“Aye, aye, Captain.” I pushed the lever for engine three back to full and I could feel the speed increasing before the dial in front of me moved.
For the next hour, I dodged hunks of rock hurled into the air, billowing clouds of ash, and winds stronger than I’d ever imagined. Too many times I thought the Sparrowhawk would be torn apart, but she held, and I finally had my chance to fly her. At the one time when it mattered most. I blew the tension through tight lips, sending a slight cloud of grey billowing up from my shirt.
The captain stepped up beside me and squeezed my shoulder. “Starboard turn.”
“How far?” I asked.
“I just want to see it and we’re far enough away now.”
I turned the Sparrowhawk and we all stared at the volcano. I couldn’t see the island anymore, only a towering maelstrom that reached thousands of feet in the sky, so high it touched the stars. It stretched to the horizon and still spewed chunks of flaming rocks. Lightning arced through the ash clouds. The seas churned, and the winds whipped in every direction.
“Fascinating!”
“Look at that power! Reminds me of something out of the Bible,” Genevieve said.
I couldn’t believe what I was looking at. I’d never seen anything so destructive.
“I’ve seen volcanoes before,” the captain said turning to Ignatius. “Remember that volcano in Iceland,? 1873, I think. We were crossing the Atlantic.”
“But we were far to the south, and it was nothing like this,” Ignatius said with a shake of his head.
“I don’t think there’s ever been anything like this,” the captain said. “But it’s fascinating watching from a safe distance.” He turned to me and patted my back. A cloud of dust engulfed me. “You did an excellent job, Alexander. You can be my pilot anytime. You’ve become a true Sky Raider in these last few months, and I’m proud to call you a crewmember.”
My smile grew as my heart soared along in the clouds. “Thank you, sir. That means a great deal.”
“You’ve been through a lot and it’s time for you to take a break. Milady would you mind replacing our pilot here?”
“My pleasure, Captain.” She walked over and I smiled at her grey hair. Everything was covered in ash. I lifted my goggles and stretched, reliving muscles that had been tense for hours. Genevieve laughed. I looked at her and wondered why, but when I turned the captain and Ignatius joined her.
She pointed to my face. “Your face is clean around your eyes.”
“You look like a raccoon,” the captain said.
I walked over to a window, used my sleeve to wipe away the ash, and saw my reflection: bright skin surrounded by smudged grey. Relieved that we were all still alive, that I’d steered us through a hellish maelstrom, and that Genevieve was here with me, I threw my head back and laughed, too.
“Get the crew up here to start cleaning up this ash.” Baldarich sat in his chair. “Take us north, milady.”
“Aye, aye Captain,” she said and as she took the wheel, she turned to me and winked.
CHAPTER 39
DRAGONS
I checked on Heinz who was sound asleep and then made my way down to the gun deck. A large hole lay on the starboard side where the third cannon had smashed through the wall. The rest of the gun deck was covered with ash, though, with the wind whipping through the hole, it was just a dusting.
Mr. Singh called me over. “Impressive flying.”
“Thanks.”
He pointed out the hole. “Check out the wingsail.”
I looked and the starboard wingsail had several holes in the fabric. Then he pointed to the winglet, a smaller wingsail toward the back, and I saw a huge chunk was missing. The charred tattered remains flapped in the wind. “Whoa, when did that happen?”
“A flaming hunk of rock slammed into it.” Mr. Singh grabbed my shoulder. “You saved us all, my friend.”
“It could have been Genevieve or Heinz, I just happened to be the guy in the chair at the time.”
“Destiny.” Mr. Singh shook his head, “I can’t believe one of the Hearts had so much power.”
“I can’t either.” I sighed. “They have so many now.” I leaned closer to him. “I’m nervous about what’s coming.”
“I am as well.” Mr. Singh pointed to the hole. “Get some rest and then we’ll start patching this bird up.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I waved and walked over to my room. I brushed the ash off my shirt and poured water into a bowl to wash my face.
