The Shadow Dragons - James A. Owen [129]
They stepped out into the tower, onto the last landing that remained, then down to the awaiting airships: the companions onto the Indigo Dragon, and the Cartographer onto the Scarlet Dragon.
Both airships descended, then pulled away from the tower as another rumble shook a few stones free.
“Farewell,” John called out. “May the wind be at your back, Myrddyn.”
“Oh, hell’s bells, lad,” he said over his shoulder as the Scarlet Dragon picked up a crosswind, “call me Merlin”
Their task completed, the companions laid a course for Terminus one last time. They had one errand to complete, and then they could at long last return home. None of them chose to look back. None of them were even tempted.
And so, no one was watching at the isles called Chamenos Liber when the last stones fell from what was once the Keep of Time. The final door never fell, but simply swung open as the archway around it crumbled. The sky darkened for a moment, as the future became the present, then vanished into the past.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The Notion Club
“You realize, you cannot return to the Archipelago,” Bert said with obvious remorse. “It may be impossible for you to do so now. At least,” he added, “for the next seven years, anyway.”
When all the loose ends had been attended to in the Archipelago in 1943, the companions had returned to Tamerlane House, where Poe activated all their pocket watches as functional Anabasis Machines. He then instructed them in the use of the time travel devices, and after Ransom delivered them back to the Inn of the Flying Dragon, John, Jack, and Charles returned to 1936.
“You went back only minutes after you originally left,” said Bert, “so Ransom had already led the Yoricks away. And without Rose, they will have no reason to return to Oxford.”
That had been the most difficult decision—to leave Rose at Tamerlane House, where she could continue her education under Poe and Jules Verne.
Bert had arranged for them to meet again a week later at the Inn of the Flying Dragon, and he and Ransom brought Rose and Fred with them.
“You can meet her here whenever you like,” he said, handing them a card with a drawing of the inn. “And with the Trump, you can contact her if a need arises. But you cannot return to the Archipelago. Not until after the point you left in 1943.”
“Greetings, Caretakers and company,” said the stout, bearded man . . .
The companions were stunned. “But we’re the Caretakers,” said John. “How are we to look after the Archipelago if we can’t go there at all?”
Before Bert could answer, the mop boy brought a tray of drinks to the table.
“Thank you, Flannery,” Jack said, smiling. “It’s good to see you again.”
“It’s good to see you too, sir,” the boy said as he put the tray of drinks on the table. He bent closer so that only Jack could hear.
“I just wanted you t’ know,” Flannery whispered, “Mr. Ransom spoke t’ me as you’d asked, an’ he warned me about the you-know-what in the you-know-where that you-know-who told you about. And I’ll be nowhere near there then. I’m going to finish school on Prydain.”
“Really?” said Jack. “On Prydain? That’s exceptional, Flannery. What do you plan to study there?”
The boy stood up and took the now empty tray. “Music. I plan to learn to sing, and play an instrument or three, and tell stories in epic songs. The next time you see me,” he said proudly, “I won’t be mopping up at a tavern—I’ll be Flannery Flem the Bard.”
Jack winced, as did Charles and John.
“You know,” Charles offered, “if you do plan to study on Prydain, you might want to consider changing your name ever so slightly to something more local.”
“Change my name?” said Flannery.
“All performers have a stage name,” said Jack. “Like Houdini, and . . . well, other performers.”
“I’ll do it!” Flannery said. “Thanks!”
“You cited Houdini?” Charles chided as he lifted his ale. “What kind of example does that set?”
“Says the man raising a Magwich plant,” said Jack.
Charles spit out the ale he’d just drunk. “Good point,” he said, coughing.
“You knew,” John said to Bert. “You and Verne knew how this would