Tales of Far From Home: Winds of Change
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Escape had always been on my mind.
Since day one of my arrival, I knew I had to escape as soon as I could.
The first month of my stay in this horrendous world was spent in a giantâs pet shop. Not that I knew that at first: my first 2 weeks were spent in the backroom with the shop clerks and shop stock. A need for quarantine, and vaccinations, and being âhandledâ to grow accustomed to the monsters around me. Not that I would ever become used to being held in a giantâs fist, let alone by ones who saw me as something to be kept and pampered over. Not that I wanted to get used to this world at all. Iâm still not sure why Iâm here. I learned the âhowâ after a while: a random act of magic snatching me off the street in Dublin, Ireland, only to wind up in a gigantic world. Filled with immense creatures who saw us as pests or vermin orâŠpets.
The shop clerks were used to âhandlingâ humans it seemed. Or, at least, one of them was. The other seemed all too eager and impatient with us. Yes. âUsâ. I wasnât the only one in that pet shop. A handful of us were kept near the storefront window to catch the sun and eyes of the passersby. Puppies and kittens and colorful budgerigars were kept in the main display, but âweâ were never too far away.
Knowing I wasnât alone in this predicament was comforting and sickening all at once. Matters werenât helped when I learned I was the only one interested in escape.
âAre you out of your mind?â a woman, Daisy, asked when I made the suggestion one day. They kept us separate enough: women on one side, men on the other. More âsocialâ and âfriendlyâ people were kept in groups while some were in their own cages. I was one of the latter. I would never give these giants the satisfaction if I could help it.
Daisy, it seemed, wasnât on the same page.
âWe canât stay here, this is insane! And dehumanizing!â I whispered, though none of the giants were nearby. I didnât know just how keen their hearing truly was and didnât want to risk it. âIâŠwe shouldnât stay trapped here!â
âWho says weâre trapped? Or for long?â Daisy tried to argue. âJust because you donât like it here doesnât mean we all do.â
âAnd you think IâM out of my mind?â I countered.
âDonât take it personal, kid.â a voice interjected from beside me. âShe was born into this. Sheâs never known any different.â
âWait, youâre from Earth? THE Earth? AMAZING!â Daisy interrupted with renewed vigor. âWhatâs it like?â
To say I was defeated was an understatement. I ignored both their inquiries at that point. If I was going to get out of there, it would have to be on my own.
Thatâs how she found me.
Slumped in a corner of âmyâ cage: pathetic, downtrodden, and dispirited. I must have looked quite the sight.
âIâll take him!â a voice stated, as an annoying tapping started. It was enough to catch my attention, not that I couldâve avoided it otherwise. âHe looks like he could use a friend!â
It didnât take long to start missing the pet shop.
Originally, I was glad to be away from all the eyes and sounds and gaping expressions that came with being an object in a retail store. Some peace and quiet for once, even if it meant I would be alone with her. There was plenty to fear from being in the presence of a singular giant monster that didnât have concerns about supervisor oversight or daily goals to achieve or a business score to keep up. I had no idea what her true intentions would be.
It would turn out her intentions were selfish and shallow. I was bought to heal her âbroken heartâ from a recent break-up. She thought buying a âcompanion petâ, a human, a PERSON, would help her feel less lonely.
I almost believed her.
Until it became painfully obvious why she was âlonelyâ.
âBYE MATE SEE YOU LATER!â sheâd call out as she left the apartment for the day.
In the pet shop, as humiliating as it was, at least the clerks were sure to check up on us. Made sure we were fed, we werenât feeling ill, had stuff to preoccupy ourselves, and other such things. Even when the shop was closed for the night, they made sure we -critter and person alike- had what we needed until morning.
This woman barely made the effort. My cage had the minimum requirements: a cushion bed, a shower and toilet, and a ball. The pet shop was nowhere near as sterile and empty a set-up as this âforever homeâ.
Not that she paid much attention after that first day. She made sure I was fed before she left for work or parties or whatever nonsense she did, but not much else. It seemed she saw me more as some goldfish to barely bother with then as an intelligent creature that needed interaction. Let alone consider me a person. To call her a negligent pet owner would be too kind.
The only thing that kept me sane, or entertained at least, was the fact my cage was set in front of a window. The closest thing to genuine kindness she would ever offer. Outside the window, beyond the rooftops and towers of the city, just past the train station, was the only thing that held my interest: an airfield.
I wasnât sure what kind of transportation I was expecting in this world. They were giants, who knew magic, and didnât seem to have anything like computers or television. Would everything be horse-drawn carriages and railroads? Surely airplanes or flying carpets wouldnât be littering the air as well?
And they werenât. But they did have airships.
Not aircraft likes blimps or dirigibles or zeppelins. No, these were very much the standard fantasy fair that comes to mind with a word like âairshipâ. Large balloons were attached by rigging and netting to galleons and cartels and cruise liners and yachts and many more. It was the last thing I expected to see, frankly.
It was a beautiful sight to see the ships landing and refilling their envelopes -the balloons- and taking off all day long.
It was heartbreaking as well.
The day I arrived in this world, the day I was taken away from all I knew and loved by thunder and magic and fate, was the day I was supposed to start my new job. I was fresh out of university, had landed the interview and aced it, ready to start my career at one of Irelandâs largest aeronautics firms. A life of analyzing and designing and building all sorts of aircrafts was within my reach.
But I was here instead. Stuck in a cage. As a pet. And in clear view of the closest thing I could possibly enjoy in this wretched place, but never touch.
Imagining how the airships were built, how the envelopes were filled so quickly, what they were filled with, where they were travelling: these questions, these daydreams, were what got me through each dreary, quiet day.
Escape was still on my mind. Donât ever doubt that. But resources were limited, and chances were few.
She barely checked in on me, after all.
She had a name. I had it memorized since the day she bought me from the shop and introduced herself as my ânew big buddyâ. But she didnât deserve to be named. Not when she couldnât be bothered to use mine. I knew she knew what my name was. I knew she had the paperwork with all my âessentialâ information on it. The pet shop clerks had been thorough about that: made sure my name was recorded and spelt correctly, noted my allergies (none, but still), and anything else a ânew ownerâ might need to know. It was the only thing that gained the smallest iota of respect I couldâve had for those clerks.
She hadnât mentioned my name once. Not even made up one in its place. Not even a nickname. She hardly acknowledged my existence.
That changed when Parvati showed up.
She had gotten back together with her ex-girlfriend about a week or two after I was âsettledâ in. The girlfriend took more of an interest in me, at least.
âOh! Hello there!â she greeted when she caught sight of me and my set-up. A gentle wave was offered when she saw me flinch at the greeting. Her voice was softer when she spoke afterwards. âIâm Parvati. Who might you be?â
I saw no reason at the time not to tell her.
âOstador. Ostador Fogg.â I replied.
Parvati would end up being my saving grace.
Even if it was also the start of an even more frustrating environment. See, there was a reason Parvati and her were an on-again-off-again couple. They would be fine for a few days, only for something to set off an argument that ignited into a full-blown row. Parvati would storm off, she would be surly for a few days in the apartment, only to have the pair make-up again. And again. And again.
I found myself the cause of some of these arguments, though not on purpose.
Parvati took to adding to âmyâ cage more than she did. I am loathe to say it was becoming cozy and livable with her additions. A couch, some artificial plants -from a doll house, I had to assume-, and a better water closet set-up made it more hospitable. Parvati even crocheted a life-sized rabbit she dubbed âBunny Friendâ. It wasnât the most expertly crafted creation, but I had a small appreciation for the sentiment and the effort. At least it meant someone was thinking of me in that damned flat.
It was these new additions and supplies that helped me start stockpiling for my escape. Bits and pieces from the new âtoysâ and furniture would help create a grapple and a crude bag. âBunny Friendâ was undoubtedly the best resource: he was made of yarn after all. Giant-made, giant-sized, giant-strength yarn. It was enough to hold me for whatever I decided next: whether it was escape from this cage or from this life.
She didnât like the attention Parvati was giving me. Less so the lectures Parvati would give on âproper human careâ. One of their biggest blow-ups came when Parvati came over one day with a few books. I watched as she struggled to shrink them down and set them inside my cage for me. It was a small gesture but one I would appreciate. She was careful not to get too close, and moved slowly. Parvati knew I still flinched at their loud noises and their large, sudden movements.
âThought you might like these.â she explained once the book stack was set down. I waited until she withdrew her hand and the door was latched before I made a move toward them. âI mean, I hope you do. I figured they might catch your fancy.â
âAre theseâŠbooks about airships?â I asked, looking them over. âAnd trains?
âIâve seen you looking out the window most of the time so I thoughtâŠif you donât like them, thatâs fine. I shouldâve asked first.â
âNo, itâsâŠthis is great. Thanks a million.â I said, my nose already in the first book.
That small word of gratitude was enough to set her off. Apparently, Iâd never said anything to her in all the time Iâd been there. It would be a few days before Parvati returned once again into her life. I had already read through 2 of the 3 books when she came back. Parvati didnât say anything, but I could tell she was glad I was enjoying them.
And oddly enoughâŠI was.
