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“Not long at all. Once you know what you’re doing and where you’re looking, it all clicks.” He adds, “Takes months to learn all the formations and manoeuvres we do, though.”

He helps me pull up the heavy curved lever, which makes the ship jolt and start whirring. Then he gets me to twist open the osimidite valve, which gets us lifted. He’d put the hatch on a timer, and it opens as we approach it.

“That’s it. Keep your hands steady on the wheel. It’s like your handlebars. You’ve ridden a bike, haven’t you?”

I actually haven’t, but I decide not to tell him that for fear it will crush the ambitious optimism he has for me.

And then I scold myself for talking to myself like that. If he believes I can do it, I can do it.

“More thrust here,” he orders. “And keep checking the gauge so you can see how much laser light you’re using.” He taps the compass built into the control table. “We’re going to keep going east, at a slight 20 degree angle – this is your inclinometer.” He taps another gauge, marked with tiny numbers up to 360.

I’m learning. I pull up the lever slightly, without hesitation. Instantly, there’s a shudder like a pressure is releasing outwards from the ship, and it picks up speed as it floats towards the hatch.

We go through it, and instantly we’re among the endless sky. It’s been dabbed with clouds that look like little puffs of unpicked cotton.

The sun seems so big from up here. Its rays stretch out like fingers, which make the day look hazy. Unreal.

One of the cotton balls is right in front of us.

“Cosmer,” I say, high-pitched.

“Don’t worry about the cloud. We’ll go right through it.”

It seems pretty solid to me.

“Are you sure?”

“I promise. You won’t even feel it. Just stay focused, keep the ship straight, and get us through it.”

I do as he says. Keep gripping the wheel tightly. Force my eyes to stay open, even though all I want to do is wince and close them.

Just as he promised, we sail right through the cloud, as if it’s nothing but more sky.

For a moment, the world is pure white. I fight the urge to panic. Keep going straight.

Then we’re out on the other side.

I start laughing.

“I always thought they would have a consistency,” I say, my voice like a gasp. “Feel like flour, or cream.”

“I did, too.” He wraps his arms around my waist. “You’re doing amazing, Ara.”

“This is unlike anything I’ve ever known.”

Cosmer rests his chin on my shoulder.

“When I’m up here, I can think so clearly. And things seem so insignificant. Even the war. It’s crazy something so terrible could be happening in a world where the sky exists… Maybe that’s what we need, to stop wars happening in the first place. Get people to look up more.”

I say, slowly, thoughtfully, “Do you know anything about the weapon Rhavna has, Cosmer? Because Drake said it might end the war.” I add, with hope, “We could all be going home soon.”

Cosmer’s arms loosen slightly.

“Rhavna doesn’t have the weapon. We do – now.”

I look round at him. “What?”

“It was on The Dragoness. Just like the intelligence that we got said.”