Minotaur (Leviathan Trilogy Novel)

PROLOGUE

The sky had been clear save for a few cirrus clouds on the far horizon, pink with the sunrise. A light breeze cooled the air and stirred the grass on the ground.

Jaspert's head was ringing with the age-old adage about red skies and warnings. He guessed that it was on Deryn's mind, too.

He wondered if she was as nervous as he was.

Probably not, he assumed. She had always been a load braver than he, and took Da's word for gospel, and anything else was a load of bollocks. She wouldn't be worried about any skies.

But that wasn't what he was worried about.

No, he didn't want the Royal Navy catching his little act, finding out he had signed his sister onto the force. It wouldn't just be bad for him, but imagine the consequences for Deryn!

She'll do fine, he reminded himself, closing his eyes as the tigeresques marched by, pulling a military carriage. It had since passed Deryn and the boys-- the other boys, he thought--and he could still see her craning to look at it.

But then, the Huxley was revealed, and her mind was clearly on other things.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" one of the boffins asked, elbowing him to attention.

Jaspert smiled. The boffin was barely older than he. He elbowed him back. "Can't give you any credit for it, though," he said with a wink.

The boffin merely chuckled. "S'pose not. The idea of that was long conceived before I."

"True enough." Jaspert nodded, and then frowned as he saw one skinny, blonde form step up.

"Dammit!" he hissed.

"What's that?" the boffin asked, shooting him another grin.

"That's my s--my cousin," he said. "He's gone up first."

"A brave one, then," the boffin laughed.

Grimacing, Jaspert said, "I suppose." Internally, he was cursing. Deryn was supposed to keep a low profile if she--he, he corrected himself-- wanted to get onto an airship. Unfortunately, she tended to think with her arse more than her head, and probably wanted to show the boys who's who.

"Your family all in the air?" the boffin inquired.

Jaspert sighed, and turned to look at the young man. He looked rather Scottish, to be frank, and that made him like him all the more.

"My da," he said. "Taught me all I know. My cousin, too." He paused, looked at the boffin's crooked smile. "What's your name?" he asked.

"Rupert Wood." The answer was clear and proud. "Serving on the Minotaur. Yourself?"

"Jaspert Sharp. Headed off with the Minotaur as well. So's my cousin."

Wood stuck out his hand for Jaspert to shake, which he accepted.

"Good luck, then," Wood laughed. "I've got stories to tell about her, my friend."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jaspert demanded, suddenly feeling panic creep from his fingertips into his throat . Was Deryn's secret already lost?

"Yes," Wood continued. "The Minotaur--she can be crazy. Largest ship in the British fleet, almost."

Jaspert was going to ask more, but his attention was torn away as he saw the Huxley hurtling into the air, like a paper sack being carried off with the wind.

He gasped as he saw Deryn fly towards the sky, but then calmed himself. She'd been in the air plenty of times, after all.

He could never stifle that surge of original panic, though.

Sometimes, he felt a little bit too much of paternal protection towards his little sister. God knew she needed it, with Da being gone and all....

He swallowed as she went up and up, towards the great blue sky. The Huxley glowed purple against the sunrise, its form becoming more and more spectacular the further away it went.

"Coxswain Sharp!"

He spun on his heel to face the source of the voice.

A short young man of dark complexion approached him, his curly hair sticking out at all sides. He appeared to be of higher rank than Jaspert, so he saluted him briefly.

"No need for that," the man scoffed. "Just call me Hopps--no titles attached, got it?"

Jaspert nodded. "Got it."

"The Minotaur is waiting."

"But my cousin--"

"He'll be fine," Hopps said, turning around. "Come on."

Wood nudged Jaspert along, passing him a look of well-meaning and sympathy. "Good luck," he repeated

Jaspert smiled. "Thanks, mate."

And then, he was on his way to the Minotaur.

By orendork and Parzaval11235