Sky Warriors: Poleuthan's Thief (Sky Warriors Saga Book 1)

by Pendragon, Nicole

  She chuckled wondering if the craft was faster than a dragon, it seemed it was potentially a great deal faster. Yet the ride was too soft, it had no thrill like ridding, no sense of freedom or fresh air. It was rather dull, boring, and sleep-inducing.

  I rather take a slow dragon any day than this boring contraption. She realized with little surprise.

  It only took less than an hour to reach the mainland, Ange watched as they passed over a vast stretch of taiga forest, hugged in by the imposing tall barren mountains dubbed Kalindi Range where a famous volcano lied dormant. Past the mountains started the great open steppes of prairies, scrublands, and tundra that made the vast majority of the northern region of the continent Sterilis. Not to mention the artic deserts that rimmed the very top where Cyridell laid.

  An hour and a half later, the lights of Cyridell’s skyscrapers could be seen in the dark afternoon, only a rim of orange still lingered in the sky at the edge of the horizon.

  Homesickness clawed at Ange’s heart as well as anticipation and fear as she gazed at the city, the dark mountains at its back, and the familiar smog that hazed over the city like a suppressing cloud of misery, accenting the corruption that she knew lived within the people and among its buildings and foundries.

  Familiar anger swelled in Ange as she glared at the city’s most established and richest quarters, where she knew Daren’s must be. Her fingers clutched at the chair’s armrests as the sky boat entered the city’s air. She barely heard the radio buzz and Grace replied into a microphone as they identified themselves and were given clearance.

  They flew into the wealthy district, their craft slowly vertically descending upon an open area of one the many large mansion properties that were graciously spread apart with fine gardens covering their lands and separated by the best paved roads with street lamps.

  Ange tediously wondered which was Vera’s estate and which could be Daren’s.

  The craft quietly and gently landed, the whirling of the engine grew in volume as it slowed then fell into silence.

  “Alright, Angeline,” Ileana directed, her voice serious. “I will be presenting you as our younger sister, our surname is Regina. Do not speak unless spoken too, and only the briefest and most polite phrases you can think of, understood?” Ange nodded in confirmation. “You mentioned your…acquaintance,” she said carefully, “is a noble, correct?”

  “Yes,” Ange replied, wondering what she was getting at. “His name is Daren Steele,” she seethed the name through her teeth.

  “Alright, then when the butler greets us, I will mention we have business to attend to with him and that we need immediate transport to his estate. The reception starts in two hours, you can’t dawdle, are we clear?”

  Ange nodded as they rose from their seats.

  “And second of all, you cannot kill him,” Ileana warned sternly, giving her a hard stare.

  Ange stared dumbstruck, about to protest.

  Ileana spoke before she could, “Speak with him. You are a Sky Warrior now, you took an oath. If you cannot abide by our philosophy and keep to your word then I will not let you seek him out,” she stated with finality. “I know you need this resolution, closure, but you cannot, will not, harm those under your station no matter their crimes.”

  Ange swallowed hard, furious, but knew Ileana meant it. Ange’s pride would not let her break a vow she had made, she snorted furiously and nodded in mute agreement.

  Ileana seemed reasonably satisfied and led the way. Ange closely followed Amaris and noticed that the dragons kept a consistent distance away from them, looking stoic and focused as they followed.

  The door opened and Ileana stepped out, followed by Amaris and Ange.

  Ange felt nostalgic as she breathed in the city air, though it was different in this area compared to the rest of the city. She had almost forgotten the odor.

  Three men in black suites where waiting for them before the door. The head man stepped forward with a delighted and respectful smile.

  “Welcome to my Master’s humble estate, Lady Regina.”

  “Evening Ensio, and thank you, it has been long. I look forward to seeing what Hubert has uncovered and learned this time.”

  “You are early for the festivities, my lady. But I am more than certain Master Lockharch would be delighted to see you, considering the contributions you have put forth to his research in the past. He wishes for me to express his deepest apologies that he could not sell you the artifact. Your competitor made an offer he simply couldn’t refused and he signed a contract. If he had known you would express such great interest he would not have done so,” the butler stated remorsefully.

