Airwoman

by Zara Quentin

  Jade saw more Premyans hurrying towards the Temple. Something was happening. Something big.

  Jade’s stomach twisted as she started to run around the swamp. She didn’t dare look away from the activity descending on the Temple, in case she missed something. As she came around the side of the thatched building where she had a better view of the entrance, she saw the Premyans swinging across the ropes to the Temple. The Premyans swung hand-over-hand, in parallel, across the ropes, and between them they carried the Traveller. The mud belched a jet of steam, as the trio crossed overhead.

  As the Premyans landed at the entrance to the Temple, Jade got a better look at the Traveller being carried between them. The three were about to disappear into the entrance as Jade recognised the figure.

  A long, golden braid hung over the Traveller’s shoulder. One of her wings was shrivelled and damaged.

  Neve.

  Jade gasped, stumbling a few paces before steadying herself against a tree trunk. “Don’t hurt her! Please!” Jade leapt into the air and flew directly toward the Temple entrance. With a few beats of her wings, the ground rushed under her, a blur. She heard a hiss, and flicked her tail to swerve suddenly, narrowly avoiding a jet of steam that shot unexpectedly into her path. Behind her, Axel yelled, but Jade didn’t turn back. In only seconds, she had put her feet down at the entrance to the Temple.

  Jade burst into the crowd gathered inside, wide-eyed. She looked left and right, her eyes searching for her friend. The Premyans all knelt at the altar and as she entered, their heads turned towards her as one. Jade ignored them. Her eyes settled on Neve, stretched out on the woven mats of the floor, in front of the altar, where DivineOne lounged in his fiery bed. Namaje knelt beside her.

  Without paying any respects to DivineOne, Jade dashed forwards, skirting around the kneeling Premyans to come to Neve’s side.

  “She’s my friend. Don’t hurt her,” Jade said, loudly enough that everyone could hear. She looked down at Neve, whose face was pale and dirty. She was covered in cuts and scrapes and her white healer robes were now turned various shades of brown. “What have you done to her? Leave her alone!”

  DivineOne hissed sparks and Jade felt someone approach her side.

  “Show respect,” Loraya hissed. With surprising strength, she forced Jade’s head to the floor with a thump that reverberated through her skull. Jade found herself prostrated in front of DivineOne.

  “Hey!” Jade heard Axel yell out from the back of the Temple, but Loraya pinned her head to the ground.

  Jade gritted her teeth and struggled against Loraya’s grip, trying to wiggle her torso and neck to shake off the force on her head. Loraya pressed harder, pushing down on Jade’s head until the pressure became so great she worried her skull might split on the ground.

  Do you dare show such disrespect to your Dragon-Gods, daughter of Taraqa? DivineOne’s thought seared into her mind like a brand.

  “Neve is my friend,” Jade said, through gritted teeth. “She doesn’t know anything about the Eigot.”

  The daughters of Premye have not hurt this daughter of Taraqa, foolish girl. The DivineOne’s voice boomed and a shiver ran down her spine with the force of His thoughts. Loraya gave her head one last push, then let go, allowing Jade to sit back on her knees. She rubbed her forehead as she looked sideways at Loraya’s furious glare.

  “Jade?” Neve’s eyes opened. There were dark rings under her eyes and her breathing was shallow and quick. Her eyelids fluttered as though she was struggling to keep them open. “I have to tell you something… important.”

  Jade reached out for Neve’s hand and pressed it against her cheek. “It’s all right. You’re all right. Namaje will help you. Rest now. You can tell me later—”

  No! DivineOne’s mind-voice seared into her thoughts and Jade rocked backwards, clutching her head. I will hear her message now. Then I will decide whether we help her or not.

  “But she’s exhausted—”

  There is more at stake here than one daughter of Taraqa. Our first priority is to My brother-Eigot. All else comes after.

  Neve squeezed her hand. “It’s all right, Jade. I have to tell you… I overheard Squadron Leader Vance… giving instructions to…the Force Porter. He said… they knew… location of… village.”

  Loraya flicked her fingers towards DivineOne.

  The servant-Loraya thinks the Travellers could be here at any moment. DivineOne’s mind-voice echoed in her head. She thinks We must vacate Kapelton as soon as may be. Tell Me of the Travellers intent.

