Clockwork Lies: Iron Wind by Dru Pagliassotti

Author:Dru Pagliassotti [Pagliassotti, Dru]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing
Published: 2014-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

Two days later, Taya stood on the Safira train platform again, shivering in the icy morning air. She held the Council’s orders in one gloved hand, waiting for somebody to question her presence, but nobody gave her more than a passing glance.

The Council had contacted her the same day she’d given the punch cards to Kyle and his team: The ambassador will be on the next train from Overlook.

Exalted Constante had told her more when Taya had arrived on her doorstep biting back frustration and fretting about her husband’s health.

“The Council wishes to talk to the ambassador and Lieutenant Amcathra,” Constante had said, standing in the foyer of her mansion as her servants adjusted her robes and waited with her ivory mask. “We saw no point in leaving them in a relatively unprotected hospital when we can bring them here to the safety of the capital.”

“Is he well enough to travel?”

“He is receiving the best care possible, under the circumstances. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a full day of meetings scheduled with every Lady-blessed man or woman who has anything halfway intelligent to say about the political and diplomatic situation developing in Mareaux.”

“But we don’t think the assassination attempts had anything to do with Mareaux.”

“Some decaturs think otherwise.” Constante gestured to the dedicate holding her mask.

“Rikard was from Ondinium!” Taya protested, before freezing. Had Amcathra’s report mentioned Rikard?

“But who convinced him to become an assassin while the delegation was in Mareaux?” the decatur asked, before the mask was placed over her face and her servants fastened it into place.

Of course Amcathra’s report had mentioned Rikard. Biting back the rest of her protests, Taya bowed, her palm against her forehead, and left.

An hour later she was summoned to the Tower to fill out reports and be debriefed by her superiors in the diplomatic corps.

Jayce, Professor Dautry, and the rest of the delegation had arrived in Ondinium the next day with Macerain’s corpse. They’d heard rumors about the accident, and Taya’s appearance did nothing to reassure them. She dutifully refrained from answering their alarmed queries, though she expected they’d learn the truth soon enough.

A whistle announced the incoming train. Taya’s heart leaped as the engine rumbled past, followed by a long line of passenger and baggage cars. She hurried to the back of the platform as the train’s brakes screeched and displaced air rattled her metal wings. Red-coated porters paced the cars as the train ground to a halt. More whistles blew, and they threw open the doors and pulled down the folding steps with a loud clatter.

Taya stopped at the last car, waiting as people surged off the rest of the train, shouting and waving and manhandling their luggage.

Nobody opened the door.

Taya was about to go in when a window slid down and Lieutenant Amcathra leaned out.

“We will wait until the platform is emptier,” he said, his pale blue eyes sweeping past her to inspect the platform. “Does anybody know he is here?”

“Just the Council. I have the paperwork to get you through security.

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