[Mkguild] Up in the Air

[Indagare .]

So at the prompting of my friend Jack, I wrote a story for MK. I'd
appreciate any and all feedback. This story takes place in the year 719.


“What are you working on this time Lodo?”

I turned my head to see a platypus—it was my friend Turik. I smiled and put
down the cloth I’d been working on. “Something interesting! It ought to be
a nice surprise. At least I hope. What brings you here today, my friend?”

My workshop doubled as a house and was near one of the more secluded areas
of the Valley. This suited me well, since I wouldn’t want to disturb any of
my neighbors with my racket and odd hours.

“Do I need a reason to visit? Besides, if I don’t make sure you’re okay no
one else will. I brought some food by the way.” He hefted a large basket on
the table and I set down my tools. We quickly made a nice table with
sandwiches and tea. I put the extra away for later.

“I’m glad you came. I do miss company. I really wish my apprentice had
stayed.”

“As I recall she was more than eager to stay, but her parents were less
than happy when you turned her fur blue.”

“It was only temporary! It’s not like what happened to that one poor fellow
at all!”

Turik chuckled. “That may be, but I don’t think they wanted to take
chances. Your magic lanterns are making a fortune, by the way. I don’t
suppose you have more?”

I waved casually to a couple of boxes. “They’re not technically magic, you
know, just alchemical. Strontium carbonate for red, calcium chloride for
orange, sodium nitrate for yellow, barium chloride for green, copper
chloride for blue, a mix of strontium and copper for purple, and magnesium
for white. The only real magic is making sure the colors don’t burn out too
soon. Other than that they’re just paper lanterns with metal bottoms filled
with chemicals and fire.”

“All the same, no one’s seen anything like them before. Which leads me to
another question what is *that*?” He pointed to cloth I’d been working on.

“A cloth.”

“Yes, I can see that it’s a cloth. In fact it is a white cloth. It is also
a very, very *long* piece of cloth. What I’d like to know is why you want
or need a piece of cloth that size.”

“Ah, well, help me bring this outside to my barn and I will show you.”

We hefted the cloth out to the barn where several other strips of different
colors were. There was also a huge wicker basket easily large enough for
two or three people to fit in it. I moved the red strip and purple strip so
they met with the edges of the white one. Taking up a paint brush I
slathered the ends with a special glue. I then took a few dozen needles
(already attached to thread) and set a spell on them. They immediately
began sewing for me.

“If any of the seamstresses catch you doing that you’ll be tarred and
feathered!”

“What they don’t know won’t hurt them. Besides, that spell is *not* easy. I
only came up with it out of desperation after my apprentice had to leave.”

“So are you going to explain?”

“Yes, well, this is like one of my lanterns. See, here’s a ceramic holder
for fire and around the metal area here I’ll attach the cloth. The hot air
will fill up the cloth and it should rise up into the air!”

“Have you considered visiting the local healer, Lodo? Are you feverish?”
Turik asked in a voice of concern. “You’ve been working really hard, maybe
you need a break?”

“I am not sick Turik! Nor am I delusional. Here, help me out and I’ll show
you!”

With obvious hesitance, Turik helped me move the basket and the cloth out
once the sewing was done. I made sure to use a long, strong length of rope
to secure the basket to the ground. It took a while for the two of us to
attach the cloth to the metal circle I made. I hopped into the basket, lit
a fire and started fanning the hot air into the cloth with my wings.
Slowly, very slowly, it began to fill up, lifting off the ground.

“Ye gods, it’s actually working!”

“See, I told you! At last, I can fly!”

“Lodo, you’re a pterodactyl. You could *always* fly.”

“I can now fly without using my wings.”

“Okay, I’ll give you that. How are you planning to get down?”

“I attached this string to a panel of vents near the top. Since hot air
causes it to rise, I should be able to make it descend by letting the air
out.”

“I see, and controlling the direction?”

“Uh, well, I have some plans for that later. They’d involve Misha making
something for me. I’ve got the plans worked out.”

“Uh huh. And until then?”

“Well I could always get out and push.”

Turik slapped his head. “There are so many things that can go wrong with
that.” He sighed and hopped into the basket next to me just as it was
beginning to lift off the ground. I blinked and he chuckled at my surprise.
“You didn’t seriously think I was going to let you go up in this thing
alone, right?”

“Well, I wasn’t sure. That rope should hold us in place.”

“Let’s hope. I don’t fancy being stuck in the air.”

It took a long time, but it was finally full. We began rising as I fed the
fire and soon the trees and my barn were far below. Eventually the rope
became tight enough to hold the balloon in place. All of Metamor Valley was
visible from this height. While I’ve flown over it any number of times,
it’s an entirely different experience to see it while still instead of
always having to move.

