad. Your pap and I will make sure to save plenty of work for you when you get back home. Don’t get all soft and lazy enjoyin’ all of that elegant Citadel living!”
Talin climbed the ladder and stood on the wind dock, taking one last lingering look around. He then headed across the gangway and boarded the transport ship. Galvon had helped Dar get aboard the windskiff and they were making their way towards the bow of the Acadia Pride in order to reattach the tow rope. Once attached, the final anchor lines were released, and they began a steady withdrawal up and out of the meadow. Talin stood at the railing and watched his farm get smaller and smaller as they gained altitude and distance. Aila joined him, and they both were silent, as the gate house tower slowly disappeared from sight. The tow rope was released and the windskiff made a sweeping turn back towards the farm. Dar gave one last wave of his arm and Talin waved back, a sudden heaviness “I know how you must be feeling right now. I felt the same way when I left Acadia. Even though I have my grand uncle to help ease the loneliness, I feel as if all of a sudden, I’m completely on my own.”
“Talin gave a slight sniffle and said, without turning, “I guess in a sense we’re both on our own now.”
“Well then, if that’s the situation, in a sense we’re both in this together. And that would mean that neither one of us is truly on our own.”
For a long while, not another word was said as they watched the land where Talin had spent his entire life vanish far below in the clouds.
She looked up and gave Talin a big wide smile.
“Fine morning to you dear. They are all up at the gate house. Your father and uncle are getting the windskiff prepared for the transport. Are you hungry?”
“Not very. Maybe a little.”
“You should eat something. Nothing too rich or heavy, mind you. You shall be boarding the transport this afternoon and you never know how a meal will sit during long spells of air travel.”
She went inside and Talin poured him self a mug of tea, the steam rising in a wispy curl. Lennarra returned shortly with a warm loaf of coarse dough bread and a small tub of smooth whipped butter and fresh jackberry preserves. She sat down beside him and began slicing the loaf while Talin sipped his tea and looked out over the pond and the lush green meadow beyond.
“Your father figured there would be no harm in letting you sleep a little later than usual today. Might be your last chance for some time to come, particularly once you arrive at the Citadel and your schooling and training starts. But you’re not unaccustomed to rising early and working hard, so I imagine you will have a rather distinct advantage over those pampered Cartanian lads.”
“I guess so...do you suppose there will be a lot of cadets my age...like me?”
“I expect most of them will be your age, maybe even a few younger than yourself. I would not worry too much about that, my dear. It will avail you well to associate with others your own age. I know that life here on the farm can get lonely and monotonous at times and that is why you should make the most of your time away. You will see new sights, learn new things and meet new people. You are bound to form some good friendships and share many wonderful times. I envy you in a way, and we both know that your cousin certainly does as well. It has been many a season since I was last on Cartania and I can appreciate her fondness for the Citadel with all of it’s gleaming towers full of well dressed people bustling about executing all of their important duties. It makes our life here seem simple and unsophisticated “I would like to see the sun rise and set upon a different horizon. I suppose I’m just a little worried about leaving the farm and not being around to help with the next planting season.”
“Now that is just pure nonsense and you well know it. Your uncle and your father will manage quite admirably. His leg is nearly as good as the day he first climbed a tree and besides, a little hard work in the field would do Janna no harm either. Help her to build character and stamina, it would. For all those fancy dress balls she wants to attend.”
They both laughed and then Lennarra gracefully rose from her seat, brushing bread crumbs off of her apron.
“I suppose I should be getting on up to the gate house myself and see how things are coming along with the windskiff, it’s been awhile since it’s flown. You had better go and get your things in order, dear. The transport should be here anytime now and you know how Captain Ansak can be about strictly maintaining his schedules. Is there anything you I can do for you before I go?”
“You’ve done more than I could ask for. You’ve been just like a mother to me and I’ll always cherish your kind words and ways. I’ll take them with me all of the way to Cartania. Thank you, Lennarra. I’ll be along soon.”
