Free Dragon Airways by Brian Rathbone

kills the kid, I'll kill all three of you. Is that clear?"
    Several plans were discarded, and new ones formed in Casta Mett's mind. It was a dangerous game. She had little choice but to play it well. Fortunately for her, she didn't like kids.
    When Argus Kind stormed from the hall a moment later, relief washed over all of them.
    "I can't believe I'm stuck with you again," Agger said after a deep breath. "I'm a tracker and you're a noisemaker."
    "Yeah, but I come in handy at times," Grunt said, his grin never fading. "Remember the time I took that guy's wrist apart using just these two fingers?" He held two thick, meaty fingers in the air and rubbed them together in a way that made a series of pops. Casta had seen him do it, and the sound of it almost made her sick.
    "I guess we're following you," Grunt said, looking at Casta.
    "I could do without your help," she said.
    "That's 'cause you're gonna kill the little bugger rather than allow yourself to be out of a job," Grunt said.
    "And a head," Agger said. "Deacon says you are hiding magic from Lord Kind. Can you imagine if someone else shows up and starts pointing out all the things you've been hiding?"
    Everything he said was true. Casta Mett considered going after one such object herself at that moment. It would make short work of her colleagues, and would likely be a match for Lord Kind himself, but she was not quite ready for that. "We leave within the hour," she said.
    "Where to?" Agger asked. "I'd like to know how to pack."
    Grunt giggled.
    "A gift from the gods, capable of overcoming the destroyer, shall fall," she said by rote.
    "You're going to chase after myths and legends?" Agger asked, appearing truly astonished.
    "What will come will come," Casta said. "Those who seek magic, knowingly or subconsciously, will be drawn there, just as I am. We will see what is myth and what is legend."
    "What do you want to do with him?" Grunt asked, pointing at the boy who had been trying to become invisible.
    "Killing him is too much like work," Agger said. "Let him do it himself." The man turned the boy around and handed him a small knife. "That's all you get. Now run!"
    Grunt growled at the boy and snapped like a chained dog.
    Casta Mett didn't care. This wasn't the boy she needed dead.

CHAPTER SIX
     
    Welcome to Dragon Airways. Imagine how much better you'll feel without all that baggage.
    —Tuck, dragon groom
     
    * * *
     
    Avoiding Agger's jet wash, Casta Mett manipulated the controls gingerly. Every movement, every deviation from course consumed more fuel. No one could say if they would reach the fleet or have to ditch in deep water, far from any chance of rescue. If Admiral Meekam had disobeyed her orders, they were already lost. Given his openly professed opinion of her, this was her riskiest mission yet. All she could do was fly. The decisions were already made, the bones cast; fate would determine the rest.
    "If you drop me in that cold water," Grunt said from behind her. "I'll drown you myself."
    Casta did not bother to respond. It was not his first threat and wouldn't likely be the last. The fact that he could not swim provided some consolation. She smiled at the thought, but then Agger cut back across her path, and the turbulent air threatened to snuff the engine.
    Boil him in oil, Casta thought, turning away from Agger's wash. The man had every advantage and continued to use them against her. He did not have a passenger, so weight was on his side. In these small aircraft, a tiny amount of weight resulted in a significant difference in performance. Casta would have vastly preferred flying alone, but Agger and Grunt were more weight than a single U-jet could bear and still maintain the speed and fuel efficiency required. Casta was not much lighter than Agger, but it was enough to force her hand. She knew they were just afraid she would shoot them down and be finished with them both, once and for all. It might have been tempting.
    No matter how much she disliked the