CHAPTER ONE
Owen would never escape the vision of his brother on the Red Hand’s blades. It was a mercy he’d been dead by the time they strung him up on the wall, but Owen also knew enough of the outside world to know Fel was a cruel place. A cruel home. Part of him wished he had taken his family away from Fel long ago. He wished he’d taken them onto that strange airship with Jacob and Alice, but he couldn’t leave Hefina behind, and he couldn’t ask those outsiders to wait.
He reached out and rested his hand on his wife’s shoulder. Hefina glanced up at him, her forehead creased as though she expected him to deliver more terrible news.
Owen spoke after a long silence. “It’s good we’re leaving, Hefina.”
She squeezed his hand. “We’ll be home one day. I know it.”
He didn’t answer that thought. In some ways, she was right. They’d find a home. Maybe in Dauschen, if their family had survived there. Or perhaps they’d take to Ancora, where the Ancorans apparently raised children as warriors to face down the likes of Mordair.
Wherever the tides took them, Owen was thankful his son hadn’t seen what had happened to his uncle all those years before.
Even as the thought entered his mind, his gaze trailed to the bow of the speeder, where Vaughn watched the waters like his father had taught him. There was no windscreen at the speeder’s bow, but his son didn’t mind, clearly enjoying the wind on the sea even now.
The Black Sea wasn’t a kind place for speeders, with tall waves and a chill that would cut through the best of the blacksmiths’ diving suits. Owen knew if they sank, they were doomed. But he still guided them past the mouths of the rivers that led through the North Woods.
It wasn’t until they passed the second that Vaughn questioned him. “Why not head inland here?”
“The North Woods haven’t been fond of anyone from Fel in a long time, son. Best to avoid them. And best to keep distance between us and anyone who might have followed.”
Vaughn frowned and looked back at the dark waters. “No one’s going to follow us out here.”
“I lost your uncle, and I’m not going to lose you from a lack of caution.” It was a low blow. Owen didn’t like prodding at old wounds, but he also didn’t like the idea of Vaughn doing something ill-advised in a spur-of-the-moment decision. He remembered being that age, and he’d managed to make terrible decisions, even without his entire city being overthrown.
Maybe that’s what it needed in the end. Maybe it was time for Mordair’s terrible reign to be finished. But the cost was too high. And the thought that Vaughn could die alongside his uncle, and Owen might never see either of them again, was enough to drive him to Dauschen.
He wouldn’t forget his last vision of Fel. The gamble he’d taken, docking their speeder once more after the wall had fallen and those Carrion Worms had crawled up from the depths of the earth. Leaving Vaughn onboard to wait and mind the boat was one of the hardest things he’d ever done, but he’d had to find Hefina.
She’d been smart to shelter between the walls. They’d built small cabinets in the spaces there, and after Mordair had started hanging citizens from the crenellations, Owen had built hiding places into their home. He’d hoped they’d never need them, but they’d become dreadfully useful.
Hefina stood and stepped toward the bow when they reached a calm patch on the waters. She took a seat at her son’s side. Even in silence, Vaughn sat a little straighter, as if her mere presence gave him support. That was good. Support was something they would all need in the days to come.
and fire of another distant airship. Their lines were fractured, but more than one of Belldorn’s ships floated on the sea in pieces.
“You got it, Smith!” Mary shouted. “The rear destroyers are broken. Get back to the engine and get us ready to jump.”
“I can do that,” Jacob said.
“No. If I have to make any sudden moves, Smith knows how to keep himself from getting thrown into the bulkhead. We’re jumping to the next destroyer, and then we’re out of ammunition.”
“Then take us into the clouds,” Alice said. “We can drop bombs from above. You know we’re good at it.”
“Against a handful of ships, yes. In the middle of this chaos? No. And this was supposed to be recon to assess their retreat. I didn’t expect them to fire on us, or I would have left you all in the library!”
The transmitter crackled to life, and Lady Katherine’s voice brought the cabin to silence. “All ships, draw back to the docks. Your orders are to reinforce the city.”
Mary flipped to the channel used by the captains. Several voices came and went, transmissions tumbling one over the other. But the sentiment was almost all the same. She turned to another frequency and clicked the transmitter.
“Eva, are you getting this?”
Static echoed through the cabin before Eva’s voice answered. “Mary! Did you take down that destroyer?”
Jacob looked out the window as the entire afterdeck of the destroyer pulled at the remaining structure. It might be able to limp back across the sea, but he doubted it.
“Yes, but what does Kat have us doing? We have them on the run, and she’s calling off the pursuit?”
