“You’re awfully logical for a lieutenant, Pimples. Not all women appreciate that, you know. They want a man to console and commiserate, not point out the reasons why staying in a feather bed is a bad idea.”
“They also want him to have a name more manly than Pimples,” Duck said.
“As manly as Duck?” Blazer asked.
“Ducks can be manly. The males are tough.”
“Don’t the males gang up on the females and attack them?” Pimples asked.
“Only some species. And only during mating season.”
“Very manly.”
“Don’t you have a pimple to pop?” Duck grumbled.
“Not lately. I stopped eating that slop in the mess hall, and it’s helped. Raptor, what do you think about male ducks attacking females?”
Cas was never sure whether to feel pleased or not when they included her in their silly conversations. It was good to be a part of the group and be able to talk about something besides death and battle, but she would rather have spoken with Tolemek. It worried her that they hadn’t been able to get in touch. She’d tried using the crystals in the other cockpits in case something had failed. He hadn’t responded on any of them. It was possible he had gone out of range, but she’d been told that the crystals could reach fifty miles, and the city was closer than that.
“I think we should move our camp tonight,” Cas said. “It’s dark as pitch out there, and if it’s as misty along the beach as it is along this river, we could get within five miles of the city without anyone seeing or hearing our approach. The roar of the ocean should drown out our propellers.”
“The problem is then finding a place where we can land and hide that close to the city,” Blazer said.
“True,” Pimples said. “Tildar Dem is supposed to have a population of fifty thousand. Even if the marsh is kissing the borders, I bet there’s development outside of the core area. I would like to see it,” he said wistfully. “I heard that there are a lot of tree houses.”
“You’re not planning to design one of those next, are you?” Cas waved to his notebook.
“I might.”
Something growled from a branch near the river. Blazer took her cigar from her mouth and growled back.
“This place could make you crazy,” she said. “Raptor, you want a scouting mission?”
“You want me to look for a closer place where we could land?”
“Yeah, you and Duck. No, take Pimples. I need Duck to drag whatever it is I shot down there out into the river, so it doesn’t attract whatever’s growling in the trees.”
“Me?” Duck protested. “Why me?”
“You’re the wilderness kid. Raptor, you two go ahead and see if there’s a good place to land. If there is, you can sneak into the city and try to locate the others, find out if they’re in trouble. Two of us better stay back here, since we’re not able to communicate with Quataldo. He might be irked if he kidnaps the emperor, drags him all the way back here, and we’re gone.”
“Agreed,” Cas said, though she was not enthused about taking Pimples as a partner for skulking around in a city, especially if they ended up needing to mount a rescue. Maybe she would leave him to guard the fliers and go in alone. She couldn’t help but think of the Cofah volcano lab mission where the elite forces soldiers had gone in by themselves, and one of them hadn’t come out.
“If you can’t find a landing spot, just come back,” Blazer said. “You don’t want us to get lonesome. Or for Duck to join in with a bunch of bachelor drakes and start pummeling females.”
“Ha ha,” Duck said. “Is this because I teased Pimples?”
“If it is,” Pimples said, “I approve.”
The hogs must have gotten tired of being targets. When Blazer hopped down into the mud, nothing ran forward and bothered her. She did not linger. She made her way to her own flier and scrambled up into the cockpit.
Cas hit the starter on her dashboard, and the power crystal flared to life. “Let’s go, Pimples. I won’t tease you.”
“That’s because you’re a good teammate.”
“You might want to reserve judgment on that until you see if I get us lost.” Cas also hadn’t forgotten that there was a dragon lurking out there somewhere. She planned to be extremely careful as they approached the city. Full darkness had fallen some time ago, but she had no idea if dragons slept at night—or at all.
Muddy water rippled as she ignited her thrusters. As her craft rose, the stick responded sluggishly. She doubted the humidity—and the nap in the mud—could be good for the fliers, and she hoped they would not have any trouble before they got back home. Blazer had been a mechanic before going into flight school, but they had limited tools out here and were a long way from their hangar back home.
“My engine sounds like there’s a dying lizard in it,” Pimples announced as they rose out of the water and turned down the river.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there was,” Cas said.
“Keep us in the loop, you two,” Blazer said over the communication crystal.
“On lizards?” Pimples asked.
“On your progress, you lout.”
Curtains of mist thickened the air, and Cas wished they could fly slowly, but as soon as they transitioned from thrusters to propellers, they had to maintain the minimum flier speed to stay aloft. The mist cleared somewhat as they reached the mouth of the river, a stiff sea breeze pushing it inland, but clouds hung low up and down the coast. That was good. Cas did not want to be visible to anyone who might be out late. It was less good that scouting and finding landing spots would be difficult in the gloom.
“Wing to wing?” Pimples asked.
“Yes, we don’t want to lose each other in the dark.”
Cas kept her goggles resting on her forehead since the thick sea air left droplets on them, and visibility was already poor. She led Pimples out over the water, so their propellers should not be audible to anyone on land, not that the dark depths of the marshes suggested anyone lived on this section of coast.
