Revenge of the Mad Scientist (Book One: Airship Adventure Chronicles) (35 page)

As soon as they reached the deck she said, “Let me see if I can walk. I’m really feeling much better.”

He hesitated but set her on her feet a few steps from the group of chairs. He kept a hand on her elbow as she made her way across the deck and sank into the nearest seat.

Over the rail of the ship spread out a tropical paradise of towering palms, frangipani trees covered in a riot of red blooms, and pastel colored buildings with white roofs. Multi-colored birds sailed through the air with an occasional screech or squawk. Belle took a deep breath of the salt tinged air.

“Whew. It’s amazing how weak I am. I really hate it.” She gave a trembling laugh.

“Don’t worry; your strength will come back soon.” Rett took the seat beside her.

Armani’s scrutiny made her self-conscious. Fortunately, Benji diverted the girl, calling her to come over and look at some unusual birds perched in a tree beside the airship.

“Seems like they’re back to their old relationship,” Rett said.

“Yes, and I’m very relieved. They’re too young to be thinking of relationships.”

“We were only a year older when our parents arranged our engagement,” he said.

That comment threw her completely off balance. It was true, they were only eighteen. But back then it seemed perfectly normal for her to be entering into a marriage. All the other girls her age were either already married or in an engagement. However, now she couldn’t imagine starting married life at such an age. And yet here she sat with Rett, still attracted to each other in some strange way, like a big crazy circle of fate.

The idea of fate made her think of Momi, the fortune teller in Harruca. Was her destiny over? Was defeating the evil Dr. Krakov and destroying his secret weapon all that she was meant to accomplish in life? Somehow such a thought filled her with sadness. Despite the hardships she had suffered and the disappointment of her father’s tragic death, the trip to Carabarras had made her alive as never before.

“Dinner is served,” Jasper announced emerging from the gondola with a tray. He distributed the food on the table and went back for the tea tray.

Belle’s mouth watered as she sampled the delightful food Moro had to offer: fresh loaves of crusty bread, creamy brown cheese, spicy pickled fish and clams, as well as some kind of yellow fruit as sweet as honey.

The group gathered around the table, eating and talking quietly. The camaraderie soothed Belle as it had in similar instances all along the trip. This time she only sat and observed to reserve her strength, but having her friends around her was healing in its own way.

###

The next morning, she convinced Rett she felt well enough to rent a carriage so they could ride into the market. They all needed to replenish their clothing after the adventures they had endured and Belle thought the diversion would be helpful in taking her mind off her father. She kept his pocket watch with her at all times, but looking at it only brought back painful memories.

The carriage arrived, or rather a wagon with a bench in the back pulled by two stalwart mules. Everyone rushed out of the airship, excited for the trip. Sam said he would stay behind and make sure
Gambit
was prepared for the next leg of their journey back to Urbannia.

Jasper surveyed the wagon and sniffed. “My Lady, this mode of transportation is quite beneath someone of your station, or my own for that matter.”

She patted his shoulder. “I’m too weak to walk all the way to the village. I shall be grateful for the conveyance no matter how primitive.”

The others piled into the bed, while Rett lifted Belle up to the front seat. Jasper grimaced, but finally relented and climbed aboard, sitting stiffly on the wooden bench beside Benji. They proceeded to the unpaved main street, with small shops along both sides. Further on, the street widened into an open field with venders hawking their wares from wagons and local farmers selling animals and produce. Everywhere pots of tropical flowers colored the town with bright splashes of red, yellow and orange.

“Is it okay for Armani and I to take a look around the vendors?” Benji asked.

Belle was impressed that he asked instead of just running off. Maybe he had learned something on this trip. She handed him some money. “Yes, look for some clothes for both of you while you’re at it. Meet us back in an hour.”

They both grinned and hurried off down the street to the open air market which promised a little more entertainment than the staid shops along the main street.

“Let’s see if we can find some clothes for ourselves,” she told Jasper. He and Rett accompanied her to the stores that sold more traditional clothing.

