Blazing Blunderbuss (Wyvern Chronicles Book 1) Page 13

  Hara sighed and opened her eyes. She said, “I’ll take you where you need to go, but after Moscow I don’t want to see you again.”

  Marvin waved off her words, probably sure he could convince her at some later date. But this was the last favor she would do for him, and it was for her. As closure. He didn’t realize it, but this trip wasn’t a gift for her father, it was merely for a client. He wasn’t family anymore. She said her good nights to him and stepped out of his room.

  Hara wasn’t surprised to see Gideon had been waiting for her. He asked, “How are you?” she shrugged and he raised an eyebrow. “That bad?”

  Tears pricked her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

  Gideon said, “I’ve met your father now.”

  Hara chuckled and let her mood improve a little. She asked, though she already knew the answer, “Are you still thinking of adding me to your collection?”

  Gideon tugged on her arm and pulled her into his arms. He didn’t try to kiss her but he laid his hands lightly on her waist. “I would give up everything else in my collection just to have you.”

  Hara moved carefully. Angel was asleep in a small ball on her pillow. Hara didn’t want to wake the creature up, as she had some plans for the night. The airship was quiet as Hara moved down the corridors. She jumped when Gideon appeared in front of her. She rolled her eyes. She really should get used to him doing that. It was hours since the last time she had seen him, and she had waited for him to go to bed before she had made her move.

  Hara sighed and said, “Just be quiet.” Considering he had managed to sneak up on her again, she didn’t doubt he could be quiet.

  Gideon shrugged and followed behind her. He didn’t ask what they were doing.

  They went into her father’s room. She took a dropper out of her tool belt and set a few drops on the pillow next to his head.

  Her father snorted, but didn’t stir. The drug would keep him in his sleep, but any loud noise could wake him up. She opened the drawer and the secret compartment. It contained a few letters.

  Hara opened one letter and passed another one to Gideon. She wasn’t shocked when she saw hers was a letter from a Rosh agent. It asked about a parcel and where it needed to be delivered. Her father really was working for the Rosh government. He really didn’t have any morals. The letter also said something about moving their efforts forward. How her father had gotten involved she could only imagine.

  Gideon touched her shoulder and showed her his letter. Hara blinked, startled. It was a love letter. Overly sappy to be honest, but she wouldn’t have thought her father was the sentimental type to keep a lover or letters from her. Both letters were signed at the bottom with an “M”.

  Hara wondered who it could be. The letter from the Rosh government was probably the only sensitive information in the lot. She slipped the letters back into the secret compartment. Quietly the two of them left.

  Near her room, Hara said softly, “I don’t like any of this.”

  Gideon nodded in agreement. “Neither. But we will have to let it play out.” She knew he was right.

  Hara was glad she had given in and let Gideon buy her a fur coat the last time they had been in Moscow. The snow worked in tight flurries around them as the ship moved through the air. The air itself had a sharp bite to it, so Hara had the fur coat tucked up around her neck.

  Angel was tucked under the fur and was half wrapped around her ribs. The cold weather could be fatal to the small clockwork creature so Hara put up with her movement, which tickled.

  Hara asked her father, who was standing next to her on the deck, “What the hell is here that hasn’t frozen to a chunk of ice already?”

  Marvin pointed to a small hut and said, “Over there. He should be waiting for us. Though he might have a bit of gear. That was what he said in his letters.”

  Hara could see some buildings in the distance. She tuned out her father as she really didn’t want to hear about his latest deals. Besides, more than half of his words were usually lies.

  The Blazing Blunderbuss came to a stop near the buildings and Hara threw the rope ladder over the side. The others would come down in the slower lift, but she wanted to have a look at the agent first.

  The buildings were mostly warehouses. A small cabin was attached to the side of one of them. The door of the cabin opened and a man stepped out. He threw up his arms and said, “Where have you been? You were supposed to be here last week.”

