Escapement (The Neumarian Chronicles)

by Ciara Knight

  Dred squatted at my side. “Glad we made it.”

  I stole a quick glance his way. “How did you?”

  Dred nodded at Ryder to my other side. “Think he had somethin’ to do with it.”

  My heart warmed at the thought of both of them making it through this.

  The grey ship, with the ENR emblem proudly displayed on the hull, flew overhead in pursuit of the queen. Scavengers climbed to better vantage points on the side of the overturned ship, and clung to anything they could to brace themselves.

  A missile shot from the tube of the queen’s ship and hit the beach near our cover. I focused on the tube and tried to melt it before another missile launched but it dipped low and I couldn’t get a lock on it without a visual. I ran for the other end of the ship with Ryder and Dred close at my heels, ignoring the throbbing pain in my head.

  “Don’t go out there,” Ryder yelled from behind.

  Something exploded and I caught a glimpse of one of the scavengers blown from the ship. I risked a quick glance and saw the center portion engulfed in flames. My legs burned and threatened to give way but I continued my sprint. I slid around the corner and landed, knees in the sand.

  Several assassins had descended on the beach and were approaching for ground combat.

  With the ENR in pursuit of the queen’s ship, the scavengers wouldn’t stand a chance against the heavily armed assassins converging on them. Their makeshift ammo would never penetrate their armor. They needed the ENR to focus on the ground assault or none of them would survive.

  Ryder pointed down the beach. Raeth sat at Bendar’s side. My heart grew warm at the sight of them. Until I realized one of the assassins caught sight of them, too. Penton rolled down the hillside and raced toward the beach, but he’d never make it.

  “Go!” I urged Ryder. “I’ll be fine. Save her.”

  Dred stood over me, gun raised. “I’ll provide cover.”

  Ryder took off, spinning sand up in his wake. Dred and Ryder would have to save them. I needed to end this or they would all die before this was over.

  I crouched and crawled to the edge of the ship. Another missile launched from the queen’s ship and I spotted the exit tube. Before I could melt it, the assassins opened fire, sending me back for cover.

  Dred shot in front of me, returning fire. I made it to my knees again and found the tube. I narrowed my focus at the small exit hole. The surface bubbled and merged together sealing the opening.

  I held my breath and waited to see if my seal would hold or if another blast would be the final blow.

  A red light flashed. I ducked and rolled.

  Fire erupted from Dred’s chest and he flew backwards, slamming against a dead body behind him. I turned to help but something snagged my ankle.

  An assassin.

  I turned my energy on him, and melted his helmet. He grabbed his head and thrashed, until he fell silent.

  Several other assassins were dragging kicking and screaming scavengers. A blast from Mother’s ship sent a missile through what remained of the scavenger ship.

  I couldn’t catch my breath. Did Mother know the other missile tube was compromised?

  I focused on the left tube but the ship pulled up as the ENR nearly rammed it.

  The assassins threw scavengers into a pile, their sweaty bodies sliding down one another into the sand.

  Shots rang out from my left. An assassin executed a dozen people. I closed my eyes and envisioned a ball of fire melting all the assassins at once.

  “Get down!” Hoping the others heeded my warning, heat raced to my temples and I pulled my arms around my chest, concentrating on building the energy quick while focusing it into one blast.

  My hot energy compressed into a tight ball until I couldn’t contain it. Spurts of fire shot from their armor in an eruption, melting each of the assassins into a pile of bubbling bronze liquid over lumps of human bones.

  I shifted my concentration on the other circle of people.

  With little time, I focused on the closest solid metal I could find to pull energy before the assassins could react.

  Mother’s ship banked left and the tail of the ship spun around. I pulled energy quickly, but before I could finish, an explosion sent shrapnel flying all over the beach. People I had just saved from the assassins now howled and fell to the ground. I clenched my fists by my side. The screams of my fallen comrades ripped my heart to pieces.

  Mother’s ship sustained heavy damage from the missile tube, but at what cost?

  I sat on the ground near a ring of assassins with guns ready to execute several allies. Digging deep inside, I utilized the power from the queen’s ship metal and melted the other set of assassins.

