William shot Slate a tight-lipped grin as he turned a gear and the engine sputtered to life. “We’ll find them.”
Slate blew out a breath. “I hope so.”
“Captain! I see them!” Geist’s voice was barely audible over the roaring engine, but Slate whirled in his seat to look out the hangar door. The rumbling of the buggy ceased under him. He all but jumped off the seat to stand by Garnet and clenched his hands to prevent them from trembling in nervous anticipation.
All the crew in the hold pushed to stand at the edge of the large doorway and watched the missing buggy as it tore along the path that had been made earlier that day.
One, two, three, four. Slate released a pent-up breath as he counted the heads bobbing in the buggy. All four were returning. Garnet gripped his arm as a shaky sigh escaped her. Slate shook his head against the jumbled surge of emotions that raced through him.
Red strands of hair streamed behind Jade’s head, and Victor hung on to the door frame and windshield.
“Make way!” Slate exclaimed when he realized that Jade wasn’t slowing. He didn’t see anything pursuing them, but she pushed the buggy to its limits, steam billowing behind them in great clouds of white.
She hit the ramp and cranked gears while turning the wheel, stomping on the brake at the last possible second. It screeched into its parking spot. Silence descended on the hangar for a long moment. Then the crew broke into thunderous applause, relief evident in many faces. Slate grinned in spite of himself. For claiming she didn’t have a thing for theatrics, her entrance just now would be talked about for weeks by the crew.
Jade slumped over the wheel, and Slate’s smidge of humor morphed back into alarm.
Zak hopped over the bench seat and perched between her and Victor as Slate pushed past Ash to reach her side. Zak cradled her in his arms, and when her head lolled back Slate could see the scratches on her face and hands, the torn sleeve, the blood soaking her clothes.
An iron ball of horror sank to the bottom of Slate’s stomach. “What happened?”
A muscle clenched in Zak’s jaw, and he nodded to Victor. “Ask him.”
Victor slid off the buggy and stretched stiffly. “Jade and I ran into plodders.”
At the name plodders, Slate immediately scanned over Jade, searching for burns. Zak rolled up Jade’s sleeve to inspect the long scratch oozing blood. Garnet hustled to Jade and pressed her hand against Jade’s cheek. His daughter moaned, and Jade’s eyes fluttered open.
Victor continued, “We survived. And that’s that.” He peeled off his fingerless gloves and started picking thorns from his clothes. “I know we’d feel better if we closed the hangar, if you don’t mind?”
At Slate’s nod, William and Ash removed the bracers and started to crank the large door shut.
Victor pointed to Jade, who had pushed Zak away and now sat on her own, chin up and a defiant spark in her eye. “She saved me.” Victor’s lips twisted. “I got caught in a snarebush when the seeker showed up, and she distracted him long enough for me to get loose. And she executed an excellent—though dangerous—strategy of having the plodders and seeker fight.” Slate’s first mate offered Jade a genuine smile and half-bow. “I’m glad she was on the team today. Her quick thinking saved us both.”
“Her quick acting almost got her killed,” Zak groused. He pushed a hand through his hair and hopped off the buggy abruptly, then stalked to the back and pulled out his medic bag. “She—”
“She is here and listening,” Jade interrupted. She looked over at Slate and smiled. “I’m uninjured.”
Zak scoffed at her obvious lie as he set his bag on the seat next to her.
She ignored him when he lifted her arm to examine the scratch. “We made it back. All is good.” Her smile sagged and she dropped her gaze, plucking at her rolled-up sleeve. “But we didn’t find anything of value out there.”
Slate closed his eyes and promised himself that he wouldn’t give her a verbal dressing-down in front of the crew. Her recklessness could have gotten her killed. And what would he do at that point? Life without her would render everything else he’d done meaningless. So much rode on her—whether she knew it or not. No, let her enjoy the crew’s admiration and the pride of a well-executed plan. He’d address her quick thinking later—and the dangers of it.
“We found something.” Slate leaned against the skiff and sighed as the familiar sense of depression pulled his shoulders down. Jade had perked up so quickly that it almost physically hurt to say the next bit. “Ash spotted the house, but it was empty.”
