Voyages of the Flying Dragon (3 page)

Missy was pushed back into her chair as the airship leapt forwards. She heard Shin swear from her post at the tiller. The
Hiryū
veered wildly out of control as the helmswoman lost her grip. For a moment Missy was convinced they were going to crash into the mountainside, but then Shin got the tiller under control and they swept smoothly by it, their port wing balloon sending up a great spray of snow as it brushed the shoulder of the mountain.

Missy heard a scream and looked down on the deck. Everyone had secured themselves at Lenis's warning, even Andrea up in her crow's nest, but Shujinko either hadn't heard or hadn't taken her brother seriously. The cabin boy was sprawled out on the deck, crying for help as the force of their flight dragged him aft. She saw he was in no immediate danger. As long as Shin held them steady, the worst that could happen to him would be falling down the stairs leading below decks. Shujinko obviously didn't realise that, though. He kept screaming and scrabbling for a handhold. Missy had to remind herself that this was the first time the
Hiryū
's new cabin boy had ever flown on an airship.

She was considering getting up and giving him a hand when they suddenly plunged into the smoke coming from Fronge.

‘I can't see anything,' Shin croaked from the tiller.

The smoke quickly filled the bridge. Missy started coughing along with everyone else, but she was the only one who could guide them now. She pulled her scarf up over her mouth and detached her spirit-self from her body. Its wracking cough soon faded into the background as she rushed on through the smoke, once more into the smouldering town of Fronge.

They had come farther and faster than she had thought possible. Whatever Lenis had done to the engines had
more
than doubled their speed. Missy made her way quickly to the square. The number of townsfolk had diminished greatly, she noticed with a pang of guilt. However fast they were going, it wasn't fast enough. She brought herself back to her body. The old records keeper, Kami Tenjin, was kneeling next to her, shaking her shoulder.

‘What is it?' Missy asked through a hoarse throat.

Tenjin was visibly relieved. ‘I thought you had lost consciousness.'

He pulled her down to the floor, where the smoke wasn't quite so thick. She tried to get her breath back. Missy couldn't see anything beyond a couple of feet, much less out of the crystal dome. The smoke was too thick.

‘We're almost through,' Arthur called from the direction of the bridge's entryway.

‘Mister Clemens,' Missy heard the captain call from somewhere on the hazy bridge, ‘please reduce our speed.'

A moment later the engines groaned and the
Hiryū
slowed. Missy and Tenjin were thrown forwards, their momentum sending them crashing into the back of Arthur's legs. All three fell down the stairs to the deck, landing in a pile on top of Shujinko as Tenjin cried out.

‘Lord Tenjin!' Arthur called.

Missy righted herself. Tenjin remained sprawled on the deck, clutching his leg. Missy crawled over to him and touched his shoulder. ‘Are you all right, Lord Tenjin?'

He looked up at her, soot turning the creases in his face into dark lines. ‘I believe I have hurt my ankle, Miss Clemens.'

‘Come on,' she said, pulling one of his arms around her neck, ‘I'll help you to the doctor.'

Shujinko took the old man's other arm. ‘I will take him.'

The cabin boy looked pale but composed. His thoughts were awhirl. Missy didn't have the patience to sort through them. She left Tenjin in his care and ran over to the railing. It was easier to see out here on the deck now that they had passed through the smoke. The sky behind them was black with it still, but they were now upwind of it. Missy took a moment to orient herself.

‘We've overshot the town,' she said to Arthur and then followed him back to the bridge. ‘We have to come about. The square is near this end of Fronge.'

Arthur nodded. The bridge was still filled with smoke. The first officer relayed the order and the
Hiryū
came about.
A moment later they began to descend. Missy's throat felt raw, and tears were pushing against her resolve to hold them back. How many people had died while they raced to Fronge? Was there even anyone left to save? And what would have happened if they hadn't been passing at this exact moment?

