Heroes: A Raconteur House Anthology by Honor Raconteur & Gavin Driskell & Jordan MacLean & Esther Saks & Glenn Michaels

Author:Honor Raconteur & Gavin Driskell & Jordan MacLean & Esther Saks & Glenn Michaels [Raconteur, Honor]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Jordan MacLean, young adult, Anthologies (multiple authors), YA, adventure, Fiction, Honor Raconteur, Science Fiction, heroism, immortality, scifi, short stories, magic, quest, gnomes, Historical Fiction, heroes, scifi military, apprentice, Artifactor, fantasy, trains, oracle, female protagonist, male protagonist
Publisher: Raconteur House
Published: 2014-07-22T23:00:00+00:00

Portsmouth

Sunday, November 7, 1899

As happens with complex enterprises entered with the help of good brandy, the morning's sobriety brought attrition. The lesser aristocracy, conscious of appearances, still offered encouragement, but mindful of their modest fortunes, they offered little else. Baron Laurel's extravagant promise to put his entire fleet at our disposal dwindled with his careful reflection to but a small towing vessel and her crew, and not before November. From Laurel's description of a “small towing vessel” in his letter, I despaired of having a ship capable of refloating, much less towing, the remains of a frigate, but as it happened, the SS Merry Margaret was a fine stout steamboat, fully crewed and equipped for salvage. Better still, she moved much faster than I had expected, even against currents and tides.

Through the summer and into autumn, Admiral Paterson remained my staunchest ally, deflecting military officiousness at Portsmouth on my behalf. But October brought war in South Africa and rumours of a curious anti-Western cult gaining followers even in the Chinese Empress's court, not to mention the myriad political brush fires across the rest of the empire to which British forces had to attend. So I was not surprised when I received Sir Joseph's letter from a far corner of the world bearing his deep regrets. But through his continued influence, he was able to secure from Sir Nowell two invaluable gifts: a letter of introduction charging the recipient to grant me any and all accommodation as would assist in my most urgent mission for the Crown, and the promise of a military aide charged with helping to secure any items we find which might be of military interest. The aide will, of course, spy on our efforts and report anything amiss to Sir Nowell. It is a small price to pay.

Lord Rosebery had hoped to be on hand when we raise the Eurydice, but his schedule no longer allows for it. The worldwide conflicts served to bolster his popularity, as well, since now his pleas to expand the navy during his ill-fated term as prime minister appear nothing short of prophetic. Whilst he politely declines the calls for him to challenge the sitting Premier and retake his former position, he enjoys a certain renewed influence in Parliament and with Her Majesty. His regrets brought a rather generous cheque to assure me of his continued support.

Thus the first of November found me the sole partner of our original company to take ship at Portsmouth. I could not have been more pleased.

Ceridwen saw no more of the white Alsatian, not even when she went out alone to make her offerings, and I believe she has accepted at last that it was just someone's pet dog or fighting animal gone astray. Of course, she will never say as much to me, not when her concerns have served her insistence on accompanying me on this venture. She need not have bothered with that gambit. I was already inclined to bring her along, both because

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