Jade’s smile wilted, and Slate rubbed his palms against his pant leg. “Whatever clues may have been there are long gone. We searched all over, but whatever Void Born bandits were there cleaned it out of anything useful.”
Geist spoke up from where he stood by the dragon cold boxes. “How do you know it was bandits?”
Ash answered, “Bandits, scavengers—bleeding whales—it could have even been hungry dragons that shredded the place.” He shrugged his beefy shoulders and fiddled with a wire between his fingers. “But something else was there first.”
“It’s another dead end.” Slate glared at the worn deck.
“What’s the plan, boss? Continue on?” Kerlee asked.
Slate rubbed his forehead with a sigh. “We’ll take our cargo to Doldra and talk with Madame Stohner. Hopefully, she’ll have turned up a new lead. If nothing else, she’ll give us our next merchant itinerary.” Slate pushed away from the skiff and stopped next to Jade. She looked up and offered a wan smile. He hugged her. “Get some rest. We’ll talk later.”
Jade grimaced. Odds were good that she already knew what he’d talk to her about, but if she couldn’t obey his “be careful” command, she clearly needed to hear it again.
Weariness seeped into Slate’s bones as he strode across the hangar to the narrow hall. He paused when he saw the newcomer, Ben. The man looked uncomfortable under Slate’s gaze, but not dishonestly so. Slate chewed his cheek. “Have you had any training against dragons?”
Ben shook his head, slowly. “Not that I can recall, sir.”
“Have Zak show you some basics once your leg feels better. I want all on board this vessel to be able to stand a chance against them.”
“Yessir.”
Slate waited until he was out of sight of the crew before he released his suppressed emotions with a growl, slamming his fist against the wall. A quick shake of his hand helped ease the sting in his knuckles, but did nothing for the ugly facts that mocked him in the face. They were no closer to finding any sort of artifact, instruction manual, scroll, or anything that could fix the barrier. And time had to be running out. Who knew how long the keystone could last after everything that had happened to it?
He rubbed his face and grimaced at the scruff that scratched his hand. He’d need to trim his beard before he saw his mother. Or Sam, for that matter. Neither woman appreciated unkempt facial hair.
Sam also didn’t appreciate when he drank, but tonight definitely warranted a stiff drink…or three.
His pride in Jade’s quick thinking warred with his fear. Would she be more careful if she knew the truth? Or would she still throw herself headlong into danger? She’s so much like her mother. Slate balled his hands into fists as he reached the top of the stairs and turned toward his quarters. He knew what Garnet was going to say: tell Jade. Zak wouldn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. He’d mastered quiet disapproval long ago. Slate’s own mother would ask if he’d said anything to Jade yet.
He was completely and utterly outnumbered. Jade wasn’t ready for the truth, though. And neither was he.
Chapter Eight
Ben
The wind didn’t really whistle. It whooshed—loudly—and no matter where Ben stood on the deck, it beat against him, nearly knocking him off his feet. Two days of travel, and he still wasn’t sure how he felt about being in an open ship that flew. How Jade and the rest of the crew walked about so comfortably while in the s
ky was beyond him.
They used safety belts along the thick metal rail to keep them tethered to the ship. He had one now, but it seemed too thin and small to be trustworthy. He’d mentioned that to Krista yesterday, and she’d laughed and replied, “Then don’t blow off.”
He still tried to avoid the edge.
Zak, Geist, Briar, the fashion-challenged Kerlee, and Krista’s father, William, had gathered on the main deck for an early morning weapons training. As William had explained, they never knew when a terror attack could happen in midair, and being trained to fight them while airborne was essential to survival. Apparently, sparring before dawn was part of the fun.
As far as Ben was concerned, very little of this world seemed friendly to survival. Where in this dangerous realm was he from, and why didn’t he remember any of it? With every passing hour, the need to understand his origins became more urgent. How could he live, thrive, without knowing himself? Without remembering his family, his skills, his goals, who he was? Should he make a home here—with the crew of the Sapphire—or should he continue on, in hopes that he’d find what he was looking for?
Briar stretched next to Ben and flashed his teeth in a bright white grin. “You keep looking at the railing like it’s going to fall away at any moment and suck you off the deck.”
Ben couldn’t deny it, and he grimaced. “Wherever I’m from, I don’t think I used airships for transportation.”
