Story 13. Conspirators.
"It'sstrange, Gryvon. Seems like you don't bother me with your pleads to fly a ship anymore…"
The young man didn't know how to react, so he continued walking in silence next to the Spellbinder, enjoining the calm windless evening. To tell the truth, tonight Ashka was in a strangely good mood. Even her caustic sarcasm didn't seem too poisonous. May be it was because of a successful chemistry lesson, the Apprentice didn't fail and didn't blow up anything. May be it was because of the evening, calm and so delicious. May be it was something else… nobody had an answer, so the phrase about the ship was unexpected.
"It's a question or a statement?" – Gryvon asked looking at the woman.
"A statement, - Ashka smirked, - but anyway, I want to know why you don't ask".
"Because I already know the answer, - the young man sighed, - it is useless to consolidate it. The Regents consider me as an inexperienced one etc."
"Well, if you think so… And I was going to ask you to take the pilot's seat…", - she suddenly said, walking forward.
Gryvon stopped. Was it a joke? Does her sarcasm grow?
"Did I hear it right? – he mumbled. - You really are going to allow me…"
"Exactly, - Ashka nodded, - looking at him over her shoulder, - I am. And if you don't change your mind, it's your chance".
The young man came closer.
"But… But what about the Regents? They won't allow until I…"
"Forget about Regents just for once, - the woman interrupted him sternly, - you are mature enough. And if I offer you flying the ship it's stupid to reject. Regents will know nothing if you are careful".
"But why? – bewildered, Gryvon looked at Ashka. - You said yourself…"
She rolled her eyes.
"Some more questions and I change my mind!"
"Right, - the Apprentice nodded quickly, - and when are you… I mean, are we going to do it?"
"When there's a right moment. Soon, I suppose", - Ashka answered thoughtfully, stopping at the viewing platform. They were standing opposite the rusty head of one of the ships…
They got the right moment not as soon as they wished to. The ships were usually absent during the days but now it happened during the evenings too. Complaining about the circumstances and making guesses, Gryvon was waiting. His hopes weren't too high, he had many years of experience and the simple fact that Ashka is Ashka. He didn't know whether to believe her or it was a passing whim. But one evening the woman was going downstairs, saying: "Be ready before the dawn". The young man suddenly realized she had been absolutely serious.
He couldn't fall asleep almost the whole night, waking up every hour and feeling worse than before his first history exam. Almost the whole night he couldn't calm down, tossing and turning on a suddenly tough like a stone bed. He'd been waiting for this for so long, dreaming, imagining, making the details, replaying mentally the sequence of actions. Make the powersuit work, pull the control levers, to spin the wheel of the bottom powerstone after the ship reaches the minimal flight height. Pull the control levers one more time and… fly! He had accompanied Ashka for so many times and saw how to do it. He'd imagined himself taking this seat. However, now he had the doubts. Would he succeed?
Gryvon didn't want to lose face and be a coward, so he tried to calm down. He had to behave naturally, or else Ashka would change her mind. She could… Straightening the powersuit, the young man put on a long black cloak he used quite seldom and left his room.
Ashka was waiting for him in the hall. She put on the same cloak. Together they left the castle and went to the landing Tower. With his heart sinking, Gryvon went upstairs, one cold metal step by another, into the center of his dream. Here are the passenger seats… here's a pilot's seat, viewing the castle walls.
"It seems everything's all right, - Gryvon said, looking at two guards passing the viewing platform, - but what do we say to the Regents if they find out?"
"When will you stop behaving like a naughty boy? – Ashka exclaimed. - What does it matter? We'll say I was sitting there. Perhaps, we had to go to Clayhill. And yes, - she answered, predicting the next question, - We didn't take the horses, the ship is faster".
Gryvon nodded. The explanation was more or less appropriate. He put off the coat and took the pilot's seat. Now he had to keep in mind what he was brushing up. The plattens on the wrists were put together, producing a powerbolt. His fingers squeezed the levers. Standing next to the seat, Ashka turned around. The huge powerstone giving the power to the whole ship, heated becoming fiery-golden. The powerbolt reached it.