The
Hiryū
landed with a familiar thud that shook the entire vessel. Missy followed the others out to the deck. Looking over the fore railing she could just make out the top of the wall surrounding Fronge and the black smoke rising from behind it.

‘Missy!' Lenis had come up on deck. He had two of his Bestia with him – Aqua, who had an affinity for water, and Atrum, the Bestia of darkness.

‘Lenis!'

Missy grabbed her brother's hand just as the captain started giving orders. ‘Our first concern must be the safety of the people of Fronge.' As Missy looked around at her fellow crewmembers, she saw each of them nod, their faces grim in their determination. All of them had gathered to hear the captain's orders. With the exception of Tenjin, they would all be going into Fronge. ‘Princess Anastasis, would you mind opening the gate?'

The Ostian princess remained unmoved by what was happening in the town. Missy knew she didn't care about the people dying behind the walls because she couldn't. She had given too much of herself to Disma, the Lilim she was bonded to. Disma was sitting on Anastasis's shoulder,
whispering into her ear, flapping her wings and twitching her tail.

Without warning the princess leapt over the railing, apparently spurred into action by whatever Disma had been saying to her. Anastasis held her giant hammer above her head and swung it down as she landed in front of the walls. Her weapon hit the wooden portion of the metal-bound gates and a dull boom echoed along the length of the wall, sending the
Hiryū
's deck shaking.

Missy held her breath and squeezed Lenis's hand tighter. Every moment they delayed, another person was consigned to the flames. She looked up into her brother's face. He was pale; no doubt his empathic abilities were being overwhelmed by the terror and grief of the townspeople behind the wall. Aqua was pressed up against his leg, and Atrum was nestled in the crook of his arm. The blind, black-furred Bestia had wrapped his tail around her brother's neck, but Lenis gave no sign that he even noticed. Missy shook his hand and he shivered, coming back to himself.

‘The princess got their attention,' he said to her and smiled, a bare lifting of the corners of his mouth. ‘They've stopped.'

Missy didn't need to ask what they had stopped doing. She knew all too well.

Anastasis lifted her hammer and brought it down again, fracturing the wood within the metal bindings of the gate. Still, it held. She struck again and again, showing no signs
of restraint or tiring. Missy could see the muscles in the princess's neck and arms straining every time she lifted her mallet, but her face remained immobile, as though it cost her no effort at all. Each time her hammer connected with the gate, the wood and bindings gave a little more. Missy had seen the devastation Anastasis could inflict with her mallet before, back in the prison of Asheim. Then she had used her barrel-sized hammer to smash through the doors of the crewmembers' cells in a single blow, and later she had helped fight off Lord Butin's Demon, Nue. The gates of Fronge were proving resilient, but finally, with a sharp snap that tore through the crackling of the fires and the rushing of the wind, the gates split open.

Lenis held Missy back as the others poured through the gate. He was looking at her oddly, and it took her a moment to realise he was trying to tell her something.

Wait,
she sent the thought into his mind.
What was that?

Let the others handle Karasu
, he replied.

But –

We need to get the stones.

What?

Her brother went on, perfectly calm,
You and I are going to find Karasu's airship. It must be somewhere in the square. We've got to sneak on board and find the stones of ebb and flow. This might be the only chance we get.

Missy felt her knees suddenly weaken. Her hand moved involuntarily towards the Quillblade inside her robe.
If she could only touch it, the
shintai
would absorb her fear and allow her to think clearly. Lenis squeezed her other hand hard. She let her free hand drop.

Don't
, Lenis's thought cracked through her mind.
We have to be quiet if we're going to sneak on board their airship.

Missy didn't know what to do. She felt paralysed. She'd been so desperate to get to Fronge so she could help the townspeople, but Lenis's plan made sense. He hadn't lost sight of their true mission. They had thought it would take months to track down Karasu, and now here he was. He had the stones they needed to unlock Suiteki's power so she would be a match for Ishullanu the Demon King. They had to take this chance, but where would that leave the people of Fronge? Missy firmed her resolve and put her trust in her crewmates. They could take care of Karasu. It seemed impossible that they had just stumbled upon him like this. What were the chances it would happen again? She and Lenis had to try and steal the stones of ebb and flow from him.