  Hara looked over her shoulder and saw that her father had also come down the rope ladder.

  Marvin approached the agent and spoke to him soothingly. Hara followed them all into the cabin, only to find it was a lab. The walls were white and the room was filled with metal tables with racks of test tubes on them. It was freezing. Didn’t the man heat the place?

  The man was already collecting up his tools. He was throwing them haphazardly into a leather case. He said to her, “Make sure your men are careful with the case.” He motioned to a case sitting by the door.

  Marvin asked, “And the rest?”

  The other man waved his hand dismissively and said, “Leave it. They have promised me a top-of-the-line lab. This is all rubbish in comparison to what I will have when I get there.”

  Hara picked up the case herself. It wasn’t heavy and it clinked with glass as she headed outside. Marvin said, “Well, let us be on our way, Doctor.”

  The man corrected him by saying, “Professor.”

  Marvin laughed at his mistake and said, “Oh, that’s right. Well, let us get you onto the airship and out of here straightaway, Professor.”

  Hara doubted the man was a professor. He might have been at one time, but from the set-up here in the middle of nowhere, she doubted he had a position anywhere, let alone something as prestigious as a university professorship.

  They all climbed onto the lift and Hara placed the case at her feet as she controlled the lift’s rise to the airship. Angel twisted, tickling her. Hara resisted the urge to giggle. Everyone eyed her as she squirmed. When Angel had settled Hara ignored the looks and set the lock of the lift.

  The professor disappeared into the ship without waiting to be invited. Hara motioned to Talen, who went after the professor to make sure he didn’t get lost.

  Hara said to her father, “What’s all this about?” She knew most of it from reading his letters, but she wanted to hear what he had to say.

  Marvin shrugged, but she didn’t believe for a moment he didn’t know exactly what was going on. Hara narrowed her eyes and said, “We are not going anywhere without some answers.”

  She motioned to the case at her feet and said, “Let’s start with this.”

  Marvin wrinkled his nose and finally said, “It’s a cure for what ails the world.”

  Hara was not fooled and asked, “And what ails the world?”

  He glanced further into the ship. Probably looking out for someone. Anger dashed through Hara as she realized whom he was looking for. “You mean dragons?”

  Marvin’s eyes shifted and he tucked his hands in his pockets.

  Hara threw her arms up in the air and said, “You brought a poison for dragons onto my ship, where I just so happen to have a dragon. A dragon who saved your life two days ago. Are you crazy?”

  He shook his head and said, “It will only be the dragons who attack Rosh. You work for them, so it won’t be a problem.”

  Hara put out a hand to make him stop talking. She took a long breath. He had no idea. That was partly her fault. She could have told her father more about her rocky relationship with the Rosh government. This poison would just give the Rosh one more piece of leverage to keep her working as a privateer. If the Empire ever found out she had played a part in this poison, she would never be able to run to them for help. She would be alone in the world.

  Hara waved for her father to leave. She crouched and picked up the case. She would store it in her room. There was no way she was going to let this leave her sight. It bugged her that the professor woul
d leave it in her hands. He was a fool to trust her father or the Rosh. He was probably too busy drooling over the idea of a new lab to care who he was working for.

  Once Hara father was gone, Gideon stepped out of the shadows. He didn’t look pleased. He asked suspiciously, “What are you going to do with that?”

  Hara ignored his tone, as she was angry as well and could understand his anger. She tucked the case under her arm and said, “Make sure it never sees the light of day. Walk with me while I put this away. Between the two of us, we can make sure it’s never left alone.”

  He calmed down and nodded his head sharply.

  Gideon watched Hara sleep. She would probably be very mad with him if she caught him here. He grinned at the thought. But he wasn’t here to admire her. He had a mission.

  The case was easy to find. It was in a hidden safe under Hara’s bed. The safe wasn’t large and the lock was easy. He had cracked it in a moment.