  Plumes of smoke rose from Mother’s ship, but it still fired lasers at the ENR, which sustained its own damage.

  Raeth, Ryder, and Penton reached my side. Raeth took each of my hands and closed her eyes. Ryder dropped to his knees by my side.

  Penton squatted beside us. “The Triune will win the battle.”

  Ryder glared at Raeth. “Don’t go thinking about being a hero.”

  “I w-won’t. Need t-to connect w-with S-Semara. Focus on th-the engines, S-Semara. Ryder, get th-the people on th-the bridge. I’ll stir up a s-storm. F-feel my energy and f-follow.”

  Another ship approached from the distance. Slag reinforcements. My heart fell at the sight.

  Penton held a gun in his hand and shot at a new row of assassins approaching. “Hurry.”

  I cast out the feeling of doom. We had to take down Mother’s ship or all was lost.

  A soothing, almost sticky sense covered my skin. I flinched at the invasion of someone other than Ryder’s energy entering me. Raeth smiled.

  I focused on the ship and altering the engines. A cool surge, followed by a sharp blast entered my consciousness.

  Wind blew like a great storm. Sand lashed at my skin. My mind sizzled with the surge of power from Raeth and Ryder.

  I penetrated the main bay door and melted anything I could in short bursts of energy. Then I saw it, the reactor. If it blew, the ship would go down.

  I looked to Ryder and he nodded. We merged our powers as we did when Ryder was nearly executed back in Oasis. I concentrated on the reactor. My skin burned. I knew if it weren’t for Ryder keeping me cool and both of them keeping me energized, I’d be a pile of goo on the beach by now.

  Finally, after several attempts, an explosion rocked Mother’s ship. Releasing my hold, I fell back on my heels, and watched my mother’s ship nose dive. Flames licked at the hull as it spiraled toward Earth.

  I glanced back at the other arriving ship stalled in the distance. A small craft shot from the side of the queen’s ship.

  She’d escaped.

  There was no time to focus. Mother’s ship descended, aiming straight for us.

  Penton lifted Raeth and ran for cover.

  Ryder clutched me to his side and sprinted for the hill. A loud crash shook the ground underfoot. Sand pummeled our backs.

  We crawled over the edge of the scavenger ship, the only part that remained intact. Bits of debris flew past us and we huddled behind our make-shift shelter.

  A series of rapid fire bursts, then silence—except for the roar of a nearby engine.

  When we believed it was safe, we emerged and surveyed the battle scene. The aftermath nearly knocked me down. My heart twisted with grief and I clung to Ryder.

  The small ship, that had been deployed before the crash, docked with the ship in the distance before it turned and sped away. The battle was over. We had won, but the war would continue.

  Raeth pointed and tried to run, but her knee locked tight from the sand and she fell. Penton smiled. “I’ll get him.”

  Bendar struggled against his ropes near the hillside. Someone had pulled him to safety, but hadn’t untied him.

  The ENR ship landed on the beach and medics dispersed. A tall, strong man descended to greet us. “You must be, Princess Semara.” His words were ref
ined with a hint of an accent. He offered a hand.

  “Semara, please.”

  He smiled and gestured us onto the ship. “Of course.”

  Ryder halted. “I should help—”

  “We have healers. Many of our fighters are gifted. Although, we are all equal in the ENR. If you still wish to help, I bid you do so onboard once we have cleared the beach. Several of the queen’s ships are on their way to this sector, so we must depart immediately.”

  A woman with crazy brown hair, goggles, and oversized boots stood at the gangway. “Gordon, we need to be goin’. Haven’t ye had ye bit of fun?”

  Gordon waved the girl to action. “Assist the healers and get everyone on board.”

  “Keep ye knickers on. I’m a goin’.” She mock-curtsied and clopped down the gangway.

  “She’s my second in command. A fierce fighter, but a bit wild at times.”

  “Thanks for the assistance.” Ryder squeezed my hand and watched Penton lift Raeth to his chest and march onboard. The boy seemed to have taken a liking to Raeth. By the look on Ryder’s face, he planned to have a long talk with him later.

