‘The black skyship came in this morning,’ the young manisaur said.

‘Blackbirders,’ Jupiter said. ’Must be.’

’No. Blackbirders do not use skyships.’ The old manisaur wheezed as if trying to laugh like a human. Perhaps he was.

‘They travel by sea, at night.’ The old manisaur glared at the old woman. ‘There are no Blackbirders in Qhayuvakham.’

‘But I saw them take some people. Quevantaqi even. From the market. They could be Blackbirders.’

The old woman dropped her gaze from the manisaur and pressed her face to the top of the young boy.

‘But I don’t know for sure.’ The young manisaur seemed nervous and frightened. ‘I saw a disturbance but I did not want to remain on the street to learn more.’

‘A wise move Nalamashet. I wish you would make more such,’ said the old manisaur.

‘Nalamashet? You are a sailor?’ said Jupiter. He puzzled the meaning of the name. Tulanvarqa gave him some sense of the meaning from the manisaur sounds, and corresponding Thaluk word. Connexion kept surprising him.

‘My parents did not know me then. More of a hope than anything.’

‘Nalamashet — Sky Sailor,’ the old manisaur said. ‘That is a worthy name…’

‘But I do not want to leave the ground. I never have.’ The young manisaur said. ‘My friends don’t call me Nalamashet. I prefer Yaqas… Sky…’

‘Dreamer… Iyaqas,’ the old manisaur said.

Yaqas’ aura flashed anger but he did not voice it, and the old manisaur did not see or pretended not to. ‘Iyaqas can mean to see all that is above. They pay me a compliment.’

‘Or say it with irony,’ the old manisaur said with an aura flash of frustration.

‘This is an old argument Thavamnu.’ The old human woman smiled thinly. ‘Let it rest and be content.’

Jupiter smiled. He knew how long-simmering family arguments could underly and then poison everything. He wished he could have been more understanding of his Uncle Jeff. The old guy had been helpful in his way. But to expect him to be like a father…

‘If the Imperial Navy is here,’ said the old woman. ‘Then any Blackbirders will flee.’

‘Maybe…’ Jupiter did not want to tell them that the Air Lord hunted him. Could it even be still true? He knew though he did did not want to find out.

‘Jupiter. We need to get back to our… family. Pari-pari will be anxious, as will Tamm.’

‘Yes. We…’ Jupiter began but the old human woman interrupted.

‘They are Quevantaq? Your family?’

‘Our clan mates,’ said Jupiter. ‘We are a small clan. Upanakara. It is a family in all but name. Allied with Upariha.’ He thought the name that Qhawana had made up for them might still work. Though he kicked himself. Did the interdict of Upariha extend to here.

‘I guess it is just easier to think of clan Upanakara that way. A large family. Not of consequence.’ said Maggie.

‘Indeed.’ The old human woman looked at the two manisaurs who glared at one another but did not speak, though their auras flashed in ways Jupiter knew meant they still niggled at each other without words. Perhaps the old woman did not understand manisaur aura. He had assumed other humans could read auras the same as he and Maggie, but their connexion had grown stronger somehow. Strange that this time none here had picked them as nuvra.

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‘Where are they?’ The old woman’s eyes pierced as emphatic as any manisaur aura flash. ‘The rest of your Upanakara clan mates?’

‘We are to meet at the docks. The repair yards to the west.’

‘It would not be safe for you to walk across the town if Blackbirders are on the hunt.’

Jupiter’s guts lurched. The Hunt. Blackbirders hunting him. And could the Air Lord be after him still? Wouldn’t he have given up. Jupiter was not important. Or did the challenge motivate him all the more?

‘Yaqas. Take them to the yards,’ said the old woman. ‘With the Imperial Navy here these supposed Blackbirders of yours will not dare take anyone from the market. Use the dhomqari cart.’