She and Pimples traveled at least twenty miles before that changed. After that, the occasional lamp burned, and she spotted the outlines of houses here and there. The coast did not appear as marshy in this area.
“I don’t see any tree houses,” Pimples said. “Those appear boringly normal.”
“Maybe the tree houses are inland,” Cas said. “Look for a stream or bay, or maybe some nice cliffs full of caves large enough to hide fliers.”
“That would be convenient.”
Unfortunately, cliffs did not appear to be a feature here. The land remained relatively flat, offering few interesting topographical features—and few hiding places.
The houses disappeared as the shoreline grew wild and swampy again. Cas started to wonder if they had flown past the city without realizing it, but then a huge delta came into view. As they passed it, they could see clumps of lights burning all along the bank of a wide river, as well as along platforms and bridges on either side.
“Those don’t look like natural flames,” Pimples said. “At least not all of them.”
Many of the lanterns had a bluish cast, and Cas instinctively nudged her craft farther out to sea—if there were magic lamps, there could be shamans here, people who might sense intruders. “I guess they don’t share the Cofah and Iskandian fears of magic.”
“Or maybe the citizens don’t ask too many questions when someone shows up with practical tools, much like our power crystals.”
“Could be.” Cas continued flying past the delta. “There’s no way we can land in there without being noticed.”
“No, and I didn’t see any likely spots along the way. Should we fly a few more miles and see if we find something farther up?”
“Yes. The other option is to circle around the city and try to land inland somewhere.”
“Inland looks extra swampy.”
“There might be tree houses.”
As they continued up the shoreline, Cas tapped
her fingers on her flight stick, wondering if this scouting mission would be for naught. Unless there was a lake inland, she did not know where they might find a spot to land, not with the trees a solid mass from the beach to the distant mountains. Whatever the denizens of this city did for their livelihoods, clearing land and farming wasn’t it.
“Is that a bay?” Pimples asked.
Up ahead, the beach turned inland. Cas followed the shoreline, staying low as she had been for most of the trip. Because of this, she flew around the trees instead of over them, and she twitched in surprise when the lights of multiple airships came into view. She veered away immediately, heading back out to sea, but she craned her neck for a view. Pimples was right behind her and doing the same thing.
“Guess we know where the emperor’s ships are parked,” he said, the dryness in his tone not quite hiding his alarm.
There were five huge airships anchored in the bay, lines attaching them to thick trees. Numerous naval ships occupied the quiet inlet too. A few docks thrust out from the shore behind them, with fishing boats moored there, but Cas only had eyes for the Cofah craft. Enough lights burned on the decks that she had no trouble verifying that those were imperial ships. Her shoulder blades itched as they flew away, and she worried that alert soldiers on watch might have spotted her and Pimples. She did not hear any alarms or gunshots, but that did not mean much. Seeing an Iskandian flier would be enough to put those people on guard, and that was the last thing her team wanted.
After they passed out of sight of the bay, Cas reluctantly tapped the communication crystal. “Captain? We found where the imperial ships went—there are seven naval warships in addition to five sky-cruise class airships, and they’re moored in a bay approximately a mile south of the city.”
“Did anyone see you?” Blazer asked.
“Unknown. We were flying close to the waves, and it’s dark, so I’m hoping not, but it’s possible.” Cas hated admitting that. They had needed to stay low so they could look for hiding places in the dark, but now she wished they had flown up high for an initial pass before dropping low. Then they would have seen the bay from miles away and known to avoid it. Zirkander wouldn’t have made such a foolish mistake.
“Find a place to put down yet?” Blazer asked.
“No.”
“All the good bays are taken,” Pimples added.
“See any dragons?”
“No, but I wasn’t looking for any either.”
“I’m tempted to tell you to come back,” Blazer said.
“What if Tolemek and the captain and colonel ran into trouble and need help?” Cas asked.
“I’m not sure two lieutenants are supposed to be the backup forces.”
“We can’t leave our people behind...”
“Cas,” Pimples blurted. “Up ahead.”
She spotted it as soon as Pimples alerted her—the form of a dragon flying along the coast.
“Inland,” she said, though she had no idea whether they would be more likely to avoid it over the marsh than over the sea. She thumped her fist on her thigh, annoyed that they hadn’t stayed put and given the other team another couple of days before worrying.
Wait, a voice said in her head. It’s Tylie.
And Phelistoth? Cas resisted the urge to ask if the dragon was done hunting. She’d never seen such a scarce ally.
I talked him into bringing me here, even though he wanted to avoid the female. Tolie is in trouble.
The female?
“Raptor?” Pimples asked.
Though she had ordered him to head inland, she hadn’t followed. Tylie had started talking to her. “That’s Phelistoth. I’m speaking to Tylie.”
“Ah.” Pimples did not sound that comforted.
The female gold dragon, Tylie explained.
That’s the dragon I saw communicating with the emperor’s ship this evening, I presume?
Likely so. I wasn’t there. If you follow us, Phel will lead you to a place to land.
A safe place? Cas looked back in the direction of the bay, half-expecting to see someone back there, following them. The airships would not have their fliers’ speed, but she hadn’t forgotten that the Cofah had fliers of their own now. She hadn’t seen any in the bay, but there could have been some on the decks of those airships.