How are we going to sneak on board?
she asked.

In answer, Lenis dropped her hand and reached up to stroke Atrum's fur. The colour returned to his cheeks. A genuine smile appeared on his face. It was a familiar look, and it told Missy that her little brother was planning some crazy stunt. She found herself mirroring his grin.

Lenis pulled his sister behind him and edged up to the shattered remains of Fronge's gates, doing his best to ignore the townspeople's fear. An undercurrent of tension thrummed through him. He could imagine the crew of the
Hiryū
facing Karasu's warriors in the square, each eyeing the other, seeking an advantage. He just hoped the others could distract the Shinzōn mercenary long enough for him and his sister to reach Karasu's airship, sneak aboard, and steal the stones of ebb and flow. This could well be their last chance to get them.

He risked a peek around the splintered wood of the gates. As he had imagined, the crew were facing off against Karasu's warriors. The two groups were almost evenly matched, but behind them about fifty townspeople huddled together, surrounded by even more of Karasu's men. The flames of the town had died down, the glowing embers of a deeper
heat barely masked by the blackened timbers and stone of Fronge. Lenis could feel it, even from all the way across the square. If the captors left their charges, Karasu would have the advantage, but then the townspeople would be free. They had no weapons, but perhaps given the opportunity they would help the
Hiryū
's crew fight off their tormentors.

Lenis poked his sister in the ribs.
Missy, I want you to hang onto my hand,
he thought, and she nodded.
No matter what happens. Atrum is going to cloak us, just like he did the
Hiryū
back in Itsū when we escaped the Warlord's forces. It should work, but we have to maintain physical contact … I think.
He felt her uncertainty and was grateful she trusted him enough not to raise any objections.
But I also need you to listen to what is going on with the others.
Lenis felt his own excitement building as he outlined his plan. Somehow communicating it to his sister made it seem like more of an adventure, a stunt like the ones they used to pull back when they were slaves in Pure Land, and less of a reckless and desperate plan upon which so much depended.
If Karasu tries to return to his airship, we need to know about it.

Missy nodded again and squeezed his hand. He could sense her nervousness and also her desire to draw the Quillblade. For a moment he considered suggesting she do just that. He needed her clear-headed, but he pushed the notion out of his head before it formed into a thought she would notice. Instead, he wrapped her in a portion of
his own exhilaration and anticipation, and saw her square her shoulders in response.

He took a deep breath and bent his head down to speak softly into Atrum's ear. It came out just above a whisper, though there was no way any of those gathered in the square could have heard him, ‘Now, Atrum.'

The Bestia's tail tightened around Lenis's shoulders and his blind eyes closed. Nothing happened. At least, not that Lenis could see. He could feel Atrum's power at work, though, and knew he was doing whatever he did to make them invisible. Lenis looked at Missy, who dropped his hand for a moment, gasped, and then groped around as though she couldn't see it.

He grabbed her hand instead.
Looks like it worked.

I couldn't see you at all! Not even your shadow!

But you can see me when we're touching?

Missy nodded.

Lenis took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Let's hope that means we're invisible to everyone who isn't touching us.

He took another breath and held it before stepping into the gap in the gates. No one seemed to notice them. He pulled his sister after him and hurried across the square, angling away from the others. Still nothing. It worked! Atrum had made them invisible.

He turned his attention to other matters.
What's going on, Missy?

Sorry.
There was a pause.
Captain Shishi is talking with Karasu.

Missy stumbled and Lenis instinctively tightened his grip on her fingers.
Are you all right?

Missy nodded.
It's hard to listen in and walk at the same time. I'll be all right. Can you see Karasu's airship?

