by Adam D Jones
The Corsairs nodded, and Balen gripped the railing.
The engineer spun the controls. The sandship banked hard in a sudden turn, kicking up a dust cloud so large it completely hid his ship. How do you like my crummy old engines now, Dawn!
“Punch it!”
The man operating the engine levers shoved them forward. Bullets sprayed into the dust cloud, but Balen’s ship was no longer there. They sped out of sand, just ahead of the storm of artillery, and saw the horrified eyes of the Republic soldiers who realized they had been tricked and were now holding empty rifles.
Too slow, fellas.
Captain Balen turned to his cannon. His cannon.
Three of them lined the ship, but the cannon near the engineer’s seat was known by every Corsair as the captain’s cannon. Since no one outside of Gamon made cannonballs, Balen’s crew had been without artillery for months. But cannons fired other things too.
The engineer lit a match and Balen took it. The Republic soldiers reloaded their weapons, only glancing at his cannon. Smart fellas, aren’t ya! You know Captain Balen’s out of ammunition? Well, you know what happens when you think you’re smart?
Balen ignited the gunpowder, and a brown explosion flew from the cannon and covered both Republic ships.
“Sand!” said Balen. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it myself!” He had to admit that Dawn had come up with something clever.
The sand fired in a cone-like burst that covered both Republic ships. Uniformed men fell to the metal decks, battling stinging dirt in their eyes and mouths, and both ships were pushed off-course. As Balen’s sandship cruised away, the nearest Republic ship wobbled as sand worked its way into the ship’s controls. It fell to the desert floor while men on board spat dirt from their mouths. The second ship was piloted away from the blast, keeping a safe distance while the officers on deck tried to organize their confused soldiers.
“Good news, captain,” said one of the men. “Our other ship seems to be moving again.”
“’Bout time.” Balen turned around and saw Dawn’s ship finding its speed as it turned to join the fight. “Now we’ll outnumber them for a change.”
Captain Balen couldn’t stop smiling, even as the remaining Republic sandship turned around and pointed its prow directly at him.
“Head for the city gate,” Balen called.
Come and get me, fellas.
◆◆◆
Dawn reached up and banged her hand against the hull of the sandship. It was the opposite side from where she had entered.
“Dawn!” She heard someone running over. “How’d you get over there?”
Dawn reached up for the railing and grabbed it, then did the same with the other hand. “Magic.” She had imagined pulling herself up, but her arms were shaking. “Help me!”
Winston ran over from the engine levers and grabbed her wrists. “I don’t know what you did down there, but we’re flying now!”
With help from two others, Winston dragged her up to the deck where she collapsed.
“How are we doing?” she asked.
“Balen’s sand cannon stopped one of the ships. Not going anywhere, but they’re still taking potshots at us. The other ship is chasing Balen down, and I think they’re loading their cannons this time.”
Dawn staggered to her feet. “He’s headed toward the city!”
“Balen probably figures they won’t fire cannons in that direction since it might hit civilians.”
Dawn shook her head. “They’ll close the distance quick enough to shoot him at point-blank range. Winston, full speed, ahead.”
Hang on, Captain, were coming.
36
“He saw us again!” hissed Marshal.
Raine threw up his hands. “Well, stop being so tall!”
Marshal had followed Raine through small alleys, across parks, into buildings, out the back doors, and every time Marshal turned around he saw Sloane and a gang of others pointing his way.
“They’re further back this time,” said Marshal, “but he’ll find us. He’s stubborn and lucky. Bad combination.”
The large industrial buildings form the military section of town loomed from further away now. Raine led them to a road lined with tall lamps where people waited in clusters for carriages to different parts of town. They walked past most of the waiting throng and stood near a group of men, some as tall as Marshal.
“This might hide us,” said Raine.
Marshal tried not to look behind him. “We can get on a carriage if we have to.”
