Page 46 of The Sky Pirate's Stowaway
My hands kept at it, automatically folding my things while thoughts and memories raced through my head. My heart was unsure, but my body seemed to be on a mission.
A little trill came from near the ladder as I packed my belongings, and I glanced up to find two amber eyes staring at me without blinking. It was freaky, but the little vexling let out another trill, and I sighed. “What do you want, Sprocket?”
They turned in a circle, trilled at me, then took a couple of steps toward the ladder that led back up to the main deck.
“I don’t speak vexling.”
They let out an angry bark at that.
When the vexling did the same circle thing again, I knew they wanted me to follow them. From what I knew of the little guy, if I didn’t comply, they would start climbing all over me and bothering me until I did, so I may as well give in.
I packed my things into the small bag I’d acquired from the raid—I wasn’t proud of myself for taking it when Hawk-Eyes handed it over, but desperate times and all that—and I turned to the little beastie.
With my bag over my shoulder, I followed Sprocket onto the main deck. They led me straight to Reaper’s private room, making my brow furrow. Why in the world would they take me there? I stopped a few feet from the door and whisper-yelled, “I’m not going in there, Sprocket. Are you crazy?”
The vexling turned an angry look my way and started chattering loudly and banging on Reaper’s door. My eyes widened. Was Reaper in there? Was the little brat giving me away before I could make a run for it?
Sprocket chattered even louder at me, and I flinched.
What in hellfire was that little beastie doing? Why were they trying to get me in trouble? Were they trying to get me killed? Did they really hate me that much?
Sprocket suddenly let out a small trill and ran past me in excitement.
“Ghost?”
I froze at the sound of my nickname, a scowl forming on my face before I turned around and breathed out, “Reaper.”
Dragon balls, he caught me.
Apparently, he hadn’t been in his room, but with all the racket Sprocket made, I wasn’t surprised he’d come to see what the fuss was about.
Glancing down, I saw Sprocket pulling on Reaper’s pant leg with one little paw and pointing at me with the other. Obviously, the overgrown rodent brought me here to tell on me.Ugh.
But I didn’t really care about the vexling. I only cared about the pirate first mate, who was staring at me with the saddest expression I’d ever seen on his handsome face.
Phoenix tails, he didn’t want me to go, did he?
And I really didn’t want to leave him, but shouldn’t I want to leave? Shouldn’t I want to get away from these bloodthirsty pirates?
But… did Ihaveto?
10
Maximus
Ichecked my prosthetic for the third time, making sure each pebble-grade fluxstone was at least moderately charged and securely fitted. The last thing I needed was a malfunction while traversing the treacherous paths of this cesspit known as Duskwater Harbor. The small stones glowed with a faint blue light, reassuring me they’d hold for our journey to the caverns.
“Hurry up, Reaper,” Viper snarled, adjusting his tricorn hat against the wind. “I don’t want to be out here all night.”
The path stretched before us, winding away from the harbor’s edge and into the rocky outcroppings that formed the backbone of this lawless island. Few travelers ventured this way unless they had business at the storage caverns—or a death wish.
We passed at least a mile in blessed silence. Alas, it did not last.
“Greybeard’s getting too old,” Viper spat as we trudged along the dusty trail. His gold tooth caught the light as he sneered. “Found him napping at noon yesterday. Useless sack of bones. Napping! Like we’re on some pleasure cruise!”
I kept my eyes on the path ahead, carefully placing my weight to avoid aggravating my hip. “He’s been flying longer than either of us has been alive.”
“That doesn’t mean he gets to nap on my coin.” Viper kicked a stone out of his path. “And Moonie opened their mouth to answer back to me yesterday, when I pointed out a patch of rigging that wasn’t up to standard. They had the sense to snap it shut, else I would’ve had their skin.”