Learning how the technology, or lack thereof, and their magic worked together was fascinating. Their balloons werenât filled with helium or hydrogen or any sort of gas at all. They were all fire or heat based, much like a standard hot-air balloon would be. Odd and impractical, but that was the kindest description of this place, wasnât it?
I mention heat because, apparently, they used crystals to hold their spells. Why there was electricity in buildings and homes but no noticeable power sources in sight; why there were working ovens but no obvious gas line hook-ups. Most, if not all, of what I saw as modern-day conveniences in a fantasy setting were, at some level, crystal based. It made things complicated but not impossible.
Especially when I finally had the start of a plan.
She had taken me out, finally, after weeks of being stuck in the cage. I believed her intent was to get me some exercise or something. There were some items on the immense dining room table. The thought crossed my mind that maybe this was my end. Fairytales may not be real back home, but that didnât mean they werenât partially true here.
She naturally got distracted almost immediately by a telephone call. It took her several minutes to finish the call and realize I was still sat at the table.
For a moment, she looked shocked.
The truth was, I had contemplated making a dash for the tableâs edge. Jump to a chair or shimmy down a table leg or something. But the idea of being chased down was one I couldnât shake. So, a better one came to mind.
âYouâŠstayed in one spot?â she asked.
âIâŠIâm not one for looking downâŠâ I said, pretending to avoid the tableâs edge. âIf you know what I mean.â
I loved to rock climb. Indoor rock walls at the local gym or taking destination holidays to scale cliffs wasnât a new experience to me. It was one of the things I had in common with my former university roommate, Benson. A meter to this giant was nothing to me. But she didnât need to know that.
And it worked.
She was already pretty flighty, so it didnât take her long to take me out, set me down somewhere, and forget about me for a while. Even when Parvati came back into her life, I played the part. Parvati, to my detriment, made sure to check-in on me more often though. I wasnât sure if it was genuine concern or simple paranoia and distrust.
I bided my time and was rewarded within the month.
The chance came one morning when she was running late. She wasnât paying attention, as usual, and didnât see fit to shut the top of the cage properly before she left. It was enough.
I gave her time to come back and fix her mistake, just in case she returned. After one of the tensest half hours of my life, I felt it was safe. Climbing the bars wasnât difficult, and reinforcing the top so it didnât fall was simple enough. I was out of the cage and on a solid surface within moments.
Finally.
A rope was tied to one of the cage bars and thrown over the side. The piece of wood attached to the end insured it reached the ground quickly. The knots had been carefully spaced for maximum hand and foot hold usage. When she came home and saw I was gone, she was sure to start her search on the ground level. Perhaps checking every nook and cranny, looking under all of her furniture in the hopes of finding me. Safe and sound, or hurt, or whatever condition I might have been. She would expect to find me in her flat, no matter what.
I took great pleasure in knowing how disappointed she would be.
The real plan was to head outside. The window was left open, as usual, to air out the flat. There was generous room for me to duck under and out, without fear of getting stuck or needing to lift it higher. I wasnât sure what story the apartment was on, but it didnât matter. With a hop, skip, and a leap of faith onto the window sill, I was free.
Free.
Oh, to feel the wind again, to smell the air.
To climb a rocky surface again.
The bricks were large, and wide, and evenly spaced. Not quite like the rock climbing walls or cliff-faces Iâd scaled before, but I was still able to make my way up.
Yes, up.
Down wouldâve been the smarter and more obvious move. Sure. No worry about falling, would probably have been easier to find food eventually. And to be honest, I almost changed my mind. But I was determined to keep the high ground. To throw her off my trail as best I could for as long as possible.
Mostly, it was to keep the airfield in sight. I knew it was stupid. It didnât make sense. I knew that. But it was the only thing to keep me focused.
By the time I reached the rooftop, it was around noon. I set-up my âcampâ as quickly and as best I could. The roof was in disarray and almost abandoned. The only life came from a broken down, but still occupied pigeon coop. The door had fallen off long ago, but nests remained inside nonetheless. It didnât look like it had seen any giant life otherwise. The entrance into the building looked rusted over. Corners of the area were filled with scraps and detritus.
I spent most of that first day of freedom resting. The climb had been arduous. I was out of practice and out of shape because of it. That would eventually change. Climbing up and down to the flats below would become a daily excursion. At least until I was ready to find someplace new. And I knew exactly where I wanted to go.
Especially once I discovered the ship.
Scavenging through the rubbish piles that littered the roof was necessary and time-consuming. Whatever bits and parts I could use were welcomed. It seemed to mostly contain old toys and remnants of previous parties. A good deal of cloth for certain, if musty and worn in places. Nothing I couldnât handle and mend. My heart almost stopped when one pile shifted and revealed the most wonderful sight: a ship.
I wasnât sure how old it was. If the age wasnât affected by the weather or whatever caused it to be discarded. It was beautiful nonetheless. Â Even more so when I realized what all the bits and bobs still attached to it meant.
Once upon a time, it was an airship.
It took a while to find the envelope, the balloon, that belonged to it. Neither the ship nor the balloon were in the best shape. They needed work and repairs.
It lit a flame in my heart. I was going to build an airship. Or rebuild, to be technical.
The next few weeksâŠor months, I wasnât sure how long, exactlyâŠevery time I made a raid for food, I kept an eye out for airship repair supplies. Thread, nails, sewing needles, glue, whatever I could carry or gather and haul to the roof.
I made sure to avoid her flat in all that time.
I wasnât going to take the chance of her seeing me again, let alone to catch me. There was a temptation once, to see if she had even noticed I was gone. I sat on top of her window, trying to decide on my approach, only to hear the usual shouting match between her and Pavarti.
What did I think would happen? That my disappearance would change her?
Building the ship helped put me at ease. Tired me out more than the climbing did, but still. It was amazing to feel something again. To do something I wanted to do, without supervision, without fear of being scooped up and sold off to some negligent giant as more of a living figurine than as a sapient creature.
That wasnât true. I was still scared of being discovered.
Paranoia kept me on my toes. Originally, I had my camp set-up along the walls of the roof. Over time, and one windy afternoon that rattled the immense entrance door despite its rust, I relocated to one of the air vents. Far enough within to be out of sight or reach of a giant, close enough to still get around. The ship couldnât stay in its spot either. It took time, effort, and days of gathering the needed counterweights to move. Eventually, and luckily, the ship was moved to the top of the doorway. Out of sight, and out of reach, of any giant that might make their way to the roof one day.
It would be one of the wisest things I couldâve done.
The day finally came. That morning was perfect. The winds were low, there was hardly a cloud in the sky, and the temperature practically delightful. It was the perfect day to fly. All that was needed was to fill the envelope. Iâd plenty of candles and keeping them lit would be easy enough. It was just a matter of waiting. Which I was content to do. What was a few minutes more, when Iâd been at this for weeks already?
Thatâs when he dropped in. Or âpoppedâ in, rather.
I flinched at the sound, half expecting to hear the fateful thunder crash that brought me to this world in the first place. To feel the pull of motion and nausea as every part of me was forced elsewhere. I started breathing again when I realized I was still in the same spot.
And so was the giant.
He staggered to lean against something, anything, before he fell. He managed to catch himself before he bent over and retched.
Great. I was going to have to deal with a DRUNK giant.
Without a moment to waste, I started loading up the ship. I ducked down as best I could once everything was settled. The candles still needed time to do their work. The envelope was nowhere near full and had a way to go yet. I crouched, and prayed, and waited for the giant to move again.
And waited. And waited. AndâŠwaited.
I almost took it as just my paranoia acting up. That I had just imagined a giant popping in and out of thin air.
âUrrrgggghhhhâŠâ
Until I heard the groan.
âGods help me, how much more aâ this can I take?â he said aloud. I watched as his sandy blond hair bobbed across the roof and looked over the edge. âHells, where am I now?â
Please donât look up, please donât look up I pleaded to myself, watching as he âexploredâ the roof.
It didnât take him long at all to find the rooftop entrance. He gave the rusted lock and chain a firm shake.
âThatâs not good.â he muttered. âI wonder ifâŠMend.â
I knew that tone. Heard her use that same inflection in her voice whenever she cast a spell. Not that she knew or used many, at least as far as I could tell. I didnât like the idea of the door suddenly being accessible, but if I was lucky, I would be gone before someone else arrived.
âDamn. Maybe the ghan-bri way?â he continued.
Now that was a phrase I didnât know. Or understand. Maybe one day I would find out.
âBLOODY SODDINâ HELLS!â
But for now, I was more concerned with the problem at hand. It took a moment or two for the giant to stop swearing up a storm. Something about âspell locksâ and âdue diligenceâ littered in.
âLooks like Iâm waitinâ this one outâŠâ he said.
All right, fine. Sharing the roof with the strange, drunk giant wasnât ideal, but if I kept my head Iâd be out of there soon enough anyway. Perhaps if I found a way to distract him?
âWhat theâŠ?â I heard him ask. The sound of something being dragged across the roof and set down close by, too close, followed soon after.
Oh no.
âOh! A toy airship! Wonder if itâs a-?â
âSTAY BACK!â
There went keeping my head.
