Page 50 of Heart of Iron
“Destroy the treaty.”The whisper was harsh.“Or else I’ll take more than his toys.”
Then the pressure vanished from her throat and she staggered forward as liquid footsteps darted away down the corridor.
The only glimpse she caught of the humanist was of a black, swirling cape.But one thing caught her attention; no human could move that quickly.
It had been a blue blood.
Eleven
The air along the southern docks was redolent with perfume.It couldn’t quite disguise the earthy flavor of the Thames, slightly riper now that it was summer.Here and there, ladies bought scented pomander bags to their noses and some had even stitched them into their fans.
Metaljackets lined the platform that had been erected along the docks, each standing at strict attention, the blue illumination in their eye slits dulled to a neutral glow.Gaslight flickered over their burnished gold breastplates; the Imperial squadron was comprised of only two hundred automatons, but they were impressive.Used mainly for ceremonial purposes, circular throwing blades attached to their arms made them highly dangerous as well.
Nervousness raced along Lena’s skin.The enthusiasm of the crowd was contagious, but Lena couldn’t quite summon a smile.Most of the Echelon was in attendance, dressed in glittering jewels and bright silks.Any one of them could have been the blue blood in the tower.
A hand pressed against her spine, a cool whisper brushing across her ear.“Relax.He’s not going to attempt anything here.Not if he wants to keep breathing, anyway.”Leo stepped up beside her, his hand warm on the curve of her back.
Colchester.She’d almost forgotten about him.
“I know.Not here.Not in public view, anyway.”She glanced to the side.“You’ve heard nothing of…of Will?”
It had been three days.Leo had had Will’s wardrobe delivered, but he’d only sent her a note saying that he was busy with something.Their words the other day had touched a nerve.For both of them.Lena had busied herself with the transformational clockwork, trying not to think of him.
Easier said than done.It didn’t matter that she was only dealing with the internal cogs and gears at this stage; sooner or later she would begin to solder the iron sheeting of the exterior into place, forming the roughened physique of her clockwork warrior.Even in clockwork—the one place she’d always been able to switch off her busy mind and simply put together the puzzle pieces—she couldn’t escape him.
“He’ll be here.”A statement, not a question.Leo’s dark gaze raked the crowd of gaudily dressed blue bloods.“I’ll have to join the Council when the Scandinavians arrive.But I won’t leave you unattended.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Leo searched her gaze.Then nodded.“Stay here.I’ll keep an eye on you from the platform.”
Above the river, the sky suddenly exploded.Gasps flavored the air and people cheered.
A pinwheel of whirling pinks and blues tore through the velvety sky, punctuated by the scream of rockets.An orange fireball bloomed, destroying Lena’s night vision.
“Here they come,” Leo murmured.“I’d best be off.”
As Lena blinked, a hint of a dark outline showed on the river.It glided across the oily waters, as sleek and sure as a serpent.The laughter and cheering died to a hushed whisper as the dragon-ship appeared.The only sound was the whine of the fireworks launching.
Almost two hundred feet long, it faintly resembled the longboats of its ancestors.A sinuous serpent head served as a figurehead, and enormous canvas wings were tucked in tight against its sides.The metal hull gleamed with gold paint, and jeweled shields lined the sides, each gem sparkling in the gaslight.
Two others flanked it, their helium envelopes deflated and stowed away.They could be used both in the air and on water, and were dangerous on each.Tall warriors lined the decks, clad in dark blue regimentals with gold military frogging down the chest, and helmets with tall black feathers.The gaslight on the docks glittered off the amber shine of their eyes.
“Look at them,” a woman whispered nearby.“How barbaric.”
“Iamlooking,” another woman murmured behind her fan and they both laughed.
Fireworks exploded with frenetic enthusiasm.The sky was washed with gold and blue and pink.Lena couldn’t help herself.She looked up, her gaze torn from the silent ships on the river.
She felt his gaze long before she saw him.
A tingle on her skin.
The faint, earthy anticipation of her body recognizing danger—even as it thrilled at it.
Will.
Breath catching, her fingers tightening on the fan, she looked down.Blind spots danced in her vision but she hunted for him.The crowd didn’t matter.Nor the approaching ships.Not even Colchester.
