Airwoman

by Zara Quentin

  “That’s why he needs us.” Cajun shrugged his shoulders. A smile spread across his face. “This is my favourite part. Boom!”

  Glade dropped a light into the puddle of foul-smelling liquid. There was an explosion, then a rush of flames as the liquid abruptly caught alight, rising quickly up the trunk of the tree where Jade was perched. The crackling of flames filled her ears. She clapped a hand over her mouth, pinching her nose, as black smoke threatened to smother her. Below, Cajun started laughing.

  The smoke thickened. She could barely see the Temple building. She broke out into a sweat all over, as the heat of the flames rose. Along the tree line, several tree houses were burning and the flames spread.

  Screams filled the air. More Premyans made desperate dashes for the Temple, though Jade knew it wouldn’t be immune from the flames.

  Jade’s feet and legs became unbearably hot. The flames below her rose higher, devouring the tree. She couldn’t stay, but didn’t want to expose her whereabouts. She waited, hoping Cajun and Glade would move on.

  Cajun and Glade watched, enjoying their handiwork and the ensuing chaos. Just when Jade thought she couldn’t bear the heat any longer, the two Travellers moved a couple of trees over.

  “My turn next.” Cajun stopped at the trunk of another tree and pulled another of the ceramic pots from his belt. Jade’s lungs screamed for oxygen and she gulped another mouthful of air, but instead smoke caught in her throat.

  Jade coughed.

  She clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound, but was a moment too late. Cajun and Glade looked up. At once, Glade found her and pointed her out. Cajun’s eyes glittered, then he lit the pot and, with one sure movement, launched it straight at her.

  Jade screamed and burst out of the top of the canopy. She wrinkled her nose at the smell of the torch fluid, then there was a burning sensation at the tip of her wing.

  It was on fire.

  Jade flicked her burning wing, trying to put out the flames. They dimmed but weren’t extinguished.

  Then Glade was in the air too, following her, with Cajun at his flank. Jade’s eyes darted left, then right. The smoke made her eyes water and she coughed again, feeling heady and disoriented. Her wing was still alight, searing pain at the tip. She lost her bearings, as the black smoke clouded the sky.

  More screams rang out as another Premyan swung across the ropes to the Temple.

  Could she make it?

  Behind her, Glade and Cajun were gaining. She had to give it a try. She flicked her tail to angle herself towards the Temple, and saw Axel putting down a Premyan at the entrance. Then he turned around and scanned the sky.

  Jade saw him spot her as she tucked her wings into a dive and headed straight for him. There was a yell behind her—either Cajun or Glade were following. Probably both.

  Axel stood at the entrance as Jade dove towards him, leaving a trail of smoke and flames in her wake. Axel looked anxious. Beside him, Loraya was yelling, holding a wooden beam in her arms and pointing to the door. Axel crossed his arms and resolutely shook his head at the Premyan leader.

  Knowing the two Airmen were right on her wingtips, Jade didn’t slow down or pull up at all as she approached the Temple. She focused on the heavy door, willing herself to make it. Axel’s mouth moved but the rushing of air in her ears drowned out everything else. Even her own screams. All she saw was the Temple.

  The distance closed and Jade’s instinct told her to slow down, pull up, and circle around. Instead, she forced herself forward, faster.

  “Look out!” she screamed at Axel as she careened closer. She was only a body length away when she closed her eyes and hoped, her wing a streak of flames behind her.

  She barrelled into Axel, crashing into the floor, tumbling over and over. She bumped her hip, shoulder, elbow. Arms and legs and wings were everywhere, her own and others tangled as she skidded across the floor.

  She came to a halt as a loud, crunching sound muffled the roaring of fires. Jade opened her eyes to see a long, solid piece of wood slide behind the closed door. They were locked in.

  Axel, whose arms and legs were tangled with hers, drew her to him and held her close. He planted a kiss on her forehead. Jade rested her head against his, fighting back a cough. A sudden stinging sensation reminded Jade of the flames. She grabbed at her wing, the edge of which was blackened and smoking, but the flames had been extinguished in the chaos of her landing.

