Rise of the Sky Pirate by S.W. Raine

Author:S.W. Raine
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: steampunk, action&adventure, pirate
Publisher: S.W. Raine
Published: 2022-01-11T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

Benedict was tired of walking. They hadn’t even been trekking that long, but he was tired of it. In fact, he was just tired in general. When was the last time he had slept?

There was only a little limp in his step—thanks in part to Mathias for patching him up, but also thanks to the alcohol numbing his senses. He was sweating. Dampness covered his forehead, which should have felt fine against the frigid temperature, but his flushed face from the effort of his hobble was just making it worse.

They arrived at their destination—the streetlamp by the post office—where the flickering gas-lit fire in the glass globe cast dancing shadows about the street. Benedict leaned against the iron post with a relieved whoosh of breath, using the solid object to hold most of his weight, alleviating the throbbing in his leg.

A tiny figure approached, wool cloak swaying with their movement, and a red velvet scarf wrapped around their head and mouth, concealing their identity. Nothing made them recognizable, save for the delighted twinkle in their eyes as their gaze landed on Mathias.

“All right, Miss Dirk,” Benedict said. “Lead the way.”

She nodded and obeyed, glancing over her shoulder every now and again, adjusting her speed based on how fast Benedict could limp without having to stop to catch his breath.

He and Mathias were easily able to leave the Dirks’ abode as they had been guests, but Ella had needed to sneak out. At first, Benedict wondered if her concealment had been slightly overdramatic, but as they followed, he couldn’t help but think that this wasn’t her first time.

They approached a pub, a dingy little watering hole that reeked of bodily fluids—Benedict didn’t care to find out which specific ones—and that looked to be held up by the patrons themselves. Ruffians were known to lurk inside such places, ready and waiting for adventure or a good fight, but Ella led them past the shabby building entirely.

“Where is she going?” Mathias whispered to him, barely audible amid the crunch of ice and snow beneath their steps.

Benedict knew no more than he did. He continued to follow Ella.

Unlike the mess that was the pub—and every other deteriorating building in the Lands Below—the establishment Ella paused in front of immediately elicited a negative reaction from Mathias.

“No,” he said, stopping dead in his tracks.

“Come on, silly,” Ella purred over her shoulder. “Do you want a crew, yes or no?”

“You have no idea what you’re getting into,” he replied, shaking his head and taking a step back.

The building was better kept than the others along the street, but still discreet enough to not stand out too much and draw attention to itself. Despite the thin curtains covering each of the multiple windows of the two-story building, Benedict could still distinguish the silhouettes framed by candlelight, a smirk tugging at his lips. He suddenly understood exactly why Mathias was protesting.

Turning around, Ella closed the distance between herself and Mathias as she pulled the red scarf away from her mouth, revealing beautifully painted lips.

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