The boy stumbled forward. His steps were uneven and sloppy, but Caledonia noticed that he required no direction to return to the hold. In spite of having only made the trip twice, he remembered every turn.
He stepped into the hold and immediately slumped onto a short stack of canvas, breathing hard.
Caledonia smothered the unwelcome sympathy she felt at the sight. Redtooth was right, he wasn’t worth their pity, even if he looked pitiful.
“A ship with an electrified hull.” She paused in the doorway.
“That’s what I said.” He barely moved, but his words carried an edge of aggression.
“Seems like an incredible kind of weapon. Why haven’t I heard of it before now?”
“Maybe your previous prisoners died too quick.”
He was angry. Good. Angry was honest. “Bullets never die quickly enough.”
He laughed. It was a rough, pained sound, like sandpaper on metal. “I thought you enjoyed watching me suffer.”
“I do.”
She met his eyes again. And for the first time, they bore the hard edge of defiance. It didn’t matter what he said. A Bullet was a Bullet. One day, he’d prove that he was not worthy of any more trust than they’d already given. She was sure of it. And when he did, she’d be ready with a blade in hand.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The peaks of the Rock Isles appeared, gilded in the cool, fiery blue of dusk and rinsed in deep shadow. The mountain range was disconnected, separated by a circuitous, mostly impassable network of canals. Though the highest tips were frequently dusted in snow, the slopes bore some of the most arable lands around the Bullet Seas. Rich in resources and hard to reach, the mountains were home to Cloudbreak: a two-tiered market port that, by tradition and by circumstance, existed outside Aric’s rule.
Surrounding it all was an archipelago of jagged metal islands meant to break a ship’s speed. Between those fabricated islands, the waters were littered with the decaying hulls of ships whose captains had tried force and failed. In a very real sense, it was a graveyard, and it made this a dangerous stop for anyone on the run. As hard as it was to get in, it was just as difficult to get out.
They waited until morning to approach. When the market was sure to be open and a fine mist closed around the mountains, the Mors Navis moved at a crawl. Caledonia stood on the command deck, her sharp eyes steady on the dark water ahead, and selected a path through the jagged islands wide enough to accommodate them. Her ship was at the upper limit of what would be allowed to dock. Much bigger and she’d be forced to weigh anchor and take the bow boat in.
“What if word of the bounty has spread?” Amina stood next to the captain, mist gathering in small drops along the thick crest of her braids. “It will be more than Bullet ships after us.”
The thought had crossed Caledonia’s mind. A bounty offered by Aric Athair would appeal to more than just his loyal fleet. While Cloudbreak was not Bullet territory, it was sure to be far from friendly. Control of the market had changed hands a dozen times in as many years. The current ruler, Hesperus Shreeves, was known as the Sly King, a moniker earned by the way he managed to get the better end of any deal, no matter the odds. Even when confronted with Aric, the Sly King always seemed to come out unscathed.
“That’s why we waited for morning.” Caledonia forced a confidence she didn’t fully feel. She raised her hand into the swirling mist. “If we can move faster than it takes for this fog to rise, we’ll be gone before the Sly King spots our ship in his harbor.”
Amina’s mouth flattened. “The weather is a fickle ally.”
“Yes, but it’s all we have. Besides, there may be no bounty.” Even as she said it, something whispered that the notion was false. No one sunk seven, now eight, of Aric’s bale barges without consequence.
“I feel certain we’ll know one way or another before long.” Amina said, echoing Caledonia’s own thoughts.
Where Pisces was the emotional balance to Caledonia’s hard-edged approach, Amina offered grim insights with a selfless kind of ease that always felt like trust. Amina didn’t expect the worst to happen, but she was never surprised by it. And she always trusted Caledonia to carry them through it.