  Jade looked up to DivineOne, feeling the compulsion laced into His thoughts. She started to shake her head as her chest tightened. They were overreacting. “The Squadron’s orders were to find a peaceful solution. There’s not necessarily any danger—”

  “No,” Neve said, her voice raspy and thin as she panted out her words. “Vance said… the Squadron… will attack. Revenge for… Travellers killed.”

  “But the orders from Air Marshall—”

  “Denger’s orders… changed,” Neve said.

  When will this attack be carried out?

  “I left the camp when I heard… took me a while to find you… I don’t know… Soon.”

  This is why we have seen no Travellers overhead. They have been preparing.

  “Why would Scosse change his orders?” Jade asked. Loraya glared at her; she was speaking out of turn. It was not her place to contradict DivineOne once His will had been made known. Still, she couldn’t help following her line of thought. “It just doesn’t make sense. Scosse wanted a peaceful resolution, he said it right from the very beginning.” Jade shook her head. She couldn’t believe this was happening. The Traveller Force wouldn’t act this way—it went against everything she’d ever been taught about the Force.

  Axel cleared his throat. He had come to kneel close to her. He glanced at Loraya. “If I may…” he started, then caught Jade’s eye, with an apologetic shake of his head, before looking from DivineOne to the surrounding Premyans “The Air Marshall wanted an excuse to punish you. He would never allow your people to get away with killing Travellers.”

  “It’s all a misunderstanding. Scosse doesn’t even know why Travellers are dying. He doesn’t know about the Eigot. How can he?”

  He knows. Why else did the children of Taraqa seek this place? After the first son of Taraqa, others came. Seeking My sister-Eigot. Seeking Me.

  Jade shook her head, wanting to interrupt, but DivineOne’s mind-voice was resolute. Our messages were clear. The children of Taraqa have strayed outside their mandate. They shall never get away with stealing My brother-Eigot.

  Jade flinched at the force of his mind-voice. She opened her mouth to voice her disbelief again, but DivineOne would not allow her to continue.

  We prepare for an attack. This daughter of Taraqa speaks the truth. We will vacate Kapelton and find another place to shelter from Our enemies.

  At his words, Loraya and the gathered Premyans rose and hurried out of the Temple. Jade remained kneeling next to Neve, stunned. Events were moving so fast. She wanted to hold out her hands, to stop everyone and make them think. None of this made sense. Travellers were not war-mongers, nor fighters. Taraqans were traders, they wanted peace to facilitate trade. As Papa had always said, war was never good for business. She looked helplessly from Axel to Neve.

  “You don’t really believe the Squadron will attack without provocation, do you?” Jade asked.

  Axel pressed his mouth into a line. “The Traveller Force would see each of those bodies as provocation enough.”

  “They’re good people,” Jade snapped, then corrected herself. “I mean we. We’re good people. We’re not war-hungry monsters. I just don’t believe—”

  “Don’t be so naive,” Axel snapped back. Jade stared at him, open mouthed. Axel sighed. “Sorry, it’s just… you always talk about the Force like it's full of heroes. Like all their moral compasses point true north with no deviation. Not everyone is a good guy. Not even those i
n your beloved Traveller Force. Especially not them.”

  “They are heroes. They put their lives on the line to—”

  “Protect the Dragonverse. Yeah, yeah, yeah—I’ve heard it all before. I used to be a Traveller too, you know. But power corrupts—”

  Jade’s mouth dropped open again. “Oh, I suppose you think my uncle has something to do with that too, right?”

  Neve squeezed Jade’s hand, and Jade wrenched her eyes away from Axel.

  “Hate to say it, but… Axel’s right.” Neve panted, her breath coming quick and shallow. “I overheard… lots of… conversations from my tent… Not much love for… Premyans. I wish it wasn’t true, but… wouldn’t have half-killed myself… to warn you if… I didn’t believe.”

  “How did you get out here?” Jade asked.

