Fall of Sky City (A Steampunk Fantasy Sci-Fi Adventure Novel) (Devices of War) (5 page)

MARKED

Our ships
met high above our fleets. The air was thick with noise, the winds fiercer than normal. These monstrous beasts destroyed the gentle quiet of the sky. Breathing without our face shields was impossible.

The queen’s ship didn’t move with the air. At all. The
Yusrra Samma
bobbed with the currents. When the boarding plank swept across the open space connecting our two ships, a thread of trepidation tiptoed through me as I left the world I knew, and stepped onto something new and unexplored. What traps had the queen set up for us? If my father told me to run, would I be able to?

Father and I crossed the space between ships and stood waiting for our men to join us. Several men in black and red uniforms surrounded us. Two of them wore top hats. I stared at them incredulously. They were not designed for life in the sky. One quick breeze and those hats were lost. However, none of them had face shields, though they all wore black metal and leather goggles. How were they able to survive these winds without face shields?

“We seem to be a bit outnumbered,” the man beside me said in Handish.

“It is only because they fear us,” Father replied.

“I fear no one, Kadar,” the silky voice said from somewhere behind the line of uniformed guards. “You of all people should know that.”

Father said nothing, his expression remaining firm.

The line of opposing men parted and a tall, curvaceous woman stepped through. She wore a dress cinched tightly around her waist, that flowed outward in sculptured ruffles of deep red satin and gold dipped black lace.

I couldn’t take my eyes off of her.

Her lips curled as she looked us over.

Her dark brown hair fell to her waist. Parts of it were woven around a gold, gear-work crown. The gears creaked, turning three phoenixes on spinning sticks. Her dark eyes were highlighted with kohl. The collar circling her neck was made of the strange black metal and dripped in rubies along her shoulders. A black and ruby spider rested above her ample bosom. She was easily the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

I sneered. How could something so beautiful be so twisted?

She sauntered to us and stopped just beyond arm’s reach. One hand settled on her hip as she surveyed our men. “So few?”

“No more were needed,” Father said gruffly.

“Hmm.” A dark eyebrow rose, her eyes narrowing, her full lips flattening. “Then I do not need all these protectors, do I?”

“You did say we were under a flag of truce, Queen Nix.” Father shifted his weight. “You offered parlay?”

She waved a long fingered hand. One finger sparkled from a diamond claw.

I blinked in surprise. A sky cat’s claw?

As most of her men dispersed and disappeared below decks through a single opening in the floor, she looked at us appraisingly. “You don’t need your masks here, Kadar. You should know better.”

He said nothing, but removed his face shield, stashing it away, and pulled his goggles to rest on top of his head.

The rest of us followed his lead.

She nodded once and turned toward the center of her ship.

It felt like we were walking on solid ground. I could hardly tell the craft was moving at all. My legs, used to moving with the currents, stumbled with the stillness. The air was surprisingly calm up here, and warm. How had they managed that feat?

“What brings you to this part of the world, Kadar?”

He walked beside her, his hands clasped behind his back. “These currents are my home, Nix.” Saqr flew through the air and landed on his shoulder, belching a flame as he tucked his wings in. “This is something you know well.”

“I think not.” She watched the spitfyre falcon from the corner of her eye. “You’re far from home, even for an air tribe.”

“The air is our home.”

“I know you prefer to stay closer to the islands of Absalom.”

Father remained quiet, his eyes never moving from hers.

She reached up, offering a bare finger to Saqr.

The falcon twisted his head, watching the red painted fingernail move closer, and snapped at it.

She chuckled and pulled her hand away. “That leads me to wonder what you are doing so far from your islands.”

“You will believe what you want to. I can tell you only that these currents are well known to us.”

She nodded. She flicked her hand toward me. “Your son?”

Father nodded.

“Introduce us.” Her expression was cool and supreme.

He took in a deep breath and stopped. “Queen Nix, may I present to you my son, Synn Kadar El’Asim.”

She came to stand in front of me, close. Too close for a stranger.