In much earlier times, before powered flight had been mastered, the gate house was originally constructed as a watchtower. Once flying machines came more widely into use, an extended platform was added to the third level, allowing access to and from ships docking alongside of it. It sat at the center of a large open meadow, with plenty of room for even the largest airships to land upon. Talin came chugging up the path steering the noisy but sturdy steamcart. His footlocker was stowed on the cart’s front platform with Talin standing behind at the hand controls. He lightly squeezed one of the handles and gave it a bit more power, all four wheels digging into the moist ground. Morgon and Chandra were seated on a wide wooden bench at the end of the flower garden, enjoying the warmth of the morning The windskiff was used on infrequent occasions, and not recently. It mainly was employed for short hunting and foraging trips to adjacent land masses or the rare visit to neighboring farms, when they came within range. They also needed it whenever large ships such as the transport had to be guided into the meadow and lined up with the wind dock platform. The windskiff had a wide hull that tapered at both ends. Towards the bow was a cramped cabin, enclosed on three sides with only room enough for the operator’s seat and a short bench and cabinet along one wall. The boiler motor which turned the single propeller shaft was located amidship on the deck, behind the wheelhouse and further back was a hatch that opened to the small hold below. Galvon was rolling out the tubular air sacks which “Is that how you used to do it in the Engineering Division?” Galvon taunted jokingly, “An entire year of sophisticated Coalition training and all it takes is beating on it until its either fixed or it breaks.”
“There are times, dear brother, when a bit of force is not only desired,” Dar set his wrench down and straightened up on his crutch, “but required. Now if you could exert a little more force on persuading those bags into place, I’ll get the boiler up to pressure and we can start inflating.”
He began filling the fire box with slabs of shiny black coal from a bin located on the side of the boiler plate. Talin had motored his way up to the top of the hill and pulled up alongside of the family steamwagon, a larger six wheeled version of the cart. He shut down the boisterous cart engine and it let out a long, steady trail of steam, as if it were exhaling.
“If I’m not mistaken,” Talin claimed, unloading the footlocker and setting it down on the grass, “that old cart gets more and more like a living, breathing thing each day. You know I actually had to coax it into starting this morning. First I asked it, nothing. Just sputters. Then I pleaded with it. It sputtered some more and then hissed at me. I threatened to take it apart and make a flower pot out of it. Then I gave it a good kick and what would you say if I told it started right up!”
“As I was just now telling your uncle, sometimes a little forcefulness is exactly what the situation demands. Here, hand me that tether ring and then you better get your gear up onto the dock.”
While Dar got the steam boiler’s pressure calibrated, Galvon boarded the skiff, connected the pipe fittings to the elongated buoyancy bags and they quickly began to inflate. The bags commenced to expand and in another moment the windskiff was gently hovering above the ground. Galving adjusted a lever in the wheelhouse and two propellers in the rear swiveled downward, causing the skiff to ascend up towards the wind dock. When it was just about level with it, Galvon shut down the props, leapt out and secured the bow and stern lines to the dock. Talin hoisted his trunk using a large weathered block and-tackle pulley up to a narrow balcony on the wind dock. His uncle strolled towards the gate house to the small abutment, grabbed hold of the rope and swung Talin’s foot locker in and onto the platform. “Any sign of it yet?” he asked, brushing the hair from his eyes and peering through the lens.
“Not as of the moment. It’ll be here. In all the time I’ve know him, Captain Ansak has yet to miss a pickup or a delivery. Particularly when a sizable financial gain is at stake. Mark my words, son, he’ll be here.”
Once everything was ready, there little left to do but wait. Time seemed to lapse slowly as the sun gradually passed over head, the shadow of the tower making a counter clockwise arc across the meadow.
Grandfather Morgon had taken out his specs and a small book and was engrossed in his reading. Grandmother Chandra had her eyes closed with her hands folded on her lap and it was hard to tell whether or not she was napping.
“I may as well head back and sort us out a proper afternoon meal.” Lennarra eventually announced, “No telling when the transport will arrive, and there is no use sitting here with anxious stomachs. Come along, will you Janna, and lend me your help. I am sure we can put something suitable together.”
“We’ll go with you,” said Morgon, setting aside his book, “The warm sunshine has made me a little drowsy and my dear dozing bride here looks like she could use a lie down herself.”
He slowly rose up from the bench and gently nudged Chandra awake.
“Come now Channy, let’s head down and have some lunch and a bit of a rest afterwards. We’ll be able to see the transport when they come in to dock.”
