Crown

[Zoombie]

I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK!

Ahahahahahahaha! AAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Well I've been traveling through the big wide Internet, visiting fun websites, meeting interesting people and in general making a nuisance of myself.

But I've learned some things and, in general, have tried to improve my writing. But it missed something. I like sharing with people, I like entertaining people and I like this web-site. So I'm back from hiatus with new writing.

Whether it's good or not, is up to you!

No wait. It's up to me. Whether you LIKE it or not, thats what's up to you!


---------------------------


Prologue

A rabbit munched some grass, quietly minding it's own business. It's tranquil day was shattered when a young girl leaped from the forest and landed behind the rabbit. The rabbit bolted. The girl's hand shot out and grabbed the rabbit by the scruff of the neck.

The girl brought the rabbit to her nose and sniffed, her tail lashing as she examined it. The rabbit stared, transfixed by the green eyed gaze it was suddenly confronted with.

A shadow passed over the meadow, a distant buzzing noise announcing its passage. The girl dropped the rabbit and looked up. Another shadow passed over the meadow.

├óÔé¼┼ôOooooo,├óÔé¼┬Ø The girl ahhhhed, staring at the sky, waiting for another shadow. She wasn't disappointed. A large oval shaped thing blocked out part of the sun.

├óÔé¼┼ôBlimpy-Impy!├óÔé¼┬Ø The girl sang, standing on her toes, a grin spreading over her face. Two more oval shapes joined the first, smaller, faster shapes darting below them. One of the smaller ones roared over the field, close enough for the girl to get a good look at the canvas covered wings and open air motor that powered the bi-plane. The pilot and gunner waved at her before the plane was gone.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh!├óÔé¼┬Ø

The girl looked down, her tail lashing faster. Her mother ran into the meadow, a definite look of panic on her face.

├óÔé¼┼ôHi Mommy! Wanna look at the-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother snapped, ├óÔé¼┼ôCome with me!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh doesn't-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSilly girl!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother grabbed Teesh's wrist, dragging her under the trees. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan't you see the forest for the trees?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh doesn't get it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said.

Her Mother bit back her long running complaint about speaking in third person, focusing on dragging her wayward daughter along with her. A low whine made her stop, her ears perking up. Teesh tried to keep going, jerking on her mother's arm. The whine got louder and louder until even the child had to pay attention.

Something smashed into the tree's in front of them. A blast of smoke, flames and bits of metal tore apart trees, shredded underbrush and set a swath of the forest on fire. Teesh and her mother dived down as metal zipped through the trees around them. Teesh laughed, her tail beating against her mothers backside.

├óÔé¼┼ôIt's pretty!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, pointing at the fire.

├óÔé¼┼ôGet to your feet!├óÔé¼┬Ø Her mother shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have to get going!├óÔé¼┬Ø

They both ran, skirting around the crashed bi-plane. Distant cracks and low boooms were a constant background noise now. Every once and a while Teesh would hear a deep thumping sound in the distance. She and her mother burst into a meadow and Teesh stared at the sky, her jaw dropping.

Two armadas of airships were clashing above them. Two airships were burning, fires spreading across their hulls, their balloons seconds away from exploding. As Teesh watched one exploded, flying hunks of wood in a spreading cloud that looked almost pretty. The hunks fell into the forest, crushing trees with ominous crashing sounds.

├óÔé¼┼ôPretty-bitty,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, grinning. Five bi-planes shot overhead, flying in a V formation. They looked very impressive, buzzing overhead.

A roar announced the arrival of a dragon. The dragon shot straight at the plane, claws outstretched.

As one, each bi-plane opened up with their machine gun turrets. The chattering of the guns deafeningly loud this close, and spent shell casings landed in the field like rain. The bullets traced across the sky and slammed into the dragon. Blood spilled as some bullets broke through the dragon's armor.

The dragon swooped up, practically hovering, opening it's jaws wide, wider than Teesh thought possible. Two thin jets of liquid sprayed out of the dragon's mouth, creating a greenish cloud that the bi-planes flew through. The planes came out on the other side, flew for a bit, then fell out of the sky, slowly disintegrating. The dragon roared, pumping it's wings and flying away. Wind whipped the meadow, flattening Teesh's ears to her head. Her mother ruined the fun, grabbing her daughters ankles and jerking her to the ground.

Another airship lit up, spraying the sky with more smoke and more debris.

├óÔé¼┼ôCome on!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh's mother jerked Teesh to her feet, running into the forest. Once more the battle was reduced to distant sounds and the occasional roar of dragons and bi-planes going overhead.

├óÔé¼┼ôThis is so cool!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh loves it, she-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh!├óÔé¼┬Ø Her mother spun, eyes narrowing. ├óÔé¼┼ôWar is not a game! War is not fun and it is no place for a eight year old!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes mum,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh murmured, looking at her feet.

├óÔé¼┼ôIf these pikin bastards didn't keep fighting over-├óÔé¼┬Ø Her mother started, then cut herself off, shaking her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever mind. Teesh, lets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She walked forward. Teesh was about to follow when she caught something in the corner of her eye. Teesh turned and saw, in the distance, a man. The man was dressed entirely in black, a scar slashed across his neck. His eyes were the color of flint, hard and pitiless, staring at Teesh.

Then he was gone.

Teesh turned back and saw her mother was far away now, walking surprisingly fast.

├óÔé¼┼ôMommy wait for Tees-├óÔé¼┬Ø

A screaming bi-plane smashed into the trees, snapping branches and shattering trees wholesale. Teesh stared at the flaming wreckage that had crashed where her mother stood.

Teesh ran forward, all sounds gone from the world. The forest was eerily silent, the distant sounds of the battle the only intrusion. Teesh reached the twisted wreckages of the bi-plane, amazed at how hot the flames were, how bright they burned in her eyes.

├óÔé¼┼ôMommy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh whimpered, stepping forward. Something felt squishy under her foot and Teesh looked down. Her vision swam as she stepped away from the severed hand. The hand was...well preserved, even the fingernails startling perfect. It just ended at the wrist. It was also her mother's, the same hand that had been holding onto Teesh's a few moments ago.

Something popped in the back of the bi-plane, twanging off a tree branch and almost striking Teesh. She took a step back, slipping on the severed hand a moment before a secondary explosion ripped the wreckage apart.

#

The man looked over his shoulder, hearing something carried on the wind. He paused, pulling his Sigilian uniform tighter around his shoulders. The forest was chilly this time of year. Wind brought the sound to him once again and this time the man identified it. It was crying.

The man pushed off the path and through the underbrush, his hand hovering near his revolver. Beastlings, or even wild animals, could pose a threat out here. The man sniffed, his nose wrinkling up as the stench of burnt meat reached him. The man pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it over his face. The smell abated, somewhat, and the man considered heading back to the path. His time was not limited, and the sound of crying reached him again. So, once again, the man pushed on.

He found the beastling girl next to a flaming hunk of wreckage. She was curled up over something she clutched in her hands, her face buried in her knees, her tail swishing madly. The man walked to her, his hand hovering near his revolver.

├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked. The girl's sobs stopped and she turned to face him. The man staggered back, jamming his handkerchief to his nose. The beastling girl's left eye was a ruined mess, blood dribbling down her cheek. To add to the man's revulsion was the severed hand that was clutched in the beastling girl's hands.

The girl babbled something in her language. The man sighed, really wishing he had never come to investigate.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan you speak my language?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man asked.

The girl shook her head, babbling some more.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan you understand my language?├óÔé¼┬Ø The girl's babbling stopped and she nodded. She held the hand to the man, babbling something again.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I...I can't help,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, standing. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bandage wrapping. ├óÔé¼┼ôHold...hold still.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The girl seemed to understand that, standing still. The man sighed, kneeling next to her and holding out the bandage. Why had he come out here? The man winced as he took hold of the jagged hunk of metal that was lodged in the girl's eye. She screamed as he yanked it out, her voice piteously high pitched. The man winced and started to bandage her as fast as possible.

Once the girl had a makeshift bandage wrapped about her head, the man stood and backed up, his hands bloody. The girl's remaining green eye looked at him and she pointed to herself.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. The man stared at her. Now that her face was semi-clean, the wounded mess of her eye covered, he could concentrate on some of her more appealing aspects. As a beastling, that added up to her body, but this girl was too young to begin showing.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh!├óÔé¼┬Ø The girl pointed at herself, then at him.

├óÔé¼┼ôDavidson,├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said, a bit bemused. Then, realizing he was talking to a beastling of all things, Davidson turned around. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood day.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The strange man...Davidson vanished into the forest. Teesh felt her bandage again, the pain ebbing slightly. She had to thank the man. Mommy had told her to say please and thank you. Teesh looked down at the hand she held. She was still not...quite sure how to connect this thing with her mother.

So instead she followed Davidson. She had to thank him, after all.

#

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're late,├óÔé¼┬Ø Julian said. Davidson sighed, still wiping blood off his fingers. That damn beastling girl had set him back...but she was only a slight annoyance, in the past.

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry. Curiosity got the better of me. I'll have to remember that for next time.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Julian sighed, rubbing his eyes. He wore a Sigilian uniform too, but Davidson knew his dirty little secret. If he hadn't, Julian would have been slightly less cooperative today.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell now that you are here, let me show you the place.├óÔé¼┬Ø Julian gestured to the glade behind him. Two Beastings, both brutish ape-men. Behind them, a freshly dug pit lay. And next to that a blood stained, battle worn box. Davidson and Julian walked to the box. Davidson gently pushed Julian aside, kneeling next to the box and opening it.

Teesh felt a stirring in the leaves around her as she watched. Her bones...hummed when the box was open, a deep residing hum that made her ears flatten against her head. Julian closed the lid, forcing Davidson to stand up, frowning.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...put it in the ground,├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said. Julian turned to the two ape-men.

├óÔé¼┼ôNashiki. Tur-ka-tr.├óÔé¼┬Ø The two ape-men grunted, lifting the box and placing it in the ground.

├óÔé¼┼ôHold,├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said, holding his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a map, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Julian said, taking the map out of his breast pocket. Davidson smiled, his teeth flashing in the sunlight. There was silence between the two men.

BANG! Teesh almost fell off her branch, her tail shocked into stillness by the report. Smoke filled the air around Julian as he toppled backwards, falling into the pit behind him. His body hit the box with a wet thump. The two ape-men stared at Davidson.

├óÔé¼┼ôTur-ka-tr!├óÔé¼┬Ø He shouted, waving his revolver at them. The two ape-men started to shovel dirt back into the hold. Teesh felt cold, her life turned upside down one too many times today. People who helped you weren't supposed to be bad people. Bad people acted like bad people all the time. That was what they were supposed to do!

Once the hole was filled with dirt, the dirt packed in by shovels, the two ape-men looked at Davidson.

├óÔé¼┼ôThank you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said. BANG! BANG! Both ape-men fell, the back's of their heads exploding into clouds of red. Davidson holstered his revolver, breathing in a deep sigh of relief.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou were worth it,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said to the box, ├óÔé¼┼ôWorth the battle, worth the cost. I'll be back. One day, I'll be back.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Davidson turned around and walked out of the field.


Chapter 1

Twelve Years Later.

Kint walked into the tavern, his pack slung over his shoulder. A blast of sound hit his face, music and talking in equal measure. The main floor was positively packed, people in every available seat and then some. The Tavern went up for three stories, a skylight in the celling. Mirrors caught the sun and reflected it into the tavern, giving the place a very 'open' and 'airy' feeling. Stairs wound around the wall, some with 'up' traffic, some with 'down' traffic. Kint walked up one of the up stairs, not seeing what he wanted on the first floor.

The second floor was exactly the same as the first floor, only smaller. Women giggled, men argued and bickered, and tired waitresses running too and fro, somehow not spilling the drinks they held on the people next to them. Kint stood for a moment, looking over the floor, until he spotted what he wanted. Airship captains, each wearing the traditional overly gaudy hat.

The first captain Kint sat down in front of was a pot-bellied man, his hat frayed and old, his coat faded, several patches covering holes. That meant one of two things.

├óÔé¼┼ôName?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man asked, cutting through the small talk.

├óÔé¼┼ôKint,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNavigator, five years experience.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHave you done any running over the Sea?├óÔé¼┬Ø The man asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnything to the New World?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo. I do overland routs, from Sigilia to Ta-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThank you,├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said. Kint opened his mouth to ask a question, but the man simply dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Kint grumbled, standing up and walking to the next table over. Three captains, three rejections later, and Kint started to lose hope. It had been the same story last week. And the week before that. Everyone seemed to be hiring navigators who could put a ship over the ocean and into the New World.

Kint almost left then and there. Why bother when the best Captains, the fat, successful, ones, had already left?

├óÔé¼┼ô'ello,├óÔé¼┬Ø A female voice broke into his thoughts. Kint's feet had carried him to a table without him noticing. He looked at the captain seated across from him. At first all he saw was her hat, the Capitan being about a head shorter than him. The hat looked a size too large, almost falling over of her green eye. The other eye was covered by a leather eye patch.

Kint stared at her. The captain grinned back at him..

├óÔé¼┼ôS..Stitch?├óÔé¼┬Ø He stammered.

The woman put a finger on her lips, making shushing sounds.

├óÔé¼┼ô'tis Teesh, now. Not Stitch. Remember that.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight...├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, his heart hammering. He started grinning, the fact that Teesh was here starting to sink in. Kint shook himself, realizing that Teesh was still talking.

├óÔé¼┼ô...need a good navigator. Nay, a great one. Now, granted, 'twas a long time ago, but I've hoped that you kept up with the times. You did keep up with the times, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint nodded, still grinning.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou can still find a stick in the wilds with nothing more than a compass, the sun, the stars and the moon?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint nodded, still grinning.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're brains have dribbled outta yer ears.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint started to nod, then stopped himself. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, not that. I'm just...a little surprised. How the...how did you get in here?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHere? I walked in the front door├óÔé¼┬Ø


├óÔé¼┼ôSigilia, I mean!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShoved the tail down me pantleg, wore a really big hat. Its easy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, waving her hand dismissively.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo you...sneaked past the boarder patrol.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôWorked past the scryers.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôGot past the interior guards.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd then started hiring airmen.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She nodded, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I've not had much luck with navigators,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôOut in the backwoods, they are hard to come by. So I had to...improvise and come out of the backwoods. If you get my drift.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight...but you still haven't told me exactly what we'd be doing. Last time I checked you were a-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh put her finger over her mouth, glancing over Kint's shoulder. Kint turned in his chair and saw guards pushing into the second level of the tavern.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou said you snuck past them,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôI did!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh hissed, then raising her voice, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we're done here.├óÔé¼┬Ø She stood, grinning broadly. Kint stood, turning around as if he was going to draw his sword and start fighting. Fortunately Teesh was smarter than he, taking hold of his arm and dragging him to the back of the tavern.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are we-├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint hissed, but Teesh put her hand over his mouth. She walked to a closet door, opened it, and slipped in, dragging Kint with her.