Jasper found her later as she inspected brightly embroidered corsets. He leaned close. “Belle, I heard that man over there say the news from Pandistan indicates they are on the brink of war with Urbannia. Another man agreed and said an east-west war is imminent.”

A chill swept over her. “What? I thought we put an end to the unrest by stopping Dr. Krakov.”

“I’m afraid everyone here is a bit skittish on the topic of Urbannia and war. While we were gone, it seems events have progressed in a frightening manner in the rest of the world.”

“Let’s find Rett.” She paid for their purchases and went out to the boardwalk. Rett emerged from another shop across the street, carrying several packages and hurried over to her.

“Rett, Jasper has some disturbing news.” She gestured for her butler to tell him what he’d overheard.”

Rett’s eyes narrowed. “Likely news of Carabarras and your father has not made an impact yet. It takes a while for information to spread. The political tide should turn as soon as the queen knows what really happened.”

Belle let out a deep breath. “I hope you’re right. It would be a shame if my father died for nothing. I want his legacy to be world peace and I’m willing to fight for it.”

“In any event. The sooner we’re back in Urbannia, the better,” Jasper said. “I’m quite put out with all this intrigue and primitive thinking.”

“I agree.” Belle nodded.

“Are you hungry, Belle? There’s an outside café.” Rett pointed across the street from the clothing store. We can have some tea and wait for the kids.”

“Don’t let Benji hear you call him a kid,” Belle said, thinking that he had matured more in the last week than he had in the past year.

“Yes, I dare say we shall never hear the end of that dreadful
king
business.” Jasper raised his chin.

They settled at a table and enjoyed tea with sandwiches. A wagon rolled past them heading toward the aeroport. Seated in the back, three men in leather jackets, flight helmets, with goggles hung around their necks, gazed about at the shops. One of them stared at Rett and elbowed his buddy who frowned when he looked in their direction.

She started to say something to Rett about their strange behavior but at that moment Benji and Armani rushed up to their table and recounted all the marvelous sights they had seen in the market, showing her what they had purchased. By the time she thought of it again, the wagon had disappeared around the end of the street.

They returned to
Gambit
and unloaded their purchases. Belle made her way to her cabin, tired but not as depleted as she’d imagined she’d be. She unwrapped a shirt she’d purchased for Rett and folded it carefully into a neat square. Made of soft brushed cotton, it was a shade of blue that matched his eyes. Hopefully he would like it and understand her need to thank him for standing by her during their recent adventures.

She ran her fingers over the soft fabric imagining how good he would look wearing it. Then she smiled and walked up the hall to where he and Sam had their cabins. His door was open so she walked in and stopped on the threshold, mouth dropping open. He stood there with his shirt off, apparently about to change clothes.

“Oh, uh, sorry,” she stammered as heat rose in her cheeks. “I, I just wanted to give you this, and th, th, thank you for all you’ve done to help me. It’s not much, but…”

She thrust the folded shirt at him and he took it from her, a grin spreading over his face at her discomfiture. “Why, thanks, Belle. That’s very nice.”

He held it up and then turned to put it on his bed, revealing a tattoo on his upper back. She gasped. An eagle, wings spread, and talons poised for attack spread across the skin between his shoulder blades.

She staggered back, unable to breath.

“What’s wrong?” he asked coming toward her, frowning.

“Nothing,” she said curtly. “Nothing.” She retreated and ran down the hall to her cabin and slammed the door behind her.

“What the hell?” he yelled after her.

Chapter 23

Belle made it into her room without collapsing. Once inside, she fell across the bed, her heart beating rapidly and pulse throbbing in her neck.

She closed her eyes and her mind went back to that purple striped tent in Harruca. Momi looked at her palm and told her the visions she had of Belle’s destiny. All of it was true. The men of the flower, the Sarcs, were after her and tried to kill her. Helping people along the way had made a difference she was sure in the case of Armani and her relationship with Ambassador Ismatan. Stopping Krakov and his weapon was instrumental in averting the outbreak of war. So why was she doubting the other part of the fortune?