The four started walking down the hill to the main house, politely refusing Talin’s offer to drive them on the rough riding steam cart. Galvon was laying against the gate house wall relaxing in the shade and decided to get up and stretch his legs.
“Hold on a moment,” He shouted after them, “I’ll take you all back in the wagon. I need to get on over to the chill house anyway and make sure the cooler box is still running steady. Like everything else around here, it’s been real temperamental lately.”
“Give it a good kick!” Dar jested.
Awhile later, Galvon, Lennarra and Janna were just coming back up the path when the faint sound a long whistle blew just beyond the clouds, below them. It was followed by the ringing of a bell and another high whistle. In a brief moment the clouds parted and a massive yellow and blue buoyancy bag came into view just over the edge of the tree tops that surrounded the meadow. As it continued to rise, so did the enormous hull tethered to it. It was the transport ship Acadian Pride. The name was a bit misleading as the ship was strictly a working vessel with a certain look of neglect and disrepair about it. The wood was chipped and gouged, the paint was flaking and peeling. It had large sections that had been patched with plates of metal and parts of the deck that were hastily restored with warped, Galvon quickly made his way up the ladder to the wind dock, with Talin following close behind. Galvon stepped into the wheelhouse of the windskiff and opened the main steam valve, while Talin let loose the stern line towards the rear of the ship and then hurriedly ran towards the front and grabbed the bow line. He set one foot on the deck, shoved off from the dock with the other and with a slight bob, the ship nosed out and away from the tower. Galvon turned the wheel which controlled the directional fins on either side at the stern of the ship and steered towards the Acadian Pride which was hovering stationary just beyond the tree line. As they approached the massive transport, Talin could see that the crew were at their various docking positions standing at the ready. The windskiff eased up alongside “Salutations and good afternoon to you!” He proclaimed loudly, removing his hat and following it with a genteel bow, “Garvon, Madame Gables. How fares the family? Splendidly, I hope.”
“Fine, Captain, everyone is just fine.” answered Lennarra. “Thank you graciously for asking. Dar broke an ankle towards the beginning of the season, but he is nearly mended now and should be back walking without a crutch shortly.”
“Sorry to hear that. How did you manage the harvest with him out of commission all season? Must have been rough.”
“We made do, Hess. Talin and I did most of the picking, Janna helped some.” Galvon replied, “As a matter of fact, with the amount of product we have in the chill house, you would never know we were lacking a set of hands out in the field.”
“Good harvest then, I surmise.”
“The best we’ve had in a long time. Maybe one of the best ever.”
“Well then, I’ll get my crew to the loading directly. I’m behind schedule as it is.”
“Rough weather, Hess?”
“Nay, not at all. We’ve had the good fortune of fair skies the entire trip. Nay, it’s not the weather. It seems they have been having a bit of trouble along some sections of the lanes. Rogues. Been targeting merchants and transports primarily, taking their cargo and scuttling the ships, crew and all. So recently, we’ve been skirting those sections and taking lesser know routes. Not that I fear for myself or my crew, mind you. Nay, we’ve yet to be intimidated by such vermin. But this voyage is different. I have my grand niece with me on this trip. Which reminds me. Where have my manners gotten off to? Aila,” he gestured the girl forward, “May I introduce to you my grand niece Aila Ansak. Aila, this is Garvon and Lennarra Gables.”
“Pleased to make your acquaintance.” She said shyly.
“And it is an honor to know you, my dear.” smiled Lennarra. “This is my nephew, Talin. He will be accompanying you on this trip. He is going to the Citadel to fulfill his term of service.”
“I am escorting Aila as well to Cartania to serve her contribution, as well. She’s been pre-qualified for the Ministry of Medicine. Has a certain talent with poultices and bandages.Why, she’s patched me up more a time or two. Could be even a fine surgeon some day, she could. Her father has a large vineyard operation on Acadia, so you two should have lots of things in common. Grapes aren’t that much different from berries. They both can be fermented into a fine brew.”
Garvon gave a chuckle and Lennarra gave him a scolding glance.
“Come to think of it,” Garvon said, “Chandra made a fine strong batch just recently that I’m quite sure you will find to your liking.”
“I have just prepared the afternoon meal.” added Lennarra “ We would be most pleased if Aila and yourself were to join us.”
