The Tinkerer's Daughter by Jamie Sedgwick

Author:Jamie Sedgwick [Sedgwick, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: free fantasy, best selling steampunk, free sci fi, sci fi, steampunk, free steampunk, best selling sci fi, free kindle books, best selling fantasy, fantasy
Publisher: Timber Hill Press
Published: 2011-01-24T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 27

I hopped down and followed the man up the hill towards the castle. Cinder was right at my heels. I kept a wary eye on the soldiers moving my plane, until I was satisfied that they had just moved it off the road and no further. My plane was my life. The only certain safety I had was in the skies. On the ground, everyone was a potential enemy.

The only point of entry through the castle wall was a guarded portcullis. It was just large enough for a wagon to pass through. Now it was open, and the guards nodded as I followed the man inside. The courtyard was a pandemonium. To my right I saw a group of young men exercising horses near the stables. To my left, a dozen blacksmiths were working steadily, adding to piles of horseshoes, swords, and shields that were stacked up on tables along the wall. No one paid any heed to us as the man led me inside the keep.

As we entered, I immediately became aware of the sparse décor. The floors and walls were cold chiseled stone, and the only light streamed in through un-shuttered windows high on the wall. A few threadbare rugs and tapestries lent minimal warmth to the interior, and I saw only the barest of furnishings.

The man led me into a small chamber off the main hall, and motioned for me to close the door as he settled down at his desk. He nodded towards a chair, and I sat down opposite him. He tossed Analyn’s ring out in front of me.

“Tell me the truth now, girl, and be quick about it. Where did you get that ring?”

“Are you the general?” At that point it was a stupid question, but I still waited for his nod. “I told you, it was given to me by Analyn Trader, my schoolteacher. She said I should give it to General Corsan, and he would know my words were true.”

“This is your proof then? This is proof that Kanters have invaded our territories? The same mindless barbarians who’ve spent their entire history living like dogs and consuming the flesh of their own dead?”

“They aren’t mindless! They’ve been manipulating the humans and the Tal’mar all along. They have been draining our resources on purpose!”

He settled back into his chair. His face was a mask of serenity; not even his eyes betrayed his thoughts. I had no idea what was going on in that calculating military mind. “How do I know that you’re not a Tal’mar spy? Or an assassin? You could have easily stolen that ring from one of your victims.”

I smiled ever so slightly. His argument was clearly flawed. “If I were an assassin, I wouldn’t go to so much trouble. I’d simply climb the wall in the night and find you. And then I would slit your throat while you slept.”

Still nothing. His eyes were so emotionless that he might as well have been dead. “And let’s suppose that this message you bring is true, that the Kanters have invaded Astatia.

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