Moiraland vol. 4: Moiraland, #4

By Richard R Lockwood

in volume 4 Toby gets a peek behind the curtain at the technology driving the wonders. He gains a growing appreciation for the whimsical nature of the Age of Moira, even as he hopes she is not toying with an entire world. Amidst the awe-inspiring wonders, Toby discovers that certainty can be an elusive concept. While the humor of the Queen remains a constant, Toby's journey uncovers a complex tapestry of mysteries, contradictions, and ever-shifting truths. Is there any solid ground for a new flier?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard R Lockwood
• Release date: Jul 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223274872

Richard R Lockwood

Was born in Miami FL. Worked for the University of Florida until I retired. Been married to the lovely Cecelia for 40 years now, proof that I'm a lucky guy. Now living on the Nature Coast in Citrus County. Enjoy all kind of wildlife, especially reptiles and insects, so I'm pretty sure I'm in the right place. When I'm not writing I enjoy wood carving. Both of the heads beside me in the picture are cedar from the Chassahowitzka Forrest. I also love to walk my dog Bark Anthony. Probably need to go do that now. A Chronology of the Twins Alternate Universe novels and some thoughts and rationales - https://www.ricklockwood.net/Chronology.html My Books on Books 2 Read - https://books2read.com/ap/RaZ9Br/Richard-R-Lockwood  

Book preview

Moiraland

Volume Four

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1

Toby asked Liam and Sir Donall to accompany him to his office. They made their way through the passageway from Flight Stores to Headquarters and Liam yelled up the stairwell as they passed by, Colonel’s back!

A moment later the runner, a corporal from one of the new companies, came thumping down the stairs. Colonel, sir, a gentleman’s waiting, Sir Piers Crosby, asked for a moment.

Has he been waiting long?

About an hour, sir, we told him you were in Ireland but were expected back.

Show him down.

Toby turned to Sir Donall, I wanted to talk about this grand duchy plan, we need to be ready for it or Moira wouldn’t have mentioned it. We’ll talk about it after Crosby leaves.

The Englishman came downstairs from the Day Room escorted by the corporal.

Good day, my lord Kitsap, he greeted Toby, I heard you were just in Ireland?

We attended an enlargement in Dublin.

Whose, if I might ask?

The new Duke of Montrose.

My God, that will shake the Isles.

I believe the Queen can shake the Isles any time she pleases. Would you like a beer? Liam, would you pour for all of us?

Thank you kindly, Governor, and that’s one reason I wanted to stop by, you’ve been a great help, I wanted to let you know I appreciate that, and even Cork admitted it. Without the loan of a balloon and a pilot, we wouldn’t know the land like we do.

You’ve made plans?

Well, we’ve done a lot of talking and flying. I wanted to ask about Flat City. The dozen big tents with all those cabins inside, we talked with some of your lads and apparently you put it all up in a day.

The lads helped.

So, I was wondering if you could do that for us if we started a logging camp in the interior? We’d buy a Measure, and you put in a camp of a tent or two. It would be a great help to our work, is it possible?

It’s possible. We’d have to talk about prices, and I’m not ready to do that yet. Let me talk with Princess Valeriya.

Alright, I agree the pixies must be kept happy, Governor, though I never thought I’d say that with sincerity. The Earl of Cork has gone ahead to the Ferry Station, we’ll both be going back to London, then I’ll return in early spring with a forge and other tools.

I’ll send a message through our Ambassador in London when we have prices.

Excellent, thank you again, Governor.

Toby watched him head out and back up the stairs and sipped his beer.

A fine example of what we need to worry about, sir, said Sir Donall.

I have worries enough, Sir Donall, add him to your own list if you like.

I don’t see how you can’t worry about the English Section, sir. Will they have their own Duke?

If that’s what the Queen wants.

I’m sure Irish law will still apply, sir, said Liam. What do you think the chances are that Princess Zoe would get Asgard?

Duchess of Asgard? If it amuses the Queen, I would not bet against it.

I think it would amuse some people, sir, and outrage others, particularly if she travels in Europe, but then she would do that no matter her title.

The Queen said she did not wish to inflict Zoe on the House of Lords, yet. I hope I’m there on the day when she changes her mind. Let’s look at a map. Maps always helped Toby think, and to plan. If we assume that these dozen duchies are all about the same size as the Island of Moira, and Asgard, then what else can we guess?

