Yes, that worked. Aether caused all sorts of problems from disappearances to spurring war and creativity. What the mortals called aether was actually magic leaking from the Otherworld.

"I ... I suppose so." Hattie looked pale, hands gripping the steering wheel so tight her knuckles went white.

"Whatever it was, I'm glad we're out of there," Hittie replied. "I hope the ship holds."

"Me, too," Steven replied.

"They were after you?" Hittie's eyebrows rose as she looked him up and down as if trying to figure out who would want to kill him-and why.

Steven gulped. "I think they were."

"Who'd want to kill you?" Hattie's hands relaxed a little.

"Well, it's either our mother or our uncle," James replied, chipper as usual.

Hittie nodded in some gesture halfway between approval and acceptance. "Some family. Now, let's see if we can make our way to San Fran without any more problems."

Their lack of probing questions felt like a weight lifting from his shoulders.

Steven smiled. "Yes, that's an excellent idea."

Fifteen.

Taking Chances

As far as Kevighn knew they were out of Deseret, but he wasn't sure. That made the bridge of the Vixen's Revenge no less tense as they sped toward their destination. He manned the front guns, Asa and Thad were taking turns operating the back guns, which were up top. In the distance, the sun threatened to consider rising.

"I have a feeling they've got Hayden's Follies. It's been hours since we've seen them." Jeff's voice went quiet, eyes on the currently empty horizon while he steered the ship.

Captain Vix's lips pressed together until they went white. She bowed her head and closed her eyes as if praying to whomever mortal air pirates worshiped.

"Should we look for them?" Kevighn asked from his gunner's post.

"No," the captain replied. "We can't risk it. But if they don't appear in San Fran soon after we do, we'll send out a search."

Jeff gave Captain Vix a long look. "Hittie and Hattie are the most resilient people we know, they'll be fine."

Someone stirred in the doorway. "Are we out of Deseret yet?"

Magnolia leaned against the door frame. The last time he'd seen her in that green and brown dress had been back in the Otherworld, when she'd told him she'd chosen that whelp of a prince over him. This time her hair was bound, not as free and wild as he remembered. Grease streaked her pale cheek and she held a wrench in her hand.

Though no longer mortal, she was still his Magnolia.

"Noli, you should be below," Vix scolded from her captain's chair.

"The girls are asleep, and I was feeling trapped. I'll go below again in a moment. I just-"

"It's quiet right now, Captain," Jeff rea.s.sured, surveying the horizon again with his eyes.

Kevighn tried to think of a reason to keep her up here, even for a few moments. "Would you like to learn how to gun? There's no one around, it might prove helpful one day," he added when Vix and Jeff frowned.

"I was always taught that you had to learn how to call first," Vix replied. "Usually someone calls the targets and then the front gunner knows where to aim," she explained. "You use the numbers of a clock. If something is at 2 o'clock, he would fire there." Her hand gestured toward the panoramic window.

"What about if it's behind us?" Magnolia replied.

"That's what back gunners are for," Jeff told her. "Noli, if you want to help you could make us all some coffee. You're getting pretty good at it." He smiled. "Then, I suppose I can teach you to call targets if you truly are interested in learning."

"Coffee?" Her nose scrunched up in one of her cute faces. "I suppose I could do that." She disappeared.

Kevighn caught Jeff following her with a concerned look.

"Is she all right?" he said softly to Jeff, remembering his very odd encounter with the other Magnolia. Did they know? Probably not.

"My sister is none of your concern, Mr. Silver," Jeff snapped, eyes flashing. "I'm unsure exactly what your relationship is with-"

Kevighn held up a hand, hoping to stave off any conflict. "The last thing I'd ever do is hurt her. I promise. She told me all about you."

His eyes narrowed. "Did she?"

"She didwhich is why I sought you out over anyone else when I needed a job. Magnolia is one of the most honorable people I know, and she idolizes you." He might as well tell him the truth. "I didn't know she was here, honest. I figured she was with your mother."

Jeff shot him a look that rivaled the high queen's angry face. "If I ever find out differently ... "

"Of course." Kevighn understood where Jeff was coming from. "I had a sister once, too, you know." He looked away. One day he would find that earth court b.a.s.t.a.r.d and make him pay.

Kevighn walked into the galley and Magnolia handed him a cup of coffee.

"I appreciate it." He took the steaming mug from her. She'd already brought Vix and Jeff cups and he wanted to escape their scrutiny.

"Who hurt Creideamh? You never told me." Magnolia took a sip of her own coffee as she leaned against the wooden table.

"Just an earth court prat," he brushed off, not quite ready to say his name out loud. To remember.

Steel eyes gazed up at him as her hands wrapped around the mug like she wished to steal its warmth. "It wasn't V's father, right?"

"No. It's complicated, but it wasn't him." Though, they, too, had a score to settle.

She sipped her coffee, cup clutched with both hands. "Will you kill him one day?"

The Otherworldly bloodthirstiness in her voice made him warm with happiness. Yes, she could easily fit into his world-even if he joined the dark court. In fact, Ciaran was probably the one person who could help her with her little sprite problem.