  He really missed this sometimes. In the early days when he had refused to kill people he had simply snuck into homes to take what he needed. That was when he had learned to appreciate the little things in life, like a comfortable home.

  He flipped the top of the case open. Inside were about fifty vials of a pale yellow liquid. He picked one up and tilted it to have a look at the substance inside. It looked like lemon juice, and when he shook the vial it went clear. He had vials like these somewhere.

  Gideon put the vials with its mates and closed the case. He wandered to the galley. Henry was sleeping in a hammock off the preparation area. He didn’t stir as Gideon moved around.

  Gideon took a few lemons and made enough liquid to fill fifty vials. He twisted his hand and brought the vials which had been in his home in the city to where he was in the Blazing Blunderbuss. He had stored the empty vials in his treasure room which really didn’t exist in this world at all. But it was mostly accessible from his apartment in the city.

  He flipped his hair out of the way and filled the vials in precise movements. This wasn’t the first time he had worked with vials and liquids. In his early days at university he had earned his way by working as a lab assistant.

  Gideon cleaned up after himself and returned to Hara’s room. She was no longer there. It had taken him longer to make the substitute poison than he realized. He wasn’t concerned. He knew where she would be. She was on watch, so he had time to move around her room. He replaced the vials and wondered what he could do with the real poison.

  He took the vials and made them go in between space. It wasn’t permanent, but it would do until he could figure out what to do with them.

  Hara knocked softly on the door and asked, “Professor?”

  The doctor was writing something down and didn’t look up, but motioned her inside. He reminded her of a real professor at that moment. She had assumed he insisted on the title because he had once been a professor.

  Curious, she asked, “What school, by the way?”

  The professor looked up, surprised. “Umm, the University of Prague. Not many people ask. How can I help you, Captain?”

  Hara didn’t go any further into his room. Instead she leaned against the door and said, “That chest you had us bring along. I’ve put it under guard in my room. You want to tell me what’s inside?”

  He flicked a few pages and seemed to draw his attention away from the conversation as he said, “Well, it was supposed to be a genetic manipulation virus which would make the human race more superior, but instead it has an adverse effect on any dragon who has bonded with humans. Wasn’t what I expected, but it will get me a new lab.”

  It was just as Hara thought. He was amoral. All he cared for was recognition and in his mind that meant a fully kitted-out lab. A very dangerous man indeed. Her father was a fool to deal with him.

  Hara nodded her head to the professor and said, “Thank you for appeasing my curiosity, Professor.”

  The professor beamed. “My pleasure.”

  When she stepped out of the professor’s room, she saw Gideon was waiting.

  Hara smiled at him and said, “You’re making a habit of this.”

  Gideon shrugged and asked, “What did he have to say about the vials?”

  She shook her head and the two of them walked to her room as she explained. “He’s only looking out for himself. The poison is supposed to kill dragons who’ve bonded to humans. An accident, really. He was trying to make humans as strong as dragons.”

  Gideon wrinkled his nose and said, “Then I’ll be safe to watch it. But we can’t let the vials or the professor or doctor, or whatever he is, get to the Rosh.”

  Hara smiled and said, “Should we throw him overboard?”

  He chuckled, as he knew she was joking. “I’ll tie him up so he doesn’t flail around.”

  She shook her head, enjoying the joke. “No, a gag.” She sighed and said, “If only it was that simple.” They were both quiet after that.

  They all sat around the table in the mess. Liam was on watch but the rest were trying Henry’s French toast. Angel had curled up in a bowl on the table and people were careful not to disturb her. Hara didn’t think a pirate attack could wake her. She had been watching the vials all night. Gideon was keeping an eye on them at the moment.

  Alice said into the tense silence that reigned at the table, “This is good, Henry.”

  Murphy humphed and said, “It needs meat.”

  Henry huffed, “Well, if you feel that way, then cook it yourself.”

