Read Online The Ships of Air (The Fall of Ile-Rein) by Martha Wells - Free Book Online
Authors: Martha Wells
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world.”
Ilias ran a hand through his hair, looking away. And if he escapes and finds his way back? He knew Gerard was trying to help, but the thought of Ixion off alive somewhere, still plotting, with them helpless to do anything about it, was the last thing he needed.
Expressionless, Giliead said, “We’ll think about it.” After a moment, he added belatedly, “Thank you.”
Ilias heard quick footsteps out in the corridor and Niles, the other wizard, leaned into the room, his face flushed. In Rienish he spoke hurriedly to Gerard, who answered in the same language, sounding exasperated. Niles replied and they argued back and forth for a moment.
Finally, Gerard turned to them, looking both harassed and enthusiastic. “Niles believes he has an idea for protecting the ship against the Gardier’s disruption spell. It sounds unconventional, but—We can’t afford to be choosy at the moment. Can you find your own way back?”
Giliead nodded, saying, “Good luck,” as Gerard hurried away. Then he turned to Ilias, his face drawn in concern, taking breath to speak. Ilias interrupted him briskly with, “One of us should stay here. They don’t know what he’s like.” He didn’t want to talk about Ixion, not anymore, not right now. “I’ll take the first turn, you go get some sleep.”
Giliead hesitated, then obviously decided to accept the change of subject. He nodded, absently looking around for the door to the corridor.
“You know the way back, right?” Ilias asked, suddenly not sure if he did himself.
Giliead shrugged and gave him a farewell clap on the shoulder. “No, but I wanted a better look around, anyway.”
Chapter 3
Gerard asked Gyan what the god was. He asks everyone that. Gyan said that didn’t the Rien have gods of their own? Gerard said yes but that they didn’t choose Vessels or give advice, and Gyan asked what they did with their time? Apparently no one knows.
— “Ravenna ’s voyage to the Unknown Eastlands,”
V. Madrais Translation
T remaine woke from a dream about being on the train to Parscia with Florian’s mother to find herself staring at an unfamiliar metal ceiling painted a cheery yellow. Through the bed she could feel the rolling movement and remembered she was on the Ravenna . The distant howl of the wind, muffled and rendered impotent by so much metal and wood, told her the Gardier’s storm still pursued them.
She sat up in the narrow maid’s bed, recognizing the warm lump next to her as Dyani. The girl was curled up around a pillow, sound asleep. Gyan was in the bed against the opposite wall, buried under a blanket and snoring faintly. There was a clock built into the paneled wall, but it was electric, powered by the ship’s system. It would have started up with the generators and she doubted anyone had bothered to go around setting the clocks in the passenger cabins. Tremaine scratched her head vigorously and tried to get her brain to focus. She needed to find out what time it was, where they were, what the hell was going on.
She climbed out over the other girl and stood, stretching carefully. Oh, God, I hurt . She had been relatively fit and used to hard work after her stint with the Siege Aid, but after the past few days her muscles ached down to the bone. She felt bleary and incompetent as she opened the door and stumbled out.
Everyone seemed to be asleep, piled in the beds, with those who couldn’t fit stretched out on the floor. Some of them had decided to shed their clothes and Tremaine, used to spending time backstage at theaters, regarded all the bare skin with bemusement. The lights she had turned on earlier still burned; she realized the Syprians wouldn’t have wanted to touch the switches. It didn’t matter as the electric glow, softened by frosted glass, didn’t seem to be keeping anyone awake. The air was warm but not too musty or close, despite all the people in the suite. She stopped in the dining area, reaching up to adjust the
Ilias ran a hand through his hair, looking away. And if he escapes and finds his way back? He knew Gerard was trying to help, but the thought of Ixion off alive somewhere, still plotting, with them helpless to do anything about it, was the last thing he needed.
Expressionless, Giliead said, “We’ll think about it.” After a moment, he added belatedly, “Thank you.”
Ilias heard quick footsteps out in the corridor and Niles, the other wizard, leaned into the room, his face flushed. In Rienish he spoke hurriedly to Gerard, who answered in the same language, sounding exasperated. Niles replied and they argued back and forth for a moment.
Finally, Gerard turned to them, looking both harassed and enthusiastic. “Niles believes he has an idea for protecting the ship against the Gardier’s disruption spell. It sounds unconventional, but—We can’t afford to be choosy at the moment. Can you find your own way back?”
Giliead nodded, saying, “Good luck,” as Gerard hurried away. Then he turned to Ilias, his face drawn in concern, taking breath to speak. Ilias interrupted him briskly with, “One of us should stay here. They don’t know what he’s like.” He didn’t want to talk about Ixion, not anymore, not right now. “I’ll take the first turn, you go get some sleep.”
Giliead hesitated, then obviously decided to accept the change of subject. He nodded, absently looking around for the door to the corridor.
“You know the way back, right?” Ilias asked, suddenly not sure if he did himself.
Giliead shrugged and gave him a farewell clap on the shoulder. “No, but I wanted a better look around, anyway.”
Chapter 3
Gerard asked Gyan what the god was. He asks everyone that. Gyan said that didn’t the Rien have gods of their own? Gerard said yes but that they didn’t choose Vessels or give advice, and Gyan asked what they did with their time? Apparently no one knows.
— “Ravenna ’s voyage to the Unknown Eastlands,”
V. Madrais Translation
T remaine woke from a dream about being on the train to Parscia with Florian’s mother to find herself staring at an unfamiliar metal ceiling painted a cheery yellow. Through the bed she could feel the rolling movement and remembered she was on the Ravenna . The distant howl of the wind, muffled and rendered impotent by so much metal and wood, told her the Gardier’s storm still pursued them.
She sat up in the narrow maid’s bed, recognizing the warm lump next to her as Dyani. The girl was curled up around a pillow, sound asleep. Gyan was in the bed against the opposite wall, buried under a blanket and snoring faintly. There was a clock built into the paneled wall, but it was electric, powered by the ship’s system. It would have started up with the generators and she doubted anyone had bothered to go around setting the clocks in the passenger cabins. Tremaine scratched her head vigorously and tried to get her brain to focus. She needed to find out what time it was, where they were, what the hell was going on.
She climbed out over the other girl and stood, stretching carefully. Oh, God, I hurt . She had been relatively fit and used to hard work after her stint with the Siege Aid, but after the past few days her muscles ached down to the bone. She felt bleary and incompetent as she opened the door and stumbled out.
Everyone seemed to be asleep, piled in the beds, with those who couldn’t fit stretched out on the floor. Some of them had decided to shed their clothes and Tremaine, used to spending time backstage at theaters, regarded all the bare skin with bemusement. The lights she had turned on earlier still burned; she realized the Syprians wouldn’t have wanted to touch the switches. It didn’t matter as the electric glow, softened by frosted glass, didn’t seem to be keeping anyone awake. The air was warm but not too musty or close, despite all the people in the suite. She stopped in the dining area, reaching up to adjust the
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