Free Ketty Jay 04 - The Ace of Skulls by Chris Wooding Page A

into the popular attitude. Then he shook himself and realised that he was probably just in love.
    ‘And what are the Awakeners doing here?’ he asked, waving a hand to indicate the city all around them.
    ‘That we don’t know. But whatever they’re up to, we caught ’em on the hop. Been driving ’em back towards the chasm. Soon they’re gonna have to run for it or we’ll push ’em off.’
    ‘Can’t you just fly over the top, get behind them or something?’ Crake said.
    ‘They brought anti-aircraft guns. Not like ours, but enough to take down anythin’ overhead. So we have to fly at night, and then you can’t see a damn thing among the broken buildings. They’ve got the chasm at their back, so gettin’ over that way would be more trouble than it’s worth.’ She pursed her lips in consternation. Crake found that unbearably pretty. ‘They’re dug in tight. Question is, what are they doin’ here in the first place? Where’s the sense fightin’ over Korrene?’
    ‘Because the Allsoul told them to?’
    She gave him a wry look.
    ‘I’m serious,’ he said. ‘They believe in predictions and patterns and all of that. I mean, they really believe the Allsoul can show them the future. Maybe one of the Grand Oracles just flipped the wrong card and they ended up invading this heap of rubble.’
    ‘So what would’ve happened if they flipped the right card?’
    ‘They’d have tried to invade the sea.’
    She laughed at that, a loud and indelicate laugh not at all befitting a lady. It was music to his ears anyway. ‘I’d love it if they were that dumb,’ she said. She tipped back her hat and scratched under the brim. ‘Anyway, probably we’ll never know. Goin’ in for a big push in a few hours. If this don’t drive ’em out, nothin’ will.’
    She looked him over as if something had occurred to her. ‘Wait, why are you here anyway? I mean, not that I ain’t glad.’
    Frey had told them to keep it quiet, but Crake had promised himself he wouldn’t deceive Samandra again. Not after last time. It was an easy decision to make.
    ‘Officially, we’re escorting that whispermonger, Pelaru. Unofficially, we’re looking for his business partner. He disappeared in the fighting, while he was searching for treasure or something. Honestly, I didn’t ask too much. It’s important to the Cap’n, that’s all I know.’
    ‘Huh,’ said Samandra. ‘Frey and his schemes, eh?’
    ‘You have to admire his sense of adventure.’
    ‘That you do.’
    ‘Well, no doubt you’ll be able to get in there and get your hands dirty if that’s what you’re after. We’ve already got half the Shacklemores working for us, nobody’s going to say no to a few more guns.’
    Crake felt his mouth go dry. ‘Half the—?’ he began, and then stopped.
    ‘Yeah. Shacklemores. Look.’ She pointed over at where a group of men were bivouacked on the edge of the landing pad, dressed in dour trench coats and low black hats, cleaning their shotguns. ‘Lot of bounty hunters have gone merc for the Navy. Pay’s better in these troubled times.’
    Shacklemores. Spit and blood, after all this time I’d almost forgotten they were after me.
    Samandra became concerned. ‘Oh, hey, you’ve gone all pale. You worried about the fight? I forget how shit you are with a gun sometimes.’ Then she grinned and slapped him on the shoulder. ‘Don’t worry about a thing, you brave little daemon-botherer. I’m gonna be needed on the front line, but you got your friends to look after you. Come the mornin’, this’ll all be over, and after that I’m damn well due a couple days off.’
    When he didn’t reply, she nudged him. ‘Well? How about it?’
    ‘How about what?’
    ‘Two days. Leave. Go somewhere?’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Do I got to throw myself at you?’
    It suddenly clicked into place. ‘Oh! Er . . . yes! Yes, of course! And if the Cap’n has a problem with it, well, I’ll just quit or something.’ He gave her an unsteady