The Adventures of Benjamin Skyhammer (20 page)

He didn't know what to say so he slid next to her and put his arms around her. When she had cried herself out, he released her.

She sat up and cupped his face in her palms. "Thank you, my friend."

He looked into her eyes and his heart swelled with love and happiness. His best friend was beautiful. And safe. She wouldn't break their gaze. He didn't want to look away. She moved her face forward, lips pursing. . . A cloud covered the sun, the world darkened and the moment passed.

They both sat back, grinning at each other.

"We'd better get going." Skyhammer jumped up and held his hand out to pull Higgins up. She grasped it and he pulled her up, closer to him than was necessary. She smiled and dropped his hand. His heart was pounding. What was happening to him? His skin tingled with excitement.

"Come on, partner. Let's get the hell out of this nightmarish place." She put on her backpack.

"Okay, Phoebe."

"Pah!" She snorted. "You'll never guess." She started walking.

"Stinky? Janine? Philippa? Betty? Gordon?" he whispered as he followed her through the winding passageways, the trees of Flyer country ahead beckoning.

She shook her head, a soft smile on her lips.

* * *

Boulders nudged up against the bulbous tree roots of Flyer country.

At the border of the Deadlands, they had turned south-east, hopping across the rocks parallel to the tree line until they reached the trading route again. They saw no more Nasuchu. The road across the Deadlands for traders was made of wood, supported by the boulders.

Majestic. Always the first word that came to Skyhammer's mind at the sight of Rainbowcloud. A stupid name for a country, he thought. But apt. Brown tree trunks, smooth and branch-less, shot up a few hundred feet then burst into foliage for another hundred feet. Lush, multi-hued leaves created a rainbow cloud clustered at the treetops. The bark was slippery; the merest damage to a trunk brought an investigating Flyer and the intruder would be picked off with an arrow. The Flyers had a symbiotic relationship with their trees but their actual magic power was unknown.

The smooth roots that bulged above ground were at least twenty feet high, then the trunks proper started. As they approached the road, Skyhammer could make out Aridizans doing repairs and patrolling. It must be the Aridizans' Upkeep Year. That meant next year the road maintenance was the humans' responsibility, he recalled.

At the edge of the Deadlands, where the trader road ended, was a large platform. A system of weights and pulleys raised a large lift up and down, carrying wagons, animals, cargo and passengers to the wooden highway four hundred feet above.

The busy platform fell silent when Higgins and Skyhammer leapt onto it from a nearby boulder. He looked around. A lift had just gone and there was one wagon trundling into the Deadlands and four more waiting for the next ride up. The wagon drivers were always human but their passengers could be Katipo, Aridizan, human or animal.

The wagon drivers, their families, their passengers and the contingent of Aridizan guards protecting the platform stared at them, eyes wide. Retrograph Whorls vanished. No one ever crossed anywhere other than the trader route. If they did, they didn't live to tell the tale.

Applause. The wagoneer next in line for the lift stood, clapping his hands. "I don't know how you did it but I bet it's a great story. If you and your lady are looking for a ride to Hightown, I'll take you for the price of the tale."

Skyhammer and Higgins exchanged a look. The wagoneer either didn't recognize him or didn't care. They had no other option really. Didn't seem as if any other offers were forthcoming. Skyhammer nodded and they climbed up on the man's wagon. The wagoneer turned around to make sure they were nestled safely amongst his potato sacks. Aridizans loved potatoes.

Conversations resumed around them; Retrographs were opened and examined. A wagon drove off the lift and into the Nasuchu lands. It was their turn. Their wagon drove on; the Aridizans made some final adjustments and with a lurch, they were off and up.

Lifting smooth and steady, backs against the wagoneer's seat, they could see all the way back to Quasianti. Skyhammer breathed deep, slow breaths, and reminded himself not to look down.

Like layers of a cake, the different lands stretched away in front of them. The lumpy grey sea of the Deadlands closest. The dark green of Quasianti's forest next to the black-brown Fungal Forest. Mountains. A glint of ocean. And a black spot far, far on the horizon. Floatilla. Skyhammer mentally shook his fist at it.

"I know you," the wagoneer said, twisting around. He was chubby and hairy with large black eyes.