  “I barely made it,” Neve said. “I saw… the direction you went… when you dropped into… the trees. I took… the same direction. Then… I found marks carved into trees and hoped… it was you. I almost turned around, but…” she trailed off, her eyes darting from Jade to Axel. “Then I got a sign… Then… Premyans found me. I thought they would… kill me, but… I begged for help and said your name… They brought me… You know the rest.”

  Namaje appeared. “Rest now,” she said to Neve, putting a hand on her forehead, then turned her attention to Jade. “We leave soon. You prepare. Leave at dark.”

  “Tonight?” Jade asked. The sun was already low in the sky. It would only be a couple of hours before nightfall.

  Namaje nodded. “Cannot stay. Travellers come soon. Must go. Must protect The Three.”

  The Three were only two at the moment, but Jade decided now wasn’t the time to remind Namaje of that fact. Axel reached out a hand to Jade, but she ignored it, pushing herself to her feet. She strode out of the Temple, aware of Axel at her heels.

  “Why are you mad at me?” he asked, when they had crossed the boiling swamp and landed under the trees. He reached forward to put a hand on her shoulder, turning her to face him.

  Jade spun around, looking up into his eyes. She saw the hurt nestled in them and her throat tightened. She wanted to reach out and smooth out the lines on his forehead, but she clenched her fists at her side. He had a habit of asking the questions she didn’t want to think about, of saying things she didn’t want to hear. Why did he get to her like this? “I jumped to conclusions once before,” Jade said. “And I got it wrong. I don’t want to do that again.” Jade frowned into the distance, then looked at Axel again. “Look, I don’t understand why you have such bad blood with the Force. I don’t get what you have against my uncle—”

  “I haven’t got anything against your uncle—”

  “Well, he’s a good guy. He looked after me when Basalt died and my whole family fell apart. He always had time for me, especially when Mama and Papa didn’t. He helped me when I needed it, when no one else was around. Even you.” Jade took a deep breath. “I trust him. He wouldn’t have done this and I’m not going to change what I think about him, just because I like you.” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she’d thought about them and Jade clapped a hand over her mouth, as soon as she heard what she’d just said.

  “You like me?” Axel’s eyes widened.

  Jade felt a warm flush creep up her neck. She almost shook her head, but it wouldn’t obey. Instead, she held her breath, and nodded. A smile spread over his face until he seemed to glow.

  He reached over and hesitated a moment before cupping Jade’s cheek in his hand. “I like you, too.”

  Jade’s mouth went dry and she suddenly found it difficult to breathe. Axel’s eyes twinkled as he stepped towards her. Jade’s heart pounded in her ears as everything else fell away. Suddenly there was only her and him. Invisible strings seemed to connect the two of them, binding them together, drawing them closer to each other. Before she knew it, Jade was pressed against him, turning her face up towards his.

  Then Jade blinked and, a vision of Michael’s face flashed through her mind. He smiled at her and his eyes sparkled with laughter. Then, his face was cold and still. Murdered.

  Jade shivered and pulled away, closing her eyes. Her cheek felt cold where Axel’s hand had been a moment ago. She tried to push Michael’s image away, but it was replaced by Papa’s spirit-words: Release me. A moment later, she remembered Zorman’s voice speaking out of the dragonfly, telling her how much they were counting on her.

  Jade rubbed her hands along her arms and when she opened her eyes, she saw Axel looking at her. Hurt swam in his eyes and Jade wanted to reach out and smooth it away. But she stilled her hand. “I’m sorry. I owe my uncle a lot. And Papa.” And Michael, she thought. Jade felt the invisible strings tugging at her, but she forced herself to stand her ground. “I can’t be distracted. I need to find the Eigot and return it. With any luck I can stop all of this from happening.”

  There was a shout from behind them, and Jade saw Axel’s eyes drift upwards.

  “Too late.” He pointed into the sky.

  Jade turned to see what Axel was looking at. A Squadron of Travellers, in attack formation, was coming their way.

  * * *

  “Hide!” Axel grabbed Jade’s hand. His wings spread and he leapt into the air. Jade flew behind him. He pointed towards the Premyan houses and Jade understood his reasoning without having to ask: the canopy provided plenty of cover. It should protect them now.

