Sarah and Jupiter ran onto the deck. Thunderous cracks and booms rocked the skyship. Then the cries of the manisaur warriors and sailors when they rushed to defend against the strike.

Jupiter made for the outrigger.

‘Sarah. Stay close. We’ve got to defend the zharaqsa. And The Jupiter.’

Sarah pulled her long bade from the scabbard over her back. The saber like sword had less reach than a classic long sword which would not fit onto a Clan rider’s back. The long blade only reached the small of her back but Jupiter marveled at her confidence and skill as she stepped into the rebel line at the railing and help hold off the initial shock troops.

‘I told you we should have flown far from here,’ Breeze stood on The Jupiter with his own short blade. ‘The rebels had not made their escape.’

‘Help me make ready for The Jupiter to sail.’

Two of Gan’s Lana-Lankhaka stepped close to The Jupiter.

‘We have orders to defend you.’

‘Great. Thanks. We’ll be out of your hair… um… fur-feathers… we’ll be gone as soon as we get the sail up.’

‘You are not to go,’ said one of the warriors.

‘Nonsense.’

‘Ganarasha orders it. You are to stay.’

‘Even…’ Jupiter’s words failed him as the skyship dropped from under him and he seemed to float in freefall, except he had held on.

Breeze squawked in alarm but the warriors just laughed. Then the fall stopped.

‘You need to listen for the commands,’ one said with a bobble of amusement.

‘But you shall stay here until Ganarasha says you can leave.

Jupiter looked for Sarah and found her fallen on the deck but she bounced to her feet and rushed to his side.

‘They tried to break free of the Imperial skyship, But it is much smaller than ours, and lashed on already.’

Jupiter recognized the skyship now.

‘That’s Dahk’s ship. The Nakhevaqum. Winged Dream… or something.’

‘And who is Dahk?’

‘A friend. On the rebel’s side. I thought.’

Jupiter moved to the railing and saw both sides had fallen back and stared each other. High overhead the two fleets continued to flight. Things fell from up high. Jupiter did not look too close to see what they were.

Jupiter and Sarah stood side by side. Jupiter saw them then. Dahk and Maggie. She pointed out Jupiter and the outrigger. But she had a frown on her face.

‘What’s wrong with her?’

Ganarasha strode towards the two humans as silence fell over the two skyships.

‘You did not tell me all that I needed to know, Jupiter Drake.’

‘What of it? It is no concern of yours?’

‘You have zharaqsa. Enough to buy whole fleets.’ He stared behind Jupiter at the outrigger. ‘I should have searched those curious bags you carry.’

‘It’s not that I hid them from you. I’m just dead tired. We’re more interested in sleep and food and…

‘Yes. But this is perhaps the most important turning of the fight with the Emperor and I had to learn of it from him.’ Gan pointed at Dahk and Maggie. Tamm had arrived on deck and stood with them.

’Sure. I apologize.’

‘And now he wants his share. What should I do young human? Give a treasure to the turncoat Imperial officer who attacks us one moment, and surrenders the next?’

‘Dahk is a friend.’

‘Is he?’

‘Maggie and Tamm…’

‘The sejrat’sha. I’m not sure which turned blade I trust less. Vishvasalana or Tambuqaram.’

‘If Maggie and Tamm are there then so is Berg. Hamrabamrushi and his daughter Zaj.’

Gan’s aura flashed with surprise and he strode to the railing.

‘Captain Nakhevaqum Vishvasalana,’ Gan shouted across to the smaller vessel. ‘You know my secrets. I know one of yours. You carry Bamrushi.’

‘What of it? We will light for Naruham after this sham fight. We limp away. But not before you give us a share of the zharaqsa you carry.’

‘It is not his to give,’ said Jupiter. Breeze came alongside and tugged at Jupiter’s coat. ‘It is not part of this fight.’

‘Oh but it is. A treasure that can buy fleets should not be in the hands of Qvazira — human.’

‘Oh. It’s not. Varuk’hat would tell you it belongs to him.’

‘Aramqhami?’ said Gan. ‘You leave it to chance? To the chaos that comes from an agent of fate?’

Jupiter waved his arm at The Jupiter. ‘Let me fly from here. Neither of you have need of it.’

‘Oh we have need,’ said Dahk. ‘My flight engine falters. I need more lit zharaqsa.’

‘As do the rebals,’ said Gan.

Jupiter looked for Breeze. ‘Oh damn.’ The imp had not been playing with his coat, he had taken the gun back and now stood on the outrigger with the gun aimed at Gan.

‘You can’t threaten him with a gun Breeze. He’s got no idea what it can do.’

‘We need a demonstration then.’ And he shot the two Lana-Lankhaka who fell without a sound onto the deck. ‘Tell them I can take out the entire crew before they can blink.’

‘Ah…’ Jupiter started to speak but a volley of arrows rattled around Breeze. But the imp just jumped into the hull and shot out three more warriors. ‘He’ll stop you I think. He’s a good shot but hard to hit himself.’