“What do you say we head on over to the house,” suggested Garvon, have a bite of lunch, and a taste of that brandy while your crew is taking care of the loading.”
Splendid suggestion!” roared the Captain with gusto, “Just splendid! Come along, my dear Aila, my dove. After we dine, young master Talin can show you around the farm while we wait. Do you have your gear ready, Lad?”
“Yes, sir. Just this one foot locker.”
“Fine then, lad, fine. Mr. Standrews, will you see that young master Talin’s things are stowed aboard and then, if you please, take the liberty to join us in a bit of refreshment.”
They descended the gate house ladder to where Dar was waiting below.
“How was the journey, Hess? Any problems?”
“None to speak of. How’s the leg, Dar?”
“I manage pretty well. I’m lucky to have help when I need it, but I should be up and about shortly.”
“Heard your lad Talin did most of the harvestin’ this season. No small feat to be taken lightly. That’s quite a boy you have there.”
“Yes, he is. Too be sure, he can be a handful at times, but he does the work of two full grown men and rarely do I hear him complain. I’m really quite proud of him, I am, and I’m afraid I won’t realize how much he truly means to me until after he’s gone away.”
“Don’t you cause yourself too much worry now, I’ll take as good a care of his as if he were my own. Now let’s go have a sampling of that berry brandy your brother keeps prattling on about.”
Talin and Aila situated themselves on the steamcart, as everyone climbed aboard the wagon and started down the hill towards the main house. Talin tried to engage the motor, but the fire box had gotten cold from sitting idle all afternoon. He gave Aila a sheepish grin, who in turn smiled back at him. He could feel his face begin to flush, and immediately set about getting the fire restarted. Once the water in the boiler had heated sufficiently to produce enough steam to drive the piston, the motor still would not engage for some reason. Talin fiddled with the valves, spindles and pulleys until finally, as a last resort, he gave it a good kick. The motor engaged with a bang and they were soon chugging and bouncing their way down the path.
Everyone was already seated in the patio when Talin and Aila eventually arrived. As they walked through the archway, Janna gave them a raised eyebrow and a crooked smirk.
“I had some trouble with the cart again.” Talin said hesitantly, almost as if he felt the need for an explanation.
The women were setting out large platters of assorted meats and cheeses accompanied with warm loaves of sliced, fresh baked bread. The brandy was flowing freely amongst the men who were gathered on the stone benches near the fire pit discussing news and recent events. A cool breeze had begun to blew outside the patio and taking into account Captain Ansak’s considerable height and girth, Lennarra was somewhat relieved that he had chosen not to set on one of her hand carved wooden dining chairs and instead settled himself around the warm fire. After his previous visit last season she had to reweave the backing, tighten three of the legs and replace the fourth.
“So these attacks on the lanes,” Dar queried to Captain Ansak, “Have they been able to identify what rogue nation is responsible?”
“It’s not been officially confirmed, but the word is it may be more than one. There’s some fairly well founded speculation that it could be a union or an alliance of a number of nations.”
“Could it be possible if we discuss something else perhaps?” pleaded Lennarra, “I do not believe that this is particularly something the younger ones need to be hearing about right now.”
“They’re not children anymore, my dear” stated Morgon as he refilled his mug, “They are off to Cartania for a year of service, perhaps even in the Militia, for that matter. Regardless, they’re sure to learn plenty more about this matter once they arrive at the Citadel.”
“Go on, Hess,” Galvon urged, “You were saying that it may be more than one nation causing all of this havoc? That there could be some sort of unified pact between hostile enemies? It doesn’t seem likely.”
“No. No, it doesn’t indeed.” replied the Captain, dabbing d few drops of brandy from his beard, “The nations that have resisted our efforts to join the Alliance have generally contented themselves to fighting and raiding amongst each other. Few nations would actually contemplate taking on the might of the Alliance all by themselves. That is one more reason why it is believed it is a joint effort, these attacks. If so, it is expected to escalate until the Alliance introduces a strong response. Either it be diplomatic, which has had little or no effect in past times, or a military action, which I know we all wish to avoid, if possible.”
The bottle of brandy had been just about emptied when Ansak’s First Mate came hurrying over the pond bridge and entered the patio.
“We’ve completed the loading,sir.” he announced to the Captain with a weary salute. “We’re ready to make way on your command.”
