I sat back, but Genevieve lunged forward and hugged me. “You did it!”
My heart was soaring even higher than the skiff. “And I didn’t even incriminate your mother.” I glanced back at the baron. “I took Lord Marbury’s key.”
The baron laughed in delight, and Genevieve squeezed me tighter.
CHAPTER 44
THE LAST HEART
The three of us kept looking back at the Vimana. It didn’t take long before the guns started to fire, and several Hornets launched from its hangers to pursue us. I took over piloting, as Genevieve tended to the baron who was pale and weak. She wrapped him in a blanket, and sat beside him.
I checked the pressure of the two hydrogen tanks, the one in front of us and the one behind me. I pushed the throttle forward on the burner that turned the propeller. Using what Mr. Singh had taught me, I trimmed the triangular wingsails to optimize our speed. We had a tailwind pushing us, and as cannon balls streaked past, I had an idea to get more speed.
“We need a kitesail!”
“What can we use? I’m not wearing a dress this time.”
The baron held up the corner of his blanket. “Use this.”
“No!” Genevieve exclaimed. “That’s for you, I’m afraid of you getting cold.”
“I’d rather be cold here with you than in cellblock by myself.” He looked at her, and pushed off the blanket. Dressed in only a light shirt, he clutched his arms around his chest to shield himself from the air whipping around us.
“Alexander, I need the rope from your bag.” Genevieve moved to the center, being careful to keep the blanket from unfurling.
I pulled my leather bag off and handed it to her. Then slipped my jacket off and passed it over to the baron. “Here put this on.” The baron took the jacket and covered himself.
Genevieve retrieved the rope from my bag and cut it into four equal lengths. She tied them to the corners of the blanket and threaded the ropes through the mooring clamps. She fed them back to me. I didn’t see anything that could take the stress of the kitesail.
“You’ll have to pilot the craft,” I said, “and I’ll manage the kitesail.”
She nodded, passed the blanket bundle to me, and slipped into the seat. I shifted forward, sitting right in front of her. I pressed my feet against the ribbing of the craft and let the blanket go. It billowed in the wind, and my muscles strained as I struggled to keep the blanket under control. The wind pushed against the kitesail and dragged us through the sky. We moved noticeably faster, and I tugged on the ropes to keep it under control.
Together, we guided the craft to the east, pulling out of gun range and putting distance between us and the hornets following us.
The baron pointed toward some clouds on the horizon. “Make for those clouds. Lose them in the fog.”
“Of course,” Genevieve said, and aimed us for the cloud bank.
As the white mist engulfed us, I continued to strain against the wind, but soon it shifted, the kitesail turned, and I reeled it in. I handed the blanket back to the baron and he wrapped it around his shoulders. We slowed down and Genevieve trimmed the wingsails to keep us moving east at the best possible speed. We continued on until darkness enveloped us. It was difficult to tell time enveloped in a blanket of white and grey. Finally, we broke free of the clouds, and there were no Hornets in sight. Only a dazzling field of stars, and a thick haze off to the west.
We all sighed in relief and tension slipped off our shoulders like raindrops. Genevieve wrapped her arms around her father, and he grabbed her up in a big bear hug. Rodin circled the two. “I’m so glad to see you,” he said.
“I’m sorry I left the way I did, but I had to know the truth.” Genevieve’s voice was muffled, as she buried her face in his chest.
“Don’t worry about that now.” The baron kissed her head. “I should have told you everything. Or at least as much as I knew. I’m sorry.”
She pulled away but they remained in each other’s arms. The baron turned to me with tears glistening in his eyes. “Thank you, Alexander. Your word is your bond. You brought my daughter back to me. I can’t thank you enough.”
“Of course.” I shifted in my seat and smiled at Genevieve.
“You shouldn’t have come after me, but I’m glad you did.” The baron released Genevieve, but then pulled her back in for one more hug.
She looked at him. “Lord Marbury is the mole.”
