by Lara Nance
She turned away, not sure she wanted to talk about that. But he put a hand on her shoulder and spun her around.
“Look, you’re way past due for an apology, and I need to get it off my chest once and for all. I was a complete jackass to leave you without an explanation and I don’t deserve to be forgiven, but I apologize anyway. You’ll probably never be able to understand my reasons for leaving. You think I was just being selfish, running after my dreams, but the truth is I didn’t want to disappoint you as a husband. I can only say that at the time I felt it was my only course of action. I know it humiliated you and hurt you and I hate that, but it’s too late to change it now.”
“You didn’t want to disappoint me as a husband?” She stared at him in disbelief as her hands balled into fists. “Are you really going to give me that as a reason for what you did? Now I’m really angry.”
“I’m trying to apologize. Why are you angry?” He put his hands on his hips.
“Because that’s the most ridiculous piece of malarkey I’ve ever heard and I can’t hit you because you just saved my life.” She glared at him.
“But it’s true,” he said, exasperation raising his voice. “You think it would have been better to go through with the wedding and then find out I wanted to go fly airships and explore the world?”
“No I think it would have been better for you to come and talk to me before the wedding so we could have worked it out together. You need to face the truth, Everette Brockton, you were a selfish scoundrel.”
“Ha, yeah, that would have worked. You want the truth, then here it is. You were a spoiled daddy’s girl back then and you got everything you wanted. Nobody dared turn you down and I wasn’t going to be the first. If I had told you about my dreams you would have just brushed them aside and asked me for the two hundredth time if I liked the color of the rugs in the house your father bought us.”
Her eyes popped wide and rage like a fiery inferno swept through her. “Rugs? I never asked you about the rugs. Never. And I am not a spoiled daddy’s girl! I’ve worked hard for what I have.”
“Maybe now, but back then you were just a brat. If I had even hinted at ending the marriage you would have pulled every brat trick in the book to stop me, and I wasn’t going to go up against that. It was better for me to leave.”
“A brat? A brat?” Reason left her and she swung her fist into the pit of his stomach with all the force she could muster.
He doubled over with a “whoof.” Then before she could catch her breath, he grabbed her waist, swung her into his arms and tossed her into the pond. As she sat there sputtering in the shallow edge of the water, he stomped off into the ship.
Chapter 12
Belle emerged on the deck the next morning and squinted in the bright sunlight. She looked around for Rett. He stood on the aft deck using some tools to make adjustments to the steering wheel. He met her gaze briefly without expression and resumed his work.
Although she wanted to kill him for dumping her in that pond, she’d spent a long time last night thinking about what he told her. Perhaps some slight ring of truth in his words had saved his life. Had she really been such a brat? Had she really loved him or was it just being entranced with getting married and playing house? While he’d struggled with thoughts of his future she was only concerned with the color of rugs? Was that possible?
It was all so long ago, she couldn’t really remember. And did it make any difference now? All that really mattered at this moment was saving her father. So she would focus on that. She slipped a hand into her pocket and wrapped her fingers around the engraved surface of her pocket watch. Just the touch gave her hope.
“Belle, we’re almost ready to leave. Sam’s got the engine going,” Rett said coming down the steps toward her with a wary look in his eyes.
“Where’s Benji?” she asked as Jasper handed her a cup of tea. How he managed to have it ready the moment she appeared was a mystery, but she was happy for it.
“Isn’t he down in the cabin?” Rett asked.
“No, the door to his room was open and it was empty,” she replied.
“Perhaps he and the young lady are taking a stroll,” Jasper suggested, a disapproving look on his face.
“Oh, no.” Belle handed her cup back to her butler.
Rett glanced at her sharply. “What?”
“Benji wanted to explore that pile of rocks we saw before we landed. I bet he and Armani went there before anyone else was up.”
“Damn it! Did I not say last night; no one is to wander off by themselves?” Rett exclaimed, throwing his hands in the air.
