Prologue

Have you ever had family holidays on an airship? In summer, you would have flown over the oceans, banking high above the waves and beside the tropical flying cod. When you flew, there would have been that sensational feeling of freedom. When you flew, there would have been beaches far below, boats with their flamboyantly coloured sails and even a flight of seagulls! You probably got taken to one of the nearby isles and landed the ship so that you could have a wander around all of the shops. Travelling by skyship in the summer was always like that. 

But travelling on an expedition to hazardous lands is another matter. You should try a skyship journey when: the wind pushes you with a sharp flurry; the thunder cackles around you and the clouds are pulled apart by strong azure. You should try being there when cloud- demons attack . clambering across the deck ready to sink their honed claws into your flesh or worse – tear the ship into two. You should try being there when food runs thin and there is a brief drop of water left in the supply barrels. Few people would even wish that on their enemies. Even experienced flyers think twice about advancing southeast over remote islands. No one knows what fiends may linger there. Rumour has it that there are demon- bears, ogre- frogs and reed- alligators. Few would wish for a meeting with a cave beast… and most will tell you that the rumours are for a good purpose.

Chapter one

The huge mass of people below roared alive once the Kesir lifted from the cerulean water. The ship’s engine hissed as Captain Hugehorn grasped the mechanical wheel firmly, her shoulders relaxed and her face adorned with an encouraging smile. We were finally setting off!

Shara and Cole stood side by side, searching around the loudly excited mob. Far below, they could spot a humongous crowd of people cheering and whistling before they all just blurred together. The Kesir flew just on the edge of Avvya village, progressing over sandy roads weaving above blocks of houses and small patches of flourishing  farmland.

They both could hear the calming swoosh of the summer air knitting its way through the marmalade sails as the ship glided forwards across the horizon. Waving goodbye to the vague horde, the two turned to face each other as they both still clutched the edge confidently. Shara simpered, enjoying the terrifyingly exciting thrill she had once forgotten of being on a ship. Yet inside, all of her disliked the sudden change.

Would this trip be a success? 

Within the next few hours, The Kesir was sailing above the cobalt sea. Directly beneath them, Cole saw large boats spouting vapour out into the deep, blue emptiness of the sky; yowling cormorants flapping barely below them and the repulsive scent of salt in the air currents. Shara stared intently into Cole’s eyes, “ Do you even think we will be able to find Julius Monatag?” Shara questioned, fiddling with her piled bracelets around her wrists. Cole grinned reassuringly to Shara, everything would be okay.

Cole was writing in his leather-back journal, he always wrote in it for every day when he and Shara went on an expedition. He was staring at the words he had put down on the paper. Shara didn’t have anything to write in, she relied on her mind to keep the details. 

“ I’m sure we will be able to find him, hopefully we don’t come across any beasts on our journey.” Cole explained as he finished off his daily log. He then slammed the journal shut, buttoning up his undignified privacy inside the book as he did so. 

That night, the engine malfunctioned. The Kesir had no other choice than to land on the nearest thriving island. In the close distance, Shara could just see the silhouette of rows and rows of houses flaunting small, yet flashy gardens – which were amazingly cherished- encased by picket fencing and elderly signposts carrying a bright, glassed-off bulb of light inside.