short time later. Judging by the stars, it was well past midnight when they reached the Marianna Airship Port. Its lonely skeletal frame stood with empty docks reaching out over the sea. In the past, visiting sailors had been willing to help fight off the thieving vermin to protect their cargo. The men of Marianna had defended their lands with fewer numbers this time. Luck had certainly been with the raiders tonight. They'd had an easy time of it.
Riley turned on his perch beside the driver for a quick glance at Emma. She'd said something about terrible things happening. He was beginning to wonder if this raider attack had been a diversion. Maybe the real purpose behind the night's trouble was to get Seth and his mum alone.
The lights from Paddy's Inn and Pub burned brightly against the darkness. Its owner answered the pounding at his door with a loaded musket. His bulbous pink nose protruded through the gap. Sharp eyes examined the constable and his companions before he swung the door open.
"Paddy will show you where to take Seth." Constable McTavish ushered the men carrying their charge through the door. "Do you want a lift back to town, Riley?"
His legs were shaking when he jumped off the wagon. "You aren't staying? What if those raiders come back after Seth?"
"We've still got a killer roaming about Marianna." The constable rested a hand on Riley's shoulder. "Paddy and Teb are armed. Seth will be safe enough now. Are you coming? "
"No, Constable. I'll be staying right here with Seth." Riley gripped the musket tighter. "Someone needs to watch over him."
He pushed into the common room. Paddy and his barkeep, Teb McKinney, had cleared all the tables and locked up the drink for the night. The pub had long since closed to customers. He headed through the empty tables toward the stairs leading up to the bedchambers. A strange spark of energy lifted the hairs on his arms when he walked close to the bar. There sitting upon its surface was a single glass. The remains of a dark liquor coated the bottom.
"Miss Emma is with Seth in the last room on the right." Paddy whisked up the empty glass and put it behind the bar. "She'll be needing your help."
Riley nodded. He stretched the tense muscles in his shoulders as he climbed the stairs. This day had turned into a long one. He was beginning to imagine things. An empty glass was common enough in a pub. His nerves were getting the better of him with good reason. Seth close to death. Mrs. McCloud murdered and her killer still on the loose. Peaceful Marianna had become a killing ground.
Smelling the pungent odors of herbs, he found Seth's sickroom. Emma was already inside. She leaned over the bed to straighten Seth’s covers. Aging hands lovingly dipped a cloth in the basin of cool water.
"His skin is still hot to the touch." She gently wiped his forehead. "He'll survive, won’t he?"
Doctor McFadden ran a hand over his balding head and frowned. "Only the Creator can say."
"Of course he will, Emma." Riley lifted a hand to lightly touch her shoulder and then let it drop. "Seth is too stubborn to quit on life."
He sat down in the uncomfortable wooden chair by the window and rested the musket over his lap. It was going to be a long night. Fatigue nudged at his body, but Riley ignored it for Seth's sake. Paddy knocked on the open door. He had a kettle of tea with three cups. Riley took his eagerly and let the warming liquid pour down his throat. It was nice and strong. His eyes were bound to stay open now.
An unsettling stillness fell upon Marianna as Riley kept watch at the window. It was like the aftermath of a storm. His eye lids drifted downward, lulled by the constant rush of ocean toward rock. In the wee hours of a dark morning, Riley lost his battle with fatigue and fell into sleep.
Angry shouts pierced through the temporary peace. Riley started awake, sending his forgotten teacup shattering to the floor. It splashed upon his bare shins. The liquid had gone cold hours
Riley turned on his perch beside the driver for a quick glance at Emma. She'd said something about terrible things happening. He was beginning to wonder if this raider attack had been a diversion. Maybe the real purpose behind the night's trouble was to get Seth and his mum alone.
The lights from Paddy's Inn and Pub burned brightly against the darkness. Its owner answered the pounding at his door with a loaded musket. His bulbous pink nose protruded through the gap. Sharp eyes examined the constable and his companions before he swung the door open.
"Paddy will show you where to take Seth." Constable McTavish ushered the men carrying their charge through the door. "Do you want a lift back to town, Riley?"
His legs were shaking when he jumped off the wagon. "You aren't staying? What if those raiders come back after Seth?"
"We've still got a killer roaming about Marianna." The constable rested a hand on Riley's shoulder. "Paddy and Teb are armed. Seth will be safe enough now. Are you coming? "
"No, Constable. I'll be staying right here with Seth." Riley gripped the musket tighter. "Someone needs to watch over him."
He pushed into the common room. Paddy and his barkeep, Teb McKinney, had cleared all the tables and locked up the drink for the night. The pub had long since closed to customers. He headed through the empty tables toward the stairs leading up to the bedchambers. A strange spark of energy lifted the hairs on his arms when he walked close to the bar. There sitting upon its surface was a single glass. The remains of a dark liquor coated the bottom.
"Miss Emma is with Seth in the last room on the right." Paddy whisked up the empty glass and put it behind the bar. "She'll be needing your help."
Riley nodded. He stretched the tense muscles in his shoulders as he climbed the stairs. This day had turned into a long one. He was beginning to imagine things. An empty glass was common enough in a pub. His nerves were getting the better of him with good reason. Seth close to death. Mrs. McCloud murdered and her killer still on the loose. Peaceful Marianna had become a killing ground.
Smelling the pungent odors of herbs, he found Seth's sickroom. Emma was already inside. She leaned over the bed to straighten Seth’s covers. Aging hands lovingly dipped a cloth in the basin of cool water.
"His skin is still hot to the touch." She gently wiped his forehead. "He'll survive, won’t he?"
Doctor McFadden ran a hand over his balding head and frowned. "Only the Creator can say."
"Of course he will, Emma." Riley lifted a hand to lightly touch her shoulder and then let it drop. "Seth is too stubborn to quit on life."
He sat down in the uncomfortable wooden chair by the window and rested the musket over his lap. It was going to be a long night. Fatigue nudged at his body, but Riley ignored it for Seth's sake. Paddy knocked on the open door. He had a kettle of tea with three cups. Riley took his eagerly and let the warming liquid pour down his throat. It was nice and strong. His eyes were bound to stay open now.
An unsettling stillness fell upon Marianna as Riley kept watch at the window. It was like the aftermath of a storm. His eye lids drifted downward, lulled by the constant rush of ocean toward rock. In the wee hours of a dark morning, Riley lost his battle with fatigue and fell into sleep.
Angry shouts pierced through the temporary peace. Riley started awake, sending his forgotten teacup shattering to the floor. It splashed upon his bare shins. The liquid had gone cold hours
Similar Books