“Wandering off is something Master Benjamin excels at,” Jasper said with feeling, shaking his head.
“We should go after them.” Belle started for the stairs. “What if one of them fell and broke a leg or something?”
Rett followed her, muttering, “If he broke his leg it might stop him from wandering off.”
They lowered the gangplank and headed for the woods.
“It was in that direction.” Belle pointed.
Rett nodded, his lips pressed together in a grim line. Belle hoped the two young people had not come to any harm, but she could wring Benji’s neck for his insatiable curiosity. Now they were going to lose more time in hunting him down.
They pushed through the undergrowth with Rett making the way easier for Belle behind him. The trees grew close together lending their surroundings a heavy, shadowy atmosphere. Other than occasional birds chirping the only sounds were their footsteps as they crunched across leaves and twigs. They had been moving for about ten minutes when they heard a commotion up ahead—screeching and hooting—and it was coming closer.
Rett put up a hand and they stopped. The sound of running and crashing through the brush approached them. Belle’s heart hammered in her chest as Rett took her arm and pulled her back. Suddenly Benji and Armani broke through the underbrush, running toward them, their faces white and eyes bulging.
“Run,” Benji yelled. They didn’t even slow down when they passed Belle and Rett. “Run!”
Rett and Belle shared a horrified look and then headed after them. The raucous screeching and screams grew louder and more frightening. Belle glanced over her shoulder and thought she saw figures moving through the trees behind them. Terror shot through her like an icy arrow.
They could see the clearing up ahead and Rett shouted for Sam to get the lines up and be ready to leave. She thought Sam yelled back, but she wasn’t sure.
They burst into the open and the noise behind them deafened her. The screeching was accompanied by the cracking of limbs and thuds of something hitting the ground.
They raced up the gangplank and Rett pulled it up after them but not before Belle caught sight of the deluge that roared into the clearing almost on top of them. It was a rolling mass of black and brown fur, red eyes and white fangs. She couldn’t stop a scream from escaping her lips.
“Go, go, go,” Rett yelled as he ran up the steps to the deck.
Bodies hit the sides of the ship and it shivered as it rose in the air. What were those things? She followed Rett and on the deck she was met with a battle. Monkeys of every type and apes were trying to climb onto the ship or drop down from trees. Benji and Armani were back to back using the deck chairs to push the beasts away. Sam had a rifle he was swinging by the barrel and Jasper used the silver tray as a weapon while cradling the fragile china teapot in the crook of his arm.
Belle grabbed a lantern from the rail and entered the fray, swinging the brass box back and forth to knock the monkeys over the side. They might look like monkeys, but Belle was certain the similarity ended at appearance. They were mad beasts with wild white eyes, gnashing their fangs and scraping their nails to get a hold on the wooden sides of Gambit.
Rett fought his way to the aftcastle, punching monkeys and apes with his fists, and slammed the lever forward. The ship shot into the air, trailing a rain of the last few animals that were knocked overboard.
The
humans came together in the center of the deck, breathing hard, their eyes scanning the area for more of the hideous attackers. Finally, they were convinced no more creatures remained on the ship. Most of the group had cuts or ripped clothing and Belle went below to find something to clean the wounds. No telling what sort of foul germs those horrid beasts carried.
Rett guided the ship while Belle patched everyone up. As soon as Sam’s arm was cleaned and wrapped, he went down to the engine to make sure their hasty takeoff had not damaged any of the machinery.
“What happened?” Belle finished the last wound and finally had a moment to think since the mad dash from the forest.
Benji hung his head and Armani answered, eyes still wide with fear. “It was the ruins of a temple of some sort. There was an altar in the front made of stone with dark brown stains on the sides. Benji said that it was from blood, so the altar had been used for sacrifices. We were just going to open a wooden door at the base of the structure when we heard all this screeching. The monkeys started gathering in the trees over us. They hurled limbs and nuts down, whatever they could find. Then we saw the big apes on the top of the temple. One of them was completely white. I think he must be the leader. His eyes were red and when he opened his mouth it was the most hideous scream you can imagine. That’s when we ran.”
