Free Leviathan (Lost Civilizations: 2) by Vaughn Heppner Page B

off.
    “Stay near her,” Zillith told Joash. “Keep her mind off Poseidonis. Lod told me about that isle. Her time there was ghastly.”
    ***
    Adah stood behind the catapult. The Tarsh seamen had explained it to her, and let her test it. Its central feature was a heavy piece of steel, a bow lying sideways. A steel cord took the place of catgut, and a winch was needed in order to draw the steel cord back into place. In the grooved wooden slot, lay a three-foot dart, a thin piece of metal with a spike end.
    Joash had listened to the explanation, and had seen that Adah was a good shot. He waited with her as she tracked the slith.
    “It has to make a mistake, and come too close sometime,” she said.
    Joash wasn’t so sure.
    “I’m going to kill it,” Adah said, grimly.
    Joash had tried to take her mind off the slith. Nothing had worked. He’d tried to talk to her about Poseidonis. She’d remained tight-lipped, finally saying, “You love me for who I am, correct?”
    “Of course.”
    “Then don’t pry into what I can’t talk about.”
    He didn’t like to hear that, but he accepted it. He became worried when she began to gnaw her lower lip. The failed poisoning seemed to have left her bitter.
    Two hours later found them exactly as before, only her lip was worn, and a little bloody. Suddenly, Adah hissed.
    Joash had almost nodded off. He looked up. The slith flew lower.
    “Just a little more,” Adah whispered, with the catapult aimed skyward.
    The slith circled, but seemed wary of the ship.
    “He’s slipping to the left,” Joash said.
    “I can see that!” she snapped. She sighted, with her hands white with tension. Suddenly, she pulled the trigger. The steel cord snapped, and the dart hissed. It flew flat, directly for the slith. The beast gave a vent of rage, and tried to climb. The dart dipped toward the sea, and missed, flying ten yards underneath the creature, before the dart plopped into the water.
    Adah madly cranked the winch, her eyes wild, her lips tight. When the steel cord clicked into place, she slotted another dart, swiveled the catapult skyward, and shot again. The slith was farther away than ever, however. The dart missed. Adah wildly cranked again.
    Joash put his hand on her arm.
    She whirled on him, her lips pulled back in a snarl.
    “It’s out of range,” he said.
    For a moment longer, Adah strained against his hold, and then tears welled in her eyes. She wiped them savagely. “I have to kill it!” she said.
    Joash stared up at the slith. A plan was beginning to form in his mind. But, there was no way he’d tell Adah. If there were any danger, he would risk it rather than risking the woman he loved.
    “Stay at your station,” he said. “I’ll get you something to eat.”
    Adah nodded. More slowly than before, she readied the steel bow. Once more, she kept her eyes fixed on the circling slith.
    ***
    Joash explained his plan to Herrek. The Giant-Slayer studied the airborne slith for a time and then gazed shrewdly at Joash.
    “There are flaws,” Herrek said.
    “Granted,” Joash said, “but the pterodactyl still needs killing. Otherwise, as Captain Maharbal and Lord Uriah have said, pirate galleys will soon appear on the horizon.”
    “We should tell Lord Uriah your plan.”
    Joash shook his head.
    “He might point out improvements,” Herrek said.
    “He’ll also discuss it with the others. I don’t want Adah trying it.”
    “Lord Uriah won’t let her,” Herrek said.
    Joash snorted. “I don’t think Lord Uriah could stop her if she gets it in her head to try. Oh, he might tie her up, but that’s the only way. I’ve watched her. She hates the giant pterodactyl, and means to kill it herself.”
    Herrek nodded slowly. “You have feelings for her.”
    “I think everybody knows that by now.”
    “Amery knows it,” Herrek said.
    “Huh?” Joash asked.
    “Never mind,” Herrek said. He rubbed his chin. “What about sharks?”
    Joash shrugged.
    “Or, what if you