Fall of Sky City: Finding the Sky, #1

By F.J. Blooding

She killed my father. I'm bringing the war to her.

My name is Synn El'Asim and I live on an airship. Our way of life is dictated by seasons—predominately the four-year-long winter that completely freezes the oceans. We are nomads by necessity. Some of us live in the skies, like me. Some on land. Few on the seas. Others reside in the tentacles of large jellyfish we call lethara.

The Hands of Tarot threaten our ways of life. They're ruled by a queen, Nix, who is trying to destroy the larger tribes. I thought my family and I were safe. We have the largest fleet. We're fast and we're strong.

I was wrong. She catches up to us with her metal flying machines and horrifically kills my father.

The time for running is over. I'm taking the fight to her and her gear-filled city in the clouds.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Whistling Book Press, LLC
• Release date: Feb 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781507044827

Book preview

Chapter One

The giant jellyfish dominated the view, the red planet we orbited filling the bright blue sky behind him. The lethara had been frozen in place for the past four years and neither of our two suns were doing much to warm the air or break the ice to free him. Ino City hadn’t managed to make it to their wintering location before the first freeze. Massive, frozen ocean waves reached up to touch his body over thirty metres above. Ino City’s lethara was roughly a hundred metres tall, which meant that most of his body was in the ice and ocean.

We were there because spring was coming and my mother’s tribe needed assistance breaking through the ice that held their home trapped. The ocean’s ice shelf would be thick and they would need all the help they could get.

We sailed in the fastest fleet of the tribes. They might not look like much to a grounder, but I loved our ships. Each hull was slimmer than the standard air ship to gain greater speed. It meant that our living quarters were a bit tighter, and they were, but speed oftentimes meant the difference between life and death. We had one more mast than other standard ships, giving us four more sails, all red in our El’Asim Family colors.

That was also an extra mast to protect our air jelly, a younger version of the colossal, frozen giant we flew toward. The air jelly was the only thing that kept us in the sky. He was our weakness.

But he was not weak. The oils he secreted could poison a person. The trick to an airman’s life was to find balance.

The real mark of our fleet was the masthead each ship bore; a great spitfyre falcon, the one animal we vied to bond with when we reached age.

This was my year. I was seventeen, shaving on a regular basis now, and it was my turn to climb the melting mountains and seek a falcon who would bond with me.

But first, I needed my Mark, and mine hadn’t shown itself yet.

Marks were tattoos that appeared during a person’s adolescence. It gave the bearer magic. The El’Asim’s magic was lightning. Each member with the Mark could call it, create it, and harness it. Not everyone could do it extremely well. My sister was one of those. She had a Mark the size of my left thumb. I say the left because it’s slightly smaller than my right.

But she still had one and I still did not. A point she liked to rub in. Often.

One day, I would take over running the El’Asim Fleet. If I ever received my Mark.

So many things hinged on so little.

Even with our speed, arriving at Ino City took a long time and there really was nothing to do. I was on the boarding crew, so I didn’t have to man the sails or help bring her in like I normally would. I stood beside my father in my long fur-lined coat and mask, hoping to look intimidating.

This was the first time the Ino would see me in over four years. We’d been sailing the icy air currents of the southern hemisphere, which was where we wintered. The air down there was at least a little more bearable. Not much, but a little. The last time they’d seen me, I was nothing more than a gangly kid my sisters liked to dress up like a girl.

I searched the lethara for my other sister, the one who stayed with our mother. Knowing her, she’d be in the rigging, applying the warming lotions with everyone else. She already had her Mark and it helped her speak with the jellyfish. I was immensely jealous. She was pretty powerful with a large tattoo that covered most of her torso.

I wanted my Mark to be the biggest. I wanted to be the most powerful tribal leader, and then no one—not even the Hands of Tarot would dare to stop us.

The Hands of Tarot were a religious organization that had grown over the last decade or so. I didn’t know why. I only saw the destruction they left behind.

We used to have seven Great Families, the larger tribes that ruled over the smaller ones.

Now, we were three; El’Asim, Ino, and Umira.

A shout went up in alarm. With Ino City frozen in place, the tribe was ripe for attack.