The swamps are not safe, Tylie said, but Phel will protect us.
Cas relayed those last words aloud.
“Goody,” Pimples muttered.
Cas did not feel much better about the situation, but they would never find a place to land on their own, not in the dark, with the mist cloaking the marshes.
I understand, she responded to Tylie. We’re following.
Chapter 8
Therrik led them along the river and out of the valley at a brisk pace, pausing occasionally to crouch and study some sign on the ground. Once it became clear that the two people who had left the cave had followed the waterway, he didn’t check as often. Sardelle had been following at a distance, not wanting to be too close to anyone whose sword was fantasizing about killing her. They passed several streams that dumped into the river, and he always paused to check the trail on the other side before assuming the two people had continued this way.
About five miles into their trek, Sardelle trailed Therrik into a narrow canyon with high walls. Had the river been higher, they wouldn’t have been able to enter it at all. As it was, only a couple of feet of dry rock lay exposed on either side of the waterway, and deposits on the walls showed the heights the water could reach during heavy rains or periods of great snow melts.
As soon as Sardelle stepped into the area, something jangled her senses. Magic.
Bhrava Saruth? she asked, prodding him gently. He was still in ferret form and had fallen asleep draped across her shoulder.
She stopped, backing toward the entrance. Therrik, she called, using telepathy because she did not want to shout. He was nearly two hundred meters ahead of her. Might the sorceress be somewhere nearby? Waiting to ambush them? The memory of the woman’s deadly fireballs flashed into Sardelle’s mind.
The ferret stirred and jumped to the ground. In an instant, Bhrava Saruth changed back into a dragon, his massive form filling the tight canyon. He would not be able to spread his wings without backing out of the passage.
I sense it, Bhrava Saruth said. Some residual magic in the rocks.
Is it possible the sorceress is here? Sardelle already had her senses out, trying to locate another person. The rocks above the canyon walls teemed with wildlife, including a prowling mountain lion, but she hadn’t detected any humans.
Not unless she’s hiding her presence from me.
Sardelle frowned, because she already suspected that the sorceress might be able to do that when she wished. How else would she have found Ridge and hidden him in that cave when Sardelle and the others had been searching for him?
It is possible she could hide from me, Bhrava Saruth admitted. If not her, her soulblade may have the ability to mask their presence. I encountered that sometimes when I went into battle with human riders.
Was that before or after he became a god? Jaxi asked. I think she may have set a trap, not that you asked for my opinion.
I didn’t know I had to ask for your opinions. You usually give them to me whether I want them or not. Sardelle waved to Therrik, wanting him to return to the canyon entrance with her. They might risk losing the trail if they avoided the canyon, but perhaps Bhrava Saruth could fly them to the other end and they could pick it up there.
I will search for signs of a trap while he returns. Bhrava Saruth backed out of the canyon so he could spread his wings. Stay safe, high priestess.
Sardelle eyed the walls, imagining rocks tumbling down to crush her. Therrik, she said his name again, since he had stopped but wasn’t walking back toward her. Instead, he had crouched down to check something. I sense what might be a trap. Let’s look for another way around.
His head came up, and he frowned in her direction, t
hen he considered the cliff walls to either side of him. He picked up something nestled in a crevice, stood up, and headed toward her.
I have discovered a trap, Bhrava Saruth announced.
Before Sardelle could respond, a cacophony of noise arose from the far end of the canyon. Rocks sloughed from either side of the rock wall, the top edges crumbling down, boulders crashing into the river. White dust filled the air, blotting out the view.
It was at least a half a mile from where Therrik stood, so Sardelle relaxed. He jogged toward her while tossing glances over his shoulder, but he didn’t appear too concerned.
I have triggered a trap, Bhrava Saruth said, his voice dry and perhaps abashed.
Didn’t mean to? Sardelle asked.
No, I—wait! There’s another.
Therrik must have heard the message, too, because he froze. He was still forty or fifty meters from Sardelle. A crack sounded in the rock wall beside him.
Instinctively, Sardelle lifted her hand and summoned the energy to create a protective barrier around him. The instant she drew upon her magic, something snapped in her mind, and she had the sense of stepping on a twig and alerting someone to her presence. A feeling of disorientation washed over her, and she stumbled to the side, her foot landing in the river.
Before she could recover her mental and physical balance, the ground heaved beneath her.
High priestess! came a cry in her mind at the same time as the rock walls tumbled down from above.
Jaxi formed a barrier above her, a half second before Sardelle recovered her wits and added her own energy to the effort. Boulders slammed down, striking their invisible barrier and landing two feet above her head. She swallowed and gathered more energy, carefully adding layers to the shield as more rubble crashed down, trying to bury her alive.
And here you thought you had to be down in a mine for this to happen, Jaxi said.
Even though the rocks continued to fall, blocking out the daylight as they surrounded the shield, Sardelle felt confident that nothing would get through. Apparently, nowhere inside, atop, or next to a mountain is safe. Thank you for your fast reflexes.