In the darkness of the closet, Kint felt Teesh's movement. She was bumping into him, her hands moving and cloth rustling.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeesh, what are we doing in a linen closet?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôChanging in the dark, all bumping and breathing. Just like old times.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Running his teeth gently over her ear, her tail tickling his leg slightly. Her giggle, her claws sinking into his bac-Kint shoot himself even as Teesh cracked the door open. Light snuck through the crack. It didn't show much, but it was enough to make Kint stair. Teesh had managed to remove her hat, jacket and eye patch, replacing them with a bandage wrapped around the upper left corner of her head, a serving gown and an apron.

├óÔé¼┼ôSome finishing touches,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, handing her hat and jacket to Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôPut 'em on. Be quick 'bout it.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint slid the jacket on, jammed the hat on his head, and opened his mouth to ask a quick question about what the hell Teesh was doing. His question was cut off when Teesh pulled him close to her and kissed him. Kint spent a half second wondering why and the rest of the three seconds enjoying it.

The door opened. Two guards looked in as Kint and Teesh jumped apart. Teesh put her hand to her chest, a very convincing blush rising to her face.

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry mam,├óÔé¼┬Ø The younger guard stammered, a blush tinting his cheeks as well.

His partner snickered, stepping in front of him. He looked older, a scar running down one cheek.

├óÔé¼┼ôMam...what happened to yer eye?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôLost it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, snarling at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôLost it when one of the oh so uppity class patrons didn't wanna take no fer an answer. He stuck me and I stuck him good.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôO...kay,├óÔé¼┬Ø The older guard looked taken aback. He glanced at Kint, who tried to look as angry and dangerous as possible.

├óÔé¼┼ôPlease assume the position,├óÔé¼┬Ø The younger guard said, setting his jaw.

├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to be sure. It is only a formality.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôFine then, fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered, turning around and spreading her arms and legs. Kint snarled as the guard started to pat her down, starting at her shoulders, working his way down to her bum. He felt a very real anger as the guard paused, his hands resting on Teesh's bum.

├óÔé¼┼ôSir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered, stepping forward. The guard glanced at him, taking his hands off Teesh, looking a little confused.

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry I just...never mind,├óÔé¼┬Ø The younger guard said, ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's clean.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight then,├óÔé¼┬Ø the older guard said said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHave a nice...day then. Sorry to have bothered you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint blew out a sigh of relief as the door closed. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood thing th-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh put her hand over his mouth, her form barely visible in the light that snuck through the edges of the door. She slowly removed her hand and pointed down at the bottom of the door. Kint saw that a shadow fell over the door. Teesh breathed in and moaned, ├óÔé¼┼ôOh Uylisses...Oh yes!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh...Yeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said as Teesh winked at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...baby.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh covered her mouth, stifling her giggles. The shadows vanished, the footsteps of the leaving guards covered by the sounds of the tavern. After a minute, Teesh held out her hand. After a moment Kint realized what she wanted. He bashfully unbuttoned the jacket and handed it to her.

├óÔé¼┼ôAre you're hiring process always this exciting?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint whispered as the two of them walked slipped into the tavern.

├óÔé¼┼ôI try me best,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, tweaking his nose with her fingers. Teesh started to walk to the exit, holding onto Kint' arm.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo can you pinpoint an area 'bout...a mile square?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSure, if you have some landmarks or something.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBetter. I'll have a map.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned.

[Zoombie]

More!


Taruk. Home of magic, of elderlings. Location of the Academy, Gem of the Elemental Crown, Taruk shoved out of the lowlands around it, a tapering spire, studded with crystals and snow, a glittering beacon for all magelings.

Pyra hated it. She sat in her room, arms crossed over her chest, blue flames licking painlessly at her face. For the sheer fun of it, Pyra picked up a candle with her right hand and relaxed. Her flames shifted from blue, to red, to orange. The wax bubbled, then melted around her fingers. Some dribbled onto the ground, mixing in with the carpet. The wax turned into a handful of goop, Pyra forced her flames down to cool blue.

She opened her hands and the wax dribbled to the floor.

A knock on the door made Pyra grit her teeth. No doubt 'Master' Zed was here for another mind-numbing lesson. Didn't he notice that she didn't care? Didn't he notice that he was as fun as a rotting corpse?

├óÔé¼┼ôMay!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra snapped, snapping her fingers. Her servant ran in, her head down. May was a beastling, a lizard-woman, her face elongated and scaled, her voice sibilant. She had worn on Pyra, with her constant, ├óÔé¼┼ôYesss massster and ├óÔé¼┼ôNo massster├óÔé¼┬Ø, so Pyra had signed away her rights to speak.

May draped Pyra's deep red robe over her, the only sound she made being the soft padding of her sandals on the carpet. May saw the mess that Pyra had left on the floor and shook her head, kneeling to work at the wax with her claws.

The knock repeated, a polite tap tap tap.

├óÔé¼┼ôCome in,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, cricking her neck.

Master Zed was pushed in by his servant, an all too talkative lizard-man named Phil. Master Zed wore a dark black blanket over his legs, his arms covered by a white shroud. His face was the picture of health, finely carved, blond hair, and striking blue eyes.

├óÔé¼┼ôGood morning Pyra,├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed said, bowing his head, ├óÔé¼┼ôHow does the day find you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell, Master,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, trying to force the annoyance out of her voice.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou lie,├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed said as calmly as one would say 'the sun is overhead', ├óÔé¼┼ôPlease, tell me. How does this day find you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPoorly, Master,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I...I...I want to burn something!├óÔé¼┬Ø

At the word 'burn' her flames got bright, almost flashing white hot. The flames ran up her arms and twined about her robe, licking her face. Pyra blushed, closing her eyes and forcing the flames back down to her hands. Zed sighed.

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra.├óÔé¼┬Ø He managed to shame Pyra more than anyone else could, just with that simple word. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing is keeping you here-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo, no, no, no!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, her face going pale, ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to stay, I really do...I just think I can handle...more advanced classes.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou can,├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed said.

├óÔé¼┼ôI-I can?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra stammered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean...I can!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut.├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed slowly slid his hand from behind his white cover. The mummified claw drew Pyra's eye. Twisted, warped with age, it was almost as if someone had cut a thousand year old corpse's hand off and stuck it on Zed's body. Pyra knew, and felt sick knowing it, that the rest of his body, right up to the neck, was mummified like his hand.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut.├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed said again, drawing his hand back. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you stomach yourself afterwards?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra looked at her hands. She knew the progression. A mageling, once quickened, is doomed to be slowly consumed by their power. The flames that perpetually wreathed her hands would slowly grow, spreading up her arms to her shoulders. Then to her chest. Then to her head. Then she would be fire. Then, one day not long after that, she would wink out like a candle. Some day soon, Zed's head would shrivel into a grinning skull and he would be entombed with the other dead Necromancers.

├óÔé¼┼ôI...I don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, her mind boiling. A moment ago she was willing to burn her room down to get into advance classes. All it takes is a few words and Zed can have you think anything she thought angrily. Pyra clenched her fists and they glowed hotter. If Zed noticed, he didn't mention it.

Pyra continued. ├óÔé¼┼ôSometimes I want to just let loose and burn this place to the ground...and it scares me.├óÔé¼┬Ø She looked at Zed, chewing her lip. ├óÔé¼┼ôSometimes I'm so afraid of my hands that I wear gloves, but that only makes it worse. And what I hate most is...I can't seem to stick to one view. When you speak, or even when I just sit by myself, my mind jumps around.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt's normal,├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed said, smiling, ├óÔé¼┼ôWorse for a fire mageling, to be sure, but normal none the less. You are young, and you are adventurous. Nothing keeps you here but yourself, Pyra...sometimes someone has to make a choice and follow that choice to the end without any regrets. I did. I used my talent to heal people, knowing that every time I took death from them, it went into me.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Once again he drew out his hand.

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I've never regretted it. A fire that burns brightly can be better than a dim one that outlasts it. Life is not a marathon. It's simply a-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMaster,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, smiling, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're rambling again.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAm I?├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed asked, smiling as well, ├óÔé¼┼ôI believe you are right. I think your lesson for today will be reflection on choices. This is not an Academy for magic only, but also for life. Life is the greatest magic I've ever known.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Phil wheeled Zed out of the room, glancing back at Pyra and shrugging, a bemused expression on his face. Pyra scowled after him, her confusion turning into anger. May stood a ways away from Pyra, her tail lashing nervously.

├óÔé¼┼ôMay...leave me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, suddenly tired. May bowed and left, walking into her room. The door shut and Pyra lay down in the bed. She looked at her hands, then at the door where May had left through. At least slaves did what they were told, unlike her talent. Pyra shivered, suddenly cold. She wrapped a blanket around herself, but her chills only got deeper. Finally, with an exasperated sigh, she pointed at the brazier next to her bed. A thin tendril of flame snaked out of her finger tip, blueish and cool. It touched the coals and a flash of white flames rolled down the tendril, starting at Pyra's finger tip and landing in the coals. They burst into flames and heat flooded the room.

Pyra rolled over and, despite the fact it was noon, fell asleep.

Pyra sat at a table, transfixed by the flickering candle in front of her. The candle flame danced, Pyra's eyes following it's every motion. The flames shaped into a small feline, it's tail lashing as it looked at Pyra. It hissed like a pot of boiling water, then it jumped off the candle and ran off the table, leaving behind flaming paw prints in its path.

├óÔé¼┼ôCome back!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra shouted, standing.

├óÔé¼┼ôI wouldn't follow, If 'ah was ya,├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra looked over her shoulder. A woman was sitting at the other side of the table, her legs set on the table, her head looking down at a pack of cards she were shuffling. The woman looked up and Pyra took a step back.

A single baleful green eye stared at her. The rest of the woman's face was black, empty space.

├óÔé¼┼ôStaring is rude, it is,├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut you have ta know something. Something important, it is.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou know who I am,├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said, setting the now shuffled card deck on the table. It landed on one of the flaming footprints and soon the entire deck was burning. Pyra looked back at the woman, but she was gone as suddenly as she had arrived. Pyra picked up the top card, the fire not bothering her in the slightest.

Pyra turned the card over. Emblazoned on the front was an Elderling pictograph. The card finally burnt to nothing in Pyra's hands.

Pyra sat up, something waking her up. Her blankets were on fire and May was running around her bed, her mouth open in a silent scream.

├óÔé¼┼ôGo away,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said irritably. May ran out of the room, practically kicking the door down. Pyra rolled over again and tried to get to sleep.

#

The docks of Sigilia drew airships from every one of the other city states. One section was reserved for the magical Taruks, another for the inventive Jarmans, another for the religious Oberoni. Then, after these prestigious, well kept areas, was the Pirata area. It was here the 'neutral' ships for Pirata nested. Behind that area was the worst area, the area for the Captains who were down on their luck or trafficking in semi-illegal goods and services.

It was here that Teesh and Kint arrived.

├óÔé¼┼ôThere she is,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pointing. Kint stared.

The Blimp, Teesh's 'fine' ship, looked like it was moments from falling apart. The balloon was patched and re-patched. The only weapon that Kint could see was a wimpy, rusty machine gun that looked like it dated back to the Civil War. As Teesh lead Kint up the gangplank, he saw that the machine gun had a crank.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't have a large crew,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we have a good crew.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are the crew?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint looked around. The main deck was empty, the steering wheel unmanned.

├óÔé¼┼ôBehind you.├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint spun and saw a burly man standing behind him, his face streaked with oil. He grinned at Kint's expression, offering a gloved hand. Kint took it and felt his fingers almost pop out as the man squeezed.

├óÔé¼┼ôNames George. Is this the Navi you told us about?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSure is,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said.

├óÔé¼┼ôTold...about?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint looked at Teesh.

├óÔé¼┼ôI only told them the good parts,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said,grinning at him.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell the engines are being a bit more cooperative, skipper, but I need to kip into town to get some more parts.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAbout that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you get the engines to work...nowish?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôEh? Whats the matter?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh looked over her shoulder, then back again. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd just like to not stay long than necessary.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell I suppose I could get it running...but I wouldn't suggest it,├óÔé¼┬Ø George looked thoughtful.

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry 'bout setting down in tha wilderness. I've got a trick down me pants.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôO...kay,├óÔé¼┬Ø George said, walking towards the front of the ship. He opened a trap door that lead to the engineering decks and dissapeared down there.

├óÔé¼┼ôWho else is in the crew?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, looking at Teesh.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you start filling up on hydro while I undo the mooring clamps,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, a hint of nervousness sneaking into her voice as she glanced over her shoulder again. Kint looked at where she had. Guardsmen were forcing their way through the crowds that filled the dock section, heading directly for the Blimp.

├óÔé¼┼ôBloody hell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, running across the deck to the hydrogen tube. He kicked the switch and the balloon started to fill, agonizingly slow. Teesh ran around the deck, undoing the clamps that kept the ship in place. George stuck his head out of the engineering deck, shouting, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGet the engines working!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd get Amni on the gattling gun!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAmni! Get up here!├óÔé¼┬Ø George shouted, disappearing back down into the engineering deck. After a moment a woman ran out of the engineering deck. She was sprightly, almost shorter than Teesh actually. She shot past Kint and spun the gattling gun around to cover the approaching guards.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe're...we're not actually going to shoot, are we?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked as Teesh undid the last clamp. The ship shuddered, the balloon almost full.

├óÔé¼┼ôNah. They're ain't no bullets in that gun.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh looked very worried as she kicked the gangplank down. The guards got to the Blimp, their leader shouting orders. The guards raised their guns.

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't shoot, or we'll shoot!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted, running to the side of the ship.

Amni started to spin the gattling gun up, cranking it in anticipation, her finger hovering over the trigger. The guards lowered their weapons as the ship rose into the sky. George stuck his head out of the engineering deck and gave a thumbs up to Teesh.

├óÔé¼┼ôKint, could you please run up to the wheel and get us out of here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said pleasantly. Kint nodded, running to the main deck and taking hold of the wheel. The engines started up and Kint had to haul off on the rudder to turn the airship away from another airship that was lifting off. The almost collision played out at an agonizingly slow pace, but finally the two ships cleared and the Blimp made it into open space, the Sigilians docks receding behind them.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe made it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint grinned.

├óÔé¼┼ôEr...not quite,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pointing. Two bi-planes, painted Sigilians black and red, buzzed towards the Blimp.

├óÔé¼┼ôAmni! We need some tricks!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted. Kint saw that the girl, Amni, had more pockets than he could easily count. Her hand reached into one of those pockets and she pulled out a sphere. The bi-planes started to circle around the bi-plane, their machine gun turrets trained on the balloon.

├óÔé¼┼ôSurrendur or be destroyed!├óÔé¼┬Ø One of the bi-plane pilots shouted, his voice barely audible over the roar of their engines. Amni waited a second, then hurled the sphere. It arced into the path of one of the bi-planes and stuck onto the fuselage. A moment later the ball expanded, a puffy blue material covering the prop, the wings and most of the wind shield. The plane plummeted and Kint saw the pilot and gunner bail out. The second plane opened fire, a line of bullets tracing its way over the deck. Teesh danced away from the bullets. The plane wheeled off as Amni pulled out another sphere from her pockets.