I glanced at Father.

He shook his head and held out a hand low, gesturing me to be still.

Her soft pink tongue ran over her bottom lip as her gaze slowly raked its way up my body. The corner of her mouth rose. She tipped her head, staring intently at my face. “El’Asim, you say?”

“Yes.”

I met her gaze, my hands clenched.

“Only El’Asim?”

“He is
my
son and mine alone.”

She stepped away and turned toward my father. I stared at her collar in horrified wonder. It was made of literal metal. She couldn’t move her head. “I meant no disrespect, Kadar.” Her smile widened. “He is a good looking young man. You wouldn’t by chance be willing to send him to our collegium as part of your treaty?”

“He is too old, even by your standards.”

“But he is Marked, I am sure.”

Father’s eyes were stone. “Marked or not, he is too old.”

She raised her face to the wind, her hair fluttering around her. “True. Pity, though. There is a great deal of potential in him. If only you’d come to me sooner.”

“But I did not.”

Something flashed across her face. “Indeed.”

The motor roar changed in pitch.

I searched the immediate area, but could find no reason for it. I couldn’t even tell if we were changing elevation. I turned to the
Yusrra Samma,
but she continued to bob with the current, level with us.

I didn’t like it.

And neither did our men.

I searched the deck. It was barren and clean. There were few people. Someone was mopping not far from us. Someone else sat on a metal bump whose purpose was lost to me and worked on a net in his hands. Where was everyone? They couldn’t all be below deck. Could they? And why would they choose to stay down there?

A cathedral-like structure rose above the deck about midship. It was one and a half stories high with large painted glass windows. The queen led us there.

“I wonder if you came for the survivors of the Family of Umira.”

Father tipped his head with a frown. “Umira? What are they doing out here?”

“Searching for summer ground, perhaps?”

Father’s eye twitched. “They are a land family and do not venture into the air. Our paths rarely cross.”

“I’m sure.” The queen stopped and waited for one of her guard to open the heavy door. “So you did not see us until it was too late to alter course?”

Father followed her through the door and blinked once inside. “You’ve stolen all of our technologies, our research.”

“Stolen,” she scoffed, her skirts swaying with her steps. “So harsh a word. You willingly gave them to us, as you knew you should have from the beginning.”

Father raised his chin.

A cold smile slithered across her face.

I had never met anyone so evil in my life. I felt sick and slimed just being in her presence. How could someone like that exist?

And what did I plan to do with it? What could I do?

She turned and headed toward the end of the long state room. “If you were to surrender your Family to our care and offer your life into servitude, I could give you access to your research and more.” She gestured around her, her gait so smooth, she almost appeared to float before me. “As you can see, we’ve taken what you’ve gathered and moved a bit further with it. I think you will be impressed with the advancements we’ve made.”

“How does this ship stay afloat?” I asked.

She gave my father a cunning look, but stepped aside so I could walk beside her. “Wouldn’t you like to learn?”

I narrowed my gaze, but remained a step behind. “I am mildly interested.”

Father gave a slight nod of approval.

Unsure of what to do, I followed my curiosity. “Do you use gas ballasts?”

She slowed her steps and gathered my arm in her own. “We use gas, but not as you use it. We burn it.”

A wave of revulsion pulsed through me. Burned it? If that were the case, how did they gather the gas to burn?

She peered around the empty room as we neared the far wall, a superior smile clinging to her ruby lips. “To power our propellers. Ingenious, I think.”

“But if you burn it, how do you replace it?”

“We harvest it from the jellyfish.”

A chill swept through me. The air jellies were crucial to airship maneuverability. Without them, we couldn’t fly. The way she said the word “harvest” didn’t sound promising to the air jellies.

She stepped away from me as another door opened, and we walked into sunlight again. “If you will excuse me, I have some business to take care of.”

As soon as my eyes adjusted to the brightness, the air escaped from my lungs. Before us was carnage. Two wooden pyres burned to smoking ruin to one side with the charred remains of people on top of them. The air reeked with the smell of burned flesh. Several more pyres stood, two currently burning, three more untouched, all of them in a circle surrounding a large cage.