"Gryvon, look forward, - the woman said, watching her happy Apprentice turned around to observe the powerstone, - you'd seen it for many times rs".
"But I never activated it", - the young man thought not realizing he actually pronounced it aloud. Ashka sniffed. At the same time the ship was going up from the energy platform. It seemed everything was done…
Don't be happy so early, - the Spellbinder tapped on the powerstone controlling wheel, - or else we are to fall onto this Tower the whole night long".
She said it in time, nearly a moment before the thrust that never was. Gryvon activated the mechanism and suddenly understood nothing was holding their ship. They were flying…
"Hold the levers calmly, - Ashka remarked watching his hands, - the mechanism obey the tiny movements".
He did as she said, holding the levers not so firmly. The viewing platform in front of the ship was replaced by the tower levels and narrow windows. And after them an endless smooth surface of the lightening sky…
"Holly Regents…" – Gryvon breathed out.
"You did it", - Ashka finished his phrase and put her Eyestone on the dashboard.
"Why did you take it? – the young man gave a start nearly letting the levers out of his hands. – Now they will be able to detect us!"
Ashka's eyes widened with surprise.
"So what? As we said, I am "piloting" the ship, you go with me. And by the way, it is very good that we have an Eyestone. Its presence proves our intentions are legal. If I left it in my bedroom, the Regents were to be alarmed".
"Well, if you say it…", - Gryvon calmed down a little, relaxing. It wasn't frightful at all, if you think about! The Spellbinders were right, the ones he asked about the flights. And yes, it's really impossible to describe, it should be felt.
The castle was replaced by the forest nearby… Gryvon turned the levers a little, forcing the ship to go to the left. The mechanism obeyed and everything was great.
"I can't believe!" – he exclaimed, watching the narrow road lines between the trees. The Spellbinder next to him smiled. And then the Eyestone on the dashboard started working.
"Ashka, this is Gareth. In the name of all the Regents put together, what's happening? Where's the Clayhill ship and where are you?"
"Good morning, Regent, - the woman answered imperturbably, raking the Eyestone, - everything is all right, I go to Clayhill".
"Now?"
"Yes, Regent, - Spellbinder's voice was even, - Gryvon goes with me, he has some business in the village. We decided to fly, as horse riding takes more time".
"But why so early? – The man was bewildered. - Is it so important you couldn't wait? And anyway, why didn't you let anyone know?"
"We didn't want to disturb your sleep, Regent", - Ashka said sweetly, paying no attention to the second question.
They heard a sniff in the Eyestone.
"All right, in this case…"
"We can say good bye to each other", - the woman added mentally, trying to finish the conversation as soon as possible. But then Gryvon's voice made Ashka give a start:
"Spellbinder, the power's gone!"
"What do you mean 'it's gone?" – Ashka and Gareth, who heard everything, exclaimed at once. The woman caught herself and looked at the Eyestone, trying to remedy the situation.
"It's all right, regent, we have the control".
However, Gareth wasn't a fool
"Ashka, what's happening? What's the matter? Ashka, do you hear me?"
But the Eyestone was already closed, breaking the connection. Ashka ran to the pilot's seat, watching the powerstone that darkened and stopped rotating.
"What happened?"
"I don't know! – Gryvon exclaimed, trying to lull the useless levers. - it just stopped and that's all!"
"Did you push any buttons?"
"No, I swear!"
"Gryvon!"
"It's true!"
Ashka looked at the ship helplessly. What could happen? The Eyestone worked, so the power station is working, the castle has nothing to do with it. Then what? The Clayhill Tower? They didn't reach it, even weren't' flying close enough, going above the fields. АWhat's the matter? Where's the power?
All these thoughts went though her mind nearly in a second. Before her eyes caught the cooling powerstone, her hands squeezed the belt of Gryvon's powersuit.
"When was the last time you changed the powerstones?"