“I know.” His face darkened and he shook his head. “I thought he was on his way back to Lahore for more men, but then I saw him on the Vimana. I couldn’t believe it. He’d been one of my greatest friends for many years. In fact, that’s why I was discovered. I’d been slinking around, spying and staying in shadows, but then I heard his voice and had to confront him.”
“We discovered him at the Serpent Palace,” Genevieve said. “He was with Hendrix preparing for your attack.” She smiled. “However, I don’t think they were expecting the dragon.”
“Neither was I,” the baron said. “That dragon was real... I thought my eyes were deceiving me.”
“We met him in the mountains,” I said.
Genevieve nodded. “It’s what Rodin will look like in many, many years.”
The baron laughed and patted the little dragon. “I’m afraid you’ll be too big to be a house pet by then.” He turned to me and then looked back at his daughter. “You haven’t told me how you two got onto the Vimana to rescue me.”
“The dragon,” she said. “We asked Āgō āṁdhī.”
“The dragon speaks?” the baron said with wide eyes. “I’m truly upset to have missed that.”
Father and daughter fell into a comfortable conversation until the baron needed to rest so his body could heal from the beatings. Genevieve and I took turns resting and piloting the skiff, always heading east toward the rising sun. We flew over the widest expanse of ocean I could ever imagine until finally we saw the high cliffs and rocky shores of America’s western coast. In the distance, the light broke through the faint outline of mountains on the horizon. I knew we needed to get to the barren land on the other side of the Rockies. Even though I’d only lived on the east coast, the land spreading out below us felt familiar, as if I’d been here before. But it was only because of my visions. I’d seen where Armand Armitage had traveled.
As we grew nearer, the closest mountain range loomed larger. I pointed to the northeast, and said, “That way.”
I took over the controls from Genevieve and directed the airskiff.
The baron looked at me. “How do you know? We don’t have a compass or map.”
“I know where the last Heart is.”
His brows furrowed in confusion.
“I had a vision of the Templar Knight, Armand Armitage,” I said. “When I read his journal. The places weren’t listed, but I saw his journey, like I was following in his footsteps.”
“That’s astonishing,” he said, his eyes widening. But then just as quickly, they narrowed. “Why didn’t you tell me while we were on board the Sparrowhawk?”
“The mole.”
“Did you think it was me?”
“I didn’t know who to trust....” I paused and then turned back to him. “No, why would you send assassins after yourself?”
“So, where is the last Heart?”
“In a barren, desert place, on the other side of the Rocky Mountains.”
“The other side of the Rockies? But that’s all plains, a giant sea of prairie grass. Were there any distinguishing features? Anything else you can tell us?”
“Not really. I think I’ll know it when I see it, though. Or, rather, I think I’ll know it when I feel it. It’s strange, but when I think about this place I think of it as the ‘Badlands’. Maybe I heard it called that in my visions.
The baron rubbed the stubble on his chin and closed his eyes as if picturing the geography. He was quiet for a while and then his eyes popped open and he sat up straight. “Wait. There is a giant scar, a barren land at the edge of th
e high plateau—
Genevieve snickered. “A bad place for a bad heart.” She turned to her father. “Which way are these Badlands?”
The baron pointed the same direction we were heading.
We flew for hours until the mountains that stretched from the northern most point of the horizon to the southern most part towered above us as we searched for valleys and passes to navigate through. I’d always wanted to see the West, but I’d expected more deserts, like the penny-dreadful-and-dime novels I used to read. Instead, we passed over thick forests and flew between the snow-capped peaks. Though jagged mountains towered above us, they didn’t look as tall as the Himalayas. I thought of all the magnificent sights I’d seen on this journey. I wanted to stop, to touch these mountains and wander among the giant trees, but we had to save the world. I feared the Knights of the Golden Circle would want to destroy this beautiful land.