Filled with children.

Dear Sky! I stopped. I didn’t know what to do, overcome with horror. This couldn’t be true.

Guards walked from one of the burning pyres and lit torches, then went to the next to set it ablaze.

Anger, fear, outrage and disbelief warred for control inside my chest.

The children inside whimpered. One screamed, her hand reaching through the bars.

Anger won. I stepped forward, my hand on my sword.

Father stopped me, his eyes troubled with sorrow.

Queen Nix turned and smiled. “Do you wish to declare war?”

“Let them go,” I commanded, my voice ragged. “What have they done to you?”

She walked toward me like a prowling sky cat. Her nose nearly touched mine, all semblance of beauty twisted with rage. “They refused to submit to me.”

I stared at her aghast, my hands clenched, my jaw tight. “So because you couldn’t control them, you destroy them?”

The fury turned cold across her features as she drew away, her shoulders back.

“Are you so weak?” The muscles in my cheek twitched.

Father took a step toward us. “Perhaps we can reach a mutual agreement.”

A little boy cried out, the scream turning to ravaged sobs.

I let out a growl. “You will stop this!”

The queen turned her eagle-eyed stare to me. “I do not take orders from a mere boy.”

“Queen Nix,” Father started, “let us be reasonable.”

She took a step back and assessed him.

“The Umira have always been a peaceful Family.” My father’s hands were wide and low, his expression open.

Her eyes flared as she advanced on him. “You’ve allied yourself with them.”

Father’s eyes widened as he took a half step back.

Saqr puffed out his feathers and opened his wings, showing his defiance.

I watched in alarm, unsure of what to do. My father was the strongest man I had ever known. I’d never seen him back away from anyone.

The queen grabbed his coat and pulled his face close to hers. “The Umira
have
always been a peaceful Family, so imagine my surprise when they assaulted us with cannons and weapons.”

“They have the right to defend themselves, Nix.”

“Not against me.” She pushed him away and turned to her gathering guard. “Take him and his heathen son. Throw them on the pyre.”

Father drew his sword and faced the guard. “Go, Synn, now!”

Our men drew their weapons and stood by his side.

“I’m not leaving you.” I gripped my swords tightly. I was ready to die an honorable death by my father’s side.

He backhanded me and roared, “You will protect our people, Synn Kadar El’Asim.”

I was torn. I wanted so badly to fight beside him, to protect him.

But Father had given me an order. One I could not ignore.

I turned, sheathed my blades, and ran.

The cries of the Umira fueled me. If I could just make it to the
Yusrra Samma
, to my home, we could launch an attack and save those who were still alive.

Men in black and red blocked my path to the door.

I veered away. I’d go around.

With a shout, they followed. I pushed my feet harder, to move faster. There were no ropes, no rigging, nothing I could use to assist me in my haste. I had only my feet, but that had to be enough. The cabin reached nearly to the railing, but there was enough room for me to squeeze through at a full run. There was only open sky to one side with nothing to grab onto but sleek smooth metal.

A man in a black, shining leather long coat and a top hat emblazoned with a red spider barred my path.

There wasn’t enough room to maneuver my swords. I pulled out my static array pistol and let off a bolt.

The man fell out of the way.

Huh! It’d actually worked.

As soon as I was clear of the cabin, it was just me and an open deck. The gang plank had been removed and the
Yusrra Samma
was nowhere to be seen. My eyes scanned the skies, remembering Father’s last command, but she wasn’t above us.

The crack of a pistol filled the air over the noise of the engines. I didn’t have a lot of time. I knew Isra wouldn’t abandon Father. I tucked my pistol into my belt – not so easy to do when running – and leapt.

There she was, about one hectometre below us.

Something latched around my chest and yanked me upwards.

My hands automatically went to it. Oiled rope.

I landed on the deck hard and slid a few feet with the force of the throw. I struggled to get the rope off, but it continued to drag me across the deck.