I found myself jumping off the boat and brandishing the closest thing to a weapon I had. The giant and I locked eyes. His hand stopped where it was, within a meter of the prow. He looked surprised to see me, but he wasnât scared. Not that I expected him to be, but it would have been nice.
Especially when all I had was a wooden splinter for a sword. Less so when my hands began to shake.
âDoâŠdonât you d-dareâŠâ I tried to threaten, words stumbling over each other.
âSorry, dinno it was yers.â the giant answered softly. I watched as he actually retracted his hand. It wasnât something I was expecting, really. I had lived with a selfish giant and been kept in a shop with handsy ones. There was half an expectation he would grab me, or the ship, or both, anyway.
It wasnât a surprise to see him still staring. A glance out of the corner of my eye confirmed the candles were still at their work. Painfully slow, but still doing their best. The envelope needed more time to fill up. It seemed I hadnât any left of my own.
There was no way this giant was going to leave now. Would I be able to escape? Or would I have to do something drastic?
The scraping sound brought me out of my thoughts. The giant had stepped down and returned whatever item he used as a stepping stool back to its place.
âI dinna mean tuh interrupt. Hope ye doona mind me waitinâ fer this Jumper stone tuh recharge. Shouldne be tuh long now.â he said, leaning against the rooftop door. Or so I assumed, it was hard to tell without looking over the edge. I wasnât about to risk being snatched that way. âNameâs Colm, by the way.â
âOstador.â I found myself saying. My arm dropped to my side, sword still shaking. âOstador Fogg.â
âNice tuh meet ye, Osta. Erm, I mean, Ostador. Sorry, been told I have a habit aâ makinâ nicknames. âLess ye like beinâ called âOstaâ?â
âFriends call me Osta.â I replied. There was a part of me that wanted to curse myself for the inflection. There was another part of me that was proud for including it.
ââŠGot ye, Ostador.â
A sigh of relief escaped my lips. The last thing I needed was a rampaging, raging, drunk giant to ruin what Iâd worked so hard on. I was so close -SO CLOSE- and didnât need to see it fall apart before Iâd had the chance to lift off.
âDoona sâpose ye know where we are, Ostador?â he asked a few moments later.
âIâm not sure. I know weâre betweenâŠI think itâs called Rosecrest andâŠand Acadia?â
âArcadia. Then weâre probably in Kirkfries.â he elaborated. âNo, we definitely are. Thatâs the Kirkfries Airfield right there. Anâ I think thatâs the new Royal Airship theyâre buildinâ. Probâly as a coronation gift.â
I had noticed the construction weeks before. A part of me scoffed at how long it was taking âMagical Giantsâ to build the thing, any thing, really. But I couldnât begrudge them, if she was any indication: not everyone knew every spell.
I suppose that was one of the reasons the airfield fascinated me. And why I was compelled to keep it in sight. And why it would be my first destination.
âIt all right if I âcome back upâ?â he asked after a while.
I hesitated. The smart thing wouldâve been to ignore him and hope for the best. The envelope was making progress, and I think I couldâve set-off. Or at least kept in the air long enough to settle on a different roof.
The smart thing wouldâve been not to engage any further.
âOh-okay.â
I swallowed hard as I listened to the scraping again. Watched with bated breath as his blond hair and hilariously large eyebrows and curious blue eyes came back into view. His movements were slow and deliberate, at least. It was a relieving bewilderment that he didnât move any closer.
âDo ye mind if I ask ye a few questions?â he eventually asked.
My stomach heaved as I nodded.
âDoes she look familiar? Did ye come âcrossâer tuhday or yesterday?â
He produced a photo and laid it down in front of me. I waited until his hand moved back before I glanced at it. It was a picture of him and a human woman. She was âpushingâ him out of the camera frame. Brown hair, fair skin, glasses, hefty. If I didnât know better, I almost would have said she looked happy. Surely it was part of an act. It had to be.
âNo.â I answered.
âFigured as much. If she were here, Iâm sure she wooda heard me swearinâ beferâŠâ he sighed as he took the photo back. There was a moment of awkward silence before he turned his attention to the ship. ââŠWhereâd ye find a âDuff MacDuffâ galley?â
âA what?â
âA âDuff MacDuffâ. The ship.â he said, nodding toward my pride and joy. âAt least, I think it is. Looks like the one Mum had inâer study. Herâs was named the the âL.F. Raibeart Brusâ. Canna really tell what yers is called fromâere.â
âIsâŠis it famous, or something?â I found myself asking.
âOh aye, probâly one aâ the most famous ships, in a way. I know most aâ the story but it should be ânuffâŠif ye wanna hear it, that is. I doona wanna take up yer day.â
I looked at the envelope. The candles were still steady and the balloon was still filling up. The ropes and ballast were in place. The ship didnât need to take off just yet.
I hoped.
âIâve got the time.â I said. âSo, whatâs the deal with this ship?â
ââCordinâ tuh mum, âbout a century ago, Duff MacDuff made these galleys as novelty airships usinâ a spell called âFloatâ. âCept Float isne what yeâd call aâŠstable spell, I guess is the right term. Itâs one aâ those spells a crystal canna hold, at least not fer long. Yer meant tuh control whateâer yer Floatinâ yerself, if that makes any sense. Needs concentration tuh use it properly. No crystal can do that on its own.â
âOh. I⊠I thought magic was easier than that hereâŠâ I admitted.
âTrust me, it isne. Take it from somebody who had tuh take Remedial Magical Theory in secondâry school.â the giant chuckled softly. âPractical tests were always manageable, but havinâ tuh âsplain how it all works? Not mâbest subject, really.â
âI was never great at art history myself. Sure, I could remember the names and dates butâŠno, I canât say I cared WHY a piece was made or the skill needed or anything like that.â
Why was this happening? Why couldnât I just keep my mouth shut? He didnât need to know this and I should be concentrating on getting out of there.
Did I miss meaningful conversation that much?
âSo, erm, these were famous for making an impossible spell possible?â I asked anyway.
âThatâs the worst part aâ the story. âParently, MacDuff made these as prototypes so he could gain a military contract while makinâ money on the side. Proof that he had what it took. But the day he was meetinâ with Fathachâs generals tuh iron out the details, the news broke: the Duff MacDuff galleys had lost their Float spells. Turns out howeâer he madeâem Float dinna last. Some think he did it on purpose so he could charge people tuh have Float cast onâem âgain.â
âYikes. Famous for being a scam. Would never have imagined it.â
âAye, that aâ course, butâŠmainly itâs rare tuh find a Duff MacDuff galley in one piece. âLeast, not ones that havne been restored or pieced tuhgether from other Duffs.â
âIsâŠis it the materials or the construction that bad?â I squeaked out involuntarily. I had done my own inspections and was satisfied with the ship weeks before. Now, doubt was creeping in.
âOh, no, these were well-crafted from the way mum told it.â he explained. âBut somethinâ that flies suddenly losinâ its âbility tuh stay in the airâŠâ
âCrashes. Lots of crashes, I take it? I can only imagine the public outcry.â
âThe injury lawsuits anâ refunds drove MacDuff outta business anâ intuh bankruptcy. Made some legal changes tuh: new regulations fer testinâ spells anâ certificates needed anâ the like. Dinna wanna repeat aâ that disaster, thatâs fer sure.â
âYeah, we had similar things happen with toys as choking hazards and flame-retardant stuffed animals. Not fun.â
There was the briefest moment of surprise that passed his eyes at the statement. It didnât take much to figure out why: the giants thought we were pets and pests for a reason after all. I could only assume they didnât believe we were capable of anything more, that we had a society and laws and cultures of our own.
Maybe that was another reason I was so eager to get the airship working. Just to show them what I, what humans, could do.
âSo, how long have ye been workinâ on this?â the giant asked. âI canna imagine it was easy.â
âIâve been at it for a few weeks, I think. And, yes, it was probably one of the hardest things Iâve ever done. ButâŠitâll be worth it once we get in the air.â
âDo ye have eâerythinâ ye need fer yer flight? Food, water, a JumpâŠoh. Do ye need a Jumper Stone?â
âA what?â
âA Jumper Stone. Itâs how Iâve been gettinâ âround. Most airships useâem in case uvâ emergencies. Tuh get people back on the ground.â
âOh, Iâve made a parachute. ItâŠshould work well enough. I think.â
ââŠWhatâs a âparachuteâ?â
I couldnât help it. I knew it was stupid to say or do anything to anger a giant. But still, I said it.
âWHAT DO YOU MEAN âWHATâS A PARACHUTEâ?!â I exclaimed, trying to comprehend what was just said. âDonât you have parachutes here?!â
âErmâŠâ
âTheyâre strong pieces of fabric and rope we use to slow our descent when we jump out of pla-! When we jump out of aircrafts.â
âYe use a SHEET anâ STRING tuh save yerselves from a crash?!â he asked, bewildered and aghast at the idea. âThatâs mental!â
âYou just said you rely on a ROCK! How is that any better?!â
âItâsâŠitâs a MAGIC rock!â
âOne you said needs to be recharged! How is that reliable in an emergency?!â
âOh, aye, âcuz a sheet full aâ holes woodne be worse?â
There was a moment I considered pushing the argument. But a glance at the ship was all I needed. The balloon was finally ready.
