Tapping my gloved fingers on the wheel, I steered my airship into the port of Hades. Workers below tugged at the ropes I’d tossed down earlier, tying my ship to one of the sky docks—a structure that sat two stories high. Inhaling the scent of salt and sweat, I counted to four, then let out a deep breath to calm my racing pulse. 

Gray clouds hovered over the island, a sign of gloom that matched my mood. I gave myself a shake. If I were lucky, by the time anyone had figured out what I’d done, I’d be far away with no plans to return to the smugglers’ island. I was only one job away from buying out my ship and freeing myself from Master Berden and his illegal smuggling operation. 

A sudden wind whipped up, thumping at the round balloon atop my airship. I flew one of the smaller crafts, meant for a single pilot without a crew. It was a family vessel and originally belonged to my father. He’d built it to be light and fast, with an aerodynamic design his competitors had worked hard to copy. The tiny deck had just enough space for me to control speed and direction, with a small hull below for cargo and protection against the chill that often stung the air. 

The promise of rain brushed my lips as I took one more slow breath and moved to the exit. 

The port of Hades swarmed with activity. Workers ran up and down rope ladders, loading and unloaded airships. Some, like mine, had just arrived, and others lifted off, balloons buffered by the sharp winds. 

Tucking strands of my black and brown wavy hair into my white cap, I shoved my hands deep into the warm pockets of my fur coat and strode across the dock.

“Mistress Natari!” someone shouted below. 

Planting my feet to keep my balance, I leaned over the railing. A shirtless man on a rope ladder waved frantically, his bronze skin glistening with sweat even in the coolness. He’d probably been working on the docks for hours, loading and unloading cargo. 

I was never told what, exactly, I transported. Master Berden liked to keep me blind, filling the hull with sealed wooden crates that were marked with his black and red symbol, a warning against opening them. For a long time, I never had the guts to be remotely curious about the crates or the deliveries I made. Now, I knew the truth. 

“Mistress Natari!” The man shouted again, black hair blowing in the breeze. “Master Berden wants to see you.” 

I squeezed my fingers into fists to keep them from shaking. Did Master Berden know what I’d done? 

I made my way down the rope ladder and glanced at the darkening sky. I’d flown through rainstorms before, but it was best to get away before the worst of it reached the island. 

The man waited for me on the ground, his eyes flitting over me with interest. I knew what he’d see, a young woman of average height, brown skin, large sorrowful eyes, hair tucked into my cap, with the goggles resting on top of them. I wore the traditional pilot uniform, form-fitting leather pants and boots, and a corset—hiding my many knives—over my shirt. My fur coat covered the entire outfit and hung to my knees. 

I was one of a few female pilots, and the smugglers’ trade was ruthless, making the barrier to entry high. Most women preferred to work inside Master Berden’s factories as laborers or entertainers. After the ruin of my family name, he’d offered me both positions as an alternative, but I chose to face the wind. 

“This way,” the man said, remembering himself.

I followed, trying to keep my shoulders relaxed to hide my anxiety. It was nothing. Master Berden didn’t know what I’d done, and he often reached out when he had a new assignment. I’d proven myself a quick flyer and never said no, no matter how dangerous the task. But more often, the strain of smuggling wore on me. 

At times, tiredness came, so all-consuming that I just wanted to sit down and stop. Stop flying, stop hustling, stop running from one job to the next, trying to make enough money to buy out my ship. One day I’d take a well-earned vacation.  

Fragrant flavors of spicy curry made my eyes water as we entered the glass compound where Master Berden entertained his shady business guests. Beneath the compound were the factories and warehouses, hidden from sight in case the authorities ever raided the island. Everyone knew Master Berden ran an illegal operation, covered only by his legal work of building airships—anything from luxury to warships—but no one could prove it. 

While I’d been inside the compound a few times, my eyes were always drawn to the mechanical cogs that rose above me, creating the shape of an airship within the building. The thick glass provided a view of the sky docks. With the mist rising from the ocean, they appeared like platforms floating in the sky. 

Steam engines chugged across the track that ran over the building and deeper into the island to other compounds. The invention of mechanics combined with steam power often felt nothing short of sorcery. 

I’d wanted to be a talented inventor like my father. His only fault was selling his secrets to the wrong man. 

A knot twisted in the pit of my stomach. If everything had gone as my father had planned, I’d be part of his empire of airships, legally selling them worldwide. 

A short hall led to Master Berden’s office, a room with a view of the port and floating shelves with his miniature collection of airships and other steam-driven inventions. A bowl of spicy scented food sat in front of him, a mush with bright spots of color. Despite the way it stung my eyes, my stomach grumbled in dissatisfaction. Flying solo took all my attention and focus, leaving little time to eat or drink, hence the gnawing in my belly now. 

