Angel Arias Read online

The sight of the food made Naif ravenous but the soapy cheese and hard biscuits barely took the edge from her appetite. She nodded her thanks to the cook anyway.

  ‘On yer feet now, lad. We go out the door and that way.’ She pointed in the opposite direction to the way they’d come. ‘At the end of the corridor there be some stairs that no one uses. Straight down to the basement they go. Through there’s our way to the caves.’ She went to her drawers and withdrew a cloth, which she unwrapped carefully. She selected three long-handled silver forks like the ones she used in the servery. ‘Take these. Brought ’em up here to clean. Never figured to be getting them dirty like this.’

  Each of them took the proffered weapon, though Naif doubted she could – or would – ever use it. She glanced at Charlonge. Her friend had paled as she slipped the fork into the pocket of her tunic.

  ‘I’ll go first. You come last,’ Mesree said to Naif. ‘You help him.’ Her last order was directed at Charlonge.

  Naif wanted to disagree and argue that she should help Markes, but she stopped before the words came out. Mesree was being sensible: Charlonge was taller.

  Outside the room all was quiet, no sign of Rajka or his friends. Mesree led them along an unlit corridor where the air smelled stale and damp from disuse, and their path was littered with broken furniture and discarded clothing.

  The stairwell at the end was equally filthy and neglected.

  Markes, still woozy, stumbled several times and was saved from falling by Charlonge. At every step, Naif thought she heard voices, or the sound of footsteps behind them.

  When they reached the ground level, the sounds she’d been imagining became real; screams and shouts outside the stairwell and in the downstairs corridors.

  ‘What’s happening out there?’ whispered Charlonge.

  ‘No good,’ said Mesree grimly. ‘Ruze’ll want blood for this.’

  Naif trembled at the thought. What would the pirate do?

  When they reached the bottom, Mesree felt along the wall until she located another handle. This door opened into an even darker stairwell and Naif smelled the briny tang of the sea.

  ‘Basement,’ Mesree whispered loudly. ‘Stay close and move slow. Hold onto each other. Damn light at the top’s broken but there’s one at the bottom should be right.’

  These stairs were narrower and felt loose underfoot. Naif hugged the wall, concentrating on each step and keeping her hand on Markes’s uninjured shoulder.

  A muffled thump came from the top of the stairs, followed by a scraping noise.

  ‘What was that?’ whispered Markes.

  ‘Someone’s coming. Quick.’ Mesree snatched the lamp at the bottom of the stairs from its rusted iron holder.

  With a sure sense of direction, she headed deeper into the basement. The lamp threw a small pool of light ahead of them to a wall that was lined with old shelves.

  ‘What’s in here?’ shouted a voice from the top of the stairs.

  ‘It’s a cellar,’ said another.

  ‘They might be down there!’

  ‘Frossing lamp’s broken! Get one from the portico.’

  Footsteps faded.

  ‘Hold this,’ whispered Mesree. She gave Naif the lamp and began feeling along the empty shelves.

  After a few moments she hesitated and crooked her finger at Naif. ‘Here.’

  At the very back of a deep shelf was a small iron hook. She twisted it but nothing happened.

  Footsteps returned and this time the stairs flooded with light. ‘Those with knives go first!’

  Naif’s stomach knotted at the sound of Rajka’s voice and she felt in her pocket for the kitchen fork.

  Mesree gave a low, angry hiss and tugged with more insistence on the ring. A section of the shelves jerked open. Naif quickly went ahead of them through the narrow gap.

  On the other side, the lamp showed more stairs, which had been cut straight into the rock this time. One set led up, the other down.

  Markes and Charlonge joined Naif on a flat rock that made a natural landing for the stairs, while Mesree tackled the lever from the inside. This time the secret door moved more easily and clunked softly as it closed.

  ‘They’ll find it, but it’ll take a while. And let’s make sure that when they do, they go the wrong way.’ She tugged at the cord around Naif’s waist. ‘Give me that.’

  Naif quickly undid it and handed it over.

  Mesree threw it so it landed on one of the downward stairs.

  ‘What’s down there?’ asked Markes.

  ‘Leads straight to the water. Last I knew, sharks liked resting there. The bottom steps are treacherous slippery. Let’s hope Rajka and his lot fall in.’

