Read Online Whispers of the Skyborne (Devices of War Book 3) by SM Blooding - Free Book Online Page A

control dome.
    “I do not want this news to be released just yet.” I ran my hand over my hair. The wind hadn’t done it any favors. “There are certain things I don’t want her to know. I don’t want her to see the Khayal fleet just yet. I don’t want her to see the full power of the armada.”
    “Or that we’ve sided with the Umira,” Jamilah clenched her fists.
    “There’s a lot of things we don’t want her to know.” I took my belt from Aiyanna.
    The priestess’ eyes filled with concern. “What are you going to do?”
    “She has aligned herself with Balbir the Shankara and the Han. I would guess she’s also aligned herself with LeBlanc. Her friendship with Sabine seemed real.”
    “The four most powerful leaders in the tribal world,” Aiyanna said softly.
    “Yes.”
    “The airships?” Jamilah asked with a snort. “Who do they belong to? You listed two letharan lords, a landsman, and a water tribe. Who do those airships belong to?”
    “Balbir Shankara.” I fastened my belt. “There’s a great deal we don’t know about these people.”
    Jamilah went still. “A letharan city has no airships.”
    “Mine did.”
    Aiyanna took a step back.
    “I believe she’s also controlling Tokarz. He will be entering the battle soon.”
    Jamilah’s eyes flashed.
    “But let’s recall he’s merely the hands that destroyed our Family. Ino Nami ordered the kill. And right now, she’s dangling Tokarz in front of us as a distraction.”
    The red-tipped storm ruled the view on the other side of the control dome windows.
    Jamilah bared her teeth. “I’ll get the contingency in place to keep Ryo under control.”
    “Good. Now is not a good time to release his rage.”
    “I’m still waiting for the plan,” Aiyanna said, her tone firm.
    “It’s simple. My own mother—” Those words twisted on my tongue. “—gave it to me. She wants me to call her, ‘save’ her, then discuss the need for peace.”
    Jamilah lowered her eyebrows. “I take it from your tone that these words were not spoken with respect.”
    “She killed my tribe, Jam. No. She has no respect for me.”
    “Okay,” Aiyanna said. “You do this. You meet with her. What then?”
    “Then, those with mixed blood seek refuge upon the Layal , and Kenta, Hitoshi, and Chie rescue my sister while I’m keeping Ino Nami occupied.”
    Jamilah turned a dry expression to Aiyanna. “Well, there’s not a lot that could go wrong with that plan. Is there?”
    The Maizah sidled next to us above the storm, her galley doors open. Ropes were thrown across as Haji’s men transferred to the other ship.
    Aiyanna sighed, turning away. “You know what this means.”
    I nodded. “More vetting. We can be assured there will be spies. Jamilah, are we ready to head to Ino City?”
    She waited, her attention on the scene below her feet. The clouds flashed. The ropes stopped swinging. “We are.”
    I walked to the communications station and held out my hands for the headset.
    The man at the console reached under the desk and brought out a spare set.
    I put them over my ears, the sounds of the Layal diminishing as the crackle of the airwaves took their place. I played with the dials. “Ino City, this is the El’Asim. Come in,” I said into the microphone. “Ino City, are you there? Come in.”
    “El’Asim,” a man’s voice said over the line.
    I stopped my search as he continued to talk. I dialed him until his voice was clear.
    “Please repeat, Ino City. This is the El’Asim.”
    “We are under attack. Advise position.”
    “We’re in the storm. We can’t hold out much longer. Is Ino Oki safe?”
    “Yes, but we don’t know for how much longer,” he said. “Please state your location.”
    A frown flickered between my brows. “Our navigation was blown. How are Ino City’s defenses?”
    “They’re holding for now. It is advised you return to Ino City to secure defenses.”
    I licked my lips, meeting Aiyanna’s gaze over the communication