Free The Immortal Storm (Sky Chaser Book 1) by S.D. Wilkes

true identity.
    The Corrector turned away.
    “Two days ago the Foundation survey vessel Monitor vanished in the region approximately twelve leagues south-south-west of here known as the Thirsty Sea,” she said, and snapped her fingers. “Vanished without a trace!”
    Kite glanced at the tarps swelling in the wind on the Highwrecker 's deck. The ones Gutter’s crew had hastily tossed over their illicit haul of skymetal. Did the fools really think they could hide the evidence that easily?
    “Liftships simply don’t vanish,” said the Corrector, her attention coming to rest on the lines of belligerent salvors. “I have received information that suggests the Monitor has been illegally salvaged.”
    Ruster's Roost became small and dangerous. Sweat prickled Kite's scalp, itched under his collar. His heart beat so hard he half-expected it to burst from his ribs.
    “I should remind you the First Light Foundation retains absolute ownership of all its property, in whatever condition, in whatever territory,” the Corrector said. “That includes the Old Coast.”
    An uneasy murmur rippled through the crowd. The Corrector watched them all closely, hunting for clues. “Anyone found in possession of even a single rivet from the Monitor will be in contravention of Fairweather's sovereign laws,” she said. “And will suffer a severe loss of liberty.”
    No-one moved. Awnings flapped. Grapple hooks rattled. Then Kite sensed movement around him. His blood ran cold. The salvors were whispering tactics. Hidden weapons were being made ready. Right now Kite couldn't think of a worst place to be.
    The Corrector slipped a small leather pouch from her belt.
    “However, I am willing to make this easier for those of you willing to cooperate,” she said, holding it up. “Five hundred royals in silver. The reward for information about the whereabouts of the Monitor , its crew and, in particular, its cargo. ”
    The atmosphere changed instantly. Five hundred royals. More money than most earned in a year. Kite could already see the temptation on dust-blackened faces.
    The Corrector jangled the money pouch. “Give me my answers, skyless of Dusthaven,” she said, her voice amplified louder than ever. “And I shall show you how generous the First Light Foundation can be.”
    No-one moved at first. Then Kite saw a quivering hand inch up. Then another. The Corrector was smart. She must have known how easily loyalties switch in the Old Coast.
    Gutter drew his machete. “You ungrateful bastards!” he roared, acid-scarred face blistering with a butcher’s grin. At that moment Kite knew that Gutter Savage had doomed them all.
    With a ready clatter a forest of weapons sprang up around Kite's ears. A defiant roar went up from the salvors. Some of the crowd joined in but most stood stunned into silence, terrified of the Weatheren response to come. Kite trembled with them, desperate for his chance to escape.
    The Corrector had seen enough. She turned to one of the soldiers. “I want the entire settlement searched, Sergeant,” she said. “No-one enters and no-one leaves unless I say so.”
    The Sergeant, three chevrons on his sleeve, saluted and rallied his men. “Charge your weapons! To arms!”
    A panicking scream echoed across Ruster's Roost. The crowd began to scatter. Defiance and unity soon dissolved with the clatter of armour and the aiming of shockguns. Kite had only one chance to flee. To warn Ersa. One chance to use this chaos to his advantage. Cob Savage had his back to him, the bag loose at his side. In one swift movement Kite tore the bag from Cob's hand and plunged into the crowd.

 
     
     
     
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    “Ersa, hurry!” Kite called, lashing the bags to the deck.
    Shouts and crashes rattled across Dusthaven, punctuated by fierce crackles of mosfire from the shockguns. The battle was louder and coming closer with each second. Scavvies fled by the bothy, stumbling with whatever they could carry. It wouldn't be long before