“No, we can’t just fly the Unsinkable III straight into Rithakhar. For Gheal’s sake, it’s the Rirorni Empire’s capital,” My‑re exclaimed to Havelock. “Do you aspire to start a second Rirorni war?”
“If this is about me flying the Isle of the Eye flag, I can take it down,” Havelock replied, holding his hands up in submission.
“What? There’s a flag up?” My‑re asked in disbelief and then mumbled to herself, “No wonder we were attacked by the Rirorni campsite last month.”
“I think that had more to do with the ship plowing through their encampment,” Vomarian said. At seeing My‑re's hard stare, he continued, “However, I’ll ensure the flag is removed.”
The three stood around a wooden table in the captain’s quarters. An old, yellowing map of the Rirorni plains stretched in the middle. Its edges were frayed and split from the effects of age and use. Several names of towns and settlements on the map were crossed off in its original script, while others were added later by a different author.
“The Rirorni will have scouts up to two to three miles from the city, so if we land around five miles outside, the party can trek the rest of the way in,” Vomarian explained.
“No, it’s too risky. The Rirorni Plains are flatter than a Rocanis pancake. It’d be too easy to spot the ship even that far out,” My‑re said.
Vomarian turned to Havelock, “Can you mask the ship?”
“Of course I can.”
“Great, Havelock will turn the ship invisible-”
“Whoa, no one said anything about turning the ship invisible,” Havelock interjected. “Not that I could do it anyway, but how in Ghea would you find it again? Besides, you said to mask the ship. So, we could add a nice shrubbery and maybe make it look like a house.”
“That’s not going to work,” My‑re stated flatly.
Studying the map, Vomarian said, “We’ll need to set the ship down somewhere, like a valley, where it won’t be visible. However, the map doesn’t display any topographical information. I don’t have the faintest idea where to start looking.”
My‑re stretched her arms and rested her hands on the desk, looking down at the atlas. She saw where the town of Sanaras should be written on the map, but it wasn’t listed. Captured during the Rirorni war, she grew up in that village just a day’s travel from Rithakhar. Isolated from the rest of the town, the farm held a small gorge behind the house ideal for hiding the Unsinkable III.
“My‑re has something to add,” Havelock said as her eyes met his at his words.
Vomarian said, “Our options are bleak. Discovery is high, and detection means there is a great risk of not finding this Araminth. If you have something, I implore you.”
She shifted from one foot to the next and weighed her options. My‑re didn’t wish to put the Rirorni mother who raised her, A’renna, her Rirorni sister Bel’alith, who she helped raise from birth, and like her, the two servants, Mal’la and Na’loona, she lived with for years at risk, if someone spotted the Unsinkable III. She grew up with them, knowing them as her family. They had fed, clothed, sheltered, and taught her the Rirorni language and customs. Most importantly, how to survive and use the Wall of Steel fighting style. She would be putting them all in jeopardy. However, she didn’t see any other options and the best chance to travel undetected. She also longed to see her extended family again and let them know after her death sentence, she had won the Blood Games tournament and was still alive, at least for the moment.
“First, we wait until nightfall.”
“Then what?”
“We set a course here,” My‑re said, pointing to a space on the map. “Sanaras.”
“What’s that? Vomarian asked.
“Home.”