Charmed Vengeance

Mathias nodded, steepling his fingers on the table in a thoughtful gesture. “Her Majesty has told everyone in both realms to be as helpful as possible.”

His stomach heaved. No good could come of this.

“Exactly what are you seeking?” Mathias took a drink, the facets in the lead crystal catching in the light sending little rainbows dancing across the white linen tablecloth.

Steven paused, toying with his glass, still not ready to completely trust this man.

“We’re looking for a mechanical peacock … or any unusual mechanical toy,” James replied when Steven didn’t speak. “We thought we might find one in New Bern, since the best mechanical toys come from there. Perhaps you know of someplace closer?”

He suppressed a groan. Of course James had to go and tell him. The thoughtful look on Mathias’ face caused Steven’s anger to ebb.

“Unusual mechanical toys?” Mathias rubbed his bare chin. “Must it be an animal?”

“No, just an amusement,” Steven replied. “An incredibly unique amusement.”

His forehead furrowed in thought. “Have you considered an automaton?”

“An automaton? Are those even a reality yet?” He’d been reading about the possibility of intelligent mechanical beings for years but had yet to actually hear of a truly successful creation. Then again, LuLu, his mother’s little dog seemed fairly intelligent for something made of metal. However, who knew how much was magic?

“It all depends on who you ask and what you consider to be an automaton.” Mathias’ eyes gleamed. “There’s a scientist upstate who is rumored to have created actual automatons—as in mechanical people with a small level of intelligence.”

James whistled. “Flying figs. Truly?”

“I don’t have time to chase rumors,” Steven snapped, more frustrated than intended. A true automaton—all mechanics, no magic? The scholar in him was intrigued. However, the implications of rational, intelligent machines appalled his inner philosopher a little.

But only a little.

Mathias leaned in further and lowered his voice. “It’s not a rumor. Some people are … unhappy about the scientific ramifications of such creations. But if you’re looking for something unique, something no one else has, well, he’s your man.”

“An automaton would be much better than a peacock,” James added.

“True.” Steven mulled the idea over for a moment. An automaton. She had nothing even close to that, other than LuLu and a tiny mechanical dancer.

The girl in the blue dress brought their food. Mathias nodded, the cat now asleep on his lap. Polishing off his drink, he handed his cup to the girl for a refill. “Eat, then we’ll discuss maps, provisions, and transportation.”

“That’s quite generous of you.” Steven took a bite of meat, trying to understand this enigma of a man. “Quinn helped me considerably over the years and you two mean quite a lot to him,” Matthias replied. “Truly, it’s my pleasure.”

Steven prayed to the Bright Lady that this wasn’t too good to be true. An automaton. Yes, that could be exactly what they needed—and much better than a mechanical peacock.

Eleven Surprises

Why, oh why, wouldn’t the engine tell her its secrets? Noli sighed as she repaired one of the fans in the engine’s cooling system.

The door opened and Thad entered, an impish look etched on his weathered face. Right now they were the only ones onboard. Thad literally drew the short straw and had to stay onboard with her.

“Your socks are in the out box.” She tightened a screw, securing the replacement blade.

“Thanks.” He strode over to the far wall and tacked something to it. “Don’t mind me.”

Not even looking up, she tightened another screw. The cooling system was what prevented the engine from overheating. Should she replace all the fans while she had the chance? It would be a good preventative measure. But she still hadn’t figured out the underlying problem with the engine. If she had time she’d replace them. Yes, that’s what she’d do.

What we should do is cover it with flowers, then it will be prettier, the sprite perked.

We will do no such thing, Noli sighed.

The sound of something going thunk drew her from her ruminations. Looking up, she saw a knife sail through the air and land in the center of the paper target.

Noli sat back on her heels. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, nothing.” Thad’s one eye gleamed as threw two more, each smooth and perfect. He walked over to the target and plucked them from the wall.

“I thought knives spin when you throw them. I saw them once when my father took us to the circus.”

“Do I look like circus folk?” He threw them again.

She fingered the little knife in her boot. “Do you think you could teach me? It could be useful.” Even if she still didn’t know what it had to do with air terminal bars.

“Your brother said no.” Nonplussed, he removed the knives again.

Noli snorted. “Since when did you do anything that wasn’t an order?”

“True.” Shrugging, he eyed her. “Since you can’t even clean your teeth with that bitty girly knife I might as well teach you to throw it, then you can at least gamble with it.”

Pulling it out of her boot, she examined the double edged blade in the dim light of the engine room. “It has a sharp blade. I am I girl. I can use a sword a little. Is using a knife the same?”

Thad shrugged. “That’s an Asa question. But I suppose I could teach you how to do a little bit.” He grinned. “Just in case you get in a fight at a tea party.”

“Well, society events can be violent affairs.” Well, only in the sense that she often wanted to throttle Missy Sassafras. “I won’t tell Jeff, promise.” Since she was on a ship with air pirates she might as well learn a few things about fighting. Perhaps Jeff would teach her to shoot. No, he didn’t even want her to use a knife. She should ask Vix.

Thad nodded. “All right, little sister, we’ll do some throwing then I’ll teach you a few moves. First off, before you throw a knife you’ve got to learn the different kinds of grips and figure out what kind you like best … ”

Bitter cold whipped around Steven and James, tugging at their clothes and hair and impeding their progress as they slogged down the empty, muddy road.

Not a person, auto, or hoverboard was in sight. He didn’t even see any airships flying high in the clouds. Given how the cold chilled to the bone, without the wind, and the road filled with muddy snow, Steven didn’t blame them. Too bad they couldn’t be in front of a fire, with a nice cup of tea. He’d give nearly anything for a hot cup of good tea right now—or a hoverboard.

“Are we there yet?” James whined.

“Hopefully, we’ll arrive soon.” Steven glanced up at the darkening sky which threatened to add fresh powder to the soggy mess surrounding them.

“Let me see.” James tugged on the map in his hand. Steven handed it to him. “Here. It’s exactly the same as it was five minutes ago.”

Mathias had given them a map, clothes, and provisions. Steven still wondered why he’d been so nice, trying to see the trap even if James insisted repeatedly that there was none.

Frowning, James squinted at the map then looked up. “It should be over that ridge.”

That’s what they’d thought the past several times. With a shiver, Steven pulled his coat closer, his trouser legs heavy with mud and snow. No conveyance had been available at the tiny train station they’d gotten off at someplace in upstate New York, walking their only option.

Tiny snowflakes fell from the sky, their dance making him miss the wood faeries at his family’s home in the