Andrea had gotten on a sky barge called Olena’s Pride using part of her pay from the month’s work aboard the Dusty Maiden. Olena’s Pride wasn’t a large sky barge but it had enough room for her to be comfortable. She didn’t have much in the way of personal possessions anyway—just a large leather duffle bag that she’d stuffed under her bunk after coming aboard.

Olena’s Pride was two days out of Daura City and was due to arrive in Norbridge any minute. Andrea couldn’t see the city yet, but that was probably because the barge was still descending through a thick white cloud. She could feel the damp water vapour on her skin in what was otherwise extremely dry weather.

It would be good to get back to Norbridge, but most importantly she needed to check on Kate and Joey. If something were to happen to either one of them she would never forgive herself. It’s my responsibility to make sure they’re safe, she told herself, as she did often.

“Morning, darlin’,” Captain Dustin said.

Great, she thought. Captain pig is up and about.

The entire time Andrea had been on Olena’s Pride the captain had kept making overtures to her while the rest of his crew made obscene gestures in her direction. As if he would have ever been her type. The captain was large-boned and fat. His skin looked like rough leather, and his shirt, which Andrea thought must have been white at some point, had dark stains down the front.

She smiled sheepishly without responding. When she got an excuse, she put as much distance between him and herself as she could by moving up to the prow of the barge.

Does a man like that think a woman like me would ever be interested in him? she wondered. Maybe if he had something on her large enough to blackmail her with. Luckily he didn’t—and never could. Andrea wasn’t the kind of person who did things that could come back to her in that kind of way.

It was surprising that the captain and his crew were the dirty slobs that they were. Scorg leather, being the lightest and strongest of its kind, was a very lucrative trade. She knew it fetched a high price on the market, most of which was sold to the Guardian Order where they used the goods to line their gasbags and to create bullet and magic resistant vests and coats.

Olena’s Pride always had look-outs positioned on the fore, port and and starboard sections of the barge so that if a horde of scorg were spotted, they could begin the hunt. Sometimes it took the better part of two or three hours by the time an entire horde had been killed off and then loaded into the barge. During these hunting raids Andrea usually spent her time in her cabin which helped muffled the gunfire a little, but not much. It was better than joining in or watching. Especially afterwards. There was no point in hauling dozens of carcasses, so the crew would skin the beasts on deck, keep the pelts, and toss the meat. Andrea had nearly slipped in a puddle of viscous blood more than once already.

Then the mist cleared and the Olena’s Pride descended below the thick white cloud she was navigating to reveal the city of Norbridge.

Finally, Andrea thought.

Norbridge was only about a third of the size of Daura City, but it wasn’t so small that it felt insecure like the towns. Andrea didn’t like the towns because they didn’t have around-the-clock security like Norridge or the capital, which meant they were easier to raid. The Guardian Order only sent patrols to check in every few days.

After Olena’s Pride had landed, Captain Dustin told Andrea she could hitch a ride any time for the same low rate she’d paid.

“Oh—how wonderful,” she said with a smile.

I don’t think so.

During her time aboard the barge Captain Dustin couldn’t keep his lascivious eyes off her. At some point during the cruise she’d caught him glaring intently at what would have been her behind, if she hadn’t turned a one-eighty. Still, Andrea did her best to remain civil and stepped off the barge, glad to be off.

She hadn’t had much time to think about what had happened between her and Niles while she was on the Olena’s Pride. She had been too occupied with trying to dodge the captain and his filthy-minded crewman.

Was it the right decision to leave Niles’ barge? she wondered. Surely they would need her piloting skills when so much was on the line. No... It was more important to make sure her family was safe. In the end that was what really mattered.

Norbridge didn’t look like the sort of city that was in danger of being raided by pirates any day now. None of the people on the docks seemed to be very concerned about it—despite the mountain pirate presence and the doom-and-gloomers.

Andrea was moving across the massive bridge towards the main city when she asked a stranger walking by about the rumors of a possible pirate raid.

“Sorry, miss. Rumors are plenty and I don’t believe none ‘till I see ‘em for myself,” the man said.

The brass light polls shone in the bright sun, making her wince. The man certainly didn’t look as ignorant as he sounded. Maybe he was one of Captain Dustin’s crew? It didn’t matter and Andrea thanked him anyway before continuing forward.

A welcome cool breeze moved past her as she continued across the bridge. It felt so good that she smiled. The canyon below was a sight, being at least a six-hundred foot drop and more tall light poles illuminated the landing pads of the city. At night, they were a wonder to behold, illuminating everything so warmly. Most the lights were yellow or orange, though during festivities, red lanterns were suspended across the bridge and throughout the rest of the city which made it one of the most beautiful places Andrea had ever seen. Though now was not a festive time, the city was still gorgeous to her eyes.

The main part of Norbridge was perched atop higher terrain than the landing pads and the bridge. The tallest structure, located in the center of the city, was the Guardian Temple. Of course. Though beautiful, she didn’t like everything it represented. Why do they like to build their temples so they seem to be looking down on everyone? she wondered. It was possible the favored design made people feel more protected as if they had a watcher looking over them, quite literally.

Niles would never see it that way, though.

Andrea had crossed the bridge, and now she was making her way through the city. The roads were steep, but she didn’t mind. It wouldn’t be much longer before she reached her house.

The pilot wondered what she would do for work now that she was out of a job. She would probably find another piloting position aboard a sky barge, since during her time with Niles she had certainly garnered quite a few skills when it came to the trade.

Would she ever see Niles again?

Probably not.

Even if he did succeed in his mission, he would be a wanted man afterwards. But it was possible he wouldn’t be as well. Maybe the Guardian Order would see him and Jon as heroes who stopped an invasion. Even the Guardians had to be worrying about what would happen. There was no guaranty their plan would work. She thought it was a fool’s plan anyway.

I shouldn’t hope, she told herself. Chances are he’ll be killed or caught.

Finally she reached her house of yellow bricks. The plants were alive and well. Good—they remembered to keep them watered. She smiled and walked to the brightly-painted red door, though remembering she’d lost her pair of the keys, she decided to knock instead.

Home at last.

Excitement must have lit her face, because she was smiling like a buffoon with no one to see. She knocked, and could hear footsteps approach the door.

It opened with a click to reveal Kate. Her eyes opened and her face lit up. “Anny!” She jumped.

Andrea caught her. “Owe! I’m glad to see you too, but don’t be so tough.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m so glad to see you,” she said, hugging the eight-year old and lifting her off the ground and making a sound of exertion. “You’re getting big.”

Kate laughed, then hauled her into the house.

“Where’s your brother?”

“Oh, he went to the market to get some eggs. He’ll be back soon.”

Andrea looked about. “And you’ve kept everything so clean.”

“We try—but Joey makes a lot of messes.”

“Well, that’s okay—he does his part, right?”

Kate nodded. “Mmhm.”

Very clean. It was somewhat of a surprise, but even so, Andrea felt proud of them both—and to see that Joey was taking charge and going out to get the things they needed.

“Will we wait for Joey, or go find him at the market?”

“Hmm,” Andrea thought, putting a hand to her chin and unable to help smiling. A worry niggled her about not having a job, and yet she was so excited to be home—and somewhat relieved as well. “Let’s go find him and then come back and cook a big dinner!”

Kate jumped. “Yay!”