“Yeah. Let’s take a tour of Gamon. Maybe they give away free Dae stones at the end! Dawn’s out there trying to hold off a small fleet while we run from one guy you used to know.”
“It only takes one person to ruin something, and Sloane’s real good at ruining things.”
Raine cleared his throat. “Looks that way.”
Marshal turned his head slightly and peeked to the side. Sloane and the handful of officers rounded the corner at the far end of the street.
“I don’t think they see us,” said Raine.
“No, but they will if we run for it. Try and flag down the next ride.”
“I didn’t come here for a carriage ride, Marshal.”
“Kid, just—”
Marshal hadn’t noticed the other passengers moving his way at first, but a wandering crowd slowly enveloped him and Raine. Each seemed to be going about their own business, but they also shoved into Marshal and Raine and began pushing them back.
“Folks?” Marshal tried to politely fight against the tide. “Folks, we’re on our way...if you could...”
At the other side of the street, a similar throng walked through Sloane and the other men with him, throwing them into confusion.
Marshal planted his feet. “Fellas, if you could—”
“Shut up, Marshal,” came a harsh whisper, “and take off your hat.”
“My hat?”
A hand reached up and removed his brown hat, replacing it with a soft cotton cap. Another pair of hands drew a large coat over his shoulders.
“Hey!” Raine protested. “Stop that!”
Marshal turned and saw someone wrapping a thin neckerchief around the boy’s neck.
“Calm down, Raine.” Marshal moved with the crowd. “I think they’re just...hiding us.”
Marshal kept his head down as they led him into a building. One of the helpers didn’t notice their long shirt sleeve being pushed up, and Marshal quietly noticed a few frecklish spots above their wrist.
“Inside!” someone said.
The crowd dispersed, some moving on outside while others filtered into the building.
They had been pushed into a simple saloon, one with brown windows that let in dim light. Glasses clinked and chairs squeaked, but no one acted like they had even noticed Marshal and Raine being ushered in.
At the far end of the room, a candle was lit, illuminating a small table. Marshal and Raine stepped closer, and as the light grew they saw another familiar face.
“Hild?”
She gestured for them to sit.
Marshal and Raine pulled out wooden chairs and settled around the table. Marshal made sure to sit where he could look out a window, and he tensed as he saw the shadow of Sloane walking past. Only one soldier remained with him now.
“Don’t worry,” said Hild. “We’ll be fine. Just don’t move. Or talk.”
Marshal couldn’t help feeling cornered. Sloane walked by the windows, slowing as he approached the door.
“Only the Chastened come in here,” said Hild. “Good place to hide. You’ll want to see this, Marshal.” She pointed to the door.
Sloane and the soldier burst in, blinking at the darkness.
“Blasted Chastened!” Sloane looked around, wide-eyed. “Can’t afford a candle!”
“Oh, we can afford one,” came a hidden voice.
Men rose from their chairs and grabbed Sloane and the soldier with him, pulling them inside and tying gags arou
nd their mouths. In moments, the two men were being marched into a back room, hands bound behind their backs.
“What are you doing, Hild?” asked Marshal.
“Relax, Marshal, they’ll...” She paused while a servant brought her a cup of steaming water. “We won’t hurt any of them.” She reached into her pocket and produced a handful of round tea bags, each filled with colorful contents. She selected one and dropped it into the cup. “And no one will look for them here, not among the Chastened.”
Marshal pulled his face from the windows. “The Chastened keep everyone else out? How do they do that?”
“They don’t keep anyone out. The Chastened come here, so the rest of the town doesn’t. That’s how prejudice works, but it’s working against the Republic at the moment.”
Raine spoke up. “I thought you left to find the other Lodi.”
“I did. But they wouldn’t leave. We found a caravan right away, but they insisted on coming here to help you. I go where the Lodi go, remember?” Hild leaned forward and whispered. “Look around. How many Lodi do you see? Too many? Don’t worry if you haven’t noticed—no one else has, either.”
