Dragon Airways Read Online Free PDF Page B

he said. "Just needs some rest is all."
    "Where are we going?" she asked, not certain she wanted to know the answer.
    "Where do you want to go?" Tuck asked.
    "Somewhere safe," Riette said without really meaning to. Emmet looked at her with something akin to hope in his eyes, and she snapped back to reality.
    "Then that's where we're going," Tuck said.
    The captain must have heard the entire conversation but maintained his silence.
    "How did you end up here?" Riette asked.
    Tuck turned his head sideways and smiled at her. "He caught me picking his pocket. He taught me a lesson . . . and then another lesson. Never really stopped."
    "And your parents?"
    Shrugging, he looked away. "I vaguely remember having parents."
    "My loss is more recent," Riette said.
    The boy turned back to her. "Sorry."
    She just nodded. Emmet walked to the captain's side and put his hands on Dashiq. Riette feared the man might scold her brother, but he pretended not to notice. It was the closest thing to approval she'd seen from the man.
    "Does he treat you well?" Riette asked in a whisper.
    "Better than anyone else ever has," Tuck said. "By a mile. We should get something to eat and drink while we've got the chance. When the cap'n wants to leave, we leave."
    "How much," Riette asked, growing suspicious.
    "How much what?"
    "How much is all this going to cost me? What kind of airline doesn't know where it's going or how much it costs to get there?"
    "Two coppers each."
    "To anywhere?" Riette asked. "What if I wanted to go to the Godfist?"
    The captain stopped what he was doing and made a fist. He didn't turn around or make any other gesture, but that was enough to convey his meaning.
    "Passengers come first," Tuck said. "Ain't many places we won't go. Ain't much we won't do to ensure your satisfaction."
    The captain gave a quick, slight nod before going back to running his hands over Dashiq's scaly armor, Tuck produced pickled eggs and cheese from their stores. Riette wrinkled her nose, but when Tuck went to take the pickled egg away, she grabbed it and bit into it before she changed her mind. It was tart and pungent but not so bad as what she had been expecting. Emmet joined them, seemingly drawn by the smell. He did not hesitate for an instant when Tuck handed him an egg and cheese.
    When darkness passed over them a moment later, everyone fell silent. Above could be heard the creak of line and occasional roar.
    "Balloons," Tuck whispered.
    "That could be Brick," Riette said, but she, too, whispered, knowing it might not be. When a second balloon floated over, no one spoke.
    The captain turned to Tuck and held out one hand, palm up, fingers spaced evenly and pointing up.
    Tuck shook his head, and the captain shrugged.
    What passed between them Riette could not say, and she didn't like it. The feeling they were hiding something from her persisted, and she kept her guard up.
    "We've a long flight coming up," Tuck said. "A real long flight. The dragon would prefer any 'people business' you may have be handled while we're here on the ground. We won't be stopping much."
    "You know all that from him holding up his hand?" Riette asked, an edge in her voice.
    "I know the place he means. We've gone there before when Dashiq was hurt. It's a long ways away. A week on the wing and no less."
    "A week?"
    Tuck nodded. "Don't have no choice now. Dashiq needs healing. Dead dragons don't fly."
    The captain reacted to the statement but made no other response. His palpable silence irritated Riette. How could anyone keep his mouth shut for so long? And at a time like this.
    "Your only other choice is to stay here," Tuck said. "And I wouldn't if I was you." The continued sound of balloons in the area emphasized his words. "You said you wanted to be somewhere safe. This trip will get you part of the way there." The captain gave Tuck a disapproving look. "We leave at dark. You might want to stretch your legs."
    Emmet took Tuck's suggestion and walked in a circle around the