The Chronicles of Nir

26 | Rescued by a Pop Star

Tallon staggered across the lawns towards the airships, Ben in his arms, as winds buffeted him and rain lashed his face. The moment of calm had passed, and the residual energy of the pearl continued to wreak havoc as it spent itself in search of equilibrium.

Halfway across the lawn, he looked back. Trinnian's manor lay in ruins of bramble, flame, and rubble.

"Tallon!"

He turned at the sound of his name. Thaddeus ran towards him, waving frantically. Eri, Maisie, Fann, Grelorn, and Liari straggled in his wake.

"We need to leave," Tallon shouted over the downpour. "Are any airships taking passengers?"

A glance upward showed at least two already airborne, with men hanging by ropes as they attempted to make the climb to the rails. With a high-pitched scream, one lost his grip and fell, landing in the distance with an audible thump. He did not get up.

Thaddeus shook his head, his hair plastered flat by the rain. "No! They've all taken off, but one has agreed to drop a basket for us. It's risky, though, and it can't take us all!"

"How many?"

"Six, or three and one large wolf," Thaddeus glanced guiltily at Fann.

Tallon did the math.

"We can't leave Fann. Ben would never forgive us, and it's not like we can smuggle him back to Ardensfall in a handbag. Fann, Ben, Maisie, and Grelorn should go," he declared, reaching to pet the wolf , who licked his hand while nuzzling Ben's face. "You, Eri, Liari and I can get out of here on foot."

Thaddeus pulled a flare gun from his jacket pocket and shot the green smoke into the sky. "There will be an inquiry, and people won't hesitate to point the finger at me. We should hide before anyone finds themselves on the wrong side of a noose."

"No," Grelorn huffed, holding on to Liari for support. "I'm not going anywhere without Liari. I can get treatment in the city and book passage back to Sagehand. My name will shield me."

"It didn't shield you so well from that crossbow bolt," Thaddeus pointed out.

Tallon sighed. "As you will. Keep my sister safe, or I'll castrate you and feed your man bits to the wolf. Eri, if Grelorn won't go, then you should."

Eri leaned on his cane. "What if the operators send the basket down twice? That way, nobody gets left behind, no one's body parts become wolf treats, and we all get the hell out of here in a timely manner?"

Thaddeus wrung his hands. "I could barely convince them to make one pass in this weather. You can speak to the captain once you're aboard—see if she'll circle back a second time—but I doubt you'll have more luck than I did!"

Tallon pursed his lips. The odds of convincing a gnome to risk their contraptions  in a lightning storm were slim to none.

With a sigh, he said, "Fine. Then you all should take the basket. Fann and I will catch up when we can."

Maisie grasped his arm. Her back burned with pain where the crossbow bolt had grazed her. The wound wasn't deep, but it hurt like hell and bled freely.

"No, Tallon. Ye can't leave Ben now. He needs ye." She laid a hand on Ben's brow and shook her head. "Ye've got to stay with him."

Fann's rumbling growl told Tallon the wolf felt the same.

Thaddeus bounced on the balls of his feet and pointed towards the sky. "Here comes the ship," he shouted. "Trinnian's private guard brigade won't be far behind!"

"We'll ask the captain to make a second turn," Tallon said decisively, clutching Ben closer to his chest. "Maisie, Ben, Fann, and... myself."

He choked on the last word, wishing he could send Liari instead.