Prosperity's Rise Book 1

Chapter 7 Welcome to Til

The five sat in the cockpit with bated breath. Horonoka yanked on the lever next to his seat and flipped a few switches, causing the ship to slow.

"None of the lords have decided to shoot us, that's a good sign," he said with a grin. "Maybe Kiil'brahn is doing better than I thought."

"Kiil'brahn?" asked Tygor.

"One of the lesser lords. Hopefully, we'll be able to buy his help. That's what the Spine's for." The ship's console beeped and a small light began to flash. "Ooh, we've been noticed."

"Mia," Tygor whispered. "I want you and Natto to wait in the Common room."

"Why?"

"Do it," he hissed.

Mia gritted her teeth and grabbed Natto's hand. The two rushed out of the cockpit, the door locking behind them.

"That'll keep 'em out," mumbled Horonoka. "Alright everybody, game face, these guys are serious." He hit the green button underneath the flashing light.

The blue face of a man with long white hair braided up into a small ponytail looked at the three from the ship's front screen. Upon seeing Horonoka his mouth contorted into a grimace. "Oh, no," he groaned.

"Hey, Jer'ni! What's up?" shouted an enthusiastic Horonoka.

"You can't be serious," grumbled Jer'ni. "Is that really you Horonoka? You shouldn't be here."

"You sound like you're not happy to see me."

Jer'ni threw his top two arms in the air, while his bottom arms crossed in front of his torso. "Of course I'm not! Do you know what Kiil'brahn will do if he finds you? Why are you even here?"

"Repairs, my steering wheel came off."

Jer'ni raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean 'came off'?"

"All the way off," he said. "Wires are ripped and everything, it keeps smoking. I'm no mechanic, but I'm pretty sure that's bad."

Jer'ni sighed. "Of course, you fly that thing as if it were a damn carnival ride."

Horonoka tapped the console's mic. "You gonna let me land or not?"

Jer'ni chuckled. "Kiil'brahn might execute your friends. He's still pretty upset about what happened last time."

"What if I gave him four gallons of Spine?"

Jer'ni's eyes grew wide. "Wait, did you just say gallons?"

"What? Is that not enough?"

"Where did you get four gallons?" he shouted. Muffled talking came from behind Jer'ni seemingly causing him to look about. He bit his lip. "I'll have to ask Lord Kiil'brahn," he muttered, rushing from his seat.

Horonoka looked back at Sana and Tygor with a grin. "He's basically Kiil'brahn's personal servant. He does a lot of things."

Jer'ni came back to the screen and flopped down into his seat, putting his head in one of his four hands. "Come on down Horonoka," he groaned.

"Thanks Jer!"

The screen shut off and Horonoka chuckled to himself.

Tygor let out a shaky laugh. "Well, I didn't think it was possible to make that much Spine in such a short while. Well done Horonoka."

Horonoka drew in a swift breath through his teeth. "Yeah, about that..."

Tygor paused before letting out a few low clicks. "No," he muttered.