Rodin sat in his bed. He watched me clean up, and when I jumped into my hammock he swooped down and settled on my stomach. I rubbed his little head and under his neck. “That was crazy, wasn’t it? I wonder when it will stop erupting.”
Rodin seemed to like the company, and he laid his head down and slept. I tried to do the same, but I was too wound up. My mind raced over everything I’d seen and done. Rocks as big as houses soaring through the air. Taking the Sparrowhawk on maneuvers I’d never seen her do before. The constant fear that the next flaming rock would be the end. My heart still raced. I tried to breathe regularly to calm myself, but nothing worked. Finally, petting Rodin and having him close eased my pounding heart, and after a while my nerves settled.
I drifted off and woke when Genevieve touched my arm.
“Don’t you two look adorable,” she said with a smile.
“Who’s flying?”
“Hunter for now.” She sat in her hammock and ran her fingers through her hair trying to brush out the ash. “You were exceptional today.”
“You would have been great, too.”
She smiled, but it faded. “Now we have to find my father. Kind of like old times.”
“He probably stowed away on the Vimana with the Sikhs he was leading.” I hoped it was true.
“On that incredible flying castle.”
“Yeah. The Sikh’s are tough fighters; I’m sure he’s okay.”
“So we track them down and get him out of there— unless my mother has already captured him.”
“Your life has gotten a lot more complicated than mine.”
“I suppose it has, and to think I remember when my father brought you home because your father had been kidnapped.” She stopped running her fingers through her hair and looked at me. “Now I’m the one with the crazy family, and you’re the warrior rushing to help me.”
“We are different people.” I put my hands behind my head. “I didn’t have a chance to tell you, but the duel you fought with the pirate queen... you were so good. You’ve gotten better.”
“I practiced a lot at the hidden palace.” Genevieve stood and came over to my hammock. “There wasn’t much else to do, and I was lonely.” She picked up Rodin and climbed in with me. We barely fit, and as she nestled up against me, I wrapped my arm around her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Rodin snuggled in between us and soon both Genevieve and her little dragon were asleep. I stared down at her. She looked so peaceful with her eyes closed, lashes resting against her cheeks. I pulled her closer and closed my own eyes, happier than I could ever remember being.
After getting a few hours of sleep, I slipped out of the hammock. Finding Mr. Singh, we got to work repairing the Sparrowhawk. We started with the hole on the gun deck and then attended to the wingsails. Everyone helped out, and by the time we crossed into China, most of the Sparrowhawk had been patched.
Later, after I checked on Genevieve and found her awake, she and I stepped onto the bridge and found the captain working at the map table. Heinz sat in the pilot seat, still bandaged, but the color had returned to his face.
Baldarich called us over. “Let’s see what an Armitage and Kensington think.” He pointed to the map where he’d drawn several lines from the location of the hidden valley, all of them stopping over the Pacific. “We haven’t been gone long enough for them to have crossed the ocean. But would they go north over Mongolia, straight over China, or south along the coast?”
“The Vimana didn’t have sail
s, so wind isn’t a factor. I’m guessing they’d choose the shortest route.” I pointed at the middle line. “This one, cutting across China.”
Genevieve nodded and said, “They have a Chinese nobleman, Shengguan Bo on their side, he might be helping them get through the provinces.”
“Smart money says the northern route,” Baldarich said. “They’ll run into the least number of people. But I’ll trust you.”
Genevieve pointed to the largest city in China. “Shengguan has contacts in the Emperor’s court. He might be headed to Peking. They’ve found three of the Hearts; now they’re looking for the fourth,” she said. “If we knew where the last Heart was, we’d know exactly where they’re going.”
“I know,” I whispered the words. “I know where all four of them are... or were.”
They both looked at me. “How?” Genevieve asked.
“Since when?” the captain said, his brows furrowed.
“I wanted to tell you, but I knew we had a traitor in our midst, and I didn’t know who he was. Besides—” I hesitated.
The captain laughed. “You didn’t trust the baron, or Lord Marbury. I knew I liked you! But go on, how do you know where they are?”