âTo each their own, I guess.â I said, choosing instead to board my ship.
ââŠBut itâll work, right? Yer bedsheet, I mean.â he asked softly and, I would dare to say, earnestly.
âAs well as your rock would.â I replied in kind.
âI wish I had mâcamera. I wooda liked tuh take a picture befer ye cast-off.â
My long-dead mobile phone still sat in a pocket. If only there were a way to charge it, to turn it on and preserve this moment, at least.
âI wish you did tooâŠâ
âIs there anythinâ yer missinâ? I might have somethinâ spare ye can useâŠâ
There was a temptation to ignore him now that I was ready.
âDonât suppose you have a moment to cast Float? Just in case?â I playfully asked.
âAnâ water down yer achievement? Neâer.â
âHeh! Well, I wouldnât say no to a candle if youâve got one. Otherwise, I think Iâm all set.â
The giant -Colm- took a moment to take off his backpack and search through it. Iâll be honest, I hadnât expected him to make a genuine effort.
Colm hesitated when he produced a pair of wax candles a moment later.
âIs it all right tuh get closer? Tuh loadâem on, so tuh speak?â
I gripped my splinter sword again, just in case.
âGo ahead.â
He was slow and deliberate once more. The candles were set, ever so gently, on the deck of the ship. I waited until his hands were back at his side. It didnât take much to store them below deck after that. I had prepared slots to store them, and the extra candles Iâd had, to keep them in place during the trip. It took effort to keep them, and the rest of my cargo, balanced. I could only hope my first voyage wouldnât be waylaid thanks to weight issues and loose items rolling around. By the time I stood on deck again, I was eager to set off.
Colm was still there, waiting patiently.
âWe-well, this was a good talk butâŠI think itâs time we parted ways.â I awkwardly said, with as much strength as I could muster. âItâŠit was nice to meet you, Colm.â
âAye, the same can be said âbout ye, Ostador.â
âOsta. YouâŠyou can call me Osta.â
âThank ye, Osta. May Iansa keep the winds at yer back anâ may Loki keep yer path clear.â
I nodded my thanks. I had no idea who those people were, but I still felt the need to show my gratitude for the thought.
I then set myself before the wheel. There were no rudders to move, what with it being an airship and no water to turn in, but I had installed other things to help change my course. Several ropes connected to various parts of the ship; their knots were tied firmly along the wheel. The ballast was next, untying the various pieces of junk kept together to prevent the ship from sailing off as the envelope was filling. The anchors, large pieces of metal Iâd recovered, were brought back onto the deck.
With that, the ship rose.
The balloon held steady as I started to float away. I turned back only once to see Colm waving me off, enthusiastic and sincere in his efforts. His once large form diminished the further I got and soon enough he, and her accursed apartment building, was out of sight.
An immense city to maneuver and explore was laid before me.
It all started out well enough. I kept myself high enough to avoid windows and the rooftops. Didnât need to find myself in giant clutches once again just because Iâd sailed too close to an inhabited building.
It was exhilarating. It was terrifying. It was all I wanted and more.
The sway of the ship as it sailed through the air. The creak of the ropes and the groan of the wheel as I set my course for the airfield. It would have been safer, and faster, to clear the city altogether. There was no need to navigate the town. I told myself that, at least for the first leg of the journey, keeping to the city meant more places to land if needed. Rooftops were closer for an emergency than the ground itself, of course.
I told myself it wasnât selfish to show off. I didnât believe it. Because it wasnât true. I did want to show off. To set an example of what humans could do: that our ingenuity and tenacity could take us further than they gave us credit for.
High hopes and aspirations, I knew.
I would have to settle for at least one successful trip at least.
âOI! LOOKIT THAT!â
The giants were having some kind of gathering on their roof. Setting up decorations forâŠthe coronation, I supposed. Lots of green and orange and white, that was for sure. A few turned to look but didnât think anything of me and my ship.
It was impulsive. I waved. It was only then that they looked amazed.
âHoly shit! Thereâs a human in there!â one shouted as I passed. âSomeone, get a picture! Quick!â
I didnât turn to pose, but kept on my way. I wasnât sure if they got the picture they wanted, but I could still hear their argument. It was nice to know some of these giants could be amazed by me.
The journey had been going well up until that point. It wasnât until I passed a classroom that the turbulence first kicked in. The wind shifted and was working against me just then. It took all my knowledge and strength to keep myself steady. I was more concerned with keeping the candle lit and the envelope full. There was a moment when one of the ropes came loose and my port-side retractable ballast pole swung out. The weight had me lurch off my path and I found myself getting closer to the school building than I wouldâve liked.
The classroom full of eager, fascinated, giant children made my blood freeze.
It didnât take much imagination to figure out what would happen if they got their grubby little hands on me, or, worse, on my ship. I wouldâve crashed through their window if I hadnât let the next set of ropes loose in time.
The sails unfurled and caught the wind.
There was a mix of awe and disappointment and surprise and joy in their young voices as the wind carried me upwards and away. The sails acted as wings, bearing me higher and higher above the cityâs rooftops.
When I reached a satisfactory height, I brought the sails and the poles they were attached to back in and against the ship. It wasnât a hard decision to make: sailing above the city was the better choice after all. Iâd had my fun.
The airfield wasnât particularly busy. Or at least, not as busy as I was expecting it to be. The only comparison that made sense would be, of course, an airport. There were plenty of airships docked, but not many seemed to be landing or taking off. Not sure how often these crafts were used or what their schedules were like. There were railroad tracks and a station within view, the trains noticeable by their smoke trails and resounding horns as they blared. Perhaps the giants worked on a staggered schedule for transportation: whatever they used for power needed to be recharged and maintained after all. They probably didnât want to breakdown in the middle of a routeâŠor in mid-air.
As I got closer, it was easier to distinguish the airship I had been watching for months.
The new, apparently royal, airship looked even more magnificent than Iâd imagined. It loomed over the other ships as it sat there. I could see workers on scaffolding, still working on it. Painters or varnishers or the like, I wasnât sure. Truth be told, I wasnât sure how regular ships were made, let alone airships in a giant world full of magic.
I decided taking a few passes around the ship would be enough to sate my curiosity. For the moment. Finding a place to land, perhaps, set up camp for the time being, felt like a good idea. Tweak and fix whatever needed to be done. Decide on another destination. If I had another destination. Scavenging would be a possibility. Would give me time to see how the inner workings of an airfield and their ships actually worked.
That was the plan. That shouldâve been the plan. Until the wind changed again.
There was something different about the shift this time. Harder, more violent, than before. It was all I had to keep myself on the deck itself. Everything was shaking too hard to do much. As I turned to release the wing sails again, in the hopes of steering myself out of the dangerous current, my stomach dropped.
The candle was out. The fire was gone.
Stepping away from the wheel wasnât possible, not without falling to my doom. But I thought I was still all right: the balloon shouldnât lose too much air right away.
Unless one of my patches came loose.
âOh noâŠâ I groaned as I watched the piece of stupid fabric flap in the wind.
The swears came steadily and rapidly after that. I managed to catch the attention of a few of the workers as I started my descent. Some of them tried to make a catch but the airship was always just out of their reach.
Then one of the ropes snapped.
A wing sail flew out, sending me closer to the airship. The turn was so sudden and so sharp, I thought every bone in my body would snap. Death was certain. Should have been certain. It was by the Grace of God or sheer dumb luck that the window was open. It was a miracle the airship even fit.
The landing was a disaster. At least, so I was told.
I woke up to voices in the dark. Everything hurt, but nothing seemed broken. No bleeding, at least not that I could tell. I was in one piece.
âSurprised tuh see one aâ these out anâ âbout.â
Oh no.
âHavenât seen one of these in public since I got mine a few years back.â another voice added.
âReally now? Auction or the like?â the first, and older, voice asked.
âEstate or Fire Sale. Slightly singed, but still.â
âHmm. A shame to see this one in such a state though. Seeâre-?â
âLEAVE IT ALONE!â
The scream was a surprise even to myself.
âDONâT YOU DARE TOUCH IT!â I continued to yell. In an instant I was on my feet, hands stretched out to find my way in the surrounding shadows.
A bright light stopped me in my tracks. When my vision adjusted, I was met with a giant pair of brown eyes.
âLe-leaveâŠleave my ship aloneâŠâ I threatened, fists raised. Sure, they were shaking. But still. Had to do something.
âThis is your ship then?â the eyes, the giant, asked. I couldnât tell if her tone was genuine or sarcastic. âAnd howâd you come across it?â
âItâŠit was in a pile of rubbish.â
âA Duff MacDuff, thrown âway? Prepostârous. Shameful, at that.â the older voice added. âAlmost as bad as one desecrated like this.â
I wasnât sure what made me snap: hearing the insult or the sound of something falling off my ship.
