The Nullification Engine (The Alchemancer: Book Two)
Page 40
"Should we go after him?" Evan asked.
All eyes went to Serena, as if it were her decision. Right away, she knew why he'd disappeared. He was going to do what he said. He was going to undo all of this. Part of her wanted to run after him. Damn idiot was going to get himself killed. But another part of her trusted him.
"No," she said. "Let him go. He knows what he's doing."
Gerwyn pushed them away from the dock. They floated without light, letting the canal's natural current carry them with a single oar in the water for steerage. As the city erupted into chaos, they floated into the main flow of the Whitecrest, through the river gate at the outer wall, and beyond. They made landfall at the shipbuilding docks, disembarking and following the dwarves to the last known location of the airship. With sighs of relief, they found it still there. As they approached, they saw only a few personnel on the ground. The remainder of the crew was already onboard and, from the smoke coming from a stack rising over the main deck, it looked as if she prepared for departure.
"Let me do all the talking," Hirad said. "I'm personally acquainted with the captain."
The other two dwarves scoffed, but neither said anything to refute Hirad's claim.
At the foot of the gangplank, Hirad shouted so those onboard heard him. "Ho, Captain Kreg. We seek to come onboard."
A man with flowing mustaches stuck his head over the side to peer down at them. He took in all of them, the worst of his gaze falling on the three dwarves.
"I think that’s one of their sergeants," Hirad said sidelong to the others. "Disagreeable fellow. Probably won't listen to reason."
"We're not taking on any more passengers!" the man on the airship yelled. "Go back to the city!"
Before Hirad had his mouth open to respond, Serena took over the conversation.
"Sergeant, my name is Lady Serena Walkerton. I request I be allowed to speak to Captain Kreg. We are here seeking safety. Also, we have intimate knowledge concerning what has happened."
The sergeant made a sour expression before disappearing from view. He returned a moment later and indicated only Serena should come onboard for now.
On the airship's deck, the sergeant stepped aside to reveal a man in frock and tricorn. Serena recognized him instantly. He, however, did not seem to remember her.
"Regrettably," he said, "I must inform you that Captain Kreg is deceased. My name is Captain Madison. The Griffin is under my command."
Serena would worry about getting reacquainted later. "Captain, I would ask refuge for myself and those accompanying me. If money is an issue at all, I can speak to my..." Serena faltered as she realized she was now her house's only living heir and, as such, sole responsibility of its assets fell to her. "I can pay whatever the fee from my house's treasury."
"I know you, don't I?" the captain asked. "From outside the old temple." He looked from her to those standing below. He made up his mind quickly.
"Weapons will have to be checked in. We're heading for Rockhaven. If there's someplace else—"
"Rockhaven will be fine."
Serena waved at the others to come onboard. Everyone did, except Master Rhe, who stopped just short of the deck. Jakinda noticed and went to him.
"You are safe here, Jakinda. But the same cannot be said for Aaron. I will return to the city and make sure no harm befalls him." The eslar looked at Serena. "I also know what he plans. I will keep him safe while he conducts his research. This plan of Ingrid's is not hers alone. I will know what the remainder of it is."
Jakinda Rhe did not look pleased with her father's decision. "So you leave me again."
"Yes. But not for so long this time. You are safe here with Gerwyn and these others. Serena, especially. She is strong with magic, but needs someone strong with a sword to stand with her. This isn't over. Go to Rockhaven. Balrabbek has the beginnings of an army here. You know our history. Warn them of what's coming."
The eslar spun around, leapt from the gangplank, and vanished into the yard's darkness. On deck, Serena watched as Jakinda took a long, slow breath and let it out, but she did not pursue.
Activity onboard the airship consumed them as airmen ran this way and that, readying the ship for takeoff. The sergeant from earlier demanded they surrender their weapons, something everyone did with much rumbling from the dwarves. They were allowed free rein of the deck as long as they stayed out of the way. Serena found a spot free of activity where she looked out over the city as the airship rose from the ground. Jakinda Rhe stood next to her. Neither of them said anything as they rose higher and higher. Soon the entirety of the city was in view, though with night's darkness still reigning, they saw very little detail beyond the multitude of fires burning across the cityscape.
Only when dawn's first light shone across Brighton did they see anything more. The engine's effect was the most obvious in the form of a circular splotch centered at the earl's palace and extending out to encompass twenty or more blocks in all directions. Serena saw people scurrying along the streets. In many cases, slower moving bodies followed them. Serena wondered if one of them was her mother. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see any more and not wanting to face the path ahead alone. She didn't open her eyes until she felt a strong hand grasping hers. Jakinda Rhe didn't say anything or even look at her, but she didn't have to.
The Griffin rose ever higher and altered course, heading east. Serena saw the faint outline of the Whitecrest below, her exhilaration at flying suppressed by the night's events. Her gaze caught the line of the river and followed it. She wondered where it would lead them.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Scott Marlowe divides his time between writing fiction, mountain biking, and designing software systems for the accounting and medical industries. He currently lives in Texas with his wife and two crazy dogs.
You can find more information about Scott online at scottmarlowe.com.
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