There’s enough room for a half dozen duchies, just from the Sifna watershed, sir, said Sir Donall.

True, you could add another dozen from the area from the Mo valley south to 3rd Nest and out to Odd Lake.

Another half dozen from the Fjords north, said Liam. Why ignore it?

Maybe they’ll be big duchies, sir? suggested Sir Donall.

Possible, of course.

Doesn’t seem like it should worry us, Colonel, said Liam. Plenty out here for everyone.

I agree. If I were doing this plan, I’d make the new duchies in the heart of Moiraland, and not worry too much about the lands around us.

You’ll not reduce your worries that way, Colonel, said Sir Donall.

I know the border is crucial to any governor. I meant I’m not going to worry about who the borderlands might be gifted to.

If someone gets the land around my new hunting lodge, said Sir Donall, and then says no hunting like in Asgard, I’ll be pissed.

Toby enlarged the area around Sir Donall’s new lodge in the mountains east of the upper Sifna tributaries. That land is perfect for hunting, not so much for anything else, except maybe mining, he added, thinking of Montrose’s comment, though who needs mines when you have a Sampo?

It’s already snowing there, too, sir.

So you won’t get many visitors now. What about to the north? A lot of pretty mountains, but mountains are a tough place to make a living.

People do, sir, but up there, they’re already burrowing into their dugout houses.

"I will cross them off my list of worries at least. Alright, we know about the plan, it shouldn’t really affect what we’re doing."

What about the southern border with Mexico, sir? Aren’t the Dons looking at that now?

Yes. Toby moved the map to the south, Every time I look at this southern bay I like it more. I wonder if that’s a natural impulse in a man, when looking at land?

You know, sir, said Liam, whatever the border commission decides or wants, we could easily put a houseboat there with a few gun balloons. I think that bay is our natural border, sir, everything south and east of it is a desert except for the coast, and there’s not much coast, unlike north of the bay.

I agree. Sir Donall, find out if Captain Murtagh agrees.

By ‘agrees’, sir, you mean he is to have a platoon ready?

Yes, but he won’t get another houseboat until after the wedding.

Aye, sir.

A houseboat is best, sir, said Liam, but you could send someone down and make a tent camp anytime. Lieutenant Minnagh and I both know how to do that.

Alright, Liam, take the shuttle and go look at it. Pick out a nice spot on the North side of the bay, we can use it as a ferry station, too. The Dons can have the southern half to show how generous I am. I’ll give Marie your apologies for missing lunch.

Hah! Thank you, sir.

How is a houseboat best? asked Sir Donall. I love the gun balloons, but a fort says we’re staying.

You make a good point, Sir Donall, and the pixie would do all the work for a small fort. Then we’d have four inch guns covering the bay entrance. Liam, pick out a spot for a fort, and we may as well put in a ferry station so you’ll still have something to do.

Yes sir.

I think I should go with him, sir, said Sir Donall, and I don’t like to complain, but as your second in command I have just as much ground to cover.

You want your own shuttle?

I believe I have a good reason, sir.

You do, I’ll order you one.

Thank you, sir.

2

Sir Donall and Liam left Toby’s office, heading for Flight Stores and the shuttle. Let’s see if we can get lunch from Murtagh, said Sir Donall, a suggestion Liam saw no reason to resist. They took off with Liam piloting and made their way to the southeast.

Captain Murtagh was at the Odd Boat having lunch with Captain Delaney when they settled down on his top deck. Sir Donall had messaged ahead and a corporal led the two visitors below to the Captain’s dining room.

After brief military greetings they sat down at the table. Sir Donall said, I’m trying to decide whether it’s better to live on one of these boats or at one of the new forts. I love my Strait Fortress, but it still seems strange. What do you think, Amos?

The pixie is finishing the fort at 3rd Nest, Major, so I have na seen mine yet, but we have no complaints aboot the boat.

The pixie hasn’t sent us a schedule, I don’t even know where it will go out here.

If I had to choose, I’d put it at the head of that long river just north of here. I believe it flows west into the Sifna up above Fish Jump.

They chatted a bit about reasons. Murtagh was convinced it was a vulnerable spot, people could just raft or canoe down the river a thousand miles into the heart of Moiraland. He wasn’t worried about any military force, but a mob of people could be just as bad, as they knew from experience in Ireland.