Later, when we passed over huge herds of big, horned beasts, I pulled out my father’s telescope and saw scores of bison dotting the rolling hills below. I locked the controls and leaned against the edge of the craft, propped up on my elbows. “Stunning.”
“What do you see?” she asked.
“Bison.”
I handed her the telescope and her mouth dropped open as she watched them. “There are so many!” she gasped. She handed the telescope back and looked up. “I take it you’ve noticed the sky.”
Both the baron and I tilted our heads back and looked up. Everything was tinged with an orange hue, like sunset, but it was midday. As if an artist had painted across the sky with a fiery brush.
“What do you think is wrong?” she asked.
“I don’t know, but I fear the Knights of the Golden Circle are behind it.”
I worried about what it meant, and used my father’s telescope to search the horizon. Now that we were past tallest of mountain peaks, we passed over rolling grass-covered hills, and, in the distance, I saw a barren, light-colored scar stretching over a huge swath of land. “I see it!” Raising my hand, I pointed. “There, that must be the Badlands.” I turned back to Genevieve and her father. “It’s huge.”
“What are we looking for, Alexander,” the baron asked.
I closed my eyes and tried to put myself back in the vision. Tried to remember what everything smelled and felt like. Then I put the telescope back to my eye and said, “I remember four spires in a row, like the fingers of a hand.”
The baron sighed and rubbed his temples as if thinking was a laborious task. I looked over and saw him shiver. He noticed me watching him, glanced furtively at Genevieve, and pointed at the horizon. “Keep searching. Don’t worry about me.”
I nodded and peered through the telescope. Places started to look familiar, and the bands of light colored rock that formed the weathered hills looked like places I’d traveled before. I remembered the vision vividly but this was something else. I could hear a sound, like music. Then I knew the Heart was ahead of us, I even knew how far. It was as if it was calling to me, as if it wanted to be found. But why?
After several minutes I called out, “There they are!”
Genevieve set down the airskiff in front of the four spires. She checked on her father as I stepped out and looked over the striped earth. I walked over to the base of the third spire and looked down. Armand had stood right here. But he’d traveling on horseback, and it had taken him months to get from the ocean to this spot. I was relieved flying had hadn’t taken as long. In my vision, I’d watched him place the Heart here knowing no one would disturb it. I wanted to leave it where it rested, but the sound was louder now. A calling, compelling me to free the Heart. I knew the Vimana and the Dragonship couldn’t be too far behind us. The other Hearts would lead Hendrix right here, and if I didn’t seize the opportunity to retrieve the Heart now, it would fall into their hands.
I took a few steps back, loaded my Thumpers, and aimed them at the base. I pulled the triggers, and, when the dust cleared, saw that part of the spire had crumbled away. I loaded two more percussion caps and fired again. The spire shook, but remained standing.
I knelt and wiped at the dust. A glint of purple appeared. “I found it!”
Genevieve ran over. “You found the Heart?”
I nodded. “It’s buried here in the base of this finger.”
She knelt beside me and cleared more dust and debris away. “I see it,” she said. “We don’t have much to dig it out.”
“I think one or two more blasts will do it.”
“How many more do you have?”
I reached in my pouch and pulled out four caps. “I hope it’s enough.”
“It will be.”
I opened the breaches and slipped in two more caps. I placed one to the side of where I thought the Heart was and pressed the button. It blew out the side revealing more of the purple crystal. Then I aimed the other just below the Heart and fired. A huge dust cloud kicked up, Genevieve and I had to turn away. When I looked again a large cavity stood where the Heart had been and an amethyst crystal wrapped in a coil of silver wire lay at our feet.
I picked up the Heart and a surge of power and exultation—like pure joy—rippled through me. The amethyst and silver coil held a beauty that made it inconceivable this stunning artifact could be so evil. I showed it to Genevieve, but she stepped back. The stone was heavier than I thought and I had to use two hands to cradle the Heart.
“I get the feeling that thing wanted to be found,” she said, turning to the airskiff. “We need to get out here.”
