remained seated, a solemn, dead silence weighing on the room.
Petra stopped in the center of the chamber, standing tall and proud amidst their stern gazes, her chin held high. Whatever their decision, she had done as Julian asked. She had designed his war machine, cooperated with his plans, and submitted the design to the Guild. He could not punish her for the councilâs decision, not when she had done exactly as she was told. Any engineer worth his degree could see that the war machine was viableâÂmistakes notwithstanding. That had to count for something.
Behind her, the doors to the council room opened, and Officer Cartwright slipped quietly back inside, rejoining the group of redcoats at the edge of the room. He met Petraâs eye as he took up position among the other soldiers, offering a brief smile before assuming the statuesque posture of his fellows.
Vice-ÂChancellor Lyndon cleared his throat. âAfter due consideration, the council has deliberated on the quadruped project and come to a decision,â he said slowly, his gaze sweeping the full perimeter of the hall before settling on Julian Goss. âAs proposed, we have considered Miss Wadeâs application and have thus decided to accept the quadruped project for immediate commission.â
Petraâs eyes widened, a wash of relief sweeping through her. She could hardly believe it.
âHowever . . .â Lyndon continued, his gravelly voice suddenly heavy.
Her smile faltered.
âIn light of Miss Wadeâs past misconducts and questions of her allegiance to the Guild and the Empire,â he went on, âthe council has deemed her unworthy of joining the Guild and therefore rejects her formal application for Guild placement.â
âWhat? No . . .â
Petra turned toward Julian, sitting relaxed in his chair with a satisfied smile on his lips.
So this was his plan . . . He never intended to let her be a member of the Guild. All he ever wanted was his war machine. And now he had it.
âBut you canât just take the quadruped,â she said, turning back toward Lyndon. âYou canât accept the project without also accepting my application. Thatâs not how this works.â
âThe councilâs decision has been made,â said Julian. âThe Guild has accepted the quadruped for immediate development, and you are denied Guild membership. There will be no further discussion on the matter.â
âBut you canât do that!â she said, curling her fingers into fists. âThe proposal is my application into the Guild. You canât accept one and not the other.â She glared at Julian and approached the vice-Âchancellor. âDonât let him do this,â she pleaded, gesturing toward Julian. âHe canât just take my designs and refuse me the right to be on the project. I designed the quadruped. Itâs mine .â
âIt is the Guildâs property now,â said a sallow voiceâÂone of Julianâs toadies, Mr. Pelletier. âThe council has the authority to accept or reject applications as we please, and we have decided that you are not fit to work as an engineer for the Guild.â
âNot fit?â
âGiven your . . . history.â
Julian glared down at her from the lofty council bench. âThe decision is final, Miss Wade.â
âNo, it isnât,â she said, gritting her teeth. âIf I canât be on the project, if you reject my application to join the Guild, thenâÂthen you canât have the quadruped. I withdraw the project from consideration.â
âPetra,â said Lyndon, suddenly sitting forward in his chair. âIf you withdraw your project, thenâÂâ
âNo,â she said, silencing him with the darkest of glares she could muster. âI know my rights as a student. The Guild cannot develop the quadruped without my consent. Those are the
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