around his eyes.
'You shouldn't have come. You could comp—' Cristof halted as one of the men looked up at Taya and made a warning noise.
'Excuse me,' she apologized, stepping back from the rail. 'I–I was just getting some fresh air. I didn't know anyone was out here.'
'You see?' Cristof asked his companions, in a low, annoyed voice. He shook his head, waving the other two men aside. Taya caught a glimpse of their faces as they backed off. No masks. They weren't exalteds, then, but somebody lower-caste. It was too dark to discern their castemarks.
Cristof looked up at her. 'Wait a moment, if you please, Taya Icarus.'
'I'm sorry. It's cold,' Taya said, feeling nervous. 'I'd better get back inside.' She caught a glimpse of his frown and turned, hurrying back to the safety of the house.
What was that? she thought in a panic, torn between fleeing to the sanctuary of the ladies’ parlor and seeking the safety of Alister's company.
What did I just see?
The packet — it had looked like a stack of metal punch cards, the kind used to program analytical engines.
Like the engines that ran the wireferries. Or that switched refinery furnaces on and off at specific hours.
Chapter Seven
Taya smiled graciously, if somewhat absently, at the young exalted who escorted her off the ballroom floor. Her eyes searched the crowds, hunting for Cristof's angular face. She'd flung herself back into the dancing as soon as she'd re-entered the ballroom, using her partners to protect herself. During the first two dances she'd spotted Cristof watching her from the sidelines. Then he'd vanished, and now she felt safe enough to plead exhaustion.
Alister appeared at her side as she sank into a chair, her feathers rustling. The decatur held a glass of wine in one bejeweled hand.
'Allow me,' he said to her partner, handing her the glass. The younger man bowed to him, then to Taya, and took his leave.
'You didn't need to shoo him off.'
'If he surrenders you that easily, he doesn't deserve your company,' Alister said, dismissing her concern. 'I've been waiting for a chance to reclaim you.'
'I'm glad you're here.' She looked up. 'Would you mind if I asked you a strange question?'
'Of course not.' He looked intrigued. 'What is it?'
'Have you ever heard of someone called Pins?'
Alister's pleasant expression vanished, and his gaze became intent.
'Yes. Why?'
'Just a conversation I overheard… in passing.' She craned her neck, studying him. He didn't look happy. 'Who is he?'
'She. She's a fence and a suspected smuggler. The Council keeps its eyes on her, but she's also a very clever woman, and so far she's avoided arrest.' Alister touched one of the feathers in her hair. 'You don't know her, do you? Have you ever carried any messages for her?'
'No, it's nothing like that.' Taya gazed into her wine. This wasn't the reassuring answer she'd been hoping for. 'You don't suppose she'd be involved in terrorism, do you? Like… the wireferry accident? Or the refinery explosion?'
He was silent. She glanced up. His face had grown even more still.
'Do you have any reason to suspect her of terrorism, Taya?'
'No! No, I don't. I was just wondering. I saw something strange, and I heard her name, and… well, a lictor asked me to keep my eyes open for anything suspicious, and Viera is worried about her husband, so of course now I'm reading sinister undertones into everything I hear.' She forced a laugh.
'Maybe.' He leaned over, putting a hand on her shoulder. His fingers combed through the feathers, caressing her bare skin and sending tingles down her back. 'But if you know anything that could help the Council keep Ondinium safe, you should tell me. I'm in better position to order an investigation than a lictor or Viera.'
'I don't know anything yet.' She looked away, then took a sip of her wine as an excuse to avoid his eyes.
Viera joined them, gold gleaming in her hair and on her fingers. Alister's hand slid away from Taya's shoulder.
'Taya! How are you? You look tired.'
'I am, a little,' Taya admitted. 'I don't usually stay up this late.'
Alister slipped his ornate watch from his sleeve and glanced at it. 'Why, it's only after midnight.'
'After midnight!' Taya felt the urge to yawn. 'No wonder I'm tired! I'm usually in bed by ten.'
'I refuse to believe you're serious. The evening has only begun.'
'Not when you have the morning flight shift,' Taya countered. 'In fact, Exalted Octavus, if you'll forgive me, I should be heading home now.'
'Of course,' Viera said. 'I shall tell the servants to bring around a carriage for you.'
'I would be happy to take her back in mine,' Alister offered. 'I should be heading home, myself. I'm supposed to inspect a new engine prototype tomorrow, and they want me down at the University by nine.' He pretended to shudder, smiling at Taya. 'A Ladyforsaken hour, indeed.'
Ride home with Alister? Taya felt a surge of temptation. 'I wouldn't want to inconvenience you,' she said shakily. 'The eyries would be out of your way….'
'I know Cliff Road. It's not that far out of my way,' Alister said, the smile still hovering around his lips. 'And this will be my last chance to see my swan queen. After tonight, you will transform yourself back into a metal- winged hawk.'
'Al, hush,' Viera scolded him. 'Taya must consider propriety. What sort of impression would it make if she returned home in your carriage?'
'Oh.' Alister paused, and Taya thought he seemed taken aback. 'But, Viera, surely an icarus….'
'Should be treated with as much respect as any other guest I might invite to dinner,' Viera said, her voice stern.
'Of course. I didn't mean any offense,' he said, turning to Taya. 'I simply hoped to enjoy your company a little longer.'
Taya looked from him to Viera. The chance to spend more time with Alister, alone in a carriage, both tempted and frightened her. She was afraid it would be all too easy to forget her good intentions if she were alone with him in the dark.
'I'll do whatever you think is best,' she said to her hostess. 'I don't know anything about propriety. I'm used to flying myself home.'
Both of the exalteds laughed, and Viera took her hand, pulling her up from the chair.
'It would be best if you went home alone,' she said, kindly. 'My cousin is a gentleman, but he isn't as careful of reputations as he should be.'
'I'm very careful of reputations,' Alister protested. 'I'm a decatur. I have to be!'
'You're careful with your own reputation, perhaps.' Viera raised an eyebrow. 'Now say your goodbyes while I send for a carriage.' She squeezed Taya's hand and strode off.
Alister watched her leave.
'Dear Vee. She's so protective. I suspect I owe my position on the Council to her,' he murmured. 'I'm certain she made Caster vote for me.'
