They were several kilometers from Thymíaustadt port now. There was a squadron of ships from the Southern Fleet forming up near them, along with a few more transports, though they were still a distance away.
“Probably some other unlucky souls who got caught up in this,” Fleidgling thought as he gazed longingly at the mainland from over a rail, Guntram beside him.
“To think that something as simple as a letter could dictate the fate of so many brilliant griffons,” the paymaster voiced his woes to the sea.
“I am afraid, Herr, that the garrisons would have been troubled regardless. There is only so long they will be able to keep the news from the Minotaurs, before…” Fwew! Guntram huffed exaggeratedly .
“I was referring to us, Korporal.” Fleidgling scolded him half-heartedly. “Oh, but what’s the use in fighting it? It may as well be written in stone. Let’s just head back in and hope we wake up on some sunny…” His words died in his throat as he noticed something curious on the horizon. Out of the corner of his eye, he could swear he saw a sudden bright light. He quickly turned his head towards it but It disappeared before he could get a good look.
“Korporal, did you see that? I thought I saw a flash, by the escort ships.”
“Yes, yes, I thought I saw one too. What do you supp- there! Another! That came from the long one.”
“What is it? Is it a flare? Some spell, signal?” The answer came roaring past with the force of a thousand gales, nearly sending them into the air. Fleidgling clung onto one of Guntram’s lower legs, while the Korporal held onto the railing. It was all they could do to avoid being tossed about by the now tumultuous waves.
“An explosion! It’s a raid, or a bombardment, or something!” Fleidgling exclaimed, still holding onto Guntram, who was now getting up.
“The ships! They are listing! At least three of them have been hit.” Guntram reported.
“Listing? But that... “ Fleidgling crawled up to the railing, peeking just his eyes over the edge. Immediately, he dropped back down after seeing the damage. “The Austernfischer! Sunk! An explosion like that, some enchantments, there’s no way she’ll recover.”
“More explosions in the dockyards, Herr Hauptgreif! It must be sabotage. The minotaurs!”
“Guntram, this transport could be next!” Fleidgling lightly tugged down on the Korporal’s uniform as he sat, wide-eyed. “Guntram…” His tone suddenly changed. He sounded calmer.“Guntram... why should we die for the Empire?”
“Well, Herr Hauptgreif, that is because-”
“No, Guntram. Why should we let some von Schmitt play the role of puppet master, as they use us to put out a flame? One that’s safe in a fire pit, while another blaze engulfs their home?” A sense of purpose overtook the paymaster, as if the fire within him, long since smothered by helplessness, had been rekindled and given new life.
“Think of how much more we could do elsewhere! What a senseless waste of potential this is.”
“W-well, m-m-ein Herr-”
“And what difference does the presence of two griffons make? We’ll probably get killed like the rest, and it won’t even buy the Cyanolisians any more time.” Fleidgling now stood, looking to the mainland once more, but with defiance.
“I will not let my fate be decided by an erroneous order, sent by some officer who never even set their eyes upon a minotaur fighter. Korporal! We are going to fly back to the mainland, and we are going to go… somewhere! Anywhere but Asterion, you understand me?” He looked at Guntram, who was in a state of wonderment, sternly in the eyes. Years of scorn for the military hierarchy were working their way through him. “And we are going to go, right now. Take the Idols with us, it never hurts to keep a small fortune on you.”
With that, Fleidgling looked towards the stern of the transport. The crew would be too busy with their own worries to notice, or care, he decided. He made sure his uniform was properly buttoned, that his helmet was tied around tightly, and charged, unfurling his wings and rocketing into the air with a kick.
Guntram shut his eyes and stood still for several moments. “This would by all means be an unacceptable defiance of the chain of command...”
He turned around to get a longer running start, and took off to catch up with Fleidgling.