Skyhammer tensed. His hand crept to the hilt of his sword. If he had to kill the wagoneer, at least they could steal his wagon.

"You're Higgins!" He laughed a great belly laugh as both Higgins' and Skyhammer's jaws dropped. "See," he said with a nod to Skyhammer. "I pays attention to the pretty ladies, not the fearsome warriors."

"But you're doubly clever, sir," Higgins replied, "As in this woman you have found both great beauty and a fearsome warrior." She flashed a smile.

The wagoneer stared a moment then laughed again, slapping his knee. "Well met, Higgins. I'm Spokes. Is this your sidekick, Skyhammer?"

Skyhammer smiled tightly while Higgins chuckled.

"Indeed he is, Spokes. Now, how about I tell you that tale?" She hopped over onto the seat beside the wagoneer.

Skyhammer glanced up. They were still a few minutes away from the upper platform. He indulged in a long sweep of the gorgeous vista and noticed some movement near the border of the Deadlands. He couldn't quite see details but it looked like a large crowd of Nasuchu had gathered on the border. The largest gathering that he'd ever seen, about fifteen of them together. Something, not a Nasuchu, was in the middle of the group but he couldn't tell what species or type of creature it was. An escort? Who would the Nasuchu be escorting? They ate allies! The lift jerked and Skyhammer grabbed onto the side of the wagon, looking up. When he looked back down, the group had disappeared. Must have been a prisoner.

The platform at branch level was surprisingly empty. Although, if folks were heading back to the Royal Circle in preparation for the ceremony and subsequent celebration, as Skyhammer guessed, then this was probably to be expected. His stomach clenched in nervousness. The ceremony was only six days away and he still had not captured the Retrograph Sorcerer. What if he was wrong about the Sorcerer being Spark?

Two Aridizans locked the lift in place then Spokes clucked to his donkey. The wagon rolled onto the wooden track that meandered through the tree branches.

It was like floating through a rainbow, Skyhammer thought as he watched the leaves overhead. Each leaf on each branch was a different colour. In contrast, the birds were all dull shades of brown but they twittered like cheerful ladies at the market.

Higgins plucked a pink leaf off a branch as they passed, chatting to Spokes the whole time. Skyhammer snoozed on the sacks in the warm rays of sunlight.

A shout roused him. Spokes had stopped his wagon and was chatting to a wagoneer going in the opposite direction.

Higgins slipped down beside him. She rubbed her jaw. "I think I've talked more this past hour than in the last week!"

Skyhammer told her about the Nasuchu escort he had observed.

"They could've brought down some big animal," she suggested. "Maybe a bison from the plains of Quasianti."

He frowned. "It didn't look like they were carrying it. And why would they bring it all the way over here?"

She shrugged then hopped back into the front as the wagon began to move again.

* * *

As they approached Hightown, the trader town in Rainbowcloud, small wooden buildings began to pop up amongst the branches on either side of the highway. Bridges connected the buildings to platforms and each other. A roar like the sea - the sound of the wind in the leaves mingled with hundreds of voices - preceded their first glimpse of the Flyer's concession to a trader town.

The road opened onto a large circular platform. At the opposite side from Skyhammer's wagon was the exit road to HriHriKari, the capital of Aridizan country. To the left and right, ramps led up to the higher platforms. The next level was wagon parking. The level above contained inns, food stalls and gathering places. If visitors weren't official residents running a stall or an inn, they were only allowed to stay one night.

Spokes parked his wagon on the second level. "Sure you can't stay the night, Higgins?" he said in a wistful voice.

Skyhammer rolled his eyes as he jumped off the wagon. "Thanks for the ride, Spokes. Higgins?" He waited.

Higgins hugged the hairy old wagoneer. "A pleasure. We'll meet again."

"Safe travels." Spokes saluted her, grinning. He drove away.

She leapt down to Skyhammer's side. Noise from the wagon's wheels masked his voice. "What did Spokes say about me?"

She snorted. "Nothing."

"About me being the Retrograph Sorcerer I mean." Impatient.

"Nothing, I said." Higgins put on her backpack. "He did say good luck capturing the Retrograph Sorcerer though."

