Maggie scrambled onto the deck of the skyship. Tamm and another crew member pulled her the last of the way.

Her muscles cramped as she released her grip but relief washed through her.

I never want to do that again. Not ever.

Manisaurs were adept at climbing and seemed to have little fear of heights. But then they had two thumbs on each hand and feet that could grasp as well. So Tamm’s hold on her had been secure even when he had used just one hand to hold her until she had got her feet onto the wood at the end of the rope.

Except then they had to climb. Thankfully the rope had been pulled most of the way so her puny rope climbing skills had not been needed.

She massaged the aching muscles and where her wrist had been rubbed raw by Tamm’s hard grip.

None of the crew paid her any attention. Dahk’s Imperial skycutter teemed with manisaurs even if it had a smaller crew than the larger skyships she had been on. Smaller, but it still stretched almost a hundred feet long with two large main masts, and a pair of side masts that hung out to port and starboard, almost like the skyship tried to be a butterfly. A full spread of sails had been set, and crew bustled about in the rigging adjusting ropes and repairing damage caused during the fighting the previous night.

‘We’re running before the wind,’ said Tamm. ‘Straight at the rebel fleet.’

‘We’re attacking them?’ Maggie said. ‘I thought Dahk was on our side.’

‘ e’s not on the blackbirders, or the Air Lord’s side at least. At least he responded to the signals I gave the crew.’

‘I’m amazed they noticed at all.’

‘But I think it interesting his rigging has little injury. They did not get hit in the fighting as badly as other Imperial craft.’

‘I hadn’t noticed. But now you mention it…’ Maggie trailed off as she stared about the vessel packed with Imperial sailors and fighters.

‘Perhaps the skycutter did not have seen much action last night.Could’ve been held back in reserve,’ said Tamm.

‘Staying out of the fight?’

‘Or not attacking the rebels at least.’

Maggie joined Tamm at the rail. Berg and Zaj had disappeared long before. Both had scaled the rope with ease while Tamm had helped Maggie. She stared at his powerful hands and backwards looking legs.

They’re so alien. Almost like humans. But then it gets so I can’t work them out.

‘I guess I haven’t needed to,’ she said under her breath.

‘What did you say?’ Tamm turned from his study of the two fleets. ‘You spoke in…’

‘English. I guess when I speak to myself it’s in English. Next time I mutter like a loon I’ll do it in Thaluk from now on shall I?’

‘What didn’t you need?’ Tamm said. ‘You said that, but I did catch the sense of it.’

‘That’s tulanvarqa muddling things. Maybe it’s easier with Thaluk. The same language just different sounds… for the same words.’

The nonsensicality of that idea made her pause.

‘But that’s how it is,’ she said. ‘Isn’t it? Sister languages for two species.’

Tamm’s aura flashed with uncertainty.

‘Do you often talk to yourself?’ said Tamm. ‘I’m here. Why don’t you just talk to me instead?’

‘It’s just the way I organize my thoughts. Especially when I don’t know what to do. Or uncomfortable… Or scared.’

‘Why are you scared? You’re safe now.’

‘Yes. But I still feel I’m being carried around. Like a parcel.’

‘You wanted me to drop you?’

Maggie laughed. ‘No. You saved my life. And at least I’m with friends now.’

‘But you still don’t know what to do?’

‘Oh I know what I want to do alright. I just don’t know how to do it.’

‘And what’s that?’

She paused. ‘I can’t say. But I need to know where Jupiter is to do it. And what he’s doing.’

‘You’ve got your chance,’ Tamm pointed towards the rebels. ‘That’s Jupiter’s flying outrigger on Gan’s Kitaraham.’

‘Where’s the captain?’ Maggie asked one of the crew.

‘On the bridge,’ said the sailor as he stepped onto the ratlines on one of the side masts. ‘But he’s not for one of your sort.’

‘The Captain’s a friend,’ Maggie said but the manisaur had swung away without further help to her. ‘He knows me.’

‘You’re tired,’ said Tamm and pulled her away towards the companionway. ‘And you will need food. Even I do. Come below and we will join Bamrushi and Zaj’quetza.’

