Chapter Four Hundred and Fourteen - Can You Say Uncle

Chapter Four Hundred and Fourteen - Can You Say Uncle

Chapter Four Hundred and Fourteen - Can You Say Uncle

Could it be a coincidence? Caprica asked.

We were back in the Beavers dining room, sitting around the table where Amaryllis had placed the race pamphlet.

I suppose thats possible, Amaryllis said. Awens uncle is somewhat... infamous, and his airship is featured in many of his stories.

I never heard of him before we went to the Snowlands. Is he a big deal around here? Calamity asked.

Uncle is... uncle, Awen said. When he was young, he was one of the more important members of the Exploration guild. He helped map out the entire continent, and fought all sorts of powerful monsters and... a lot of small places kind of owe him for helping them. Hes also very strong.

Right, Calamity said. How old is he, anyway?

Um, old? Awen said. Hes ten years older than papa, awa, I mean, my dad. And dad had me and my siblings when he was old, so... I dont know, exactly?

I rubbed at my chin in thought. So, because Awens uncle is popular, I guess its possible that the Shady Lady in the race isnt the same Shady Lady that Abraham has. But... it might be the same ship. And this kind of race sounds, hmm, Awen, do you think your uncle would participate in something like this?

Yes, she said without hesitation. Hed love this kind of thing.

High risk, middling rewards, lots of chances for everything to go horrifically wrong, Amaryllis listed off on her talons. Yes, this sounds like exactly the kind of thing Abraham Bristlecone would get up to.

Caprica leaned back into her seat with a shrug. Theres one way to find out. We go out and check. Awen, youd be able to recognize the ship, right? Also, are we really going to see this guy?

Its Abe! Hes really cool, of course we have to see him, I said.

Ah, of course Id recognize the Shady Lady! Awen said. Uncle used to let me help with maintenance. Not that, uh, he did maintenance himself most of the time. He usually had Raynold with him. He taught me a lot. I think Raynolds third class is something mechanic-related?

Third class? Calamity said. Then he whistled. Dang. Your uncle keeps scary company.

Well, if Awens sure she can recognize the ship-- Caprica started.

Awen, rather uncharacteristically, cut in before Caprica could finish. I am. I spent enough time around her growing up. The shape of the hull, the rigging, the sound of the engines... I'd know her anywhere."

"So it's decided then," I said, rising to my feet and giving the table a firm thump for good measure. "We'll go down to the race site, have a look at the ships, and see if the Shady Lady is really Abrahams Shady Lady."

"And if it isn't, Amaryllis, with her ever-practical mind, added, We'll have wasted only a little bit of time and gotten a tour of Smoulderglen. If it is, we'll have a chance to reconnect Awen with her uncle, which is a chance we cannot afford to miss. Abraham is, despite all of his... unique characteristics, still a very well-connected man."

Awen looked a bit flushed, a shy smile playing at her lips. "I... I would like to see Uncle again."

"Then it's settled," I said, my ears perked high in determination.

Of course, it was easy to say that things were settled, and a bit more complicated for them to actually be settled. The Beaver couldnt just be abandoned, so we left the dining room and prepared to head out, which meant gearing up in case of trouble and telling the crew about our departure.

It was a wooden-hulled ship, with poles sticking out of it for its sails and wood that was clearly mismatched, as if it had been flown into a forested mountainside, repaired with rough-hewn planks harvested from the trees they knocked down, and then immediately crashed into another mountain. There were still scrapes along its hull, and one of the letters on its side didnt quite match the others.

The Shady Lady was still a beautiful craft though. Its little cabin at the rear was quaint, and she somehow managed to feel... classy, despite the beatings she had taken.

She was an old lady, weather-beaten and tough as nails, but still spry where it counted.

Thats the Shady Lady!" Awen pointed at the ship I'd been looking at. "I'd recognize her anywhere!"

She ran up to the fence that separated the visitors from the ships, then started looking for a way around it. She stepped back, then looked up to the top of the fence. It was almost twice as tall as she was.

Awen glanced back at me. Can we jump it? she asked.

Uh, maybe? I said. It wouldnt be too hard, but there were lots of people around.

Shrugging, I decided that making Awen happy was more important than a rule. Besides, Abraham wouldnt be upset with us. So I scooped Awen up. She squeaked, but then clung on tight as I jumped up and over the fence with a bit of stamina pushed into my legs.

I set her down on the other side, then jumped back over. By the time I got there, Caprica had already taken to the air. I might be a princess, but Id rather avoid being carried, she said as she flew up and over the fence. Amaryllis huffed, then jumped onto the fence and clambered up.

So I glanced at Calamity, arms ready to grab onto him.

You know, Im part cat, right? I can jump over something like that no problem, he said.

I know, but I came all the way back to help, I said.

Calamity snorted, then leaped up into my arms.

He was much lighter than I expected, which made jumping over with him nice and easy.

As we gathered closer to the Shady Lady, a gruff voice boomed out behind us. Haha! Awen! Is that you?!

Awen spun around, eyes wide and mouth opening to exclaim something, but before she could say anything there was a blur and an oomph and suddenly Awen was being spun around in the arms of a huge, burly man.

Haha! Little Awen! Abraham said. He was as big as I remembered, which was to say, he was physically a bit smaller than me, but his sheer presence made him feel like a giant. I hadnt felt that much of a presence in someone since Id met Capricas dad.

His moustache was as fabulous as ever, and hed gained a few new wrinkles in the corners of his eyes, but they were curved up in a big smile. His eyes caught my attention, they had the same spark as Awens.

Ahaha! Broccoli, Amaryllis! You kept Awen in one piece! he said. Or shouted? It was hard to tell with Abraham.

Yup! Weve been wi--omph! I started only to be cut off as Abraham swept me and Amaryllis up in his hug.

It was nice to see Abraham again, even if it meant being squished until I couldnt breathe!

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