The mood in the air changed. Surprise and awe evaporated, replaced by outrage. The Chieftain narrowed its eyes. The Draykin around them hissed, low and angry.
Fengel reconsidered his position. "Mister Smalls," he said calmly.
"Yes, sir?"
"It appears that I might have been just a tad too bold."
His steward sighed. "I know, sir."
"Korvachi," shrieked the chieftain, spittle landing on the shirt of Fengel's breast. "Korvachi hailo!"
The two guards at his side leapt forward and seized him painfully. He tried to struggle, but they had him in grips of iron. Two more jumped forward to help subdue him.
"Te Salaas Voorn!" yelled the chieftain. It raised its staff up and pointed at the opening to the temple.
"Te Salaas Voorn!" echoed the guards. They hoisted Fengel and hauled him forward, the chieftain stepping aside. Others behind them took up the cry, until it echoed throughout the plaza. The Draykin hauled the sky-pirates into the dark of the ancient temple.
Through his panic and his fear, Fengel thought he spied a light in the depths ahead, burning like the glow of a lantern.
Chapter Twenty-One
Mordecai was getting angry.
"I specifically ordered you not to kill them!" shouted Natasha. Her golden eyes flashed.
"The ship exploded. You saw what condition it was in. It's a miracle it got this far. We stocked it far too full of powder before we set off on this little trip. It could have been anything. A leftover candle burning down in the magazine, or a spark in the gas-bag frame."
They hovered over the strange city of the lizard-men and the large temple in its central plaza. The inhabitants watched them float above in awe. Of far more concern to Mordecai were the swarms of scryn soaring about. The death of the Copper Queen had agitated them, revealing their presence. There were far more of the vermin in this city than Mordecai had thought even existed.
The crew were on edge. They had taken their airship back, but rather than fleeing with the treasure in their hold, they'd stayed. Now scryn surrounded them, hostile natives swarmed below, and their captain and first mate were arguing in the stern near the helm.
Mordecai thought he'd be able to convince Natasha to move on. Yet once they'd spied Fengel and the procession below, she'd ordered them to draw closer. Then the Queen had exploded. They had been arguing vehemently since.
"Do you think me a halfwit?" snarled his captain. Natasha narrowed her eyes and let her hand fall to her sword. She paced back and forth. "You wanted them all dead. Especially Lucian. You never quite got over what he did to you, and you finally broke rank to take your chance, deliberately ignoring my order!"
His composure evaporated. "That is not why I killed them!" Mordecai hissed. "You want the truth? Fine! I blew up the Queen. I had a long trail drawn back to the powder room and lit off as we departed. And you know what? I would do it again in a heartbeat."
Natasha grinned fiercely as she caught him out. Mordecai ignored it and went on, stabbing a finger at her to punctuate every sentence. "You should have dumped Fengel in the ocean the minute we got our ship back the first time. None of this ever would have happened then. But no. You had to get soft. You had to play games. I did what was necessary. I did what you should have done a week ago. You're soft around him, and it'll be the doom of us all!"
Mordecai quieted, panting. Natasha glowered, now outraged. "You forget your place, first mate," she hissed.
"No," he replied. "I know my duty. One of us has to think with something other than their loins."
Natasha glared daggers, then she smiled sweetly. "No worries there for you, eh Mordecai? Tell me, when was the last time you were able to hook up with someone you didn't pay?" She tapped a finger to her chin and glanced away, looking puzzled. "I truly can't remember."
Mordecai opened his mouth to reply. He shut it and turned to stalk up the deck. "You aren't a worthy captain," he snarled at her over his shoulder.
Konrad at the helm was staring resolutely ahead. The navigator wisely said nothing as he stalked past. Others in the crew close enough to overhear were abruptly busy elsewhere. Mordecai noted this distantly, and approved. They feared him, which was good. That they were wise enough to avoid him meant they'd grown some sense, against all odds. Which was also good. Mordecai wanted very badly to kill someone right now.
He stalked up to the bow, thoughts blacker than jet. Mordecai tried to think back to the first time he'd met Natasha. It was a number of years ago, just after old Euron had stepped down and given her a ship. Mordecai had served with the old pirate shortly before, and apparently the man had been impressed with his ruthlessness. Natasha asked for him by name, and after a short interview, he'd been given his posting.