“Benji, I’d like a word with you. Armani, you might want to see if Jasper needs any help below.” Belle glanced at her ward and he bit his bottom lip.
“I’m s, s, sorry, Belle,” he blurted out as soon as Armani left. “I thought we could go have a l, l, look around and be back before anyone else got up.”
Belle chose her words carefully. Benji was not her son but she had a responsibility to him none the less. She had always given him a significant amount of freedom especially when it came to his studies. He even had his own laboratory in the basement of their home at
Polling Court. But somehow she had to make him understand that he couldn’t go running off every time something interested him. Aereopolis was different, but on this trip danger abounded in places one could never imagine.
She knew the one thing that he valued more than anything was her trust and love for him. It broke her heart to use that, but given the circumstances, it could save his life.
“Benji, I have to say for the first time since you came to live with me, I’m very disappointed in you.” She was crushed by the hurt that shone in his eyes, but she couldn’t back down. “What you did today was thoughtless and irresponsible. Not only did you put yourself in danger, you also placed Armani in danger. In fact you put all of us in danger. I won’t even mention the delay this caused in our trip. I only hope we will still be able to find my father’s trail before something dreadful happens to him.”
Benji’s face turned red and she thought he might burst into tears. “So from now on, you will listen to what I or Rett says and no more going off to explore. Is that clear?”
Benji nodded and she couldn’t help softening her harsh words by placing a hand on his shoulder as she left him. She knew her words were punishment enough and hoped he would be able to curb his curiosity in the future. She climbed the steps to the aft deck and saw Rett watching Benji.
“I hope you made sure he won’t pull a stunt like that again,” he said frowning.
“Don’t worry. Benji is very quick to learn a lesson.” She smiled as the young man hurried forward to help Jasper with a large tray holding tea things and food for breakfast. Jasper’s bushy eyebrows went up, but he said nothing.
“How far to Jandaharra?” she asked.
“We’ll be there before dusk with this tail wind,” Rett said. He gave her a sideways glance. “Belle, about last night…”
She held up a hand. “Rett, it’s probably a good idea if we try to forget last night. We both said things best left unsaid.”
“The apology was genuine, I assure you.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “I appreciate your attempt at apology, I really do. And I’m not as angry with you as I was.”
“But.”
“But it would be a lie to say I completely understand your motives back then.”
He looked away. “I guess I can understand that.”
“Let’s just say I don’t hate you now and I’ll work on liking you. But I’m not a brat, okay?”
He gave her a half smile. “Not any more, no.”
She fought back a smile and walked away.
The rest of the day thankfully passed uneventful. Rett revived Benji’s spirits by offering to show him how to fight with his dagger while Sam steered the ship as the weather was fair and the tail wind continued to push them along.
But Belle noticed the closer they got to Jandaharra, the more withdrawn Armani became. She decided there must be something wrong. The girl should be overjoyed to know she would be back home with her parents that evening. Perhaps she dreaded the impending wedding.
She sat in a chair beside Armani and the girl gave her a wan smile. “Something’s bothering you.”
Armani pulled Belle’s jacket closer and a visible shiver ran through her.
“Aren’t you happy to be going home?”
The girl looked away and tears welled in her eyes. “I would be happy if I could go home and things would be the way they were before I left.”
Belle frowned. “Why wouldn’t they be?”
“Our customs are different from yours. Girls are very sheltered in our society. They go from their father’s house to their husband’s. I would never be allowed to roam around as you do.”
“Are you saying you think they will feel different about you since you were taken away?”
Armani nodded and a few tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks.
“But surely your parents will welcome you back. I’m certain they must love you,” Belle said, confused. What did Armani think they would do? Throw her out in the street? “It wasn’t your fault you were kidnapped. They know that.”