âDESECRATED?!â I yelled. âI made that pile of overrated kindling fly again! And without any of your stupid magic, even!â
âReally? You did this all on your own?â the eyes asked again, before I could yell again. âWhat tools did you use? Where were you? Where did you find the MacDuff, exactly?â
I was tempted to answer her questions. I really was. But another part thought she hadnât earned the answers. Not when I was still trapped.
âAs fascinatinâ as Iâm sure the tale might be, I need thisâŠmess outta mâoffice. Iâve meetinâs tuh attend anâ I doona wanna take more outta mâday fer this.â the other voice interrupted, clearly irritated. âDispose uvâem at yer discretion.â
âSir?â the eyes asked.
ââŠI doona like the idea uvâa human infestation on mâship befer she eâen gets intuh the air.â
âDonât let the High Lord, I mean, the King, hear you say that. He has a human of his own, you know.â
âDoona remind me. Iâm dreadinâ the walkthrough fer that âlone. Dismissed.â
âAye, Captain.â the eyes said, lifting the box -no, the rubbish bin- I was trapped under and setting it aside. There was a moment I almost made a run for it. Better an attempt to escape then have them believe I would yield so quickly. Yet, I had to: the thought of leaving my hard work behind was heartbreaking.
It didnât help her hand was closer than I expected. I flinched when it got too close.
âEasy there, big guy.â she said as she reached for me. I tensed up expecting to feel monstrously large fingers wrap themselves around me again. It came as a slight shock to see her offer a flat palm instead. Not that I took the offer. She ended up scooping me up anyway. âI got you.â
Sort of the problem, isnât it? I thought to myself. I didnât find myself able to talk until we were far from the captainâs office.
âPleaseâŠplease donâtâŠdonât kill meâŠâ I said, eyes fixated on the ship she held beneath her arm. It looked like it was barely keeping itself in one piece. âOrâŠor at leastâŠdonât throw out the ship. Please.â
The giant looked both ways before pushing against a door.
âIâm not going to throw away your ship.â she reaffirmed as she set it on a table in the room. âAnd Iâm not going to kill a human, let alone one who got a Duff MacDuff to fly again without magic.â
I was starting to think these giants didnât have a basic concept of science. Or, if they did, it was ignored.
âIâm going to grab something to eat. I know Iâm starved at least.â she said, before placing me in -what I assumed to be- an overhead compartment. The door to keep the contents safe was odd: it was more like reinforced chicken wire instead of a solid door.
I was in a cage. Again.
âIâll check for some spare supplies too, spruce up your new placeâŠwell, temporary place, at least. Iâm sure I can convince the captain this isnât necessary.â she stated, locking the door in place. The bars separated us now. âWorse comes to worst, youâll only be in there for a week at best. Maybe two. Then you can head home with me, yeah?â
I couldnât bring myself to say the cutting remark I had in mind. My heart sank with the rest of me, as I picked a far corner to sit in.
I was going to have to start all over again, wasnât I?
âI wonât be too long. Iâll see you in a bit.â
The cabin door closed behind her. Only to open again seconds later.
âAnkou take me, I canât believe I forgot to introduce myself properly.â She said as she made her way to âmy placeâ again. âIâm Talia McCallen, currently the head shipwright and interior designer for the L. F. TaistealaĂ. Who might you be?â
ââŠOstador.â I eventually answered.
âNice to meet you, Ostador. You can call me Tali if you like. Whatâs your favorite color?â
âWhat?â
âYour favorite color. So, I can make your stuff more personalized.â
There was a moment where I almost insulted her instead.
âSeaweed green.â
It was nice to finally hear someone ask.
âNice! Weâve plenty of blue but green shouldnât be too hard to create. Back in a bit, for real this time!â
I found myself still hating my circumstances again. JustâŠnot hating it as much as I did before. It was still humiliating and unnerving and demoralizing, but at least Talia was making an effort.
It was still a terrible situation. But small efforts made it easier. Especially when it came to the ship.
âOi, Ostador, can you do me a favor?â Talia asked on the second day. I wasnât in a speaking mood, hadnât been since I crashed and was caught again. But I turned towards her and acknowledged her existence, at least.
âI just need you to touch this stone for me.â she said as she brought the stone closer. It was triangular and fir easily on the palm of her hand.
I hesitated. Just because it looked like a stone didnât mean thatâs what it truly was. Iâd seen magic stored in similar stones, after all.
âItâs for the ship. I can explain after you touch it.â
I gulped hard. And touched the stone, expecting the worst. I felt her pull the stone away after a moment.
âThanks, Ostador. Here, take a look!â she said.
I watched from the cage-luggage rack as she stepped over to where the ship, my ship, still sat. Talia placed the stone down, followed by three others. She set each one at a corner so it surrounded the vessel. There was a brief flash of shimmer after she tapped the closest stone.
âReady?â she asked, looking towards me for confirmation.
I nodded, worried more about her plans for my ship. I hadnât laid a hand on it since the crash butâŠneither had Talia. Until now. When she passed a hand over the stone barrier, the shimmer appeared, but allowed her to pass. So far, soâŠodd. A light show, nothing more.
Until she picked up one of her books. Talia gave it a shake, to catch my attention apparently, before she threw it at the ship.
âNO!â I screamed.
I thought the ship was done for. That the book would ruin all my hard work even further. ExceptâŠthe book bounced harmlessly against the shimmer.
âWhaâŠ?â
âThe only people who can touch this ship, to move these stones, are meâŠand now, you.â Talia explained as she replaced the book on a shelf. âWhenever youâre feeling ready to work on it again, that is.â
The thought of working on my ship with anyone else, let alone a giant, feltâŠconflicting. It would mean having her mammoth mitts on all my efforts and tinkering where they shouldnâtâŠbut it also meant the chance of flying again.
âThaâŠthanksâŠâ I replied.
Hopefully, that would be enough for Talia. For now.
I had played the waiting game before, after all. Talia and, I suppose, my stay on the royal airship wouldnât last much longer. Once the high lord, the king, whoever, performed the christening ceremony and made his inspection, weâd be moving back to her own flat.
Moving day would be dreadful but necessary.
At least that time around, I knew thereâd be more consideration. Talia had kept to her word and made my imprisonment more bearable. It almost seemed like a proper place to live this time: a better bed, an armchair, and a bookshelf full of copies of her own collection. All in a seaweed green color scheme, as asked. Watching her magically split new books one by one, only to shrink them down was, frankly, mesmerizing. And appreciated, to be honest. Talia had done more for me in 24 hours than she had done in weeks. A step above the pet shop, even.
I had to remind myself not to get comfortable.
âDo you want the wireless on?â Talia asked a few days later. It was still early in the day and I was barely awake. âOr do you think youâre up to listening with the rest of the lads?â
Guzzling an entire pot of coffee would never have the same effect the thought of being surrounded by a whole group of giants did to jolt me awake.
Talia didnât need an answer.
âNever you mind, I can tell. Iâll keep it going for you. Itâs Coronation Day and the first king of Fathachâs going to broadcast his speech later on. No reason to miss out on history, yeah?â
âYeahâŠhistoryâŠâ I replied.
âNeed anything else before I head off?â
A way out of this cage. A way out of this world. A way home.
âNo, thank you.â I said instead.
I tried to read and formulate plans while Talia was gone. The wireless was welcome company, even if the only chatter between songs and programs were concerned with the royal coronation. It was unusual yet comforting to hear familiar opinions on royals. There were no punches pulled about the apparently sudden shift to a monarchy. Opinions about the ruling family were varied, but seemed in favor of them. The idea of Ireland attempting to crown a king or queen after years of democratic elections made me laugh. There would be riots for days, if not a full-blown revolution.
It made me miss home all the more.
I didnât pay the wireless much mind otherwise. Decent background noise as I contemplated the best ways to improve the ship. Thought I recognized a few of the voices that spoke but to be honest the giantsâ accents all seemed to blur together after some time.
The king started his speech soon enough, and all sounded like your typical politicianâs prattle. Something about unity and expectations, but no definite change in policies.
âEâeryone in Fathach has a right tuh live their lives tuh the fullest. Tuh the best aâ their âbility.â the king rambled on.
âYeah, right.â I replied absently, still concentrated on my book.
âThey should have the same opportunities tuh succeedâŠno matter their race. No matter their creed. No matter their magical skill. No matter their station. No matter their religion.â the king continued.
âAnd no matter their size?â I interjected sarcastically.
âAnââŠno matter their size.â the king confirmed.
The gasps were barely audible over the wireless, but my own was loud and clear. The king finished up his broadcast and the regular radio hosts quickly began their own commentary afterwards.
The pounding footsteps were ignored until the door swung open, jolting me out of my thoughts.
âDid you hear?! Did you hear what he SAID?!â Talia asked once she was inside. âDo you know what this means?â
âIâŠI donâtâŠI donât know?â I asked, more out of shock than anything else. My thoughts were all over the place at the moment.
âME NEITHER! Isnât that great?â
The coronation and the now infamous speech were the talk of the ship up until the christening ceremony. I was supposed to spend the day packing while the captain and his crew attended to the king during his visit. Not that Iâd had much else to do anyway.
