Steam Guardians 01 - A Lady Can Never Be Too Curious (18 page)

Or maybe it was just what he needed.

You’re being wicked.

She smiled, unrepentant.

“Miss Aston?”

The book went tumbling to the floor as her cheeks flamed scarlet. Two burly men stood at the end of the aisle, watching her intently.

“Yes?”

“Please come with us.”

They both wore lapel pins with the Guardian seal set above the crystal, but she had never seen them before. She was bound to cooperate with them, but they reminded her far too much of Dr. Nerval and his orderlies. Tension knotted her belly instantly. It was so acute, she felt nauseated. The months of security she’d enjoyed suddenly disintegrated, dropping her back to that time when she had been prey to everyone around her.

But she wasn’t that girl any longer.

She lifted her chin. “Where are we going?”

One of the men shook his head, but Janette stopped and shot him a stern look. “Every member has the right to know where they are being summoned,” she quoted from the law book. They were in the middle of the library now, and her voice carried to several other members. An older woman stood and stepped forward.

“You have been summoned by Marshal Agapitos; that is all you need to understand, Novice.”

Her insides remained twisted when the older woman frowned and moved closer. “We have no Marshal here,” the older woman remarked.

The pair of Guardians exchanged a look. “He has arrived to deliver this Pure Spirit to her field posting. You need not be concerned.”

“I am still a Novice for the better part of a year,” Janette informed them.

Two more members drew near. They brought a sense of family to her that made her realize how alone she’d felt.

“You are a Pure Spirit, and your Novice year is being cut short.”

“How illogical,” the older woman remarked. “The value of solid training should never be underestimated.”

“You are not involved in this matter,” one Guardian snapped, but the woman refused to be intimidated.

“I disagree. You have failed to uphold the law. Because she is a Pure Spirit does not absolve you of answering her when Miss Aston asks where she is going. Someone please summon our Guardians.”

Janette felt the sweetness of relief for only a moment before one of the men grabbed her upper arm and tugged her toward the entrance of the library. The older woman gasped, and chairs skidded against the floor as other members tried to intervene, but they were too far away. The Guardian pulled her into the hallway before anyone reached them.

“Meddling old bat,” he muttered while pulling her down the corridor. He and his partner looked rapidly around them, betraying their intention not to be caught again.

Janette lifted her arm and dropped it neatly over the hand clamped onto her arm. She struggled to use the Asian fighting technique exactly as she’d been taught, but she lacked the skill only practice would have given her.

She ended up scuffling with the man but broke his grip long enough to sweep his leg out with a low kick. He went tumbling, but she didn’t have time to watch her success. She turned to confront his partner.

There was a muffled curse as two of the members from the library grabbed him from behind. Their actions granted her a moment of freedom, and she turned to run. She had no idea where she was going, only that she needed to flee.

She ran headlong into a solid body. Her control was slipping, and she fought against her newest threat with rising panic.

“Easy, sweetheart.”

She went still in an instant, shock freezing her.

Sweetheart? Since when did Darius call her sweetheart?

His tone had been low, but when she looked up, she was hypnotized by the flicker of rage in his eyes. It wasn’t aimed at her but flared up bright in response to the men trying to force their will on her. He gave her only a moment to absorb such a change in demeanor before he shoved her behind himself.

“Now, what are you two doing to my fiancée?”

***

She would have liked to believe she was dreaming—ascribing everything that was happening to the illogical actions of her subconscious would have made sense.

But Darius was still sitting beside her, and the tension inside the carriage was thick enough to slice with a butter knife. The two burly Guardians were perched on the outside of the carriage while Marshal Agapitos and Guardian Grainger sat across from them.

It was a good thing she’d cast off wearing petticoats, else her dress would have been draped over all their knees. Illuminist carriages were smaller, most likely a result of their women wearing more practical clothing.

