Steamscape (18 page)

“Too late.” With a shrug, Flame tossed it down the metal cave. Whistling, he leaned against the wall.

“Run!” Jing bellowed.

They dived through the open door. Theo heaved it shut and leaned against the thick metal.

The door coughed at the grenade’s eruption, but it muted the thunder and barred the shrapnel.

Through the portal, Theo could hear the escaping steam hissing like a bag of serpents. “You broke something.”

“It’s what I do.” Flame grinned.

“Why didn’t you mention guards?” Drina waved another knife in the arsonist’s face.

“It’s new. They are in a war, you know.”

“They don’t seem to notice,” Jing mused. “Hardly any city defenses. Sneaking in here was too easy, even for us. Here, let’s get these bodies into the pipes.”

After they had dragged out the corpses and retrieved the Death Spinner’s knives, they stepped inside Steam Central proper.

Theo’s jaw dropped upon seeing the domed ceilings. He spun around, becoming dizzy as if high up in a balloon, gaping at the opulence around him.

Ahead, a stained glass picture of Steam Princess Adri as a praying angel glowed in the sunlight.

“Ah!” Flame snapped his fingers at the stained glass. “It’s this way.” Humming to himself and clicking his heels, he trotted down another palatial corridor.

Theo watched Flame’s back. He knew he would just stand there and stare at Steampower’s glory otherwise. But the gilt still reflected in his eyes. This was like the illusions they’d sold as kids, tinfoil mirrors and glass gems, but this wasn’t an illusion. This was real.

Drina and Jing silently kept pace behind him.

“Adri’s place ain’t none too far now,” Flame commented.

Ahead of them, a dumpy servant rounded the corner. She gasped at the sight of Flame and his cohorts and dropped the empty bucket she’d been toting. Then she frowned. “Oh. It’s you.”

Flame grinned and waggled his fingers.

She bent down to pick up the bucket. “You know there’s a kill order on you now. We have to be quiet, but we hear things, you know.”

“Which is why I didn’t tell them I was coming.”

“Where’s Ms. Saturni?” Jing asked from the back of the group.

The servant threw up her free hand. “She and the new girl left days ago.”

“Where did they go?” Drina demanded without missing a beat.

“Like I would know.”

The assassin slid closer. “When are they returning?”

The servant rolled her eyes and pushed past the party without another word. Her footsteps echoed down the hall.

Jing rubbed his chin. “So Cylinder isn’t here.”

“Good.” Flame rubbed his hands together. “Forget the girl and let’s get to work.” His eyes glimmered with inner fires.

Drina held up an index finger. “Cylinder first.”

Flame sagged. “But, Drina...”

Theo tugged Jing to the side. “We’re not really going to burn Steam Central, are we?”

The large man sighed. “Someone probably will. I think the average person would be better off if we could aim Flame at Redjakel’s board.”

Flame nodded encouragingly. Jing said, “He’s actually useful if you send him off in the right direction.”

Theo scowled.

Jing raised his eyebrows. “Let me riddle you this. Why did you explode that boiler tower in Valhasse if you’re so opposed to violence?”

“Because… because I wanted to help.”

“No.” The mechanic shook his head. “You wanted revenge. You wanted to hurt the people who hurt you. But you know that’s not the general worker. You could’ve been that poor bastard on the assembly line if things had been different.”

“No, but–”

“Or those guards in the hall not ten minutes ago.”

“It was us or them,” Theo protested. “I understand that.”

Jing’s voice darkened, “They work for the enemy, but does that make them the enemy?”

“I think so. But I am–”

“From what I see, the only difference here is a scared kid who doesn’t mind playing in the ponds, but the ocean is just too big for him.”

In that moment, Theo’s face matched Flame’s in burning intensity. That vicious voice shouted at him to go ahead and burn down Steam Central. They deserve it. You might even be doing those poor factory workers a damn favor again.

He swallowed the metallic tingle on his tongue and straightened his shoulders. “I am not scared, Ghost.”

“I hope not.”

Flame whistled. “Adri’s office is this way. It’s a dollhouse, but life-sized.” He trotted down the maze of identical hallways, leading the others. They passed no other guards, not this far inside where the gentlemen of the company preferred quiet. At a huge, polished door with carved angels on it, he stopped and waved his hand. “Ghost, if you would be so kind.”