“I don’t understand—”
Hild smiled. “There’s a lot you don’t know. Tell me, how goes your plan? Have you at least gotten a Dae stone yet?”
Marshal and Raine both looked down at the table.
“Well, fantastic.” Hild laughed.
“At least security’s not too tight here at the moment,” said Marshal. “Mostly just the Stripes around.”
“Are they?” Her eyes danced with a secret. Hild took a final sip of tea and then blew out the candle.
“Going somewhere?” asked Marshal.
Hild rose. “It’s a busy day, Marshal. I assume you two know how to get to the Grey Quarter from here?”
◆◆◆
Outside the city gates, Dawn pushed the sandship to full speed. They had made an arc around the stalled sandship, keeping mostly out of range of its rifles, and now closed in on the ship that was chasing Balen.
Captain Balen’s ship flew toward Gamon as fast as it could go. The Republic soldiers, on their faster ship, held tight and waited until they were close enough to fire without sending stray shots into the city.
“Open her up!” shouted Dawn.
“Ship’s already shaking,” said Winston.
Dawn tapped the controls. “Falling apart, too. Only a matter of time, so let’s run this ship into the ground.”
Each of the valves was shut at the corners of the ship, sending all four engines into a primal howl. Dawn cringed at the feeling of beams and bolts loosening and rattling. As they closed in, Dawn could see Republic soldiers turning around. An officer on board began shouting and the soldiers raised their rifles, this time at Dawn’s crew.
“Get below!” shouted Dawn. “Deck crew to the bow!”
While most of the crew fled downstairs, Dawn scrambled to the front of the ship with Mia and Winston; the three of them flattened out on the deck and pressed themselves against the hull just as a storm of gunfire erupted. They covered their ears. Two shots landed on the deck, leaving holes in the metal.
Dawn peeked up. “They’re reloading.”
“This ship is going to fall apart,” shouted Winston. “And there’s ten Corsairs below deck who can’t even abandon ship.”
“We can cut the engines soon.” Dawn lowered herself again. “Here comes another round.”
They all flinched this time.
“Are we about to ram them?” asked Mia.
“No, but I hope that’s what they’re thinking. Come on.” Dawn scrambled back to the controls. “Mia, open those vents—just a little, just enough to keep the engines together!”
“What’s our plan?” asked Winston.
“We don’t have a plan.” Dawn pointed ahead of them. “I just wanted to give Captain Balen a chance to use his brakes.”
They had cruised well within pistol range of the Republic ship before the soldiers on board noticed Dawn closing in. Half of them were watching Dawn’s sandship bear down on them when Balen slowed his engines to let them catch up. Someone on board the Republic ship finally noticed they were being sandwiched between the Corsairs and swerved the controls violently, throwing soldiers to the hard deck.
“Winston, reduce speed! A lot! Mia, come here and take the controls.” Dawn stood up and watched the Republic ship try to right itself. She steered her ship alongside it, seeing Balen’s ship closing in from the other side. “Keep us close, Mia. When I’m off, get out of here! Don’t ask questions.”
Dawn inched toward the edge of the ship, checking that her cutlass and her satchel were well secured. She kept her eyes on all three ships while Mia pushed them so close to the Republic ship that their hulls nearly touched. On the far side of the Republic’s ship stood Balen and his men on their deck. They brandished weapons and prepared to board the Republic ship, where soldiers were getting to their feet and drawing pistols.
Dawn gave Balen a quick shake of her head. I have another idea.
In another moment, all three ships were lined up, side by side.
Here goes.
Dawn ran. She leaped easily onto the Republic ship, running as hard as she could past soldiers who were trying to gain their balance. Dawn spun away from their grasp while pulling her satchel over her head and holding it out as she ran toward the levers at the center of the ship.
She winced and let go of the satchel, glancing to make sure it fell where she wanted. The satchel turned over and landed on the base of the levers, where the small gaps between the levers led straight to the fuel tank and steam pipes. Everything she had in that satchel emptied into the bowels of the ship.
