Unbound Pages by Kay Parquet

Author:Kay Parquet
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: arcane punk, arcanepunk fantasy, mystery, female lead, amateur sleuth, strong women, magic and technology, magic, epic, arcanepunk, arcane punk fantasy
Publisher: Kay Parquet
Published: 2024-05-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Eudora awoke to a persistent knock on her door, a gentle tapping at first, easily ignorable, but gradually escalating into a demanding clamor that demanded her attention. When she finally answered, it was her daytime assistant from the Tattered Page, wearing a discontented expression.

“Ma’am, sorry to intrude,” she began, “but there’s. Well, you never told me whether automata were allowed in the store, so I let one in. But now it refuses to leave. It started browsing initially, but now it insists on seeing you specifically.” Judging by the light filtering into the building, Eudora estimated she had been asleep for about five or six hours, placing the time in the late afternoon. “What should we do? Should I call the constable?”

Eudora’s drowsiness vanished in an instant. “Here? Bring him up immediately. I hope no one saw him enter. If you spot any constables, ring the bell and say nothing until I instruct you otherwise.” The woman followed Eudora’s orders, and within moments, the automata ascended the stairs. Its footsteps echoed hollowly as it approached her room, its luminous blue eyes searching the surroundings from beneath a well-worn hat. “Ms. Ammond. I found you easily enough glad you agreed to see me.”

“Ah, yes. I hope you weren’t followed. Constable Hawker would have me locked away for life if he knew you were here,” Eudora replied, scrutinizing the automata’s appearance for a moment. “I trust you have a good reason for being here. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have sought me out. Please, close the door and have a seat.”

The automata obeyed, sitting calmly in a chair near her desk and folding its reticulated gauntlets on its lap. “Reason? To clear my name. I didn’t mean to withhold the truth earlier, but I knew the outcome. I am automata. The presence of blood, suspicion of guilt, and lack of memory of the actual events the constables would attribute it to the Neisser Effect. Combined with the absence of a permit for this year and no registration. Guilt would naturally be assumed. I would be sent for reclamation, which is death. There is no evidence to support my innocence. That is why I came to you.”

“Did some research. Heard that you handle ‘cases’ for the constabulary, although you’re not officially part of it. An independent agent. Thus, not obliged to turn me over as evidence, at least not yet. I believe you might assist in the investigation of what happened, and I can provide information about Professor Ridgecott to aid in the search.”

“A deal?” Eudora listened to the automata’s peculiar manner of speech, observing it through the mirror as she finished dabbing at the blood on her face. With fatigue and a lingering headache, she could already tell the night would be challenging. She had experienced such headaches before, lasting for days on end. Carlotta, her companion, would likely disapprove of her current state, silently shaking her head at the telltale signs of a throbbing headache.

She tossed the towel into the basin, watching

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