Naamah's Kiss - Jacqueline Carey [189]
My heart sank. "Those aren't Imperial ships, are they?"
"No," Master Lo said soberly. "They are flying Lord Jiang's banner. I fear the war has begun."
The largest of the ships came alongside us, the others ranging behind it in a semicircle. All were filled with Ch'in soldiers. The big ship carried a strange cargo on its deck, immense bronze tubes pointed upward at us, hollow mouths gaping ominously. I didn't know what it meant, but my blood ran cold.
"I think we shall wish to hear this," Master Lo said.
We descended to the main deck. General Tsieh beckoned us over to the railing. "Jiang's men," he said grimly to Master Lo. "I think they mean to demand our surrender. Would you have me stand and fight?"
There were six ships to our one, but Lord Jiang's warships were only a fraction of our size. Counting in my head, I thought the numbers of soldiers must be nearly even; and surely with our height advantage, our archers could rain arrows down upon them. But Master Lo didn't answer, gazing at the deck of the warship below us, his gaze fixed on one man in particular. Not a soldier—a tall, elegant man in crimson robes.
"Black Sleeve," Bao murmured to me.
"Can we flee?" Master Lo asked quietly.
The general shook his head. "We're too big and the delta is too small. They would be on us in the time it took to turn. But—"
On the other ship, a portly man in ornate armor raised cupped hands to his mouth. "Esteemed General Tsieh!" he called. "I am Admiral Wen Chao. In the name of Lord Jiang, I humbly request that you surrender this Imperial greatship and its cargo!"
There was an acrid smell in the air. It stung my nostrils, evoking a distant memory that seemed out of place. Bao in the Circle of Shalomon's chamber, his staff spitting sparks.
"In the name of his Imperial Majesty, Son of Heaven and ruler of the Celestial Empire, I must humbly refuse!" the general retorted.
The admiral bowed politely. "Then I regret to inform you that your ship will be destroyed by the Divine Thunder!" he shouted in reply. "And all survivors will be put to the sword!"
Black Sleeve leaned over and spoke to him. Despite my rising fear, I couldn't help but wonder why he was called Black Sleeve when his robes were as crimson as a Priest of Naamah's.
"Except for the Venerable Master Lo Feng!" the admiral amended his threat.
Master Lo gazed without blinking at Lord Jiang's physician. A sorcerer and alchemist, a fellow adept of the Way. Mayhap his pupil, once.
Black Sleeve bowed to him with grace and regret.
"General Tsieh." Master Lo spoke under his breath, never shifting his gaze. "If we cannot turn, we must make for the canal itself. It is time to open a bag of wind."
"We won't get far," the general warned him. "The canal wasn't built to handle greatships. The first bridge will put a halt to us."
The acrid smell grew stronger. Smoke drifted across the water.
"I believe we're about to experience the alternative," Master Lo said. "General, if you value my counsel, give the order."
General Tsieh hesitated.
On the warship, Admiral Wen Chao raised his voice once more. "This is merely a warning!"
Soldiers clustered around one of the bronze tubes, raising its angle of elevation. Sparks flared, and then…
Ah, gods! The tube belched fire and there was a sound like a thunderclap, the loudest thunderclap I'd ever heard. An object moving too fast to be seen was spat out of the tube, crashing into the top of the tall center mast and bursting into flame. The mighty ship shuddered at the impact, soldiers and sailors alike crying out in fear. Sparks and bits of slivered wood rained down on us. Bao, cursing, wielded his staff like a demon, warding off the falling debris, protecting Master Lo and me from the worst of it.
Everywhere, shouting. High-pitched shrieks from the women's