Fall of Sky City (A Steampunk Fantasy Sci-Fi Adventure Novel) (Devices of War) Read Free Page A

the silver jellyfish earring in the palm of my hand. “You’re already in training to be an elder?”
    Oki’s smile dimmed as she ducked her head and pulled away. Her earring swung with the movement. “Mother says there is change on the wind and that we must prepare.”
    “Then Ryo’s in training to be an elder as well?” He was the oldest.
    Oki tipped her head, looking at me through her eyelashes. “He’s a man, Synn.” She laughed. “He has a few more years before he’s gained enough wisdom to train as an elder.”
    Father took her head in his hands and brought his forehead to hers. “You will make a good ruler of the Ino people, Oki.”
    She smiled taking the time in that moment to enjoy the love of a father she rarely got to see.
    I slipped my goggles back into place, giving them their moment, but as soon as Oki broke away, I pushed for more information. “I thought he was her heir.”
    Oki sighed. “We are a matriarchal society, Synn. I’m not going to pretend to understand what Mother has planned for him. I will say, though, that he will not be leading Ino City. This city belongs to me.” She looked up at the lethara blocking the sunlight above us and reached out to caress one of the many tentacles surrounding us.
    It curled around her wrist, tugging gently.
    She smiled and let it go.
    The look on her face was filled with such love. I understood that. I felt the same way about the Yusrra Samma.
    She wrapped her arm around mine and led us toward the leather hut village. “I was afraid I would miss you again.”
    I pecked a kiss on her cheek. “What do you mean?”
    “Mother has moved up the date I am to wed.”
    A frown flashed over my face as I stared across the wild terrain of enormous frozen waves and water spray. “Who?”
    “The Umira. They should be here any day now.”
    I gave her a fierce, one-armed hug as we walked. “Then I’m glad we beat them.” I sent her a devilish grin. “But then again, they aren’t airmen. What do you expect from land dwellers?”
    “Synn,” Father said, scratching the back of Saqr’s head, “would it hurt you to show a bit of respect?”
    Saqr let out a snort of smoke through his beak.
    I gave them both a churlish look. “I’ll start respecting them as soon as Haji learns to do more than beat his face against my fist.”
    Oki ducked her head and laughed. “Then it is good that his brother is a much better warrior. It might do you good to be beaten once or twice.”
    “Oh,” Father said, his smile hiding in his beard, “he has.”
    I gave him a look that told him to stop talking. With all due respect, of course.
    Oki grinned, slowing her snow crunching steps to look up at our father. “Oh, please tell.”
    I pulled her toward the hut city. “I believe Mother is expecting us. We shouldn’t keep her waiting.”
    Father threw his head back and barked with laughter. He clapped me on the shoulder and nodded. “Stories can wait.”
    Oki glared, but led the way through the city.
    Smoke plumed from the white huts. Most of the people were up in their lethara . The few remaining were the elders and the very young. They raised their hands in greeting, smiles on their faces.
    But they were guarded. We were outsiders.
    The union between our Families was still young and obviously had a long way to go.
    Our mother’s tent looked like all the others, except it was larger than the rest, though only marginally.
    Oki raised the white flap and disappeared with a swoosh.
    I took a strengthening breath, stashing my goggles into yet another pouch on my belt, and lifted the flap. I didn’t enjoy being in my mother’s presence. She thought I was nothing more than the son who lacked the Mark of power. To her, I was worthless.
    It took a while for my eyes to adjust. A fire sat in the center pit, smoke rising through the hole in the ceiling. Elders surrounded my mother, who sat on a cushion, a low table in front of her.
    Her assistant sat beside her, pointing to the book