Rescue and Rage


 Contents
 
 
 
 Also by Jonathon Mast Title Page Copyright -->
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Map
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Prologue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Chapter One
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Chapter Two
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Chapter Three
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Chapter Four
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Chapter Five
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Chapter Six
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Chapter Seven
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Chapter Eight
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Chapter Nine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Chapter Ten
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Chapter Eleven
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Chapter Twelve
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Chapter Thirteen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Chapter Fourteen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Chapter Fifteen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Chapter Sixteen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Chapter Seventeen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. Chapter Eighteen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Chapter Nineteen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Chapter Twenty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Chapter Twenty-One
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Chapter Twenty-Two
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Chapter Twenty-Three
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Chapter Twenty-Four
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Chapter Twenty-Five
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Chapter Twenty-Six
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Chapter Twenty-Eight
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Chapter Twenty-Nine
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. Chapter Thirty
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Epilogue
 
 
 Also by Jonathon Mast Madelyn of the Sky Book 1: Stones and Swords Book 2: Skyships and Sisters Book 3: Fire and Frostburn Book 4: Rescue and Rage Book 5: Queens and Chaos Book 6: Alliances and Endings Copyright Copyright © 2023 by Jonathon Mast All rights reserved.ISBN 978-1-957407-11-1 No portion of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. Cover Art and Cover Design by Ian Samson Published by Dawnsbrook Pressdawnsbrook.com Prologue Vakhkot narrowed his eyes. “Not worth much, is it? My life? Not a good deal at all, I’m afraid. You’ll have to give me something better for what you demand.” He clicked his fingernails together as his eyes shifted to the other form in the dark room. Rain pounded against the glass outside. The woman’s long dark hair fell in waves over her shoulders. She lifted her iron rapier again and glared the little man into silence. Like many of his kind, his legs had too many joints, as did his arms and fingers. His face, though, was completely forgettable in its drabness. Perhaps he was right. “Your life is worth nothing to House Cobble, sure. But your shop?” She glanced around at the destruction. The little shop’s gas lamps flickered. Tables lay broken, spilling human artifacts across the floor. A doll stared up at the ceiling. Cake pans lay bent. Boots’ seams were torn open. Mirrors lay shattered. She shifted her attention back to the man. “I know you’re hiding more, Vakhkot,” the woman snarled. “I could destroy all of it. How much profit would House Cobble lose? No. Your life isn’t worth much. But I’m sure you could be sold to House Grave unseelie for a few coins. They’re always looking for more to experiment on, aren’t they? Or perhaps House Slumber? The Children’s Arms always love practicing on the waking.” She chuckled. “Give me what I want, and I’ll leave your shop with no further damage.” He sighed. “My life is worth less if I tell you. No one’s supposed to seek out the Bridge. The Queens have spoken. There’s no escape.” A grin crossed his lips. “Not even for you.” “What do you know about me?” “I know you wield an iron rapier. You hold it in a bare hand. The very air around you sizzles. I know exactly what you are. And you are worth far more than I am.” Vakhkot hissed as the tip of the blade hovered closer. “I’ve already sent for the constables.” The woman raised a single eyebrow. “I can slay them as easily as I can you.” “That still won’t convince me to tell you where the Bridge is.” She glanced once more around the