The ship slid past a long row of sharp, metal teeth, and then suddenly the docks appeared scattered around the base of the mountain with no obvious method of organization. This was Lower Cloudbreak. As it was both a wharf and a market, they might find anything here from quick ship fixes to protein bricks if they were lucky. Caledonia saw clusters of smaller trade ships and two other vessels as broad as hers, but no Bullet ships among them. The Sly King of Cloudbreak had an understanding with Aric. Bullet ships stayed out of the docks, and Hesperus, well, Caledonia wasn’t sure what Hesperus offered in exchange, but it was guaranteed to be a mark against him.
Usually, this was as far as Caledonia liked to go. But for anything of greater value, like the charges Amina needed to build an electro-mag and the ammo they’d need for the fight that followed, they’d have to travel to Upper Cloudbreak. That was a trip that involved riding the rope lifts up the towering cliffs, separating Caledonia from her ship for hours.
One of the larger vessels had taken the dock at the farthest edge, which had the greatest vantage over all comings and goings. The other had taken a spot near to the Cloudbreak lifts, giving their crew fast access to their ship should they need it. The smaller vessels filled in around them were probably exactly the trade ships they appeared to be while a few likely carried rogue crews like her own. If any had wind of the bounty, this wouldn’t go smoothly. But while Bullet ships were equipped with radios for quick communication, almost everyone else avoided them to evade detection.
Joining them on the bow, Redtooth sucked her teeth. “No good option,” she said darkly.
Caledonia nodded in agreement. “I suspect it’s merely the first set of no good options of the day. Tin!” she called, raising a hand and gesturing to a berth nestled between two of the smaller ships. Of the two larger vessels, she’d rather be near the one that hadn’t picked the most advantageous spot, and this put them closer to the lifts.
Tin nosed the Mors Navis in the right direction and slid the ship into the available space. The bow thrusters churned, slowing them down and nudging them right up to the dock. It was well done even if Lace or Caledonia would have done it differently.
No sooner had the ship rubbed against the thick bumpers than a dozen merchants appeared, holding up their wares. They offered everything from fresh fruits, salted meat, and wine to advertisements for tar or oakum or repair services. Caledonia’s crew began the work of securing the ship and lowering the rear gangway. Others took up strategic posts, lounging here and there as if casually observing their new surroundings. Casually, but with guns close at hand.
“Time to go!” Caledonia called, and when she saw only Redtooth and Amina, she asked, “Where’s Pi?”
As if on cue, a deep, groaning cry echoed through the hull of the ship. It was not the first they’d heard of the Bullet’s withdrawal, but without wind and water to dull the sounds, this one raked across the deck like the slow twist of metal. A few seconds later, Hime emerged from the companionway with a frowning Pisces not far behind.
Pisces wore her bulky green jacket to hide her bandage from view. But the sweat on her brow was visible to everyone. The fever Caledonia feared had arrived in force.
Wound’s infected. She needs a doctor. Hime’s usually gentle expression showed signs of irritation. Her eyes landed on Caledonia, and she lifted her hands. I need to come and see the doctor with her.
“I don’t need a doctor, I need rest,” Pisces protested, eyes traveling up the cliffs toward Cloudbreak. She was not fond of heights, preferring the suffocating press of water to nearly anything else. “Just rest, and I’ll be fine.”
At the next howl from the dregs of the ship, Pisces’s expression pinched just enough to tell Caled
onia that this reluctance to leave had nothing to do with the rope lifts. An alarm rang in Caledonia’s head, loud and clear. Pisces’s sympathy for that boy was already a distraction, already having an impact on how she made decisions.
“Hime says you’re not fine, and I trust her judgment on the subject more than yours. You’re going,” Caledonia stated, shouldering one of the four large sacks of solar scales they’d use for trade. To Hime, she stated, “You’re staying.”
With a heavy sigh, Pisces reached for one of the sacks. Before she could swing it onto her back, Hime caught the strap in her own hand, neatly pulling it away and shouldering the load. She can’t carry it, she said. I can.
“Hime,” Caledonia began, voice suddenly soft. “It’s too dangerous, and I need you here.”
I’m not afraid of danger, she insisted, the motions of her hands growing increasingly agitated. I’m stronger than you think. I would show you if you would only give me the chance.