‘You go on after Berg. I’ve got to see the captain. Dahk will see me. He has to.’ She strode along the deck with a reluctant Tamm behind her.

‘He will be occupied.’ Tamm stopped walking but Maggie ignored him. ‘I have other concerns,’ he said and turned away. She didn’t follow or see where he went.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Probably pining after Zaj.

Ranged along a line ahead Maggie saw the rebel fleet up ready for the Imperial skyships to attack as they bore down on the rebels from upwind.

Strange to be in the opposing fleet. How will Dahk play this?

Now she could see The Jupiter on the rear deck of one of the larger rebel skyships. She walked across the wooden deck until the side masts hid the rebel fleet from view.

The bridge on the skycutter lay between the two main masts on a platform so it had a better view of the deck. A pair of intimidating warriors stood at the bottom of the steps that led to the bridge structure. Like all manisaur steps they had much higher treads than Maggie found useful, but she made ready to climb them.

‘Stop. You may not enter.’ The warriors lowered their weapons until they crossed to bar her way.

‘Oh don’t be silly,’ said Maggie. ‘I know Captain Dahk.’

‘Who do you speak of? There is no…’ The warrior began.

‘Vishvasalana — Faithful Waters. He knows me. I’m a friend of Jupiter Drake.’

Another officer looked down from the top of the steps, his aura flashed with enquiry.

‘I’m Maggie. I came aboard with Berg. Hamrabamrushi and his daughter.’

This confused the warriors even more. Their auras firmed up and they took a step towards her.

‘I have to speak to the captain,’ Maggie said and raised her voice in the hope it would carry. ‘He will want to hear what I have to say.’

An officer waved Maggie up and then gave a sharp whistle that Maggie took to mean relax, or at ease. The warriors stood back and she stepped up to the bridge level.

Maggie stared at the scene. Dahk stood at a tactical board next to his officers with messengers nearby at the ready. Probably to send instructions to the crew out on the masts and booms. Other crew brought reports from lookouts and the officers adjusted the tactical situation as the new information arrived.

‘As you see. Captain Nakhevaqum is busy.’ The officer blocked her way. ‘You should wait.’

But Maggie pushed past and searched the face of the manisaur she thought to be Dahk. The crewman had called him Nakhevaqum, the name of his ship. Could he be the same manisaur she knew? She searched to recognize the captain in his grand webbing of rank. She had more trouble working out who was who than Jupiter appeared to.

‘Captain Nakhevaqum. Vishvasalana? Dahk?’ She stumbled over the words. As the manisaur turned to her his aura flashed with annoyance.

‘Young human. Female. Yes yes. I saw you struggle aboard with our friends… and Tambuqaram. Welcome. However I am busy. We are to attack the rebels, but without too much damage to either side.’

Captain Nakhevaqum — Dahk turned away.

‘How lit is your zharaqsa?’ Maggie said. ‘Is your flight catalyst charged?’

Dahk eyed her again with a hint of curiosity at her change in direction. ‘It is adequate. Though the Imperial fleet is low, there is enough for the moment. What of it?’

‘Jupiter has many crystals. I don’t know how much. But a lot. It would be good for you and… our friends… to keep it safe.’

The Captain stepped close and lowered his head. ‘What are you saying? Jupiter took some catalyst from the flightworks at Zenska…’

‘No. Much more than that. Enough for several fleets for months.’

Dahk pulled her off to the side of the bridge and gestured for his bridge crew to give them some privacy.

‘This crew is first loyal to me. But they will attack the rebels with a will once we engage. And I have to do so in a manner that does not the course of the battle. But what do you know of Jupiter Drake and a hoard of zharaqsa?’

‘Jupiter and a group of humans from the southern lands took it.’

‘The Rivashka? The Ice Warriors from the snow lands we fought last night?’ Dahk’s aura flashed with surprise.

‘Yes. He stole a huge number of the crystals from a blackbirder skyship. I don’t know how. But there is so much even The Jupiter found it hard to fly off with it. And only space for three people. If you can get to him he can share it with you.’

‘And where is Jupiter and this zharaqsa now?’ Dahk looked toward the tactical board.

