The Unwilling Aviator (Book 4) by Heidi Willard Page B

the flat side of her blade and cut their limbs with the sharp edges. They cried out and fell back clutching at their bleeding wounds. None were fatal, but they would have a difficult time flying their machines in the tournament. The smell of blood and the sight of their wounded companions only angered the drunken fools, and more stepped forward to challenge Pat. She was outnumbered two dozen to one. Pat's eyes flickered from left to right, and she kept her ears focused on her rear. There was no chance to outmaneuver this number, not in such close quarters.
    The hopeless situation was made less so when a shadow flew over the crowd. Some in the crowd glanced up and their eyes widened when they beheld a beast with large bat wings and a tail. The shadow swooped over the heads of those in the crowd and clawed at their hats and heads. Many ducked, and Pat and Fred were able to see it was Ruth transformed into her gargoyle form. Her long, dagger-like claws dug into scalps and yanked out tufts of hair. She kept aloft by pushing off the heads of their foes and jumping back into the sky.
    "Monster!" someone screamed. That was the call to panic, and many people heeded it. There was a stampede and trampling as people tried to flee but tripped over the ones who opted to duck to the ground. Cantankus piles piled up, and Pat occupied herself with taking care of the few aviators who braved the creature to attack her.
    Fred pulled and strained against the hands that held him. One of his handlers fled at the sight of Ruth, and he grasped the sticks in his belt. He transformed his staff and shoved the stone end into the faces of those men who still held him. The stone lit up with the brilliance of a thousand candles and the aviators stumbled back clutching at their eyes and screaming about the sun. Fred rushed over to Pat and pressed his back against hers.
    "Why must you find trouble?" she yelled at Fred.
    "It finds me!" he protested.
    Around them was the chaos of panic and angered drunks. Some aviators still lunged at the pair to avenge their fallen comrades. Pat parried a thrust from a dagger and knocked the hilt of her sword against the man's head. He dropped to the ground and she stepped onto him to gain a better view of the crowd. The chaos at the north end of the market spread southward as fights and brawls broke out, and tables were upset.
    "Twinners!" someone yelled.
    At the far end of the market Pat glimpsed twinners and city guards pour into the market. They beat heads and took prisoners as they battled their way north. She looked up and saw Ruth not far above them dodging thrown daggers, pieces of wood, and fruit.
    "Ruth!" Pat shouted as she held up her hand.
    Ruth glanced down and saw her friend atop the fallen man with her hand held for her to grab. She dove down and grasped Pat's hand. The gargoyle spread wide her wings and caught the early evening winds of Kite. The wind pulled them upward, and they soared over the crowds. Ruth landed them atop one of the short buildings that surrounded the market. The pair hurried to the edge of the building and witnessed Fred engulfed by the twinners and guards. One grabbed his arm and twisted it back, and he dropped his staff to the ground. It clattered to the dusty dirt as two broken sticks which one of the men picked up.
    "A castor staff!" they heard the guard yell.
    The guards who held Fred tightened his hold and his arms were chained behind his back. He was pushed forward to a line they formed with the other aviators.
    Ruth stepped onto the ledge, but Ruth held her back. "Don't go," Pat told her.
    "But we must save Fred," Ruth insisted. Even as they spoke manacles were snapped over Fred's wrists and he was shoved into a long line of prisoners.
    "We can't start a war against the twinners, and he's safer in their custody than in the company of the aviators," Pat argued. "We will follow them and rescue Fred when the time is best."

CHAPTER 12
     
    Pat and Ruth kept to the rooftops and followed