Chasing the Lantern(114)

The Draykin hissed and faced Fengel with its spear. Natasha caught it across the side of the head with a strong right hook. The headdress went flying. The Lorekeeper yowled and fell back, dropping the spear and falling likewise to the stone at their feet.

The headdress arced through the air, brushing just against the Governor's Lantern. The gemstone rocked, then rolled off the altar to fall on the wide stone landing. It rolled for the edge.

"No!" cried Fengel. He bent over and rammed an elbow into Natasha's stomach. Her breath left her and she fell back, stepping onto the fallen spear of the Lorekeeper.

Natasha slipped and went down. She tumbled over the lip of the ledge, grabbing ahold at the last second with one hand.

"Ah!" she cried. Then, "you horse's ass!"

Fengel stood in indecision. The gem came to a stop, balanced precariously on the ledge a few feet away.

"Leave it be Captain!" cried Maxim. "The thing is cursed!"

"It's right there!" wailed Fengel. "If I don't get it, she will!"

"I don't want the stupid gem," snarled Natasha. "I want my ship! I just don't want you to have it!"

A gunshot echoed throughout the chamber. The stone next to Natasha exploded. She yelped and slipped further. Everyone looked down to where Mordecai stood alone on the bridge, the remaining Reavers wholly on the spire now. He glowered and lowered his pistol with a curse.

"Mordecai," yelled Natasha. "You whoreson bastard! Wasn't it enough to take my ship from me? If I'm going, I'm taking you with me. I don't know how, but I swear I'll do it!"

Mordecai glanced at the other Reavers, some of whom were staring back at him. "Just trying to save you from your husband," he said. He sheathed his sword, tossed his spent pistol over the bridge and drew another. "Now, hold still while I save you again."

The Draykin below were caught between staring at Lina and casting ugly glances at the pirates. This can't hold for long. "Captain!" she cried. "Leave it!"

Natasha yelped as she slipped a little. The gem rocked on the ledge, back and forth, over the abyss. Fengel looked from one to the other.

Then he made a choice.

Natasha slipped free. She shrieked. Then Fengel was there, grabbing her wrist with one hand. He grunted, grabbed her with his other hand, then dragged her over the ledge just as the Lantern went the other way.

The gemstone tumbled. It fell down in a long arc, passing Maxim, Henry Smalls, Sarah Lome and Reaver Jane. It fell down toward Mordecai, taking aim again with his pistol. At the last second he reached up and caught the thing with his free hand. It shone.

Mordecai Wright stared at the thing incredulously. Then he laughed. "Really? After all this? Well, why not." He shifted it to one side and took a shooter's stance, leveling the pistol in his other hand at Fengel and Natasha.

Then his bridge gave way.

The ropes supporting the suspension at either end snapped all at once. With a surprised curse Mordecai fell away, his gun going off and the ball shooting wide.

The Lorekeeper scrabbled forward over the edge. It screamed out in denial as the Governor's Lantern, and Mordecai Wright, fell into the abyss at the bottom of the temple. The little Draykin priest began to go into hysterics.

"Captain," cried Henry Smalls. "We have to go."

Fengel shook himself, saw the Draykin, saw Natasha, and gave a frown. He helped her up to her feet, and then ran. The pirates took that as a sign. Henry, Maxim, Sarah, and the others took the nearest bridge, running past the still-stunned Draykin onto the exterior ledges and up to where Lina stood. Natasha's Reaver's, bereft of leadership, joined in. Fengel and Natasha themselves brought up the rear.

Time to go. Lina turned and ran back outside.

The Draykin mob below had closed the path down the stair. They still stood on it, chattering and hissing to themselves, an argument or discussion it appeared. They pointed at the top of the temple, at Lina, as if trying to decide something. Lina didn't like that.

Even worse, the ship was gone.

Rope ladders dropped down in front of her. She glanced up to see the Dawnhawk directly overhead, having moved its course a little.

Lucian Thorne stuck his head over the side. "Hallo down there. Fancy a lift?"

"I thought you were dead!" cried Lina in delight. "How did you get off the Queen?"

The first mate made a small gesture with his hand. "The Queen drifted over one of those pointy pyramids. Net we were stuck in got caught on the tip and tore right open. Took a bit of a tumble, but me and the others are fine. Now, you'd best all get up here; the natives are looking restless."

Lina and the others caught the ladders and climbed. She made her way up to the top, where Lucian waited to pull her over the deck. He widened his eyes in surprise at her appearance, then moved her aside to help the others up.