Tale of The Broken Sword

Chapter Thirty Three : The Appearance of the Grand Passage

30th August, AD 1656

Eastern Forward Base, Ansteig Borders.

Everent’s eyes parted to see the dull colours of the canvas ceiling that probably kept him and the rest of the wounded from the burning sun or the cold slick of the rain. The sergeant slowly turned his head towards the side, subconscious hoping that his mother would be beside him. Instead, no one was there, except for a silvery table that kept the necessary medications for his wounds.

“You’re awake,” A voice came out from the direction of the entrance. “Good to hear that little groaning of yours.”

Everent craned his head upwards to see who it was. It was Krom, staring out of the tent through the raised grimy curtain. The skin covering his wound felt tingly and raw, like he’d had been submerged in a pool of ice for the past week. Slowly as he could, Everent looked around the bed and analysed the spare gray room of the makeshift tent. A chair stood vacant at the other end of the tent with a brand new military uniform hanging over the armrest.

The Triage Centre.

“The guys back in the camp are worried about you.” Krom continued. “You were in coma for the past week. Critical condition, I would say.”

“What happened to...?” Everent coughed violently, gripping his chest tightly as he did so. “The... the...”

“You mean the planned invasion?” Krom interceded, knowing what the sergeant was about to ask. “It was delayed for awhile. There have some complications among the generals.”

Everent looked around the tent in search of a clock, but the pain writhing inside the wound had pinned him to the bed. Giving up, he asks Krom:

“What time is it?”

“It’s already past 6:00 in the morning,” Krom replied. “We’re going to be here for a while longer. Protecting the Line from any future attacks.”

“Everent Clauvis Griswall,” Krom started. “Being shot by an innocent looking, inexperienced girl soldier of the Ansteig forces. You’re the talk of the base now, if not the town.”

“I’m sorry,” Everent said gloomily. “I should have taken the shot first.”

“It’s alright,” Krom patted his shoulder, smirking away. “You have reached your age to feel love. Who knows, you might stumble upon her again in the future. Provided that the other Aurelian soldiers didn’t shoot her first.”

“Right,” Everent snuggled underneath the comforter. “I think I need a good rest for now.”

“Damn right you need it,” Krom smiled. “Probably the invasion’s gonna be pushed to the next month. We’ll see how it goes. Be well, Everent. It’s an order.”

“Yes, sir...” Everent said and fell into a fitful sleep.

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Everent walked out of his tent, trying to familiarize himself with the light. Having closed his eyes for a week without prying it open, the glaring light set a burning feeling in the sergeant’s eyes. Wandering around the encampment, he stumbled upon Guthren, who was busy conversing and laughing among the rest of the men.

“Hey, Everent,” Guthren grinned. “Feel better already?”

“Yeah,” Everent flashed an awkward smile, trying to brush it off. “I can walk and twist my body now.”

“Good,” The corporal then looked back at his rifle, cleaning it with a long, slender brush. “There hasn’t any word from the other side, though.”

“I know,” Everent replied. “Krom told me. They seemed to have gone off-grid for days already. They’re probably gathering their remaining forces to defend the eastern cities.”

Guthren nodded silently, half-paying attention to the sergeant’s words. He then stood up and turned to the sergeant. “You’d better take some more rest. Walking all the time might reopen your wound again.”

“Hold up,” Everent pointed to the swirling clouds. It seemed abnormal even for a gloomy day. It looked like a spiral of some sort. “What’s that brewing over there?”

“Oh, that?” Guthren looked at the clouds. “That is the Grand Passage.”

“The what?” Everent immediately asked Guthren, unintentionally raising his voice.

“Whoa, calm down,” Guthren looked at the sergeant with a confused look. “It’s the Grand Passage. It’s been there for three days now. All the airships are grounded since then until now. The higher-ups worried that it might interrupt with our electronic equipments.”

Within seconds, Everent left the corporal and headed for the makeshift landing pads.

“Hey,” Guthren called out to him. “You can go in there!”

Everent ignored the corporal and quickly got in one of the airships parked on the tarmac ground. Making sure that he’d brought his pistol and checking on his equipment. The sergeant flipped the switches on the control panels. Bringing the airship to life, the engines whirred and steam began to rise out of the two main thrusters.

Lucky for the sergeant, the airship was already prepped for launch. He didn’t know who would’ve readied the airship for him. It does not matter; all it matters for Everent is to go inside the Grand Passage.

Moments later, the airship rocketed up into the sky, leaving a trail of smoke in its wake. Everent checked on the pressure controls and gently pulled the airbrake handles. With a loud creaking sound, the airship moved forward and towards the direction of the enormous storm clouds.

Behind the sergeant, on the intercom, a voice rang out, amidst the vigorous static that interrupted the transmission. Everent could hear the words.

“Airship Transport Number Two, you are not cleared for flight. Return to base immediately.”

Everent ignored it and took the airship into the mouth of the swirling clouds. Seconds later, thunder began to rumble and the airship vibrated vigorously. The sergeant knew that the strength of the airship could not withstand the raging winds of the passage.

He had to take his chances anyway. The sergeant could hear parts of the metal frame been ripped off from the main body of the airship. Then, lightning struck one of the two main thrusters, setting it on fire. Warning sirens blared and the sergeant could not think of what to do.

Amidst the chaos, the sergeant could see a faint light on the other end of the swirling clouds. Knowing that he’s going to cross the Grand Passage, he punched a red button and slammed the handles. The engines roared louder and the airship was reaching its speed limit.

Minutes later, the airship bursts from the clouds. A vast gray sky lies before the sergeant and a faint light penetrates into the cracked windows of the airship. Everent peered out of the cockpit window and he saw a vast, gray city lying abandoned with destroyed buildings and crumpled highways.

But the sergeant too lost control of the airship, sending it plummeting down towards the earth. Everent tries to change the airship’s course, avoiding the towering skyscrapers, but it’s not enough.

The airship pierced through a building with an earthquake-sized force, driving it through the siding, through the windows and out on the other side.

Everent tried to pull the throttle but only seconds later did it smashed into the ground, then lift up again before landing with an ear-piercing thud. Everent’s body jerks back, twisting in his seat.

The airship slows as its nose crumples like aluminium can. Windows blow out, shattered to small pieces and sending them hurling towards the sergeant. Everent tried to shield his face but with all the hundreds of flying shrapnel, it’s entirely useless.

The force of the impact nearly made the sergeant unconscious. He sat there, trying to hold up against the pain both in his chest and the rest of his body. He shifted his seat, halfway wondering whether he had made it across the Grand Passage or not.