Her simple skirt fit easily in the space available, but Darius was pressing close to her. The hissing of steam kept them all silent, but they came to their destination soon enough. Lykos was waiting to offer her a hand down from the carriage, and he held on to her hand until handing her off to Darius. The two men flanked her, actually pushing her slightly behind them as the carriage released the last of its steam and went quiet.

“Miss Aston, I need to make it clear to you how important it is for you to take this next step in your life among the Order. I will hear your Oath.”

Marshal Agapitos was smiling at her and moving closer in spite of Darius and Lykos. Janette stepped forward, but her belly twisted because the Marshal reminded her so much of Dr. Nerval. He was a well-fed man—his vest was tight across his belly where he was trying to hide his overindulgence. He had a thin nose on which a pair of double-lens spectacles perched. Professor Yulric often wore a similar pair, but the Marshal reminded her of a weasel instead of a man of learning. In his eyes, she could see him looking at her like some treasured possession.

“I have a year to consider such a commitment.”

No one liked her answer. Frustration appeared in the Marshal’s eyes, but it was the suspicion in Darius’s dark gaze that needled her the most.

“If that is your position on such promises, I find it easy to question this so-called engagement.”

“I am going with you, Marshal,” Darius remarked, but underlining his normally perfectly control was a clear warning.

“Only if Miss Aston says you are,” Agapitos argued.

“Why do you care if he comes or not?” Janette demanded. She tugged her hand free and stepped several paces away from them all. “Are you not all members of the same Order? Why are you fighting over me like a pack of hounds?”

“As a Pure Spirit, you must accept that you will be deployed for the good of the Order. A fact you should know at this point in your training, Novice.”

“Except you have the intention of taking me away from my studies while they are still incomplete,” Janette countered. “What are you worried I’ll learn before pledging myself and ending up subject to your authority?”

Marshal Agapitos smiled at her. The sort of smile one would aim at a child. “No place in life is free. It was members of this Order who rescued you from what your father had decided would be your lot. Don’t be naïve in believing enjoying those fine chambers is free. Deep Earth Crystals power our world, and the demand is great.”

That much rang true, making her pause before arguing again.

“Why are you resisting pledging yourself to the Illuminist Order?” Guardian Grainger joined the attack.

“Because I don’t know where I’m going, and you seem to be in a hurry to separate me from anyone I know.”

Maybe she was being foolish to voice her thoughts so completely, but she did enjoy being able to speak her mind. The pin on her lapel grew more precious every day as she wasn’t made to simper because of her gender.

“You don’t know Guardian Lawley, my dear girl,” Agapitos said. “He’s only employing a different method of cajoling you into being his to command. He’s seducing you to keep you docile.”

The Marshal was closing in on her, but Darius stepped into the man’s path. Almost in the same moment, Lykos moved her farther back and Decima took up a position near her.

“Enough,” Janette snapped. “Get out of my path, Darius. The lot of you may say a great many things about me, but you shall not label me a coward.”

Darius shot her a hard look. “You are not the only one the Marshal is insulting, Janette, and I’ll be damned if I stand by while he tars and feathers us.”

There was a hint of something in his eyes that tugged at her heart. Something she couldn’t quite name but recognized nonetheless. Quite by surprise, she discovered herself on the same team with him, and it filled her with pride.

She pushed her way between Lykos and Darius until she was facing Agapitos. She folded her hands in the prim fashion she’d been taught to perfect by the time she was five.

“It does sound rather un-Illuminist to be so concerned about our personal dealings.”

“You need to understand what your future will be. By taking the Oath, I will be able to trust you.”

“I see, and you, sir, are interrupting,” Janette continued in a soft tone. “The issue of trust really is the root of this conversation.”

“Exactly,” the Marshal agreed.

“The lack of it, actually.”

Darius frowned at her, but he held his thoughts behind a stern expression.

“Now you have pointed out that I shouldn’t trust Guardian Lawley or his compatriots, and I discover myself unwilling to trust you when you seem insistent on my taking an Oath I am not completely ready to take.”