  Jade landed awkwardly on a branch and gripped it with her legs, hoping she was out of sight of the Travellers flying overhead. She held her breath and watched the Squadron come closer. It flew low in a multiple V-formation, archers at the front and sides, swords in the middle. Jade recognised the tactics from her brief training—they would break the enemy from a distance with their arrows, before the swords finished the job. Jade frowned as she watched the Squadron coming in. For them, the Premyans were a hidden enemy who wouldn’t easily be lured out into the open. Surely the Squadron knew their tactics wouldn’t work here?

  The V-formation was almost over the swampy ground when the archers drew their first arrows. Jade stared at them from protection under the canopy. There were no Premyans out in the open. Who were they aiming at?

  Suddenly, there was a flash: a flame at the tip of the lead archer’s arrow. A moment later, each arrow in the formation was aflame. Jade turned around to Axel, who sat behind her on the branch.

  “Fire!”

  As though Jade had commanded them, the archers loosed their arrows, sending them flaming into the trees.

  “The village will burn,” Jade hissed over her shoulder to Axel. “We have to warn them.”

  The words barely left her lips when one of the treehouses caught alight. The flames crackled and spread quickly through the walls of the hut. A moment later, a Premyan woman burst out. Her finely braided hair was a stream of fire as she scampered down the trunk and started running. Jade put a hand over her mouth as the flaming woman sprinted around the edge of the bubbling swamp. She guessed the woman was heading to one of the camouflaged water channels. Jade held her breath, screams reverberating in her ears as the Premyan woman ran, a streak of flames. Before she was even halfway, she fell forwards and landed face-first in the mud, an arrow sticking out of her back. Jade gagged as she watched the woman’s body burn where it lay.

  By the time she wrenched her eyes away from the burning corpse, several other treehouses were on fire. Thick, black smoke clouded over, prematurely darkening the late afternoon sky. Jade stifled a cough as the smoke tickled her lungs. Premyans evacuated their homes to escape the flames. Several made for the temple, swinging across the ropes towards the entrance.

  “We’ve got to help them.” Jade stood on the branch when Axel caught her shoulder.

  “I’ll do it. You stay hidden.”

  Jade shook her head. “I’ll come.”

  “No,” Axel insisted. “They’re looking for you, remember? Stay here.” Before Jade could argue, Axel dropped out of the tree and darted, on foot, around the ed
ge of the swampy clearing, disappearing behind the trees. When she could no longer see him, Jade stared grimly up at the Squadron that had circled around and were returning for a second pass.

  This time, several pairs of Travellers left the formation, dropping lower, flying over the swampy mud but below the canopy. Two flew past her—Cajun and Glade.

  They weren’t armed with bow and arrows, and their swords were tucked into their belts. What were they doing without their swords drawn? A number of small ceramic pots were tied to their belts.

  Cajun and Glade dropped to the ground, folding their wings. They conferred a moment before moving to stand underneath the tree where Jade was hiding.

  Jade froze, holding her breath. Inwardly, she cursed herself for not having gone with Axel when she’d had the chance. Now, there was nothing she could do except keep perfectly still and hope.

  “…place looks deserted except for a few of these cursed Premyans. I’m sick of this hell-hole. I don’t get why we’re here at all.” Jade heard Cajun’s voice drift up towards her.

  “Good thing you’re not in charge then,” Glade said. “We’re cleaning up this mess, that’s what we’re doing.”

  “Why are we stuck in this mosquito-infected, clammy, cursed place when he could just kill the newbie without laying a hand on her? Isn’t that his trademark?”

  Jade froze. Were they talking about Papa’s killer? So Zorman was right, the killings had been linked after all. And whoever was behind them was after her too. But who? All her muscles tightened as she gripped onto the branch, straining to hear them now.

  “Better not let anyone hear you questioning the boss,” Glade replied.

  The boss? Jade thought again of Denger. She wished she knew what Denger had against Papa.

  Glade took one of the pots from his belt, opening the lid. “It’d be too obvious if the girl died the same way as her daddy.” Glade poured a blackish liquid at the base of her tree. She smelt the bitter scent of the oil used in the Temple to light the lamps. Jade wrinkled her nose as the strong smell wafted upwards. “Anyway, everyone knows he needs proximity to work his magic. Out here, she’s out of his reach.”