Sky Pirates

Chapter 47

Nate Butler led Parker Greene and Rifle Helms toward a bank of small rooms and stopped at the one in the middle. "This one is yours while you are here. You may use it as you like."

"The coveted middle office," said Rifle good-naturedly.

The room was larger than the others, with glass on all sides making it easy to see what was happening in the workshop, the other offices, and beyond the building.

Parker stepped into the room and was drawn to the window that faced outside. It offered a framed view of all four islands; their shapes, sizes, and positions now made sense to him.

"We know about the deadline," said Butler.

Parker had gone somewhere else, the escape plan consumed his mind. Two ideas he'd had were in conflict. And now, with the thought of adding all these little men to his plan, but getting them into proper position...he realized Nate Butler was watching him, waiting for him. "What?"

"Sorry, sir. I didn't mean to interrupt your process. But, I said, we know about the two week deadline you've been given."

Greene thought about Able Currant. How the man burst into his home at will. How he'd tried to seduce him, had seduced him. Parker felt the heat of a blush cross his cheeks. He knew now, in his gut, that the handsome Currant was not to be trusted—why had he let his guard down? Because Able was handsome. Greene found his senses. Trust was now off the table, and it was time for those tables to be turned, so sex used against Able wasn't out of the question.

"Rifle, would you mind?" Parker pointed to the door.

Lover or not, the dependable man knew his place. Helms ranked under Greene, probably always would.

"Not at all, sir." There was no malice in his tone. Rifle stepped outside the office and closed the door.

"Nate, I need to spend some time here. I want to know everything you've been working on. Everything." Greene watched the little man's eyes for signs and clues. He so desperately hoped he'd picked up the coded language earlier.

The dwarf's eyes twinkled. "Everything?" he repeated.

"We understand each other?"

"In two weeks, there will be a rebellion. With your help, our clan of little people will finally find liberation! And, you will lead us there?"

Parker Greene was taken aback at how blunt Nate was being.

Butler continued without waiting for an answer: "We've been waiting for one of the Queen's leaders to arrive. We thought we'd gotten it when Helms was captured. But, we were quick to discover, as much as we liked him and as talented as he is, that Rifle is not a leader."

"No, but he's a brilliant follower." Parker's mind whirled. Could this little man be trusted? Was he being set up? Or, was this what he'd been thinking and hoping, that the dwarfs, so many of them, were here against their will.

Nate continued quickly, "Exactly. But, you. You're the real leader. There's so much for us to discuss and we can't do it here, surrounded by glass in the light of day."

"You shall dine with me." The only way to find out the truth was to talk to the man, to hear his story, and to take the risks related to building an army large enough to defeat the pirates and yet still escape. "Lunch will tell."

"Sir?" Nate asked.

Greene was content. "I have a stack of plans at my home that we must begin working on at once. Can someone please accompany me? We'll need a wagon or transport, too."

"Of course, Lord...uh...Mr. Greene." Nate flung open the door. He barked out names and commands and before another minute had passed, Lord Greene, accompanied by six small men, was headed back into the tunnel and toward his home.

* * *

Want to find out what happens next? Use this link to read Sky Pirates free on Kindle Unlimited: https://amzn.to/2tncj1H