Jupiter stared over the deck at Maggie and he knew.

She told Dahk about the crystals. What’s the matter with her?

‘So we have a stand off,’ said Dahk. ‘What would you do Ganarasha? Shall we fight for real or throw all our forces at the imp hoping he will be overcome. But at what cost?’

‘How much zharaqsa do you want?’ Jupiter said. He remembered how Dahk had only taken what he needed the night they had met in the vanukam on Zenska.

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

He could have taken all.

‘Given the weight you carry I think you can spare ten. Or twenty.’

Gan had turned to Jupiter and so only he saw the flash of surprise on the manisaur’s aura before he got himself under control.

‘Done,’ said Gan. ‘And we limp our separate ways?’

‘Yes. We sail for Naruham. We will lower a mast or two and fake injury.’

‘And we will fire our kitchen until smoke billows to obscure our preparations from view.’

‘Tell them no,’ said Breeze. ‘We cannot give them the zharaqsa. It may fall into the Arthan’s hands.’

‘The blackbirders need never know,’ said Jupiter. He had already begun to count out the crystals.

‘Don’t make me shoot you Jupiter,’ said Breeze.

‘Do it. And then see where it will get you. I know you will fast run out of shots until that thing recharges. By then Gan’s crew will have you anyway.’

Jupiter carried the crystals in the hem of his coat. All the while he glared at Maggie.

She risked everything by telling them our secrets.

The crew transferred the crystals over the railing. All had auras that pulsed with awe and uncertainty.

I know what you mean. So much wealth being given to the enemy.

But both crews remained loyal to their captains. Then a rush of smoke billowed out like an explosion and masts and spars fell in crashes to the deck. He ran to Sarah as chaos seemed to reign.

He hoped everything went to plan. In the smoke they clambered back to The Jupiter and he made ready to fly.

I’m not going to risk everything on Gan’s say so.

Then a huge crash shuddered through the sksyhip and spars and rigging rained down on the deck.

The two skyships broke apart as the two crews hacked at broken ropes and wooden spars. More debris rained down from the battle that raged higher overhead. Smoke shrouded the two vessels as the galley carried out Gan’s order.

Through the haze Jupiter saw when Maggie turned away from him. She had a look of triumph that made his guts lurch.

She really hates me now.

‘I tried to help you and you repay me by stealing from me?’

‘What did you say?’ Sarah came close and drew him towards clearer air and The Jupiter.

‘It’s not safe here,’ said Breeze. ‘We should get to ready for flight.

‘No. They know now,’ Jupiter said. ‘We’ll not get the chance to leave.’ Gan had more crew standing nearby. They remained wary of the imp with the gun. ‘But you’ve made enemies today.’

‘Oh those two will wake up soon.’

‘I know it. But until they recover…’ Jupiter trailed off as the skyship surged up. An order came to let go a line with a something on it. Jupiter did not understand the word and he leaned over the railing to see what the crew lowered.

A cone shaped cloth on the end of a heavy chain dropped towards the ground.

‘They’re going to use the river. To drag us free of the battle and across the wind.’

The scoop hit the fast current in the river only fifty metres below and the skyship swung around. The wind blew the smoke clear and they saw the battle moving away to the east as the mountain winds pushed the fighting skyships off. Dahk’s skyship flew low, with lowered masts and tattered sails the made it look like it had been badly damaged.

Then the river swung in a curve around a low hill and the battle disappeared from view.

‘Jupiter. Look,’ Sarah tugged at Jupiter’s shoulder and turned him towards the curve of the river. It’s powder blue waters showed it still carried the melt from the glaciers of the high mountains. But Jupiter saw what Sarah had spotted.

‘Mounts, and riders,’ Jupiter said. ‘Clan.’

‘But you see who it is though?’ Sarah said.

‘Yeah. It’s Dusty and the manisaur with him must be Khavuraqo.’

‘They got away from Grey and the blackbirders,’ said Sarah. ‘I feel like a coward for abandoning them.’

‘We had to get to the portal.’

‘For what? So the Clan would be broken. You didn’t even return home.’

‘You know the reason for that. I only ever wanted Walt and Tiz and Jan to get home.’

‘And to save Maggie.’

‘Let’s not argue,’ said Jupiter. ‘I can see that was a bad idea now. She hates me for it. I’m not sure I blame her now.’

‘They’re running. I don’t blame them. Skyships have only ever been a danger for the Clan.’

‘Do you want to join them?’ said Jupiter. His heart raced but he had to know. ‘Do you want to ride with the Clan again?’

‘Do you?’

‘No. We have to get the zharaqsa somewhere safe. We need The Jupiter for that.’

‘And I will fly with you. I have lost my mount, but found something better.’

Jupiter grinned.

I hope she means me and not The Jupiter.

‘Somehow though. We need to tell them.’

But Jupiter had already run off to find Gan.

‘We cannot stop for a few mangy humans,’ said Gan. ‘We need to get clear and hope the rest of the rebels follow.’

