She looked into his eyes and felt his arms press about her, as if he was afraid she might try to pull away.
“I… I don’t know… I… I’m sorry.”
The words stumbled out of her mouth in a near whisper.
“You’re crying. You’re scared,” he said. “Scared of me and of what we’ve done. But we did the right thing, Pia. You did the right thing. Hereward tried to kill me, and if he had succeeded he would have ended the hopes of everyone here.” He went silent for a long moment, and then spoke again. “Tell me, what do you think of Albertus Black?”
She shook her head in confusion.
“Albertus? What’s that got to do with anything?”
“Did you know that he went to offer his life in exchange for yours, Pia, and for Jack’s? That that was what finally ended the embassy’s protection? He was injured when he did so, according to Gleeman. When you return to the plateau, Pia, take a long look at that dying old man. He offered his life in exchange for yours. He may well end up giving it, for I cannot see him living for much longer.
“Should he die, then it will be your duty to live a good life, Pia. So when you go back down there, look him in the eye and know what he offered to do for you and your brother. Don’t make his sacrifice worthless by throwing away the chance he has given you.
“Do you understand?”
Pia nodded, though she was not certain.
“Come, Pia,” he said. “Let us wait here together for a few minutes more, and watch the dawn. It won’t be long now.”
Suddenly a great roar went up from behind them. Pia looked down onto the plateau and saw the balloon jerk upward. Down below, the gnome’s burner was expelling an orange flame. The balloon tugged upon the two ropes at each end, lifting the device gently from the ground, and it was buffeted by the wind.
“It’s ready!” Master Peregrim shouted out. “Now we need a few volunteers to man the top. People who are good with bows.”
Pia saw several volunteers step forward. Castimir was pushed forward by Arisha, and both Kara and Theodore were chosen. Lord Despaard and Harold also.
“Where are they going to go?” she asked.
“On top of the balloon we have added a wooden platform. The plan is to have several archers up there in case anyone should try to prevent our escape. Do you see those ropes at the balloon’s sides, the ones that go from the ground to the top?”
Pia looked and gave a nod.
“Watch then, as each of your friends is raised to the top.”
Kara was the first to go. Pia watched as she strapped a harness over her shoulder. The rope was then pulled through it. At a signal, several people heaved on the end of a second line. Kara was wrenched into the air, using her hands and feet to push against the balloon’s surface as she was lifted. Soon she rounded the bulbous top and emerged standing in the centre. She gave a shout and very quickly Theodore was lifted up after her.
“We should go down,” Pia whispered.
“Wait,” Vanstrom murmured. “Something’s wrong.”
The inhabitants of Hope Rock had split into two groups. Argumentative voices could be heard, and very soon fingers were pointing and waving.
“What’s going on?” Pia asked.
“They don’t want to go,” Vanstrom observed. “Some of them think it’s suicide.”
Pia saw Arisha step forward, to stand between the two groups, but even her presence wasn’t enough to halt the discord. Someone called out for Hereward, another for Karnac, and in the morning light Pia saw the sun-kissed glimmer of drawn daggers.
“They will kill each other-and all of us-unless this madness is stopp-”
Vanstrom froze.
“What’s wrong?” she said. “What’s happening?”
“Did you hear that? From the north I think.”
Vanstrom ran across the top of the circle toward the lift. It had been raised and the windlass locked, as it was whenever it wasn’t in use. The pregnant woman who stood watch there had been drawn to the argument.
“By the gods, it’s them,” Vanstrom murmured, his face pale. “They have found us at last.”
“What?” Pia asked, her fear growing. “What is it? I don’t see anything?”
“Listen girl, listen. On the wind. Do you hear?”
Pia fell silent and angled her head to the north. The wind rushed by, causing a faint roaring, but then, over that, there was a growing howl.
It can’t be. Not here.
She listened again, and once more heard the cries.
Vanstrom was already moving. Pia ran after him, down the wooden scaffold and into the midst of the angry mob.
“It is too late for us now!” he roared. “Listen! Listen to the wind, all of you. Can you not hear them? Can you? They are upon us now. Listen!”
Some spat derisively at him, but the majority listened.
And sheltered from the wind by the rock wall, as Pia’s heart smashed in her chest and her ears thrummed to its beat, she heard the sound again.
It was howling. The howling of wolves. The werewolves of Canifis had found them.
“We have no time!” Karnac shouted. “We must leave now. Now.”
The howls had settled the issue. No one argued. Instead, in a barely organised rush they heaved the last volunteers to the top platform and then clambered into the nets that were fastened around the base of the balloon. The old and infirm were tied in, and Pia found herself in between Albertus Black and the spirit woman, her brother at the woman’s side. Pia was thankful that no one did a head count, and once, when Karnac mentioned Hereward, Vanstrom intervened neatly, telling him that Hereward had volunteered to come last. When Vanstrom strapped himself in not far from her, she saw his knowing gaze.
I am glad he is close to me. He gives me strength.
“Prepare to cut the mooring lines,” Master Peregrim shouted as he leaned down to his burner. A blast of orange flame roared into the central cavernous body of the balloon, lifting it suddenly. Someone near shouted in surprise and another in alarm.
This is suicide, she thought desperately, trying to avoid panic. This is absolute suicide. Pia’s stomach heaved as the balloon bounded up and down on its tethers. She wound the netting around her arm all the tighter. The ground was too far below to risk jumping now.
“The stern is free,” a voice cried.
Immediately the balloon angled upward, the bow still tethered.
“Werewolf!”
Pia looked to the north as the balloon twisted on its last tether. She could just see a cowled figure, standing where the windlass was.
Somehow it must have climbed up!
The werewolf howled and charged forward. She heard Master Peregrim scream for help as the attacker neared, and she saw how obscenely vulnerable the gnome was, still hovering just a few feet from the ground on his burner.
Help him! Someone do something!
A blue missile smashed into the creature’s shoulder from above. The werewolf sprawled backward, whimpering as it grabbed its shattered limb and ran back several steps.
“You got him, Castimir!” she heard Kara shout.
But the werewolf turned again, and Pia knew it would not make such an easy target this time.
“Cut the bow line! Cut the line!” Master Peregrim bellowed.
Vanstrom Klause ducked through the netting. Pia saw him clamber to the bow and draw his knife.
Be careful. For the love of the gods, be careful.
The werewolf zigzagged now, weaving its way closer to the burner, jumping aside to avoid a second of Castimir’s blue missiles. When it exploded upon the ground, Pia saw it was composed of water which splashed harmlessly at their enemy’s feet.
But now Pia knew the werewolf was hidden from Castimir’s view by the shape of the balloon. There would be no more magic to save Master Peregrim now.
She heard the burner roar again from below and the balloon leapt upward. Vanstrom gave a shout from the bow and fell into empty space.