Calling Out Charlie

Astra called out, silently and gently, Sartoma? Sartoma? Are you safe?

There was a cold silence, but Astra could feel Sartoma's terror. Someone was reading Sartoma's mind, and was trying to ransack and vandalise her memory. She was being silenced by this other mage. Astra broke the speech.

She said, audibly, to Checkers, "Get away from here, and circle widely, out of sight. I am about to get nasty, and shout in the silent speech. I have to find a mage that is down there, and neutralize him."

"If you need me, let us agree on a signal. Three short flames, and I come back?"

Astra thought for a few seconds, and modified this signal. "Three long flames, and everything is settled, and you can come in peace. Three short flames, and you are to come in and harry this ship, as I will be attacking it."

Checkers replied, "Understood." She launched herself from Astra and flew away from the ship.

Sartoma could neither see, nor hear, nor feel the world around her. She had shut herself off, hoping to protect her mind from the evil one that was assaulting it. She felt helpless and alone. She knew that without help, she could not hold out long. Charlie now took control of that part of Sartoma's body that lay outside the little bunker in which she had placed her soul.

Fred now saw Sartoma's blood rush back into her cheeks. She seemed to recover in part from the shock of the ambush. She started to speak.

"Fred and Solbert, I have tried reading the minds of these sailors. They are part of a league called the Lords of the Sea. They are something more than pirates. They are more like policemen. They ask for a portion of each shipment, and in exchange, they will offer their protection. As we are strangers, they do not have any record of us. They know who we are. I have a suggestion."

Solbert replied, "What might that be, Sartoma?"

"Offer them the treasure in the gondola. They will let us go."

"That is impossible!" said Fred. "What about Astra? It is hers to dispose of."

At that point, Fred doubled over, stunned by the thunderous voice that pealed through his head.

"Now, listen to Astra, you so-called 'Lords of the Sea'. You are bringing my anger to a boil, and the only reason that I do not incinerate your ship is that it might singe some of the treasure that is on it. Your dirty little mage that is molesting my friend is to release her immediately, or the sails and rigging go. And I promise you, this pissant little mage will survive the wreck of your boat, just so I can twirl his entrails around on a silver fork as part of my dinner, while he watches. You Lads of the Sea have until a count of three to wise up and start cooperating. ONE." The voice stilled. Fred craned his neck, and to his terror, he saw Astra diving, with a nasty trail of smoke trailing behind her. "TWO." Astra's voice thundered. Some of the sailors looked concerned. They raised their crossbows, but Astra was descending quickly. Sartoma had stopped speaking, as if unsure what this was all about. Fred yelled, "Speak, Sartoma. She is serious."

Charlie had a problem. He could pretend that he was Sartoma, but could not speak silently in her voice. He would have to have Sartoma's cooperation to do that.

1. Charlie releases Sartoma.
2. Sartoma stays silent. "THREE." yelled Astra, silently, as she closed on the ship.

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