  ‘No!’ Naif protested.

  Mesree clamped a heavy hand on Naif’s shoulder. ‘They came for you with knives. Don’t mistake their intentions. Now go.’

  Naif led them upwards, followed by Markes, with Charlonge behind him, then Mesree. They leaned close to the rock wall the steps were cut from, for the other edge had no railing. A slip and they would fall back onto the landing.

  As they climbed, Naif’s mind raced over the last few hours. Rajka’s attempt to abduct and ransom them wasn’t just the discontent of a few. Judging by the noises she’d heard, this was a revolution. Were Riss and Rajka fighting? Or had they joined forces?

  Whichever, Sanctus was no longer safe for them. Nor would Grave be. Nor Ixion. Was there anywhere in this world she wouldn’t be threatened?

  ‘Stop. Rest,’ said Mesree after a while. The cook was panting heavily.

  ‘How much further is it?’ Naif asked her.

  ‘By rights this should take us to the mountain top. Haven’t been up here for years and my bones are fair older now. There’s a bit to go yet.’

  ‘What do we do then?’

  ‘Ruze knows where we’ll be waiting.’

  The woman was so confident that Naif felt heartened. ‘The airship. She’ll come for us in that?’

  ‘She’ll come.’

  ‘What’s that terrible smell?’ asked Charlonge.

  ‘Sulphur,’ said Mesree. ‘Sanctus is an old volcano. Like Ixion. Some days the gases still flow up from deep below.’

  As they climbed on, the smell worsened. Naif’s eyes watered. Behind her, Markes and Charlonge began to cough.

  ‘Keep – go – ing,’ Mesree rasped.

  ‘We should stop again and rest,’ Naif called down.

  ‘Can’t – breathe. Need – to – get – out. Gas – too – bad,’ Mesree gasped. ‘Close. Must – be.’

  Naif peered upward and saw a crack of light. ‘Yes. I think we are.’

  ‘Must – go.’ The cook pushed past Charlonge, desperate to reach fresher air.

  But the stairs weren’t wide enough for two and she slipped, grabbing at air before she fell off the side of the stairs and into the darkness below.

  For a long disbelieving moment, Naif, Markes and Charlonge stood there, silent.

  ‘I’ll go back!’ gasped Naif finally. ‘I’ll look for her.’

  ‘No, wait!’ Markes choked out. ‘The gas – it’s worse. Ruzalia’s men will go down. They all have masks on the ship.’

  The gas was making it hard for Naif to catch her breath now. If Mesree had survived her fall, Naif wouldn’t be able to lift her. Or help her. She could hardly breathe.

  Turning back, she forced her legs to move upward again, labouring until she reached a narrow gap in the rock wall that was just large enough to crawl through.

  She urged Markes and Charlonge through first, and as she dropped to her hands and knees to take her turn, she felt a welcome gust of cool, clean air.

  It was trumped only by the sight of glittering stars.

  Ruzalia paced the cabin of the airship as she waited for Plank to return. Naif, Markes and Charlonge watched her as they rested side by side in the armchairs.

  The pirate had barely spoken since she’d picked them up from the mouth of the cave at dawn and heard their story.

  �
�I’m sorry,’ said Naif, unable to bear the silence any longer. ‘I should have gone down when she fell.’

  Ruzalia looked up from staring down at the mouth of the cave. They floated, shifting in the wind just above it. ‘No. The boy was right. The gas would have killed you. Plank has a mask to protect him. And weapons.’ She said the last in a grim tone.

  Naif leaned towards the window. She, Markes and Charlonge had spoken little since their explanation of events to Ruzalia, though Markes’s knee had brushed hers several times as they sat close.

  Staring below, she saw a movement. ‘It’s Plank!’ she cried.

  Ruzalia shifted closer to the window. Her crewman stood at the cave-mouth holding Mesree’s lifeless body in his arms.

  A moan escaped Ruzalia’s lips. She beat her fist into her chest as if to crush it. ‘La, lower the ship and the gurney!’ she ordered into the speech-pipe that ran to the propeller room.

  The airship dipped down quickly and the platform that had lifted them to safety on Ixion settled near Plank. He laid Mesree on the cot attached to it and then climbed alongside.