  “We received a message from Mags. She directed us here and told me to let you know she’s not too old to sling a bomb and rope a hog. Not sure what that means.”

  I chuckled at her colorful euphemism.

  “What was with the ship being destroyed on the beach before we arrived?” Ryder asked.

  Gordon sighed. “That was Harrison’s deal. Smart man, it did the trick to distract the queen for a bit.”

  “Harrison?” My breath hitched. “Is he old enough to be my father? Neumarian? Fought in the Great War?”

  Gordon cocked an eyebrow. “Yes.”

  Ryder squeezed me tight. “Your father is alive.”

  Before I had a chance to ask any more questions. he ushered me toward the ship. The wailing of the injured caught my attention and I stopped in my tracks. “Wait, Dred. He was wounded.” I pulled from Ryder’s grasp and started to run down the beach.

  Two guards stepped in front of me. “Please, Prin…I mean, Semara. My men will bring all bodies aboard. You may look for him there.”

  Ryder wrapped his arms around me and walked up the gangway, pressing me to his side.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I’d escaped one ship only to board another at the end of my journey, but exhaustion won and I followed Gordon’s second in command through a winding corridor. “Me name’s, Mart.”

  One of the guards escorting us smirked. “Ya mean, Martistenia Moroana.”

  “I meant, Mart. That’s me name. Shut it, Scab.” Mart shoved her sawed off, two winding barreled weapon into a slot on the wall.

  Ryder paused in the doorway. “Got some major fire power.”

  Mart stopped abruptly and scanned us with a look of contempt. “Keep movin’. Gordon‘ll want a debriefin’. Lost some good soldiers rescuin’ ya. Best be worth it.”

  Her words grated on my last remaining nerve. I shot a narrowed glare at her. “We have wounded, too. None of us asked for this.”

  Mart turned from me in her oversized black boots with metal buckles and stomped out the door on the other side of the room.

  Ryder squeezed my hand, but his eyes remained on the weapons until we’d cleared the room, following Mart. “We need rest, food, and water.” He tucked me under his arm and held me up. My legs wobbled beneath me. Obviously, his healing had helped him recover.

  I nudged my elbow into his ribs and lifted my head to speak softly in his ear. “We need to check on Dred, first. And I want to talk to Gordon about my father.”

  “No need. Healers are workin’ on him.” Mart about-faced and stared me down. “Yes, appears the little princess needs her beautify sleep. Follow me.”

  I opened my mouth to protest, but Ryder shook his head. “Not now. Save your energy.”

  The corridor went on forever. Well, my legs ached as if it did. Finally, we met Gordon in an anterior hall.

  “Would you like to eat and shower, then rest?”

  Boom.

  The ship rocked to the left and Ryder slid into my side. He snatched me before I fell. “You all right?”

  Gordon and Mart remained upright, steady on their feet.

  “Fine. What was that?”

  Gordon lowered a bronze tube from above and pressed his mouth to it. “Crash dive, level off one-hundred meters.” His face remained stoic. “No need to concern yourselves. The queen only has spotter ships dropping depth charges. We’re just getting out of range. Those don’t have sonar. We crippled her main ship. Please, allow me to show you to the mess hall, then you can shower and rest.”

  He tipped his head, offering his hand to me. “Ryder, Scab will show you to your quarters. Semara, I’ll take you to the room you’ll share with Raeth. We separate the men and the women’s quarters on the ship. I’m sure you understand.”

  Ryder squeezed my hand tighter. Even through my delirium from lack of sleep and food, I knew we couldn’t risk alienating these people at the moment. Something deep inside still didn’t click, but it was probably from being on the run so much. “It’s okay. I’ll go check on Raeth and meet you at the mess hall after I clean up. I won’t be long, promise. Please, go check on Penton for me. I’d like to know more about my father, too.”

  He whispered in my ear, “I’ll feel better when we’re all together again. Scream if you need me.”

  “I promise.” With a forced smile, I sauntered past Mart’s glare and took Gordon’s arm.

