Read Online Steamsworn (Steamborn Series Book 3) by Eric Asher - Free Book Online Page A

coming back!”
    “I didn’t either,” Mary said.
    “Ma’am,” Smith said with a nod.
    “Ma’am?” Eva said with a grimace. “Let’s not ever call me that again, okay?”
    Smith smiled and crossed his arms.
    “You’ve met Smith,” Mary said, “and this is Alice.”
    Eva turned her bright blue eyes onto Alice. “You’re of the old blood.”
    “I told you they’d recognize the bloodlines,” Mary said, with more than a bit of satisfaction threading through her words.
    “I still see your parents almost every week,” Eva said as she pulled Mary toward the docks. “They still eat at that awful fish place you liked so much.”
    “The one with the fried Sweet Bread?”
    Eva frowned. “You’re going to make us eat there, aren’t you? Bittersweet reunion indeed.”
    “Stop whining. We aren’t fifteen anymore.”
    Eva’s face fell a little. “No, Mary. No, we’re not. I missed you.”
    “I missed you too.”
    “So why are you really back?”
    “We need to speak with the House. There is grave news from Archibald’s spies, and more from Archibald himself.”
    Eva didn’t ask any more questions; she only gave a brief nod and pulled Mary forward toward one of the lifts set at either end of the docks.
    Alice started after them, with Smith trailing behind her. Before she reached the pair on the lift, Alice overheard Mary tell Eva, “The Skysworn is mine. We can go anywhere now.”
    Anywhere , Alice thought. She looked out toward the city with its towering brick-and-copper spires. A clocktower rose close to the city center, covered in gargoyles and lightning rods and a thousand wrought iron windows. Why would you want to be anywhere else?
    Smith stepped into the lift behind Alice and slid the grate closed. Eva threw a lever, and the lift started down without so much as a hesitation. Mary kept Eva’s hand wrapped in her own and the pair seemed to do nothing but stare at each other.
    “Who is the House Speaker?” Mary asked.
    Eva stepped away slightly and straightened her jacket. “The Lady Katherine has been for the past seven years.”
    “She’s still in power?”
    “Yes. She’s pushed Belldorn to be more progressive. It’s caused some hostilities in the House among the older Ladies. There have even been marriages that were not arranged.”
    “Truly?” Mary asked.
    Alice yawned and popped her ears. The pressure seemed high as the lift reached the bottom. “How low are we? My head feels like it’s getting crushed.”
    “We’re at sea level,” Eva said. “It is quite a bit lower even than Bollwerk.” Eva glanced at the sky. “I’ve been ordered to take you to an audience with Lady Katherine. Let’s hurry.”
    Mary eyed Smith and then Alice in turn. “Stay close to me. I don’t want either of you wandering off until we speak to Lady Katherine. Or at least until one of her underlings approves your presence.”
    Alice nodded, wondering just how strict Belldorn was about visitors.
    Smith slid the gate open, and Alice stepped out into the city. Something about it reminded her of Ancora, with all the brick and stone construction, but it was infinitely larger, taller, and more imposing. Alice imagined it would be a long ride to the House. She followed Eva across the busy street, crowded with citizens wearing tight-fitted leather jackets and utilitarian pants. A few ladies wore skirts, but they were long and narrow, and Alice could scarcely imagine trying to move her legs in something so restrictive.
    The noise of the street increased as they reached a wide, ornately carved door. Eva pulled it open and ushered them all inside. Alice caught a glimpse of Dragonwings and huge ships that sailed on the sea etched into the door.
    “It’s nice that they built the docks so close to the Hall,” Mary said.
    “What?” Alice asked as she took in the room. The ceilings weren’t as high as the Council Hall in Bollwerk, but they had a gradual arch to them with a polished copper ceiling that made it seem