“Yes, I’m sure they do. But once a woman is, is, used by a man her honor is gone and so is the honor of her family.”
“But you were not touched by a man. I can attest to that.”
Armani nodded and tried to smile. “Yes, I’m sure they will believe you. You’re a very important person.”
“Don’t worry. I didn’t bring you back to have someone mistreat you.” She put her hands on the girl’s shoulders and gave them a squeeze.
“Aeroport ahead,” Sam called, breaking up the activities on deck. Rett joined him on the aft deck and they sent out a pigeon to announce their arrival.
Belle held out a hand to Armani. “Come on, you can point out places of interest to us and make Benji jealous of your knowledge.”
Armani grinned and wiped the last of her tears away. She and Belle walked to the rail where Benji and Jasper viewed the outskirts of the capital city of Gandiss. Where Harruca had been a sea of varying shades of beige, Jandaharra was a spectrum of red. The area was known for the red sand used in their bricks. With different concentrations of the sand they were able to make mixtures that ranged from light pink to burgundy. Builders there were masters at varying the hues in their structures to create a pleasing flow of color.
“There’s the palace of the raja,” she said pointing to a structure of multiple levels surrounded by a large park. The bricks created a magnificent surge of reds in every shade. Windows and parapets stood out with borders of white marble.
“And there is my uncle’s house.” She indicated a large mansion situated on a small hill close to the palace. “My father’s house is on the other side of the palace.”
A bubble of excitement welled in Belle’s chest at the prospect of seeing the ambassador again. She hoped he might have more information about her father’s kidnappers by this time. Maybe he would even be able to lend her help in locating him.
They slowed as they approached the aeroport and the pigeon returned with their docking instructions. Since it rarely rained in Jandaharra, there was no n
eed for a covered berth. They would tie up to iron rings in the ground as they had in Harruca.
Rett suggested they go into town as they were sorely low on supplies while Sam arranged for a shipment of coal. Then they could find transportation to the Ambassador’s house which was too far to reach on foot. However, it wasn’t long before they were aware of the tension in the air when people found out they were from Urbannia. Angry glances and murmurs of harsh words frightened Belle.
“I think we should go back to the ship and send a note to the ambassador first,” Rett said. “I don’t like the looks we’re getting. It could be dangerous to walk around. He can take care of Armani and hopefully give you information about your father.”
Belle nodded as she glanced at the hostile faces of people in the market. “I agree. It will be safer if he comes to us.”
They hurried back to Gambit with their purchases and Rett paid a local boy to take a message to Lord Ismatan.
Sam returned as well, shaking his head. “Things are bad. All the talk is about war with Urbannia.”
“But nothing has happened yet, thank God,” Belle said. “Was there any speculation about who kidnapped my father?”
“Only that it is not Gandiss. Everyone is angry about that. They don’t understand why Urbannia is so insistent Gandiss is the culprit.”
“This is so frustrating.” Belle balled up her fists. “Damn that stupid snow tiger dagger.”
“At least Urbannia hasn’t openly declared war,” Rett said.
Belle wondered if her mother had been able to talk to the queen. If she had, it might be the reason for the delay in hostilities. Hopefully the ambassador would have more news.
Jasper made use of the provisions they had procured in their brief foray into town and brought up trays of food to the deck. Benji pitched in to help him again and Belle had to hide a smile at his attempt to make up for his misbehavior.
She took one of the chairs and sat there for a moment contemplating the future and the difficulties they faced in finding her father once they reached Carabarras. So many obstacles remained in their path. Looking for solace, she pulled out her watch and opened it, allowing the lovely tune to bring her father near and offer reassurance. She closed her eyes and remembered all the times he had encouraged her and brought her hope. Surely she would feel it if something had happened to him. That had to be a message to keep going. She squeezed her eyes together and sent up a prayer for God to keep him safe, and to give her help in finding him.