Geared for Pleasure (44 page)

A small gear-like object flipped out onto the creature’s metal tongue from deep inside its maw. As the gear spun, Phina knew. It may not be the Khepri’s creation, but whoever had done this had his knowledge.

“I could not let this continue.” The strangely polite male voice
coming from the beast’s mouth filled the tense silence around it. “Not without shedding some light on your dark escapade. You are working from a state of ignorance, which, while blissful, is going to end up destroying all of you. Since I am on a very specific timetable, I have no wish to kill your beloved Idony until everything is in place. No wish, but every intention of doing so should you persist.”

This was the man who had the queen? His voice? Phina studied the deadly automaton and felt dread climb her spine. This was what they were up against?

His voice was condescending. Pitying. “I know you believe her as innocent as a child. She has been this way for over three hundred years, so do not let her sweet smile fool you, Seraphina Felidae.”

She jolted at the mention of her name.

The voice continued. “I know who all of you are, the important ones at any rate, and I am honestly saddened that you would think ill of me. Seraphina should be with her people, preparing for my return and the rule of the Felidae over Theorrey. Vengeance and blood and all the goods you can steal will be yours. All that you are owed for what they made you suffer in those cages.” The automaton rotated its head as it spoke in a disturbingly lifelike way. “Captain Amaranthe, I would have someone of your skill truly
using
your blade instead of keeping it polished. As to your other training, well, let us just say I would not mind seeing you kneeling and collared at my feet. I believe I would make a good master for you.”

The captain took a few steps closer, her sword raised, but Stet lifted his gun, aiming it in her direction. “He is not finished.”

The captain’s voice was venomous. “He will be soon.”

The recording, heedless of the confrontation, continued. “The Sword and the Chalice. My arrangements for you went surprisingly wrong. I knew the Senedal was special, is special, despite her clever disguise. Honestly, I can hardly contain myself, I am looking
that
forward to meeting her in person. But the Arendal? I underestimated
your skill for survival, Cyrus. Your family is not known for… well, anything really. Yet, here you are, determined and bold as ever. Upsetting my
takwin
queen so much that I was almost compelled to replace her, but as previously stated, I am on a schedule. And work of that magnitude takes time.” The automaton shook its head, its copper-wired hair tossing with its movements. “I could kill you now, all of you, but I am merciful. I have
always
been. I only want a better world, as do you. I offer you this chance. Cease your search. Give Stet the moonfire dagger and return to your lives. Soon they will be better. You have my vow.”

The ground beneath the metal creature’s paws, along with its mechanized body, exploded in a blast of brilliant pink fire and energy. It happened so fast Phina did not know what to make of it. Had it self-destructed? Had lightning struck it? The smoke cleared and a terrified, singed Stet was running as fast as a Felidae could, leaving behind the shattered pieces of brass, copper, theorrite, and stone still raining down on the lake’s shore.

A cheerful voice had Phina whirling, claws out, ready for anything. “I do apologize. His recordings are often filled with long bouts of dialogue, and on occasion it can be helpful. Not this time, however. I decided to let him finish basking in his ego before I formally introduced myself.”

A young woman, around Dare’s age, was standing in the doorway, the light bouncing off the tower from the lake revealing her image in stark relief.

Hair streaked with golden brown and blonde had been pinned up in a sort of bun that had tilted at some point during the course of her day. The silken curls escaping the pins perfectly framed her heart-shaped face. Her eyes were a sparkling blue. Not indigo or ice, but the blue of the sea, and her smile was so bright it near equaled the light coming up from the lake beside them.

Phina narrowed her gaze and took a deep breath. What she’d
thought were freckles or spots on the woman’s face were actually spots of grease. How interesting.

She had a curvaceous figure, from what Phina could tell, but it was hidden behind a noble’s long gown, complete with bustle, and topped with a floor-length leather apron.

She smelled delicious. Like warm queensfruit tarts and explosives.

Though the latter scent may not be coming directly from her. It may, in fact, have something to do with the canon-sized weapon she was hefting against her hip.

Wulf was the first at her side.

“May I help you with that?” Wulf bowed formally. “I would love to know what you call it. I assume it is your own invention? How did you create that marvelous pink hue with a theorrite power source?”

She handed it to him with a beaming smile and dipped her head. “Thank you for noticing. Yes, it appeared to be very effective against that theorrite-absorbing autonomous creature. It is the Scarlet Lord’s latest irritant, and one we now have a defense against. As to the color, every lady should have her secrets.” She patted the pockets on her apron. “I need to make a few notes.”