I nodded and we climbed inside. The baron looked at the Heart and leaned away. He stared at me, with a look in his eyes I’d never seen before. Concern, yes, but something else, too. I hugged the crystal to my chest as Genevieve lifted the airskiff into the air.
“Apologies Armand,” I said softly. “Forgive us for disturbing the place you chose to hide this from the world.”
CHAPTER 45
HIDDEN TREASURE
Staring at the facets in the amethyst, I saw only the beautiful purple crystal, and not the deadly power within. So unassuming, this relic could sit in a museum or nobleman’s art collection. I held it cradled in my arms. The silver coil wrapped perfectly around the amethyst, looking fused with its six sides.
“Alexander, can you put that Heart away?” The baron pointed to the leather bag I wore slung across my shoulder. “It’s too dangerous to hold.”
I stared at him for a moment. I didn’t want to put it away. I wasn’t done admiring it, but I knew of its power over the hearts of men. It hadn’t affected me yet, but to be certain it’s power wouldn’t take hold, I put the Amethyst Heart into my bag. After one last look, I closed the flap, and secured it.
I pulled out my father’s telescope, set the lenses in the leather case and peered through. We flew over the Great Plains, an endless sea of prairie grass in every direction. I could see all the way to the Rockies in the west and almost to the Appalachians in the east. I knew Hendrix had to be following us, and, sure enough, while watching the sky behind us, I saw a speck take shape in the distance that I knew could only be the Vimana. My fears were confirmed when I saw the Dragonship undulating around the Vimana as if guarding its hoard.
“Hendrix is over the mountains,” I said, pointing as I continued to look through the telescope.
“Genevieve, take us lower. Hopefully we’ll blend in instead of being a dark dot in the sky.” The baron pushed off my coat and turned to see our pursuers. “May I see your telescope?”
I handed it over and the baron watched the Vimana and Dragonship for a few minutes.
“Have they spotted us?” Genevieve asked, but her focus remained on avoid the trees.
“I don’t think so. They appear to be flying normally.”
“I wonder if they’ll stop in the Badlands or if the Hearts will tell them to continue?” My hand rested on my bag, and I felt the large crystal through the leather.
“We’ll have to wait and see.” The baron sat back and handed me the tele
scope.
Soon, night stretched over the plains like a dark blanket. However, the stars above were obscured by a thick haze making it impossible to navigate, but it was easier to see the Vimana. Huge flood lights illuminated the night’s sky above and swept over the ground below.
Eventually I realized they weren’t moving forward anymore. They’d grown smaller as we traveled and so I watched through the telescope trying to see what they were doing. We weren’t over the Badlands any longer, I wasn’t certain where we were, probably Kansas since we hadn’t crossed the Mississippi River.
“They’ve stopped. I think they’re searching for something.” I kept watching, and saw several Hornets with smaller lights fly out of the Vimana’s hangers. “The Dragonship is circling above them.”
“Genevieve, turn around. We have to see why they’ve halted.” The baron reached out for my telescope.
I handed it over and said, “Shouldn’t we use this opportunity to get further away?”
Genevieve glanced over her shoulder and then turned the wheel causing us to make a sharp turn. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll have broken down.”
The baron chuckled. “I doubt it, but stay low and approach from the south.”
“Already on it,” she said. Genevieve swooped far to the south and when we were less than a mile away, she landed.
We could see that the Vimana was on the ground with the Dragonship curled up beside it. Both vessels sat at the edge of a small canyon or scar dug into the prairie. I peered through my telescope and saw the swinging lanterns and torchlights of several soldiers, plus General Hendrix, walking down into the canyon.
“We need to get closer,” the baron said. The baron started to stand, but he was still wobbly. We’d been traveling for a while with little to eat and he was weak.
“I don’t think you should be moving through this chilly night air.” Genevieve put her hand on her father’s shoulder. He looked at her, but she cocked her head. “You still need to regain your strength. Alexander and I will go.”
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