Teesh ran to the trap door that lead to the engineering deck and opened it a crack.

├óÔé¼┼ôMore power to the engines!├óÔé¼┬Ø She shouted.

├óÔé¼┼ôI am!├óÔé¼┬Ø George's voice drifted out of the engineering deck.

├óÔé¼┼ôThe plane is coming back!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint shouted, spinning the wheel to get the ship into one of the trading currents. Several other air-ships were already in the air current, already picking up speed. The bi-plane shot past, firing another burst along the side of the Blimp.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are we still alive?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked as Teesh ran to the main deck.

├óÔé¼┼ôHydro is expensive,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they can board us and take our balloon back with 'em then they will.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are we going to do,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôShoot the plane down,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pulling out her revolvers, spinning them on her fingers.

├óÔé¼┼ôGreat,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered, spinning on the wheel, trying to present the smallest target to the bi-plane and still head for the trading current. It wasn't working. The plane came around to the side of the Blimp,slowing down to a crawl. Kint looked at the plane as the gunner cupped his hands to his mouth and shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôSurrender, or we will be forced to destroy you!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAmni,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, gesturing to the small woman.

Amni threw her sphere. It landed on the wing of the bi-plane and exploded. Kint threw his hands up to cover his face as the flaming mess that had been the bi-plane dropped down, trailing black smoke behind it.

├óÔé¼┼ôGood work Amni,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNow let's get the hell outta here.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint didn't think it was going to be that easy. He was right. As the Blimp drew away from Sigilia, a hanger on the upper level of the mountain opened. A warship came out, a two balloon zeppelin armed and armored like a Elderling tank.

├óÔé¼┼ôShit,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, licking his lips, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not going to live are we?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI have some tricks up my sleeve, I do,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said.

One of the warship's guns spoke, a massive plume of smoke spurting from it's mouth. The shell whistled past the Blimp and exploded in a black cloud. Shrapnel bounced off the balloon and the wooden side of the hull. One fell near Kint, almost hitting him.

├óÔé¼┼ôShould I be worried about the balloon exploding?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe won't be alive long enough to worry if it does explode. That was a warning shot...one second.├óÔé¼┬Ø

A light flashed from the warship, blinking a steady pattern. Teesh stared at it, muttering to herself. Kint only caught half the message, mostly concentrating on flying the ship. Teesh cupped her hands and shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôAmni, I'd like the signaling mirror please!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni arrived a moment later, carrying the signaling mirror in her hands. Teesh flashed a message back to the warship.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered as she flashed the message. ├óÔé¼┼ôWay...in...hell.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIs that a good idea?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked. Amni shrugged. Kint spun the wheel, his heart almost stopped. The warship's gun spoke and the round narrowly missed and exploded above them, raining bits of metal down.

Teesh grabbed the speaker horn next to the steering wheel.

├óÔé¼┼ôGeorge, activate the doohickey.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThe what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked. Something rumbled in the belly of the ship, making Kint grab onto the railing before he fell over.

├óÔé¼┼ôThe doohickey. Look,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh pointed. Kint looked and saw that smoke was starting to pour out of the sides of the ship.

├óÔé¼┼ôWere we hit?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôI think ye would have noticed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôGo look at the sides.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint walked to the side and saw pipes stuck out of the side of the ship, smoke pouring from them. Soon the entire ship was shrouded by black smoke. Kint coughed, trying to wave some away with his hand.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll be fine now,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, grinning. The warship's gun spoke, the actual ship invisible through the smoke cloud. Nothing came close enough for Kint to hear, so he relaxed slightly.

├óÔé¼┼ôHow long do we keep this up?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, coughing some more.

├óÔé¼┼ôTill...night time,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, checking her watch, ├óÔé¼┼ôA few hours.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCan we keep it up till then?├óÔé¼┬Ø The warship's gun spoke again, and once again the bullet missed by a mile. After that the gun didn't speak again.

├óÔé¼┼ôTurn er off,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh coughed down the speaking tube. Over a few minutes the smoke drifted away and, to Kint's pleasure, Sigilia was far far far behind them by now. His pleasure was shattered when he saw the warship was still behind them. Teesh saw it too, her single eye going wide.

The warship was now level with the Blimp, it's three main guns leveled. They spoke, one after another after another. Two missed, zipping past and exploding below the Blimp, their fragments doing no damage. The last, however, hit the Blimp amidships. The ship rocked and Kint fell to the deck, the wind knocked out of him.

Then, amazingly, the warship turned. Kint stood, slowly, and stared as the warship turned around and went back to Sigilia. Teesh looped her arm around his neck, grinning. Even the silent Amni grinned at them. The trapdoor to the engineering deck opened and a soot covered George climbed out. He was smoking slightly but appeared unharmed. Teesh jerked her arm off Kint's neck and turned to George.

├óÔé¼┼ôDamage report.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOur food supplies got hit. The shell didn't quite penetrate, but the explosion ripped enough of our food apart. We're going to need to set down for repairs.├óÔé¼┬Ø

#


Bester filed his fingernails, humming to himself as he leaned against his plane. The sun was bright and cheerful, the forest around him filled with the sounds of chirping birds and odd catcalls of distant animals. Bester stepped away from his plane, the Kitty Hawk, reaching into his pistol. He drew it with a flourish and fired five quick shots into the trees that hung over his plane. Something jumped, leaping from one tree to another.

Bester tracked his target, firing his last round. Something screamed and hit the forest floor with a wet snap. Bester snapped his revolver open, letting the spent casings fall into the forest floor. The thing he had hit lay a short ways into the forest, struggling to breath. It was a beastling, a disgusting hybrid of man and monkey.

├óÔé¼┼ôWait a minute,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered, sliding new rounds into his revolver, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not that badly injured.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ô'ight 'ou are,├óÔé¼┬Ø The ape-man said, his accent almost incomprehensible to Bester, ├óÔé¼┼ô'ut me 'migos 're takin ya sky kite.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester ran back into the meadow. Two ape-men were ripping some aluminum off the sides of his ship, grunting to one another in their language. Bester fired over their heads, shouting a torrent of vile language at them. The two beastlings ran, vanishing into the forest. Bester sighed, looking at the damage. Bester sighed, closing his eyes. It was just another hunk of hull that had to be replaced when he was picked up.

If he was picked up.

Bester looked at the sun, checked his watch, then determined where north lay, then pulled out his map. Bester fiddled with his map, folding and unfolding it.

├óÔé¼┼ôIf I was shot down here, and the beastlings are ape-ish...that means I am here...shit.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Bester took one last glance at his bi-plane, feeling his heart rip. He glanced at the sun, which was falling towards the west, the sky getting red.

├óÔé¼┼ôIf Pirata is a...a long way that way,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered to himself, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Sigilia is a slightly shorter long way that way.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Then, as if every god was listening at that moment, a shadow moved over the sun. Bester looked up, his heart swelling. An airship!

Bester ran to the back of the Kitty Hawk, kicking open the fuel gasket. Fuel streamed out and splattered into the grass. Bester closed the port as the airship moved directly overhead. Bester ripped a bunch of green leaves off a low hanging branch. He pulled out his cigar lighter, flipped it open, and dropped it onto the puddle of fuel. Flames whooshed up, forcing Bester to skip backwards.

Black smoke boiled into the sky, fed by more green wood, and slowly, delightfully, the airship turned to head back to Bester's crash sight.

It was only when he saw the smoking hole in the side of the airship that his grin faltered slightly.

[Comp1337]

I want to read this
SO I WILL

tomorrow, its late

[Zoombie]

Now that you're caught up...I hope....read more!



├óÔé¼┼ôNo one is sure what creates a mageling,├óÔé¼┬Ø Professor Tupi droned. The dark skinned Oberoni walked up and down the desks, his chin supported by his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut what is sure is that throughout history, people have used us for their own ends.├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped his fingers with the sound of cracking ice, ├óÔé¼┼ôJoaquin!├óÔé¼┬Ø He pointed at the student in question. ├óÔé¼┼ôName a mageling that was instrumental in the War of 1788!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYalonda Fess turned the tide of the battle for-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWrong wrong wrong,├óÔé¼┬Ø Tupi said shaking his head, ├óÔé¼┼ôWars turn not on battles but-├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra mouthed the familer words along with him, ├óÔé¼┼ôOn careful preparation and long term planning before the war even begins. Fess did have a more dramatic role then Clive the Elder, but throwing yourself onto the enemy's flagship is, in the end, wasteful. Clive lead the Killgins in a long and successful decade of industrialization before the actual war.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra snickered.

├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have something to add, Pryacia?├óÔé¼┬Ø Tupi asked, turning to her and grinding his teeth.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut Clive's industrialization was not successful. They won the war, yes, and they could produce more...but they built too fast. That lead to plagues and poor health, so even after they won...they lost.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Tupi stared at Pyra, his face impassive. Then he clapped his hands together, making a loud cracking sound as ice smashed into ice.

├óÔé¼┼ôExcellent!├óÔé¼┬Ø He declared, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have a feeling for history. Without knowing history, how can one know the future...├óÔé¼┬Ø Tupi started his pacing again, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe lesson of this even the best looking plans can have a hidden seed of destruction...├óÔé¼┬Ø

After class, Pyra shouldered her backpack. She started to walk away, but before she got very far Gloria shouted after her, ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, Pyra, wait up!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra grinned, turning to face Gloria. Gloria was a late bloomer, most of her hands still intact. Pyra wasn't sure weather she pitied her or if she was madly jealous.

├óÔé¼┼ôI had a weird dream yesterday,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said as the two of them headed for the practicality wing of the Academy.

├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt was after a closed session with Zee.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUgh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria shook her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôZee gives me the creeps. I'm always afraid he's going to corpseify in front of me...├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah. But we were talking about life, the universe, everything and it came up that...I might want to leave the academy.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra...├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria frowned.

├óÔé¼┼ôI know, I know. It's just...I just...I just want to burn things.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI know what you mean,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said, holding out one of her hands. Her hands were a bit more disturbing than Pyra's, simply ending at the knuckles. ├óÔé¼┼ôSometimes I feel like...I can know...what...you...├óÔé¼┬Ø She trailed off. Pyra felt something brush her mind.

├óÔé¼┼ôStop it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra snapped, running one of her fingers through her hair.

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry, ├óÔé¼┼ôGloria dropped her hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I got that you were thinking about the Jock again.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôJoaquin?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra blushed, her hands getting a bit hotter, ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's...nice.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPfft,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said as they reached the Basic Practicality Class. She waved her hand in a vague 'opening' motion. The door knob opened of it's own accord and the door popped open. Gloria grinned at Pyra who sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't you ever get tired of that?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said as they entered the Practicality Class. Another class was already in the midst of their practicality lessons, but they didn't begrudge a new batch of people joining them. Pyra smiled. Practicality Class, sounds very academic, very...studious. In reality, it was an excuse to blow something up.

The class only had four of six sides normally in cubical rooms, left open to the chilling air. Snow drifted down, making Pyra shiver despite the bright sun. Ingenious floating targets, donated by Jerman families who sent their sons and daughters here, drifted outside the class, looking very nice and serene.

├óÔé¼┼ôWatch this,├óÔé¼┬Ø A grinning Pirata mageling said, catching Pyra's eyes. He pointed and a bolt of flames leaped from his burning arms. The bolt hit a floating target directly on the bulls-eye, the flame scorching the already blackened metal of the target.

├óÔé¼┼ôThats nothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Hie friend said, gesturing with his hands, which were nothing more than shining white light. There was a smell of ozone and a line of light traced across Pyra's eyes, making her blink. She looked and saw a hole burned through the target's bulls-eye.

├óÔé¼┼ôBoys,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, clenching her fist and letting her concentration relax. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo need to fight over little old me.├óÔé¼┬Ø She snapped her hand out and a massive stream of fire arced in the air, falling on the target. It burned, then exploded. The rest of the magelings ooohed and aaawed, though one Jerman student muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôThat'll cost us.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra looked back at the two bragging Pirata men. The fire mageling laughed nervously, while the burning-light one said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing after class?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôStudying,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe names Pyra.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôZander,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôI thing some studying would be...necessary.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said as Pyra turned back to her friend, Zander moving out with the old class, the new class finishing it's displacement of them. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho's the cute Pirata guy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSaid his name was Zander...think I have a chance?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't have to read his mind,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said, grinning, ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on, lets blow more stuff up.├óÔé¼┬Ø

As Pyra started flinging more bolts at the targets, she started to think...maybe the Academy isn't so bad.

#

├óÔé¼┼ôSo you were attacked by pirates?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, looking at the strangers who picked him up. The table he was seated at was small, cramped and a bit too dirty for his liking.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø the Capitan said, clasping her hands in front of her. She sat across from Bester, her hat squashed firmly on her head. To her right was her navigator, a black haired, hawk nosed, aristocratic Sigilians bastard, and to her left was a burly looking engineer of an unknown decent. He was probably the most normal looking person at the table, his face wide and pleasant. The woman next to him was downright disturbing, by far the shortest person at the table and the most quiet, her eyes fixed on Bester's.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell that makes two of us,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, ├óÔé¼┼ôExcept I was hit by a dragon. Little bastard was hungry and spat a big glob of acid and forced me down. It left when I started shooting at it, but then the damage was already done...then you picked me up.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat were you doing out in ape country?├óÔé¼┬Ø The navigator asked, his voice quite.

├óÔé¼┼ôHeading for Sigilia,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, gritting his teeth.

├óÔé¼┼ôHave a problem with Sigilia?├óÔé¼┬Ø The navigator asked, narrowing his eyes.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes, actually,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered. The navigator stood, but the Capitan put her hand on his. He sat back down again in a hurry.

├óÔé¼┼ôWould you like a new job?├óÔé¼┬Ø The Capitan asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, echoed by the navigator.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll need fighter support before this adventure is over,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Capitan said. ├óÔé¼┼ôGeorge can help with your plane?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt depends on what actually got eaten by the acid and if we have parts?├óÔé¼┬Ø

The short woman sitting next to George tugged on his sleeve and whispered in his ear. George nodded, looking at his captain. ├óÔé¼┼ôAmni raises a good point...what about the food?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry, I have the food covered,├óÔé¼┬Ø The captain said, standing, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut first, do you want to join our merry band?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHow much can you pay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked. The Capitan wipped her hat off and Bester stared at her. Two cat ears stuck out of her head, slightly rumpled by her hat.

├óÔé¼┼ôBetter than your wildest imagination,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Capitan grinned, offering her hand. Bester, after a moment of hesitation, took her hand.


George looked up at the Blimp, floating serenely above him. He looked back down at the Kitty Hawk, then back to the Blimp again.

├óÔé¼┼ôThe damage-├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester started, pointing at his bi-plane.