  Those above waited in solemn silence as the platform retracted. Sadness and despair welled inside Naif. Mesree had surely saved all their lives last night.

  Ruzalia disappeared to the second level of the ship and didn’t return for a long while. In her wake there seemed nothing to say.

  Charlonge closed her eyes but Markes was pale and agitated. Naif leaned across to his chair and slipped her arm along his shoulder. Markes rested his head against her and she could see the trace of tears on his face.

  ‘We have to stop this. I’m going back with you. Grave has the answers,’ he said in the same grim tone Ruzalia had used.

  ‘Grave,’ agreed Naif.

  Ruzalia had sent El Lobos back to scout the island and picked him up from the northern cove around mid-morning. The entire crew then sat together to eat a frugal meal of haloumi, bread and figs.

  ‘They’ve taken your rooms, Captain. Got a stock of clubs and knives. Must have been planning it for a while. Still, wouldn’t take more than a dozen men to get it back from them.’

  ‘What of those who aren’t involved?’

  ‘Hiding out in their rooms. A few have taken to the beach caves. Long-Li’s moved the boat to the reef, out of harm’s way.’

  She nodded. ‘Well done, El. We’ll go down on dusk and bury Mesree. Did you tell him?’

  La nodded. ‘Didn’t take it so good. I’d be fearing for those young ’uns.’

  ‘We can’t be killing those we’ve risked all to save.’ Ruzalia seemed to say it to herself, almost.

  Naif forced herself to speak up. ‘They are dying. Some believe they would rather have that happen on Ixion than here. They want their freedom.’

  ‘No! Best thing is that I bring in some more men and clean the troublemakers out.’

  ‘Others may get hurt in the meantime,’ cried Charlonge.

  Ruzalia’s face set in a stubborn expression. ‘How can I help that?’

  ‘Take me to Grave, as we planned. Maybe what I learn there will help you find a way to reverse the badges,’ Naif insisted.

  ‘And wait here for you to return?’ She waved her hand to indicate the airship. ‘Cast from my own home by children?’

  ‘We aren’t children,’ said Naif. ‘Your sister isn’t a child anymore.’

  ‘Don’t speak of my sister!’ she roared.

  Silence fell around the table while Ruzalia stared moodily out the window.

  None of them showed much appetite, knowing Mesree was lying dead in the cabin below.

  ‘Fross!’ Ruzalia got up and stalked the length of the floor. ‘I’ll give you two days. That is all . . . Find me answers, or I’ll use my own methods to quell them.’

  Naif nodded. ‘Markes is coming with me.’

  ‘If we succeed you will have your home back,’ Markes added quietly. ‘To yourself.’

  Ruzalia cocked her head as if considering the possibility. ‘Very well . . . two days in Grave.’ She nodded across the table to El Lobos. ‘Take us down so we can bury our dead.’

  The ceremony for Mesree was brief and heart-wrenching. La Lobos landed the airship on the most southern beach of the island, where the wind buffeted them so wildly they were forced to fill extra sand bags to tether it.

  Long-Li was waiting for them on the sand, a lone figure against the dying sunlight and whipped waves.

  Plank carried Mesree’s cloth-wrapped body along the beach and placed her gently on the sand at Long-Li’s feet. He then returned to the airship and they all waited while the small man said his farewells.

  When Ruzalia judged the time right, they trudged to the line of stunted bushes above the dune where Long-Li had prepared a grave.

  Plank, El and Long-Li lowered Mesree in, and the pirates all helped to cover her body with the white and silver sand.

  ‘Rest well, old friend. You’ll be missed.’ Ruzalia’s words came out tight, as if she was holding them back for fear of what they might do.

  Alongside her, Plank’s shoulders slumped with weariness. He’d carried Mesree up those stairs from where she’d fallen, only to have to bring her here to rest.

  Naif bit her lip. She’d hardly known this woman who’d saved their lives; she did not feel entitled to shed tears for her. That was the province of her loved ones.

  Charlonge and Markes shifted closer to Naif as Long-Li knelt by the grave and rocked silently with grief. Naif slipped her arms around their waists, and they around hers. The sharing of the terrible moment eased the pain, and finally Ruzalia called them all away.

