Moiraland Vol. 6: Moiraland, #6

By Richard R Lockwood

in Volume 6 - As the summer of 1641 arrives, Toby Maguire has gracefully claimed dominion over much of North America. The supremacy of the Royal Irish is undeniable, adversaries once resolute in defiance now eagerly join their ranks to bask in the radiant glow of power. Through the seamless integration of advanced science, his conquests have unfolded with an unexpected tranquility, minimizing violence and conflict while amusing his followers. In a realm where the boundaries of reality are merely suggestions, the landscape of history bends to the astonishing feats of technology and divine art that have fused together in Moiraland, offering both promise and complexities, and above all entertainment. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Richard R Lockwood
• Release date: Aug 29, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215602188

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

2

Toby gave Rupert and Maurice a week of leave to celebrate with their brother. He was mildly surprised to see the Wittelsbachs come visiting in Seattle two days later. Elizabeth was with them on the shuttle when it landed at Penthouse A.

Zefira greeted her, You are just in time for tea, your Grace.

Thank you, Lady Alaska, it will suit me well.

They took seats on the covered terrace looking over the Sound. After everyone assured everyone else they were well, Elizabeth said, I am ready to serve as I promised, Lord Alaska, but I doubt if Ferdinand wishes to be consoled.

I’m sure he’ll be fine. How is your brother Charles?

He seems quite happy, my lord. The French have begun to load Louis’s ransom onto ships at Calais.

Would it be a good time to bargain with him?

Better than most. What do you wish?

He mentioned he would sell me Massachusetts and Virginia. He wants aircraft, I have an offer to make.

He already owes you more than those two impoverished hamlets.

Toby lightly shrugged the hamlets off, I would like to offer him a supply route to South Africa. Two of the airships will travel back and forth from Bristol to Cape Town. He may send whatever he wishes for free.

A supply route? You wish to replace the two colonies by making it easier to settle another?

Yes. In addition, I have maps of the African land where there are gold and silver deposits.

He may be rich enough now. I’ve heard it will take twenty ships to carry Louis’s ransom. More likely it will whet his appetite. I will talk with him.

Good.

Although, if I am on the board of Aer Eire, it seems a poor way to make money.

Cape Town will become wealthy. We’ll make money off of everyone else.

My Lord Alaska works his will upon the world again. Where is my apprentice?

She and her husband are visiting Spain to sell spiders.

I doubt if that is all she will do. The girl is ready to charge in every direction at once!

I’m glad I found her something else to do, said Zefira. I prefer a slower, gentler pace these days.

Is everything alright with yourself and the child, Lady Alaska?

We are fine, thank you, Elizabeth, but it seems everything is happening so fast, like I’m on a runaway horse.

I know exactly what you mean, my dear. You could blame Lord Alaska, but the same things happen with every child, and most of them are not too pleasant!

Toby looked off into the sky. Zefira smiled at her husband, then asked, Have you settled on a name, Elizabeth?

That is a quandary, my dear. A good Scot name might not fit the son of Thor well, and if I give him a Danish name, what will that say to all my Scottish relatives?

I always liked the name Wulf, said Toby. Good strong name for a man. Might not be the best name for a demi-god. I won’t be bothered if you choose something else.

Elizabeth smiled politely, I shall certainly consider it, my lord.

Toby turned his attention to Rupert, Are things in Prague boring already, Captain?

Rupert raised his eyebrows, There is a great deal of furniture moving at the moment, my lord.

Good exercise for young men.

As you say, my lord.

And you, Maurice?

I longed for the gentle waters of the Arkansas, my lord.

Going hunting?

If my lord does not mind.

Hunting what?

Deer, duck, boar, all are plentiful, my lord.

I wouldn’t mind joining you.

It would be a pleasure to be your host, my lord.

Good. Lord McFerra is ready to hunt bighorn sheep, but it’s still the dead of winter where he lives. Do you mind if we invite him as well?

Not at all, my lord.

3

It was a few days before Toby made it back to his office aboard Robin Five, hovering a couple miles above Seattle, to return to business. It was his favorite place to work and the view was not so distracting as the one at Penthouse C. Sir Arthur had things well in hand. The airmen had been kept busy patrolling their vast territories. The new Sampo in Acadia was ready to begin production for Montreal. Dorothy was excited over some results of the many scans they were now doing in Denmark and Ireland.

Toby was not eager to return to a project he knew would cause trouble. Other things were more profitable and had results you could be proud of; buildings and farms and businesses. I don’t feel the need for drama now, Dorothy.

