Voyages of the Flying Dragon by Ben Chandler Page A

the warrior maiden was gone, replaced by roaring flames that devoured faces Missy didn’t recognise – doubtless they were loved ones Karasu had consigned to the fires of Fronge.
    Eventually, Heidi spoke. ‘We have found such a way into Njord’s temple, great Magni, beneath the mountains. We are … we were a community of miners. One day we were digging near the roots of Mount Vorbedacht of the Vision Peaks when we broke through into the lower chambers of the mountain. We mined no further and sealed off the breach, but you should be able to sneak into Njord’s temple through there.’
    Missy nodded. ‘That sounds like it could work. Wait here.’
    She drew back to where the crew of the HiryÅ« had gathered to observe the exchange and quickly explainedto them what had happened. The townspeople looked on in confusion, most likely wondering why a god needed to confer with mortals. Missy suddenly paused as an awful idea occurred to her. What if they thought everyone on the crew was a god? She shivered despite the heat that still poured off the ruins of Fronge. The towering flames were all gone, but the foundations smouldered.
    Missy finished her retelling and her crewmates’ faces registered everything from shock and incredulousness to humour, thoughtfulness and even, Missy suspected, respect for how she had handled the situation.
    Kenji was the first to break the silence that followed her tale. ‘Why don’t we just fly after them? It’ll be much quicker than going through the mountain.’
    Missy shook her head. ‘We can’t fly the HiryÅ« without Lenis.’
    â€˜I’ve been flying for more years than you’ve lived, little lady. I’m sure I can work out enough to get us airborne.’
    Missy snorted. ‘Have you seen the alterations Lenis made to the engines back in Nochi? He’s done things to those machines that no one has even imagined before. He’s invented an entirely new system for powering them. Pull the wrong lever, or the right lever to the wrong degree, and you’ll blow us all up.’
    The captain crossed his arms across his chest and buried his hands up his sleeves. ‘Well, it appears we are to become miners for a while! Lord Knyght, could you please remainbehind and help the people of Fronge as best you can? Many of them will need the doctor’s ministrations, and you will need to arrange food and shelter for them in the square.’
    Arthur also had his arms crossed over his chest, but that was usual for the stoic Kystian. ‘You will go alone?’
    Missy was about to object when the captain overrode her. ‘This will be a stealth mission, Lord Knyght. If, as Miss Clemens tells us, Lenis has Atrum with him, then it is possible they have not yet been detected. I will take Sir Yami with me. His Eien no Kage-ryÅ« is ideally suited to this kind of mission. Masters of the Eternal Shadow style of the YÅ«rei clan can move about unseen by their enemies, which is why Sir Yami was about to sneak aboard Karasu’s airship before it took off.’
    Missy startled guiltily. That was why Yami had been in the shadow of the airship when Lenis had flung her over the railing. She should have known the captain would have a plan of his own in motion before they all entered the square. No wonder it seemed as though he was trying to delay Karasu. He hadn’t been buying time for the twins but for Yami.
    â€˜I will also take Miss Clemens along,’ the captain said, and Missy felt her heart soar.
    Arthur was frowning. ‘Is that wise?’
    â€˜I doubt Miss Clemens will submit to being left behind.’
    â€˜We could use her here as an interpreter.’
    The captain shook his head. ‘Miss Clemens has told the people of Fronge that she wishes to sneak into Njord’s temple. Doubtless her lingering would arouse suspicion.’
    Arthur considered this for a moment, glancing over at the townspeople who