  We reached a fork in the corridors. Scab took Ryder right, while Gordon guided me left.

  Mart remained at my heels.

  “Is it true that Harrison is alive? Where is he?” I couldn’t hold my tongue any longer.

  Gordon nodded to a soldier that passed. “I assume he escaped the ship since it was his plan. I’ve only met him once. The last several years he’s been imprisoned by the queen. Beyond that, don’t know much. There are a few back home that knew him. They could tell you more.”

  I sighed with disappointment, but at least there was hope when we arrived in Europe that I could learn more. It still seemed so impossible. I’d seen him die. Maybe it wasn’t really him.

  I’d drive myself insane if I kept trying to figure it out now, so I shut it into one of the little compartments in my mind to think about after a good night’s sleep.

  Running my fingers through my knotted silver ends, I lowered my gaze to my disheveled vest, torn pants, and mucked up boots.

  Gordon cast a sideways glance my way. “No need to worry, we have new clothes waiting in your quarters.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled.

  A tremor startled me, but I refused to react. No need to add fuel to Mart’s snarky little scared princess remarks.

  “Here, Raeth will be here momentarily. She’s being checked by our healers. Please, make yourself at home. When you are ready, a guard will escort you to the mess hall.”

  Without another word, Gordon disappeared with Mart by his side. I nodded to the nameless face guarding my door then entered the small room with two beds. The quicker I cleaned-up, the faster I’d be back with Ryder.

  The metal walls sucked me back to a few days ago when I was destined to be a princess. Stripping my clothes off, I stepped into the small shower stall. Hot water streamed over my tight shoulders.

  Water, real water, not just sulfuric smelling steam, cascaded over my sore muscles.

  Despite the weird vibe, rude second in command, and depth charges nearly sinking the ship, I tried to embrace my new residence. At least here, no one was trying to kill me.

  My eyes grew heavy, so I turned off the water that had already began to cool and wrapped a soft cloth around my body. The bed called for me, but I knew if I even sat I wouldn’t be able to rise for days.

  While drying my hair with the towel, I discovered a dress hanging from a hook by the bed. “Dress? Really?” Lace collar and flowing skirt to add salt to the wound. “Ugh.”

  Pul
ling it over my head, I slid my feet into a pair of short boots and stumbled into the hall. The guard snapped to attention and directed me to board a lift. It soared up a few flights, leaving my empty stomach below.

  The doors swished open and the guard lifted his hands. “Through there, ma’am.”

  “Thank you.” I exited the lift and found Raeth, Penton, Bendar and Ryder already seated at a long silver table. Ryder stood. His clean shaven face and green shirt made his eyes shine bright.

  Bendar stood up on a chair and I hugged him. “Good see, Princess.”

  “Good to see you, too, my friend.”

  Raeth bounced on her toes. “W-we made it.”

  Penton smiled, his shoulders back with pride. He’d done it. In his mind, he’d assisted the Triune.

  At this point, I didn’t know or care what I believed. The aroma of delicious food drew my attention.

  Ryder directed me to a bench at his side and two young women dashed out and placed plates full of food in front of us. My mouth instantly watered at the smell of fresh baked bread and peppery meat.

  We all sat and devoured our food with only the sound of water swishing through overhead pipes and distant creaking lulling us. As if the food weighted my eyelids, they began to sag. Ryder kissed my forehead, slipped his arms under my knees, and nestled me up against his chest.

  “No, I can walk. Don’t give Mart the Miserable any ammo.” My words came out slurred.

  “Shh, rest. We have time now. Plenty of time.”

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  I stood by Dred’s bedside. He’d remained in a drug induced coma as the healers worked on him.

  For two days, we’d been evading Mother’s scouts. Gordon had refused to return to land until he was sure we weren’t being tracked.

  Time stood still as I waited for more information on my father. The only thing that kept me sane was my friends.

  After reporting for hours to the scientists and senior officers on the ship about Slag technology, and sleeping for fourteen hours straight, I longed to find Ryder. It had been days since we’d spent any time together. There was always some reason to keep us apart. Part of me felt empty without him.