There, along the starboard bow, was an incoming ship with the brown sails of the Umira.

That wasn’t unexpected. They were supposed to join us, but later.

However, the sails were on fire.

Father.

He was already moving. Kadar El’Asim was a giant of a man, wide in the shoulders. His fur-lined coat made him seem even larger. He turned, shouting orders.

I only had eyes for that one, lone ship with the burning sails. My best friend was one of the Umira. Was he on that ship? Was he alive and safe? There were several other questions I knew I should be asking but couldn’t. I needed on that ship.

We regained the air and raced with the full might the Yusrra Samma had to offer, meeting the flaming ship in mid-air. It was losing altitude quickly.

I grabbed a rope and swung over as soon as we were close enough, along with several of my family. I searched for one person. Haji.

I found him on the stairs coming to the main deck. Synn.

I ran to him as another of our ships, the Zarifa Samma, pulled up to the Umira’s port side, people swinging over.

Haji collapsed before I could get to him, his dark hair covering his face.

I knelt beside him, my gloves finding crusted and frozen blood on his abdomen and arm. What happened?

He gripped my arm until it hurt, his teeth clenched, tears swimming in his dark eyes. They have my mother.

Who? Though I already knew.

The Hands.

This was it. The Hands of Tarot were close. Haji had managed to sail one ship with a handful of kids—

Kids. The Hands never allowed the adults to survive.

Reality hit me like a western wind. His entire family… was dead.

Fury unfurled in me. This was why we shouldn’t be hiding. This was the reason we needed to fight back. What right did the Hands have to attack a peaceful tribe? At the end of this day, only two of the Great Families would remain; El’Asim and Ino.

Where is your father?

Haji closed his eyes, dark circles surrounding them, and shook his head. He’s gone.

What happened, Haj? I needed to know. How close were the Hands? Was he followed?

We were ambushed on our way here. He swallowed. We’re not great in the air. We tried to land so we could fight them better, but the ice was broken.

My father glanced at me as he knelt on the other side of him, his expression blanketed with concern. Your brother?

Gone, my friend whispered.

My hands clenched with rage. We have to strike back.

We cannot, Father said, his voice soft, but firm.

I ground my teeth and looked at my friend. There had to be something we could do.

Father grasped Haji’s arm. How far out are they? Where were you attacked? Were you followed?

Haji’s expression melted, tears streaming from his eyes.

My heart hurt for him. All I wanted to do was to hit something, kill something. I needed a target.

They’re close, Haji said, his voice deep with tears. I didn’t know what else to do, where else to go. A sob ripped from his chest. They took everyone.

How did you manage to get your ship here? Because Haji was absolutely horrible in the air.

He shook his head, his expression helpless.

They’re going down, Hanifa said behind me. We need to get everyone off this ship now.

"They can take refuge on the Zarifa Samma."

I looked up at Father with hope in my eyes. If the wounded were taking refuge on the Zarifa, that meant the Yusrra Samma was taking the fight to the Hands along with the rest of the fleet.

My father stood. Our priority is to draw the Hands away from Ino.

I didn’t care. If it meant taking the fight where it needed to be fought, I was all for it.

I scrambled to my feet, glancing at my friend one last time before following Father off the sinking ship.

He brought his shell horn to his lips, trumpeting alarm into the air. Several other horns joined his; low, high and in between.

Saqr, my father’s spitfire falcon, flew ahead of us, his screeching call reaching high into the sky, his prehensile tail flailing with the winds. The sounds of hundreds of other falcons’ cries lit the air.

I ran to the rail, grabbed a rope and swung to the Yusrra Samma. As soon as Father was on board, he went to the quarterdeck and raised the brass communication tube to the metal grill on his face shield. Take us fifty-eight degrees to port, in a three-by-eight rise. Take us to fighting altitude.

"Yes, sayyd," Isra’s voice said through the tube.

As we rose, I watched as the Umira vessel finally lost the battle and fell to the ice almost a hundred metres below.

The remaining Umira kids flew to safety aboard the Zarifa. I knew most of them. Rashidi, Ain, Geb, Min, Wynne, Ife, Tale, Serq, Mesi, Fahd, Jabr. There were others, but I couldn’t make them all out. So few, though. Only about twenty or so. Out of hundreds, thousands.