This was delicate ground. After injuring Redtooth in battle, Hime had proven herself invaluable as a healing hand. She’d taken command of every health concern the ship had ever encountered, and they trusted her thoroughly in that regard. But whenever Silt entered the picture, Caledonia found herself trudging the line between protecting Hime’s heart and protecting the rest of her crew.
“You are strong,” Caledonia agreed. “And we need to keep you that way. Can you honestly tell me you’re ready to be around a market where Silt is openly peddled?”
Hime clasped her hands against her apron, frustration blazing in her eyes. She looked from Pisces to Caledonia to the sack hanging from Red’s grip. Finally, Amina moved to her side, lifting Hime’s tight hands in her own and smoothing her thumbs across her knuckles. Hime so rarely let anyone touch her hands, but Amina was an exception. When they looked into each other’s eyes, anyone near them disappeared.
“Princelet,” Amina soothed, sure not to grip Hime’s hands too tightly. “That boy will draw attention if he keeps this up. You’re the only one who understands what he’s going through. We need you to help him so he can help all of us.”
This mollified Hime somewhat, but disappointment sat heavy in the bend of her mouth. She nodded, hands lingering in Amina’s before dropping her bag and taking a small step back. Don’t let Pisces carry anything. She’ll fall. And find a doctor with antibios. Expensive, but it’s what she needs.
Caledonia nodded. “Got it.”
Amina shouldered her sack. Redtooth shouldered the remaining two. Pisces pulled her jacket closed, and as the four of them headed to the gangway, Caledonia instructed Tin to give the harbor master a bribe decent enough to find the best deals on the necessary repairs and a little extra for a heads-up on any trouble.
“Prioritize fresh foods according to Far’s list. If there’s a goat, see what you can do about making it ours. Keep the girls working on that patch in the stern. It needs fortifying. And if you spy trouble, get out of here in a hurry. Remember the rendezvous?”
Tin nodded. “I remember.”
“Good. Stay steely.”
They made their way down the wharf and up the rocky shore toward the lifts. There were fishing crews sorting their early morning catch, traders packing their pallets to be hauled up to Cloudbreak, and the occasional man or woman left behind by their crew to guard the boat. They noticed Caledonia as much as she noticed them. But if any of them knew about the bounty, they gave no sign.
The system of lifts was impressive. Thick cords of rope, slick with oil to keep the moisture out, supported wood or metal pallets of all sizes. There were pallets barely large enough for a single person and others that might support half of Caledonia’s crew at once. The ropes spiraled hundreds of feet up the cliff walls, disappearing into the mist. Midway up was a row of yellow flags. They fluttered limply in the gentle breeze, signaling that the winds were likely to be nearly as calm at the top of the cliff. Considering they were about to trust their lives to someone they couldn’t see, it was far from comforting.
Redtooth tested several pallets, bouncing in the center to ensure the material was sturdy, before selecting one big enough for the four of them and their goods.
“This one,” she said at last, standing atop a wooden pallet with slats spaced several inches apart. “The planks are hearty, and the spacing should help if the wind is stronger up there. And since all we can see is mist and more mist, I like this better than the possibility of slick metal. Best of no good options, round two. Right, Captain?”
“Right. Let’s load up.”
Pisces groaned. Caledonia’s own stomach cinched around her breakfast. Amina, however, stepped lightly onto the pallet, testing the ropes as if she might climb all the way to Upper Cloudbreak.
They secured their sacks in the center of the flat, each taking a corner to keep the pallet balanced. Then, with a hard shake of a rope next to the painted image of a bell, the pallet lifted from the ground and they were drawn upward.
It was faster than any of them expected. Pisces sucked in a sharp breath, and Redtooth laughed while Caledonia fixed her gaze on the diminishing shape of her ship. Cold wind pushed down on them from above, dragging Caledonia’s hair into her eyes. The mist thickened like a blanket, and it wasn’t long before the Mors Navis was only a blurry outline against a gray background. Then it was gone.