Jing knelt down and swung open the hatch on his mechanized limb. From inside the door panel, he eased out a set of slender lock picks.

“Always prepared, huh?” Theo rolled his eyes.

Jing didn’t glance away from the doorknob. “You’d be surprised at how many locks suspicious people leave between them and us.” He chuckled and slipped the hook and the rake into the keyhole. “But this deep into Steam Central, this isn’t much of one.”

After a moment, the handle turned. Drina pushed open the door so wide that it bounced off the wall. Nothing stirred inside. “Now look for anything. Like a telegram or–”

“Don’t bother, Ms. Death Spinner. Adri’s smarter than that.”

Smith lounged at the steam princess’s desk in the sunlight. He held his glass cane in both hands and frowned. “You could have used the front door if you’d dressed well enough.” He pointed the cane at Flame and his bandoliers. “But not when they’ve a bounty on your head, I suppose.”

Flame shrugged. He leaned toward Drina. “This is Smith, right?”

She nodded, eyeing the Reaper’s jugular.

Smith sighed loudly. “You and Adri have cost me much time. I should get word to the Gentlemen about this vexing process, but I do hate to make incomplete reports. So, Mr. Meilleur or Mr. Flame, as you have no attachment to this vessel abomination, may I pay you in gold? None of this current debacle need be mentioned.”

Flame shrugged.

Theo stiffened. “I am a man of honor, sir.”

“Please.” Smith kicked the chair back and rose. “You’re a scoundrel and I admire you for that honesty. All honorable men are, but they just lie to themselves about it.” He slammed the glass cane against the floor. “This is a damn fine offer. Do we have an accord?”

Theo swallowed and stepped away from Drina. He turned his back to Smith to face the Hex instead. “Yeah. Yeah, I think we can work something out.”

“Theo!” Drina snarled.

Smith swung his cane between the bricoleur and the assassin. “Mr. Meilleur has made a decision. Please respect it, Ms. Death.”

Theo gulped and stepped back another foot. He hated himself, but that vicious voice was in control. He felt like a prisoner inside his own body, as if that dark corner of his mind had finally reached out and seized him.

He couldn’t move. It was like the first time he’d met Flame.

“I will kill you, boy!” Drina raised a throwing knife and let fly. Smith’s cane batted it away, but not before Theo flinched.

She grinned. “I’ll even let you see it coming, and you’ll be helpless.”

Beside her, Jing was shaking his head. “Why?”

Theo swallowed again. “Because you’re working with him!” He stabbed a finger at Flame, who gasped like an accused innocent. “Because you made me work with that murderer. I’m just doing what I’m doing to survive. You’d do the same. You’ve done the same. But no, your boss decided to kidnap an infant, and suddenly you’re not the Hex anymore? You–”

Smith swung the tip of the cane up into Theo’s face. “I think that’s enough, Mr. Meilleur.” In an instant, his own sancta flashed in his palm, and then a cloud of steam as thick as the morning fog materialized throughout the office.

Drina jumped forward, knives leading. She ran forward until her knee crashed into Adri’s desk. She hopped back, cursing. The steam lifted and they were gone. Only the breeze through the open window moved across the room.

“What now?” She tossed a look back at Jing.

He clenched his jaw. “Stick to our plan. Find anything that could lead us to Adri and Solindra.”

Flame stomped his boots. “What about me? What about what
I
want to do, huh?”

They ignored him. Jing tapped his knuckles on the desk. “Adri wouldn’t stay away from safety for long.”

“That’s right.” Drina nodded to herself. “We need a trap. Need a web.”

“Right. I just hope Adri’s habit of hedging her bets means keeping Cylinder out of trouble too.”

***

Solindra stumbled over her own boots because she was too busy staring. The chilling spray from the waterfall brushed up behind her. She’d forgotten all about the horse-drawn carriage trek up the mountain in an ancient stagecoach. The ride had been followed by a blindfolded walk. Once they had gotten close enough, the Reapers had removed their blindfolds and walked them on the narrow stone passage around the curtain of water. She looked down past the Tears to the city so far below.

The slick route had led along a rock wall with brass handrails on both sides. The path and brass had both been worn smooth through use.

She gazed into the light of the gas lamps at the temple’s façade. It was an archway higher than the cave entrance itself, made in the likeness of ancient heroes, gods and demons. It was brass, aluminum, gold and platinum. The metals gleamed in the lamplight. Decorative gears whirred along. Steam hissed out from the mouths of gods.

