The Shadow Dragons - James A. Owen [93]
The Caretakers were left to debate the next course of action, while Jack and Charles joined Artus on the large island to the south to help prepare their defenses.
“There are a number of people on the ships I don’t recognize,” said Charles. “Are these all vetted allies?”
“Each and all,” said Artus. “The reason some are a bit unfamiliar is because some of them came through in Time Storms just like young Nemo. The person who conceived of and trained the Valkyries came through to the Underneath, actually, during our battle with the King of Crickets. Amazing woman.”
“Would her name be Earhart?”
“Yes,” Artus said, surprised. “Do you know her?”
“By reputation only,” said Jack, “but she’s a good match for Laura Glue.”
“That explains why Falladay Finn has been ignoring us, then,” said Charles. “He must have come through from a point before we met.”
“Mmm, no,” Artus said, shaking his head. “That’s the same Falladay Finn—he’s just in a particularly bad mood. We found we can’t just summon armies and allies willy-nilly, like picking fruit from a bowl. We’ve had to be much more precise than that.”
“Precise how?” asked Jack.
Artus grinned. “If Mordred can pull allies from out of the past, then so can we. Come and take a look.”
He opened the hold of the Blue Dragon and revealed a giant clockwork man. It was covered in silver and carried a great ax.
“We call him the Tin Man,” said Artus, “but really, his name’s Roger.”
“I thought you were done with clockworks,” said Charles, “after the Parliament fiasco.”
“Shh,” said Artus, closing the doors. “He’s sleeping, and I don’t want him to hear you.
“This fellow’s not exactly a clockwork,” Artus continued. “He’s more of an old friend who’s managed to, ah, enhance his physicality.”
“Fair enough,” said Charles. “We’ll take all the allies we can get.”
“I heard how things went on the raid,” Aven said to Jack as Charles and Artus continued to check the ships. “Stephen told me. I think you handled Nemo well.”
“He’s headstrong, and he just won’t listen,” said Jack, exasperated. “I’m not really sure what to do with him.”
“He sounds very much like a young man I once knew,” Aven said, raising an eyebrow. “He didn’t listen much either.”
“That’s an angle Charys already tried,” said Jack. “I’m certainly not the same person I was, and neither is Nemo.”
“That’s right,” Aven replied. “You aren’t. You’re an experienced, mature teacher—and he’s a spoiled youngest son of royalty, who thinks he’s invincible.”
“I just don’t know how to talk to him, Aven,” Jack said. “How can I, when I’m the reason he ends up dying?”
“Maybe because you must, if for no other reason,” she said. “It hasn’t been any easier for me. Nemo will one day become Stephen’s father, and I know he will die. And Stephen knows it too, having never known his father at all. But now, here, we all three have the chance to say things unsaid, and to help this spoiled boy fulfill his own potential.
“My father always talks about how even in time travel, we are always moving forward,” she continued, “so consider all this talk of Charles’s and Ransom’s about causality, and timelines, and different dimensions. What if one of the reasons Nemo took an interest in you then was because you’ve taken an interest in him now?”
Jack rubbed his chin. “Charys said something similar,” he murmured. “You may both be right.”
“There’s a reason the centaurs have been the great teachers of the ages,” Aven said as she walked out of the room, “and there are reasons why both you and Artus come to me when you need advice.”
She walked away toward the Yellow Dragon, leaving him alone.
The White Dragon eased slowly down to the beach on the southern shore of Terminus, which rose over the westernmost edge of the sea. Bert disconnected the harnesses that had bound the Scarlet Dragon to the larger vessel and turned to his companions.
“You know how badly John wanted to come, Stellan,” Bert said, almost as an apology.
“Yes,” replied Stellan. “I know it. But he would have wanted to continue past the Edge, and he has