Fear slammed into me, drying my mouth.

We rose in the air, our face shields and goggles firmly in place. I felt safe up here, in my sky. I knew we’d find a solution. We would find a way to save the Umira Family. I headed to the stairs.

Father stopped me. Synn, we will do what we must to protect our Families, but we are not here for heroics.

I met his gaze. We’re going to get his Family back, his sisters, his mother.

It’s too late for them. We need to buy time for your mother’s people. If at all possible, we need to draw the Hands away. That is all.

But—

He cut me off with a slash of his hand. That is all, Synn. We can do nothing more. The Umira are gone.

Anger rushed through me and I shook my head. We have never run from battle before.

And we will not this time, but, son— He shook me. It is our duty to protect our people, not to avenge a friend at the sacrifice of those we are sworn to protect.

I pulled away from him. There had to be a way.

You still have much to learn about being a man. He turned away, the brass cone of the talking tube in his hand. Who has eyes on the Hands? How many are we facing?

Embarrassment flooded through me. I pulled my spyglass from my belt and put it to the lens of my goggles.

Isra Um’Binte, Father’s second, stood on the fo’c’sle shouting orders, peering through her own spyglass. Even her face shield was scarred. She shook her head and shouted to those around her.

The communication tube remained silent.

I lifted my glass off deck and scanned the horizon in all directions. My spyglass was small. I didn’t need to use it often, but still, I should have seen something. Haji would not have not have been able to gain much speed. His ship was not fast and he was not good in the air. It was doubtful he could have outrun them. Was it possible the Hands hadn’t pursued?

I stashed my spyglass and moved to the desk behind us. By now, the crew was ready. The sails were in order, the air jelly’s rigging had been cinched and secured to level us out.

We needed a target. The ropes creaked. The sails snapped. Voices crossed the thin space between all the El’Asim ships.

I pulled out a large wooden box and removed the lid with care. Inside was my own creation, my optiscope. It was heavy and large. I needed a three legged stand to see through it. I used it to chart the stars.

That day, I turned it to the horizon.

The knobs clicked as I adjusted the focus. The deck disappeared from my two-eyed view port and all that was left was sky. Scanning. Scanning.

There.

Approximately three kilometres off the starboard bow was a blip.

A few more clicks of the knobs and the blip became black ships. A few more and the ships became something…I’d never seen before.

Father, I see them.

Where? He came to my side.

I drew the focus of my scope to its highest resolution and shook my head in wonder.

My father placed his eye to the scope to observe.

An entire fleet of ships with no sails and no air jellies loomed on the horizon.

Father took a step back, the red lenses of his goggles reflecting the white sunlight of Sang as he stared at my scope.

Fear trickled down my arms, raising the hairs, giving my anger pause. What do we do?

Can you gain their bearing?

I put my goggles on top of my head and applied my eyes to the view port, watching, waiting, trailing. They’re coming right at us. I stood up. I think we’ve been made.

He nodded and moved to the table with the charts. Isra, gradually change our heading. From this far out, it’s possible they will not notice. Ensure they cannot trace our bearing to Ino City.

I came to stand next to him. What game are we playing?

He put his lips to his communication tube and issued the orders to change the sail. We will use their ignorance to our advantage.

Sir?

He picked up the oil pencil and charted a quick course. They do not know we can see them. They’re probably betting on our limited technologies. They’ll be cocky and more willing to overlook our original heading.

And won’t follow it back to the Ino?

Correct. Additionally, he said, giving me his full attention, they do not know that the Families have made marriage alliances. In their histories, we have never before allied ourselves with one another except to bring down the priests. If they see one Family, they will not assume they will find another. They will think it odd enough they found two in one day.

That made sense. But we were relying too heavily on assumptions.

Be ready.

I was quick to obey. I stashed the optiscope, and went to my quarters, belting on my other weapons. I ditched the heavy coat. I had a lighter, red one that would be better if we had to fight our way out. I grabbed my curved swords, strapping them on my back, a plasma pistol to my thigh. It didn’t work well all the time. Okay. It worked maybe half the time, but when it did, it was amazing. I put a shooter in my boot, a second knife in the other.