âThis might be our last day here, unless the king wants anything changed.â Talia explained as she got dress ready. She didnât have a lot in the cabin in the first place. The rooms had been temporary lodgings for the crews as they worked on the grand ship. âOtherwise, weâll be good to head home to Edinberry.â
âRight.â I replied, packing what few things I had.
âThis commission should keep us going for a while. Plenty of time to fix up your ship and send you on your way.â
ââŠWhat?â
âWasnât exactly hard to figure out you donât like it here. Not going to keep you longer than is necessary, big guy.â
There was almost a moment where I wanted to believe her. Especially after the kingâs speech. I didnât want to have too much hope.
ââŠRight.â I eventually replied.
I would still keep my plans close to my chest. Just in case.
âBack in a bit. Gonna make sure to sneak us some of the good food. Thereâs supposed to be a massive seven-layer apple cake, from what I hear.â
Once she left, I settled myself back on the couch. Reading no longer had an appeal. The king of the country was on that very ship. The same king that allowed humans to be treated like critters to be kept or cast out. The same king who wanted to change that.
The same king that deserved a few choice words from me. From any Human, really. But Iâd want to be at the front of the line.
I didnât realize Iâd dozed off until the door slammed open.
âOstador! Get dressed!â Talia exclaimed as she entered the room. Her attention was on my ship as I shot up off the couch. âThe king wants to meet you!â
âHeâŠwhat?â I asked, still in a daze.
âWe were talking -the king, the captain, and me- and your crash landing came up and the king wanted to see you but the captain said you were gone days ago but I said you were still here and the captain is pretty mad but now that the king knows youâre still here he wants to talk to you personally!â she explained, carefully removing the stone protection barrier from around my airship. She mumbled some kind of spell under her breath. No pieces seemed to fall off or shift as she lifted it off the table. âCaptain wasnât eager to have the celebration interrupted but when the king says he wants to meet someone and their Duff MacDuff, you donât say no, you know?â
âRightâŠâ I replied.
Holy shit. This was it. I was going to meet the king. Meet him, and give him the earful of a lifetime.
ââŠIs that what youâre wearing?â Talia asked after a moment.
âWhat do you expect me to wear? Coattails and a top hat?â
âThere has to be something slightly better in your wardrobe, Iâm sure?â
âOh yes, let me just check my massive walk-in closet for my âMeeting Royalsâ regalia, Iâm sure my butler has it pressed and ready to wear.â
ââŠAll right. I think I can grab a spare ship uniform. Or the slacks and a shirt at least. Whatâs your size?â
â46 trousers, large shirt?â
Talia was gone and back before I knew it. As soon as I was changed, we were off. About half way through our walk, the nerves started to set in. We were about to meet royalty. Even Talia was getting nervous, as she kept prattling on about not being nervous.
Needless to say, it didnât help either of us.
A pair of guards, or so I assumed by their uniforms, stood outside an ornate door. One opened it as the other entered behind us. The room was stately but not as large as I figured it would be. Not kilometers long, at least. A table and chairs were provided, set with drinks, hors dâoeuvres, and canapes. Talia was careful to set me down beside the plate before placing the ship close by.
There was a temptation to run toward the ship, toward my Duff MacDuff, and never leave it again. But the hors dâoeuvres plate called to me.
âDo you need me to Diminish any orâŠ?â Talia softly asked.
âNo, Iâm good.â I replied, breaking off a piece of cracker and scooping it into the pĂątĂ© that sat on it. It wasnât the best Iâd ever had but it was still pretty good. I hoped it was enough to settle my stomach.
Especially when I noticed we werenât alone in the opulent room. In each corner was another guard, all standing stoically and waiting patiently. Made sense, I suppose. Youâd want to make sure the room is secure and safe before royalty arrived for an impromptu meeting.
The wait felt like an eternity. Talia and I found ourselves pacing the room -or in my case, the table- soon enough. Maybe the king had changed his mind. Maybe this was the set-up for an elaborate prank. Maybe we were about to die forâŠreasons I couldnât think of at that moment.
Maybe I was waiting for disappointment whatever the case might be.
Talia and I froze in our tracks when the door creaked open.
âGood afternoon.â the man stated as he entered. He was quick to make his way to the table and knelt down before me. I had to admit, seeing his large crisscrossed scar up close made me step back. It wasnât until he leaned his arm on the table that I saw them.
The first pair of humans Iâd seen since the pet shop.
âCaptain Michael MacKenzie, Arcadia Guard.â one of them said, reaching out their hand in greeting. âThis is my Second Lieutenant, Phelan Fleming. Tall, dark, and brooding behind us is General Dorian Stryfe. Who might you be?â
âOstador. Ostador Fogg.â I answered absentmindedly, shaking Phelanâs hand when it was offered. His eyes were light compared to his dark skin, and I found myself lost in them.
âNice to meet you, Mr. Fogg.â he stated, his voice smooth and kind. He smiled with perfect teeth gleaming. âOr might I call you Ostador?â
âOsta is good tooâŠâ
âYour ship is very interesting. You did all the work yourself?â
âYeah, of course. I mean, I didnât erm, build the actual ship, but the restâŠthe rest is me.â
ââŠIâm afraid Iâll need my hand back if weâre to inspect your ship, Osta.â
âYeah, of â what? No! Oi, no!â I said, finally snapping out of my daze. I turned to see the other one, Captain Mac-something, reaching for the ladder. I smacked his hand away before he could start climbing. âNo one is âinspectingâ this ship if I can help it!â
There was a moment as Phelan and the other one considered each other.
âHow do you want to play this one, General?â MacGregor, or whatever, eventually asked.
âOh, what, plan on arresting me for manhandling an âofficerâ?â I interrupted before the giant general could respond. âHumans suddenly rise to that level on the social ladder, have we?â
âNot yet, but Iâm sure ye will someday.â
The interjection came from a new, but familiar, voice. He was dressed well enough, his dirty blond hair tied back and almost out of his eyes that time. It still took me longer to recognize him than I probably should have.
âWaitâŠRoof Guy? CallumâŠColin?â
ââRoof Guyâ?â the general asked with a raised brow.
âColm. Close though.â he said, taking a seat. He produced a box, and moved its pieces around until a table and chairs were made. âPlease, have a seat, Ostador.â
I begrudgingly left the ship, still glaring at McKillroy as a warning. Phelan at least seemed content to look with his eyes and not with his hands.
âIâm glad tuh see ye made it in one piece.â Colm said, as I took a seat. An engineering part of me wanted to inspect the table and chair to see how it worked, but I ignored it. For that moment. âMore or less.â
âYeah, it was going well untilâŠwell, it didnâtâŠâ I explained.
âWas it somethinâ I coulda helped with when we met?â he asked. His face actually fell at the thought.
âNo, no it wasnât anything you couldâve helped. The wind justâŠI miscalculated or got stuck in a slipstream. Unless you can control the wind.â
There was a split second when the worst thought crossed my mind.
ââŠCan you control the wind?â
âHeh. If I could, Iâdâve been able tuh âvoid a few notable kilt incidents, lemme tell ye.â he chuckled. His tone returned to normal with a look and a cough from the giant general. ââŠBut perhaps thoseâre stories fer ânother day. Iâm actually here tuh ask ye a question.â
âAnd what might that be?â
âHow would ye like tuh make more airships?â
I waited for the punchline. Waited for this moment to fall apart. Waited for the overbearing giant laughter at the âhuman aviatorâ to echo in the room.
ââŠAre you serious?â I asked. I made my voice as steady and unfeeling as I could make it. I wasnât about to fall for whatever they had in mind. My eyes kept to his face, waiting for any sign he was about to break.
âAâ course.â he simply replied.
If he was lying, he was doing a good job of it.
âAnd why would you want me to make you more airships? Want to recreate Duffâs disaster for a new generation?â
âErm, Ostador, maybe-?â Talia tried to interrupt, but I wouldnât let her.
âOr perhaps youâd like to see more humans in the sky as a novelty? âOh look, how cute! Humans think they can fly! How silly, how idiotic, how droll.ââ
Colmâs face didnât change after my rant. He had a better poker face than I expected.
âI was thinkinâ more like an alternate mode aâ transportation fer humans tuh get âround the cities anâ eâen the country. Not sure âbout crossinâ the oceans but I doona have tuh know âhowâ fer that anyway.â
âYou still havenât answered why.â
âDoona sâpose ye heard the kingâs speech the other day?â
âYes.â
âAnâ know what it meant?â
ââŠYes.â
âChange is cominâ anâ Iâd like tuh make it happen sooner rather than later, if I can. Anâ that means findinâ the right people fer the right jobs. People like ye.â
âAnd what makes you think Iâm the right person?â
âOsta, ye took a pile aâ scrap anâ a broken toy ship, spent weeks buildinâ it intuh somethinâ new when ye coulda spent that time fortifyinâ a new home, anâ ye flew. Without magic.â
ââŠItâs not exactly difficult if you know-!â
âThatâs mâpoint! Ye do know! Ye do know anâ yer clearly passionate âbout this sort aâ thing. If yer not right fer this, no one is.â
There was a moment I wanted to believe him. He seemed very passionate about this himself. Like he wasnât lying.
