Page 141 of Carousel

“We should hold.”

Dezeeves’ voice booms out from the control table.

“Is Meg here now?”

Meg rushes over to him – and Ephraine now has a perfect view of me. He straightens up from the telescope.

“Headache?” he asks.

“No,” I answer.

He slicks back his hair with something of a sneer.

“Yet anyone who had inhaled the quantity of osimidite Dezeeves claims you were given just a few hours ago would have a killer of one right about now.”

Is that true? Did Dezeeves not give me as much osimidite as he thought he did?

It had still felt so strong. Cooked my brain. I can’t imagine being given even more than that.

Pretending to wince, I say, “I meant yes. I do have a headache.” I hit my head for good measure.

“I’ve never seen someone lie so terribly,” he says, smirking.

“I’ve never seen someone smirk so arrogantly,” I retort, and enjoy the scowl he gives me.

Movement catches my eye. I look out of the window properly for the first time. A hawker like Cosmer’s is advancing towards a similar ship with a longer tail, which is fast approaching and violently shooting. It’s painted with the watery crest of Rhavna.

The Hevallan hawker swerves widely but neatly, avoiding every shot. The base of the ship extends, revealing a cannon.

The hawker fires – and hits the Rhavnan ship direct to its window, which shatters. Within seconds, flames spring upwards and outwards and the machine hurtles down, down, spinning and heavily smoking. It’s over in seconds.

Dezeeves is beside himself. “Excellent work, Rike,” he calls into his band. Some of the other officers even clap.

That was Rike?

I try to get a closer look – but I’m distracted by the sound of the bell outside the door ringing. Samson opens it, and Riss runs through it. Drake appears behind her.

“I’ve brought him,” she says, panting.

“Good,” Dezeeves says. He indicates a chair opposite. “Drake, please take a seat.”

Riss asks, “You still want me in the air?”

“We need more pilots. And, since you particularly enjoy acrobatics…”

“Don’t you need me on radios?”

“We have Ara,” Dezeeves states, looking at me for the first time. “She is in Intelligence, is she not? Let’s allow her to start being intelligent.”

Riss sprints out of the room.

“Frequency blue wave, when you’re ready, Ara,” Dezeeves says, sliding a radio band across the floor, towards me.

I pick it up, feeling… I have no idea how I feel.

On one hand, I feel like a dog being made to pick up the scraps.

On the other hand, I feel strong. Flattered, somehow, that I’ve been asked to be part of this.