“Leave your items here.” The dark Reaper whom they had met in the alley pointed to a natural alcove in the cave.

The two haversacks slid from Solindra’s shoulders with ease, but her hand hesitated to push off the strap holding the rifle’s case. She held her breath.

The nearest Reaper took a step toward her.

She forced her hand to glide over the leather. She was an adult now, a young lady. She could do this. Gently, she eased the rifle’s case onto the floor.

The Reaper nodded. Adri stepped up beside him, and Solindra mutely fell into place behind the steam princess. She shivered as they walked under the arch. It felt like a living thing to her and she couldn’t fathom why. It was just clockwork and steam.

Gas and electric lamps lit the rounded hall that led into the heart of the mountain. After a few minutes, Solindra squinted. Blue and white flashes of light were dancing on and off, creating bizarre shadows. She stopped and grabbed the wall after a faint pop of thunder.

A large metal grate blocked the cave ahead.

Their Reaper guide stopped. “The Gentlemen are waiting. Entry is always a little dangerous, but you should be fine. Just don’t hesitate.” He propped open the grate with a gloved hand.

Solindra jogged down after Adri, and the Reaper slammed the door behind them. The bolt struck home, but there was no lock. The man then turned his back to them and stood guard.

Adri and Solindra pushed into the large cavern, still trapped underneath the metal. Electricity arced through the air of the cavern all around them. A massive metal cage rose up through the natural dome of the inside of the mountain. Lightning reflected against the metal and slashed in the space between the rock and the cage. Somewhere, Solindra could swear she heard a huge engine running over the popping thunder.

“Electrical cage,” Adri whispered. “Safe inside, at least from a bolt of lightning. I just don’t understand why they did it. It’s not a practical defense. Not unless they can harness the aether in lightning,” she added sarcastically.

As their eyes adjusted, they saw a huge circular table, hollow in the center, with seated figures every few feet. Gas lamps glowed inside the empty ring, but it wasn’t completely empty. Steamflowers, currently closed, created an ivy-like garden tangle in the center.

The high-backed chairs made it impossible to actually see any faces in the pooled shadows. Several butlers fluttered between the seated figures. Heads turned expectantly to the women.

Adri smiled warmly. “Thank you for receiving me, gentle sirs.” She started to circle behind the chairs. Solindra stepped silently after her.

The steam princess let her fingers drift across the top of one of the leather chairs as she passed. “I know that you, sirs, are Codic’s true government, whatever other blather LaBier claims. I don’t see him at this table, do I? No, I came to the soul of power.”

A figure yawned in one of the high-backed chairs. Solindra squinted, but couldn’t make anything out against the unsteady shadows. He said, “Yes, yes, you’ve been useful in allowing us maps and access to Redjakel, and now you’ve come for your price.”

“You know that I read your stolen scrolls. Many people have.” She scored her fingernails across the leather top of one of the chairs this time.

Hands and jaws clenched around the room. The stiffening silence seemed to darken the electrical arcing lights.

“And now I’d like to join you at your table.” She smoothed out her skirt and took her place in an empty chair. “I have always been truthful with you gentlemen, which is a valuable trade during wartime, is it not? Yes, your scriptures were stolen, read, experimented with and forced into production. This you know.”

“It does not dwell to speak of such things,” said another voice, deep and red.

“You no longer have your secrets. The Priory’s grandeur can only be regained if you defeat Steampower.”

More silence.

Solindra swallowed and wiped her forehead. So she was Steampower’s traitor.

The vessel glared at the back of the steam princess’s chair, and thought, you have two sanctas right in your pocket and we’ll both be killed if they find you have them. I thought you weighed the risks first.

And if she
had
considered the dangers of bringing those here, what had made her decide that having the sanctas was the less dangerous choice?

Solindra tried to shrink herself on the spot, tried to blend into the darkness and almost backed into the cage.

“We know this,” a new, crisp voice clipped. “Holy writ debased on
infants.
.”

“I believe there is only one vessel left?” Adri raised her voice like a question. In that instant, Solindra felt her cheeks drop several degrees in temperature. Her breath froze in her throat.

“If
your
information was correct, then yes,” a voice snarled.

“That thing must be destroyed.” Another thumped his fist on the table.

“Hear, hear,” echoed around the table.

Solindra gulped and stared down at her trembling hands. She was nearly crouched behind the chair.