  Ileana smiled pleasantly. “It is of no concern, I will assure him.”

  The butler smiled. “That gladdens my heart greatly, my lady. Shall I escort you and your company inside?” he requested.

  “This is my twin sister Amaris, and our younger sister Angeline. These three are our escorts,” Ileana pointed, Amaris and Ange stepped forward. Ange mimicked Amaris’ slight bow of greeting as the three dragons step forward to shadow them protectively.

  “Forgive my manners,” The butler blurted surprised and befuddled. “Greetings, my Ladies Regina.”

  “We came early to tend to some business, Ensio. Could you direct us to the Steele Estate?” Ileana queried politely.

  “The Steele Estate?” Ensio repeated surprised. “Why of course, Lady Regina. Young Master Steele is also to attend today, but I could most certainly arrange a carriage for you.”

  “That would be much appreciated,” Ileana thanked.

  “Come, please,” Ensio directed, leading them down dark evening path as they left the sky boat behind.

  Lanterns at the sides of the paved path illuminated the perfectly cut shrubbery and grass along the way, a few moths and other insects swarmed around the lights giving the entire scenery a quiet romantic atmosphere but Ange did not feel it, only her growing anticipation.

  As they approached the gates, it was opened by the gatekeeper. A tall woman in a vermilion satin dress walked in with self-authority and under the light, Ange recognized her immediately, making her freeze where she walked. Showl pause behind her surprised, questioning her mentally, but she was too shocked to even notice him.

  “Lady Blackstone, you are early. To what does my Master owe the pleasure?” Ensio asked respectfully.

  The woman turned a pair of dark blue eyes on the man, her full lips parted to speak but she froze as her gaze befell Ange.

  “Fox?” she whispered in utter disbelief.

  Chapter 22: Lost Answers

  “Vera,” Ange answered equally surprised as relieved.

  Vera’s smiled and stepped around the confused butler, ignored the other Sky Warriors and grasped Ange in a tight embrace as a thrill laugh escaped her throat.

  “Oh, Fox it really is you!” Vera let her go and looking her over. “You look so different!” she stated overjoyed.

  “Lady Blackstone?” Ensio questioned puzzled.

  “Oh hush, Ensio. Leave,” Vera commanded.

  “But-”

  “Leave!” Vera snapped, her voice gaining a harsh note as she glared threateningly.

  Ensio shrank at her tone and glanced at Ileana as if seeking permission or forgiveness.

  Ileana nodded to him and he quickly scurried off.

  “You’re alive,” Vera sighed as she returned her attention to Ange. “Why haven’t you come and sought me out, do you have any idea how mortified I was?” she scolded, her temper threatening to make an appearance.

  “I haven’t been able too,” Ange replied truthfully. “I’ve been far away from Cyridell since that night…I only just got here a few minutes ago.”

  Vera glared at her unconvinced. “You should have returned sooner.”

  “I fear that is my fault,” Showl apologized stepping forward.

  Vera paused, suddenly stricken as she stared up and for once took notice of Ange’s company. If she felt fear she didn’t show it
. She stared with concealed interest as she looked them all over.

  “Well, how can I blame you when you have been distracted by such a handsome face?” she said mischievously returning her attention to Ange and giving here an approving wink.

  Ange’s face flushed with heat. “No, it’s nothing like that,” she corrected stupefied.

  Vera chuckled at her reaction, Ange glanced worriedly at the others but they didn’t seem concerned.

  Ange quickly changed the topic asked with a small voice, hoping, “Vera, did anyone else survive?”

  Vera immediately fell silent, her face paled painfully as her eyes darkened. “No,” she replied very quietly. “No one got away alive from that mine. Not even Garrett,” her voiced chocked as she said his name and Ange’s heart beat painfully at her distress. “I only managed to escape barely through an air shaft, but it was already too late for the rest. The assassins we brought along were also a part of the Silver Weasels’ plan.”

