Angel of Brass (32 page)

Despite a massive manhunt, Dr. Malachi had
not been seen since he had walked out of the conservatory, bearing
Del’s body in his arms. The remaining shamblers had ceased to
operate at around the same time. The resurrectionists involved in
the attempted coup had been rounded up, and although Molly
suspected some were still at large, it was clear that the dead of
Chartown would rest more peacefully in the coming months.

As for Molly, things had returned to a
semblance of normalcy. The queen had compensated Master Singh for
the destruction of his motorcar, and Molly had heard that he was
finally talking about rebuilding. In the meantime, she had taken a
job at Naga Rindi’s shop and resumed her schooling. Her parents and
Winifred had survived the attack on Brasstown unscathed, although a
number of Ellington House servants had mysteriously vanished.

Gradually, Molly had settled back into the
life she’d lived before the night Jin had crashed through the
skylight of Master Singh’s shop.
Odd how I once thought that
would be a good thing.

Now, I’d give anything to have Jin back.

Jin had been hailed as a hero for foiling the
attack on Queen Rowena. Like Molly, he’d been intensively
debriefed. Unlike Molly, he had other things of interest to offer,
besides information on the conspiracy. It seemed that every
scientist in the city wanted to get a look at him. As far as she
was aware, he hadn’t emerged from the palace grounds since the
night he’d flown in.

They were treating him well, she knew from
reports via Winifred, with everyone who was allowed to inspect his
rig warned to approach him with the utmost respect. The queen
intended to knight him for services rendered, which would hopefully
force even the most devoted automatonist to view him as more than a
collection of gears and servos that just happened to have some
fleshy bits attached.

As for Jin himself...he’d been sad the last
time she’d seen him. Reserved, even with her.

Del’s death broke something in him. And I
don’t know how to help him heal.

Perhaps it had all been too much, she
thought, as she put her welding equipment away for the day. Perhaps
the connection they’d made had just been too new, too ephemeral, to
survive so much grief.

Perhaps being a hero made him realize that
he could do better than some grubby gear girl
. After weeks
spent in the company of sophisticated courtiers who didn’t run
about with grease on their noses, maybe he’d changed his mind about
her.

Whatever the reason, her heart hurt.
I
just want to see him one more time. To see for myself that he’s all
right.

Naga clomped up on her latest set of
mechanical legs. “Quitting time!” she said cheerfully. Unlike
Master Singh, Naga Rindi actually kept an eye on the clock and
refused to let her employees work what she considered excessive
hours.

As far as Molly was concerned, that was a
drawback. She would have preferred to lose herself in work until
the wee hours of the morning. It would have kept her from sitting
alone in her room, missing Jin.

After putting away her things and
straightening her area, Molly hauled her bag over her shoulder and
headed out the door. The street was busy this time of day, but to
her surprise, most of the pedestrians had stopped to gawk at the
shop. Or, rather, at the shop’s roof. Puzzled, she turned and
looked up as well.

Jin sat casually on the roof, his wings
neatly folded against his back. When he saw her, a brilliant grin
split his face. “Hello, sweetheart!” he called down. “Did you miss
me?”

There was an iron ladder set into the side of
the building; Molly scrambled up it so fast she would have sworn
that her feet didn’t touch the rungs. As soon as she was on the
roof, she found herself swept into his arms. The urgent passion of
his kiss warmed her all the way to her toes.

“They finally let me go today,” he said, when
they broke apart. His grin faded, replaced by alarm. “Are you
crying?”

“N-no,” she said, despite the tears on her
face. “I just...I wasn’t sure I’d see you again.”

He wiped the tears away gently. “I came as
soon as I could,” he said. “I didn’t have a choice, not if I wanted
to stay on the good side of people like the new spymaster, whoever
he might be, and the queen, and others. Which, if we’re going to
stay in Chartown, seemed like the smart thing to do.”

“You’re staying here?” she asked, her heart
leaping. “With me?”

“Of course. I love you.” He kissed her again,
more gently this time. “Technically, I suppose the manor is mine.
Father...hasn’t been seen again, and is...well, they think he might
be dead, although I’m not convinced. I’m his legal heir, so
everything belongs to me now. But I can’t imagine moving back.
There are just too many bad memories.”

“I understand.” She cupped his face in her
hand, and he turned his head to plant a kiss in her palm. “So why
don’t we make some good ones?”

“I’d like that.” His wings flexed. “I think
I’ve got the trick of flying with you. If you want.”

“I don’t think you’re allowed to. Remember
the rule about no aircraft over the city?”

He grinned. “Ah, but I have special
dispensation from the queen herself.”

Delighted, Molly hugged him tight. “Then,
yes! I’d love to!”

“Hold on,” he said, and wrapped his arms
around her. Moments later, they were soaring out across the factory
district, heading for the open sky.

About the Author

Elaine Corvidae is the author of over a dozen
fantasy and science fiction novels, including the award-winning
Shadow Fae series (beginning with
Winter’s Orphans
). When
not writing, she enjoys hiking, loud music, and good beer. She
lives near Charlotte, NC, with her wonderful husband and several
very dumb (but very cute) cats. For more books by Elaine, please
visit her website at
http://www.onecrow.net
.

Other titles by Elaine Corvidae available at
Smashwords.com:

“Rain on the
Mountain”
(Novella)

The Sorceress’s
Orc