“But we know better than to trust Saturni women!” an elderly voice croaked.

“Your mother is still a prisoner here!” a much younger, diamond-edged voice snapped.

“I know,” Adri said into the rapidly cooling silence. “Her bones have probably fused with the walls of her cell by now. Who do you think sent word of her death to Boras? I had to do something to break the stalemate.”

She smiled into the dead silence, broken only by the pops of thunder. “I have helped you far more than you know. You, the Priory, now have an opening to strike back at Steampower and regain your honor. I can help you with this.”

“What do you require?” an old voice asked softly.

“I want Steampower itself. But don’t worry, I’ll still fly the flag of Eliponesia.”

“Is that all?”

Adri paused, almost a hesitation. “I wish to join the Priory.” She stood up and leaned forward on the table. “I can give you exactly what you want. Your honor, your scripture back and an end to this war.”

Silence reigned.

The diamond-edged voice finally spoke. “No. Plans are already underway in Redjakel based around information you have already provided to us. We cannot allow you to join this sacred fraternity, princess, but thank you for your help this far.”

“I have the vessel,” Adri crooned.

A gasp escaped from Solindra’s lips. She could only hope that no one heard as she stared at the floor. Adri had lied to her!

A butler gave her a long glance as he passed by with a tray full of wine glasses. Of course Adri would betray her if she had already sold out her father. She felt like an idiot for not realizing it before.

“So will we,” that smooth, gem-infused voice stated. “We’ve intercepted a number of its supporters’ telegrams in a very crude code in Redjakel. We know where it is and we don’t need your help. One of our most distinguished Reapers is on the task.”

Solindra straightened up. Jing and Drina were in Redjakel!

The voice continued, “But we thank you for your service, Ms. Adri Saturni. Do please excuse us for the remainder of this meeting. We’re sure you understand.”

Adri snapped up out of the chair. She lifted her upper lip like a wolf baring its fangs. “You should ignore your other enemies from now on.”

With that, she marched through the glow of the lightning’s dance to the tunnel. Solindra trotted along behind her, trying to mask her heaving chest.

Adri slammed open the metal grate and stormed past the guarding Reaper, who calmly closed the door and resumed his post. Solindra heard him slide the bolt home behind them.

“Laughing at me! Laughing at me!” Adri’s knuckles were white in her curled fists.

“They’re letting us leave.” Solindra twisted her neck around to see if anyone was following.

“Decorum!” Adri snarled. “Leave the old bastards to sniff their flowers. They think they’re being polite when they have
no idea
how
stupid
they are! Oh, I will make them regret this.” The steam princess slowed her stride and a wicked grin slid up her face. “Well, you were lucky.”

Solindra looked at Adri’s face and felt like vomiting.

“You and me, little bird. I will have new, better plans.”

“But…” Solindra licked her lips. She couldn’t force out the words screaming in her mind. Betrayal! Ego!

She stopped and tried to unswallow her tongue. “You would’ve sold me to them like a slave!”

Adri raised an eyebrow. “I’d be more careful with my words in this place if I were you.”

Solindra followed the steam princess in silence the rest of the way out of the tunnel. They passed through the mechanical arch. Four Priory Reapers stood between them and the path alongside the waterfall. Its roar was almost deafening.

“Adri, I don’t think they are letting us go.”

“Ah, true gentlemen. Having their butlers do their work for them.” Her fingers dipped into her pocket and she slipped Solindra the red cipher medallion behind their backs.

The tallest Reaper drew a dagger from his belt. “This will be over soon.”

“I have different plans,” Adri snarled. “And I am so glad you didn’t ruin my surprise.” She whipped out her sancta into both hands and leveled it at his chest.

Two handless limbs of water reached out from the waterfall and yanked him straight back. He disappeared into the curtain of water. The dagger clattered to the stone floor. The others stared dumbly at the sancta for a moment in absolute surprise.

“Solindra, move!”

A blast of steam, hotter than any furnace Solindra had ever been around, screamed right between herself and Adri. She rolled toward their haversacks. She felt the heat radiating along her skin and the air felt too hot to breathe.

She crouched behind the bags and saw that one of the Reapers was turning toward her. The other two were pressing Adri closer to the cave’s far wall. She was holding up her purple cipher medallion as a shield. The two Reapers with their own devices were stealing water from the falls and blasting her with scalding steam while they marched forward.