├óÔé¼┼ôI know where it is,├óÔé¼┬Ø George muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôI also know I'm not going to fix it. We'll need to bring it back to Pirata...maybe Jerman for the kind of tooling we'll need. I'm trying to figure how we can get this up there.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have a landing tarp?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI know where to get one,├óÔé¼┬Ø Capitan Teesh cut in. She had been watching George and Bester work on the Kitty Hawk for the last few minutes, her tail twitching slightly as she leaned against a tree. ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's a ape-man village 'bout five or so miles that-a-way. They'd not mind some trade.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDo we have anything to trade with?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôDo we dare take the ship there?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked at the same time.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo and no,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou two get on the elevator and tell Kint to come down here. Have him bring some of Amni's flashers and one exploder. That ought to do it.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA what and what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked as George got in the elevator cage.

#

Teesh and Kint walked through the forests. Actually, Kint shoved his way through the underbrush while Teesh slipped through like a shadow. The Blimp and the Kitty Hawk soon dissapeared, the view blocked by the trees.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo...it's been a long time no see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're bringing that up now?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, looking at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôYe've been working for me for a day now.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I didn't think it'd be appropriate, talking with those two. Where did you find those two, anyway?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHere and there, Kint, here and there. But yea, it's been a long time and no seeing. I...I did miss you, ya know.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint stopped, smiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo did I.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh glanced around, as if they were being spied on, then stood on her tip toes and kissed him. A twig snapped in the woods.

├óÔé¼┼ô'ut yer hands up,├óÔé¼┬Ø A thickly accented voice shouted. Kint and Teesh sprang apart, Teesh reaching for her gun, Kint reaching to shove her behind him.

├óÔé¼┼ôDrop the fire-rock,├óÔé¼┬Ø The voice said. Teesh dropped her revolver in the underbrush, raising her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôYer far far far outta yer territory, cat-thing.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The ape-men moved out of their hiding places. Each of them held old style bows, arrows knocked and ready to fire. The biggest, smelliest and most laden with trophies ape-man walked to Kint and Teesh, sniffing as he came closer.

├óÔé¼┼ôStrange couple, this is this is,├óÔé¼┬Ø The Ape-man said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat 'er you doing in our territory, Cat-thing.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe need a canvas and some food,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, reaching into her pocket, ├óÔé¼┼ôFor we are powerful magelings.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The ape-man stood straighter, his strangely human eyes winding. Then he started to laugh. His friends laughed as well, lowering their bows slightly.

├óÔé¼┼ôMagelings? Ye? Do ye take us fer moronic savages to be impressed by-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh hurled one of the spheres Kint had brought down. Kint gaped, knowing any explosion at this range would kill him as much as the ape-men. Then Teesh's hand went over his eyes and a blinding white flash smote him. He could see the flash...through Teesh's fingers. The ape-men bawled, their bows dropping to the ground.

Teesh removed her hand and Kint blinked away spots that swam in his eyes.

├óÔé¼┼ôI have stolen yer sight!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt will return, but only if ye give us what we need!├óÔé¼┬Ø


├óÔé¼┼ôI...thought...that...wouldn't...work,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint panted, running through the forest.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell why dinna ya tell me!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped, readjusting the bag of potatoes she had slung over her shoulder. The ape-men behind them were whooping and hollering, waving their arms over their heads. A spear flew through the air and buried itself next to Kint's head. Teesh fired two warning shots over the ape-men's heads and they got down, vanishing into the under brush.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo there's still the problem of getting the thing on the tarp,├óÔé¼┬Ø George was saying, pointing at the Kitty Hawk, Bester nodding thoughtfully. Teesh and Kint burst from the underbrush, ape-men just behind them.

├óÔé¼┼ôRun! RUN!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint shouted.

├óÔé¼┼ôOn ta damn elevator!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted, throwing the potatoes into the elevator.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about my-├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester started. Teesh cut him off by leveling her revolver at his face. He got into the elevator. Once they were all aboard, Teesh franticly gestured to George, looking at the forest.

George grabbed the switch on the elevator, turning it on just in the nick of time. Ape-men streamed into the meadow, throwing spears and firing arrows at the receding elevator cage. One spear bounced off the bottom of the cage, causing it to tilt madly. Kint grabbed Teesh, more for moral support than anything else, and the cage slowly subsided it's rocking. Kint saw Bester's smirk and released his captain.

Bester's smirk vanished when the ape-men started going to town on his fighter.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no!├óÔé¼┬Ø He moaned, ├óÔé¼┼ôThis can't be happening.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou can always get a new one,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint snapped, ├óÔé¼┼ôWould you rather we die?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI spent years building her!├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester shouted, making the basket tip as he pointed at the Kitty Hawk. It was already unrecognizable, the ape-men carrying bits of it away. The elevator reached the Blimp, stopping with a thump.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo did we get the food?├óÔé¼┬Ø George asked as he switched the steam engine from elevator pulling to propeller spinning. Kint wished that they could rig the elevator to go somewhere other than the engineering decks. The steam engine and coal pile took up most of the large deck, leaving a closet sized work area for George and a narrow walkway kept clear for the elevator. Kint gestured, letting everyone else go first. Bester shot him a poisonous glance, as if he had been responsible for the bi-plane's death.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed, handing the sack of potatoes to George, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe have some food. Set course for Pirata.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe're going to Pirata?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes, why? Want to get off there?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI just thought we were going to be digging up treasure.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThere are some things one needs before treasure is hunted.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned, looking at George, then Bester, then Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...navigator, hup to it!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, walking out of the engineering deck.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhats between you and him?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, frowning at Teesh.

├óÔé¼┼ôHe's good in the sack,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, her face perfectly straight. George and Bester both stared at her. Teesh's facade broke with a single snicker. Then she started to laugh, walking out of the engineering hold.

#

├óÔé¼┼ôSo, Pyra...how was it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria asked. Pyra sighed, pressing her head against the wall.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt was horrible. Absolutely horrible,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, turning to her friend, ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that enough?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Gloria gulped, ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry. I didn't know.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou know how some days life seems fine and other days seem bearable and other days just make you want to go home?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Gloria nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôThis is one of those days,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra sighed, shouldering her backpack, ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on, the lunch line's already going to be long, but if we hurry-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra, wait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria followed her, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou never told me about your dream.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMy what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, but before she finished the sentence, the memory rushed back. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...oh, right.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt was weird,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, walking with Gloria down the hallway, heading to the cafeteria, ├óÔé¼┼ôI was at a table with a candle...and the flames turned into a cat. The cat looked at me, then ran, leaving behind fiery footprints.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh-huh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria muttered, stopping. Pyra stopped with her, still talking.

├óÔé¼┼ôThen this woman appeared. She had one green eye but I couldn't see her face and she was shuffling a deck of cards. Then she put the cards down on the footprints. The woman vanished and the cards started to burn, so I picked one up...and the weirdest thing was that it had a Elderling pictograph on it.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCan you draw that pictograph?├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria asked, looking odd.

├óÔé¼┼ôI...think so,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWh-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Before she finished her sentence Gloria started to drag her to the library. Pyra opened her mouth to object, but she realized that she was no longer hungry

├óÔé¼┼ôThere we go,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, pulling the pencil away from paper. The pictograph looked almost exactly as it had in her dreams, or at least...she hoped it did. Gloria took the paper, eyes wide.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDo...do you know what this is?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo...what is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have any inkling of what this is!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra stared at Gloria. She had never seen her friend this excited.

├óÔé¼┼ôNeither do it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said, deadpan, ├óÔé¼┼ôGet me the dictionary, please.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra handed Gloria the dictionary of translated Elderling Pictographs. Gloria opened it, set her chin on her hands and started turning pages with her talent. Pyra watched over her shoulder as the book progressed from the basic pictographs that she knew to the more advanced ones that she didn't. Finally, near the end of the book, Pyra put her finger in the book, browning the paper and stopping Gloria's page turning.

├óÔé¼┼ôThat's it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôRight there.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Gloria looked from the picture in the book to the picture Pyra had drawn.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou really suck at drawing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat does it mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Gloria leaned forward and read the wording below the pictograph. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis symbol is used to show...royalty/upper position in Elderling society. That line, right there-├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria pointed at the lower part of the symbol, ├óÔé¼┼ôMeans female. So this means: Queen.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHuh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôNow my dream makes even less sense.├óÔé¼┬Ø Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat time is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Gloria thought for a moment. ├óÔé¼┼ôAround two-ish.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOh bloody hell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, standing, ├óÔé¼┼ôOld Zed is coming around for another round of lessions soon. Gotta go.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHave a good time,├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria called after her, closing the dictionary.


Pyra arrived at her room the same time Phil and Zed came around the corner, Phil saying something as they came around the bend. He stopped when he saw Pyra, somehow managing to frown with his elongated face. Zed nodded to Pyra. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoes the day find you well?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra opened the door for her Master, gesturing to let them in. ├óÔé¼┼ôFinds me just...okay, I suppose.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou were in...the Library?├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed asked. He did that every once and a while, and Pyra had stopped asking how he managed it.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes. I was studying with my friend, Gloria.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh...Master Fess has told me good things about her. But enough about others. I was thinking long and hard about our discussion yesterday-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAs have I.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said.

├óÔé¼┼ôPlease, let me finish.├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed, holding up his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt is true that...I have been keeping you back.├óÔé¼┬Ø he waved his hand again, silencing Pyra's objection. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen you first came, the fires of magic burned brightly in you. Bright flames are ones that go out swiftly...and I wasn't as objective as I should have been. So I have decided to offer you the advance classes.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, sitting up. Her smile faded as she thought over what she knew. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...don't know if I want-├óÔé¼┬Ø

The door opened, cutting her off. A beastling servant, a lizard-man in this case, walked in, holding a letter.

├óÔé¼┼ôLetter for misstrisss Pyracia Davidson. Isss she here?├óÔé¼┬Ø The lizard-man bowed to Master Zed, then to Pyra.

├óÔé¼┼ôI am she,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, holding her hand out for the letter. The lizard-man gave it to her and bowed out of the room. Pyra's sigh of irritation died in her throat as she looked at the letter. She couldn't breath, her flames going to almost nothing.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed asked. Pyra blinked, looking up.

├óÔé¼┼ôIt's a red bordered letter,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, looking at her master. He wasn't Sigilian...he wouldn't understand that. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt means that either you or a relative of yours...is being called before the Senate on charges of treason.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Zed ducked his head in thought. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't see how you could-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt doesn't have to be me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, opening the letter and reading it, ├óÔé¼┼ôIf my father or mother was called...thank the gods.├óÔé¼┬Ø She stood, folding the letter shut again. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's my Uncle. I'm exempt from the charges, but I still have to come to the trial. It's a matter of family honor.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOf course, the Academy understands the importance of family honor,├óÔé¼┬Ø he didn't add 'with you Sigilians, like some people Pyra knew would. Pyra bowed low, not sure whether she was grateful or dismayed.

[Snipawolf]

Wakka, will read later, wakka!

[Zoombie]

Moar stuff!

├óÔé¼┼ôKint, I called ye in here for a reason,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pouring over her maps. Kint wondered if that reason was to expand on the kiss they had shared yesterday. He mentally slapped himself for such silliness, instead focusing on what Teesh was actually saying.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to go back to Sigilia.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe...what!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA bit of a wrench cot thrown in me engines, if you get me drift,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôLord Admiral Davidson is going to be put on trial...fer treason.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint sat down only other chair in the Teesh's office, careful to not bump his knees against the desk. It was a very cramped office, just like the rest of the ship.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan...can you please tell me what your plan is?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked. He had asked the other members of the crew. Amni had vanished after dinner, not that Kint had expected her to say anything. The mysterious woman hadn't said as much as a word in the entire time Kint had been on the ship. So George had been the last option to ask...and it turned out that the friendly engineer didn't know what Teesh's plan was either.

├óÔé¼┼ôIf I couldn't trust ye, I wouldn't have hired ye...so I might as well tell ya. Just remember...none of this leaves the room, understand?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint nodded.

Teesh stood, paced the tiny space she had to pace in, then turned to face him. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't have the treasure map.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint bit his tongue to stop himself from shouting something uncomplimentary.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut 'ah had a fools proof plan. I know who had the damn map and he was going to try and dig up the treasure in a few days. But to dig up the treasure, he had to go to Pirata to hire a ship. Thats why we'er heading to Pirata. But...the man is just now being held for treason against the Sigilian senate. So we just need to steal the map from him...while he's in his house, under guard waiting for his trial.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThat's going to be fun,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint moaned, rubbing his temples, ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is this guy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAdmiral Davidson, as 'ah said,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, her eye narrowing, ├óÔé¼┼ôAny more than that ye don't need ta know.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSo...I suppose I should set a course for Sigilia,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, standing, ├óÔé¼┼ôHow are we going to sneak back in?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôLeave that ta me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, walking around the desk. She started to write on a piece of paper, scribbling things that didn't look a thing like letters Kint knew. Kint watched her for a bit, then turned away and walked out of the cabin.



Pyra leaned her head against the chair, sighing. The airship Cochran was a nice ship, definitely. The cabin was four very comfortable chairs with a table between them, a window on one end and a door on the other...but it was hard to enjoy the comfortable chair, the nice lighting and the amazing view out the window while thinking What did you do, Uncle?

Pyra shifted slightly, a disturbing thought occurring. What if it wasn't treason, specifically, but one of the other...worse crimes that a man could do. She remembered the hushed conversations, the agreements to not talk about what he had done. If someone else had found that out...Pyra wasn't sure what would happen. She could see people calling it 'treason'. Treason against nature, maybe...

Her thoughts were interrupted when the door to her cabin opened.

├óÔé¼┼ôMam,├óÔé¼┬Ø the serving woman, an actual human, said as she walked in. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour food.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThank you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, sitting up as the woman slid the food over the table. The womaned waited , expecting something. After a moment of stairing dumbly at her, Pyra realized what she wanted.

├óÔé¼┼ôHere,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, pulling some coins out of her hand and tossing them to the serving woman.

├óÔé¼┼ôThankya,├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said, walking out of the cabin. Pyra heard her say, ├óÔé¼┼ôStill warm.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra sighed, looking at the food. The soup was chilled, not warm enough for Pyra. She stuck her finger in the soup and a moment later it was nice and hot. Pyra smiled and started to eat.

Once she was done, Pyra pushed her plates away from her, wondering what she should do for the rest of the flight. It would take a day and a half to get to Sigilia and Pyra couldn't spend the entire time in the cabin. She stood, thought about pulling on gloves, then decided against it. In her experience gloves would last about ten minutes before she lost control and burnt them from the inside out.

The main deck of the Cochran was as spacious as the rest of the ship. The tri-balloon affair that kept the ship afloat didn't block the low sun, so Pyra put her hand to her forehead to shade her eyes. Other people meandered the deck, most in groups of two and up. Only one or two people were alone, like her. Pyra sighed, walking to the railing and looking down at the forest passing below them.

Something sparkled back at her.

Pyra's brow wrinkled. What the hell is that?