“You’ll get used to it,” Briar clapped Ben on the back with a laugh. “It took me a while to get used to it too. Krista and Jade grew up on the Sapphire, and they ran circles around me at first.” Briar shook his head with a soft grin. “Those Gearheads may give you a hard time on occasion, but they won’t push you off.”
“Gearheads?” Ben echoed. He glanced around the deck but didn’t see the ladies. “You call them Gearheads?”
Briar nodded like it was no big deal. “They’re our mechanics, and they’re constantly talking parts and tech. Gearheads.”
“Right.” Ben snorted as Briar tilted at the waist to touch his toes. “Do you give everyone nicknames?”
Briar snapped up and twisted his torso. “Some, not all. I haven’t been able to come up with a good nickname that fits Victor. But I call Kerlee ‘Stealthy,’ and Zak is ‘Spices.’”
William twirled a staff on the other side of the deck, and Ben nodded to him. “What about William?”
Briar’s easy grin froze slightly, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “I, uh, figured it wouldn’t be the wisest to nickname my girlfriend’s father. I want to stay on his good side.” His eyes widened and he raised his hands, attention on someone or something behind Ben. “I’m only here for a warmup. I’m not staying for practice, so don’t get any ideas.”
Zak approached Ben’s safe watching zone in the hall. He smirked at Briar. “Noted.” Zak crossed his arm over his gray shirt, and he nodded at Ben. “How’s your leg?”
Ben flexed his foot back, testing his calf. The stitches pulled, but didn’t pop. “Tender, but good enough for mild activity. I just can’t strain the stitches.”
“Excellent.” Zak gestured to a safety line that the crew had winched into place before they took off. It ran parallel to the length of the ship from one mast to the other. Perpendicular lines attached to it connected to the edge of the ship. “Hook up, and we’ll get started.”
“Good luck,” Briar said cheerfully. “I’ll go find Krista and Jade. They won’t want to miss this.” Ben narrowed his eyes at Briar, and the ship’s cook grinned. “Motivation. I’m providing motivation.”
Ben fastened his safety clip onto the main line and cautiously followed Zak to the center of the deck where the other men waited. While he hadn’t been hostile the last two days, Zak hadn’t been friendly, either. This sudden cordial behavior seemed odd. Had he warmed up to Ben, finally?
Ben leaned into the wind, making sure to plant each step firmly. He forced himself to take deep, even breaths. Just don’t look over the edge.
Geist thumbed his nose. “What do you want to start with? Sword, spear, hydropack, fists?”
Ben examined the weapons. Swords of various lengths and handgrips lay in one pile, followed by a stack of wired, metal-tipped spears, two large metal cylinders, and several backpacks that each had a long hose and nozzle. Only the swords looked vaguely familiar.
“Let’s start with the sword.”
Geist picked up one of the swords and handed it to Ben, hilt first. He nodded to Zak and smirked through slanted eyes. “Good luck, Shiny Boy.”
Zak sighed as Geist passed him. “No need for insults, Geist.” Zak rested a hand on his belt, hand a scant inch from his sword, as he focused on Ben. “We’ll begin slow, just to get a feel for what you know. You probably aren’t as shiny—new—as everyone thinks you are. Prove it to them, and then we’ll really get started.”
Ben inspected the smooth leather of the hilt and rotated his wrist, getting a feel for the weight and length. “Sounds good.” He shifted his grip to allow both hands on the handle.
Geist’s laugh echoed off the main deck. “You sure you know anything about swords, Shiny?”
A glimmer of amusement flashed across Zak’s face, and he shook his head. “Unless your memory loss includes loss of sword handling, you aren’t familiar with swords. Let’s try something different.”
Kerlee called out, “Give him a spear!”
Ben shrugged. “Sure.” He handed the sword back to Zak and offered Kerlee a small nod. Maybe the spear would be easier. Or, at the very least, one that Geist wouldn’t find fault in.
“We use the electro-staff for bigger stuff like stalkers, plodders, and skrull. The point is made of terror claw, so it’ll carry a current and zap whatever you touch.” Zak’s eyes darkened. “It’s deadly against people, so be careful. Don’t use it if you’re not fully awake or alert.” He held the spear out to Ben. “See if you can get the feel for it.”