“Fine, Mister Standrews, just fine! Would you care to partake a nip o’ brandy before we set course?”
“No, sir. Thank you all the same. Mr. Gables, I’ve taken the liberty to have the crew place your supply order outside of the chill house. Will there be any thing else, sir?”
“Not a thing, Standrews. If you’re quite sure that you won’t join us for a drink, then I suppose that I should be finishing mine and be on our way. The sun will be setting shortly and I would like to make it to open sky before nightfall. Thank you all for a splendid time, as always. It is a pure pleasure of mine each time I get the opportunity to sit amongst such fine company as yourselves.” He drained the last of his mug, and hoisted his barrel chested body up with a mild groan. “Come along Aila, my dove, and you young master Talin. We have many clouds to put behind us.”
“Galvon and I will take you back to the dock.” Dar said, raising up on his crutch, slightly unsteady from the overpowering effects of the strong brandy.
One by one, Chandra, Lennarra and then Janna said their goodbyes and exchanged heartfelt hugs and kisses. Talin even thought he saw Janna wipe a tear or two from her eye.
“Fair skies to you, Hess.” Morgon bid farewell to Captain Ansak with a firm handshake, gripping his shoulder with his other. He then turned to Talin, “My lad, your to old for a kiss on the forehead anymore and a handshake just doesn’t seem to be enough. For the moment, I’m at a sorrowful loss for appropriate words or gestures.”
Talin grinned from one side of his mouth and looked his grandfather square in the eyes. Holding back on his anguish and attempting to appear as stouthearted as possible, he gave him the best salute he could summon, which Morgon returned with a gleam of admiration in his gaze. Talin released his salute and gave him a long, warm embrace nevertheless. Aila and Talin then climbed aboard the steam wagon, waved farewell to Morgon and the women and began their short ride up the path to the gate house.
The crew of the Acadia Pride was already standing in position ready to make way when they arrived. The procedure for launching from the meadow was similar to that for docking, except somewhat in reverse. Before Talin climbed the tower ladder for the final time prior to his departure, Dar gave him a firm, but warm embrace.
“Son, you know that I’m not usually one to be much on sentiment, and I don’t have a way with fanciful words like your Aunt Lennarra. I could say something trite such as ‘Make me proud’, but you already know how truly prideful I am of you. All I can say is to to be careful, be respectful and never forget that you have a father and a family that loves and cherishes you more than you can may realize.”
“I love you too, father and I’ll miss you as well. Don’t worry, I won’t give you any cause for concern or disappointment.”
“I have no doubt of that, Talin, that’s to be sure. You have never in your life disappointed me, and I can rest assured that you won’t start now. Farewell, my son. We’ll see each other again soon, when the year is over.”
Dar smiled at him affectionately and playfully messed his hair. Talin grinned and brushed it from his eyes. Galvon gave him a strong handshake and a solid pat on the back.
“Don’t you fret any about the farm while you’re away, lad. Your pap and I will make sure to save plenty of work for you when you get back home. Don’t get all soft and lazy enjoyin’ all of that elegant Citadel living!”
Talin climbed the ladder and stood on the wind dock, taking one last lingering look around. He then headed across the gangway and boarded the transport ship. Galvon had helped Dar get aboard the windskiff and they were making their way towards the bow of the Acadia Pride in order to reattach the tow rope. Once attached, the final anchor lines were released, and they began a steady withdrawal up and out of the meadow. Talin stood at the railing and watched his farm get smaller and smaller as they gained altitude and distance. Aila joined him, and they both were silent, as the gate house tower slowly disappeared from sight. The tow rope was released and the windskiff made a sweeping turn back towards the farm. Dar gave one last wave of his arm and Talin waved back, a sudden heaviness “I know how you must be feeling right now. I felt the same way when I left Acadia. Even though I have my grand uncle to help ease the loneliness, I feel as if all of a sudden, I’m completely on my own.”
“Talin gave a slight sniffle and said, without turning, “I guess in a sense we’re both on our own now.”
“Well then, if that’s the situation, in a sense we’re both in this together. And that would mean that neither one of us is truly on our own.”
For a long while, not another word was said as they watched the land where Talin had spent his entire life vanish far below in the clouds.