"I…"
"Don't beat about the bush, Gryvon, - her fingers released the useless rocks from the bracing. - Was it long ago? Yes or no?"
A nod.
"Dope! – Ashka shouted, removing the powerstones from her own powersuit and putting them instead of the used once. - They are depleted. How many times I said you to look after it! Give the powerbolt!"
Gryvon produced the lightning, squeezing the control levers again. Ashka closed the bracing and stood up, pulling the levers and denting Apprentice's fingers into them.
"Come on!"
Her right hand spun the wheel quickly. It was done just in time as the ship was losing the height and almost hitting the rocks. Suddenly a strong thrust shook the whole ship. Gryvon was nearly dented into the seat. Ashka lost her balance and fell to the floor. Pulling the control levers, Gryvon saw that in the last moment, almost hitting big grey stones with its head, the ship took the height again… They did it. They were flying one more time.
"Spellbinder, are you all right?" – He asked, looking back anxiously. Sitting on the floor, Ashka touched the bruised back of her head and looked at him threateningly.
"You'd better watch the flight before I lose my temper, - she said harshly, - we are to have troubles".
Indeed, the troubles she had meant were waiting for them. And they were represented by Gareth, who stood near the Tower. His look didn't promise any optimistic expectations.
"I told it for so many times, I was repeating it during the Spellbinders meetings – an Apprentice can not fly the ship until he or she is ready! – he shouted out looking at the runaways going downstairs. - Ashka, should I say it more often or, perhaps, should you start listening to me?"
"Regent, what's the problem? – smiling, Ashka bowed calmly. - I told you everything, you heard it. Gryvon and I were going to Clayhill, weren't we?"
Gryvon nodded, yet he had no idea what the result of this dialog will be. Folding his arms, Gareth rolled his eyes.
"You think I'm a fool? Yes, I heard everything, and the words about the power had gone too. And it was your Apprentice who said it, by the way".
"Of course, Regent, - the woman continued, - we had had a problem, but solved it. Gryvon was standing next to me and noticed it in time. The ship went flying".
"Oh, did it? – Gareth frowned. - And where was it flying to?"
"To Clayhill, I told you".
"Really? – The man played with the Eyestone in his hands. - May be I should check it?"
"You don't believe me?" – Ashka blushed.
"I don't understand why are you lying to me? – regent said, raising his voice. - I know what happened there. It was Gryvon who was flying the ship, despite the fact that none of us three allowed it! Speaking about you, Ashka, your action is outrageous!"
"Regent, Gryvon is mature enough to fly the ship", - Ashka objected.
"So you admit he'd taken the pilot's seat?"
"Yes, I do, - the woman exclaimed, - eventually, he's my Apprentice! Don't Spellbinders define their Apprentices' experience?"
"Don't forget yourself, Ashka. The Council is superior".
"If I listen to the Council, - Ashka said, - he's still a kid! Don't forget that he's nineteen soon! Why am I lying? Think!"
Gareth raised his hand but a slap never followed. Gryvon took several steps backwards, feeling he's unwanted here.
"If I didn't remember a little silly girl that had everything and more than that, - Gareth said clearly with his fingers near Ashka's face, - you would have paid for this insolence".
Turning around he went to the castle, saying no words to the runaways. Gryvon, watching him for some time, turned to the Spellbinder.
"What now?"
"Nothing, - Ashka answered, - I am right and he knows it. And even if I have to speak to the Council, I will say the same words Gareth heard. As for you – I hope you've learned the lesson and will be more careful with your powersuit in the future".
Her green eyes observed Gryvon.
"Don't think of the things that are none of your business, Apprentice. And now let's go to the castle".
She left the viewing platform, going to the stairs. Hesitating, Gryvon followed her. He wasn't sure it hand' been his business and felt guilty. On the other hand, it was Ashkas idea, and seems like the storm has passed…
Leaving the stairs behind, he went to the Apprentices wing. The storm had passed, but Gryvon couldn't forget the Regent's words. The ones about a silly little girl that had everything…