Airwoman

by Zara Quentin

  “And what does it say about me?” Jade asked, when Axel came back, landing further away from her this time.

  “That if you ever meet a Yrax, it’ll be sorry.”

  Jade laughed. “Not likely. Not if my parents have anything to do with it.” She sighed. “I’d love to see some of the places you’ve been.”

  Axel didn’t reply. As the silence lengthened, he pushed his hands into his pockets and peered into the distance.

  “Where did you come back from today?” Jade asked, partly to erase the silence between them, but mostly because she loved stories from across the Betwixt.

  Axel shifted. “Just some errands.”

  “Papa didn’t say anything to me about it. I thought it was a private trip?”

  The skin around Axel’s eyes tightened again. He didn’t reply.

  “Did you bring back anything special?”

  Axel crossed his arms across his chest. “No. Nothing.”

  Jade remembered how his hand had curled around the bag he’d carried earlier. “Oh? I thought—”

  “I told you, nothing!” Axel snapped. Jade stepped backwards at the force of his tone. He’d never spoken to her that way before. She blinked back tears that prickled suddenly at her eyes.

  Jade was about to point out how protective he’d been of his bag earlier, when she forced herself to shut her mouth. He clearly didn’t want to talk.

  Jade wrapped her fingers around the pendants on her neck chain. She’d done enough damage for one day. She turned to leave, spreading her wings and flicking her tail.

  “No, wait,” Axel called out, his voice softer now. “I’m sorry, I just…” His shoulders sagged and he stared at his hands. She wished she knew what was going through his head right now. “It’s just… the business, well, my job and… your father…” Axel sighed. “You. I…” Axel trailed off and looked towards the jagged rock face on the other side of the river.

  After a long pause, Jade spoke. “I don’t understand.”

  Axel sighed again, still not looking at her. Then, in a sudden rush of movement, he spread his wings, bouncing over several rocks to land next to her. He held out his arm to her, his hand curled into a fist, fingers facing down. With his other hand, he took her hand and held it, palm up, under his own. He dropped something into her hand.

  A green stone, carved and polished into a single twisted loop.

  “It’s a jade stone. I thought of you when I saw it. The colour matches your eyes and wings.” Jade looked up at Axel and saw he was smiling, though his eyes were sad. Weary. “It’s a Maori pendant. The Maori are an Earthen race from a place called New Zealand. I was there, once.”

  Jade held the pendant between her index finger and thumb to examine it. It was beautifully carved. Delicate. Precious.

  “It’s called a pikorua. It’s a symbol of friendship.”

  Jade’s stomach contracted sharply.

  Friendship. Was that all he wanted from her?

  “It’s a sign that two people are destined to always come back together, no matter what happens.”

  It was a moment before Jade realised Axel was waiting for her to say something.

  “Thank you.” Jade wanted to ask him for clarification. The weight of unspoken words lay over them, unacknowledged. “It’s beautiful.” Jade swallowed.

  Axel pushed his hands back into his pockets.

  In the distance, a bird sang, and the wind stirred the trees, sending a couple of stray leaves curling down to meet the water rushing past the rocks.

  Jade shifted her weight from one foot to the other. “Well,” she said, closing her hand over the pikorua, “I guess I’d better go.”

  “Wait!” Axel held up a hand, as though he was reaching towards her. “I’ve been meaning to say… ask, I mean.” He took a deep breath. “Look, your father has been very good to me. I wouldn’t want him thinking…” Axel looked towards the horizon then abruptly turned to Jade. “If I asked his permission to… to take you out somewhere? Would that be all right? As a friend, of course.” He added the last quickly.

  Jade’s head tilted over to the side, as though she was trying to understand something. “You want to ask my father’s permission?”

  “I know it’s not the usual thing, but I work for him. I couldn’t go behind his back. And…” Axel cleared his throat. “If things were to… well, let’s just say I might need his help with something.”

