“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 want 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 Fae and captain of the Unsinkable III said. At seeing My-re 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 frayed and split from the effects of age and use. Several names of towns and settlements on the map, in its original script, were crossed off, 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 Fae said.
“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 mask the ship. So, I think we could put up some nice shrubberies and maybe make it look like a house-”
“Okay, that’s not going to work,” My-re interrupted.
Studying the map Vomarian Fae said, “We’ll need to put the ship down in 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. It was the small village she grew up in when she was captured during the Rirorni war. It was also just a day’s travel from Rithakhar. There was a small gorge behind the house she grew up in. The farm was isolated from the rest of the village and ideal for hiding the Unsinkable III. However, they wouldn’t be able to hide it from the occupants. Besides, everyone in the village would recognize her. The cost was too great.
“My-re has something to add,” Havelock said as her eyes met his at his words.
Stammering, My-re said, “No…no it’s nothing.”
Vomarian said, “Our options are bleak. Discovery is high and detection means a great risk of not finding this Araminth. If you have something.”
She shifted from one foot to the next. While not her biological family, My-re didn’t want 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 slaves, Mal’la and Na’loona, she lived with for years at risk. She grew up with them knowing them as her family. They fed, clothed, sheltered, and taught her the Rirorni language and customs. Most importantly, she taught her how to fight and survive. She would be putting them all in jeopardy. However, she didn’t see any other options and it was the best chances to go 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 she was still alive. At least for the moment.
“Okay, first we wait until nightfall.”
“Then what?”
“We set course here,” My-re said, pointed to an empty space on the map. “Sanaras.”
“What’s that?” Vomarian Fae asked.
“Home.”