SKY OF PAPER: AN ASIAN STEAMPUNK FANTASY

CHAPTER 69

Counting myself, there were six children in the room. The other two pairs of chienkuu ko were just as surprised by our presence as we were of them. All four of them had been piloting the ship until our arrival distracted them.

"What do you think you're doing?" the first officer said to them. "We're in battle. This is no time to dawdle. The lot of you had better fly this ship or else I'll be throwing all of you overboard." He turned his gaze to Kassashimei and I. "And you two had best join them. With the six of you at the helm, surely we will be the very ship that'll lead the charge."

"No, we won't." Kassashimei's hissed. "The general, the very leader of our country, gave you an order to bring us home. Now take us home this instant."

"Why you arrogant girl."

His broad, massive body ambled towards her. Without a second thought I stepped between them and mirrored my gaze to his.

"She's my shyo mah," I said. "You don't have the right to touch her."

Though his expression remained ever threatening, I stood my ground, fighting the urge to flinch. "Both she and I are personal servants to the general as well as one of the trusted caretakers and pilots of the imperial court's private air fleet. Lay a hand on us, threaten us and I will not hesitate to jump into the ocean myself. Then you'll have to return home and explain the insult you have caused the court by failing to bring us back."

Though I stretched the truth about our importance, I knew there was no negotiating with his pride. It was undeniable that both he and his captain were steadfast in their decision to fight.

"Do you think your words carry any weight here?" he said. "Just because you fancy yourselves to be more important than me or anyone else on this ship?"

"That's because we are," I said boldly. "Look at my eyes. You think anyone else has eyes like mine? They are a symbol of my skill, one which no one else can match. With these eyes and my shyo mah, we can turn the sky in ways you have never seen. There's absolutely no one better than us-"

"Good," he interjected. "Then you can prove it by flying this ship into the fight; and if we survive, we'll bring you home."

"No I won't."

"Then you're useless to us." He motioned to the crewmen behind him. "Take those two away."

"I won't fight while these other children are here." My sudden outburst gave everyone pause, and for a moment, even I was surprised once I realized what I was saying. "My shyo mah and I will help fight your battle. But these other four will just get in the way. Put them on sky boats. Get them off this ship first."

"So you will do it then."

"Yes."

"Terr, why?" Kassashimei whispered.

I didn't answer her.

She should have known by now that this was what I'd truly wanted. I'd been denied this moment twice, but I wouldn't let it pass me again. It was my deepest hope that she'd understand.

"Two pairs of chienkuu ko traded for one?" The bite in his voice dared me to answer.

"We are worth ten pairs," Kassashimei said suddenly. "Did you even bother to look at his eyes? He is the silver moon and I am the sun. Our talents have earned the respect of everyone from merchants to royalty. No one is better than us."

She gave me a start as she came forward and made sure that she was the one now standing between me and the first officer.

"So the arrogant girl changes her mind," he said.