The Girl in the Clockwork Tower by Lou Wilham

Author:Lou Wilham
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Midnight Tide Publishing

Manu stared at the glass dejectedly as Persinette’s face disappeared. He lifted his hand to run through his hair, his shoulders sagging. All he wanted was to make Persi feel better, to promise her that she’d never be forced to do something like that again, but he couldn’t. So long as MOTHER and the Uprising waged war, the people caught in the middle would have to make tough decisions.

“It’s not going to get any easier for her,” Benard murmured as he watched his captain. He lifted a hand, paused, then patted Manu’s shoulder.

“I know that,” Manu said after a few minutes of just staring at his reflection. He had known that going into this. He had known that in taking this on Persinette would have to surround herself with death and danger. Yet, somehow, he thought that wouldn’t be an issue for him. It wasn’t his neck on the line. He wasn’t having to make those choices or, killing people he’d known all of his life. So why should it matter? “I’m such an idiot.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. He’d been so excited to get an Asset all his own, to start really doing something with his Uprising status, that he hadn’t thought for one moment at the relationship he’d develop with the Asset. He hadn’t even considered that this could break that poor sweet girl, and even himself, in the process.

“Do you still think she can do this?” Benard asked.

Manu raised a brow at his first mate. “Don’t you?”

Benard inhaled a deep, long-suffering breath. “I had decided to reserve judgment until after a few missions.” The captain cut him an annoyed look, but Benard continued. “I believe Miss Persi is much stronger than people give her credit for, but I don’t know if she’ll realize it in time.”

Manu nodded thoughtfully. “There was never a doubt in my mind that she could do it,” he said. “She’s strong, and good, and kind, and she wants to do the right thing.” He spoke his words with all the conviction of a man who truly believed in another. He focused on everything that made Persinette completely capable and did his best to ignore the genuine possibility that this was too much for her.

“Then you’re going to have to help her work through the bloodshed part. War is messy,” the old goblin reminded him. “And you can’t fake it till you make it like you usually do, Manu. You need to take this seriously.” His tone was stern, but not unkind.

“I know that,” Manu said rather petulantly. He had known all along the cost of this war, but then, he’d also never considered that it might cost him anything more than it already had. He’d lost his family, his home, and what little history still lingered in his family’s stories. What was even left? He deflated into his overstuffed chair. “Any suggestions as to how to help her?”

Benard’s wiry form sank into another chair across from him. He exhaled hard. “Just…try to take her mind off of it as much as you can.

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