  She gasped a mouthful of air and coughed several times, clearing her lungs of smoke, then she scanned the faces around her. Neve lay close to the stone altar. Her eyes were wide and staring, but she patted the hand of the Premyan next to her and said something. Jade almost smiled—of course, Neve would comfort someone else in the midst of her own terror.

  Inside the Temple, the Premyans fell silent. Someone thumped on the door, then cursed.

  “They’ve barricaded themselves inside, sir.” Jade recognised Glade’s voice.

  “They’re all in there. Must be a safe house or something.” This time it was Vance’s voice she heard.

  “Sir, we could kill two birds with one stone.” Glade spoke again. “The girl and these cursed Premyans.”

  There was a silence. Jade held her breath, staring in the direction of the sound as though the force of her eyes could burn a hole straight through the Temple wall.

  “Do it,” Vance commanded.

  Jade gasped, then looked up to meet Axel’s eyes. There was no twinkle in them now. Before either of them spoke, there was the sound of something smashing on the outside walls of the Temple. Jade wrinkled her nose as she smelt lamp fuel.

  There was a crackle of flames outside and smoke seeped through the crack under the door.

  The Temple was on fire.

  25

  Flames roared, but didn’t quite drown out the whimpering and sobbing around her. Jade gritted her teeth at the sound of Travellers cheering outside. She didn’t hold out any hope that they’d be able to leave now. As Axel and Neve said, the Travellers wanted revenge for the deaths of friends and colleagues. They wanted punishment for the people who had disrespected their role in the Dragonverse. These Travellers would watch the fire burn down to its embers. There would be no survivors. No escape.

  Smoke pressed in through the cracks in the doors and windows. Heat radiated through the walls. The atmosphere inside the Temple quickly became unbearable. Whimpers became cries and coughs grew louder. Most Premyans were huddled in the centre of the hall, wide-eyed and clutching each other. Their fear pulsated and grew as it became hotter. A rivulet of sweat trickled down the side of Jade’s face and Axel’s hand was moist where she clutched it. She met his eyes and saw her own fear reflected there.

  What could they do? The Travellers were outside, bows ready, waiting to take down anyone who ran for it. They would take no prisoners. Nobody would survive to tell the tale of what happened here.

  Jade’s hands trembled as she remembered what she’d heard Cajun and Glade talking about. Whoever killed Papa was behind the killings on Premye and now wanted to kill her. But who? She couldn’t believe Vance was obeying orders from Scosse. Papa had always spoken too highly of him. But Denger? Zorman said he never liked Papa.

  Jade slouched, her body collapsing in on itself. She would never know. Whoever ordered this massacre wouldn’t want survivors to testify to burning an entire village. Ordinary Taraqans—angry as they were at the killing of their own people—wouldn’t condone these actions from their Traveller Force. Would they?

  Jade clutched at her neck chain and felt for the Three Eigot charm that Papa had held as he’d breathed his last. She wrapped the other hand around her chest. She was going to die here and Papa’s mission would never be completed. His killer would never be found. The Dragon-Gods would never let him rest.

  I’m sorry I failed you, Papa.

  Suddenly Jade wondered whether the Dragon-Gods would bar her passage to the afterlife too, since she would also fail to return the red Eigot. Perhaps neither of the
m would ever rest.

  There was an explosive bang inside the Temple, followed by screams that sent shivers down Jade’s spine. She spun around to see one of the wooden carvings on the far wall had caught alight, exploding with the heat. People backed away, as the flames quickly caught to the other panels. A lamented wail filled the air as the truth settled over the Premyans. They had sought out the Temple to save them, but it would become their tomb.

  In the middle of it all, only Loraya was calm. She moved among her people, touching them lightly on the shoulder or arm. She murmured soothing words. She gently encouraged the crowd to gather around the altar, where DivineOne now perched in the hot coals with the yellow Eigot, His wings outspread to encircle and protect His sister-Eigot. He held His head high and seemed to be enjoying the terrible heat, though His eyes flashed dangerously.