├óÔé¼┼ôThat, I believe, is a Wester Taruk dragon. An acid spitter, if I don't miss my mark,├óÔé¼┬Ø A cultured voice said, almost directly behind Pyra. She turned around, biting her lip to stop her from crying out. Her hands still flared white for a moment, causing the elderly Taruk man to bow, saying, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry for any undue surprise I've given you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt's fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, bowing in return.

├óÔé¼┼ôThe name is Timothy,├óÔé¼┬Ø The elderly Taruk said, taking Pyra's hand. Pyra forced her flames to their coolest as he gently blew on her knuckles. Not quite a kiss. Not quite.

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra. Pyra Davidson.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, letting her flames return to a hotter state.

├óÔé¼┼ôAh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Timothy's eyes looked pained. ├óÔé¼┼ôFate, it seems, has a very sick mind.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, her stomach already sinking. She knew where this was heading.

├óÔé¼┼ôI am afraid I am one of the five Judges being sent to Lord Admiral Davidson. Is he a relation of yours?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, coolly, ├óÔé¼┼ôMy Uncle.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh...good.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra snapped, not able to stop the flare of heat and light from her hands, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou talk as if he is already guilty!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...Judges are not called for a meeting if the one in particular isn't...well...very very guilty.├óÔé¼┬Ø Timothy looked apologetic. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut enough on gloomy matters. I take it you were going to the Academy, our fine gem?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes, I was. And yes it is, a gem that is.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra sighed, turning back to the view from the railing. The dragon below was continuing on it's course, as unerringly as the ship. That illusion was shattered when the dragon banked and snapped it's teeth. Some poor bird hadn't moved fast enough down there.

├óÔé¼┼ôI see. Well, I, for one, am sorry that your Uncle saw fit to root you out of your academy and bring shame to your family's name.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMe too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra sighed. Then what he said sunk in. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow are you so damn sure that he's going to be found guilty? I don't even know what he's been charged with.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTreason!├óÔé¼┬Ø Timothy was suddenly angry. Then, just as suddenly, he was chagrined. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf your family sees fit to tell you, then they will tell you. And he might be proved innocent. If so, I will apologize in person.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra turned to face him, frowning. ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me, at least, is it really treason? Really?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy, of course,├óÔé¼┬Ø Timothy bowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd now I must head back to my quarters. I fear that an old man can not stay as late as a young woman may...and so, for your sake, I too pray your uncle is innocent.├óÔé¼┬Ø

His words, oddly enough, make Pyra feel a little better.


#


Bester had flown in battle so many times that he had a hard time keeping his battles straight. He had dived bombed airships, fought in dogfights and even took down a few dragons. So his stomach should have been acclimated to high altitudes by now. But dangling from two ropes while sitting on a flat bit of plank while feverishly slopping white paint over the grungy side of the ship.

Bester sunk his paint into his bucket and frantically daubed it over the ship. He didn't dare think that he was only halfway done with this side. Amni and George were working on the other. But was Kint and the so called 'captain' doing anything?

No. Bester growled, the sound snatched away by the wind. He hadn't known how much wind was kept away by the side of the ship. That same wind made his plank wobble, and his stomach reminded him that he was well...well off the ground. Bester locked his legs tighter around the plank and started to paint faster.

An hour later, an hour that Bester thought would never end, his plank was hauled to back onto the deck.

├óÔé¼┼ôI can't believe what a good job you guys did,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, smiling at Bester. Bester sighed. George and Amni saw the trouble brewing and serendipitously moved somewhere else.

├óÔé¼┼ôThen why don't you do it, next time?├óÔé¼┬Ø He asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is our...Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIn her cabin. Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBecause I want to get of at Sigilia,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said.

├óÔé¼┼ôFine, I won't miss you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat was that?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI said it's a shame to lose you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, stepping a bit closer, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou Sigilians, your all the same. Stick a knife in someone's back and smile in their face.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is your problem?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.

Bester cricked his neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou, this ship and that beastling bit-├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint punched him. Bester stumbled back, then came back with his own punch, his fist slamming into Kint's stomach. The other man doubled over, the air woofing out of his lungs. Bester grabbed him around the neck, trying to bring his head into contact with his knee. Kint squirmed out of the hold, bashing Bester in the chest with his elbow.

Bester grabbed Kint around the neck again, pulling him to his chest. Kint shoved back and they both hit the railing. That made Bester let go in a hurry.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted, sticking her head out her cabin.

Kint stepped away from Bester, still wanting to tear him apart. Bester stepped away from Kint, still wanting to wipe that smug expression of his face. Teesh, who for some reason neither of them could fathom, was wearing a serving girl's uniform. That didn't make her look any less dangerous as she advanced on them.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell are you two doing? Fighting like this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, looking at his feet.

├óÔé¼┼ôNothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not going to bother asking who started it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut let me know, the next time anyone starts a fight they go over the side.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint muttered. A second later Bester echoed him.

├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. Then, as if realizing what she was wearing, Teesh tugged on her gown, straighting it. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...I have to go and finish changing.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The Blimp moved into the holding pattern that floated near the Sigilian docks. Several other, more important, airships were already floating there. Some were merchantmen, floating lower than the rest, their holds full of goods from the New World and else where. Two were luxury liners, their passengers milling about on deck, taking in the sights.

Bester sighed, leaning against the railing. The luxury liner across from him looked very nice, from his point of view. Large, three balloons. They could use a pilot for defensive actions. Bester realized that someone was watching him from the other ship. Bester was barely able to tell that the flamboyantly dressed figure was a woman at this distance. But there was no mistaking the wave she gave him. Bester waved back.

├óÔé¼┼ôBester,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. Bester turned to look at her and almost fell over the railing. The Capitan looked completely different, her black hair color replaced by blond, her green eyes, for now two stared at him, now blue. Her ears, even, were a different color. Instead of their light gray color, they were a matte black. And instead of her raggity captains uniform, she wore the same upper class serving woman's uniform she had before.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, his heart still hammering.

├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to tell you something,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, putting her finger on his chest, ├óÔé¼┼ôKint is going to go with me. You and George will-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDidn't I tell you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, irritated, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting off here. I'm sure people here can use my skills and can afford a bi-plane.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou and George,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh barreled on, for all intents and purposes ignoring him, ├óÔé¼┼ôwill go into town and buy whatever you need.├óÔé¼┬Ø She handed him a heavy coin purse. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I mean whatever you need. New parts, new pieces...new planes.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester stammered, taking the coin purse as if it were a gift from the Divines. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...I...I don't know what to say.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll need a pilot to dig up buried treasure,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh grinned. Then, seriously. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll also need a navigator.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, all thoughts of jumping ship chased from his mind, ├óÔé¼┼ôRight...thanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh turned around, ├óÔé¼┼ôSee you later, Besty.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBester,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered, but Teesh was already gone.

#

├óÔé¼┼ôIt is so nice to have you home again,├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother said, smiling. From a distance. Pyra noticed no one was ready to come close and hug her and tried to keep the annoyance off her face. Her father and mother both stood at an arms length, smiling. Her fathers smile faltered.

├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose you want to know...what Uncle Ruben did.├óÔé¼┬Ø He sniffed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't know.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't know?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, not able to keep her irritation off her face this time. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey haven't told us?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes, thats exactly what they've done.├óÔé¼┬Ø Her father frowned. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe trial will be in three days. Till then, enjoy being home. How is life at the academy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôFine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôMy classes are interesting.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Her mother said, her face suddenly cheery, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't we show you to your rooms.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThank you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, trying to not sigh in relief. Her mother clapped and a serving girl walked into the room, her eyes fixed on the ground. She was a beastling, a cat-girl. She gestured to the door that lead out of the room. Pyra tried to keep her hurt out of her face as she was lead out of the room.

The serving girl was pleasantly quiet, unlike May or Phil who seemed like they just wouldn't shut up. Pyra didn't noticed that she took an unseemly long time getting to Pyra's room, too busy keeping tears out of her eyes. The serving girl opened the door to her room and ushered Pyra in.

├óÔé¼┼ôIs there anything I can get for you, mam?├óÔé¼┬Ø The serving girl asked, her voice oddly accented and soft.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm fine.├óÔé¼┬Ø She walked into the room and the serving girl closed the door behind her. Pyra sighed, walking into her bed and falling face forward into the pillows. She clenched her fists, taking clumps of blankets in her fists. She started to smell smoke. Pyra sat up, the blankets on fire. She forced her flames back down, but the damage was already done. Pyra ran to her washable and grabbed the water basin. She threw it over the fire and it went out with a hiss.

├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra sighed.


Teesh walked away from the mageling's rooms, her heart going a mile a minute. The woman hadn't noticed that Teesh didn't know where the hell her room was and had to bumble through the house for five minutes, something that Teesh considered a minor miracle. But, from what she had seen on the mageling's face, maybe the mageling wasn't feeling so hot.

Teesh walked back to the laundry room, carefully keeping her stance as obsequious as possible. A few members of the Davidson family walked past, none paying her notice. The laundry room was hot and wet, large vats of hot water filling the room. The forewoman, a stout Sigilian woman shorter than Teesh, pointed at her.

├óÔé¼┼ôNew girl! We need some new sheets taken down to the flame's room!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYessir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, bowing. She moved to the blanket area, where clean blankets were piled in a heap. She picked up a blanket, slung it over her shoulder, and tried to remember which way to the mageling's room. As she walked out, she hoped Kint was getting his job done.

#

├óÔé¼┼ôYou can't tell me anything?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut nothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Brian said, glancing at the door, as if afraid someone else would walk into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Davidson's are keeping it very tight to the vest. Now could you please leave...I'm taking enough of a risk having you here as it is.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGee, thanks.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHey, don't look at me. Just be glad that I'm talking to you. Now get out.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, yeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint turned to the door.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh, and Kint...Father still wants you dead.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Mother?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, opening the door.

├óÔé¼┼ôShe's willing to settle for castration.├óÔé¼┬Ø Brian smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood luck...with whatever the hell you're doing.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him. Kint walked out of his family's house, gritting his teeth. No one spotted him, other than some servants, and they weren't likely to talk. Kint let his feet bring him where they would, they knew Sigilia better than he did sometimes. Instead, he let his mind wander.

Unhappy memories were scattered when his feet brought him to the Davidson's estate. Kint knew that Teesh would come out in a few hours and that he should wait at the ship. Instead of doing the sensible thing, he watched, his mind wandering aimlessly. Then, to his surprise, Teesh's head stuck out of one of the windows of the estate, waving a fouled blanket in the air. Ash spread in a cloud as she waved the blankets.

Teesh waved the blanket, sighing. Then she saw Kint standing out there, staring at him. Teesh was so shocked that she dropped the ruined blankets.

├óÔé¼┼ôGods damn it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat was that?├óÔé¼┬Ø the mageling asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you drop the blankets?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA...sorry mam,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, looking at her feet.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd better be damn sorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra snapped, walking to the window. She looked over Teesh's shoulder and grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you watching that man?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôW..What?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh stammered, ├óÔé¼┼ôAh...Ah was just watching him, is all.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, turning around and walking to the bed, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'd...you'd better get the blanket.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYessir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, walking out of the room.

Pyra watched the beastling leave her room, relaxing slightly. There was something odd about that beastling...Pyra shook her head, smiling. She was just being paranoid. A knock on the door made Pyra sit up. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome in.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Her mother opened the door and poked her head in. ├óÔé¼┼ôPyra?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra stood, her teeth gritting. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDinner. Unless you want to spend your time moping in your room, staring at the walls?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo, dinner is fine...it's just...├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra trailed off. Then, before her mother could get away, she hugged her. Her mother stiffened, then relaxed as Pyra hugged her. ├óÔé¼┼ôI missed you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Her mother sighed, pushing Pyra to arms length, examining her. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe missed you too. Come on, lets go.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The dinner table was much as Pyra remembered it, though Cousin Nick and Cousin Julie had both shot up like weeds, now almost as tall as Pyra. Father and Mother sat at the head of the table, just like they always did, while Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Chuck sat next to them. The only person not there was Ruben Davidson...Pyra sat down in her chair.

Nick stared at her, eyes wide. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra whispered.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're pretty,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick said. Pyra blushed, covering her smile with one of her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôI like fire,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick amended.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said as servants walked behind them, placing the bowls of soup in front of the various family members. Pyra noticed that, as usual, the soup wasn't nearly hot enough. But now she could actually do something about it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWatch this.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She stuck her finger in the soup, relaxing her control until the soup felt the right temperature.

├óÔé¼┼ôCoool!├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick exclaimed.

Father coughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's time to say grace,├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Pyra bit back a sigh. They didn't have to deal with this at the academy.

├óÔé¼┼ôThank you o Lords of Creation for this bounty we are about to receive. Amen.├óÔé¼┬Ø

They all sat down. Nick dug into his soup with the abandon of a young boy, while Julie seemed to be more refrained. Chuck, Lorraine, Father and Mother...they were all the same, still eating the way they always did, still talking about the same things.

├óÔé¼┼ôMy friend Freddy has moved to put more money in those...what did they call them?├óÔé¼┬Ø Chuck said, wiping his mustache off with his napkin.

├óÔé¼┼ôRed Skins, dear,├óÔé¼┬Ø His wife murmured.

├óÔé¼┼ôThose Red Skins. Apparently they are somewhat like the beastling tribes of here but easier to bait. Freddy says some have made a bundle off selling arms to one side or another.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Father harrumphed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey'll learn. The Beastings learned, and now they won't come close to us.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lorraine laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI hear some things...├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou always hear some things.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut what about that young man...what was his name? Kent? Trent?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôKint, dear,├óÔé¼┬Ø Chuck whispered in Lorraine's ear.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes. Kint. He was a fine young member of the Douglas family. Then he-├óÔé¼┬Ø She giggled, ├óÔé¼┼ôSent it down the drain.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did he do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôSomething very bad.├óÔé¼┬Ø Mother snapped.

Julie leaned over to her brother and whispered. He giggled, then tugged on Pyra's arm. He whispered. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe screwed a beastling.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMother wouldn't like that language,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra murmured, bent over her soup.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut Freddy has been trying to talk me around to his point of view,├óÔé¼┬Ø Chuck continued his story. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think that it's a good idea. The New World...that is were our fortunes lie.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI disagree,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôPyra, what do you think?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra coughed into her soup. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...├óÔé¼┬Ø she stammered, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...this continent has been enough for the last thousand years. It's been enough for the Elderlings-├óÔé¼┬Ø the image of the Elderling pictograph flashed into her mind. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's been enough for the Beastings and it'll be enough for us too.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Chuck harrumphed once again, obviously not convinced.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut enough on these matters,├óÔé¼┬Ø Father said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHow is the academy.├óÔé¼┬Ø

'It's...fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI learn new things. My master of history, Tupi...you'd like him. He has this way of simultaneously terrifying and enlightening his students.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Her father smiled, but didn't laugh. Chuck, however, did laugh. A bit louder than Pyra would consider necessary.