  Ange snarled, guessing as much. She felt even more betrayed by Daren, he had been working for the Silver Weasels to destroy their guild, their family.

  “Even our underground base was obliterated, some of the other thieves there were captured, killed, or managed to escape. Very few of us are left, the Black Owls are no more,” Vera sighed.

  Ange’s remaining hope shattered as despair took her at Vera’s words, she had in vain nurtured an impossibility. But Vera surviving was more than she could have hoped for. Her vendetta rose up in her, boiling her blood with venom.

  “Daren has a lot of explaining to do,” she snarled.

  Vera glanced at her, her eyes suddenly cloudy and unreadable.

  “Are you going to seek him out?”

  Ange nodded sharply. “Right now, in fact,” she stated coldly.

  “Then you are in luck, my coach is still here,” she replied waving her hand to the gateman, who immediately reopened the gates. “But it can only accommodate four,” she added, pointedly looking at the rest.

  Ange locked gazes with Ileana, she hated to beg but it was her choice much to Ange’s chagrin.

  Ileana, to her surprised, nodded. “Keep to your word,” she reminded. “Return within the hour,” she walked away, followed by her sister and their partners as they headed up the path to the mansion.

  Amaris flashed her a concerned and sympathetic glance as they left.

  Ange glanced back at Showl, his yellow eyes tracked her as he stayed by her side, and through their link she could sense his concern and support, as well as a familiar drive to protect her. She sighed, trying to calm down as she looked to Vera.

  Vera waved for them to follow, they quickly passed the gates and mounted a carriage with a red soft top that was folded back. Two iron horses were still at the front, connected by long rods to the coach’s frame. Vera pushed a button and spoke.

  “Steele Estate.”

  The mechanical horses animated and began steadily moving forward. Ange glanced at Showl sitting next to her as he watched Vera with a blank expression that sat across form them.

  Ange glanced at Vera, who was as beautiful as ever and felt anger and jealousy rush through her as Showl continued to stare.

  “Stop looking at her!” Ange snapped.

  Showl looked down at her surprised. “What’s the matter?”

  “You’re ogling her, that’s what the matter!” Ange spat furious.

  Showl stared at her bemused. “Ogling her? I am doing no such thing, I simply don’t trust her, she is hiding something.”

  Ange flinched surprised and offended. “How could you possibly know that?”

  “Instinct,” he replied simply.

  “Well, be polite. Don’t forget she practically raised me and provided me a home and family. And of course she has secrets, what noble and thief doesn’t?”

  “I don’t have to like it,” Showl responded carefully.

  “Well, don’t stare,” Ange finalized and turned away, she paused startled at the scrutinizing stare Vera had placed on her.

  “It looks like you two are having a conversation,” she observed amused. “You must know each other well if you can argue with only your eyes,” she teased.

  Ange’s face reddened, wondering for a moment if Vera knew what Showl was and that they shared a telepathic bond.

  “So tell me, what is your name, handsome?” Vera inquired, intentionally curving her body slowly in an erotic manner as she leaned against the side of the coach across form them.

  Vera’s behavior, which Ange had once admired for her exceptional deceit and manipulative abilities now burned a pit of rage in her as her mentor stared alluringly at her dragon. She was so furious she failed to be astonished as too why she was even infuriated.

  Showl stared at Vera blankly, answering in a plain voice but was still deep and rich which Ange was suddenly painfully aware of as he spoke.

  “Showl.”

  Ange was vigorously blocking Showl, trying to control her temper but she guessed she was not successfully erasing the glare she was aiming at Vera. If her old mentor was aware, she didn’t show it.

  “Showl,” she repeated, rolling the name in her mouth as if tasting it. Her ruby red lips perked in an unusual smile, making Ange clench her hands painfully. “What an odd name for one so handsome, mysterious…it fits.”

  Ange’s blood continued to boil to a new degree, she had the urge to block Vera’s view of Showl and snarl at her in warning.

  Vera glanced over at her, her smile growing wide with amusement as she winked at her.