‘And while you’re about it,’ said the old manisaur Thavamnu. ‘Take that spice order to the Qarushkam clan house. It is smaller than requested but will fill half their order. I will make up the delivery note now.’

‘I have already prepared the spices,’ the old woman said. She stood and swung the boy to the floor. ‘But hurry Yaqas. Ready the cart and dhomqari.’

They assembled on the lowest floor of the merchant house. It opened to the downhill side of the building, onto a narrow road that led down towards the trade docks.

The heady mix of aromatic spices and herbs grew stronger here and filled Jupiter’s senses as he breathed the dust. It felt heavy in his chest, but light in his head. Manisaur workers sorted and broke down large bales of herbs into smaller packages. An overseer kept watch and gave them suspicious glances as Yaqas readied the cart.

The small stable and garage opposite the warehouse held the small cart they were to use. It had become clear to Jupiter that the cart was not how they transported most goods. Likely just used to get around the town and to deliver small orders of the expensive spices. He wondered if they had any zhavaqiko. The hot spicy drink was just what he needed to steel himself for the rush to escape.

The dhomqari stomped with impatience as Jupiter and Maggie got into the cart. They sat in the bed amongst the spices and herbs Yaqas had to deliver.

‘Snuggle in down amongst the sacks, but do not cover your head. Instead, pretend to sleep and keep your head low. If you are stopped keep sleeping. Yaqas will make excuses for you. But to cover you would reveal that you are hiding from someone.’

Jupiter made sure there were two nests for them. It would be too hot if he and Maggie snuggled too closely. And sleep would be welcome, if he could manage it. He also made sure there a tarpaulin lay over them so they could hide under it. He understood the old woman though. She wanted safety for Yaqas before the two strange humans, so if they were discovered the manisaur could say he did not know and did not hide anything. But Jupiter wanted to keep from sight and discovery even if that meant danger for Yaqas.

The rocking of the cart lulled him, and he fell asleep. A sharp jolt work him. The break from his dream confused him until the sharp pungency of the spices brought recent events back. He raised his head.

They were on the fringes of the market. The sing-song chorus of market cries had subsided a little now the fish had sold out. The sea breeze brought cooler temperatures as the sun began to set and the market smells mixed with the scent of the sea. He sat up to scratch an itch. The sack of herbs had tickled him.

‘Keep down.’ Yaqas said. ‘You’ll have us all in trouble. The guards are out looking for bribes from paid up merchants.’

Jupiter slipped low in amongst the packages again.

Then he heard the orders from the guards. The sing song of overlapping sounds from many voices made it hard to understand at first, but Jupiter began to hear clearer after a time.

‘Disperse.

‘The market is closed for the day.’

‘Go to your homes and workplaces.’

‘There is a curfew.’

The cart lurched to a stop. Jupiter and Maggie pressed low and pulled the cloth close over their heads.

‘Turn around. Return to your home.’ The town guard’s curt order barked sharp as if they expected no nonsense. Jupiter held his breath.

‘But we have an order to deliver. I will return home once I have made my rounds.’

Jupiter wished Yaqas would just drive on.

‘It is past curfew.’ The guard’d voice rose in a clucking series of booms and cracks. Indignant at being stood up to. ‘The Air Lord ordered martial law once his vanziyaq hauled in.’

Jupiter caught his breath. Somehow the Air Lord had found him. Who had seen and reported him?

‘Martial law? Why is that?’

‘It is not for you to concern yourself about it. Return to your home.’

‘Is it because of the Blackbirders?’

The manisaur guards laughed. ‘There are no Blackbirders in the town. Do not spread rumors or it will go bad for you. Move along.’

Jupiter realized the Air Lord must have heard of the ruckus in the market. Their description did not match. He wished he had suffered the stink of the harbour now.

But why had the Air Lord not travelled off along the Qhawadha. He should be far from the coast. Instead his ship now entered Qhayuvakham? Did he hunt him or Blackbirders?

The cart moved again and Jupiter held his breath under the covering.