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd your...talent?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra held her hand out, palm up over the table. She relaxed her control and the flames flared white, the heat felt by everyone else at the table. Nick oooohed, but the adults looked concerned. Pyra concentrated, chewing her lip. The flames shaped into a cat, standing on her palm. The cat looked around and then hissed. The parents moved back slightly and Pyra grinned. The cat jumped from her hand, heading directly for her father. Half way there it dissolved in the air, a puff of smoke announcing it's departure.

Father coughed. Mother, on the other hand, smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats very impressive,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said.


├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell are you doing out here!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh hissed at Kint. Kint supposed that this was one of the stranger conversations he'd had. Teesh was sticking out of a window, her legs hooked around the windowsill. ├óÔé¼┼ôMake it fast. This-├óÔé¼┬Ø she hooked her legs more securely ├óÔé¼┼ô-is harder than it looks.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMy brother doesn't know anything about this. The Davidson's are keeping it very very tight.├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint sighed.

├óÔé¼┼ôGods damn it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh snapped, ├óÔé¼┼ôNo one knows anything! Even the god damn Davidson family doesn't know a thing. I'll meet you at the ship. Till then, you leave.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, turning to leave.

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd Kint,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh started, but he was already gone. Teesh sighed and jerked herself back into the room. She sighed, adjusting her dress and looking at herself in the mirror. Her glass eye was a bit off. A nudge with her finger righted it.

├óÔé¼┼ôServant!├óÔé¼┬Ø The fat man with the mustache wanted her again. Teesh straightened her dress one last time, then walked out of the room.

[Zoombie]

Once your done reading, say what you think!

[rattle]

Holy shit the scroll bar wasn't that small yesterday... you sure do write a lot.

[Comp1337]

Here i thought i was catching up

reading... Good stuff this far

[Comp1337]

Only thing that bothersme a bit is teeshs accent. In the beginning it was all YARR, and then it was all normal
Other than that, great story! Keep em coming

[Snipawolf]

MOAR!!!???? SLOW DOWN ZOOMBIE!

lol... the scroll bar is like.. 1 mm tall now

Its pretty good, but I ain't got a whole day to read x.x

[Zoombie]

Writing accents are hard, damn it. Also she dropped the accent for her servant girl disguse.

Also here's a new bit!


├óÔé¼┼ôKint, I owe you and the Capitan an apology,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, without preamble. Kint blinked, a bit shocked by this sudden change of attitude.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat? Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked as Bester looped his arm around Kint's neck. He lead him to the Blimp, beaming.

├óÔé¼┼ôThis,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester gestured to a bi-plane that sat next to the Blimp. It was a slender one seater, four forward mounted machine guns. They looked very small to Kint, small and useless. But what did he know. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the Kitty Hawk mark II. It's name seems even more appropriate, with our Capitan you know-├óÔé¼┬Ø he elbowed Kint playfully.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell, I'm sorry that you lost your old one,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said.

├óÔé¼┼ôThanks,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, ├óÔé¼┼ôA pilot expects to die with his plane. But this new plane...well...I hate to say it about my old one, but this one is much better.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôTwo more machine guns, forward mounted guns. That's important, increases how much maneuvering I can do. With a back mounted machine gun you can only do so much before they fall out...├óÔé¼┬Ø

As Bester rambled on about the virtues of forward mounted guns, Kint glanced at the back of the Blimp. George and Amni were hard at work moving in a shiny new steam engine. George was talking animatedly, pointing where the engine should go, while Amni maneuvered it down, helped by a small crane.

├óÔé¼┼ô...and there are a few rocket ports here and there. Now...if we could afford them...are you listening to me?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you know how expensive rockets are?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...yes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut just imagine our damage potential...├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester looked at Kint, realizing that Kint wasn't listening again. He sighed, knowing that he couldn't educate everyone. George shouted something and Amni ran to stop the new steam engine from crashing into the ground. The two of them ran around and after some quick adjustments the emergency was averted. Bester tapped Kint on the shoulder.

├óÔé¼┼ôUh...do you know whats with Amni?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have no idea and she's not going to tell us.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat makes you so sure?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShe hasn't said a single word the entire time I've known her. Now thats only been a few days, but even so...nothing. I think the only person that knows much of anything about her would be Teesh.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh...speak a devil's name and she shall appear,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, jerking his chin over Kint's shoulder. Kint turned around and saw Teesh walking through the docks, wearing her servant uniform...but he didn't remember the burn marks. Or the smoke.

├óÔé¼┼ôAre you okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôFine.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed, cricking her neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust...fine.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She pushed past them and walked up the gangplank. A few moments later her cabin door slammed. Kint looked at Bester and sighed.

#

Former Lord Admiral Ruben Davidson sat in his cell and considered, for a moment, cutting the guard's neck next time he came in. He was given fine cutlery, dull knives and a drinking glass. A prisoner, yes, but a noble prisoner. Davidson shook his head. That would be a waste of good china, shattering the plates. It would be premature to escape now before his allies came. And it would be a waste of a perfectly good chicken meal.

So Davidson ate, slowly, carefully, and enjoyed the meal. After he was done, the plates scattered with chicken bones, Davidson lay down on his cot, putting his feet up and sighing contentedly. The guard walked past his cell, running his truncheon along the bars. Davidson ignored the rattling.

The guard stopped his rattling, looking in the cell at Davidson.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're going to swing from a gallows ship.├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard leered at him.

├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said, sitting up. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat should be an interesting change of pace. Can't be worse than looking at you every day.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHeh,├óÔé¼┬Ø The guard said, grinning as he leaned against the bars. ├óÔé¼┼ôDead man's words don't mean nothing.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThan...do your words matter?├óÔé¼┬Ø

The guard looked confused. His confusion didn't last long. A soft pip sound made the guard jerk to the side, blood blooming around his head. He fell to the ground with a thump, quite dead. Two men, two uniformed men, walked to the cell. One held a small bag, which he shoved into the lock. A moment later the lock exploded open and the doors swung open.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat took you so long?├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson asked, straightening his shirt slightly.

├óÔé¼┼ôThis had better be worth it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando said, looking at Carlo. Carlo just looked cocky, smiling as he leaned against the wall next to the cell.

├óÔé¼┼ôIt will be,├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere is your ship?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDown that way,├óÔé¼┬Ø Carlo said pointing down the hall.

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we should be leaving,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBefore the guards notice one of their number is now dead.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said, walking past Carlo and Ferdinando, heading where the younger Jerman had pointed. The two men followed him. The alarm started as they reached the ship, which was parked next to a window. The prison was set away from the main part of the city, a kind of second spire that stuck out of the mountain side. The Jerman ship was supposed to be on a balcony-

├óÔé¼┼ôNow this is something,├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson said, looking at the Jerman contraption. It looked like a bi-plane...but it's propeller was over the top instead of at the front. It looked to seat three, each seat facing ninety degrees away from one another. Two of the chairs had machine guns in front of them, the last chair had what looked like steering controls.

├óÔé¼┼ôGet in one of the gun seats,├óÔé¼┬Ø Carlo said, running to one of the gun seats himself. Ferdinando took the pilot position and Davidson sat down, strapping in and testing the range of the machine gun's rotation. Then the propeller started up and the strange machine picked up and flew away. Guards ran onto the balcony as the contraption flew away. Carlo laughed and hosed them down with his machine gun. The guards returned fire, their pistols ineffectual at this range.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow we go to the real ship,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando shouted over his shoulder, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we can get this...treasure. Assuming you have the map.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI have the map, but did it ever occur to you that It might not be on my person?├óÔé¼┬Ø Davidson shouted, barely heard over the engine of the gyrocopter.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh sit...I didn't,├óÔé¼┬Ø Carlo said, looking at his brother.

├óÔé¼┼ôThen we'll just-├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando said, jerking on his controls and bringing the copter around. Bullets shot past, two bi-planes flying straight for them. Carlo started to fire back with his machine gun, tracing a line of bullets in front of the planes. The plane's fired back. Davidson felt something warm splash on the back of his neck. He touched it and his fingers came away slick with blood.

├óÔé¼┼ôCarlo?├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando shouted, daring to glance over his shoulder. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The two bi-planes spun away, sweeping around to start another strafing run. Davidson took hold of his machine gun and started to fire back. He got lucky and one of the planes started to smoke. It peeled off and headed back to it's airbase. The second zoomed for the gyrocopter, it's machine gun already starting up. Some bullets zipped through the wood and canvas that made up the gyrocopter. One twanged off metal and zipped through Davidson's ear lobe.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe're getting out of here!├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôHold on!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Davidson grabbed his armrests a moment before something kicked him in the chest, like the weight of three full grown men sitting on him. The gyrocopter shot forward, two rocket's on the back lighting up. The frame shuddered, but despite the massive acceleration, it held. Sigilia fell behind them and for a moment Davidson thought they'd get away easily. Then the rockets stopped, running out of fuel after a scant five seconds.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell at least they didn't explode this time,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando muttered. The rockets sputtered one last time, two smoke rings puffing out of them. Ferdinando pushed forward on his controls and the helicopter started to chug away, Sigilia falling slowly falling behind. The remaining bi-plane was joined by two more, but they coulden't make up the distance and fell back.

Now Davidson relaxed in his chair, sighing. Ferdinando looked over his shoulder at his brother, then back to his controls, his stomach almost, but not quite, leaping up his throat and all over his lap. The back of Carlo's head had been clipped off. Ferdinando blinked away tears, setting course for his airship.

#
Pyra hadn't really believed that her uncle was capable of treason. Her only real memory's of him was when she was young, before she had gone to the Academy. He had been tall, never smiled, but had given very nice presents on her birthday parties. Then he'd vanish from the household for weeks, months and come back with a new medal on his vest. Pyra sighed, rolling onto her back, staring at the celling of her room. There were still some burn marks and no one had gotten around to cleaning them.

But would an innocent man break out of prison on a Pirata gyrocopter? Pyra's view of his escape were somewhat...fragmentary. Her mother and father had had a whispered conversation that Pyra had 'accidentally' overheard.

├óÔé¼┼ôThey said no documents were found in his rooms, so I won-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't believe a word of it, and you shouldn't either Martha. Ruben must have had some one come in and ransack it.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut the police-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI have more to go on than the police. They came and found Ruben's estates sacked, papers everywhere.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra, what are you doing over there?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra stammered, almost running down the corridor, trying to keep her face from going beat red and failing.

├óÔé¼┼ôWait a second,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra returning to the present and sitting up, her eyes going wide. That 'servant', the beastling girl.

Pyra had walked into her rooms after dinner. She opened the door and her servant, the odd blue eyed one, had been rifling through her papers, rummaging through her desk. Pyra had reacted somewhat aggressively, sending a bolt of flame over the cat-girl's head. It had struck the celling and the girl had dived for the window, a revolver appearing in her hand. The bullet had whizzed past Pyra's cheek and the beastling had vanished, leaping out of the window.

Pyra sat up, her head aching. She had never thought she would have wanted to return to the Academy to escape the complexity of the real world. It had always been the other way around! She stood, the idea that had taken root there abiding. The serving girl, Davidson's escape, the consequent sacking of his estates, the lack of documents found by the police. They were connected.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are you going?├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick asked, walking out of the -------, holding a sandwich in his hands. Pyra pulled her hat tighter on her head, checking her robes as she did so.

├óÔé¼┼ôOut to the market,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said.

├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick asked. Pyra turned, kneeling to be on the same head level as her cousin.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo. I'm going to investigate Uncle Ruben's escape,├óÔé¼┬Ø she whispered. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut mum's the word.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCool,├óÔé¼┬Ø Nick breathed, his eyes wide. Pyra smiled as she walked out of the house, pulling her robes tighter as the chilly Sigilian air hit her. She looked around, smiling at how little Sigilia had changed. The buildings were still built on a series of circular levels that were hacked into the mountain. Airships still hung about the harbor, waiting for their turn to dock. Two bi-planes in the distance were swinging around, making their rounds. Pyra peered into the sky until she saw it. The Senate building was tethered from a long line, supported by three huge balloons.

Part castle, part very slow air ship and part center of government, the Senate Building had been built after the plauges and the depression as a way of showing the Sigilia people that the government was still strong.

├óÔé¼┼ôWatch out!├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. Pyra jumped back off the street as a steaming rattling motor car drove past. The driver shook a gloved fist at her as he drove past. Pyra watched it go tottering around the corner. It struck her as a most ungainly machine, not something she'd want to-

Pyra froze. The beastling servant girl was walking around the corner, two men following her. Pyra shook herself, sighing frustrated. She was being silly. The beastling girl had had blue eyes, two of them. This one had one eye and it was green. But she looked so...familer to Pyra. Then her eyes traveled to the men behind the woman.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh my,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra blinked, her heart fluttering.

Bester stopped in his tracks, his mouth going dry. A noblewoman, standing across the street from him, had fixed her eyes with his. She had red hair that framed her milky white face, and a smattering of freckles. She wore an oddly curved red hat, her shoulders were covered by a red cloak and, from what Bester could see, she wore a red shirt under the red cloak, with red pants and red shoes to back those up as well.

├óÔé¼┼ôHey, Bester!├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint snapped, breaking Bester's concentration. He looked away from the noblewoman and back at Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, jerking his head towards Teesh.

Bester followed, craning his head for the noblewoman. But she was gone, vanished into the crowd. Bester sighed, going back to following Teesh. His captain was once again the cocky beastling pirate that she had been, dropping her servant disguise as easily as Bester would take off a shirt.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo remember,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said as they rounded the corner and came into the market, ├óÔé¼┼ôLet Kint do all the talking.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes, yes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, looking over his shoulder for a flash of red, but still didn't see anything.

├óÔé¼┼ôInteresting friends your keeping now, Kint,├óÔé¼┬Ø Brain said, smirking sardonically. ├óÔé¼┼ôA beastling and...a flying ace, if I make my guess right.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThats right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, smiling.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan always tell,├óÔé¼┬Ø Brian turned to Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo what do you need of me today?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDavidson broke out yesterday.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTell me something I don't know.├óÔé¼┬Ø Brian's smirk vanished. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Davidsons are causing all kinds of ruckus around town now-a-days.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd his house was ransacked a few hours later.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh-huh.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDo you know who did it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Brian's smirk returned. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat if I do?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThen you'd tell me, wouldn't you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell I don't-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCome on, Brian,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, leaning in, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're like peas in a pod.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo we're not,├óÔé¼┬Ø Brain said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact, I think I should be leaving.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're just better at keeping your secrets...secret.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Brain looked at Teesh. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that the girl you knocked up?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't evade the question,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint snapped, ├óÔé¼┼ôI know you have things to do with the Dark House!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôFine, fine,├óÔé¼┬Ø Brian said, ├óÔé¼┼ôJust...keep it down.├óÔé¼┬Ø He gestured towards a less crowded area of the market. ├óÔé¼┼ôWalk with me.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint made a gesture to Teesh and Bester, stopping them from following him. Brian and he fell into the rythme of walking, his brother saying, ├óÔé¼┼ôI might have...connections. And I might know who was hired to ransack Ruben Davidson's house. But why should I tell you? I'm running a risk talking to you, let alone talking to you about my...connections.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah, yeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôListen. It's really important that I find out where those people are.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBecause it's a treasure map.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Brain laughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôAt least being disowned hasn't killed your sense of humor.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Before Kint could object, Brain held out his hand, silencing him. He then reached into the breast pocket of his jacket and pulled out a folded and re-folded parchment. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo thats what this it, huh? A treasure map.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes I did it. Or my...associates did.├óÔé¼┬Ø Brain smiled, looking at the parchment. Kint could see a scrawled signature on the side. Ruben Davidson. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow how much is it worth to you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know, actually. My captain keeps it close to her vest,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I get the feeling its worth a lot. And I think some of it can fall into your pocket.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNow that would have put you back in Mother and Father's good graces a lot faster.├óÔé¼┬Ø Brain handed the parchment to Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't make this a really stupid decision, Kint.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou won't regret it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, a smile plastering itself over his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôI promise that.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôRight. Now...tell me one thing, one thing that I've always wanted you to ask.├óÔé¼┬Ø Brian looked around the market place, as if nervous. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow is the beastling...in the sack?├óÔé¼┬Ø


Pyra's heart beat like a drum as she snuck away from the two men. Conspiracies, buried treasure, disgraced sons, pirates, the Dark House? It was like something out of a adventure novel, one that she'd be reading back at the Academy. Pyra ran into an alleyway, trying to collect her thoughts. She pulled her hat off and fanned herself with it, her heart slowing to a normal pace.