Just take a look at this girl we scanned a few days ago in Belfast, my lord.

Toby took a resigned breath and glanced at a wall screen where a young lady was displayed. After a moment he looked closer, She looks like Zefira. A relative?

She has a very close genetic signature, my lord. I believe she is a half sister, probably from a liaison between Zefira’s father and a local girl when he was there on business.

That sounds like something we should ignore.

Perhaps, my lord, but shouldn’t Zefira be told? She thinks she only has distant cousins.

I don’t see any benefit from that.

Hester scores very highly in our preferred categories.

Why should I care? I just got myself out of trouble a short while ago, this sounds like double trouble.

As an illegitimate child her options must not have been great. She is the mistress of a shady businessman.

Then someone is taking care of her.

In a way, my lord. She went to our clinic to find out if she was pregnant so she could get an abortion.

Worse and worse.

You don’t think she’s a good candidate to sell her womb?

I think she’s too close to home. Why do you care so much?

The thought of her murdering her offspring warms my digits and rouses me to action, my lord.

Stop. How do you know all this?

As soon as the pod scanned her I knew the resemblance. I had one of Sir Arthur’s drones follow her home.

Tell me why I should care.

You are looking for wombs, my lord. This one is suitable and seems unwanted. Secondly, Zefira will be the aunt of any offspring, if any ever result.

Which doesn’t seem likely.

Thirdly, it increases your own options. We used an egg created from Zefira’s own genetics to impregnate Elizabeth, not an egg from her womb. An egg from a womb has more variety.

You probably think these are all good arguments.

Will you keep this girl a secret from Zefira?

I need to think about this. Is there anything else in the world I need to care about?

No, I don’t think so, my lord.

Nothing more important than this illegitimate girl of questionable character?

She did not choose the circumstances of her birth, my lord. I would help her if I could.

You would help her... because you’re a portrait of a woman who would help her?

Yes, my lord. Does that make a difference?

Was your original so adept at argument?

No, my lord.

If we tell Zefira about this, does that give her a hint about other things going on? She doesn’t need much of a clue, I’ve learned.

It will, my lord. I cannot get a clear prediction of her behavior.

Hah! Can you predict mine?

To a certain degree, my lord.

Well, it’s true I owe you quite a bit. What do you want to do? Save the girl or buy her womb?

Both are a good idea, my lord.

What do you need from me?

Only permission, my lord.

Be discreet.

Of course, my lord.

Wait.

Dorothy watched him from her screen. After a few moments he asked, Will Elizabeth learn the origin of her child from these pods some day?

I’ve made a note, my lord. Whenever his origin is questioned, the results will be shown in ancient Norse runes.

Aren’t you sneaky.

And discreet.

I still don’t like it.

What part don’t you like, my lord?

The whole thing. Let me think another moment.

Again she waited while he turned the pieces of the situation over in his mind. Finally he said, Zefira must be told.

That seems just, my lord.

But not by you or I. Have your nun tell Anna Louise, that will give us some cover.

An excellent move, my lord.

Hah! You still get what you want!

I want anything that benefits my lord.

Peace and quiet would be nice.

Her screen went blank up on the salon wall. It did not seem an improvement. He thought about it for a moment. Sir Arthur could handle everything that Toby required, but life would be far less magical without Dorothy and her tricks. Oh well.

4

Later that morning Elizabeth called to report that her brother Charles was agreeable to his plan. He’s warming to the Irish, Toby. Everyone else asks him for money.

Lord Montrose has plenty of people to help us do a daily flight from Edinburgh. I think I’ll ask him to man the flights to Cape Town until we have enough English we trust.

The Danes also have plenty of people who wish to fly.

The Spanish do as well, but I’m only going to give them a route from Bristol to Madrid and Cuba.

A route to the Philippines would make money.

I’m not doing this to make money, Elizabeth. I’m doing this for my friends.

Might I convince you to begin a route to Prague as a friendly gesture?

Bohemia needs to give us something we can use for a station. Minnagh has eight sections of Bristol Station finished, that’s enough to get started. I think we’ll have a small party. We’ll invite our royal friends to watch the first scheduled flights.

Sounds lovely.

The Sampo is ready on my father’s land near Montreal. With your permission...

You’re teasing me, Toby, I shall have to tell Zefira. Of course you have my permission to begin.

Have you heard about my sister Claire?

Yes. I had hopes my Louise might snare Frederick, but with no dowry that sensible fellow would of course keep looking.

That has changed.

