Each month, I'm writing a short, original featurette (think flash fiction) from the point of view of a character from my books. Occasionally, this character might be one of the main ones, but more often than not, I will choose a supporting character. Someone you might not get to know as well during the series because my focus in writing the novels is elsewhere.
In this inaugural story, I'm featuring Captain Blyden Kreg from The Alchemancer series. Blyden is captain of the airship, Griffin, and even though the Griffin and her crew are in Engines of Alchemancy, Blyden doesn't make his first appearance until book two, The Nullification Engine.
This one went out to Magic & Mayhem subscribers a couple of months ago. More details about joining are below after the story.
Enjoy!
Weathering the Storm
The wind howled through the Griffin’s rigging as Captain Blyden Kreg gripped the gunwale and surveyed the horizon. The vast expanse of clouds stretched endlessly beneath the airship, the setting sun casting an amber glow over the endless skies. A storm was brewing, and Blyden could feel it in his bones.
He turned, his weathered face hard as ever, and barked an order to the crew below. “Secure the cargo and batten down everything loose! We’ll be hitting rough air soon, and I don’t want to lose anything overboard.”
The men scrambled to obey. Blyden’s reputation as a hard man wasn’t without merit. The crew didn’t have to like him, but they did have to heed his commands. Right now, that was all that mattered.
First Mate Jacob approached, wiping sweat from his brow. “Captain, the storm’s moving faster than we thought. We could skirt it if we head south by a few degrees.”
Blyden shook his head. “No time. If we divert, we’ll miss the delivery in Blackpoint. The merchant guild’s already breathing down our necks. We cut through the storm.”
Jacob hesitated, eyeing the dark clouds swelling on the horizon. “Aye, sir,” he muttered before heading back to relay the order.
Blyden’s mind drifted to those guild representatives, fat and comfortable in their plush offices, issuing demands with no understanding of what it took to deliver goods on time. But Blyden wasn’t in this for their approval. He had his crew to think about, men who counted on their pay, their food, and the security he provided.
The ship groaned as the winds began to pick up. Lightning crackled in the distance, and the first rain droplets spattered the deck. The crew tightened ropes and secured crates, knowing full well what was coming. Blyden moved to the helm, where the helmsman gripped the wheel with white-knuckled hands.
“Steady, lad,” Blyden said, his voice calm despite the rising storm. “Keep her nose into the wind, and she’ll hold.”
The storm hit with full force an hour later, battering the Griffin with violent gusts and sheets of rain. The ship rocked and swayed, its engines straining against the gale. Blyden stood firm, moving about the dirigible and directing the crew with sharp commands, his voice cutting through the roar of the storm.
Suddenly, a crack split the air. One of the cargo ropes snapped, sending a large crate sliding across the deck. Blyden lunged forward, grabbing the nearest man and pulling him out of harm’s way just as the crate smashed into the railing, nearly tipping overboard.
“Secure that!” he shouted, though the wind tore at his words. The crew rushed to lash the crate down, fighting against the relentless storm. Drenched and unyielding, Blyden wasn’t content to watch while they worked, so he stepped in, holding the rope while they secured it.
After what felt like an eternity, the storm began to pass, leaving the Griffin battered but intact. The crew slumped in exhaustion, but the ship still flew, and they were still on course and on schedule.
Blyden allowed himself a moment to catch his breath, wiping rain from his face. He glanced around at the crew, many of whom had given him wary looks before the storm. Now, their faces showed something different. Respect, for one. Maybe even admiration.
“Get below and dry off,” Blyden called, his voice still carrying authority despite the fatigue in his bones. “We’ve got work to finish.”
The men obeyed.
Blyden remained at the helm, watching the skies clear ahead. Another storm weathered. Another day survived. This was his life, and for all its danger, he wouldn’t have it any other way.
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