This way. Just take one step at a time.

Now that they were behind the walls, Lenis could see Karasu's airship to the north of the square, well away from the crouching villagers and the fires that had all but destroyed Fronge. There were two guards standing by the ropes leading up to the airship's deck, but their attention was fixed firmly on what was happening in the southern end of the square, their hands wrapped around their swords' hilts. Lenis glanced towards the gathering. His crewmates were arrayed against Karasu's men, but he couldn't hear anything that was being said above the wind and the noises coming from the dying town.

Lenis shook Missy's hand.
What are they saying?

Karasu is talking …

As Missy communicated the conversation in the square, Lenis led them towards the mercenary's airship, slowly, so his sister wouldn't trip again. She staggered along behind him as though she were half asleep.

‘How is it you have come to be here, Captain Shishi?' Karasu asked.

‘We were searching for you, Sir Karasu.'

There was a pause. ‘Indeed? What an extraordinary coincidence that you have found me here, of all places.'

‘The gods do not deal in coincidence.'

Lenis almost snorted. The captain was an advocate of what he called the Way. He didn't believe in fate, or in letting gods or anyone else direct his destiny.
Is he joking?

It's a ploy
, Missy replied.
He's trying to throw Karasu off guard.

Is it working?

Shh! I'm trying to listen.

Lenis stifled a retort. The ropes leading up to Karasu's airship were twenty paces away, behind the two guards. Although Lenis was confident they could sneak around them, he was worried about the ropes. He couldn't hold Missy's hand and climb at the same time. They would need a diversion. He had wanted to save that for later, in case Karasu returned to his airship, but he didn't see any way around it now.

He edged them around the two oblivious guards until they were almost touching the airship's hull. Then he stopped and squeezed Missy's hand again.

Missy, I need you to send a message to Aqua.

Aqua?
Missy asked, still half-listening in on the confrontation brewing at the southern end of the square.

I sent her around the wall,
Lenis told her.
She should be close to the burning ruins now.

What do I tell her?

Just tell her it's time. She knows what to do.

Lenis felt his sister depart. The part of her that could communicate with Bestia was gone, flying out along the
western edge of the square in search of Aqua. Lenis tried to maintain his calm while he waited for her to return. She wasn't gone that long, but every second felt impossibly drawn out. From one heartbeat to the next Lenis expected battle to break out in the square, or for Karasu to withdraw to his airship. The crew would try to stop him from leaving, but their focus would be on protecting the remaining townsfolk.

Suddenly Missy was back.
Okay, she got the message, but what is she going to …
Missy's mental voice trailed off as a high-pitched squeal came from the west.
Oh.

Billows of steam rose up from behind the encircled townspeople. Aqua's affinity for water meant that she could draw moisture out of the air and condense it. The colder the air the better, and though the heat of the fires was intense, the mountains of Heimat Isle were very cold. Aqua had no trouble generating enough water to douse the coals of a burnt building, which sent up clouds of steam and set the overheated rubble shrieking in protest. She probably wasn't strong enough to put out the whole town, but that wasn't why Lenis had sent her over there.

As he had expected, everyone in the square turned to see what was going on.

Come on!
Lenis snatched his hand from Missy's and lunged for the nearest rope.

His sister followed suit and soon the two were struggling up the side of the hold, Atrum wrapped around Lenis's neck. It took a little over a minute for them to gain the deck, and
as soon as they did Lenis grabbed Missy and huddled down against the railing, their hearts beating wildly in unison, sure that someone had glanced over and seen her.

Lenis forced himself to calm down and sensed his sister was also struggling to slow her own rapid heartbeat. Atrum curled up between them, wedged between their heaving ribcages. The small, black-furred Bestia remained as composed as ever and began smoothing down his rumpled fur with his tongue.

I don't think they saw us
, Missy said into Lenis's mind.

He nodded.
What's going on in the square?

They weren't distracted for long. They're still talking. Lenis?