A soft click made Pyra glance to the side. The green eyed beastling girl had snuck up next to Pyra, a revolver leveled directly at her head. Pyra froze, her hat catching fire as her control relaxed. Pyra yelped and dropped the hat. For a moment she and the beastling were more concerned with stepping on the hat, trying to beat the fire out. Pyra stepped back, looking at the smoldering remains of the hat. She looked up at the beastling, who was also staring at the hat.

├óÔé¼┼ôGotta go!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, turning around. Before she took a single step, the beastling's hand reached out and grabbed her around the mouth. The beastling pulled Pyra into her grip, pushing the gun against her temple.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat! Teesh, I told you to...├óÔé¼┬Ø The man Pyra had followed walked into the alleyway, his annoyance turning into shock as he saw Pyra.

├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan!├óÔé¼┬Ø The other man, the handsome one, said. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo need to man handle the woman.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShe was listening to your little talk,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôLittle Pyra Davidson, remember me?├óÔé¼┬Ø

The hand moved away from Pyra's mouth and she gasped for air. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe servant? But you had-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôTwo eyes? Blond hair? A lack of guns?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou actually had a gun.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDid I?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's right I did.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are we going to do with her?├óÔé¼┬Ø The handsome man asked.

Teesh looked at him, then at the other man. Pyra felt a slam against her neck and went spiraled into darkness.

├óÔé¼┼ôWas that really necessary?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked as he and Kint shouldered the noblewoman between them.

├óÔé¼┼ôShe'd have gone straight to her parents and tattled. We take her too the ship.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, looking at the end of the alleyway. No one seemed to have noticed the little scuffle, thankfully.

├óÔé¼┼ôThen what?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll figure it out there.├óÔé¼┬Ø


Pyra groaned. She didn't open her eyes, it was too hard. Instead she just tried to lapse back into blissful unconsciousness. She almost managed it, slumping forward against her restraints. A sudden pain made her open her eyes reflexively. The room she found herself in was...dingy. Sloped wooden walls made her think airship. She looked down and saw her arms were bound to two perpendicular rods, making her arms stick together at the elbow. Her hands were too far from any binding point to burn it off. She was very thoroughly trapped.

The door to the room opened. The beastling, Teesh, walked in, her arms crossed over her chest. She leaned against the wall, regarding Pyra.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat to do, what to do,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh murmured. The noblewoman regarded her as defiantly as a woman bound and chained could. Her hands smoldered brightly as she stared at Teesh, a very handy reflection of her mood. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you know what you stepped into?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSomething to do with buried treasure and Uncle Ruben.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh yes, the treasonous Uncle. The treasure, in particular, was found by the Jermans, in one of their expeditions to the Cursed City.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra gulped, her flames dying slightly. Anyone who wasn't afraid of the Cursed City had to be insane.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow I don't know what this treasure is, but it was valuable enough that Ruben Davidson could convince a joint strike by the Pirata Navy and the S.S.F to grab this item. But Davidson, here, was a tricky bastard.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra snapped.

├óÔé¼┼ôWait, wait,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, holding up her hands, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo Davidson was in charge of getting the object. A very heroic battle above the skies of the Central Forests. But the barge carrying the object...exploded half way through the battle, the item lost.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThen-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut, as I said, Davidson was tricky. He took the item away and buried it in the ground. Then he waited, very very patient, until he could go out and dig up the treasure. But someone sniffed him out and now he's running of to Pirata, where he still has some support.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you know all of this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôA little bird told me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered, narrowing her eye. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut that's not important...what is important is what to do with you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not going to...├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôKilling you is the last thing on my mind.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh walked slightly closer to Pyra. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was thinking sending you back home and we forget about all this. I and my crew run as fast as possible and you give us five or so hours lead.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy would I do that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell I was thinking-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNo, why would I go home?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, her mind whirring. If this could work... ├óÔé¼┼ôDavidson is definitely going down as a traitor and a criminal and when he does, he's going to take a large section of my family down with him. But if I came back with him and a portion of treasure, than I could secure my family's name.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh regarded her, a slow grin spreading over her face. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...you want to join the crew?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra licked her lips, thinking over what she had said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes...I suppose that is what I want.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOne second,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. She ducked out of the room, where Kint was waiting somewhat impatiently. He looked at Teesh as she walked up to him.

├óÔé¼┼ôKint, how important is family to a Sigilia?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh...very,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôA family is your ticket into the Senate, and the Senate is the ultimate power and-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThats all I needed to know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, turning back to the room.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, taking her shoulder, ├óÔé¼┼ôThat's not true of all Sigilians.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh smiled at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut of course.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh returned to Pyra's chambers, holding a key. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...you're in. But the rules are as follows. You get one sixth of the treasure, whatever it is, and you follow my orders. How good are you at magic?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra licked her lips, concentrating. Her flames burned hotter, and once again, formed a small cat. The cat looked at Teesh and purred. It sat down on Pyra's palms and went to sleep, dissolving into the flames once again.

├óÔé¼┼ôNice,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, backing up slightly. Her hackles had risen, but she forced them down with a conscious effort. She stepped forward and undid Pyra's bindings. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're in.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra forced her flames down to their coolest temperature, taking Teesh's hand and shaking it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhen do we go?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGo?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, grinning, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're already gone.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra emerged onto the deck of the blimp, eyes wide. George popped out of the engineering deck for his break, cricking his neck as he did so. He saw the mageling and smiled. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello, my lady,├óÔé¼┬Ø George bowed as he said.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm not a noblewoman,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra stammered, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell I mean-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShe's part of the crew now,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôTreat her as such.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYessir,├óÔé¼┬Ø George said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat will she be doing?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI was thinking...├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh turned to face Pyra. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you boil water?├óÔé¼┬Ø

[Guessmyname]

'tis awesome!

[Zoombie]

It's all right, I suppose.

[Zoombie]

Chapter 3: Amni, part I


Amni worked in her room, her brow pinched in thought. She sat at her table, the tools of her trade scattered in a pattern that looked random to everyone but her. Amni liked it that way. She opened her latest invention and started to meticulously pour her latest concoction into it. The brackish liquid smelt slightly of formaldehyde and Amni was rather glad to shut her invention. It clicked shut and Amni picked up a small bottle and tipped it into a small hole in the side of the sphere. She immediately slid the hole shut, picked up a soldering iron and made sure that it would stay closed.

She picked up the sphere, took a paintbrush and dipped it into paint. She daubed a skull and crossbones on the sphere. Amni pushed her chair back and stood, walking to her shelves. There they were, her little babies. Explosives, gas, sticky, vortex, flame, blade, net, blade-net, flame-net, vortex gas, explosive sticky. Ah! There it was. Poison. Amni pushed her latest invention into the slot.

The door opened and Capitan Teesh stuck her head into the room.

├óÔé¼┼ôAmni, dinner!├óÔé¼┬Ø

The door closed and Amni smiled to herself. Dinner, as a rule, was good.


├óÔé¼┼ôI never thought I'd get tired of potatoes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said as she spooned a glob of mashed potatoes onto her dish.

├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, already chowing down on hers.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell, Capitan,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôPotatoes are hard to get up in the cities.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMphf,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said through a full mouth.

Pyra's eyes flickered to Bester when he wasn't looking. She looked away, her eyes going back to her food. Amni noticed that a moment later Bester looked at Pyra for a moment. Amni wondered what that was about.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo, Amni,├óÔé¼┬Ø George said, ├óÔé¼┼ôConcocted anything new?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni nodded, serving herself some potatoes.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan you tell us about it?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni shrugged. The rest of the table looked at one another, an uncomfortable silence stretching between them. The only one who didn't notice was Amni, happily eating her potatoes.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint spoke up. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are we heading now?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh pulled out her map, examined it, then shoved it in her pocket. ├óÔé¼┼ôPirata.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Bester coughed into his water, spluttering. Teesh frowned at him, her ears flattening against her head.

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's just...do we have to go to Pirata?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...lets...lets just say some very nasty people are around there.├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester looked back at his food. Amni frowned at that. She hadn't met any nasty people in Pirata, not when she had grown up there.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell here' the conundrum,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get gas masks, gas gear, breathers and night lights.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh stuck her fork into her mouth. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry about it,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI just need it.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAre we going to be dealing with gas?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMaybe,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I'm the only one who has to deal with it. You guys don't have to, so don't worry about it.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint shifted in his chair. He looked worried, to Amni.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo if I can't go to Pirata, then-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôJerman,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, ├óÔé¼┼ôJerman and Pirata have been at log ends for centuries. If Pirata has it, Jerman will have it too. The might have a better one to boot.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh sighed, sticking her fork into the potatoes. It stuck straight up for a moment before falling flat. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want to waste time.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBecause this is a copy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, pulling out the map.

There was silence.

├óÔé¼┼ôSee,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh held the map over the electric lamp in the middle of the table. The light shone through it and they could all see the seal of the Sigilia Press stamped there.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo Davidson has the original map?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôI really hope not.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHe escaped on a Pirata invention,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think we should walk right into his...well his lair.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose...I suppose we could set course for Jerman and not loose too much time.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôKint, if your done with that, could you go change our course?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYessir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, standing. He walked out of the ------- and up the stairs to the main deck. A cool wind brushed Amni before the door closed behind him.

The meal continued in silence for a moment.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry, but do you talk?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, looking at Amni.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø Amni said, looking at the mageling.

Bester, George and Pyra stared at her. Teesh kept eating.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...why don't you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni shrugged, starting to eat some more potatoes. Pyra opened her mouth to say something. The ship shook suddenly, then started to tilt.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the bloody-├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh stood. The ship shook and threw her back into the chair. The chair tilted over and she hit the deck. Teesh turned the fall into a roll backwards, jumping onto her feet. She looked around, as if expecting attack.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is going on up there!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted, sticking her head out of hold. Kint held onto the steering wheel as the ship shook again.

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, jerking on the wheel. The ship didn't turn. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh crap.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGeorge, get to the engines. Amni, we have some rudder issues, look into that. Pyra...wait on the main decks.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh hollered the orders as she climbed out of the hold. Kint locked the wheel, for all the good it would do. She ran to the edge of the ship, Amni looking over her shoulder. Amni pointed and Teesh saw it too. The moonlight wasn't as bright as sunlight, but it still glittered off green scales just fine. The dragon moved, sinking it's claws into new bits of wood. The ship shook again.

├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôDragons ain't supposed to be out here...Amni, get a little present fer our new friend!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni nodded, running back to the hold. She ran to her room, opening the door. Her shelves, thankfully, had little screens that prevented her spheres from falling out and onto the ground. That would have been bad. Amni looked around, trying to decide which one of her toys would work. She ran to her latest invention, the poisonous one. The ship shook as she pulled it out, almost causing her to drop it.

Amni ran to her second catenate and opened it. Hundreds of bottles stared back at her. Some where Poison, others explosive After a few moments, Amni found the bottle she was looking for.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan I burn it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, grinning as she looked over the side of the ship.

├óÔé¼┼ôNo, oh no no no,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThat'll burn us up too.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni walked up behind them, tapping Teesh on the back. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh good,├óÔé¼┬Ø Her captain said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell, get to it. Damn thing's trying to eat 'is way into the ship.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni opened the bottle and carefully poured it onto the sphere. It started to smoke slightly and the dragon suddenly moved, jerking the entire bridge to the side. Teesh and Pyra hung onto the railing, but Amni just dropped her sphere over the side. It fell past the dragon and the dragon stretched it's neck out and snapped up the sphere.

Amni waited with baited breath. The dragon coughed, it's eyes going wide. Teesh saw that it's pupils had contracted to green pinpoints. The dragon convulsed, and, not being able to hold on any longer, fell of the back of the ship. The Blimp's tilt vanished.

├óÔé¼┼ôStop the engines!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh shouted over her shoulder. After a moment the propellers on the back spun down and George stuck his head out of the engineering deck.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do we do now?├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester asked, glancing at Pyra.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe eat it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh licked her lips, ├óÔé¼┼ôDragon meat 'tis heavenly.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCan we eat it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôAmni, what was in that...thing?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDragon scent,├óÔé¼┬Ø Amni said, ├óÔé¼┼ôDragon scent and Cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate .├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôCyclhowhatist?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni shrugged, saying, ├óÔé¼┼ôPoison gas.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Pyra blanched, her flames dimming slightly.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm more worried about the dragon scent,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre those sealed?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôIs it safe to eat something that's been exposed to nerve gas?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôOh damn it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said as Amni shook her head.

#
George, once he saw the damage, was more than a little perturbed. ├óÔé¼┼ôOf all the places,├óÔé¼┬Ø He muttered to himself, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy'd the dragon have to chose here?├óÔé¼┬Ø

The dragon's talon marks scarred the back of the ship, but those weren't what worried George. What worried George was the big bite mark through the rudder control line. The dragon had been smart, well...as smart as any dragon could be, attacking an airship. George jerked the rope that connected the plank he was sitting on to the railing. After a moment he was pulled back up.

├óÔé¼┼ôHow bad is it?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked as George crawled back onto the ship.

├óÔé¼┼ôBad,├óÔé¼┬Ø George said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I can fix it in a few hours...if we have a spare.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDid you buy spares?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI hope so,├óÔé¼┬Ø George tried to smile, failed, then walked to the engineering hold.

Teesh sighed in exasperation, turning to Pyra. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay, ah hear magelings can sniff dragons-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNope. Thats an urban legend,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôOr I'd have noticed last night, wouldn't I?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teesh groaned, rubbing her temples. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay then. Yeh get watching duty. Yeh get to watch fer any dragons that come around to bite at us, okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôUh,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra stammered. Teesh walked away before she could say anything. Kint was loitering on the railing near the steering wheel.