  Ange suddenly deflated as if hot air had escaped her and she relaxed as shock took her instead. She was confused, she didn’t know why Vera’s flirtation with Showl had made her so angry. She couldn’t figure out why it bothered her so much. She kept blocking Showl, trying to understand the emotions she had never felt before mixed in such a strange and foreign manner.

  Showl glanced at her concerned, sending a mental probe against her walls, wondering if she was alright.

  Ange sighed, relaxing and letting the feelings go. Once she was certain she was clam she lifted the wall and allowed their minds to touch once again.

  “Is everything alright?” he asked. “I felt a great deal of anger from you just now.”

  “I was just thinking about Daren,” she lied quickly and was thankful as Vera spoke again. When it came to Showl, Ange was a horrendous liar and she knew it, though she didn’t know why.

  “So what have you been doing these past five months, Fox? Half a year is quite some time,” Vera pointed out curiously.

  Ange frowned, she knew she couldn’t reveal anything important pertaining to the dragons.

  “Studying,” Ange replied, only stating a portion of the truth.

  Vera stared at her in disbelief. “You? Education?”

  Ange chuckled at her reaction and nodded. “I can read and write now, I’ve been learning science, history, mathematics, and a slew of other boring subjects,” she acknowledged with a small grimace.

  Vera stared at her as if she were a stranger. “Amazing,” she whispered. “Mindboggling, but amazing.”

  Ange giggled and nodded in complete agreement.

  “And how does this handsome fellow fall into the equation?” Vera probed, shooting a curious look at Showl.

  Ange paused, lost on how to answer.

  “I have taken guardianship of Angeline,” Showl replied smoothly.

  “Guardianship?” Vera echoed astounded before letting out a short chuckle. “Fox here can be quite the handful, I do hope she has not tired your generosity too much.”

  Ange glowered with indignation at the comment.

  Showl smiled pleasantly, amused as he replied. “Not at all.”

  “Oh? You are being too modest, I cannot believe for one moment that she has not been difficult,” Vera protested with humor.

  Ange scowled with further outrage, tiring quickly of the banter.

  Showl smile widened as he relented and glanced over at Ange fondly. “Perh
aps I am exaggerating a bit. But she has been a wonderful addition to my life,” he admitted with assurance.

  Ange quirked up at his statement, meeting his yellow eyes and feeling suddenly flustered by his words. She pouted slightly and looked away, touched but unable to meet his gaze, she felt as if she didn’t deserve it.

  “You’re part of the Regina Family, I take it? Very prestigious family, rich, and very mysterious…” she stated in quiet manner, prying for information.

  “I am,” he replied with a conclusiveness that implied the subject was to be left alone.

  The rest of the ride was taken in silence, it was only a short distance much to Ange’s surprise. As the horses stopped she stared up at the giant old black metal gates. The mansion on the small hill of cut green grass was dark, ominous. It looked new and Ange knew it was the rebuilt version of Daren’s old home. It rose several stories into the air with slanted roof.

  Anticipation coiled in Ange at the one lit window in the entire estate. She jumped out of the coach, trying to be careful with her dress and delicate shoes. She heard footsteps behind her and she glanced back to see Showl. His eyes were dark, burning as he gave her a nod to continue.

  Ange glance back to the carriage. Vera was sitting back lazily and gave them a wave.

  She looked back as they stood before the large bars of the fence and she knew she couldn’t climb it in a dress, she looked over to the brick wall and smiled.

  She unhooked her small dagger from her thigh and hugged the metal tightly into her hand, asking it mentally if could become a grappling hook.

  The metal responded quickly to her demand, a small handheld device laid in her hand a moment later with a hook and trigger.

  Aiming it, she shot for the wall. As the hook latched to the top she began to climb carefully, she could hear her shoes not appreciating the activity. One she was at the top she crouched as best as she could in the infernal dress as Showl quickly joined her.

  Quickly she surveyed the grounds and found no movement, she pulled up the hook, the mechanism reeling in the metal rope. Then it returned into a small dagger.