  Jade nodded, though she wasn’t sure she understood. A spark of warmth ignited in her chest, almost smothered by the thought that her father’s opinion was more important than her own. What kind of beginning was that?

  “When?” Jade asked.

  “Soon. Very soon.”

  Jade hesitated. Part of her wanted to say yes. But another part of her wondered whether he was just softening his earlier rejection. He didn’t want her to complain to her father about him. He didn’t want to risk his job.

  Jade took a deep breath. “Well, when you’ve asked him, then I’ll decide.” She paused, gathered her nerve and added, “he has cleared his schedule for today, you know. By now he’s probably back in his office. Nobody else around. Could be the perfect time…” Jade trailed off, then turned away. She didn’t want to see how he would take her suggestion. She’d know soon enough, if he was really serious about speaking to Papa.

  But when Jade spiralled up towards Ingresston, she threaded the pikorua onto her neck chain and held it tightly in her hand.

  3

  Jade circled up until she was well above the greenery of Vertin Gorge and looked out over the flat, red land that stretched out from the cliff tops to the mountains in the distance. Below the line of the cliffs, set into the walls of the gorge, was her family’s home—the entrance perched on a ledge jutting out from the rock-face to ease the transition from the outside to the inside. Jade touched down on the mosaic-tiled landing, faded and worn from generations of use. She stepped through the entrance to her home, its archway adorned with a fresco. The vibrant colours had been retouched to brighten the places where the incessant salty wind had taken its toll.

  Out of the wind, Jade heard a shriek and a smile tugged at her lips. A moment later, she was almost bowled off her feet by a flurry of little wings and tails. The squeals of her three-year-old twin brothers echoed as they chased each other, skirting around Jade, before bouncing off a wall to disappear down the hall. There was a crash, and Jade winced.

  “Slate! Flint!” Mama called, exasperated, from the other room.. “Be careful!”

  A moment later, Mama appeared, and her face broke into a relieved smile on seeing Jade. “You’re home. I was beginning to wonder whether either of you would be home for dinner tonight.”

  “Papa’s not here?”

  Mama shook her head, gave Jade a kiss, then linked her arm through Jade’s to walk into the kitchen and living area at the centre of their home. “He’s working late again.”

  Jade remembered the message Papa had received that morning and the argument she’d half-overheard. What was so urgent as to take his attention for the whole day?

  “You haven’t seen him?” Mama asked. When she shook her head, Mama frowned, then checked the pot that simmered on the stove.

  “I’ve been at the Temple. Papa is probably at the office.” She tossed the messages she’d collected from the Mail Room, so they fanned out over the bench-top. For the first time, Jade saw a message for her.

  It bore the insignia of the Traveller Force. She ripped it open, but twin bundles of energy and wings catapulted themselves at her before she could read it. Jade was knocked backwards as Slate landed on her shoulder and Flint attached himself to her right leg.

  “Jay-Jay,” Slate yelled, yanking on her ear.

  “Ride! Ride!” Flint demanded. He pulled on her wing until she complied. They took turns wrapping their little bodies around Jade’s torso as she flew them around the cavernous living room, hovering a handspan from the floor.

  “You’re getting too heavy for this,” Jade
said as she lowered Flint to the ground. Mama was reading the opened message, then she slammed it back down on the bench. Jade pried Slate’s arms from around her neck. “Mama…”

  Mama turned back to the stove. “Fetch your father,” Mama said, her shoulders rigid. “It’s about time we all had dinner as a family.”

  Jade sighed, but nodded her agreement.

  “And take that with you, while you’re at it.” Mama gestured to the discarded message. “Your father can do something about it.”

  Jade’s stomach tightened. “He can’t keep putting it off. I have to serve eventually. Wouldn’t it be better—”

  “Imagine what you’d miss here,” Mama interrupted. “The boys are growing up so fast. Besides, there should be some kind of rule, only one per family.”