âWhat sort of compensation should I expect for doing all this?â I asked eventually. âI assume you didnât think Iâd do any of this for free?â
âAâ course not. Is there anythinâ specific ye had in mind?â
âMoney. A salary. Standard for any job, really.â
âStill workinâ out the kinks uvâa compârable future economy.â he replied, finally starting to look uncomfortable. âBut it would come in due time.â
âA comparable economy? That mean your lot are working on more than just freeing humans?â
âAye. Slowly, aâ course. Doona wanna make it hard fer humans tuh build a life without some kinda foundation.â
âEqual rights?â
âWorkinâ on it.â
âAreas to travel, to live safely?â
âWorkinâ on it.â
âNo more humans coming over through magic?â
âThat is somethinâ the worldâs best thaumaturgists have been workinâ on fer centuries, Iâm afraid.â
I gave myself a moment to consider his words. To decide if his words had any weight to them. I needed more.
âSo, youâre expecting me to justâŠwhat? Hop on board with working for giants, for free, for God knows how long?â I asked with an exasperated sigh.
âItâs why weâre askinâ as a voluntary position. We know it will be tough goinâ fer a while yet.â
âWhat happens if I refuse? Youâll snatch me up and press-gang me into service anyway?â
âNo. We back off, respect yer decision. Maybe we wait tuh ask ye âgain when plans are more finalized. If we can find ye âgain. If yer still interested. Anâ if yer still not, wellâŠI sâpose we start the search fer someone else.â
It was all sounding too good to be true. Too easy. Too much likeâŠnaivety. ButâŠmaybeâŠ
ââŠI want to hear this from him. I want to hear the king himself say he wants to change how things are. That humans donât deserve to be pets or pests anymore. Then Iâll give you an answer about thisâŠposition.â
There was a moment of awkward silence as Colm stared, his ridiculous eyebrows raised in surprise. A groan was heard from the giant general when he turned to look at him.
âColm, please just-!â the giant general began.
âNo, no. He has a point. Letâs get the king in here.â Colm interrupted, with a broad smile. âWeâll be right back with the king, Osta.â
The pair exited the room without another word.
âOstador, that was-!â Talia tried to explain, once the door closed behind them. She was interrupted when the giant general reentered the room.
âMay I present his royal majesty, Colm Matthew Alexander Brian Arcadi, Magistrate of Arcadia, High Lord of all Fathach, High Commander of her forces, Defender of her peoples, first king of Fathach, by the grace of the Gods, long may he reign.â he introduced, clearly exasperated and on the verge of snapping.
Colm entered the room, retook his seat, and locked eyes with me once more.
âHullo!â he said, smile broad and eyes bright. âI am doinâ mâbest tuh change how things are. That humans doona deserve tuh be pets or pests anymore, anâ I hope ye can help me pave the way for a better, brighter future fer all.â
A pin couldâve dropped like a ton of bricks in that moment.
ââŠYouâre taking the piss.â I finally said.
âIf this is how your reign is going to be, I may just retire early.â the general sighed.
âThis whole time? Youâve been the king THIS WHOLE TIME?!â
âNo, just fer the last few days. âHigh Lordâ befer that.â he, Colm, -the KING- explained. âI thought ye knew. Thatâs what I get fer not doinâ proper introductions right off the bat.â
âMy apologies, MâLord, I shouldâve mentioned it before you got hereâŠâ Talia stated.
âItâs all right. SoâŠwhat do ye think?â
âIf I agree to thisâŠwhat exactly do you expect me toâŠwell, do?â
âDesign, build, add yer input tuh makinâ human-sized anâ operated airships. Yeâll probâly start by makinâ one fer our human guard in Arcadia.â Colm clarified. âYer livinâ quarters anâ workshop would be there as well.â
I admit, the idea of my own workshop piqued my interest. My own place to build and design and work. To come up with my own escape plans if this whole thing went pear-shaped. I took a moment to glance at Talia. She had been quiet for most of the conversation, but I could feel her fidget with each question I asked. I couldnât tell if they were good signs or not.
ââŠAre there anyâŠproblems weâd have tuh resolve befer ye give an answer?â Colm calmly asked, now looking at Talia as well.
âWhat do you mean byâŠoh! Oh, no, mâlord!â Talia began, her nerves shot again. âOstador has been, erm, under my care but Iâm notâŠthereâs nothing legally keeping him here. He not registered under my name or anything.â
Registered. I was registered. If this really was a ticket out of that, I should I take it, shouldnât I?
âThereâŠthere is something like that. WouldâŠwill you take me back?â
âDo ye wanna go back?â
âNO.â
I surprised myself with how loud and forcefully Iâd answered.
âN-no. No, I donât want to go back. Never, if I can help it.â I stated.
âThen ye woona go back. Eâer. Weâll see tuh it.â Colm confirmed. âI promise.â
I almost believed him.
âIf ye need more time tuh consider it, itâs fine.â Colm said after a moment. âI just wanted tuh make the offer while we were both in the same place.â
âThe ship comes with me. No matter what, that ship stays with me even if it means claiming a finger or two! Yes, even if you ARE the king.â
âHeh. I woodne expect any less.â
There I was, sitting and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Iâd be getting a workshop to build my own ship -my own ships- without having to worry about going back to her again.
And Iâd get to know this Phelan better. It was the opportunity of a lifetime. I should take it.
Shouldnât I?
âFine, letâs give it a shot.â
âGlad tuh hear it. We can discuss this further if need be ânother time. I still have this tour tuh finish anâ all.â Colm replied as he rose from his seat. âWeâll see each other soon. Stryfe will take care aâ the rest fer now. Good day, Osta.â
Colm, the king, was gone before I knew it.
âIf youâre ready to go, we can leave now. Iâm sure youâll want to get settled in while you can.â the general, Stryfe, said.
âWait!â Talia quickly interjected.
Oh no. I shouldâve known. She wouldnât have tried anything in front of the king.
As I raised my hands up in defense, it came as a slight shock to find Phelanâs hand on my shoulder and MacKenzie in front, acting as a shield.
âDonât you want your stuff? Your clothes, the books?â she added, either ignoring the gesture or oblivious to it.
âOh. Oh, yes, IâŠI guess I doâŠâ I stammered.
âThen Iâll be right back!â Talia said, before running out of the room.
I took the time to examine the ship. It had been too long since Iâd seen her up close. It wasnât a complete disaster but a lot of patches and fixes Iâd originally made were damaged. A lot of it had been difficult to fix in the first place. At least the second time around, Iâd have access to the right parts and tools.
âSo, how did you come across this ship, anyway?â Phelan asked, as he sidled up next to me.
âOh, um, it wasâŠahâŠgarbage. It was in a pile of garbage.â I answered, trying to get the words out.
âYou were lucky to find something like this in such great shape. I canât wait to work on it with you.â
âHahaha ha haâŠye-yeah, me tooâŠâ
Talia returned quickly enough, clothes and books and other knick-knacks that were part of my entrapment. She helped load them onto the ship while MacKenzie, Phelan, and I stashed them below deck.
âOh, and one last thingâŠâ Talia said, handing me what looked like an oversized poster board or novelty cheque.
âIs thisâŠyour business card?â I asked once I looked it over properly.
âHey, you never know if you might need some advice, or opinions, or to justâŠyou know, chat. Backup, maybe, if you need it.â
âThank you. Really. IâŠIâll be sure to keep it safe.â
âThatâs all I ask.â
We braced ourselves as Stryfe carefully lifted the ship. I waved Talia one last farewell before we, inexplicably, were teleported off and away from the royal ship. There was actual joy in seeing her return the gesture.
My time with the Arcadian Human Guard wasâŠwell, not what I expected.
While it was true Iâd have my own living quarters, they were still shared with the rest of the human guards. Flashbacks to Benson, the pet shop, and even her place kept coming to mind. The others were patient with me at least. Most of them knew what I had been through. I was sure to meet more in the future. Hopefully not too many more, if the king was honest about his intentions.
Working alongside Phelan was a delight.
Our workshops were close together. It turned out Phelan had his own projects outside of âworkingâ with the human and giant guards. All of them involving magic and how to apply them for human use.
âIâve been experimenting with different crystal shapes and formations.â He explained once. âMy theory is a crystalâs shape, density, and structure can affect how well a spell keeps hold inside it. I was hoping youâd let me test out an alternate power source for your ship.â
âHow do you mean?â I asked, looking over his own bookcase. It was full of magical-sounding texts and theories, as well as geology and crystal encyclopedias as well.
âInstead of candles to provide the necessary elevation, we might be able to use specialized Heat crystals instead. Similar to how the Tergaian airships stay aloft. Wouldnât have to worry about the fire going out, at least.â
Phelan was helpful. And smart. And curious. And cute.
âY-yeah, I donât see why not.â I replied.
âOstador? Itâs almost time for your appointment.â
I gulped hard as Stryfe started dialing a nearby phone.