Ben wrapped his fingers around the textured grip on the smooth, wooden staff, cautious to not touch the metal tip or the wires that ran from end to end. He inspected the small rectangular box that wrapped around the shaft, housing the energy stone that powered it. A metal emblem at the bottom of the unit showed a symbol of two upright dragons, each holding a sword and a spear. He rubbed the engraving with his index finger. “What symbol is this?”
Zak leaned forward to see where Ben pointed. “That’s the crest for Aerugo.” He hooked a thumb in his pocket and nodded toward the image, unfazed by the wind whipping his hair every which way. “Do you recognize it?”
Ben stared at the metal a moment longer, then shook his head. “I don’t think so. Aerugo. That’s a country?”
“Correct.” Zak’s smile looked more like a grimace. “We move goods for all the southern kingdoms, and sometimes the queen will gift us new weaponry as payment.” He tilted his head toward the spear in Ben’s hand. “Anything about that feel familiar? Want to give it a try?”
Ben let Zak lead him through several sequences with the spear, and by the end he was able to twirl the pole without getting his arms twisted. Still, he had to admit a surge of relief when Zak called for a break from the electro-staff.
Ben’s hands had been rough with calluses before they began, but now the few he’d had felt raw and worn. He handed the spear back and rubbed his shoulder. Spears required a different set of muscles than he was used to using.
Harsh breathing blended with clangs and the shuffle of feet on the other end of the deck. Ben crouched and sucked in air as he watched William and Kerlee move back and forth in a deadly dance of swords. The advantage of height and reach belonged to William, but Kerlee moved with fluid grace, gliding forward, backward, and sideways.
Geist reclined on the deck, his face tipped toward the sun. He opened an eye and glared at Ben. “It was too boring and painful to keep watching you, Shiny.”
Irritation tingled Ben’s nerves, and he flexed his hands, pushing down the urge to say or do something ill-advised. Pick
ing a fight with a member of the crew that had rescued him probably wasn’t the brightest of ideas. No matter how much he wanted to.
The dangerous glint in Zak’s expression should’ve been forewarning enough.
“Geist. How about you and Ben try some hand-to-hand?” Zak suggested. He glanced askance at Ben. “If your leg is up for it?”
Of course, if the opportunity presented itself on a silver platter, who was he to say no? Ben didn’t even try to keep the grin off his face. He cracked his neck. “Bring it.”
Zak knelt to pick up the small pile of weapons near Ben and paused when he was closer to Ben than to Geist. He appeared fully focused on clearing the deck, but he raised an eyebrow, his voice low. “Don’t hold back.”
He retreated as Geist stepped forward with a smirk. Zak’s gaze strayed over Ben’s shoulder, and Ben turned to see Jade and Krista sitting at the top of the stairs. Jade waved and Krista smiled, a hand cradling her bandage-wrapped arm against her chest. Ben offered a brief grin and focused anew on Geist. Now he had to win this one.
Their presence hadn’t gone unnoticed by Geist, either. If anything, his sneer only grew, and he peeled off his shirt to reveal his tanned chest. He wadded the shirt and turned, revealing dragon scales tattooed across his back and shoulders. He tossed the wadded cloth back toward Zak, then rolled his neck and raised his fists. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
Ben sank back, settling his weight evenly on his feet, and mirrored Geist’s actions. What have I gotten myself into? He shifted to the right and ducked as Geist threw a straight jab. Ben half stepped forward and slammed his fist into Geist’s gut.
Breath whooshed out of Geist as he bent over. His eyes narrowed, and he snapped a kick at Ben’s knee.
Ben pulled away from Geist’s attack with a small spring. He bounced on the balls of his feet and raised his fists in defense of his jaw, then swooped in. Ben snapped his fist forward, his knuckles connecting with Geist’s chin, a shock of bone hitting bone jolting through his nerves. A familiar jolt. Like something he’d done before. And his body seemed to move as if his muscles knew what to do before he’d even decided. As Geist dropped his guard for the briefest moment, shock registering in his eyes, Ben saw the opening. He struck Geist’s jaw with a hard hook. The man’s head jerked to the side, leaving his stomach wide open. Ben gripped Geist’s shoulder and slammed his knee into Geist’s gut.
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