  The tapestries lining the other three walls began to smoke and Jade knew it wouldn’t be much longer before they also caught alight. A smoky haze darkened the room. Jade coughed again, finding it harder to draw breath. She covered her nose and mouth with the fabric of her shirt, but kept coughing. The smoke stung her eyes, making them run with tears.

  The flames danced along the wooden carvings, drawing Jade’s eye. In the middle of the chaos and confusion, Jade found them more beautiful than ever. Almost as though this was the way they were supposed to be seen. Then, one by one, the carvings blackened and crumbled. The first fell to the floor with a crash, scattering fiery sparks. It was punctuated by a scream from somewhere else in the Temple. Jade watched as it burned, sad that work of such beauty would be so senselessly destroyed, reduced to ashes and lost forever.

  Except one.

  In the midst of the fire, heat, smoke and haze, Jade remembered what Namaje had told her. One carving was lost—stolen. It, at least, would survive.

  Another panel crashed to the floor. Jade felt dizzy, as the world around her seemed to slow and stop. She blinked, suddenly remembering where she’d seen the missing carving.

  She clutched her stomach and doubled over, retching. With a certainty that brought everything into sharp focus, Jade remembered Uncle Zorman had showed her the carved wood panel on the day Papa had been killed.

  It all came back to Zorman.

  * * *

  Jade crouched on the floor, clutching her stomach. There was a hand on her shoulder. Axel’s feet came to stand in front of her. Jade looked up to see his mouth moving, but if she heard what he was saying, she didn’t register it. He pointed to the other side of the Temple.

  Jade turned to see what he was pointing at.

  One by one, the Premyans were wading into one of DivineOne’s bathing pools. Jade watched as Namaje stepped into the clear water, crouched down, then ducked her head under the surface.

  Jade waited for Namaje to reappear. Long seconds passed and Jade’s throat tightened. She clutched Axel’s hand, her eyes darting from one side of the pool to the other, but Namaje was not there. Had she drowned herself to avoid burning to death? Another Premyan disappeared below the surface and did not reappear. Were they all doing it? Jade covered her mouth and looked at Axel.

  His mouth was set in grim determination. He pulled her over to the bathing pool, coming to stand with the Premyans who were waiting their turn. Loraya stood on the edge of the pool, murmuring to the Premyans who waded into the water, one after the other.

  Jade yanked on Axel’s hand, pulling him away from the pool. She met Axel’s eyes and shook her head. She couldn’t drown herself. Even with the knowledge that she would certainly burn to death, she couldn’t kill herself.

  Axel frowned. He leaned forward to shout something in her ear, but Jade still didn’t catch it. He moved closer, his mouth next to her ear.

  “…can’t you swim?” Axel made a swimming motion with his hands.

  This time Jade frowned. Swim? Axel pointed to where another Premyan had just disappeared below the surface of the water.

  “A way out…” Axel said. “…channel…”

  The roaring flames carrying away most of his words but, despite that, Jade’s eyes widened as she suddenly understood.

  These people were not drowning themselves, they were escaping. She remembered the covered irrigation channels that ran through the muddy clearing and felt a flicker of hope in her stomach. Axel stepped aside, motioning to Jade that she should take his place in the line. Jade watched the next Premyan enter the water, disappearing. She shook her head.

  “You go first,” she said, looking into his brown eyes. Axel started to shake his head, but Jade insisted. “I will follow. I will.” Axel looked unsure, but the last Premyan was wading into the water. Only Loraya was left, standing with DivineOne, who sat on the bed of coals.

  It was their turn to leave. Jade gently but firmly pushed him towards the water. “Go!”

  As Axel waded into the water, the barred wooden door burst into flames with a crash. Jade jumped, a hit of adrenalin sending shockwaves through her. Waist deep, Axel turned worried eyes in her direction.

  “Go! I’ll follow!” Jade said. She dipped one foot into the first step, the cool water a welcome contrast to the suffocating heat radiating through the Temple. Axel nodded and ducked his head underneath the surface. A moment later, his silhouette disappeared.