Then, I was back on deck with the rest of our crew, waiting.

They’ve seen us, Father blared over the horn. At the ready.

Silence filled the sky. Someone coughed on the ship closest to us. The entire El’Asim fleet—minus the Zarifa—filled the sky around us like silent predators.

A whir blasted the air. Alarm spread over the decks of our fleet. Hundreds of people shouted from over a hundred ships. That was short lived, though. We were seasoned. We were ready for almost anything.

These ships looked like black blimps, small wings on either side. They filled the air with noise. Lots of noise. There were about a dozen of them.

One of the ships was different. Long, black, with wide, long, still wings. A dome rose from the middle, and the bottom almost looked like the hull of an airship. Almost. It was more square, more block-like.

My father joined me on the deck. That’s a queen’s vessel.

I shot him a look of surprise. You’re sure of this?

He nodded.

I turned back to the lumbering ships as they came closer, easier to see. I pulled out my spyglass and peered along the hull. Wands.

A chill ran through me.

It’s Nix, sir, Isra said, coming to stand beside her captain. She took off her face shield, the long scar along her cheek twitching as she ground her teeth.

Queen Nix, my father reminded gruffly, setting his face shield on the map table.

She raised a single black brow but said nothing further.

Queen Nix was the most brutal of all four of the queens of Tarot. She’d been the one who’d destroyed the other Families. The other queens had done nothing to stop her. Maybe they couldn’t. Maybe she was the one in control of Sky City.

I took my face shield off, stashing it in my pouch. This far up, the winds could be brutal and harsh, cutting through the skin like a knife, but communication was often difficult through the mask because it distorted words. I was a man of the air, I reminded myself. I was hardened to this. That didn’t stop my bone wracking shiver.

Father put the brass tube to his mouth. Drop sail and hold position eight decametres out.

I looked at him in surprise as the ship came alive with activity. Why so far?

Their cannons have better range. He moved to the quarterdeck. Raise the flag of communication.

Two men rushed to do as instructed.

A frown furrowed Father’s brow as he brought out the box that contained our non-Family radio. He waited for the purple and orange flag to rise, then he spun the handle on the side of the box. El’Asim to the House of Wands, please respond, he said in Handish.

Static crackled from the box.

El’Asim to the House of Wands, please respond.

House of Wands to El’Asim, a nasally voice came through. Please state your business.

Father took in a deep breath. We’re traveling to summer grounds and wish to pass in peace.

The other side was silent for a long moment. Kadar, a soft female voice said over the static. I would offer you the opportunity of parlay.

Queen Nix. Father’s jaw was clenched as he spun the brass handle again, recharging the coil inside. We merely seek to pass unmolested.

The time of hiding is over, Kadar El’Asim. Her voice was like velvet laced with steel over the static-filled line. As you can see, our fleet far surpasses your own. We can and will find you no matter where you go.

How could we fight that? With my swords and my plasma pistol?

Could I save Haji’s Family? How would I face him if I told him I cowered before a woman because her fleet of ships were made of metal?

There’s a lot of air, Nix, my father said calmly.

I’ll make sure there’s a lot less of it.

Father stared at the box, his hand clenching and relaxing, clenching and relaxing.

That wasn’t making me feel any better.

I offer you a flag of truce, Kadar. The queen’s voice came across in a sing song. I assure you. This offer will not come again.

He rubbed a finger over the bridge of his nose. Agreed. We will meet within four decametres. Maintain your elevation.

You do not trust me?

The day is too young for trust. He let the static die. Lower the communication flag and raise the flag of truce.

The crew skittered on deck with an air of nervousness.

Who was this woman who held my best friend’s Family, who was going to kill them? What kind of technologies did the Hands truly have?

Father turned to Isra. The queen has offered truce, which means we will be on her ship. I will take Synn and three others, no more. If we do not make it back within fifteen minutes, have the Fleet rise to an elevation of fifteen thousand feet and ride full sail to the north-northeast.

What about you? Quiet alarm slipped over her eyes, but the rest of her scarred face remained silent and harsh.

It will be too late for us. Just climb and get out of here.

