Chapter 6: Explosive Finish

"It's not a party without a couple of explosions."

-Captain Emile Dryden, 181 U.E.

Stephan tackled Taira to the floor and instinctively reached for his Rivello. Of course, his holster was empty.

The ATU representative rose up. His robes fluttered with surging power. “...Ila Gneist!” he cried, his murmured chant rising to a fever pitch. Flames poured from his outstretched hands with a threatening whoosh. It expanded outward in a fraction of a moment, swallowing the table, growing, consuming, until all Stephan could see was bright orange light.

“Ila Svido.”

The wall of inescapable fury wobbled. As suddenly as it had formed, it vanished, conjured fire converted to useless sparks. The table was still on fire, and Dryden struggled to pull off Captain Albright’s burning coat, but no one was seriously harmed.

The ATU representative stumbled, shocked that his trick had failed. He opened his mouth to cast another spell…

And a golden slug struck him in the chest. A moment later, he was engulfed in a golden flash, reduced to a plume of ash.

Stephan spun, rising to one knee. The Golden Son had risen from his chair, his legendary revolver in hand. He wobbled on his bare feet, eyes hardly focusing on anything, but his aura was eerily focused. No matter his appearance, his natural senses were honed, sharp.

The doors came open and two guards rushed in, rifles pointed at the attendants. The Golden Son moved only his arm, not deigning to even look in their direction, and fired once, twice. The two men were deleted from existence in flashes of gold.

An eery quiet followed. Stephan got up, adjusted his glasses, and helped Taira to her feet. Albright was extinguished, and Dryden gave a raucous laugh, clapping the man on the chest.

“Damn, you started the party without me?” the Golden Son asked. He reloaded his gun with bullets that manifested from thin air and holstered it. “Not fair, guys. Not fair.”

“Someone here saved us,” Stephan announced. “We would all have died if not for them. Who countered his spell?”

He got no answer. Instead, Lecco Zaman wobbled off his feet, falling backward. The aged lubbard struggled to stay conscious, gaze drifting.

“What’s wrong with the old coot?” Sakaarn asked, craning his head to see.

“He just saved your life is what. Someone, get him comfortable. He used too much anima.”

Taira, who had some experience in these matters, went to his side. She got a coat off a pirate captain and rolled it up into a makeshift pillow, laying Zaman down flat on his back and placing the cushion under his neck.

Thundering footfalls sounded beyond the ballroom, and in a split second the Golden Son had drawn his weapon again. Stephan rushed between him and the doors, spreading his arms wide.

“I know those footsteps,” Stephan said. “It’s not an enemy.”

The Golden Son squinted at Stephan for a long moment. “Who are you again?”

“I put this meeting together. My name is Stephan Lordling.”

“Doesn’t ring a bell.”

“I expected as much.”

“Then why don’t you make yourself a little more memorable next time?” The Golden Son wiped drool off his cheek with the back of his hand.

Kurko rushed into the room, ducking through the doorway, and deposited a corpse on the floor. He was followed by two armed home guards. “You are all in grave…” he said, trailing off as he noticed the burning table and once-human piles of ash. “...Danger.”

The Golden Son spun his revolver on one finger before sticking it back in the holster. “We noticed. We’ve got it from here, snowman.”

“Well, this was of much interest,” said Jahwa with a wry grin, still seated. Kazzul, crouched behind her, looked far less comfortable. “But does not make me feel faith.”

“Who in fuck was that?” Chaesim asked. “They tried to take us all out at once.”

“The Concord,” Kurko announced, his booming voice filling the room. “Ario Merini sent assassins to kill you. By my count, though, you got them all.”

“Typical,” Sakaarn muttered. “I should have expected the Concord to be that cowardly.”

Stephan wanted to tell Sakaarn that he wasn’t exactly above assassinations himself, remembering a time when he had nearly been executed by the Masks. He decided against it, though.

“Merini has paid for his hubris,” Taira said, rising. “He is down one talented geomancer after this stunt. I doubt he has an unlimited number of those lying around. Now, why don’t we make this meeting count for something? Clearly, Merini is pissing his pants at the possibility that we’ll work together.”

“Might as well,” the Golden Son said. He dragged his chair closer to the blackened, smoking table and sat. “This thing is finally getting good.”

After that, everyone else was easily convinced.

*****

“I know you’re skeptical,” Taira said. “You have a right to be. Something like this has never been done before, and you have no assurance that you’re not pouring your fortunes into a fool’s endeavor. You know my reputation, but you have no way to know if I’d make a competent commander.”

“If this is supposed to be convincing, you’re doing a piss-poor job,” Sakaarn said.

“Let me speak. I have a proposition. Call it a test. Give me five ships with experienced crews, and I’ll show you what I can do. I’ll raid the Concordian military outpost on Sintek and let you split the loot. After that, make your decision.” She looked around the room for support.

“I’ll go,” Dryden said with a nod. “Sounds fun.”

“I’ll pledge three ships,” said Arqen the Gentle, who had thus far not spoken.

Sakaarn reddened with rage at the prospect of being outdone. “I’ll pledge three as well.”

“I hope you don’t mind if I tag along,” the Golden Son said. “I’ve got nothing better to do this week.”

“Sounds like you have the support you need,” Governor Essus said. “When are you planning for this raid to take place, exactly?”

“Two days,” Taira responded. “Have your captains report to my ship on the Perch as soon as possible. You will not regret this.”

After a little more bickering, the first pirate council of Tumba came to a fruitful conclusion. Stephan could hardly contain his excitement as they left the room. Taira looked similarly giddy.

If he didn’t know any better, he would say that Taira had been possessed by the spirit of her sister today.