Chapter
8
Karina’s gut instinct
told her that today was not going to be smooth. Danger and enemies were in the
fog that drifted around the mountains. They had gone low since the attack of
the griffons and Gattoy. Something told her he would be a stubborn one. She was
hoping he bought that she had sold it but she wasn’t going to take that for
granted.
A small steam
below them gurgled and was making a mad rush into the mountain streams. Simon
was having more luck keeping the Assenia floating. Flying this low in this
range of mountains was working for the most part. There had been no storms or
sudden snow dumps. Everything around them was green and lush in these floating mountain
regions. Large trees with moss handing like cobwebs floated in the breeze.
Karina took out
her telescope and canned the area above them. She had visions of the small ship
Captain Delphia was sailing to be hovering above her like a humming bird.
But so far the
coast was clear.
Kitt came
bounding down from the top sail. Her cat ears were bent back making Karina
stand at attention. She was something she knew.
“What is it? Did
you spot something?”
“Yes, there is
another ship above us.”
“Captain
Delphia?”
“No, I wish. It’s
the ones you scrapped with last fall season. Captain Sahara of the Desert Sands
ships. And she’s not alone.”
Karina cringed. “Who
has she got with her now?”
“Naid.”
Karina shivered.
“Do you think they know we are down here?”
“I don’t think
so and I’m not sure but they appear to be watching something.”
“Oh, maybe
another ship is arriving.” Karina shook her head. “More company is not what we
need. Let’s shift our direction and go through that channel that leads out to
clear sky. There is another mountain range just beyond these.”
“You know there
is a village on two of those mountain tops.”
“Yes,” smile
Karina. “It might be nice to see some old acquaintances.”
Kitt mumbled and
scampered off to tell Simon to shift course. Karina knew Kitt would not be
happy to go into any of the villages there. There was a certain someone that
she would probably like to avoid.
Suddenly a loud
bang from above erupted. It sounded almost to Karina like two ships collided.
She ran to Silver Fox who was looking. Their own ship was changing course and a
nice wind caught their sails and was moving them along at a nice clip.
Karina took out
her telescope to see but then they were hidden in the mists and she saw
nothing. The echoes of shouts came through the mountain sides to them. She
heard Naid. Silver fox was also looking through a telescope. “Did you see
anything before we hit the mist?”
“I saw one
thing. It was a griffon. I think Gattoy and his bandits are on the attack.”
“Then we have to
get out of here and fast.”
Silver fox
looked around sniffing. Kitt scampered out of the mist and joined her. “I can
smell those awful griffons,” said Kitt with her nose scrunched up.
The fighting
above them was getting more intense. Karina was getting a little worried that
one of them would end up on top of them but soon as they picked up speed, the
sounds of their confrontations were fading.
Karina could see
clear sky above and the ship was now rising up into the clouds that were moving
briskly. “We will be in the first village and city on the other side if this
ridge, said Silver fox.
Karina nodded
and all three of them looked up as they rose above the mist into the clear sky.
Karina instantly took out her telescope and searched for the ships but could
not see them. There was too much mist and cloud.
Silver Fox came
up to her. “I see the towers from here. It looks like rain is coming in. I say
we head for the city for shelter and maybe get some repairs so we don’t have any
more surprises for the rest of the journey.”
“Sounds good.
Let’s dock and give everybody a break before we move on.”
Karina kept an
eye out for the ships that were battling the griffons. She did not want anybody
following her into the city. There were guards at the city docks but some were
known to be bribed to look the other way. Word had already gotten out about her
cargo.
Karina went to
the front to the front of the ship. As they got closer to the large floating mountain,
her insides flipped. Going to the city was not part of the plan on this excursion.
She wondered if he would be there. He had his own ship and crew now. He came
here for dealing and such she knew and even though they parted on good terms,
it made her nervous all the same. She felt like Kitt, maybe past acquaintances
were best left in the past.
The towers of
the city stood out in the grey nay sky. The rains were coming in and the clear
sky that they had briefly enjoyed were be hidden by angry clouds.
Simon had found
a dock that was out of the way and hidden within the roots of the trees that
grew on the side of the mountain. With a rain storm coming in, it would be the
perfect place to stay dry.
Simon and Silver
Fox had gone into the city to find some of the repairs that they needed. Karina
was hoping that they would get them for a good price. They were low on funds.
She climbed out and followed a large root of the main tree that led up to a
path into the main part of the city.
Karina figured
out what the best way to go would be. She didn’t want to go too far into the
city and be far away from the ship, especially with her hidden cargo on board.
She picked up
her pace and went down a stone laid path that led to an old shop. She would get
herself something there and then get back to the ship.
She made it
inside the shop and the smells of fresh baked bread made her mouth water.
Karina was going to pick some bread up and some treats for the crew.
“Well I didn’t
expect to see you here.”
The voice froze
her on the spot. “Aren’t you going to turn around and greet an old friend? Or am
I no longer regarded as your friend?”
Karina turned
around and faced him. “Hello Gabriel. It’s nice to see you.”
He smiled at
her. “Long time no see eh?” He winked at her.
Karina’s skin
prickled. “I have to get some stuff for the crew and get back to the ship.”
“On a tight
schedule?”
“You could say
that.”
Karina got her
breads and treats packed up. Gabriel got his and caught up to her. “Where are
you headed off to?”
“The Orox
mountians.”
“You have a bit
of a journey ahead of you then.”
“Yes we do.” She
wanted to part ways with him and was trying to figure that out when she heard something
by the docks.
Gabriel looked
as well. Karina picked up her pace and ran the rest of the way. She saw something
slither under the tree root that led to her ship. She ran to the root and took
the old wooden steps. There was some commotion going on around her ship. She
could see sniffing hounds around the ship. Her eyes went wide. They were
sniffing for the sapphire ice.
“What have you
got on board that they are interested in?”
She looked up at
Gabriel. “Sapphire ice.”
He sighed. “You
have a problem then. This is the last place you want to be with that cargo. I would
get out of here fast.”
An arrow whizzed
past them. They both looked. Gattoy was standing on the top of the tree root
smiling.
TIP JAR:
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