‘I’m one of those mangy humans. I rode a mount with them. I am Clan. And they make good allies. You owe them for the zharaqsa.’

‘They think they own it according to your female.’

‘Gan. Relax. I know you don’t trust humans. Mangy humans can lie where quevantaqi don’t. But I think I’ve done enough to earn your trust.’

‘Not yet you haven’t.’

‘Well. I guess I have to believe you. Let me earn it now.’

Gan stared at him, his aura pulsed as he considered Jupiter’s words.’

‘Very well. I can always kill your female and the imp, thought my crew are scared of him.’

‘You won’t. Your aura does not lie, even if your words stretch the truth.’

Gan nodded in the human manner. Jupiter did not know if that meant something different in manisaur but he took it as agreement. Gan then called for the sails to be set, the river drogue pulled up and ann anchor dropped.

All the while the Clan raced to escape.

‘Don’t drop anchor. Drop me instead.’

‘I’m not letting you get away with your flying craft. You will recall I don’t trust you.’

‘No. Drop me on the line. I’ve done it before.’

‘You’re no quevantaqi. How will you hold on?’

‘I’ll just tie a bowline. But give me a knife too. In case I need to cut myself free. But for goodness sake, slow down some at least.

Gan laughed and gave the orders. So Jupiter found himself dangled above the startled Dusty and his mounted riders shouting in Clan for them to pull up so they can talk.

That night Clan and Gan gathered around a fire with Jupiter and Sarah as they shared tales of what had happened to them since they had parted.

‘And so we followed the river east to get well away from further fighting,’ said Dusty. ‘But we had lost the klaed warriors in the fight. Too ready to die they are. Or they fell as we retreated.’

Gan listened to the translation.

‘But we defeated Grey and his blackbirder scum. Grey ran off, left the blackbirders to the fight. I thought it was him when I saw a human on the end of that line.’ Dusty and some of the other Clan laughed at that. Evident relief had made them relaxed, especially with the store of food Gan had given them.

‘And what do you call this drink?’ said one young man. About Jupiter’s age. A River Clan he guessed.

But I have to stop thinking of them in those terms.

‘Zhavaqiko,’ Jupiter said instead. ‘It warms you and makes you alert.’

‘Just when I wanted to relax and have a sleep,’ said Dusty. He put his cup down, but the young man called Pike took a deeper drink and smacked his lips.

‘I’m liking this,’ Pike said.

‘Tell me why we are here,’ said Gan.

‘The Clan make good allies, worse enemies,’ said Jupiter. He had slipped into Thaluk so the humans did not understand. But Jupiter knew Khavuraqo hear it all. Gan seemed to have forgotten him,

Or assuming Khavuraqo’s first loyalty would be to manisaurs.

Jupiter turned to Dusty. ‘I have the zharaqsa Varuk’hat took from the blackbirder skyship.’

Sarah turned to Jupiter in surprise and opened her mount.

But Jupiter carried on. ‘It has been the cause of all trouble for the Clan. The blackbirders want it, and will destroy all who have it.’

‘We are well shot of it then,’ said Dusty.

‘But it is a great treasure…’

‘It is strange how some people confuse liabilities with assets. The Clan has never needed this treasure before. We do not need it now.’

Sarah looked between Dusty and Jupiter.

‘You knew,’ she said to Jupiter. ‘Yeah. But you wouldn’t believe me. We’re not stealing from the Clan, we’re saving them.’

‘And Varuk’hat?’

‘He gets it. He just wants to make sure the blackbirders don’t get it.’

Gan leaned forward. ‘These humans are no nuvra, but they have no tulanvarqa. Tell me again the point of all this.’

Jupiter explain to Gan how the Clan had no claim on the zharaqsa but they were willing to help the rebellion.

‘They just have one price for gifting you the zharaqsa.’

‘Gifting. It was never theirs to give,’ Gan said. He and Jupiter stared at one another as if exchanging aura communication. ‘What is it?’

‘We transport these warriors to their people. In the klaed.’

‘So they join with the mountain people. It is good. Now the klaed have allied with the opposition to the Emperor they would do well to take in more warriors. These Rivashka are worthy fighters. But there are so few of them.’

‘These are only those that escorted us through Hatunqari. There are many more with the klaed militia.’

‘And helping these few…’

‘These few leaders. Dusty is the elected head of the Clan.’

‘As am I,’ Khavuraqo said.

‘You are a Rivashka leader?’ said Gan. ‘Impossible.’

‘I do not lie, no matter your disbelief.’

Gan’s aura flashed and he took a sip of zhavaqiko to cover his confusion, his bowed head shielded his aura.

When he raised his head Gan had made a decision.

‘Agreed. I will take on your Clan. But you must keep those monsters away from my gharumal. I’ll not have them scared half to death by your meat eaters.’

Jupiter grinned. ‘You just wait until you met the friendly thraqanonkra that travel with them.’

Gan spat his zhavaqiko through his nose.

Huh. Manisaur’s throats are connected to their noses too.

Jupiter thumped Gan on the back as humans and manisaurs all laughed.