Maggie stepped to the side of the bridge and out from under the canopy. ‘On Gan’s skyship Kitaraham. The Jupiter landed on it. I saw the flying outrigger there.’ She looked to the rebel fleet but could not see which of the rebel skyships was Kitaraham.

‘How do you know he still has the flight crystals?’

‘I don’t. But one of your crew with better eyes might see the many bags lashed on the outrigger platforms.’

Dahk gave a whistling order and a pair of the messengers broke away to join him.

‘Climb the foremast and look for the Kitaraham with a smaller vessel on in. And see what the craft carries as freight.’ As impatience got the better of him Dahk himself stepped onto the side spar. He ran along the wooden beam towards the outermost end where he could look past the billowing side sails.

‘And what would you have me do with this information?’ said Dahk when he returned.

‘Jupiter will want to share the zharaqsa with his allies. Why leave the treasure to the Rivashka? The people of the south don’t have a use for it. You can gather it up and take it for the rebels.’

‘And with it I could control the fate of fleets.’

Maggie frowned. ‘Yes. Something like that.’

Jupiter has to share that zharaqsa.

‘But you have to give over some to me,’ said Maggie.

‘Why is that? What use to you is it?’

‘I found the zharaqsa for you. Told you of it. And I need some.’

‘What use would you have for flight crystals but no skyship?’

‘Oh, it’s not for me to use. But I think it would help Bergwash Bamrushi. Don’t you think?’

She didn’t voice the thought even to herself, but a part of her wanted Jupiter to lose. Even if it was in his friend’s best interests.

Dahk ordered his skycutter, the Nakhevaqum, to collide with Gan’s Kitaraham aft of the side masts to avoid damage to them. But also to be close to The Jupiter.

‘I aim to take her,’ said Dahk.

‘You’re going to attack?’ said Maggie. Her heart began to race.

I didn’t meant to put you in danger Jupiter.

‘As bloodlessly as possible,’ said the captain. ‘But attack nonetheless. The Imperial Fleet watches. If we do not, another vessel will, and with more vehemence.’

‘Don’t hurt the humans. Or damage the outrigger,’ Maggie shouted as battle cries rose from all sides.

The Imperial fleet closed with the rebels. The great sails shadowed the rebels and the larger vessels bore down upon them eager to renew the battle that had broken off the previous night when the winds failed.

‘Last night,’ said Dahk. ‘The Rebels slipped from between the Imperial pincer by using ground forces to attack the imperial’s towing beasts. That got them clear when their own gharumals brought them out. But you see. Their huge beasts have tired. We have them pinned down. Less room for maneuver in the wind that we shadowe from them.’

Maggie stared at Dahk. He seemed to be proud of the Imperial forces success.

‘Who do you want to win?’

‘I hope for the rebels to escape,’ Dahk said close to her hearing. ‘But I cannot aid them, or hinder the Imperials.’

‘Why not?’

‘That is my role in this. I fight the Air Lord in any way I can. At the moment it is best I remain hidden amongst the Imperials.’

‘And yet you took in Berg and Zaj, me and Tamm?’

‘When Tamm signaled me, I had doubts. But where better to hide the great Hamrabamrushi than in the Imperial Fleet? You’ve not seen them have you? They are safe. And I want what they want.’

‘So you’re not a rebel.’

‘Only when it suits my cause.’

‘And what’s that?’

‘Defeat of the Aelqemist. Hold tight. We are about to strike Gan’s ship. I must be in the attack in order to get him to yield with minimal casualties.’

Dahk took up his tarusha — long blade, and loped off to the prow of his vessel. The skyships hit one another and the captain swung across with the first fighters.

Maggie stood stunned.

‘But I didn’t mean for you to fight. Not like this…’

She saw Gan run to meet Dahk. They traded blows while their auras flashed. Crew on both sides fell but the undermanned rebel skyship could not both maneuver and fight the battle. The two vessels spiraled out of the line as their rigging and sails tangled. The fighting ebbed and flowed across the deck of the rebel skyship.

Maggie’s world dropped from under her. Both skyships fell from the sky towards the riverbed below. She grabbed hold of the railing, pulled herself close. And she screamed.