She nodded and disappeared among the crew, picking up the hand flags and issuing the silent commands over the rail of the ship.

I stood at the bow, eagerly watching the queen’s huge, black ship approach. It was monstrous and heavy, made of metal, and it was loud. There were so many motors and fans. A bank of six propellers jutted from either side.

The inventor in me was almost giddy. The rebel in me just wanted to figure out how it ticked so I could destroy it. The friend in me wanted to hurt someone. Badly. However, fear tainted all of me.

Father gripped my shoulder, reigning me in. You follow my lead. Do not speak out of turn. And if things should turn badly— He paused and raised his face to the wind. You run like a sky cat is on your tail. Do not look back.

I watched the approaching metal hull, anger filling me with resolve. He obviously didn’t know me very well.

Chapter Two

Our ships met high above our fleets. The air was thick with noise, the winds fiercer than normal. These monstrous beasts destroyed the gentle quiet of the sky. Breathing without our face shields was impossible. We pulled them from our pouches and put them on before we suffocated.

The queen’s ship didn’t move with the air. At all. The Yussra Samma bobbed with the currents. When the boarding plank swept across the open space connecting our two ships, a thread of trepidation tiptoed through me as I left the world I knew and stepped onto something new and unexplored. What traps had the queen set up for us? If my father told me to run, would I be able to?

Father and I crossed the space between ships and stood waiting for our men to join us. Several men in black and red uniforms surrounded us. Two of them wore top hats. I stared at them incredulously. They were not designed for life in the sky. One quick breeze and those hats were lost. However, none of them had face shields, though they all wore black leather goggles. How were they able to survive these winds without face shields?

We seem to be a bit outnumbered, the man beside me said in Handish.

It is only because they fear us, Father replied.

I fear no one, Kadar, a silky voice said from somewhere behind the line of uniformed guards. You of all people should know that.

Father said nothing, his expression remaining firm.

The line of opposing men parted, and a tall, curvaceous woman stepped through. She wore a dress cinched tightly around her waist, that flowed outward in sculptured ruffles of deep black satin and gold-dipped red lace.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her.

Her lips curled as she looked us over.

Her dark brown hair fell to her waist. Parts of it were woven around a gold, gear-work crown. The gears creaked, turning three phoenixes on spinning sticks. Her dark eyes were lined with kohl. The collar circling her neck was made of the strange black metal and dripped in rubies along her shoulders. A black and ruby spider rested above her ample bosom. She was easily the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen.

I sneered. How could something so beautiful be so twisted?

She sauntered to us and stopped just beyond arm’s reach. One hand settled on her hip as she surveyed our men. So few?

No more were needed, Father said gruffly. We are, as you say, under a flag of truce.

Hmm. A dark eyebrow rose, her eyes narrowing, her full lips flattening. Then, I do not need all these protectors, do I?

Father shifted his weight. You offered parlay?

She waved a long-fingered hand. One finger sparkled from a diamond claw.

I blinked in surprise. A sky cat’s claw?

As most of her men dispersed and disappeared below decks through a single opening in the floor, she looked at us appraisingly. You don’t need your masks here, Kadar. You should know better.

He said nothing, but removed his face shield, stashing it away, and pulled his goggles to rest on top of his head.

The rest of us followed his lead.

She nodded once and turned toward the center of her ship.

It felt like we were walking on solid ground. I could hardly tell the craft was moving at all, except for the constant vibration. My legs, used to moving with the currents, stumbled with the stillness. The air was surprisingly calm up here, and warm. How had they managed that feat?

What brings you to this part of the world, Kadar?

He walked beside her, his hands clasped behind his back. These currents are my home, Nix. Saqr flew through the air and landed on his shoulder, belching a flame as he tucked his wings in. This is something you know well.

I think not. She watched the spitfyre falcon from the corner of her eye. You’re far from home, even for an air tribe.

The air is our home.

I know you prefer to stay closer to the islands of Absalom.

Father remained quiet, his eyes never moving from hers.

She turned and gazed at our ship. Red feather stars from Absalom. Incandescent feather stars from Fridos. Stab-spiders from Aanis, and cring-crabs from Tala. No, Kadar. I know your territories. You are far beyond them.

Father said nothing.