Master Berden was a tiny man with wiry black hair that stuck straight up, thick eyebrows, a bulbous nose, and, in his older years, a bit of a paunch. He made up for what he lacked in size with his shrew business mind. I considered him a snake, lying in wait, ready to pounce when least expected. 

Wiping his greasy fingers on a napkin, he grinned. “Ah, Natari. My favorite captain, come in, sit, sit!” 

He waved at the seat in front of the desk and, holding back my scowl, I perched on the edge of the chair. My knee jerked up and down, and I pressed my palm flat against it, embarrassed at the telltale sign of anxiety. 

“Favorite?” I raised an eyebrow, settling for banter. 

“Eh, you know how it is. You’re fast, efficient, in and out, always happy to take the commissions I send you.” He chuckled light-heartedly, but just as quickly his brow darkened. “Until recently.” 

My stomach turned sour, and the hunger for food turned to nausea. 

“Your last delivery was a little light. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were stealing from me.”

Damn. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Do you take me for a fool? I know better than to steal from you. The way the workers packaged the cargo wasn’t secure, and in the turbulent air, a crate got loose. Tell your men to be more careful.”

Master Berden wagged a finger. “Your mouth will get you into trouble one day, Natari. You’re lucky I like you. Otherwise, I’d investigate this further. As it is, your next delivery is very important. You’ll be headed north, and you’ll need speed. I’m having my men add helium to your balloon. You’ll need to fly fast and stay hidden. Upon delivery, you’ll receive enough air to take you home, as well as your payment. It’s dangerous but quick. Are you sure you’re up to it?”

My stomach twisted. Danger. He gave me an excuse to say no, but his next request might be worse. I lived for the thrill of adventure and speeding by danger with no serious harm. Lifting my chin, I asked, “What’s the payment?”

“Six hundred coins. Payment upon successful delivery.”

My eyebrows shot up. Six hundred! I’d have enough to buy my airship from Master Berden and work on private commissions. This trip could very well be my last one, and once I received payment, I’d never return to his god-forsaken island and illegal deeds. Regaining my composure, I stuck out my hand. “We have a deal.”

In hindsight, I should have requested the location before agreeing to the deal. But as the men finished loading the cargo into the hull and pumped air into my ship, Master Braden handed me a map. It was framed in wood, the flight route clearly marked, and a scowl came on as I stared at it. “Is this a joke?”

He smirked in amusement. “You’ve never been that far north, have you?”

“It’s a wasteland, a tundra,” I protested. “Surely no one lives out there in the ice.”

“You’ve never been there, so how would you know? Like I said earlier, it’s a unique delivery for a special client, and a high priority too. To ensure you don’t fail, I’m sending an escort.”

My body went numb, and I stared hard at the map, my jaw twitching. An escort. It meant he didn’t trust me. It also meant that the escort was likely to kill me when the delivery was complete. I wouldn’t gain the six hundred coin or escape. Master Berden hadn’t forgiven me for the shoddy delivery last time. This wasn’t a test but my last task.

“An escort won’t be necessary,” I said, keeping my tone hard.

“It’s already been decided. This is a key client, and I can’t have any more accidents. Do you know what they cost me?”

“I can guess,” I said, not wanting to engage in conversation any longer. I needed to make plans to get rid of my escort. “Since you want this delivery done quickly and properly, I warn you that adding extra weight to my ship will slow it down.”

Usually, the loads I smuggled were light. Adding two more people was significant.

“Weight won’t be a problem,” Master Berden countered, snapping his fingers.

Two men appeared, black hair cropped closer to their foreheads and emotionless, almond-shaped eyes. They were dressed in white from head to toe, with heavy furs over their leathers. My stomach roiled as the two came aboard, saluting me with two fingers. They were small, slim men, only five feet tall, and their lack of obvious muscle meant they had other skills.

Master Berden employed an entire crew of them both because of their appearance and their fighting skills. Instead of using heavy swords, they used a combination of movements with their hands and feet that brought down even the most fearsome enemy. Their competences with darts and poisons were renowned, and their appearance on my ship was a warning. I’d messed up, and Master Berden would not forgive me. I’d go to the tundra, deliver the goods, and the men would dispatch me and fly my ship back.

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I glared at Master Berden. He crooked a finger, beckoning me closer, and I had no alternative but to obey. 

“You’re thinking I’m going to kill you, aren’t you, Natari? But Otto and Vance are only coming abroad as a reminder. You cannot mess up in this line of business. This is your chance to show me where your allegiance lies. Deliver the goods and return here. Then, and only then, shall we discuss your future. You showing up here after stealing my goods was bold, but Otto and Vance will ensure you don’t run off with another shipment.”

Fury made my vision white, and it was all I could do not launch myself at him. He knew. All along. Gritting my teeth, I spun away from him and marched to the wheel. “You’ll see,” I hollered over my shoulder. “I’ll be back.”