Song of Blood & Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1)(83)

He stalked out of the communications room and into the small office the army maintained in the palace.

“The airship that was on the roof—is it still there, Sergeant?” he asked the soldier on duty.

“Yes, sir. It’s scheduled to be moved next week.”

“Never mind that. I need a pilot. Immediately.”

“Sir, the army doesn’t have any ships or pilots. The airship was a gift to Prince Alariq from—”

“Yes, I know all that. But there must be someone in this city who can pilot a bloody airship. Find the ambassador to Yaly. It’s their invention, he must know someone.”

The sergeant rushed to stand, confused but determined.

“Your Grace,” a Guardsman appeared in the doorway. Jack whirled around to face him.

“What is it?”

“There’s a woman here from the Sisterhood. She’s been raising quite a ruckus for some time now, saying she needs to speak with you.”

Jack sighed. “I can’t imagine a worse time."

“Your Grace, she’s saying it has to do with Miss Jasminda. I thought you might want to speak with her.”

Jack peered more closely at the Guardsman. He was the same fellow who’d escorted Lizvette to questioning. Tension gripped Jack, and he nodded. “Take me to her.”

They’d kept the woman in the main lobby of the palace, and Jack could hear her voice from two corridors away.

“I will not stand down, and you would do well to keep out of my way, sir. I refuse to leave this palace until I have seen Prince Jaqros!”

“Sister,” Jack said as he approached. The woman startled and spun around, gracing him with the tiniest curtsey possible before rushing to his side. A Guardsman reached out to stop her approach, but Jack brushed him off. “What can I do for you?”

“You can stop a great miscarriage of justice, Your Grace. My niece, a citizen of Elsira, despite all appearances to the contrary, was chained and forcibly placed on a bus headed to Lagrimar with the refugees. She does not belong there and I—”

“You are Aunt Vanesse,” Jack said. The woman stopped, looking stunned. He should have recognized her at once, but his mind was scattered in a million directions. How many Sisters had burn scars on their faces? “Jasminda told me about you.”

She looked confused, but the determination in her eyes burned bright.

“Please, come with me,” he said, leading her toward his office. “I have been trying to rectify that situation, believe me. But I’ve been stymied at every turn.”

Jack stopped at his secretary’s desk. “Netta, I want you to check in with the palace regiment every five minutes for an update on their search for an airship pilot.”

Netta nodded and picked up the phone.

“An airship pilot?” Vanesse said, squinting at him.

“Yes. I fear that is the only way to get to her before the caravan reaches the border. My brother had the only airship in Rosira and pilots are in short supply.”

“Your Grace, I have a . . . a friend, who can drive just about anything. She’s competed in the Yaly Classic Air Race the past two years flying speed crafts. If there’s anyone who can pilot it, she can.”

Jack stared, speechless, before breaking into a grin. He picked up the startled woman and spun her around, only putting her down when her small fist began beating against his back.




“Are you sure this is wise?” Usher said, following Jack up the stairs and onto the roof. Rain attacked the building; wind gusts blew sideways into the covered awning they stood under, soaking them.

“No, I’m pretty sure this is the least wise thing I could ever do. But I can’t lose her, Usher. I can’t.”

“I understand your feelings are strong, young sir, but this country lost a prince to that very airship not three weeks past.”

“Duty has taken everything from me. Everything I’ve ever loved I’ve lost—and that hasn’t been much. I’ve sacrificed my life for this country again and again and what does it give me in return? Nothing but heartache. I will not allow Jasminda to be another casualty.”

Usher’s face was grim. Jack didn’t want to argue with him. He didn’t have the strength for it. But to his surprise, Usher merely nodded. “Come back with her quickly, then.”

“Thank you, old man.” They embraced, and Jack raced over to the airship.

A lump formed in his throat as he grew closer. He’d never been in anything like it before. They were common in other places—the Fremian army had an entire fleet—but Elsira was not a country that took well to change, adopting new technology only when absolutely necessary.

He climbed into the cabin where Vanesse’s friend Clove already sat in the pilot’s seat, checking over the instruments. At first glance, the woman was unassuming. She barely came up to his shoulder and her heart-shaped face seemed made to smile. Strawberry-blond hair curled around her head, and he couldn’t place her age. Vanesse was in her early thirties, but Clove could be ten years younger or older—it was hard to say.

“Everything look all right to you?” Jack asked, taking his place on one of the plush seats, dripping water all over it. Across from him sat Vanesse who had removed her robes and wore a smart-looking pantsuit, similar to the one Clove wore. She appeared perfectly dry.