The Dream Thief by Kari Kilgore (books for 10th graders txt) 📕

and help her pack up her belongings. That may take up a bit more room than the two of us do, but again, your time and trouble will be well rewarded."

"In that case, we must make ready." Bill kissed her hand again. "Leaving tonight will put us in a bit of a rush, but I believe we can manage. And this reward you speak of?"

Loretta smiled at him as she opened her purse. She counted out a bit more than she'd intended, but less than half of what she carried.

"This should serve to get us off the ground and underway," she said. "There will be more when we arrive safely in the Northlands, and double that amount when we return here."

Bill counted the coins, then slipped them into his pocket. He put a hand on her waist as they walked toward the door, but he didn't try anything more.

"We'll be ready to leave in an hour, my dear. If you'd like, you and your friend can wait on the far side of my camp. Whoever you're running from won't be able to see you back there. You'll have to make do with quarters in the cargo hold, but you'll be comfortable enough. No maid service, I'm afraid, but I'll get you to your destination. Rhysto keeps his camp in the main section. He won't see you, or us, until we're already airborne. I'm sure you'd rather take fewer chances than more."

"You're right about that, Bill. I appreciate you taking the chance to help me, my friend. You'll be glad you did in the end."

Chapter 24

Loretta took three paces and reached the far wall of the hold. The rough-hewn wood throughout was scuffed but clean. Storage racks lined the three walls, and the ceiling bristled with metal hooks. A huge box, like a rectangular coffin with the lid removed, sat at the end. Coarse tan burlap covered whatever was inside, but someone had left sheets and a blanket at one end.

Karl stretched out his long arms and touched both sides. He didn't quite look comfortable, but he wasn't as nervous as he had been.

"Bill was true to his word in this case," Loretta said. "We're nothing more than cargo. At least we each have our own rooms."

"There are bolts of fabric in mine," Karl said. "Let me know if you need more for bedding. How long do we have to enjoy such luxury?"

"Charming coming from a man who lives in splendor out at Joffrey Columns. We'll be three days in the air. Not nearly as fast as the transport ships, but quite a bit faster than walking."

Karl put his hands on his hips, then shrugged.

"And we're out of Rhysto's grasp for now," he said. "I guess I'll be next door if you need anything."

Loretta sat on one of the bundles and realized Bill had given her the more comfortable space after all. This was filled with some kind of loose, soft material, maybe loose wool. Almost as good as a mattress if she didn't mind the scratchy surface under the sheet. She'd certainly slept in worse places.

Much as she hated to admit it, she was weary. She wasn't sure if it was the stress of having to leave so quickly, the rocking motion of the shaw, or the constant noise of the propellers and fires keeping the airbag inflated, but she was ready for sleep herself.

The door to her cargo hold was hardly secure, and she wasn't confident Karl would be much of a stand-in for Bess. It would have to do.

A creak woke her, a strangely distinct sound in the general noise of the ship. That didn't sound far enough away to be the door.

She'd turned the tin reflector attached to the gas lamp toward the door before she fell asleep to try to prevent this exact problem. The lamp was brighter now, and aimed toward her. She couldn't see a thing in the pitch black beyond where she lay.

Loretta reached under her makeshift pillow for her knife. A hand shot forward out of the dark and closed over her wrist, squeezing hard enough to hurt.

"Don't think so, sweetheart. You'll have to move faster than that."

That wasn't Bill, and she knew it wouldn't be Karl. She tried to shift just enough to get her other hand to the knife, but he was faster.

A cold blade was against her throat. She recognized the young man who'd been guarding Bill's tent.

Rullin.

"I've heard enough of Bill's tales to know what sort of woman he offers passage to," he said. "You're no different, except you made the mistake of not going to his bed or bringing that oaf you're with to your own. That leaves you for my purposes."

"And if I'm not part of the payment?" Loretta said. "If I've paid plenty of coin to Bill, and he'd be none too pleased at what you're trying to do?"

"What Bill doesn't know won't hurt him," the boy said. "But seeing as you have nowhere to go that doesn't involve dropping a hundred feet or more to the ground, anything Bill learns from you will hurt you."

Loretta knew there were far worse fates than having to open her legs for some stranger, but she'd worked for years to put those days behind her. If she could just keep this one distracted long enough, she'd get to his knife or her own.

"Do what you will, and let me get back to sleep then," she said, forcing her muscles to relax. "I doubt you'll take long enough to cause any real disturbance."

"Just as I expected," Rullin said. "Already on your back and not good for much more." He shifted his weight to hold her body immobile under the sheet, but he didn't let go of her arm. "Well, I'm not interested in diseases a woman like you could offer. What you're going to give me is information. Where you're going, what you're doing, who you're working with. Do that quickly and well, and I won't have