Birb had returned to Shieldpoint at noon with an intact airship and an adventurous one-way passenger, a Miner who officially came to study the defunct dungeon. Liberty Bell fought an eastbound wind by zig-zagging like a sailing ship, and eventually anchored in the open stone terrain by Tazo's little road. She sang in triumph as she waved down.

Vonn told him, "Welcome to the dungeon area! She got you closer than planned."

Birb said, "We really ought to have something at the Company to snag ships."

"We may end up using the grounds right here as a base!"

The Miner wobbled as he got out. "Our lord's been talking about using it for storage and living space, like at Tukka's Hollow."

Vonn winced. His experiences there didn't make him eager to turn a defunct magical maze into a headquarters. Not much, anyway. "His decision, I guess. The place has been sitting idle since the battle, but there are rumors about smugglers or kids wandering around there, so be careful."

Tazo said, "I saw a goblin yesterday."

"What! You didn't mention it?"

"Didn't want you to worry."

"You shouldn't be fighting those things alone!"

"I didn't. I kept far away. I'll run if one of those things gets close."

The Miner interrupted, holding up a hand. "Sounds like I should get a guard. That's fine."

Vonn still fumed at Tazo putting herself in danger. But he could talk about that later. For now, he had another trip to make.

The next morning, Vonn and Tazo set out in their airship, heading south.

#

They'd loaded the craft up with bread and cheese and vegetables, canteens and sun hats, machine diagrams, southbound mail, a few toys for sale, and other odds and ends. It was a warm and sunny day when Mom and Dad waved goodbye and a few townsfolk watched their main Engineers depart in a strange scientific vessel of their own design.

Vonn started off at the steering controls in the stern. The next design would have better instruments. For now he nervously felt the boards and netting creak around him and saw his town fall away. The engine vibrated in its harness of springs. "I'm still not used to this," he said.

Tazo was focused on controlling their altitude to level off. "I'm glad. It's all still new, and I'm learning a little more every flight."

They were slower than an airplane but could keep going steadily with little effort. Below them they had a wake of astonished people looking and pointing.

Miles southward, an Aves flew up especially high and gawked at them. A few minutes later he returned, straining to level with them, and jumped onto the boat. "What is this?!" he demanded.

Vonn clutched the low railing. "No rocking the boat!" he said.

The Aves was having trouble with his footing, too, and his weight plus the two Vulins and their baggage was too much. Vonn said, "We're harmless, and you're too heavy!"

"Go down, then!" said the Aves, not budging though wobbling on the rail. He looked around wildly, not comprehending the machinery and gas-bag around him.

Tazo said, "Fine, we'll descend. Now jump off before we crash!"

That got the guy's attention. He dropped off the side and glided away, tracking their now unsteady flight. Vonn gritted his teeth as he checked the controls and made sure nothing was damaged. "Engine's fine."

"Balloon's fine," she said. "Venting for gradual descent. What was that about?"

"Guess we're in unfamiliar territory now. And we're an Unidentified Flying Object."

Descent was mostly Tazo's job; Vonn disengaged the engine clutch for lack of a half-speed option. He really ought to have one. Before he could think too much about that they'd dropped to around fifty feet above the River and Tazo was starting to regret it because some trees loomed aggressively close to the bank. Vonn steered as well as he could and worried about the wind.

The Aves scout and another of his kind flew up, within more comfortable flight range for them. Vonn said, "We come in peace. We're Engineers headed to Liiros to show off our machine."

The birdmen circled, staring at it all. "Too heavy to carry us?"

"Too heavy for three, sorry."

"Whose protection are you under?"

Vonn blinked. Tazo said, "Baron Bogstep of Silvermire funds us, sir."

The Aves descended and Vonn waited. "Are we in danger?"

"I don't think so. We probably should've been flying our Baron's flag."

What he'd been asked was, Which strong person if any will get upset if we rob you? In the absence of impartial law, it was the main question.

Vonn said, "I'm beginning to realize how important Bogstep's sponsorship is. Have I ever told you the tale of the Godfather?"

Next time it was three curious Aves coming up to glide and gawk. As usual for them in flight they had little weaponry, but it was likely in their power to just jump aboard and crash the boat. The one who'd come first said, "Our Baron will need to be told of this. Who are you?"

Tazo answered, "The Rising World Company, on behalf of Baron Bogstep of Silvermire."

"Heard of them," said one of the other birds. "Oh right, those flying foxes. Ha."

Vonn said, "We're building platforms that let Aves get up higher too."

"We'll want to see one of those. Fine, get going and don't make trouble." The three lingered for a moment and slid down again.

Vonn began relaxing. "Could've gone worse."

They had to stop and rest anyway. They spied a fallow field and despite an annoying breeze, managed to come down in it. To the surprise of the farmers, of course, who came running.

The two of them explained who they were, and got permission to take a break before lifting off again. And so the trip went for days, causing ripples of alarm and confusion as they went. Not only those negative things, Vonn hoped; sometimes he saw people on riverboats and shore villages staring up at him in wonder.