  Markes woke Naif from dark, unhappy dreams. Demons and blood and Rajka holding Mesree’s carving knife.

  She gripped his hand for a second while she oriented herself, and then let go, embarrassed.

  ‘We’re here,’ he said.

  It was almost dawn. They’d been travelling all night and Naif had been lulled asleep by exhaustion and the airship’s sway and dip. Next to her Charlonge was still dreaming, her eyelids fluttering.

  Naif blinked a few times and stared at Markes, suddenly remembering the first time they’d met. Even though it had been night-time then, the party lights had revealed his muscular silhouette. On that night, he’d held her in his arms to stop Ruzalia snatching her away. How different would things have been, had he not?

  ‘Nightmares hard to shake?’ he said, softly.

  She sighed. ‘I was remembering when we met on the barge.’

  He gave a brief smile. ‘It seemed simple then. Everything seemed . . . simple.’

  ‘Are you sure you want to come with me?’

  He nodded. ‘I know someone who may be able to help.’

  Naif couldn’t keep the surprise from her voice. ‘You didn’t say that before.’

  ‘I was hesitant,’ he said. ‘It would come at a cost. But now I know that the cost of doing nothing is worse.’

  ‘Who is it?’

  ‘A friend whose father is an Elder.’ He didn’t seem to want to say any more. Naif held back her questions and told herself to trust him.

  They sat quietly for a few moments before he spoke again. ‘You know, you’re not who I thought you were. Cal said you were – I mean, you are – a Seal. When we met I thought you were strange but sweet and kind . . . different from the girls I knew. But you’re more than that. You’re so strong. Outside Danksoi when the Night Creatures attacked, and then when Rajka –’

  ‘Charlonge’s the one who stopped the boy at the window.’

  ‘But the decisions. We trusted you. Followed what you said and you got us out. Back on Ixion, I thought Dark Eve was special, but . . . what I’m trying to say . . . You’re like Eve, Naif. A leader . . . only quieter,’ he said. ‘And you don’t own an axe.’

  He added the last in such a matter-of-fact way that Naif wanted to smile. But she didn’t; his face and his intentions were too serious for that. Instead she let pleasure flood her veins and wash away any past disenchantme
nts with him.

  A loud, tired voice cut into their conversation. ‘We’re here!’

  Ruzalia stalked through the cabin to the main window.

  Markes and Naif left the armchairs to join her. Below them was the snaking coastline and cold-grey water of their home. Even from this height, Naif recognised the Old Harbour and the flat roofs of the Seal compound. The fence around it was a mere strip of silver but further north there were other thick, snaking lines dividing the city into more parts. To the east she could see the barley fields and the huge main ramparts that looped in a half-circle from the top of Grave to the bottom, ending at the water. Walls within walls.

  Her hand automatically touched her thigh and the spot where her obedience strip had been. The Riper Brand had brutally cut it away from her skin, nearly killing her. Thanks to Lenoir she’d survived the ordeal with only a puckered scar as a reminder.

  But the sight of Grave brought a phantom pain back. Every step she’d taken to run away had been filled with sharp, intense agony inflicted by the obedience strip. And now she was returning to this place by her own choice.

  Markes rested his hand lightly on her shoulder as if sensing her fear.

  She wanted to clasp his fingers but Ruzalia was watching them and she didn’t wish the pirate to see her need.

  ‘This way,’ said Ruzalia, and led them to the under-cabin where the platform awaited lowering.

  ‘We’ll drop you into the Old Harbour. Two days from now I’ll return. Be there with answers or I’ll find my own way to get my island back.’

  Naif nodded.

  The pirate handed her a folded piece of parchment. ‘This came up on the last Ixion run. Meant for you, I think.’

  Naif opened it up. The writing was neat but the ink was smudged and the paper dirty. It was from Rollo.

  The Ripers drove the Night Creatures back from Danksoi but Eve thinks it won’t last. Eve and Joel want to tell everyone what we saw in Danksoi but Lenoir said the Ripers will stop the food and clothes supply if they do. We need you to talk to him. You’re the only one who can convince him to stop. Help us.

  Rollo.

  P.S. Suki is still missing but I promise I will find her.