For several minutes, they traveled upward at a dizzying pace. It was safe to assume they’d climbed more than half a mile before the pallet began to slow.
One moment all they could hear was the creaking of the ropes, and the next the air filled with the soft whistle of a dozen pulleys moving overhead. The sounds grew louder, the pallet slowed even more, and soon they stopped under the dim outline of several cranes curling over the cliff above. Ropes spiraled downward from each crane, disappearing into the mist.
All but Pisces climbed carefully to their feet, hands gripping the ropes for support. The pallet swayed in the breeze. For the first time, Caledonia was thankful that the mist obscured how far they’d traveled.
Directly across from their pallet, there was a small opening carved into the wall. But it was several feet away and barely wide enough for a single body to squeeze through.
“Do we jump?” Redtooth asked, not nearly horrified enough by her own question.
“You first,” Amina said.
“Someone’s coming,” added Pisces in a choked voice.
They heard him before they saw him, the heels of his boots striking the stone at a neat clip. Caledonia imagined someone tall and broad, which turned out to be exactly not what this man was; he was no taller than Caledonia, with sloping narrow shoulders that seemed designed for the slender cut of the cave through which he walked. He was pale-skinned and tidy, with a yellow scarf bundled around his shoulders. When he saw them, his steps faltered and a crease of confusion appeared on his wide forehead.
“You’re all girls!” he cried, peering down as though he expected to find a man somewhere on their pallet. “And so young!”
“Only in years.” Amina was the closest to him, angling her body to partially shield Caledonia behind her. Her tone carried a warning.
“Well, it’s no matter.” He shook his head as if to convince himself before continuing. “Welcome to Cloudbreak. I’m the Town Bell, but you can just call me Clag. How was your trip?”
His interested tone set Caledonia’s nerves on edge.
“Very smooth,” she answered.
“Good, good. No one got sick, did they? It can be unsettling on the stomach for some. Takes a while to get your sky belly about you.” Though the cheer in his voice was relentless, his eyes moved from Caledonia and the girls to their sacks piled in the center of the pallet, appraising.
“Our stomachs are fine. But if you don’t mind, we’d like firm ground under our feet again.” In her peripheral vision she saw Redtooth’s hand stray near the gun at her hip.
Caledonia motioned to the four sacks. “Trade.”
“Will you be applying for a stall permit?”
“No, trade only.” Caledonia breathed through the part of her that wanted to demand speed.
“All in good health?” He peered specifically at Pisces. “Your friend’s looking a little peaked, a little shiny across the forehead.”
“She’s injured,” Caledonia said in a firm voice, eager to dispel his suspicions. “We’ll be engaging the services of a doctor while we’re here.”
Clag’s jaw worked back and forth for a minute as he considered. “We don’t admit anyone who might have the Pale Fire. Or any other fevers for that matter.”
“I don’t have the fire.” With a grimace, Pisces pulled herself to her feet and slowly shrugged out of her jacket, exposing the bandage on her shoulder. “Do you need to see the wound?” she asked, challenging.
Clag waved a dismissive hand in the air. “No, no. Ah, my dear, that looks painful. I do hope someone here can help, and I’m glad, very glad, that it’s not a disease. For your sakes, of course. And how long do you expect to remain in Cloudbreak?”
“Only the day.” Even as she answered, Caledonia felt the strain of time. The Mors Navis was not an inconspicuous ship. The longer they remained in port, the more likely it was that news of the bounty would reach Cloudbreak.
“That’s not much of a stay, is it? Trouble in your wake?”
“No,” Caledonia answered quickly. Too quickly.
One of Clag’s pale, bushy eyebrows rose. “The Sly King doesn’t take kindly to those who bring trouble to his port. Not kindly at all.”
The Sly King did everything possible to stay on the right side of Aric Athair. If he knew Caledonia and her crew were docked in his port, she was sure he’d do everything in his power to keep them there until he could hand them over.
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