She held her hand up when the Marshal began to sputter. “And kindly refrain from telling me that because I am a Pure Spirit, I must do as you say. Perhaps I am naïve; my view of the Illuminist Order never included my being shackled by your authority like a slave simply because of my blood. So it would seem, if I am going anywhere, we are all going together.”

***

Janette intended to turn her back on the Marshal. But she made it only two steps before she stopped—
froze
—because she hadn’t really looked about until just then. The boardwalk beneath her feet was the same as at any train station, but the transportation waiting for passengers was nothing like a train.

Airships.

She stared in wonder, her amazement with the Illuminists renewed. What were a few sputtering, arrogant men compared to the wonder before her eyes? The ships were moored on long towers with escalators carrying up passengers. Constructed of three main balloons, the center being the largest, each airship had a passenger bay strapped to the underside.

If she were a child, she’d think they’d harnessed the clouds.

On either side of the center balloon, there were large propellers with what appeared to be steam engines beneath them. A steady stream of white vapor escaped out the back as they turned gently. The station was a masterpiece, with large windows and a raised ceiling. Everywhere she looked there was art—delicate sculpting running between the panes of glass or the benches in the waiting area adorned with carvings. The young queen’s new palace could not be finer.

“At least this part of the journey will please you.”

Darius placed a hand on her back. It was a personal touch, one that sent enjoyment through her.

She wanted so much to forget her suspicions and simply enjoy the wonder of the airships. But a glance at Darius, and she knew it couldn’t be so. His expression was hard, and for the first time, she could see in his eyes just how deadly he might be. A chill raced down her spine. She’d read more of the laws than she’d confessed. A Pure Spirit could never be allowed to fall into Helikeian hands. It was a Guardian’s duty to prevent it at all costs.

Even if it meant taking her life.

***

“Damn Agapitos and his authority.”

Lykos took the opportunity to speak his mind when Marshal Agapitos went to meet the captain. The officers were lined up at the base of one of the escalators, proving that the Marshal had seen to his details before coming to take Janette. The Marshal’s Guardians flanked Janette while Decima ensured she remained at her side. They had a moment to step far enough away to speak their minds while the passengers hurried by on their way to the waiting airships.

“This entire situation stinks of Helikeians,” Darius stated while looking around, searching for an escape route.

“Especially the part about not allowing either of us to converse with anyone before our oh-so-hurried departure,” Lykos said. “Or Grainger’s attempt to have Janette taken away while he was in your office, so nicely distracting us.”

“Exactly,” Darius agreed. “I do believe you and I had better learn to sleep light or risk suffering a very fatal accident.”

Lykos nodded. “At least Janette had the foresight to refuse to take the Oath.”

“Which will only make it simpler for Agapitos to hide her by saying she ran away once in the Crystal Fields. He’s pushed her hard enough to detest her future inside the Order.”

Lykos smiled slowly. “I noticed that tactic myself.”

Agapitos lifted one hand and gestured his men forward. They made to grip Janette’s arm but discovered just how adept Decima was at Asian fighting arts. She intercepted the first hand to touch Janette and twisted it until the man’s knees buckled.

***

Janette gasped, half with shock and half with envy. She watched Decima reduce the larger man to a crumpled heap in seconds. The second Guardian reached for her, but she moved out of the way and felt herself bump against Darius. He pushed her behind his body with one smooth motion. But he stopped in a stance she recognized.

“So you’ve taken Asian fighting too,” she said softly. The second Guardian held his hands up and extended one hand toward Agapitos.

“Of course, I am a Guardian.”

But he was hesitating. She could see it in the way he looked around, judging his chances of escape.

“And I will protect you.”

He spoke too softly for anyone else to hear her, stepping up next to her and whispering as he pulled her hand up and placed it on his forearm.

Who was he trying to convince? Her or himself?

They were surrounded, so the only path seemed to be toward the escalators.

***

“Zenais.”

Mary Aston stiffened. How long had it been since she’d heard her birth name? Her Illuminist name? She was trembling in another moment and stumbled when she turned around to look behind her. Tears stung her eyes, rising too quickly to control.