Skyhammer heaved a sigh of relief. There were still some sensible humans in the world. Now all they had to do was find another nice wagoneer to give them a ride out of Hightown. He didn't think much of their chances.

Staircases flanked the wagon ramps and took them to the shopping and sleeping level. A wave of spiced and cooked meat scents assailed him as he ascended. Skyhammer's nose was used to the fresh smell of the trees and the dry dusty wind of the Deadlands; a nasal assault had never been so welcome, he thought, smacking his lips together.

"Let's grab a bite before we ride out of this place." Higgins ambled over to a bison burger stall.

Skyhammer watched her. Chatting with that old guy had revived her spirits, he was pleased to note.

He wandered along the stalls and paused at one selling lamb kebabs. As he waited for his food, he scanned the crowded tables. The food stalls stood in a cluster in the center of the platform. Tables and benches ringed the outside, with views over the edge. Skyhammer kept away from the edge. He had glanced over before, once, on Higgins' dare. It was like looking into a brown abyss. He refused to do it ever again. The inns were out on separate platforms, reached only by precarious bridges. He hoped they would meet someone on the main platform who would give them a ride so he didn't have to cross a bridge.

Higgins was making her way back to him, bison burger in hand. As he watched her approach, a person in a tall bright green hat passed her going the other way.

He knew that hat!

He took off after the man and his hat, kebabs forgotten.

Chapter 20

Countdown to ceremony: 6 days

It was hard to move as the platform was thronged with people but the hat was highly visible. As he reached Higgins, her smile dropped.

"What's going on?" she asked, concerned.

"Saw Jessup! Follow me!" He was already a few feet past her. She struggled to keep up in the crowds.

Skyhammer kept his eye on Jessup's very distinctive hat. Tall and bright green, with three blue bands around it. He caught a glimpse of salt-and-pepper hair and grinned.

After glancing over his shoulder to make sure Higgins was still with him, he lengthened his stride and wove his way through the crowd. The place was packed. The stalls had long lines of hungry customers waiting and crowds filled the spaces between the benches and tables.

Jessup turned to the right between an ale shack and a candy stall. The bridge he crossed was deserted.

Skyhammer passed a sign at the start of the bridge saying "Inn of Nor Egrets." He glanced back again. Higgins was pushing her way through the crowds, glaring at him. He took a deep breath then dashed across the narrow bridge, eyes on the inn ahead, hands shielding his view to the left and right. The bridge connected to a balcony in front of the inn. The balcony went around the back to the right, a sign saying "Deliveries" on the fence with an arrow pointing left. Jessup was nowhere to be seen. Skyhammer sat down on the bench outside the inn and waited for Higgins to catch up.

"What's Jessup doing here?" she puffed as she came up. "Isn't he still Relic-hunting?" She sat down beside Skyhammer. "I dropped my burger for this."

"He's a wagoneer now," Skyhammer said with a satisfied smile.

"I presume we're going to request a ride with him?"

"If he's still in the business." The smile dropped away. What if he too thought Skyhammer was planning to sabotage the ceremony? What if he refused to give them a ride and instead trapped them here in Hightown? The only way in or out of Hightown were the trader wagon roads.

Higgins stood up. "Let's get on with it then. Time's ticking." She rapped on the door.

A small boy dressed in a raggedy suit too big for him opened the door.

"Yes?" He looked up at her. "How can I help you?"

Skyhammer stepped up beside her. "I'm looking for Jessup. Could you tell him that Benjamin Skyhammer is here to see him?"

"Would you like to come in and wait?" The boy opened the door wider and gestured for them to come through.

Skyhammer and Higgins followed the boy through the first door on the left. An airy room with windows looked out into the treetops and onto the front porch. The room had couches, chairs and low tables grouped in cosy formations in the four corners. Etchings of the Fungal Forest decorated the walls.

Skyhammer was drawn to one etching in particular that covered the whole wall to the right of the door. The huge piece of copper had been etched and soldered with bits of gold and silver to get just the right shading of Ambersilk. Overcome by memories of the Fungal Forest, Skyhammer realized the artist had captured the place perfectly.

The door opened behind them. They stiffened, hands going to their sword hilts as they turned around. The man in the tall green hat entered, smiling.