He walked to the outer wall of the tower and looked out across the grasslands. The Morgawr and his rets were already inside the castle, and the plains were empty save for Black Moclips, which sat anchored inland perhaps a quarter of a mile away. Beyond, clearly visible against the deep blue of the morning sky, the Morgawr’s fleet hovered at anchor offshore.
He stared at the airships for a moment, at the way they were clustered to protect against a surprise attack, and an idea came to him. It was so wild, so implausible, that he almost dismissed it out of hand. But he couldn’t quite let it go, and the longer he held on, the more attractive it seemed. Like a brightly colored snake that would turn on you once it had you hypnotized. Like fire, waiting to burn you to ash if you reached out to touch it.
Shades, he thought, he was going to do it.
He was aghast, but excited, as well, his blood pumping through him in a hot flush as he raced down the tower stairs for the airship. He would have to be quick to make a difference, and even that might not be enough. What he was thinking was insane. But there was all sorts of madness in the world, and at least this one involved something more than just standing around.
He burst out of the tower, leapt aboard the Jerle Shannara, and headed directly for Spanner Frew. The shipwright looked up from his work, doubt clouding his dark features as he saw the look on the other’s face. “What is it?” he asked.
“You’re not doing anything important, are you?” Alt Mer replied, reaching for his sword and buckling it on.
Spanner Frew stared at him. “Everything I do is important. What do you want?”
“I want you to go with me to steal back Black Moclips.”
The shipwright grunted in disgust. “That didn’t work so well for Little Red, as I recall.”
“Little Red didn’t have a good plan. I do. Come along and find out. We’ll take Britt and Kelson for company. It should be fun, Black Beard.”
Spanner Frew folded his burly arms across his chest. “It sounds dangerous to me.”
Alt Mer grinned. “You didn’t think you were going to live forever, did you?” he asked.
Then, seeing the other man’s dark brow furrow in response, he laughed.
He left Ahren Elessedil and Kian to keep watch over the Jerle Shannara and set out with Spanner Frew, Kelson Riat, and Britt Rill for the outside wall of the castle. It didn’t occur to him until he was well away from the airship that he might have trouble finding his way back. Not only were the ruins a confusing maze to begin with, but the spirit creature’s magic was designed to keep intruders from penetrating beyond the perimeter. But there was no help for it now, and besides, he didn’t think he would be coming back anyway.
He told his companions what he thought they needed to know and no more. He told them that they were going to skirt the ruins to their most inland point, well away from the view of those aboard Black Moclips, then sneak around to the far side of the airship, get aboard, and steal her away. If they could manage it, they would have a fully operational airship in which to make their escape. With luck, the Morgawr would not be able to give chase, and without him, the rest of the fleet would lack the necessary leadership to act.
It was all an incredible bunch of nonsense, if he thought it through, but since they were already moving to do what he had suggested, there wasn’t enough time for much thought on the part of anyone.
He took them directly to the outer wall, then east and north along their perimeter to a gate that opened almost directly into a heavy stand of trees. He was moving quickly, aware of the fact that the Morgawr could encounter Grianne or Bek and Rue at any time, and once that happened, it might be too late for him to succeed in what he intended. Scooting out from the cover of the walls, the four Rovers gained the trees and worked their way through them until they were across the flats. From there, they followed a shallow ravine that allowed them to creep through the tall grasses until they were less than a hundred yards from their target.