  The professor reached over and took Murphy’s plate. Murphy went to reach for it back, calling out, “Hey,” but the professor shoved the food into his mouth. Murphy’s face twitched as he forced himself not to say anything.

  Marvin laughed and said, “Not to worry, old man, have a bit of this.” He offered his flask. Hara wondered where he always got his alcohol. They didn’t have any on the ship as they had sold it to pay for supplies.

  Murphy eyed it and then glanced at her. She wasn’t sure what Murphy was asking, but after a long moment he shook his head and instead poured himself some more coffee.

  Marvin peered closer at Angel and asked, “What is this? I have an iron stomach, but ain’t it strange to eat wire and gears like this?”

  Murphy answered. “It’s a clockwork creature.”

  Marvin’s eyes gleamed. He reached forward, but Hara intercepted him and said, “That’s Angel, and she’s my friend. If you sell her I will hunt you down and take collateral out of your flesh.”

  Marvin put his hands up in mock fear. Hara narrowed her eyes and added, “I’m not fooling around, Marvin. I learned a few things in prison and I will have no qualms about using what I learned on you.” She also wanted to remind him why she was still angry with him.

  The professor said, “What is the point? Those things are merely toys and useless in the grand scheme of things. Now, if you had a flower that cured baldness or something, now that would be interesting.” The professor continued on for a while about the benefits he had discovered in his studies.

  Marvin pretended to ignore Angel but Hara knew she would have to watch him around her.

  Something hit the side of the Blazing Blunderbuss. Hara didn’t wait to see what it was as it was pitch black out there so there wouldn’t be much to see.

  Hara signalled to her people and they ran to their positions.

  Her father asked with fear tinging his voice, “What about us?” He meant himself and the professor. Hara didn’t think for a second her father cared about what happened to her or to her crew.

  Hara motioned them away and said, “Stay in my room. It’s the most armored place on the ship. Stay there until this is over. Lock the door.”

  It would also keep them out of their way as they dealt with whatever was attacking them. A large airship loomed out of the darkness. A little after they left, Angel came flying out of Hara’s bedroom. She went to land on Gideon’s shoulder and chittered angrily at something outside the ship. Hara crossed the space and looked out the window t
o see what Angel and Gideon were looking at. Hara swore as she recognized it as an Empire dreadnaught. This was not good.

  Someone said behind them, “This is actually nice.”

  Gideon growled and Hara turned to see that it was Harlen, the dragon who had been in Gideon’s apartment when she had taken him home.

  Murphy pulled a gun, but she raised a hand to prevent him from shooting Gideon’s brother or frenemy or whatever he was to Gideon. There was no love lost between the two, but she doubted Gideon wanted him dead.

  Harlen looked around and asked, “Where’s the doctor?”

  Hara sighed. There was one thing she realized about the Empire. They really were very well informed.

  Gideon said, “In the captain’s room. Do you know what he’s doing?”

  Harlen nodded and said, “Yes, and we have to stop him.”

  Hara liked that sentiment and stepped forward to address the dragon herself. “So are you going to deal with him and his poison?”

  Harlen shrugged, and she knew then it wasn’t going to be something simple. The dragon said, “We can’t let the Rosh think we have the doctor and the poison.”

  Hara sighed and looked at the ceiling as she prayed for some patience. She looked at Harlen and said, “What do you need?”

  Murphy asked, “I thought we worked for the Rosh. Now we’re going to do what the Empire wants?”

  Hara said without turning to look at Murphy, “We don’t work for either, Murphy. But if the Rosh get this doctor and his poison we’ll be going to war and no one will be safe.”

  She motioned for Harlen to continue. He said, “We need you to double cross the Rosh. Give them the poison and we will take the doctor. Get the doctor out on the deck in a short while. Make some excuse. We will take him. You carry on with the poison.”

  Harlen looked at Gideon, who simply nodded his head. The dragon tipped his head to Hara and said, “I’ll be going now. We must make sure this little farce plays out right.”