Dawn drew her cutlass and swung in wild patterns as she ran, keeping confused soldiers at bay.
“GO! GO! GO!” Dawn jumped over the railing and onto Balen’s ship, where she fell in a heap on the deck. “Just go!”
“What’s all that stuff gonna do?” Captain Balen asked.
“I don’t know, but it won’t be good!”
Balen and his crew fired pistol shots at the Republic ship while both Corsair sandships cruised away. The Republic ship erupted in smoke, and Dawn saw someone furiously moving the levers to no avail. The ship tilted and wobbled while the smoke grew, billowing out in thick curtains that hid the ship entirely.
“I don’t know what to do, now” said Dawn. “I didn’t expect a fight.”
Balen kept his eyes on the city. They were close to the walls now.
“I want to know why no one’s fired one of them cannons at us.” He pointed with his harpoon hand to the long-barreled iron cannons resting on top of the wall sections. “That’s why we don’t usually come this close.”
“There’s people up there,” said one of the Corsairs, holding a spyglass. “But they’re all watching other parts of the city. And they don’t look like soldiers.”
“Something’s going on that we didn’t expect. Time to lend a hand.”
“Where are we going?” asked Dawn.
“Into the city. This isn’t a simple heist anymore...something’s not right.”
37
Raine wasn’t surprised that the researchers were still leaving the building when he and Marshal arrived. The bells outside had stopped ringing their alarm minutes ago, but the scientists, in their aprons and goggles, continued to evacuate in an unorganized mob. He and Marshal pushed against them, finding no resistance to their presence. Almost no guards patrolled the Grey Quarter; Raine wondered how many of them had been covertly captured by Hild and the other Lodi hiding in the city.
Up two levels on the back stairs. Past six doors. There’s a large room on the right.
They pressed through the building’s employees, getting a few confused glances as they did. Raine led them to a swinging door in the back that opened to a flight of grey stairs. I wonder if Marshal gets tired. My legs are aching already. They reached the third level and found long empty hallways filled wit
h a strange quiet.
“Should be on the right,” said Raine, who wasn’t sure why he was whispering. He reached into his pocket. “Dawn said her old key would work on this floor.”
They both stopped at the door and looked around, trying not to disturb the untrusting silence.
“Go ahead,” said Marshal.
Raine turned the key and pushed open the door. They stepped into a long, dim room, only illuminated by shafts of light pouring through the tall windows. Each window stood as tall as Marshal, but they faced west, away from the morning sun, and couldn’t provide much light.
“This is gonna take a while,” Marshal breathed. “Why is it so dark?”
“They doused the lamps when they left. We’ll have to look by window light.” Raine decided to be thorough. He walked to the nearest table and leaned over, inspecting the items there. “Some rocks. Just normal ones...wrong experiments.” He moved to the next table and began rummaging through the mess. “This isn’t how I pictured the big heist going.”
“Well, Dawn said there were Dae stones here,” said Marshal. “She’s usually right. Just grab one and then we’ll look for the Sovereign.”
“That part should come easy,” came a voice from the darkness.
Him.
Raine’s chest clenched. “Marshal….” he whispered.
The Sovereign stepped into a beam of light.
Keep looking! Raine busied himself at the nearest table, running his hands along series of rocks.
“You won’t find a Dae stone here,” said the Sovereign. “I had them removed from our labs yesterday.”
Raine stopped searching. Part of him wanted to believe the Sovereign was lying, that Raine could touch a Dae stone any second now and feel that power again, but he could tell the Sovereign was telling the truth.
“You can’t be here.” Marshal put a hand on his gun. “You can’t...you can’t know about this!”
“I didn’t need to know about it. My men told me to head to the gate when I heard we were under attack, but I knew better. I knew if I waited here, someone would return that boy to me. You, whoever you are, have done me a favor.” The Sovereign reached into his vest and retrieved a vial of blue liquid.