Mmmm?

I think the captain's trying to buy us some time.

That's impossible.
Lenis hadn't had time to discuss his plan with any of the others. There was no way Captain Shishi could have known what the twins were doing. Missy hadn't even known until they had started out, but the captain had surprised Lenis several times in the past. Perhaps he had seen them as they climbed the ropes.
Did you scan his mind?

I can't
, Missy admitted.
He never seems to be thinking anything whenever I try, but it's the way he's talking to Karasu. He's not taunting him into a fight and not trying to negotiate for the release of the townspeople. It's like he's stalling.

Lenis felt himself smile as his heart slowed to a more natural rhythm. The more Lenis got to know the captain,
the more of a mystery the man seemed.
We'd better hurry up, then.

In answer, Missy removed her arms from around Lenis's neck, being careful to maintain contact until she was holding his hand again. Together they pushed themselves up and looked around the deck. With a jarring sense of dislocation, Lenis noticed that Karasu's airship had been constructed using the same design as the
Hiryū
. Airship design was a dynamic industry. Few airshipwrights produced the same vessel year after year, making it rare to stumble across two identical airships. They must have been built almost simultaneously.

It's just like the
Hiryū. Missy's thought almost exactly matched his own so that, for a moment, Lenis believed his brain had gone around in a circle.

Yeah, but how did Karasu get his hands on an airship almost identical to the
Hiryū?

How many vessels did Pure Land's Ruling Council give Shinzō?
Missy asked.

Lenis shrugged.
I don't know. A few? But that still doesn't explain how Karasu got it. If he stole it, why didn't Lord Shōgo tell us back in Nochi when he admitted Karasu wasn't working for him?

Maybe he was lying.

That wasn't a reassuring thought. They were counting the Warlord of Shinzō as an ally against the Demons now, but Captain Shishi
did
steal the
Hiryū
from him, and the Warlord
had spent most of the last year chasing after them to get it back. Or had he?

Something occurred to Lenis.
It wasn't the Warlord.

What?

In Asheim,
Lenis said,
when we were caught. You were in that audience with the prince and the captain, remember?

Yes, so?

There was an Ostian airship docked next to the
Hiryū,
only it wasn't Ostian. It had Ostian flags but a red dragon figurehead, just like the
Hiryū.

And all of the other Shōgo airships
, Missy pointed out.

Right! We thought it was the Warlord, and then Karasu showed up.

It was him!
Missy saw the thought in his mind before Lenis could articulate it.
That airship was Karasu's. We only thought he was working for the Warlord!

Lenis nodded.
That still doesn't explain how he got the airship in the first place.

I guess it doesn't really matter just now,
Missy told him.
If this airship is like the
Hiryū
on the inside, too, then we shouldn't get lost. Where do we look first?

The holds?
Lenis suggested, and the two moved to the nearest one.

Lenis took a moment to send his awareness around them, but although Karasu had stationed guards on the ground, there was no one on deck. As quietly as they could, the twins pulled open the door to the first hold a crack, revealing several
racks of weapons within. Missy pulled back and shook her head. They moved to the next hold, but this one was full of foodstuffs. The third hold held similarly useful stock, but nothing to suggest Karasu had stored the stones of ebb and flow there.

Lenis suddenly felt his stomach churn. What if Karasu had the stones with him? He pushed the thought aside and screwed up his courage.

Is the captain still stalling?
Lenis asked as they moved to the door of the final hold. He figured the most natural place for Karasu to store the stones was in his own cabin. On the
Hiryū
, all of the holds had been converted to storage areas, but originally two of them had been set aside for cabins. It was possible the fourth hold was Karasu's own cabin.

Oh, no!

Lenis didn't need his sister's warning. He had felt it, too. The engines of Karasu's airship had started up.

We have to hurry!
Lenis reached for the door to the fourth hold.

His sister pulled him back.
There isn't time! Karasu is heading this way.