"One day." He couldn't help but smile at the sweet thought of revenge.

"Jeff," Vix yelped from the bridge. "Are those air patrol cannon ships? Starboard side?"

"I think so," Jeff replied after a long silence. "Our decoy is nowhere in sight, we should presume we're on our own."

Kevighn's insides froze. Just because they were out of Deseret didn't mean they were out of danger. Cannon ships were the fear of all air pirates. A few well-placed cannon b.a.l.l.s could sink this ship in seconds and no one onboard could do anything about it.

Well, magic could, in theory.

"Should we try to outrun them?" Jeff added.

"What else can we do? Noli, go down below. Now," Vix ordered. "I need you on the engines. Kevighn, get back in here."

If they were hit by a cannon ball they were finished. His eyes fixated on Magnolia as she downed her coffee, grimacing the entire time.

"Captain, should I go up top, relieve Asa, and send him down to gun?" Kevighn didn't want to shoot at ships in the cold with a gatling gun, but a half-baked plan formed in his mind.

"Make it quick," she yelled from the bridge.

He put his mug in the sink, then jogged to intercept Magnolia who headed toward the engine rooms.

"Do you have earth magic?" he whispered, praying to the Bright Lady she did.

Magnolia's eyes widened and she looked around, face growing frantic.

"Cannon ships are a death sentence-especially since we can't go very fast," he hissed. "If you can control metal, you can save us all."

Gulping, she looked at her boots. "I'm not good at it. I couldn't even get the engine to tell me her secrets."

"This is less complex. I need you to come up top and deflect cannon b.a.l.l.s. I'll defend you with the gatling gun so you may work." Impatience stirred within him-they had to move. Now.

"I ... " She shook her head and swallowed hard. "Let me ask Winky to watch the engines and I'll be right up."

"Hurry," he hissed.

When he emerged up top, the biting cold sliced through his shirt, chilling him to the bone. It was too late to get a coat. He'd have to make due.

Holding onto the icy rails, Kevighn made his way to Asa. "Asa, I'll take over-you go man the front guns."

With a grateful nod, the large man undid the belt and rope anchoring him to the ship and unceremoniously gestured to the large gun mounted on a tripod and affixed to the stern. "Thanks."

Asa disappeared into the ship without another word. Kevighn spied Winky up in the crow's nest with a spygla.s.s. Pink and orange tinged the sky.

"Winky!" Kevighn cupped his hands hoping his voice carried. "Noli needs your help with the engines."

Winky scrambled down the pole with surprising agility for a little old man. Straightening his striped hat, he peered at Kevighn through his spectacles. "Did you say Noli needs help?"

Kevighn nodded. "Down below. She's looking for you."

"Of course." He scurried below, leaving Kevighn alone.

The cannon ships loomed in the distance, air patrol flags flying high. These were simple brown military vessels, not much more than a tiny cabin with cannons on all sides hanging from a singular hydrogen-filled balloon.

They were meant for two things-chasing ships and shooting them down. Soon they'd be in firing range. Kevighn blew on his gloveless fingers to warm them, praying she came up soon.

Magnolia emerged wearing a fancy cape, a bonnet, and kidskin gloves with little pearls. Her fine clothing looked out of place but it probably was warm.

"I don't know what to do." Her gaze fixated on the two cannon ships in the distance on the starboard side.

"Cannon b.a.l.l.s are metal. What you need to do is deflect them." He readied the gatling gun, filling the clip with bullets from a nearby trunk of ammo, the trunk bolted to the deck for that specific purpose.

Her face screwed up in confusion. "How?"

Kevighn fingered a long, smooth bullet, then dropped it in the clip. "Tell it to move, deflect it with magic, do whatever you need to do. You could even send it back and hit their ship. You just have to keep them from hitting us or we're all dead."

"Dead?" she squeaked, paling until she matched her dainty white gloves.

"Dead." He hated to scare her, but it was the truth. There'd be time to comfort her later.

For a moment her expression went blank and she went eerily still, like a breathing statue. Her eyes opened and for a moment he wondered which girl would speak.

"I think we can do it." His Magnolia gazed at the looming craft with fearful eyes.

A warning shot boomed from one of the two ships. At least they were both starboard. It would make her job easier.

"Stand wherever you need to and tie yourself to the rail." He handed her the rope. "Hurry."

She took the rope and ran starboard side.

He finished loading the gun and prepared to protect her. A gatling gun was no match for a cannon, but by the Bright Lady, he'd do what he needed to do-even if it meant setting fire to the cannon ships. If only he were better at fireb.a.l.l.s.

Shivering from the biting cold, as the wind whipped at her cape and hair, Noli tied herself to the railing.

What do we have to do again? the sprite asked.

They'll shoot a metal ball at us. We can't let it hit our ship. Internally, Noli shook as the full weight of what she needed to do pressed down on her-especially since she had to rely on the sprite.

But what do we do with it?

Noli remembered what Kevighn said. We can send it away or back to them.

Oh, like Mintonette! The sprite rippled with excited.

What? Noli made sure the knot was good and tight, fingers stiff with cold through her gloves. The sun peeked over the horizon, the sky streaked with color.