“Captain Haut!” Larisa charged up the deck to the flight cabin and embraced a bearded elf who looked like he’d seen better days. “Thank you for taking the charter.”

Cydnar refocussed on his body, and let the conversations going on around him and the cries of the crew fade into inaudible babble. Every bone in his back ached, each limb spasmed, and his heart raced twice as fast as though he had just been stricken with a lifetime’s heartache. He clenched his fists and pushed down onto the deck, trying to rekindle feeling in his fingers.

“Give it a moment then try to stand,” Dorn said softly. He bent a knee and patted Cydnar on the shoulder. “We figured a long time ago telling people what’s about to happen tends to lead to them running as far away from the dome as possible.”

“I can’t,” he wiped the vomit from his chin, “I can’t possibly think why.”

Left alone to compose himself, Cydnar drew on the remnants of his energy and stood, very slowly, to take in the view. The vessel was stationary and linked to a floating platform around which four similar vessels clung. He had imagined an airport in the city, linking the streams of smaller vessels together in a web way of transportation. Now he realised ships of this size flying between the myriad spires would be a recipe for disaster.

“Cydnar, come and meet the captain!”

He turned to the group by the cabin and saw Dorn waving at him. He walked slowly to their side and bowed politely to the grizzled veteran. A great axe was strapped to his back, which was an oddly welcoming sight amidst the wealth of side-arms and flanked by two imposing cannon arrays.

“You’re the geomancer?” Haut asked flatly.

Cydnar nodded.

“Good. Larisa promised me a flagship and I’ve been waiting quite long enough.” Cydnar couldn’t work out wherever or not his tone was threatening, or he was just naturally inclined to seriousness. “I’m Captain Hautelin. Haut for short.” He held out a boulder sized fist and they shook curtly.

“Cydnar, it’s a pleasure.” He held his hand behind his back to click his joints back into place. He cupped both together and tried to look composed. His head still span from the effects of the portal.

“We’ll be at the steelworks shortly, take in the view of the city if you like, but hold onto the railings.” Haut dismissed the party and went back to preparing for departure with gusto.

“He’s been a commissioned captain for the Administrate for nearly a century, as reliable a man as any.” Larisa pointed to the prow of the ship and began to walk towards it. Cydnar followed, eager to take in the view of Denisha from above. “Do you have airships in your time?”

“Alerar has begun mass production of steam driven ships, but they’re more akin to boats floating on ballons than…” he looked around. “This.”