Steamborn by Eric R. Asher

Author:Eric R. Asher [Asher, Eric R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ReAnimus Press
Published: 2015-11-04T13:00:00+00:00

* * *

“Absolutely not.”

The look on his mom’s face told Jacob all he needed to know, and he slumped into the high-backed chair. “We’ll be with the knights. Samuel will be with us too. We’ll be safe!”

Jacob’s dad touched his mother’s arm, and she glared at him.

“He would be invaluable helping me at the observatory,” Charles said. “We need more parts to build the arms Jacob designed and the legs I’ve been working on. A good supply run could give us the springs and brackets to build nail gloves too. They’ll be instrumental in the rebuilding of the Lowlands.”

“Buy the parts,” she said.

Charles rubbed his beard. “I would, if I could. They are terribly expensive from the city smith, and I don’t have the raw materials to make them myself.”

Bat cleared his throat. “If I may?”

Jacob’s mom narrowed her eyes, but nodded.

“If Jacob and Charles aren’t able to retrieve the parts from the observatory, I will feel obligated to buy the parts from the city smith. What Charles hasn’t told you is the fact they will cost upwards of fifty gold.”

“Fifty gold?” Jacob’s dad asked. “You could feed a family for a year on that.”

“Close to it,” Bat said. “So, my offer is this: let Jacob go with Charles, and I will pay him five gold for his services.”

“That’s enough money to pay for dad’s medicine for two months,” Jacob said. He kept his voice level, but it was an effort to hide his excitement over Bat’s offer.

“I’ll look after Jacob.” Charles moved his gaze from one parent to the other. “No harm will come to him while he’s with Samuel and me.”

Jacob didn’t think Charles had even asked Samuel yet, but Jacob was smart enough to keep his mouth shut.

“I don’t know …” his dad said.

Jacob’s mom took a deep breath and squeezed her forehead. “You ask me to risk my son to save my husband.”

Bat laughed quietly. “I’m fairly certain, even if you say no, Jacob will be sneaking off to join Charles.”

Jacob’s mom showed a weak smile, and his dad acted like he was covering up a cough, but Jacob was pretty sure it was a laugh.

“Promise me,” she said as she looked at Charles.

“On my life.”

She nodded.

Jacob could scarcely believe it, and he crossed the room to throw his arms around his mom and dad. Excitement warred with dread as the realization of what lay outside the city wall flashed across his mind.

“Enjoy your adventure, son,” his dad said.

“Thanks.” Jacob gave his dad another hug and then walked back to stand beside Charles.

“Alright,” Charles said. “Let’s get packed up and ready to go.” He ushered Jacob down the hall and out into the lab. “I’ll get the saddlebags emptied out. I think that will give us enough room to carry what we need.”

Jacob took everything out of his backpack. He hesitated with his hand on The Dead Scourge, but he decided to leave it behind. It was pretty heavy, and it would take up room they might need.

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