“It sounds crazy, but I found a journal written by my ancestor, and when I read it, I had a vision. I saw where he hid the hearts.”
Genevieve turned to me. “And? Where is the last Heart?”
“Beyond the American Rocky Mountains.” I paused and looked around the room, as if I still had to worry about who was around. But everyone here was my friend. People I trusted with my life. “My ancestor traveled across the sea from China and then journeyed halfway across the continent. He buried it beyond the mountains. In what we now call The Dakotas. He believed it would never be found.”
The captain looked at the two of us. “Does the Golden Circle know where the last Heart is located?”
Genevieve shook her head. “I don’t think so. The first one they found was in Zululand. That heart, and the Malta hearts led them to the one near the pyramids.”
“Wait.” I placed my hands on the table, leaning forward. “The Hearts helped them to find each other?”
She nodded. “The two they have helped them find the third one, in an old temple in Tibet.”
“Then the three will seek out the fourth.” I pointed to South Dakota on the map. “This is where they’re going. We need to stop them before they get there.”
“That flying palace is too heavily defended. We’d never get close enough to do any real damage. Not without a fleet of airships. We’re going to need help.” The captain stroked his beard as he stared at the map. “The baron would know how to contact the Templars. I can send word back to the British in India, but we need someone in front of them to slow them down.”
I sighed. “So what do we do?”
Genevieve shook her head. “We’d need a Templar or a government official.” She gripped the edge of the map table. “We need my father.”
Hunter stepped onto the bridge and walked over to check on Heinz. He pointed out toward the horizon. “Captain, I see that flying castle.”
“The Vimana?” I said.
I looked, but couldn’t see anything. Hunter pointed, and I finally saw a small dot reflecting sunlight.
Captain Baldarich said, “Heinz change our bearings to get behind it.”
Heinz changed course, but it would take hours to catch up with them. My stomach twisted into knots and I dropped to the floor. Everyone turned as Genevieve ran to my side.
She locked eyes with me. “Trouble?”
I nodded.
Hunter, Captain Baldarich, and Heinz scanned the sky. Then Hunter said, “What is that?”
Genevieve and I stood up and surveyed the horizon. Finally, I saw the glint of shiny brass or copper breaking out of the trees off our port side. The long shape undulated through the air, like a serpent slithering after its prey. As it came toward us, I could make out four stubby feet with shiny steel claws, and a large head with two long tendrils extending out from the mouth.
“Is that a... dragon?” I asked.
The captain squinted into the distance. “Shines like metal.”
“So does Rodin,” Genevieve said. “I bet it’s Shengguan. He mentioned he was working on an airship; he called it his Dragonship.” Her expression drained leaving only worry. “In the snake palace, he wanted one of the hearts. He was...is... willing to kill to get his hands on one.”
“That’s got to be him!” I turned to the captain. “It’s one of the Lords of the Golden Circle in a steam-powered Dragonship.”
The captain ran to the copper tubes and yelled, “Battle stations!”
I pulled out my father’s telescope and quickly wrapped the leather case around the two lenses. Raising it to my eye, I looked through and saw the dragon’s head. The eyes were clear, windows, and I saw men within. Fire shot out of the feet, and on the shoulders were two propellers. I saw two more propellers above the back legs and fire emerged from those feet as well. The body was segmented with overlapping plates almost like scales.
“It’s like a flying Milli-train,” I said, passing the telescope to Genevieve.
“It really does look like a dragon,” she said as Rodin landed on her shoulder. “Not like Rodin, but a Chinese dragon.”
“It is probably protecting the flying fortress on its voyage to America.” The captain hit the armrest of his chair. “It’s fast, climbing hundreds of meters in a matter of moments.” He leaned in to the copper tubes. “Get those cannon ready to fire, both sides!”
As the Dragonship flew closer it opened its jaws and I saw three barrels. The center one shot fireballs that ached toward the Sparrowhawk but Heinz flew above them. The right one spun and was the biggest Gatling gun I’d ever seen. Bullets whipped past us, but as we angled around them the Dragonship twisted away. The left barrel fired cannon shot, and the shells exploded, ripping through the wingsail.