  “It’s my duty—”

  There was another crash and Mama threw an exasperated look in that direction. “Duty took Basalt from us. I won’t let you go the same way.”

  Jade flinched at the mention of her older brother. She saw the lines around her mother’s eyes, the little muscle twitching at her jaw. She wished she could assure Mama that she’d be fine, but Mama would hear it for what it was—a hollow platitude.

  Jade couldn’t promise that she’d be all right. She couldn’t promise anything. Service in the Traveller Force was dangerous. Travellers protected the Dragonverse from the Yrax and occasionally intervened in a worlds domestic affairs to ensure its stability. Our Lady Taraqa and the other Dragon-Gods had charged every Taraqan to serve at least two years in the Force. It was a great dishonour to avoid her service.

  “How can I run Gariq Industries if I have never served?” Jade asked, in a small voice, though she knew it would do no good. She’d had this conversation with Mama and Papa too many times.

  “There’s more to running a business than Travelling.”

  “You and Papa served. I want to as well.”

  Mama sighed, deeply. The tension released from her back and her shoulders sagged. Jade held her breath. Would Mama finally relent? If she agreed, Jade knew she could convince Papa too.

  There was another crash in the adjacent room and one of the twins started crying. Mama instantly tensed again. “There will be plenty of time for that later,” Mama said, sweeping out of the room. Disappointment settled over Jade like a heavy blanket. Later would never come. Not while Mama opposed it so vehemently.

  Jade folded the message into her bag. She ran a hand through her hair and listened to Mama scold the twins. The walls closed in around her. She suddenly had to get out. She shook off her lethargy and ran along the hallway towards the landing, then pitched herself off the edge.

  Wind streamed over her silhouette, stinging her eyes and fluttering her hair like a flag. Her stomach lurched as she plunged headfirst into the gorge, weightless as she plummeted towards the greenery below. Then she stretched her wings and caught the air to pull herself out of free-fall. Adrenalin invigorated her as she glided along the currents, letting them take her where they would.

  Minutes passed, but those minutes were freedom. Rebellion. Those minutes gave her fresh hope. Then her mind turned back to her conversation with Mama replayed in her mind. She should have bitten her tongue and waited until the twins were in bed. She had always thought that if she could persuade Mama, then Papa would agree. Perhaps she should convince Papa, instead.

  Jade circled towards the landing for Gariq Industries, set into the cliffs farther west, near where Vertin Gorge opened into the Western Sea. The entry to Gariq Industries was substantially bigger than their private landing, allowing for the arrival of employees and customers. As Jade’s feet touched down, she barely glanced at the pictures of the off-world treasures and resources the company had opened up to the Taraqan economy. She passed through the public reception and into the employee-only hall.

  It was late, and the offices were empty. Axel’s too, though the messy spread of papers on his desk told her he’d been here recently. Had Axel been speaking to Papa?

  She stepped up to Papa’s office. Through the slightly ajar door, torchlight flickered. Papa was a traditional man and, though Gariq Industries had imported and adapted many off-world inventions—including electric lights—in his own space he preferred to work by candlelight and wall-mounted torches.

  Her knuckles were white as she gripped the letter from the Traveller Force and marshalled her arguments. She drew a breath, squeezed her eyes shut and pushed open Papa’s door.

  “Mama wants us home for dinner,” Jade said, blurting out her words before Papa could stop her. “But before we go, I want to talk to you about something. I received my call-to-duty letter today. The third one. Before you say anything—I know how Mama feels. I know she mourns for Basalt. But it’s the right time. I’m almost eighteen—it is dishonourable to refuse again. Most of my friends served two years ago. Kyssa’s a Flying Officer now. Help me convince Mama? I promise I’ll only serve two years, then I’ll finish my apprenticeship. Please…?”

