The Great Betrayal by Nick Kyme Page B

Heglan’s demonstration over with.
    ‘Go on, Copperfist,’ grumbled Strombak, ‘make your oaths and hope they’re good ones.’
    Heglan nodded, clearing his throat to speak.
    ‘Thanes and masters of Barak Varr, vaunted guilders, we stand on the precipice of a momentous discovery. Ever have the dawi been lords of the earth–’ nods and muted grunts of approval greeted this proclamation, ‘–and the clans of Barak Varr are lords of the sea too.’ This brought further bouts of agreements and much chest puffing, especially amongst the engineers. ‘But now, with this innovation,’ a word that elicited grumbles of disapproval and reproachful glances, ‘we can be lords of the sky too.’
    Heglan stepped back so the attention of the dwarf nobles was on the ship. He whispered behind his hand to the captain.
    ‘ Turn the propellers… ’
    Having missed his cue, the dwarf in the tower pulled at some levers and the three windmills attached to the masts began to rotate.
    ‘ Skryzan-harbark ,’ Heglan declared. ‘The first ever dawi airship!’
    Six burly dwarf journeymen in short sleeves and leather aprons were on standby next to ropes that fed to the braces impeding the vessel’s wheels. Another two stood ready with axes to cut the lashed sails.
    At a sign from Heglan, the sails were freed and the wooden stops removed.
    Creaking wood made him wince as the ramp took the weight of the ship and it rolled onto the curve. Propellers were beating furiously now as the captain tested the rudder experimentally as he pitched towards the edge of the cliff.
    It got a decent run up, needing to gather speed before the Durazon ended and all that sat beneath the ship was air.
    ‘Grungni, I beseech you…’ muttered Heglan, hiding his fervent oath from the other dwarfs as the airship plunged off the end of the ramp at pace. It rolled on for almost fifty feet, wheels spinning, propellers turning like mad. And with sails unfurled, Heglan’s creation launched off the edge of the rock and soared like an arrow.
    He fought the urge to shout for joy, content to clench a fist in triumph at the skryzan-harbark’s inaugural flight instead.
    Surprised but approving mutterings issued from the throng of guilders and nobles in a rumbling susurrus of speech as they beheld the flying ship.
    ‘Valaya’s golden cups, lad,’ breathed Strombak, unable to hide the fact he was impressed. ‘I did not think you would do it. The ship is small, but if you can get this to work we can enlarge it.’
    Bowing his head, Heglan’s voice was low and deferential at such high praise. ‘Tromm, my master. This is just a trial vessel. I have plans for bigger versions.’
    Clapping the young engineer on the shoulder, Strombak stepped back to discuss the incredible ship with his fellow guilders.
    Disengaging himself from the other merchants, Nadri joined his brother and slapped him heartily on the back. ‘It is a marvel, Heg, a true wonder to help usher in a prosperous new age.’
    Heglan barely heard – he was watching the realisation of a dream.
    ‘See how the sails billow and catch the wind?’ he said. ‘And the way it achieves loft and forward motion.’
    ‘It is…’ Nadri’s smile turned into a frown, ‘…listing, brother.’
    At the same time a look of horror was slowly creeping its way onto Heglan’s face.
    A heavy gust of wind, driven hard and fast through the peaks, pitched the airship to one side. The sails bulged like an overfull bladder, straining against the rigging, and the dragon prow listed awkwardly as if the ship was drunk on too much grog.
    ‘ Compensate, compensate …’ Heglan urged the captain, who was lost from view but evidently struggling at the controls.
    Ugly and portentous, the sound of snapping rigging resolved on the breeze and a deep crack fed down one of the masts. The ship began to turn on its axis, pulled and buffeted by the wind.
    ‘Grimnir’s hairy arse, no…’ Heglan could see the danger before it unfolded