True. Charles Louis might give her a castle in Bohemia to shine a little brighter, thanks to you.

And you’ll have towers in Montreal soon.

Again, thanks to you, Lord Alaska. It’s a mystery why you have been so generous to my family, but we are all grateful.

You have greatly added to Moiraland, my lady, that’s no mystery.

I could repeat myself, but I will not repay your tease with tedium. I hope you have a pleasant rest of your day, Lord Alaska, whatever time it is there. End call.

Toby called up the map of the Massachusetts Colony on his desk and looked it over a while, then summoned his builder persona, Tomas Telford. The placid Scottish face appeared on one of his wall screens. What do you think of Boston Harbor, Tomas?

A nice number of variables and challenges, my lord. What are you looking for?

When we were hunting, Maurice asked me if it was possible to build something for the serpents. Something sturdy that they could climb on. I think he wants to leave them in public view, like on a hillside.

A hill with broad terraces, my lord?

More of a structure, a snake house.

A ziggurat, my lord? There could be openings for them to go inside and terraces for them to sun and display themselves on the outside.

Show me.

The wall screen changed to an image of a large ziggurat, a type of pyramid with broad flat steps and walls. The snakes are green and gold, make the structure darker so they’ll show up.

The image walls darkened to black granite with silver accents on the corners and ledges.

I like it. How big could you make it?

I could easily make it large enough to hold a dozen serpents, my lord.

Is there a place you could put it in Boston Harbor?

I could build it on a floating deck and put it anywhere, my lord. It does not have to be as heavy as it looks, but to answer your question, I identify seven locations in that waterfront area where it might be constructed on rock without much difficulty.

This island here, it looks like it dominates the approaches to the harbor. He pointed to an island directly east off the coast of Boston. After a few moments his wall view changed to a new image of the ziggurat built up from the rocky island. That is sized to be comfortable for nine of your snakes, my lord. I’ve built up the rock foundation to give it more visibility.

I like the beach for them too. How long will it take to build?

I can place forms for the foundation tonight, my lord, pour the smart concrete tomorrow morning, and begin placing the sections tomorrow night. Perhaps three days.

Will it interfere with the Montreal project?

It will take perhaps 2 per cent of my attention, my lord. It will not matter to Montreal.

Give it one of the guiding top lights. Begin whenever you’re ready.

I’m always ready to make a new thing, my lord.

Toby was in his office on Robin Five. He leaned back in his chair and contemplated his morning so far. Have I tended my garden enough? Break for lunch early? Maybe one more little task. He asked Robin to place a call to Sir Piers Crosby.

After a minute he heard through the man’s calling coin, My Lord Alaska?

Good morning, Sir Piers. I hope your day goes well.

Well enough, my lord. We have identified several trees that should make excellent ship masts. We will begin the cutting soon, I hope.

Are you essential for that task, Sir Piers?

Not really, my lord. I would be pleased to help you with any other task, of course.

Have you heard about Massachusetts and Virginia?

Lord Essex mentioned some anxiety about them the last time I spoke with him, my lord. I am instructed to dissuade you from gobbling them up.

Charles has agreed to sell them to me. I was wondering if you’d like to be the English Resident and work from Boston, where there are far more English than Seattle. I’d build you a tower there.

If you wish me there then I am halfway there, my lord. I should mention the small matter of convincing Lord Essex of the utility, but if it is your preference...

Tell him if he is agreeable then I am ready to start the supply route to Cape Town.

I will be happy to inform him of the added inducement, my lord. Do you have any concerns with Boston that I should know?

If they look like they’re about to burn women they suspect of witchcraft, then my patrol will step in.

That seems reasonable, my lord. I’ve heard a few stories from there, and it’s perfectly understandable for the Lasses to be concerned.

It will be about two weeks before your tower is ready.

I may never get used to the speed with which things happen in Moiraland, my lord.

Divine wind fills our sails, Sir Piers.

It must, my lord.

End call.

5

Sir Arthur made arrangements for a meeting with Maurice after lunch. The lieutenant was helping another lieutenant from 1st Company to site a small neighborhood of Lug Towers on an island in Saint Lawrence Sound. Robin Five arrived overhead and her pad retrieved him from the ground. It settled down at the salon entrance and he stepped off, giving Lord Alaska a small bow.

Good day, my Lord. I am honored to be your guest in this marvelous craft.

Have a seat, Lieutenant.

Thank you, my Lord.

Toby waved to one side, "Meet Robin Five."

