For Forty Weeks the Sunbird Flew: An Airman's Tale

Chapter 20: The Fortieth Week

Well, here they were. Albion. They were home. Well, they were on their home island at the very least. As excited as he'd been to spend the better part of a year on the continent, there was something to be said for the comforts of what he'd known before he left. It was hard to believe that the last stretch of their journey had taken this long, but damage to the old bird had been extensive and they couldn't afford to stay in one place for more than a day or two, and so any repairs had been done on the move with whatever parts were to hand. The Sunbird hadn't been going as fast as she could as a result, but they'd still pushed for as quick a journey as possible.

Forty men and women were dead, and equal that number were wounded. They were running with a skeleton crew mostly, and everyone had known someone who had died. That was just how it worked aboard such a small vessel. But that was all beside the point; they were back, and they were safe. The prince was safe, and that was the important thing.

"Well, here we go. I want our semaphore clear and visible. We're requesting docking rights at the royal palace, with valuable cargo aboard. I daren't say more than that in semaphore."

Midshipmen and deckhands scrambled to rig the flags in the right order at the captain's command, not that Archer could understand what each of the flags represented.

"Archer, my spyglass if you please. I wish to see how they respond to our request."

There was a series of flashing lights that caused Archer to blink away as he handed the spyglass to his friend, but Lawrence didn't even put the thing to his eye before he grimaced.

"Well, it seems that will be unneeded. They're using morse to communicate back."

"What are they saying?"

"'No proof, denial.' We need to give them proof if we're to be allowed to dock."

"But we can't give them any proof unless we dock!"

"I know that. Semaphore, tell them the captain is willing to come down via raft and discuss it with them."

"Yes, sir!"

Lawrence bristled at the use of the honourific once again, sighing heavily as he leaned on his cane. Archer held back a snicker for the man's sake, for it seemed that the title wasn't liable to stop anytime soon. There was another series of lights, and Lawrence nodded grimly.

"Right, they've accepted. Helmsman, as soon as the life-raft takes off make for the nearest port and ready the ship for repairs!"

He waited a moment for a response before turning to Archer and continuing.
"Mr Haywood, if you would accompany me and the prince, we're heading down to the surface. To the palace."

"We- I mean, I'm going with you?"

Lawrence looked at him as if he had grown a second head.
"Of course you are man, don't be daft. Now run to grab Talon and head to the raft. By the time you've grabbed him and gotten there I should be there as well."

Archer nodded, forcing down his nerves at the prospect of being in the royal palace.
"Will do, boss. I'll meet you there."

It felt strange, this whole trip. He'd expected more people to try and stop them, more people to ask questions, but they all seemingly took one look at Talon and just... stopped. The landing party that greeted them hadn't even introduced themselves, instead just staring slack-jawed at Talon. Given that there were likely more than a few portraits and pictures of the prince still in the palace there was little wonder that he seemed to be recognised, but still.