Sir Donall invited Murtagh to accompany them to look at the bay, I think the Colonel will want something there pretty fast.

We should take Lug with us, Major. He’s been with the Spanish building and attacking forts in the Netherlands.

Lucky Lug. Does he know how to bring a drink along?

Aye, sir, it’s always thirsty work, replied Delaney. He made his way to the kitchen to grab a wine jug as the others made their way to the shuttle.

Once they were aloft again, Liam spoke, There’s a good chance this will be the border, a line straight from Odd Lake to the bay.

We have to name it, said Sir Donall. There’s other bays on the coast.

The Spanish may have named it. Um, that looks like a nice lake down there under us.

It’s no so odd, said Murtagh, but don’t tell the Colonel that.

They made their way to the big bay, slowing and descending until they were hovering above the magnificent entrance.

About two to three miles across, guessed Liam.

The four inch guns have a range of about ten miles, said Sir Donall.

Better to have a gun battery on each side, said Delaney. That way they can’t hug the other side and sneak in.

We’ll have gun balloons, replied Sir Donall, and the Colonel only wants to claim the north side. The border will go right down the middle of the entrance.

Not to disagree, Major, said Delaney, but that’s what he thinks today.

By now each of the officers could give their own example of Moiraland’s resistance to careful planning, but refrained. Liam put the shuttle into a slow path along the coast to the north. I see lots of beautiful land.

Back to the bay entrance, said Sir Donall. Let’s pick a spot and then sight see.

Liam flew higher and a bit out to sea so they could get a good view of the entrance.

I don’t see any choice, said Lug, That point right there where the channel shore turns north and becomes the seacoast.

I agree, said Sir Donall, you’ll have a fine view of the sea traffic, which is what we’re looking for.

Is anyone else worried that we may be taking a helluva big bite here? asked Murtagh. Five companies can only do so much.

If we were marching along the roads, said Sir Donall, you’d be right. No one knows what fliers can do, until we do it.

Liam flew over the entrance and headed the shuttle into the bay to see what else was there. What’s that on the beach? he asked, There must be thousands of them.

Seals or sea lions, said Delaney, looking over his shoulder from the middle seat.

Any good to eat? asked Sir Donall.

They’re mostly fat, and not much sport in hunting, but if you’re hungry...

I’m not.

Liam piloted them for a closer look, Nice tusks on some of them. There was no interest from the others, Liam lifted up on the pilot yoke and the shuttle continued surveying the bay.

I see a few native huts, said Sir Donall, probably not more than a score of people already here.

Liam continued along the shoreline, just trying to get a sense of the size of the bay. He thought the fortress site had been decided, but the rest of the area was worth looking at; a couple of nice inner bays to the east and a small river feeding into one of them. They came back to the entrance, then headed south to look at another large bay.

What the hell? asked Delaney, then pointing at a spot on a rocky shore.

A ship, said Liam, though it was obvious. You’re wondering how it got there.

Aye, there must be some grand tides to lift it up there.

I believe we know that ship, said Sir Donall.

"Our Lady of Davina, said Liam, in case the captains did not know. She’s surveying the coast."

Not now, she isn’t, said Sir Donall. I see some people on her, let’s see what happened, the ship looks beat up a bit.

Liam sent the shuttle down and landed on the rocks next to the beached ship. The Moiralanders disembarked and looked around. Some of the Spanish sailors were moving further down the shore, probably looking for food or water, they had their weapons and armor on.

A shout from the ship alerted them to an officer aboard waving.

Does he think we don’t notice them? asked Delaney.

He’s welcoming us to the neighborhood, Lug, said Murtagh.

A fine neighborhood it is too, Amos, if you ignore the odd ship.

You’d think Captain Oquendo would know not to get caught on such a tide.

The Spanish were climbing down from the ship on rope ladders. Captain Oquendo and Deputy Minister Esquival were soon on the rocky shore and they met for a talk midway between the shuttle and the ship.

Thank God you are here! said Esquival.

Lug Delaney was fluent from his years with the Spanish forces in the Netherlands. He replied, Buenas Días, señor. Are you in distress?

Of course! We were almost killed!

By the tide?

Tide? No! A sea monster picked us up and put us here!

Lug translated for his side, then asked, A sea monster?

The Spanish had noticed the bay when Lieutenant McCullough’s flight to Lima Peru had followed the coast down, it seemed