Momi had told her the man with the sign of the eagle had her heart and would help her. She believed everything until she’d seen the tattoo on Rett’s back. Sure, he’d helped her, but the man of her heart?

She heard footsteps coming down the hall and held her breath. They stopped outside her door.

“Belle?” Rett’s voice came through the door. “Are you okay?”

She sat up, putting a hand on her chest. “Yes, yes. I’m fine. I just got tired.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fine.”

There was a pause, then his steps retreated and she let out a sigh. She put her hands to her cheeks and heat still burned there. This was totally unexpected. Had fate sent her back to him after all these years? It was hard to wrap her mind around this development, but she had to pull herself together. There was no way she could let him suspect she had been given this hint of destiny or she’d never hear the end of it.

She went to the basin and poured some cold water to splash on her face. With a deep breath, she patted her hair in place, and left her cabin.

On the deck, Benji and Armani laughed over some story Sam told. Rett sat off to one side sipping a cup of brandy and gazing out over the rail, but he turned when she approached. He wore the blue shirt and it drew out the color of his eyes just as she imagined it would.

“My Lady, would you care for something to eat?” Jasper came up from behind her.

“Ah, yes, that would be nice and some wine.” She walked over to one of the chairs and settled on it.

“Feeling better?” Rett asked, his eyes searching her face.

“Yes, thank you.” She kept her gaze down. The thought of him and his eagle tattoo was more than she wanted to think about right now.

Jasper brought her a plate of stew with a heavenly aroma of beef and onions, along with a glass of red wine. The rumble in her belly alerted her to her returning appetite.

“Did you hear any news of the empire when you went into town today?” Sam asked.

“Yes.” Rett told him what Jasper had heard. “I’m glad we made it here before the Imperial Warlord discovered his little secret was destroyed. Capturing us might have given him reason to continue his plans to attack Urbannia. As it is, he doesn’t know who blew up the mountain.”

“Do you really think he was involved?” Armani asked.

“Why not? It all happened in his country.” Benji reached for the wine and poured more in his glass.

“I can only hope he learned a lesson and will cease his desire to start a war,” Belle said. “If not, I will do everything in my power to stop him.”

“I’d bet he’ll start plotting for another one,” Benji murmured. “Once a scoundrel always a scoundrel, I say.”

Belle glanced at Rett and heat crawled up her neck. How many times had she called him a scoundrel, and yet it seemed he had changed. Was he really the man Momi had envisioned as the man of her heart? As much as she dreaded it, they were going to have to talk this out. Whether destiny or fate, Rett had become part of her life again and she wanted to make sure she didn’t make another mistake in trusting him.

Rett walked by her and paused, resting a hand on the back of her chair, but then continued on to the table to refill his cup. Armani looked between them and Belle shifted in her seat, the air heavy with tension.

“I’m going to try and catch a fish while we’re here,” Benji announced, blissfully unaware of the tension. “We’re very close to the ocean.”

Diverted, Armani laughed and clapped her hands. “That will be fun to watch.”

“Don’t you think I can do it?” Benji asked, offended.

“I just can’t wait to see what sort of elaborate contraption you design for catching them.” She giggled. “Maybe some sort of mechanical arm that scoops them up out of the water or a steam powered spear.”

“Not a bad idea, that spear.” Benji rubbed his chin. That sent Armani off in peals of laughter again.

Belle’s eyes closed and she vaguely remembered Jasper removing the plate and glass from her hands. She drifted off with the sound of Benji and Armani’s banter a soothing balm to her battered heart.

###

In the morning, Belle walked out on the deck, stretching and yawning. Benji tinkered with her brass distance viewer and it seemed to have sprouted some new attachments. Armani wove dried palm fronds into baskets and waved to her. She looked around for Rett, ready to have a conversation with him and get it over with. If he did have feelings for her as Armani said, she needed to know. She had to explore Momi’s prediction once and for all.

An airship rose from the ground at the far end of the field and she put a hand above her eyes so she could see it against the glare of the morning sun. The black inflatable cast a shadow along the ground as it swerved off to the west and moved away. She couldn’t make out the crew at this distance, just a lot of activity on the deck.