Starfinder

THE WORD OF AN ELDRIN KNIGHT

RENDOR SAT BACK AGAINST the nobbly trunk of a pine tree, far enough from the Avatar to be alone with his thoughts. Dusk was falling, and his men were still hard at work. After stripping everything imaginable out of Skyhigh’s dragonfly, Rendor had managed to cram it full of extra fuel, leaving barely enough room for Skyhigh and Esme to squeeze themselves inside. Merceron had spent the day getting much-needed sleep. He and Rendor hadn’t bothered speaking again, and that was fine with Rendor, because he had nothing to say, not even good-bye. He watched with the rest of them as Merceron lifted the dragonfly into the air, disappearing north as the sun slipped down the horizon. Then, wanting desperately to get away, Rendor wandered out of camp.

His pistol lay ready in his lap. The Starfinder remained aboard the Avatar under heavy guard. Riflemen stood lookout atop the airship, searching the sky. Rendor took a cigar from his breast pocket. He’d been craving one all day but only had a handful of them left. He snapped open his lighter, flamed the tip, and drew his first, pleasure-filled puff.

It was a long, dangerous way north to the Skylords. And Merceron was old. Rendor wondered at his chances, but he knew why the old beast was so willing to try. He’d already lost one boy.

Rendor stared at the mountains through the cigar smoke.

Minutes passed. The sun crept lower, nearly gone now. Rendor heard a noise behind him but didn’t bother reaching for his pistol.

“Governor?” Donnar appeared from behind the tree. “Bottling’s finished securing the tarp. He wants you to look it over, make sure of it.”

“Fine,” Rendor nodded. Patching the hole in the Avatar’s carriage had been harder than he’d guessed. He was glad the job was finally done. “Still working on the engines?”

“Port side’s still a little wobbly,” said Donnar. “No worries. One engine will get us home.”

“Home.” Rendor took another cigar from his pocket and offered it to Donnar. “Take a minute with me, Erich.”

Donnar, who never smoked, was immediately suspicious. “What are you doing out here, sir?”

Rendor tilted his chin at the mountains. “How high would you say they are?”

“Oh, no…”

“Can we make it over them?”

“Sir, we need to leave. We’ve got the Starfinder. Remember what Merceron said—there’s just no time.”

“Not much air up there. Cold too.”

“Impossible,” said Donnar. “With one engine?”

“One and a half,” Rendor reminded him. “We’ll strip her down, make her real light. Just like the dragonfly. We’ll over-pump the envelope.”

“Are you asking for my permission or my advice?”

“She’s my granddaughter, Erich.”

“Yes sir, but you gave the dragon your word.”

“I gave him the word of an Eldrin Knight. The Eldrin Knights are dead. Extinct. I don’t think anyone’s going to throw me in jail for that, do you?”

Donnar sighed as he considered the formidable mountains. “I think, sir, that I’d like that cigar now.”