  Jade trailed off, squeezing one eye open to peek out at Papa, though her fists were clenched in anticipation of his response. Papa didn’t reply. He didn’t acknowledge her. Jade blinked, as her eyes adjusted to the torchlight. Papa sat cross-legged on his normal cushion, but was slumped over his low desk, in an uncomfortable sleep. His face was turned away and Jade stepped tentatively closer, afraid to disturb him.

  “Papa?”

  Papa did not move.

  4

  Tick.

  The only sound was the slow tick of the clock on the wall.

  Jade took another step towards Papa. The torch cast a spotlight over his hunched figure. The room retreated into the shadows.

  Tick.

  A message, now forgotten, slipped out of Jade’s trembling hand and fluttered to the ground. Jade reached forward to shake Papa, thinking—hoping—he must be so tired.

  Tick.

  Jade grasped Papa’s shoulder, expecting him to jerk to consciousness. He did not move. His body was rigid under her touch. He did not wake. He didn’t even groan.

  Tick.

  Papa’s head fell forward, from where it rested on his arm. His forehead connected with the polished wood of the desk with a thud. His wings hung limply across his back, their magenta scales dull.

  Tick.

  Jade smoothed his grey-streaked hair away from his face. She gasped at the sight of his eyes; open and staring at his own clenched right hand. She pressed a hand to his forehead.

  Too cold.

  Tick.

  Jade’s hand fell away. A deep fog settled over her, paralysing her. Deafening her. She stared at Papa’s body. His lips, blue. His eyes, wide. Lifeless. She stared and saw nothing.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Dimly, Jade heard screaming, calling for help. There was a clatter of footsteps, then a set of hands on her shoulders.

  “Shhhh,” someone said, and eventually the screaming stopped.

  But the clock did not.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  * * *

  A bright light pushed the darkness aside. Jade blinked, startled, and shrugged off the numbness that had settled over her. Two healers in their uniforms—loose white shirts belted over white trousers—entered the room. The taller one went to Papa, still slumped over the desk, while the shorter one cast a look in her direction.

  The pity on his face hit her so hard she almost doubled over.

  Jade wrenched her gaze away. She couldn’t bear to watch the healers examining Papa. She stared at a chip in the paint on the wall, grateful the healers had silenced the sound of the clock; as though they’d stopped time itself.

  A hand on her shoulder made Jade turn. The shorter healer stood next to her, holding out a piece of paper. “Is this yours?” He was holding her message, stamped with the Traveller Force insignia. Jade’s shoulders sagged as she remembered why she’d come. She pushed the thought away; she couldn’t think of that now.
Something terrible had happened. Something was terribly wrong.

  Papa wouldn’t wake up.

  Tall One bent over Papa, then looked up at the clock and closed Papa’s unblinking eyes.

  Jade’s stomach contracted as Tall One stood in front of her. “I’m sorry,” he said.

  Jade shook her head. She didn’t want to hear this. It couldn’t be right.

  “Your father is dead.”

  Jade squeezed her eyes shut, covering her ears.

  A pair of hands took hold of her by her upper arms. Someone was sobbing, then Jade felt tears streaming down her own cheeks.

  Short One pressed a glass of water into her hands. Jade’s hands shook so much she needed help drinking it.

  Tall One stood in front of her again, his mouth moving. A look of exasperation crossed his face, before Jade understood he was asking her a question.

  “I’m sorry, I…” Jade shook her head.

  “Is anything missing? Any personal or work effects that might have been on Magnus or in this office?”

  Jade forced herself to look at Papa’s body. “I don’t think…” Jade started. A pale stripe on Papa’s finger jumped out at her where it lay still on the desk. “Wait…” Jade looked more closely. “Yes. He wore a ring on this finger. His Gariq family ring.”

  Tall One exchanged a look with Short One, who made a note of this information.

  “Magnus Gariq’s body will be taken to the Healing Centre in the Temple for proper examination. Your mother will be notified when his body is ready for the funeral rites. Also, investigators may examine this room more closely, so it should not be disturbed. Do you understand?”