Free A Tale of Two Airships (Take to the Skies Book 2) by Katherine McIntyre Page B

tiny ship, how many of us will you need as decoy while you’re making your way on board?”
    “Ha, Spade and Mordecai will be pulling that weight. I’m joining you and Jack as a decoy. After all, decoy’s the tougher job, and I wouldn’t want my crew to think I can’t handle danger anymore.” I dropped a teabag into my cup and inhaled the fumes as bergamot wafted my way.
    “With the way you attract it, I doubt anyone believes that, considering you’re still standing,” Mordecai muttered, reaching past me to steal a cup.  Within a matter of seconds, the tea water whistled again, hissing from one of those wind up kettles that tick, tick, ticked until the superheated plate beneath boiled the water. More cups birthed amber liquid the second the bags dropped, and everyone had one in hand by the time Viola finished.
    “And you two have a plan on how to deliver all eight to collect?” I asked. Though I entertained the idea of stuffing the lot of pirates into a cage, I had the feeling Edward and Viola had something more convenient in mind.
    “Not elegantly, but it can be done. There’s a bounty on each of their heads, yes?” She asked.
    “Yeah, you’ll get more for the whole lot of them.” I took a sip but retracted—the water was more than a little scalding.
    “Looks like we’ll be parading the lot through town or taking Old Jarvis’s ferry service to the drop off.” Edward dropped a couple sugar cubes into his cup and dripped cream until it clouded.
    Viola’s nose wrinkled. “I’d prefer the drop off—let’s lean towards discreet.”
    “Meanwhile, crew, we’ll be as flashy as possible. Especially us decoys. Let’s spit on their shoes and call their mothers horrible names.”
    Mordecai squeezed Jack’s shoulder. “See, the illustrious work of a recon man. These are the predecessors you have to live up to.”
    “At least I’ll never be bored.” He flashed him a grin before sipping at his tea again.
    I made a point of taking a deep, lusty swig of mine. The dry taste of unsweetened Earl Grey hit my tongue, but I wouldn’t give Isabella the satisfaction of being right. Instead, I lifted my cup to her, eyed the pile of sugar cubes, and raised my brows.
    She rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, you didn’t use any sugar. Good girl, want a treat?”
    A snort flew from my lips before I could help myself. Downing the rest of the warm tea in one gulp, I slammed the dainty cup on the table even though the sound made Viola wince. Most of the crew had finished their cups. Though Edward and Viola nursed theirs, even as they leaned against her countertops, the two had a readiness to their stance begging for action.
    Well, action was one thing I could deliver.
     
    ***
     
    I’d grown all too familiar with the docks of Shantytown after yesterday, and my heart ached upon approach as I tried to quash the hope the Desire might be there waiting for us. That we could scrap this entire ridiculous endeavor and sail away with the rest of our crew. Though we all reached the docks together as we approached the beginning of the plank, I prepared for the departure.
    Viola and Edward gave us a nod before they split directions, her to the far left while he took position against the wall. Either direction the pirates ran, one of them would be ready and waiting. Meanwhile, Mordecai and Spade lingered in the back of our depleted group. After all, Isabella, Jack, and I would be the ones bringing the flash, bang, boom, and it had to be big enough so those two could sneak unnoticed to the Fireswamp and handle whoever lingered on board.
    My heart thudded in my chest, not from fear at our current undertaking but a mixture of excitement for the chance to hit the skies again. Though we’d been strapped to land for a day so far, a keen difference resided in the knowledge that while we had the Desire, at any point we could indulge a whim or escape away to where we were free. Down here with no ship, we were thrust into a viper’s den where