Read Online Fall of Sky City (A Steampunk Fantasy Sci-Fi Adventure Novel) (Devices of War) by SM Blooding - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: SM Blooding
Ads: Link
me.
Nix.
What was I going to do about her?
I needed a chance to get out of this tower to see the city, to find a way to escape. There was a limit, an edge. I could see it. I could see the airplanes as they landed and left. It was possible to leave.
If I only knew how.
Nix had mentioned something about a collegium. The Great Families knew about it, but had no idea where it was. Perhaps, the children were here, being instructed in the technologies the Hands had stolen, learning the magicks the Hands offered.
Perhaps if I showed an interest, she would let me take a class.
I stared at the page outlining the system surrounding Kala with longing. Were there classes on this? What about classes on the technologies? Weaponry? What knowledge could I take with me when I escaped?
The door to the suite opened and closed. I didn’t look up. I knew who it was.
Quiet footsteps padded through the room and stopped at the door to the balcony, the sheer curtains fluttering in the breeze.
I didn’t move, but watched her through my eyelashes.
She placed one hand on the door frame, the other on her hip, one long, smooth leg peeking through the slit in her dress. “You’re still reading the book?”
“There is much to read, my queen.” I watched her reaction from the corner of my eye. I turned the page and shook my head, allowing a slight smile to spread across my lips. “Did you know that we are a moon to the planet Kel’mar, and that Kel’mar travels around Kala?”
She was quiet for a long moment before she moved from the door, and came to sit beside me where I was sprawled belly down on the balcony. “Can you read this language well?”
I nodded. “Though the handwriting is poor in places, which makes it difficult. But see here?” I pointed to a particular line of text. “The years of Ilona are marked by the passing around Kel’mar.” I grinned. “That’s fascinating. I’ve never seen that in my studies.”
Her eyes lit up in genuine enjoyment. “Probably because you were too busy manning a ship.”
“That is possible, my queen. A ship takes a great deal of work to maintain.” I turned the page and blankly studied the picture.
She ran her finger along the ink. “This really interests you?”
I nodded slightly. “It does, my queen.”
She pursed her lips in thought.
I smiled and read the inscription under my thumb. “Festos is actually an asteroid. I did not even know what an asteroid was until today. Apparently it is like trash, or the debris of planets and moons after they’ve collided.” I leaned my weight on one arm, looking up at her. “The star clouds we see in winter? They’re a part of that.”
She reached out and traced the line of my cheek, her dark eyes thoughtful. “We have classes in the collegium.”
I feigned surprise. “On this?”
A smile settled upon her lips. “Yes. The man who authored that book is one of our instructors.”
I let out a puff of air, my eyes trailing the two-page picture. “That would be…” I shook my head. “…amazing.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I could let you go. For a price.”
I knew that was coming. I allowed my smile to slip, my chin raising. “And what would that be?”
She brought her face to mine, her eyes grabbing mine. “Promise me that you are mine.”
I breathed, my mind racing. I could lie to her. Would she believe me? No. I shook my head slightly. “I cannot promise this.”
Her eyes lit with approval. “Then you will be guarded.” She rose to a seated position. “Varik,” she called.
The door opened and the man in the long coat with the oiled hair and pointed beard stepped through the door. “Yes, my queen?”
She beamed at me. “Tomorrow, Synn Primus shall be going to classes. Please organize it. Make sure he obeys all the rules.”
Varik eyed me, one eyebrow raised slightly, his hands clasped before him. “Of course, my queen.” He turned and left.
She closed the book. “Come, young Primus. Let us eat. And then you
Nix.
What was I going to do about her?
I needed a chance to get out of this tower to see the city, to find a way to escape. There was a limit, an edge. I could see it. I could see the airplanes as they landed and left. It was possible to leave.
If I only knew how.
Nix had mentioned something about a collegium. The Great Families knew about it, but had no idea where it was. Perhaps, the children were here, being instructed in the technologies the Hands had stolen, learning the magicks the Hands offered.
Perhaps if I showed an interest, she would let me take a class.
I stared at the page outlining the system surrounding Kala with longing. Were there classes on this? What about classes on the technologies? Weaponry? What knowledge could I take with me when I escaped?
The door to the suite opened and closed. I didn’t look up. I knew who it was.
Quiet footsteps padded through the room and stopped at the door to the balcony, the sheer curtains fluttering in the breeze.
I didn’t move, but watched her through my eyelashes.
She placed one hand on the door frame, the other on her hip, one long, smooth leg peeking through the slit in her dress. “You’re still reading the book?”
“There is much to read, my queen.” I watched her reaction from the corner of my eye. I turned the page and shook my head, allowing a slight smile to spread across my lips. “Did you know that we are a moon to the planet Kel’mar, and that Kel’mar travels around Kala?”
She was quiet for a long moment before she moved from the door, and came to sit beside me where I was sprawled belly down on the balcony. “Can you read this language well?”
I nodded. “Though the handwriting is poor in places, which makes it difficult. But see here?” I pointed to a particular line of text. “The years of Ilona are marked by the passing around Kel’mar.” I grinned. “That’s fascinating. I’ve never seen that in my studies.”
Her eyes lit up in genuine enjoyment. “Probably because you were too busy manning a ship.”
“That is possible, my queen. A ship takes a great deal of work to maintain.” I turned the page and blankly studied the picture.
She ran her finger along the ink. “This really interests you?”
I nodded slightly. “It does, my queen.”
She pursed her lips in thought.
I smiled and read the inscription under my thumb. “Festos is actually an asteroid. I did not even know what an asteroid was until today. Apparently it is like trash, or the debris of planets and moons after they’ve collided.” I leaned my weight on one arm, looking up at her. “The star clouds we see in winter? They’re a part of that.”
She reached out and traced the line of my cheek, her dark eyes thoughtful. “We have classes in the collegium.”
I feigned surprise. “On this?”
A smile settled upon her lips. “Yes. The man who authored that book is one of our instructors.”
I let out a puff of air, my eyes trailing the two-page picture. “That would be…” I shook my head. “…amazing.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I could let you go. For a price.”
I knew that was coming. I allowed my smile to slip, my chin raising. “And what would that be?”
She brought her face to mine, her eyes grabbing mine. “Promise me that you are mine.”
I breathed, my mind racing. I could lie to her. Would she believe me? No. I shook my head slightly. “I cannot promise this.”
Her eyes lit with approval. “Then you will be guarded.” She rose to a seated position. “Varik,” she called.
The door opened and the man in the long coat with the oiled hair and pointed beard stepped through the door. “Yes, my queen?”
She beamed at me. “Tomorrow, Synn Primus shall be going to classes. Please organize it. Make sure he obeys all the rules.”
Varik eyed me, one eyebrow raised slightly, his hands clasped before him. “Of course, my queen.” He turned and left.
She closed the book. “Come, young Primus. Let us eat. And then you
Similar Books