She reached up, offering a bare finger to Saqr.

The falcon twisted his head, watching the red painted fingernail move closer, and snapped at it.

She chuckled and pulled her hand away. That leads me to wonder what you are doing so far from your islands. What is out here? No trade? No hunting. The ice is still much too thick.

You will believe what you want to. I can tell you only that these currents are well known to us.

She nodded. She flicked her hand toward me. Your son?

Father nodded.

Introduce us. Her expression was cool and supreme.

He took in a deep breath as if to steady himself. Queen Nix, may I present to you my son, Synn Kadar El’Asim.

She came to stand in front of me, close. Too close for a stranger.

I glanced at Father.

He shook his head and held out a hand low, gesturing me to be still.

Her soft pink tongue ran over her bottom lip as her gaze slowly raked its way up my body. The corner of her mouth rose. She tipped her head, staring intently at my face. El’Asim, you say?

Yes.

I met her gaze, my hands clenched.

Only El’Asim?

I looked too Ino. I knew it. I didn’t know why my father and mother wanted to hide their marriage and alliance from the Hands of Tarot, but my face told the story no one wanted said.

He is my son and mine alone.

Well, she said, looking toward my father, I am relieved to know you are not continuing with the blood purges. If he is your son and you claim him as such, you would not kill others in your tribe for being impure.

The blood purges were something of the past. I barely even knew of them, but, apparently, that was one of the reasons Nix had destroyed the other Families. They practiced the blood purges, keeping only the pure tribal bloodlines within their tribe.

Any and all are accepted in my tribe, Nix. You, of all people, should know I do not agree with what was done to you.

Done to her? My interest was piqued, but I didn’t say anything. I knew the Hands of Tarot took in strangers, those who no longer had a tribe, or wanted out. Based off what my father had said, perhaps Nix had been part of the tribes, the Great Families, and had been purged.

All of a sudden, her vendetta against the Great Families made sense. Did that mean we were safe? Because we didn’t participate in the blood purges? Because it seemed as though she and my father had a connection?

He is a good looking young man. You wouldn’t by chance be willing to send him to our collegium as part of your treaty?

He is too old, even by your standards.

But he is Marked, I am sure.

Father’s eyes were stone. Marked or not, he is too old.

She raised her face to the wind, her hair fluttering around her. True. Pity, though. There is a great deal of potential in him. If only you’d come to me sooner.

But I did not.

Something flashed across her face. Indeed.

The motor roar changed in pitch.

I searched the immediate area, but could find no reason for it. I couldn’t even tell if we were changing elevation. I turned to the Yussra Samma, but she continued to bob with the current, level with us.

I didn’t like it.

And neither did our men.

I searched the deck. It was barren and clean. There were few people. Someone was mopping not far from us. Someone else sat on a metal bump whose purpose was lost to me and worked on a net in his hands. Where was everyone? They couldn’t all be below deck. Could they? And why would they choose to stay down there?

A cathedral-like structure rose above the deck about mid-ship. It was one and a half stories high with large painted glass windows. The queen led us there.

I wonder if you came for the survivors of the Umira Family.

Father tipped his head with a frown. Umira? What are they doing out here?

Searching for summer ground, perhaps?

Father’s eye twitched. They are a land family and do not venture into the air. Our paths rarely cross.

I’m sure, but they are a member of the Great Families, are they not? Do you not meet?

We gathered to take the Priests down. We do not gather anymore.

The queen stopped and waited for one of her guard to open the heavy door. So, you did not see us until it was too late to alter course?

Father followed her through the door and blinked once inside. You’ve stolen all of our technologies, our research.

The Great Families had once kept a great Librarium in the heart of a mountain we called Pleron City. Pleron was our metal, so, basically we called it Metal City. It seemed fitting. I’d been there once as a small boy. The city had been carved into the rock and metal walls of the mountain.

However, about a turn ago, maybe a little longer than that, the Hands of Tarot had stolen the Librarium, all of our knowledge, our technologies. The Hands had built Sky City afterwards, and their technology had soared. They’d built great flying machines like this one, new weapons, ways to find us without having to see us. Who knew what else they’d discovered.

Meanwhile, our technological advancement