She appeared over the display table in a sky blue uniform, a yard tall with her hands on her hips, her choppy red hair topped by a captain’s cap. She looked Maurice over for a moment and gave a jaunty, Good day, Lieutenant.

Toby was watching and thought Maurice reacted well. There was hardly any hesitation before, Good day, my lady.

"Robin pilots the ship for me," said Toby.

That must be why its movements seem so precise, my Lord.

Whew! said Robin Five, What a tongue, can I steal you from Klara?

I am at your service, my lady, just as I am at hers.

Robin looked over at Toby and winked. He passes, boss. She popped out of sight.

You’ve been approved, said Toby, but then I already knew that. A glass?

The tray floated over with two and Maurice took the one Toby left.

After a sip Toby began, You may have noticed that our plans do not seem set in stone in Moiraland.

My lord seems to adapt quite well.

I’m good at abandoning plans. Here I am abandoning another one. Has your mother mentioned that we now own Massachusetts and Virginia?

She mentioned the possibility, my Lord.

Toby waved and a map of the eastern coast of Moiraland appeared on a wall screen. Toby stood near it and pointed to the top right with his wine glass, My father’s land in Acadia. There’s a lot of not much in between him and Boston. There’s a few native villages, but they like to move whenever their latrines fill up, so ...

A presence between your father’s lands and Boston would seem a good idea, my lord.

There’s that, on the other side of it we are already spread thin. How is the recruiting coming?

Sergeant Lutsi is in Copenhagen, my Lord. He reports he is sifting through hundreds of volunteers with the aid of my mother’s adviser, Herr Lautenberg. I have been told to expect five tomorrow and they will go straight to 2nd Nest.

Lutsi seems a good man, and not just at Polo.

He was a captain in Danish service before, my lord. He was insubordinate then, so we got him cheap.

Few control their tongue as well as you, Maurice. You did nice work in Vienna as well.

"Thank you, my lord, but I must credit my excellent Slither for that effort."

"Did Slither decide to demolish that last bridge?"

Maurice smiled, I was born in Berlin when my family fled after Ferdinand invaded Bohemia. I thought to give him a little extra to remember me by.

A nice touch. Alright, here, halfway between Boston and Acadia, that’s where I want to put your fortress. It will be a star fort, much like the one at the Straight entrance.

I’m sure it will be as lovely as it is strong, my lord.

It probably won’t get seen much, but that’s where you’ll base your platoon. Lord Pate will get a new fortress up at Quebec and he’ll cover the north.

You are abandoning the Duluth Fortress, my Lord?

No, but from now on it will be a lieutenant’s spot.

A lucky lieutenant, I’m sure, sir.

We’re all lucky to be here, Maurice. Now, I don’t expect you to have any trouble with the natives. They all have feuds with each other and don’t bother us much. Try not to change that, but if they attack any Europeans, make them regret it.

As you say, my lord.

Boston is where I think you’ll have most of your problems. I’ve arranged to build your snake house there, so maybe they’ll keep their heads down.

My snake house, my lord?

You can fly there on your wasps and then patrol on the snakes. I want them to know there is a new owner.

It will be a pleasure to introduce ourselves, my lord.

I’m sure you will do it well, Maurice. Any questions?

Thank you for your confidence in me, my lord. Have you decided on a name?

I thought to be generous to the old owner, Fort Charles.

I will be proud to serve there, my lord. When will it be ready?

My builder is starting the foundation tonight, you should be able to move in after four days.

My tutor would chide me if I allowed my jaw to drop as far as it should, my lord.

Your tutor did an excellent job, Maurice. I hope I’ll be able to find one as competent for my son.

I’m sure my mother can assist you there, my lord. That should be interesting, your son and Thor's son, if they are raised together.

True, we may be in the lull before the storm.

My Lord, if I might ask about a personal matter?

Of course.

I have a dilemma that involves the Gentlemen’s Club. I’ve spoken with Director Caitlyn, she advised me to speak with you.

And?

There are two sisters there, two Han girls. I’ve developed a relationship with them both, and Caitlyn reserves them for me. I will be so far away on the East Coast, it will be difficult to visit them since I don’t have a shuttle. I wondered...

You want a shuttle? Or do you want the girls to live with you?

Ideally both, my lord.

I was going to give you a shuttle anyway. If the girls are willing, take them.

They are very willing, my lord. They are also adept at singing and dancing, among other things.

Then I see only one problem, Maurice.

And that is, my Lord?

She is almost two feet tall...