  Jade looked over at Loraya, still talking to DivineOne. She jabbed a finger frantically toward the water, then pressed her hands together, begging Him. DivineOne shook His head. He wouldn’t budge.

  Loraya glanced around, panicked. It was the first time she’d lost her appearance of control. Jade had promised Axel she’d be right behind him, but she hesitated. Loraya couldn’t evacuate both DivineOne and the yellow Eigot. It suddenly occurred to her that perhaps DivineOne was refusing to leave His sister-Eigot.

  One of the burning tapestries fell away from wall and crashed to the floor, startling Jade. The walls were ablaze now and the suffocating smoke blocked almost everything out. Jade looked down at where she stood ankle deep in water, then back towards Loraya and DivineOne. The smoke blurred their forms. It wouldn’t be long before they would all pass out. There was no time to waste.

  Jade clenched her teeth, still masking her mouth and nose with her shirt, crouched close to the ground and ran.

  “I’ll take the Eigot,” Jade screamed as she hurtled towards Loraya and DivineOne. “You take DivineOne.” Without waiting for a response, Jade plunged her hands into the bed of coals and lifted the yellow Eigot out.

  The Eigot was cool against her hands as she cradled it close to her body and lunged back towards the bathing pool.

  On the edge of the pool, Jade hesitated, but only for a moment. She’d been submerged before—all Taraqan children were taught water survival skills—but she’d never liked it much. This time, though, the choice between her dislike of the water was overshadowed by her fear of being burnt alive. Jade jumped into the pool, gasping as the cool water enveloped her. She inhaled a deep breath of smoky air, then closed her eyes and dove under.

  The cool water closed in on her. Instinctively, she moved her wings, as she would in the air, but underwater, they were heavy and difficult to manoeuvre. In a panic, she kicked out with her legs and banged her knee on something hard.

  The bottom. She breathed out a stream of bubbles as she set one hand and her knees on the bottom, her other hand still cradling the Eigot, and crawled slowly along. She moved towards a dark space at the other end of the pool where the water was churned up into millions of tiny bubbles.

  This must be where the others had disappeared. Jade moved awkwardly, her wings dragging against the water. She tucked them close to her back while she used her free arm to half-swim, half-pull herself along bottom of the pool, but it was hard going.

  She entered the darkened tunnel and her lungs were soon bursting for air. Jade fought against the urge to breathe in a lungful of water. Shards of light glittered in the water ahead of her and she pushed herself towards them.

  Jade reached up to the surface, slipping her h
and out of the water. Her fingertips brushed the rough reed mat that covered the channel. Between the mat and the surface of the water was a pocket of air.

  Lungs bursting, Jade rolled onto her back and pushed her face up until her lips pierced the surface of the water. She exhaled, coughing, then gasped a breath, her lungs heaving. The water in her ears drowned out any other sounds and Jade remained there, taking deep breaths until her lungs steadied and her pulse quietened.

  A presence pressed in behind her. It was Loraya following behind. Jade had to keep going since there was only enough space in the channel for one person to pass at a time. Jade rolled and sank under the water again, pulling herself along the bottom while keeping the yellow Eigot clutched to her chest.

  When her lungs started bursting again, she rolled over and pushed her face to the surface to take another breath, this time not so desperate as to stop moving for long.

  After what seemed like forever, the tunnel changed. There was more dappled light in the water and the current strengthened.

  Suddenly a hand thrust into the water and grabbed Jade’s upper arm, hauling her out. Jade broke the surface, water streaming from her wings. She gulped down a deep breath, still clutching the yellow Eigot close. Her eyes darted around, afraid they’d been discovered. But Axel pulled her into a fierce hug, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and holding her close. Next to him, Namaje squeezed her arm. Jade let out a short, relieved laugh and let Namaje take the Eigot from her.

  “You took so long…” Axel said, as he pressed his cheek to the top of her head. “I thought—”

  Loraya’s head broke the surface, gasping for breath. Jade saw the whites of her eyes showing as they darted left and right. Something was wrong.