The Mystery of Emerald Flame (Verity Fitzroy and the Ministry Seven Book 2) by Pip Ballantine

Author:Pip Ballantine [Ballantine, Pip]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-04-23T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

A Flight with Baffle

Verity tried to keep her expression one of calm, because the other children would only read her concern as a reason to panic. They might be able to fight off gangs in London, face down mad scientists to reclaim one of their own, and give lip to a Ministry agent, but this was flying they were talking about.

The groundcrew cast off, and they rose into the air smoothly enough to the accompaniment of Liam's delighted shrieks. Emma sat right in the middle of the basket, clutching Potts, her eyes wild. Christopher and Julia stood near the stern and watched what lay below.

The city of Justinian and Byzantium slid away beneath them, and Verity experienced a pang that she didn't have the chance to explore even a little. Her mother told her once about the amazing Grand Bazaar, and all the sights and wonders to be found there. Maybe not today, but someday, Verity promised herself she would visit.

Once beyond the circle of the city, they rose beyond the clouds and rode the breezes towards Anatolia. The bridge of land between east and west was sometimes called Asia Minor. Verity studied it because it was the first place her father had ever gone on a dig. Dead languages, and waves of invaders and settlers had all passed through it. For now, it belonged to the Ottoman Empire, but for how long? The Greeks, the Romans, and the Byzantium Empire probably also thought they would keep it forever, but it passed on to others. History gave Verity a calmer view of the world. Everything was change even if people didn't see it in their lifetimes.

No one talked to much as they went, just Emma murmuring to Potts, who apparently survived the whole situation by powering down to a low ebb.

It was not a long journey though, but what lay ahead no one knew. Eventually even Liam gave up staring at clouds, and he and Christopher leaned against the edge of the basket to get a short nap.

Verity and Julia stood close together, though saying nothing. The English girl didn't quite trust Baffle with his steering of the ship and wouldn't dare to risk sleep. She imagined her friend had other reasons. At the end of this short leg of their journey, would be her mother whom she hadn't seen for years. That must be at least concerning the Scottish girl.

After about three hours, Baffle opened up the vent in the bag of the airship, and they began their descent through the clouds. Julia's hand locked suddenly around Verity's, as they peered through the remaining mist. Kayseri waited for them below and it was quite a sight.

The soft rock of the area wore away under the gradual erosion of water, but the ancient inhabitants of Cappadocia had taken it one step further, they burrowed within it.

Verity gasped at the tall spire that rose from the surrounding flat land like something from a fairy-tale. Flat topped mountains gave them a backdrop of layered blue-grey and white.

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