She noticed the others watching her and shook her head. “Apologies again.” She walked down toward them and shook Bodhan’s hand firmly, then Cyrus’s and the captain’s. “I am Aurora Steele, formerly of Queen’s Hill, currently of Tower Orr.” She stopped in front of Dare. “You may know my father, Scholar Steele?” She batted her hand carelessly as if to push the question away. “I won’t be insulted if you don’t recognize me. I was a bit of a thorn in his side and he rarely introduced me at functions.
I
, however, know you, Dare Senedal. All of you. The Khepri’s told me so much about you, and when he said you were coming for my help, Lady Theodora and I were over both moons. I have been dying to get on that ship and get my hands dirty in the engine room.”

Captain Amaranthe sheathed her sword, a bemused expression replacing her usual look of cynicism. “Your help? He told you we were coming for your help?”

Aurora sighed. “He forgot to tell you? Weapons for the Deviant? Light refractors to detect the Scarlet Lord’s ship? Lady Theodora’s skills? Nothing? Did he at least tell you about the quintessence? The elements? Or have you all just been wandering about with no idea as to what was going on?”

Bodhan recovered first. “We received a recording from the queen to come here. We weren’t told why.”

“Of course you weren’t.” She blew a golden curl out of her eye, flustered. “That man
is
frustrating. But, as Queen Idony always said, he is almost as clever as I am, so I should let him get away with his eccentricities.”

Wulf’s voice held a trace of disbelief. “
Almost
as clever?”

She smiled. “Come inside. I’ve been here at least two astronomical seasons and have yet to uncover all the tower’s secrets.” They looked at each other, unsure, and she opened the door. “As long as you are inside Tower Orr nothing can hurt you. Your crew can take shifts if they like, we have plenty of food, and the bedrooms are ready for company. Though I would stay away from the parlor at the moment. One of my experiments caused the smallest of explosions.”

Phina chuckled. Aurora Steele had knocked the captain for a loop. The usually unflappable slayer of men was flustered, walking speechlessly toward their new host.

She inhaled again, the scent of Aurora and queensfruit tarts too tempting to resist. “I am definitely going to like her.”

Cyrus appeared beside her and slid an arm around her waist, tugging her against him. Phina’s body curled instinctively against his in remembered pleasure. She kissed his neck and a growl rumbled in his chest.

“Like her all you want, Seraphina.” He slid his hand past her tail to caress her hips. “As long as you remember you belong to me.”

In his eyes she saw no judgment, only love. She would always be a little wild. He had to know that. Just as she knew he would always be a little protective.

They might bring each other to the brink of sanity and back every day, but for her, it would be worth it. “I will. Are you ready for what comes next?”

Cyrus laughed softly and started walking with her toward the tower’s open door. “I have no idea. As long as you are with me, and I can get my hands on one of Ms. Steele’s weapons, I think I can handle anything.”

Her tail caressed his thigh. “We shall see who gets their hands on whose weapon first, Sword. I have a skill or two you’ve not seen yet.”

“Something to look forward to.”

The soothing consistent hum around him was not clearing his mind the way it always had before. He set down his tools, adjusting the layered lenses of his scopularia until he could see normally in the dim light of his workspace.

All the preparations they had made, the decades of readying themselves… none of the risks were worth the jeopardy Idony was now in.

It had happened. The Scarlet Lord had decided he needed more than his desert domain. Much more. Any mistake made now would have disastrous consequences, not just for Idony, but all of Theorrey.

He opened his journal, his brass finger tracing a page it could not feel as he studied what had occurred until now.

Every curse held a blessing
. It was a phrase his mother had uttered long ago. Perhaps she was right. They were coming together, at last, as he had known they would. The women and, he supposed, their
men, who would shape the world. Elements that were stronger together than they could possibly be apart.

The quintessence.

A scarab landed tumbling on his desk and he smiled. “What news today, my friend? What exactly is that island dictator up to now?”

Before he could find out, a familiar, rhythmic clicking had him spinning his chair around. His cryptograph. Other than his creations, it was his favorite device. He had made it take the shape of a large open tome made of brass and steel. On one page, four rows of clockwork typeset with pictographs that only he knew how to decode. On the other, a wheel of conductive coil that began to turn when a message was being sent or received.

The device had only one duplicate, meaning the message could only be from her. “Aurora.”

He watched the type lift one image after another, never reaching for paper or a writing implement. There was no need since he could decipher the code in his sleep.

His shoulders slumped in relief. “They made it. They are at Tower Orr.”

He watched as she relayed the information about the dagger and the automaton, as well as her successful testing of her latest weapon. “Little braggart,” he muttered, unable to stop the feeling of pride and affection from leaking out in his grumbling.

All together now. Nearly ready.

He would hate that. The Scarlet Lord would hate knowing he would have to use a replica of the moonfire dagger if he wanted to move forward with his plan. Just as he was using an imitation queen. That he had been denied the Chalice, as well, would infuriate him.

The next steps would be crucial. But for now, at least, the captain and her crew were safe.

Time for the real work to begin.