├óÔé¼┼ôHey captain...wow Teesh, you look terrible.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDo I?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh asked, leaning on the railing next to Kint. The sun was rising, dawn breaking quite prettily over the forest. In the distance Teesh spotted another air ship. She made a note of it.

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean, it was just a dragon attack.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYea, yea,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt's just we shouldn't have been caught off guard like that. Not if we want to get 'here first.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She turned away, muttering to herself. Kint watched her go, wondering what had gotten into her. Teesh walked down into the living quarters, dissapearing down the stairs right as Amni walked up them, holding three empty bottles in her fingers, a spheroid in the other.

Amni walked to the railing of the ship, unstoppered her bottle, then slid the mouth of the bottle over the edge of the ship. Once she had a sufficient amount of paint in the bottle, she opened the sphere and dribbled the dry paint shavings inside.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you doing?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, walking up to her. Amni shrugged, closing the sphere with a snap. She shook it experimentally. When it didn't explode, she smiled and slipped it into her pocket.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo...where are you from, anyway?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked as Amni turned back to go into the living quarters.

├óÔé¼┼ôPirata,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, walking down the stairs.

├óÔé¼┼ôHow did Teesh hire you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHow did she hire you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Kint paused on the stairs, surprised. Amni walked through the ------- before he caught up with her again.

├óÔé¼┼ôShe hired me in a tavern. Standard place...not so standard Capitan.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amni shrugged, opening the door to her room. Before she dissapeared into that as well, she looked back at Kint.

├óÔé¼┼ôMy place was not so standard.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The door shut.

#

Pyra frowned at the sky around the air ship. A life of high adventure, piracy and treasure hunting...turned out to be more boring than her Academy classes. Yes, watching the sky for dragons, other air ships, and such was deadly dull. There was nothing more than some blue skies, a bright sun and endless green forests. In the distance Pyra saw two mountains, one to the left side and one directly behind. She supposed the one behind the Blimp was Sigilia, the one to the left was...

├óÔé¼┼ôHi Pyra,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester said, walking behind Pyra. Pyra turned around, her heart hammering in her chest.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh...hi Bester,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, fighting to keep the blush out of her face. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow's it going?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell, other than the fact we're still heading for Pirata...fine.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThe rudder'll be fixed soon.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra smiled, then turned back to where she had been watching for dragons. An uncomfortable silence stretched between them.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you look nice. Your...your hair looks nice that is,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester stammered. Inwardly, he cringed, gritting his teeth.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh. Thanks,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, unconsciously playing with her hair.

Bester coughed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...gotta go.├óÔé¼┬Ø

As he left, Pyra smiled to herself, feeling a bit dazed. He liked her hair. Pyra started to beam. He liked her hair!

Bester banged his head against the wall of the -------. As he did so, George walked in, covered in grime, oil and nursing a bruised knuckle. He watched Bester bashing his head against the wall for a moment, then said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Bester looked up. ├óÔé¼┼ôGeorge,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWould you laugh if I told you I have a hard time talking to girls?├óÔé¼┬Ø

George laughed.

TRIVIA: Can you name the type and layman's name for the gas used in Amni's dragon killing grenade? The winner recives a free...cookie!

[Zoombie]

I HATE Internet service errors. They'res an episdoe above this post! A brand new episode!

[Zoombie]

Ach!

Time to fix a mistake: Jaeger and Ferdinand have the wrong names. My original idea was they were from one city, and not the other...and my mountain cities have the same languages as various European countries because those languages are COOL.

Anyhooo...if Jaeger and Ferdinand are from Pirata, then why do they have names based off the German Language?

Doh!

So now Jaeger is Carlo and Ferdinand is Ferdinando. That makes more sense to me. I'm going to edit and fix my prior posts now...and NOW THEY ARE FIXED!

Yar!

[Zoombie]

And they're like "budabudabuda" and I'm like "Tackatackatacka" And then ZOOOOM CRASH KABLAMO!



Or, in a more eloquent way : Chapter Four: Dogfight



The Pirata airship floated a-ways away from the beastling. Ruben leaned on the railing of his ship, staring at the black dot that was the enemy ship. The beastling was there, reading his map.

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd to the Sky which gave us life, we now commit Carlo Elias to the open sky that he loved so much.├óÔé¼┬Ø The ship's chaplain read the words, his voice drifting over the entire deck. The whole crew, including Ferdinando, was gathered to watch Carlo's burial. Ruben thought it was a lot of fuss over nothing. Carlo had given his life for a cause he had considered meaningful. What more could a man want?

The chaplain opened the vial of ashes and spread them over the sky. ├óÔé¼┼ôAmen.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The crew dispersed without speaking. As they moved about their duties, Ruben worked his way to Ferdinando.

├óÔé¼┼ôFerdinando, do you have the equipment?├óÔé¼┬Ø Ruben asked.

Ferdinando looked at Ruben, sorrow and rage flickering across his face within the same heart beat. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, can't give a man a moment's peace?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôThe beastling has the map,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ruben hissed, ├óÔé¼┼ôShe has the map and if we waste time, she'll get the Crown first. Do you want a beastling to have the crown?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Ferdinando sighed, closing his eyes. Then. ├óÔé¼┼ôNavigator!├óÔé¼┬Ø

The ship's navigator ran up, wearing a somber expression like the rest of the crew. ├óÔé¼┼ôYessir?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPlot a course to...Praga.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The navigator blanched, looking from Ferdinando to Ruben.

├óÔé¼┼ôGet to it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando snapped. The navigator saluted and ran, heading to the steering wheel.

├óÔé¼┼ôFlight Officer!├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando shouted. The Flight Officer, a lean Pirata woman, ran up to him. She bowed, and to Ruben's shock and annoyance, she was crying.

├óÔé¼┼ôYessir?├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, somewhat thickly.

├óÔé¼┼ôI need you to take down the enemy air-ship.├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando pointed towards the black dot in the distance. ├óÔé¼┼ôCripple, but do not kill the enemy ship. I am authorizing explosive rounds, but no shots to the balloon.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The flight officer grinned, wiping a tear from her nose. ├óÔé¼┼ôThank you sir...I will do my best to keep them alive.├óÔé¼┬Ø

As she ran away, Ruben turned to Ferdinando. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is her issue?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShe was Carlo's fiancee. A cacciatore. A hunter.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWait a second,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ruben said, suddenly realizing something. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe map!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAh, fear not,├óÔé¼┬Ø Ferdinando said, smiling slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôAmanda is a master of the sky. She will not bring them down I do not order it.├óÔé¼┬Ø


Amanda nestled into her seat as the her two engineers begin to look the Nosferatu over. Her plane was at the cutting edge of Pirata technology, with a single sturdy wing, a powerful engine and two machine gun. Matte black, it made a perfect night fighter.

Amanda grinned, cricking her neck. The beastling didn't have a prayer.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're good to go, cacciatore,├óÔé¼┬Ø Her lead engineer said, patting the Nosferatu's side. ├óÔé¼┼ôKill us some beastlings for Carlo.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Amanda nodded. The engineer pulled on the leaver that opened up the floor. The floor tilted forward and the Nosferatu slid forward and dropped into the sky. It hit the wind and started to glide. Amanda kicked the starter. The engine didn't start. Amanda chewed her lip, wind buffeting her plane. She kicked the started again. The engine started, stuttered, then died.

├óÔé¼┼ôThird times the charm,├óÔé¼┬Ø Amanda murmured, her words blown away in the slipstream. She kicked the engine again and this time it started. The Nosferatu jumped and the stick shook in Amanda's hands. She pulled up and brought the plane around. The crew of Ferdinando's ship waved as she flew past. Amanda waved back, then gunned the engine. The beastling ship started to grow in the distance. Amanda grinned, looking over her shoulder. The sun light her path.

#

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is that?├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra asked, pointing at the small dot that detached from the bigger small dot.

├óÔé¼┼ôEh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said, looking up from the wheel.

├óÔé¼┼ôSomething is coming at us...fast.├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra pointed. Kint took out a telescope and fixed it on the dot. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, almost dropping it. He slid it shut with a snap, ran to the horn and shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet Bester into his plane! We've got an incoming bogey!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat was that?├óÔé¼┬Ø George's voice drifted up from the back of the ship.

├óÔé¼┼ôGet George off the rudder,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint shouted to Pyra, moving away from the steering wheel. He ran to the captains quarters and knocked. Teesh stuck her head out and he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôEnemy plane coming in out of the sun.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBester?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAlready launching,├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint said.

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHelping George.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôPyra!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh pushed past Kint. ├óÔé¼┼ôPyra, can you hit a small, fast target?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI took a practicality class in the Academy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Pyra said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut those were small slow targets.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...just try your best,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said, looking at the sun. The black dot was bigger, a soft droning sound announcing it's arrival.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do we do?├óÔé¼┬Ø Kint asked, walking along side Teesh as she moved around deck. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat plane looked...bizarre.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIt sounds strange too,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teesh said. Kint didn't ask how she knew. ├óÔé¼┼ôLike...faster.├óÔé¼┬Ø


Bester took a moment to pray. This method to launch a bi-plane had been done many many times before, by any ship that had to be reconfigured to launch planes. It had been done when the first bi-planes had been made, before anyone knew how to launch them.

It still scared the crap out of him.

├óÔé¼┼ôLower me,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. George lowered the rope, slowly and carefully. Bester bumped against the side of the ship once or twice. Then he was on the launch tarp. It was a large bit of canvas, stretched under the ship. Above the canvas, the Kitty Hawk (mrk 2) was tied to the underside of the Blimp. Bester walked across the canvas, his stomach almost rebelling. The canvas felt like it was going to either tear or give way every second, moving under his feet like water. Then Bester was at the Kitty Hawk.

He undid the rope bindings and the plane fell onto the canvas, which stretched tighter as more weight was added to it. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis better work,├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester muttered to himself, crawling into the plane.

Once Bester was actually sitting down everything felt much better. Bester wished he could run a more thorough flight check, but the enemy plane was getting very close. He could barely hear the engine over the wind, but he could still pick it out.

Bester looked up, where George had bored a hole in the deck. Through the hole was a rope. Bester took the rope and yanked it once, twice, three times. After a moment, the front of the canvas fell forward, making a very makeshift ramp. The Kitty Hawk rolled forward and the wind caught it. Bester kicked the started and the engine caught. He brought the Kitty Hawk in a sharp circle around the Blimp.

Amanda grinned, grinding her teeth. The enemy was flying a bi-plane. Top of the line model...for a Sigilian. She thumbed down on her trigger. The two machine guns on her wings chattered. Her burst flew behind the enemy, scoring the airship behind it.

Something chattered on the air-ship. Was that...Amanda smirked. That was a gatling gun firing at her. She brought the Nosferatu up and over the enemy balloon, flying upside down for a moment, then back down again. The enemy bi-plane came around the airship, firing it's machine guns at her.

Bester gritted his teeth. A single winger...he had heard of them, before he had left Pirata. They were everything the rumors had said. He had the enemy in his sights. He was gone. Shit! Bester looked around and spotted the matte black plane too his left. Damn it was fast. He brought his bi-plane around, trying to get the enemy into his sights. But it was too fast, circling around him. Like a cat playing with a mouse.

Amanda giggled. That poor fool was simply out matched here. She brought him into her sights.

Bester jerked on his brakes. The Kitty Hawk's air brake came up and he stalled, his frame groaning. The bullets intended for him shot in front of the plane and he pushed forward on his stick, going into a dive. The enemy fired another bust, but the Kitty Hawk was gaining speed from the dive.

Amanda followed the enemy in his dive, gritting her teeth. He was good, that much was true. Something bright shot past the Nosferatu, almost clipping a wing. Amanda looked up and saw a second bolt of fire following the first. Amanda yelped, twisting her stick to the side. Her plane jumped and spun in the air, the flame shooting through where she had been. Amanda gritted her teeth as gravity pulled at her. Her vision started to go red.

Amanda pulled straight out of her spiral and her vision cleared. Bullets shot around her cockpit, one clipping the cockpit. It bounced off the side, leaving a furrow on the otherwise pristine hull. Amanda looked over her shoulder. The bi-plane bastard was behind her.

Bester grinned, pulling down on his trigger. The one-winger presented a smaller target than what he was used too, but he still pulled his sights over the enemy-

The one-winger was no longer there. It had flipped to the side, doing another barrel roll. Doing something like that in the Kitty Hawk would rip the frame apart. Bester grunted, pulling on his stick-- hard. Acceleration made it hard for him to breath, but he still kept his eyes on the one-winger.

├óÔé¼┼ôCome on!├óÔé¼┬Ø Amanda hissed, pulling back on her stick. The bi-plane was pushing the limits of it's capacity...it had too. Something strained on the Nosferatu. The frame groaned and Amanda, out of sheer desperation, pushed forward on her stick. The ground rushed up to meet her and she pulled back on the stick, trying to level out on the dive. Unconsciousness pulled at her. Amanda blinked, went out.

She was back, a few moment later. Amanda shook her head and looked up. The bi-plane was struggling to get close again, her dive putting her far in front of her. Two more bolts of fire shot towards her, but it was easy for Amanda to evade at this range. She started to pull, getting ready to come back for another run.

Bester saw the black one-winger come around...again. ├óÔé¼┼ôGods!├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered, his winds snatched away by the wind. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoes this guy give up?├óÔé¼┬Ø

The one-winger flew towards him, it's machine guns chattering. Bester tugged up, then pushed down, bucking his plane to avoid the bullets. He started to fire back as well, his guns chattering loudly.

Amanda kept firing, knowing that she'd take this bastard down. He might take her down in the process...but Carlo was dead. What was the point?

Bullets whizzed around Bester, despite his efforts to make his plane as small and maneuverable target as possible. It wasn't working. Something ripped and Bester felt a shudder run through his place. He tried working the rudder, which had stopped working. Somewhere a line had been snapped.

├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it!├óÔé¼┬Ø Bester snapped, turning his plane away. He went into a dive and shot away.

Amanda watched the bi-plane go, but did nothing. She felt like a balloon that had a hole punched in it. Carlo was dead. What was...what was that feeling? She looked down. A hole, punched through her gut, dribbled blood down her front.

Amanda coughed, blood trickling down the side of her mouth. She grabbed the stick, a sudden will coursing through her. Carlo was dead...she wouldn't be. She pulled up, trying to spot Ferdinando's ship. There it was. No...that was the beastling.

Amanda coughed, letting go of the stick. She felt very...very heavy. She blinked and died. The Nosferatu, it's stick pulled back by Amanda's weight, moved up, and up. It came level with the Blimp, hung in the air for a moment...then fell back to earth.

[hunterw]

too long; didnt read

[Zoombie]

Then why did you post? That's what I'm confuzed about. I don't begruge you NOT reading. It's free. I put it up here for people to read, not for people to HAVE to read.

But why bother just posting to say you're NOT reading it? That makes no se-

Oh wait, you're a f***ing troll. That was it!