Annan stood by the railing. Behind him, Goblins in dewproof rain capes hurried across the deck, looking terribly busy.
As the fleet drew closer to its allies, it began to descend.
The Kingdom Army was still fighting. They must have spotted him by now, hadn't they?
To the south, a row of lights like morning stars drifted over the horizon, silently cutting through the ink-dark dawn.
"Look, over there!"
The lights, lined up in a neat row, gradually caught the Kingdom Army's attention. Someone pointed toward the horizon and cried out.
Some Cavalrymen were so caught up in the killing that they thought another enemy had arrived. Only when their comrades explained that it was reinforcements did they understand.
"They're all Airships... Why are there so many?"
The advisers behind Grand Marshal Garkin began chattering.
"Our reinforcements are up there?"
"Then there are far too few of them."
The Kingdom had Airships too, bought from Free City. They were only good for reconnaissance; even carrying a few adults strained their capacity. And only Free City had Goblins.
The approaching Airships did look somewhat bigger, but not by much.
"Maybe they're going to arrange themselves into words for us to read?" one adviser guessed. Quite a few others agreed.
After all, the Ratfolk had surrounded them and cut them off from the outside world...
As they considered that possibility, the Reconnaissance Airships drew near. The row of lights changed direction and began to spread out.
A low, steady hum carried faintly through the air.
Under everyone's bewildered gaze, the Reconnaissance Airships ignored the Rat Tide and, with an almost arrogant air, formed a much larger circle around the Kingdom Army.
A subordinate handed Grand Marshal Garkin a spyglass. He took it and trained it on the largest Airship, the Behemoth,