We could not just see the Keep, but as far north as the Giant’s Dike and as
far south as Castle Grenier. The mountains rose on either side of us, high
and proud with frosty white caps, but below the forests were a lush green
over the lighter green of grasses. The river was a silvery ribbon to the
west, shining and shimmering in the sun. I could even make out people
walking around, working on their farms, and so on.

“I…” Turik tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. Tears were
running down his face. I gave him a hug and he returned it. We stood there
for a while next to one another, looking out over the world.

The wind began blowing gently, and I was glad that I had attached the
basket to a rope. It pulled in the direction of the wind. I really would
need to see Misha about the device I wanted to ensure this went in the
direction I wanted. Suddenly, however, there was a snap and we began
drifting over the Valley.

“Lodo, why are we moving?”

“Uh, my guess would be that the rope broke somehow. Most peculiar.”

“So help me Lodovico Buonarroti, if I end up dead because of you I will
find a way to haunt you for eternity!”

“Now, now Turik. We’re in no danger. I’ll just pull this cord and we’ll be
fine.” I pulled the cord. It broke. Turik’s look could have soured new
cream. “Really, we’ll be fine! I’ll just make the fire go out!” I chuckled
nervously and put a stopper on the top of the fire. The silken bag,
however, would probably not lose its air soon.

Turik sighed. “Only in Metamor Valley could a platypus and a pterodactyl
get stuck in the air in a… what are you calling this thing anyway?”

“A balloon. I was thinking of calling it a balloon.”

“Well, at least it’s a nice view from here. We’re passing over Lorland.
Macaban’s done a wonderful job.”

The fields below were, indeed, pleasingly lush. The castle had been nearly
restored to what it was before Altera Loriod turned it into an
architectural nightmare. “It’s hard to believe it’s been thirteen years
since he died,” said Turik.

“And twenty years since the Battle of the Three Gates. That’s what I’ve
been working on this device for—that and my lanterns. I’d heard about them
being used in the Oriental Coastlands and I thought I’d try to recreate
them.”

“Ah! So that’s your plan.” He chuckled. “I must admit, this is certainly an
interesting experience. I think we’ve been spotted.”

Several people working in their fields suddenly stopped and pointed up. I
couldn’t make out most of them, but I saw a couple running towards the
castle. “Drats, there goes my surprise!”

“I’m more concerned about archers. What makes you think they won’t just
shoot us down?”

“Well, I actually hadn’t planned on sailing over towns, you know. Plus I
*think* we’re still too far up for an archer to hit—at least, one with an
ordinary weapon.”

The wind, however, was brisk, and it pushed us north and a bit east.
Ellingham and the signal tower near it were soon under us. Fortunately we
seemed to be sinking as well. The people in that town stopped and stared at
us and I could see the signal tower sending out smoke signals. By this time
we were getting lower and closer to the Keep itself.

Several winged creatures took aloft from the Keep and began circling us. A
bald eagle approached closely. “Greetings gents. Captain Iolara Banite.
What in the name of the Nine Gods of Light is this thing?”

“I’m calling it a balloon,” I said. “It was supposed to be a surprise for
the Duke.”

She chuckled. “Well, it certainly surprised *us*. Are you planning to land?”

“As soon as most of the hot air in my balloon has gone out. It seems like
it will soon.”

“I hope so! I’d hate it if we ended up in the Haunted Woods
or—worse—somewhere beyond Giant’s Dike!”

“Want any help down? Me and the others could probably help pull you down.”

“I think—yes, we are descending as I hoped. Perhaps you could help to
better guide our landing so we don’t end up on one of the towers or
someone’s house?” I asked.

Captain Banite laughed and swung away to talk with her troops. Most
returned to the keep except for a couple of dragons. With their help we
were able to land safely just outside the Keep. Explanations were given as
to what I had planned and what went awry.

Fortunately, the Duke was in good humor about the whole incident. I
suggested that we could use my balloons as a form of transportation and
military spying. As far as I know, the idea is still in consideration.

Turik joined me as I went back to my barn. “That was a fun adventure, but
you know I got the strangest idea in my head while we were flying up there.”

“Do tell. I love novel ideas!”

“I thought that, if it were large enough and properly supplied, we might be
able to sail around the world in it.”

I chuckled. “That would be an experience! Around the whole world! I wonder
how long that journey would take.”

“My guess would be at least eighty days.”

I smiled and shook my head. Around the world in eighty days? Preposterous!
And yet it had a nice ring to it. “Well, let me work on some plans for a
larger balloon and we shall see!”

It was nightfall as I finally arrived home. Turik, of course, would be
staying the night. As I went to sleep in my cozy bed, I smiled at the idea
of flying around the world.
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