Chapter Four Hundred and Twenty - Speed Through the Finish

Chapter Four Hundred and Twenty - Speed Through the Finish

Chapter Four Hundred and Twenty - Speed Through the Finish

With the Billowing Beast down and out for the count, I would have expected the others to surge ahead, but the crags were massive, and they were filled to the brim with troublemakers. They loomed, deep and unseeable from where we sat, a chaotic mishmash of reddish rocky outcrops and canyons where all sorts of mischief could be hidden. The only plantlife were a few tough bushes and gnarled trees clinging to the edges.

The Smokestack, having recovered from the Bellowing Beasts attack, was now hurtling ahead into the crags, making up for a lot of its lost lead while nimbly dodging wires and fireballs from below.

The Shady Lady was making good time as well. Somehow the barrage balloons in its path exploded out of the air and came crashing down before the Ladys passing, clearing the way for her to fly straight through.

The Dawn Screecher was sticking to the Ladys rear, using the path Abraham was clearing to avoid some of the aerial traps.

The Screecher and Shady Lady are neck and neck! the announcer hollered, leaning over the edge of the broadcast tower. But will they survive the gauntlet ahead?

As if on cue, a hailstorm of rocks burst from the crags, flung skyward by unseen catapults. Smokestack banked sharply to the right, narrowly avoiding a near-fatal impact. Shady Lady followed suit, zipping around an incoming boulder with finesse.

The attack didn't end there. More barrage balloons rose from the crags, tethered by steel cables that were nearly invisible from this far away. One ship, the Hasty Harpoon, wasn't quick enough to swerve, its balloon crumpling around a Broccoli-sized boulder that sent the ship spiralling downwards in a terrifying freefall.

Just as the racers were reaching the middle of the crags and those in the lead were getting a hang of the traps, a swarm of little figures rushed up out of a canyon.

And here come the Red Wings red-winged fighters! the announcer roared.

Harpies, Amaryllis said. She squinted. With some sort of flight magic.

The harpy rose up in a fairly tight formation, creating a net of some two dozen figures who raised what looked like a mix of crossbows and sticks to point to the incoming airships. The bolts they fired were invisible from this distance, but the magic wasnt. Fireballs, balls of turbulent wind, light, lightning, and conjured materials mixed with the bolts to pepper the ships in the lead.

The Shady Lady somehow kept flying true, spells exploding apart before they could meet her hull. The harpy scattered.

They didnt even try to attack the Dawn Screecher and I felt like shouting about the unfairness of that. They did lay into the next ship to come up.

Oh, the Humanity! the announcer shouted.

Wait, that ones called the Humanity? I asked.

"You heard him, right?" Amaryllis gave me a weird look. "Do you need your ears checked?"

"No, it just reminded me of ... never mind."

She huffed, and turned back to the action with a faint smirk.

The once-organised race had devolved into complete pandemonium. Ships bobbed and weaved, desperately avoiding cables, rocks, and the diving harpies. The Dawn Screecher, having caught up to the pack, was showing its own fangs, retaliating against the barrage of projectiles with a volley of its own.

Suddenly, a triumphant cheer erupted from the crowd. Following their gaze, my heart leaped as I saw Shady Lady breaking free from the chaos, zipping around a last barrage balloon and soaring towards the clearing ahead.

And the Shady Lady emerges from the gauntlet unscathed! the announcer shouted. What a sight to behold, ladies and gentlemen!

We were going to win! I cheered along with the crowd.

Then something big and dark surged out of the woodline right at the end of the crags and the crowds cheer turned into a collective gasp.

Is that a dragon?! the announcer squawked. He sounded like this was very much not supposed to happen.

We scrambled down from our perch and hurried to push through the thick crowd forming at the base of the tower. Mostly they were mechanics and crewmates of the racers. It was easy to tell which crews had placed well because they were the ones cheering the most.

The announcer said something else, and there was more clapping, but it was hard to make out over the hollering and the rumble of idling airship engines.

The Smokestack did a victory lap around the hill where the spectators were sitting, and that only got people more excited.

The other ships were either still coming in to cross the line, or coming to a landing further out in a field dedicated to just that. Some race organisers were there, along with ground crews who were picking up the ropes tossed from above to anchor the ships down.

The Shady Lady was near the far end of the space, gently lowering herself with the help of a few big guys on the ground.

One of those men was Abraham. He must have ridden one of the lines down to Dirt, or maybe he just jumped off the Shady Lady.

Uncle! Awen shouted.

Abraham turned to look at us, his face breaking into a wide grin. Ah-hah! There you are! he boomed, catching Awen in a crushing hug as she reached him.

I saw your jump! That was amazing!

Abraham set her down, then rudely mussed up her hair. That was nothing! You should have seen the look on the face of that lizard! Haha!

I was smiling from ear to ear. That was so cool! I cheered. It was like something out of a movie!

A what? Abraham asked.

Thats a Broccism, you can ignore it, Amaryllis said. Howd the ship come out of it? She gestured to the Shady Lady above, and I glanced up as well.

Shed gained a couple of scuffs and scratches and I noticed a trio of crossbow bolts planted in the wood of her hull. Overall though, she didnt look that bad. Better than when I'd first seen her, certainly, though I imagined that Awen and Raynold might disagree.

Few bumps and bruises, a couple of dents, Abraham said, patting the hull. Nothing we can't fix up with a little elbow grease. She's sturdy, our Lady. Wouldn't trade her for all the gold in the world.

She did well, I agreed, looking up at the grand airship with newfound respect. You all did.

Ah, we're second best, but it ain't the worst thing in the world. Gives us something to aim for next time. He gave Awens back a firm thump, one that almost sent her sprawling. Couldnt have done it without you! Haha! Never came this close to winning in a race before!

Im proud of you all! I said, unable to contain my excitement. It was hard not to be infected by the exhilaration of the moment.

Awen grinned, rubbing her back where her uncle had thumped her. Awa! We'll do even better next time, right, Uncle?

Haha, thats the spirit! Abraham clapped Awen on the back again, but more gently this time. With our Awen working on the Lady, we'll be unbeatable next time!

As if on cue, there was a roar of an engine overhead, and we looked up to see the Smokestack doing another victory lap. Its crew waved triumphantly at the crowd, and cheers erupted anew from the spectators.

Next time, that'll be us, Awen vowed, her eyes on the circling ship. There was a fire in her gaze that I hadnt seen before.

Indeed it will be, lass, Abraham agreed, patting her on the shoulder. But maybe itll be you, not us. Youve got a ship and crew of your own, dont you?

Right, Awen said.

***