The Shadows of God - J. Gregory Keyes [89]
He rubbed his chin. “The Sun Boy defeated both of us, and his army is a few days behind our heels. But I think there is still a way to win. Here.” And he pointed at her hand.
“Not anymore,” she said. But she remembered the creature in her dream and what it had said.
“I think you are mistaken,” Red Shoes said.
“You are the one mistaken, if you think you can talk to her like that,” Crecy snapped.
A faint frown creased his brow, and he looked away, almost as if he hadn't heard her. Then he sighed. “My apologies. You have just awakened. We do not have much time, but it can wait until we reach New Paris. If we reach New Paris.”
“I thought we were ahead of the army. What would prevent us?”
“We are ahead of part of the army. Several airships flew over and let troops off between us and our destination.
“Must we go around them?” Crecy asked.
The Indian smiled disconcertingly. “I thought we would go through,” he said.
“This gets worse and worse,” Thomas Nairne muttered, peering through the spyglass. Below them, the frigate Dauphin rocked gently. They had come out here to check the mines and nets, and to sound for Russian underwater craft. They were not far from land—in fact, they were well under Fort Condé's guns—but it was still dangerous. Franklin was nearly certain his modified aether compass would warn them of the underwater boats as it warned of aircraft and warlocks, but he could not be entirely certain. Nor could he be sure that the stuff he had invented to make them rise like corks in the water hadn't been proofed against by the Russian philosophers.
But what they hadn't expected was this—sails and puffs of steam on the horizon.
Franklin peered through his own spyglass to confirm it. “A small fleet,” he said. “Men-of-war under steam. But no airships.” Franklin grunted. “Let's hope our minefield will trip them up, and the nets ought to get any of the amphibians.”
“It will for a time, but most mines are sunk deep, to trip up their devilish underwater boats. We've had no report of sailing ships.”
“We'll have to reinforce the fort,” Nairne said grimly. “All the commanders we have worth anything are out at the redoubts, awaiting the inland attack. Damn.”
Franklin's heart sank. He needed more time, just a little more, but the malakim weren't going to give it to him. The troops on the northern frontier hadn't moved yet, and Nairne was reluctant to attack them first, using the interval for more defensive works instead. And now they had three fronts—two armies and a fleet—poised to crack New Paris open like a nut.
“Well, we must do our best,” he murmured.
“Yes,” Nairne said, his voice rising. “And, by heavens, our best may be better than we thought.”
“What do you mean?”
“They've run up colors!” Nairne exclaimed. “The lion of King Charles of Sweden, the winged lion and crescent moon of the Janissaries and Venice—and, by all that's holy, our own Commonwealth flag! Oglethorpe managed it, by God! He warned the Venetian fleet!”
Franklin felt a surge of joyous hope but kept caution wound as tightly as he could. “Could it be a trick? If the Russians killed Charles and took his ships, they might try sneaking in under false colors. We've heard nothing from them.”
“We shall see, soon,” Nairne commented. “They've sent out a longboat. Shall we send our own to guide them in?”
Franklin hesitated only a moment. “Yes.”
“Margrave Oglethorpe, you are a sight for sore eyes,” Franklin said, smiling.
Oglethorpe, despite himself, shared a reluctant grin. “It was more touch than go, but here we are, with allies.”
“So I see. Is Charles with them?”
Oglethorpe chuckled. “He wanted his turn in the amphibian boat. He took a company to Apalachee territory, where we had word some Russian troops had landed. God willing, he'll be done with them quickly. How are things in New Paris?”
They outlined the situation quickly.
“So you've need of a general, then?” the margrave asked lightly.
“Sir, we do indeed,” Nairne replied.
“Good. I'm damned weary of this nautical stuff. If you'll clear me a way, I can have my men ready to fight by sundown.