“Fire!” The captain ordered, but our cannon balls bounced off the Dragonship’s armored hide.
They’d laid a trap for us and we’d fallen right into it. I worried we’d be destroyed, or at least be knocked out of the sky and unable to follow. While we’d chased Zerelda and the Vimana flew off, the Dragonship laid in wait like a predator. I kicked myself for being so naïve and hoped underestimating the Golden Circle wouldn’t cost us our lives.
The Dragonship twisted in the air, rising above the Sparrowhawk. I couldn’t see it anymore, which meant we were about to be obliterated.
A thunderous roar shook the Sparrowhawk, and I waited for us to burst into flames and tumble from the sky. But we kept moving forward. I ran to the window as a dark shadow emerged from the clouds. Dark red scales whipped past the windows, as large dark leathery wings blocked out the sun. Āgō āṁdhī.
CHAPTER 40
THE VIMANA
As Āgō āṁdhī blasted the Dragonship and the Sparrowhawk banked to get away, I pressed against the window and watched the Dragonship try to fight back. It opened fire with cannons along peeking out from scales along its sides and the Gatling gun in its mouth. Āgō āṁdhītwisted and arced, dancing in an aerial ballet around the metal Dragonship. The dragon flared out huge wings to hover above its man-made counterpart and then unleashed a blazing torrent of fire that engulfed the head and front sections of the Dragonship.
Still, the Dragonship withstood the onslaught, fleeing at full speed straight toward the Vimana, smoke trailing from its head. Meaning we’d have to get past both of them to find the baron. That was if he was on the Vimana. Āgō āṁdhī flew up alongside the Sparrowhawk dwarfing the aero-dirigible. We looked like a tiny bird next to this stunning creature of myth. I ran off the bridge to the cargo door. I pulled it open and waved.
“You’ve saved us once again! Thank you!” I yelled so loudly it made my throat sore.
The dragon pulled back so its head was right next to me. “My pleasure. I couldn’t let a false dragon give us all a bad name.” Āg�
� āṁdhī laughed, which sounded like rolling thunder.
“You honor us with your help!”
Genevieve came running up next to me, and Rodin leapt off her shoulder and flew out to join the dragon. I turned to her and smiled. “I have an idea, but it’s really insane.”
“My favorite kind.”
“You agree with me that your father is probably on the Vimana?”
She nodded. “As you said, he would have stowed away. The Vimana was the prime target leaving during the battle. The Dragonship wasn’t there.”
“Then I say we ask Āgō āṁdhī to take us to the Vimana. They’ll think the dragon is chasing them from this attack and we can leap off onto the Vimana.”
“That is insane,” She smiled and nudged me with her elbow. “Which is why it might work.”
I turned to the dragon flying beside us. “Āgō āṁdhī, I have a favor to ask. Will you carry us once again?”
“Where do you wish to go?”
“See that flying castle up ahead?”
The dragon looked into the distance and then back at me. “Why do you wish this?”
Genevieve yelled, “My father and mother are there, and we need to rescue them.”
“All we need is for you to get us to the flying castle.” I pointed at the shiny dot on the horizon. “But this airship can’t get close enough without a raging battle.”
The dragon thought for a moment and Rodin flew beside it. Āgō āṁdhī nodded. “Sounds like fun.”
“We’ll be right back!” I hugged Genevieve and we rushed down to our room. I grabbed whatever I could and shoved it in my leather bag. Genevieve filled the pockets of her coat. Lianhua, who was resting in her hammock with Kō’ilā, watched us for moment, then sat up. “Where are you going? Perhaps I should join you.”
I stopped. “You’ve done more than enough. Besides the crew will need your help. They need to stop and send word to our allies. You can help by staying with Mr. Singh.”
“Indihar will want to go with you. He will not like being left behind.” The concern on Lianhua caused her to stand. “You will need our help.”
Iron Lotus Page 21
