She ducked around a punch, dropping to her knees and slashing her blade on the back of his thigh. He screamed out, then swung for her again, but she was already on her way to Stone. Both men were bloodied and she could hardly tell who had the upper hand but Aesira’s blade tucked under Vic’s chin, freezing his next move.
“I wouldn’t,” she said, kicking his legs from under him. She dug the knife deeper as he fell to his knees, a few droplets of warm blood ran down the blade, pooling onto her hand.
Stone used his sleeve to wipe the blood from his face, crouching to meet Vic’s eye. “Thanks for the drinks.” His fist collided with Vic’s jaw and when he fell to the ground, they bolted for the door.
The wind ripped through her thin dress as she and Stone ran through the Outpost. Aquila was hovering in the distance, shouting growing closer behind them with every step.
“I suppose I owe you.” Stone pulled her hand, guiding her down a small alley which ended up being a shortcut to the docks.
“Yes,” Aesira said, “I suppose you do.”
“What the hell happened?” Nora was the first to greet them as they stumbled aboard.
“No time.” Stone brushed her off. “We need to move. Now.” He barked a few orders at Birdie and Bee and then the Aquila lifted off the ground with a rough shake. The sand below them skirted out in all directions, limiting their visibility.
“You need to let her warm!” Birdie shouted against the roaring wind.
“Again, no time.” Stone cranked the wheel and yelled for Patch to set the main sails. Aesira’s heart raced, blood from Vic’s men still staining her fingers. She pulled her goggles over her eyes and her mask over her mouth. Through the grit of the sand-festered wind, she could make out the outline of another ship. Its black sails tattered but strong.
“Vic’s on us!” Bee shouted.
Stone cursed then cranked the wheel harder than before, sending her and the rest of the cadre sliding across the deck. Wood splintered under her nails as she clung to a beam, her chest burning from exertion. The ship surged in the opposite direction, flingingher body like a ragdoll. The wind and sand pelted the air, leaving tiny abrasions on her exposed cheeks, over her bare arms and legs.
Stone clenched the wheel until his knuckles turned white, his body craning to the left.
He needed help turning the ship.
Legs shaking, Aesira pulled herself to her feet. Patch, Birdie, and Bee remained tethered to the ship’s bow. “Commander!” Nora’s voice was faint in the wind but Aesira trudged forward. Gravity worked against her, pushing her back, forcing her legs to work past their limit.
When she reached Stone’s side, she clutched the handle and pressed all of her weight into him, forcing the wheel as far left as it could go. With the added weight of Aesira’s body, the ship craned a hard left, sending barrels and loose cargo sliding across the deck. Her eyes shot to the bow, but the cadre stayed low, their tethers keeping them safely in place, Nora included.
“It’s slipping,” Stone ground out. She refocused and wrapped her hands tighter around his on the handle, then pushed again. The ship turned, battling against a massive dust cloud. A screeching then snapping sound cut through the air. Through her dusty goggles, Aesira could see the stern of Vic’s ship.
They were heading back to the Outpost.
They’d done it.
After several more excruciating moments, the ship pushed her way through the storm. Aesira’s gaze searched the ship for damage. Some broken crates, a few loose lines, but overall–they’d made it.
“Thanks for your help, Commander.”
Her focus landed on Stone. Blood stained his nose, his knuckles. Their bodies were still pressed tight, her hands wrapped around his on the wheel. She peeled herself away.
“Just doing my job.” The goggles scraped against her skin as she pulled them off. Sand filled her hair, her cleavage, and she wondered if she’d ever get used to the grainy feeling. She needed to change, immediately.
“Everyone alive?” Stone shouted. The crew untethered themselves and joined them at the wheel.
“That was a stupid move,” Birdie hissed at Aesira. “You should have tethered.”
“She saved our asses.” Stone swapped his goggles for his glasses, polishing them on his undershirt before sliding them on his nose. “I wouldn’t have been able to work against the wind if she hadn’t been there.” His finger slid under the strap of her dress, situating it back on top of her shoulder. “I believe thanks are in order.” She swallowed hard, then turned to the crew.
“Thank you,” Birdie said through gritted teeth.
“It’s nothing,” Aesira said. She didn’t do anything other than her job. She didn’t need thanks for it, she needed a moment alone and a hot bath and the memory of Stone’s kiss erased.
“So, Vic knows we’re going to Ravki?” Patch’s deep voice cut through the silence.
“He doesn’t know it’s Ravki we’re after, only that we’re after something which for him would be enough.” Stone steered the wheel to the right before propping it. “Do a sweep,” he said to Patch. “Make sure everything’s in order.”