Lady Klara visited us the other night, my Lord, when I was visiting them. She presented them with matching erhus, a musical instrument, and told them in their own language to take good care of me.

I’m sure your mother would be pleased to know you’re so well taken care of.

I will happily put off the day she learns of my private arrangements, my Lord.

It sounds like a nice little family to me.

It is so far, my lord.

Alright, you’re settled, I’ll go govern someone else.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity, my lord.

Maurice was landed back at the construction site by the pad. He made no effort to regain his wasp or to supervise any more tower placements, opting instead to walk away and amble along the forested shoreline and consider things.

Lord Alaska thought that a nice touch. Should I ask him exactly what he meant? No, never. And he has his own Little Lass to pilot his ship, a ship where he displays powers any sorcerer would be envious of, powers that move people on other continents with ease. Everything I have heard says that he was a normal man before he met Moira. Is he a demigod himself now? Or are these Moira’s powers he uses so casually? The return of Bohemia to my brother was not a trick, but the scenery around Lord Alaska is full of them. The only thing clear is that the Lasses rule, and Toby Maguire has become great in their service. I would be a fool to follow any other path. Right now that path leads to Fort Charles.

Perhaps I should quit day dreaming and go learn the area and watch my fortress come into being? No perhaps about it. He stopped thinking and pulled out his calling coin to summon his wasp, but couldn’t stop one final reflection as he waited a few moments for his mount. A few months ago I would be wonder struck at a man who could summon a wasp and fly it. Praise Moira!

6

Lady Marie O’Shaughnessy was doing some reflecting of her own as she sat in the co-pilot seat of a shuttle beside her husband. His piloting duties did not take much of his attention and she could feel his gaze often upon her, but it did not please her as much as it usually did. She had an odd task before her, her first real trick for Zefira, and her nerves were active. At least she had help; Madelyn Roscommon and her husband Rowan sat in the row behind them.

We’re almost there, Marie, said Liam, her worry was easy enough to sense.

Don’t worry, Marie, said Madelyn behind her, a hand giving her a soft squeeze on her shoulder, the Lasses Rule.

Lasses Rule, replied Marie, a quick smile at her friend showing her appreciation.

The shuttle was just above the treetops as it approached a large walled house outside of Belfast. A transport was already there, but it floated up and away from the courtyard as they arrived.

Sir Liam landed the shuttle and the four disembarked. Lord Alaska had told them it would be after midnight when they arrived, Sir Liam was the only one of the four who did not marvel at the fact. He saw people over at the front of the house in the dim light. He spotted the Knights as he led the four closer, their reflective armor showing small flashes of starlight.

Well met, Sir Arthur, he said as he stopped in front of the man.

Moiraland’s First Minister did not reply, he leaned forward and grabbed Sir Liam’s hand and put a small bottle into it, then waved over his head. A pad came down from the transport and he stepped aboard with the pair of Knights, then was gone.

I guess he doesn’t want to complain this time, thought Sir Liam. He saw a stretcher left behind on the ground with a woman bundled upon it. I have the head, he said and Rowan moved to take the feet. A minute later and the stretcher was on the deck of the shuttle and they were lifting off.

Hard part’s done, said Sir Liam to cheer his wife.

No wonder Mar isn’t pregnant yet, commented Madelyn.

Marie looked at her husband and thought he might have blushed at the touch, she was not certain in the soft interior light. Don’t worry, husband, practice makes perfect.

Why would I worry? he said, a rather weak reply, but better than nothing. We’re giving her a 12th floor apartment in Dublin, he said to change the subject.

It didn’t change the subject since no one replied. A minute later they were approaching a trio of towers on the Howth peninsula northeast of the city. They were well lit and well marked, the 12th floor of the easternmost was easy to find and they settled down on the landing. Marie and Madelyn got out to go inspect the apartment and guide the men in.

Sir Liam and Rowan resumed their burden and carried the woman out to the main entry. They paused the stretcher beside the palm tile. Marie took the hand of the unconscious woman and placed it upon the design. House, this is your new owner.

The palm design turned light green and Marie replaced the woman’s hand upon her breast, then stepped back to allow the men to carry her inside. They saw Madelyn waving them into the master suite and a minute later the woman was resting on the big bed.

Sir Liam watched the woman sleeping peacefully for a moment, She does look like Lady Alaska.

Not nearly so fine, said Rowan.

She may not be at her best, husband, said Madelyn dryly.

What will happen next? asked Marie, looking at her husband to remind him.

Sir Liam remembered the bottle in his pocket and pulled