“We don’t know if they have more forces ready to attack, Mary. It’s a good strategy. The city has taken enough damage, and we can’t afford to be caught off guard.”
Smith cursed over the horn. “Ready to jump, Mary.”
The captain of the Skysworn took a deep breath and glanced at the trio behind her. “Alright, we’re heading to the docks.”
“I’ll see you soon,” Eva said, disconnecting with a click.
“We can’t!” Jacob said, almost standing up in protest, only to be held down by his harness. “The more ships that escape, the more forces will be waiting in Ballern.”
“We can’t lose Belldorn,” Mary said. “As much as I hate to admit it, Kat’s right, Eva. We’ll see you on the docks.”
“I don’t like it,” Smith said. “Mordair’s fleet is in Ballern now. It will be stronger with these remnants.”
“We can’t take them all on alone.”
The transmitter crackled again. “Skysworn. Mary, this is Kat.”
Alice and Furi both waited at attention for her to say more. Jacob’s gaze wandered back to the carnage outside the windows, both near and far.
Mary eyed the transmitter. “Kat, what is it?”
“I need you to extend your reconnaissance. Follow them home. Can you do that? The Skysworn should blend in well enough at a distance.”
Mary closed her eyes and popped open the horn. “Smith, what do you think?”
“We’ll need to refuel in Ballern, but we could do it.”
“Yes!” Furi said. “I can talk to the Skyborn. Bring more to our side. Kura has a lot of influence on the docks, and I could help.”
“Understood,” Mary said. “We’ll continue west.”
“Be careful. I don’t want to have to explain to Eva why you flew into a mountain.”
Mary let out a low laugh. “I imagine she’d make that a problem for you. Are you sure about the withdrawal, Kat?”
“I have to protect our people. Come home when you can.” Lady Katherine disconnected with a click, and then static.
The Skysworn angled higher into the air, turning toward the northwest at Mary’s command. A terrible vision lit the dark skies, fires casting light like a thousand dying suns drifting through the air and water.
“Hold on.”
The thrusters engaged, slamming Jacob back against his jump seat and drawing a gasp from Furi.
They were in sight of Ballern’s brightest lanterns and docks before the transmitter sounded again. Mary frowned at the rhythmic bursts of static before switching to another frequency.
“What is it?” Furi asked. “Is something wrong?”
Mary shook her head. “No, it’s a signal from Baddawick.” She clicked the transmitter. “This is the Skysworn.”
“Mary? Good, good. It’s, uh … well, I suspect you know who it is. Can we use our names?”
The ship rattled under the force of the thrusters, but Jacob didn’t miss Mary’s smile.
“Yes, Baddawick, we’re secure.”
“Good, that’s good. You know, I didn’t expect so many steps and annoyances to simply talk to you. The others, well, it’s not so complicated with them.”
“Our enemies don’t know about all our locations. They know about me.”
“Fair, that’s fair. To the point! I have a message for Alice. From her mother, in fact.”
“My mom?” Alice asked, almost jumping out of her seat despite the thrusters.
“Stay down. We’re docking soon.”
Alice huffed, but she kept her harness fastened.
“Alice is here,” Mary said. “She can hear you.”
“Good. Alice, I’m to tell you they’re starting to move some residents back into the Lowlands.”
“What?” Alice snapped. “Are they insane?”
Baddawick couldn’t hear Alice’s protests and continued without interruption. “She’s volunteering to help, so you may not find her at the mansion should you return to Ancora. Look for her by the cliff near your old street.” Baddawick’s voice faded. Jacob couldn’t make out what he was saying, but Baddawick’s words cleared soon enough. “Mary, I have to go. Do tell Alice her mother is in good health. I’ve spoken with her several times. Lovely lass. Be safe. For the Steamsworn.”
Mary pressed the transmitter’s button. “For the Stormborn.”
Baddawick’s voice returned with a chuckle. “Word has already reached Ancora about your alliance with the Skyborn. May it end well.”
“Thanks, Baddawick.” Mary cut off the transmitter. “Brace yourselves. Cutting thrusters.”
Jacob wasn’t sure what was more intimidating, the sudden pull of inertia against his harness or the growl that emanated from Alice’s chest.
“The Lowlands!” Alice didn’t wait for the Skysworn to stop rocking or for Smith to stop shouting over the horn about Mary’s overzealous braking. “Has Mom lost it? Going into the Lowlands? There’s nothing there but death and ruins!”
“Maybe it’s getting better,” Jacob said. “Ambrose and his crew, you know?”
Alice rubbed at her forehead. “Ambrose is amazing, but no one is that good, Jacob. Not even with your Mech design. The Fall took everything from the Lowlands.”
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