âYou can still back out if you want.â he mentioned as he was put on hold. âYou donât need to go if youâd rather stay here.â
âNo, no, itâs fine.â I said, setting aside my work apron and tools. âIâdâŠIâd rather face this head on.â
âAll right, understood. Phelan will be going with you, just in case. The second you want to leave-!â
âIâll be right there to Jump us out.â Phelan said, putting on his uniform coat. âOf course, General.â
âTheyâre ready if you are.â Stryfe said into the phone receiver, his hand raised in anticipation. He gestured to us soon enough. âTheyâre on their way.â
With a simple squeeze from a magic-imbued stone chip, we were out of the Arcadian Guard Station. It took a moment for the world to settle down. I didnât think I would ever get used to Jumper Stones. Or teleportation in general. Being on solid ground, even if it was just an enormous desk, helped.
âGood afternoon, Mr. Fogg.â the giant warmly greeted. âItâs good to see you again.â
âYou too, Mr. Manchester.â
Wallace Manchester was part of the Arcadian City Hall and was in charge of its license and permit regulatory commission. If you needed a permit to host a parade or needed to know how legal it was to build on your land. He was the man to see. He was also in charge of pet licenses and registrations. Including human licenses. Including mine.
âIf youâre uncomfortable, you donât need to participate. Iâll speak for you and state your case. If anything has changed, now is the time to tell me.â
âNo, nothingâs changed. I justâŠI just want this officially settled.â I replied after a moment.
âThen if youâre ready?â he asked, his finger on his intercom. Wallace pressed it once I gave my nod. âAll right, Chelsea. Send them in.â
I thought I was strong. I thought I was confident. I thought I was certain of myself. My stomach still turned when the door opened.
When she entered.
Parvati was with her as well. Both seemed somber enough. At least, until she caught sight of me.
âOh! You found him!â she exclaimed. âWeâve been so worried about him!â
I took a step back as she tried to reach for me. Phelan was quick to get between me and her. Wallace made sure she didnât take another step.
âMiss, please take a seat.â he told her sternly. He returned to his seat as she and Parvati took theirs. âYou were contacted about your missing human complaint.â
âYes, of course, and you found him. I thought this was justâŠI dunno, a formality. Thought Iâd be reclaiming him at the Kirkfries City Hall, to be honest.â
âIt is a formality, but not in the way you think.â
âIf this is about a fine, Iâll be happy to pay it to have him back. Heâs been gone for so long and Iâve missed him SO much!â
âYeah, rightâŠâ I muttered under my breath.
âThere is no fine that needs to be paid, Miss. The fact of the matter is, you have no legal say here.â
âWhat are you talking about? Heâs my human!â
âAccording to the record, no, he isnât. While he was rightfully registered by the Petville pet shop, and ownership was temporarily transferred to you, you never officially registered him under your name.â
âAre you serious?!â Parvati hissed in irritation. It wasnât the first time she had forgotten something important.
âAnd because you never registered him or renewed the license, the temporary one expired. He wouldnât be considered âyoursâ even a little bit. Your missing human complaint was filed long after the permits expired and long after youâŠânoticedâ him missing.â
âButâŠbut heâs mine! I paid for him, cared for him! He must miss me as much as much as I miss him!â
âWhatâs my name?!â I finally blurted out, barely able to hold back my anger.
âWhat?â she replied, a bit shocked to hear me speak up. It was a delight to see her flinch.
âWhatâs. My. Name.â
âItâsâŠI mean, I never gave-!â
âWhatâs my favorite color? My favorite snack? My favorite anything?â
I took more pleasure in watching her fumble for an answer than I probably should have. I continued when she couldnât bother to reply.
âHow can you claim to care so much about me when you donât even know my damn name?â
âWhich says a lot about your level of human care and welfare.â Wallace interrupted before she could speak again. âIt is my conclusion, given the clear evidence of neglect and irresponsibility, that you have no legal claim to Ostador. It is also decided that you will be banned from procuring a human license for a minimum of five years.â
âWhat?! You canât-! This isnât fair! Itâs not right!â she exclaimed.
âYou have the opportunity to appeal this decision in court or on the next Grievance Day, but I can assure you now that you will have no leg to stand on. Please have a good afternoon.â
Parvati had to drag her out of the room as she swore up a storm, promising all sorts of legal disputes and a few threats thrown in for flavor. I didnât spare her a second look when she finally said my name.
âWhatâŠwhat wouldâve happened ifâŠif she didâŠâ I tried to ask after everything had calmed down.
âWeâd still find some way to keep you here and away from her.â Wallace stated as he put the paperwork away. âYour reluctance did factor into how I decided on things and which loopholes to look for.â
âAnd if there were no loopholes to manipulate? Or a human actually wanted to go back withâŠwith theirâŠâ
Wallace let the question hang. Or ignored it. I couldnât tell.
âHopefully such things will no longer be necessary, if weâre lucky.â he stated instead.
Phelan and I chose to return to the guard station and our workshops shortly thereafter. We were quiet for the rest of the afternoon, but I was getting nowhere with my work. My hands kept shaking and I wasnât sure why.
ââŠDo you want to talk about it?â Phelan eventually asked.
âYES.â I blurted out, dropping a compass in the process. The blueprints would need to be reworked again anyway. ââŠYes, Iâd like to talk about it.â
Phelan had a kettle on and poured us tea. It was oddly comforting to see the hot plate or, rather, the crystal, glow and hum as it heated -Heated- the kettle.
âI donâtâŠI thought Iâd be all right after that. But even now, Iâm still justâŠwaiting for something to go wrong. That IâllâŠthat Iâll be back with her again.â
âYou feel like youâre going to lose everything youâve worked for any minute now.â Phelan added.
âYeah, exactly. I mean, back home there were tough times and I wonât pretend it was easy, but the stakes feel so muchâŠbigger, here.â
âThey are. I donâtâŠI donât know what Earth is like, and I donât suppose I ever will butâŠI want to do what I can to make here better, even if only a little bit at a time.â
ââŠWhat was it like, growing up here?â
Phelan took a moment to steady himself and drain his cup before he continued.
âI donâtâŠI donât have the same frame of reference as you do so Iâm notâŠI know it was a different experience. That our lives arenâtâŠwerenât comparable.â Phelan began, setting his cup aside. âThe manâŠthe man I lived with, he practically raised me. Taught me everything I know about magic and how it worked. I thoughtâŠfor the longest time, I was happy. I thought I meant as much to him as he meant to me. But as soon as I got olderâŠas I got better at reading, and studying, and theorizing, he grew colder and colder. Until one day he decided I wasâŠI guess he thought I was too smart. Decided I was better off living somewhere else. Those days in the human shelter were some of the worst of my life. There were times I thought it wouldâve been kinder if heâd just killed me instead. Because all I could think about was what I did wrong. What I did to make him hate me. I never thoughtâŠI thought we were happy. I thought heâd be proud.â
âHe sounds like a complete arsehole.â I commented softly. More softly than the bastard deserved.
âYes. Yes, he was. And it took me so long to realize that. And I feel soâŠso stupid.â he replied. âIâmâŠI hate to say it, Iâm glad yourâŠthat person was never kind to you from the start. At least you always knew she was bad.â
âI donât think she could have said or done anything to change my mind anyway. I had a life before and I canât pretend it never happened. Having to go from a person to a thing to having to gain personhood again isâŠit sucks. I hate it. I hate how easily this can all fall apart and Iâll beâŠIâll be a pet again. I canâtâŠI donât know if I can do that again.â
âI canât either. IâŠI like working as a Guard. I like the friends Iâve made. Friends. Iâve never had human friends before! And I get to work on my own projects! I get toâŠI get to find out who I am. Who I can be. Who I want to be.â
âYeah, itâs good to have that again after so longâŠâ
âItâs why I jumped at the chance to be a Guard when the General came all those months ago. Not because I thought he was going to change the world right away. It was because he asked. He didnât pick and choose and grab. He simplyâŠasked. After years of being told and taken and dismissed, it justâŠit felt like a nice change of pace. And look where we are now!â
Phelan made a grand gesture to our surroundings. Bits and bobs to the giants were normal sized tools and materials to us. Dioramas to them were space separators to us. A corner of one of their back offices was a living space to us.
âI know it doesnât seem like much, but thisâŠthis is more than I couldâve hoped for. And knowing there are others like me, like you, who can, who WILL make things better? It gives me hope for a brighter future. One I never wouldâve dreamed of before.â
Phelan reached forward and grabbed my hands, tenderly.
âI donât know what will come next. But Iâm glad youâre here and Iâm glad youâre with me. Whatever happens, I promise weâll get through it together. And if you ever feel scared or worried or angry, I want you to know youâll always have my shoulder to lean on.â
Phelan seemed so honest. So genuine. So naĂŻve. He had just offered his shoulder, but I was more interested in his lips. I leaned forwards and kissed him.
Maybe I needed a little naivety to get through this.
My heart lifted when I felt him reciprocate.
âS-sorry, I shouldâveâŠI didnât mean to surprise you.â I stammered when we finally pulled away.
âIt was a welcome surprise.â he replied.
We leaned in for another kiss.
âHey fellas, do you-oh!â someone interrupted, making us break away once again. âSorry, just wanted to tell you tea is ready. Whenever you are.â
MacKenzie made his way back the way he came, but not without one last shout.
âOI, HARITA! GUESS WHO OWES ME ÂŁ20?!â
