Page 221 of Carousel

CHAPTER 41

The Counterbalance

I’m still up on the platform. Even through the goggles of the oxygen mask, I can see the sky is brighter – and looks so close. Sharp black shapes are wheeling through it.

Vultures.

I’ve never seen birds up here. I didn’t even know they could fly this high. The Emperor is moving, sailing smoothly again, and it’s like they’re following us. Planning to prey on us.

Hands I know must be Drake’s slide along my back and ease me up. Then, slowly, he lifts the mask off me.

“Can you see those?” I ask him, still looking at the birds. My raspy voice rubs against my windpipe as I talk.

“Lartosi vultures,” he replies, sitting back on his knees. “Highest flying birds in the known world.”

Glimpsing him properly, I see he’s slightly hunched. There’s an oddly watchful look in his eyes while he studies me, like maybe he thinks I might pass out again.

He saved me.

Even though I never agreed to a truce between us.

I spot the beginnings of a new bruise under his chin. A flush creeps into my face.

“Did I punch you?”

“You did.” He smirks to himself. “Hurt me more than when you tried to use magic on me, actually. You should be proud of yourself.”

I know he’s joking, but I feel terrible. “I’m sorry. I thought you were⁠—”

“Trying to drug you,” he says simply. “I gathered that. The lack of oxygen to your brain brought on dissociation. Osimidite works similarly.”

I sit up, and realise Dezeeves is kneeling opposite us.

“Where’s Cosmer?” I demand.

Don’t have thrown him out. Don’t have thrown him out.

Dezeeves grimaces. Or maybe the sunlight is in his eyes. “In the infirmary,” he answers, his lips looking dry and clear, like fish scales. “Scaling a ship at high altitude – especially while it is in motion – is not something we recommend. It was best he be checked over.”

I snort. “Do you even have any medics left to check him over? Since you evacuated your whole crew?”

Dezeeves bows his small head. “I have a medic and a cook. Several engineers – I believe you would have met one, when you were able to have Cosmer locked out. It was not a small feat, the planning for this undertaking. The Queen was becoming impatient. But everything had to be just right.” He’s fiddling with his ponytail in an agitated way that remains me of his son.

My eyes narrow. “What’s wrong? You don’t look nearly as happy as someone whose careful planning perfectly worked out.”

He peers at me, as if seeing me from afar. “That would be, because it hasn’t, Ara.”

I wait for him to elaborate.

“I am afraid we have, in Drake’s words, let our hearts rule our heads. Cosmer coming to Rhavna with us will displease the Queen.”

“Dezeeves,” I say, trying to keep my temper. “If you’re referring to my relationship with Cosmer, Drake and I just proved we can combine our magic when there isn’t anything romantic between us. Maybe we wouldn’t need to marry at all. Maybe we’ve been thinking about this all wrong⁠—”

Dezeeves holds a finger up to stop me. Looks between us accusingly. “Are you quite sure there is nothing romantic between the two of you?”

“Of course,” I say at once. “We’re barely friends.” I add quieter, because Drake is watching me unnervingly, as if I’ve offended him, “currently.”

Dezeeves looks crushed.