Read Online Quillblade by Ben Chandler - Free Book Online Page B

‘What do you think of all this?’
    Lenis coaxed Aeris to drink from a small dish of water. ‘I don’t like any of it. Stealing the airship, fighting with the Warlord. And that sword of yours! Where did you get it?’
    â€˜Lord Tenjin gave it to me.’ Missy pulled the Quillblade out and handed it to her brother. He held the limp feather away from him between two fingers.
    â€˜Why did he do that?’
    â€˜He didn’t say. You’re not jealous, are you?’
    â€˜No, of course not,’ he said quickly. ‘It’s dangerous, Missy.’
    â€˜Of course it is.’ She took the Quillblade back and hid it under her clothes. ‘It’s supposed to be some sort of sword.’
    â€˜What do you want with a sword?’
    â€˜It’s something I’ve never had before.’ Her response sounded lame, even to her. ‘It’s a symbol of this freedom, this “Way” the captain promised us when we stole the Hiryû. You know a slave can’t hold a weapon. Well, here I am, holding one.’
    â€˜You’re still a slave, Missy,’ Lenis whispered. ‘You shouldn’t forget that.’
    She sighed. ‘I wish you could just enjoy things, you know?’
    â€˜Be careful with it, all right? I don’t like what it did to you.’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    â€˜When you were holding it, it took something away from you.’
    â€˜Only my fear. Isn’t that a good thing?’
    â€˜It’s yours,’ he said stubbornly. ‘You shouldn’t have to give it up.’
    Missy reached out and ruffled his hair, half worried and half bemused by her brother’s words. She didn’t mind giving up her fear in the least, but Lenis knew about emotions like she knew about telepathy. If he was warning her about something, she knew better than to take it lightly.
    Lenis lowered his head to rub his cheek against Aeris’s fur. ‘What do you think the captain will do with us?’
    â€˜What do you mean?’
    He looked up at her and frowned. ‘Ignis.’
    â€˜Oh, that. I don’t know, probably nothing. You saved us, didn’t you?’
    â€˜Missy –’
    â€˜Look,’ she said, putting her arm around him, ‘I sort of did the same thing back at Itsû.’ He pulled away from her, and she rushed on. ‘I don’t think they realise whatcommunicators and engineers can really do, so they don’t realise we’re ... different. Bestia power’s still new in Shinzô. Most of the Shinzôn crew have never even been on an airship before.’
    â€˜What about Lord Knyght, and Kenji? They’ve both been on lots of airships, so they probably know all about Bestia Keepers, too.’
    Missy felt her chest constrict and the Quillblade quivered. She pushed her panic down. ‘I’m sure everything will be fine, little brother. Somehow. Are you coming to dinner?’
    â€˜I’d better stay with Aeris.’
    â€˜All right.’ Missy stood. ‘I’ll bring you both something to eat.’
    â€˜Something with a little meat for Aeris,’ Lenis said, ‘but only a little. I think she needs some iron, but I don’t want her overdoing it.’
    Missy nodded and left her brother sitting on his bunk.

    As soon as Lenis closed his eyes a brilliant blue blazed across the insides of his eyelids and he felt soft rain falling on his face.
    Again.
    A small point of darkness in the depths of the azure glow expanded and resolved itself into the form of a dragon. It hung in the space before him, a featureless shadow.
    I AM APSILLA. LADY OF RAIN AND BLUE DRAGON OF THE EAST. YOU MUST SAVE MY DAUGHTER.

‘Gesshoku airdock sighted.’ The lookout’s voice came through the speech tube.
    Lenis turned to the engine. ‘A proper berth tonight, my lady.’
    It had been a long, tense day. At any moment, Lenis had been expecting a summons from the captain to