Escapement (The Neumarian Chronicles)

by Ciara Knight

  Ryder shuffled, while scanning the area. “Listen kid, we need to get to the steam train. Point us in the right direction and we’ll be out of your way. We don’t want any trouble for you or your uncle.”

  “I’ll do better. Take you there myself.”

  “No. It isn’t safe,” I said.

  “I won’t turn my back on the rebellion.” His gaze narrowed on us then softened. “When the Triune comes, I’ll serve them with no fear for my own safety.”

  Great. The kid was willing to sacrifice himself, so I wasn’t about to confirm we were the supposed Triune.

  “I know a back way. Only a few will see you, most are too blind or old to care. Others don’t want any trouble. They’re lost and forgotten and would prefer to stay that way.”

  “Listen, take us to the station, but remain out of sight. Sounds like you will be needed someday.”

  I winked at Ryder. He’d fed Penton what he needed to hear. The boy had a skip in his step now. Turning, I followed him.

  Darn, fool kid. It had only been a few days since I’d turned sixteen. Yet, I’d aged a decade in that short time. Life no longer allowed the luxury of being a scared child.

  We went back to the small dirt-floored home. “Raeth, we need to go.”

  Raeth hugged the old man and whispered something in his ear. His face lit with happiness and I wondered what Raeth had told him, but there was no time to ask. Penton had already taken off. He slid between two small homes and raced along a path until we reached a stone wall—a huge structure that once must have been taller than the waterfall at the Resort Territory. We shimmied along a narrow ledge over a trench that was filled with things I didn’t care to investigate any closer. Raeth’s oversized metal foot didn’t fit so she used the heel to stay up, Ryder close by her side in case she fell.

  We ducked under a wood plank and crawled on hands and knees until we reached a small opening at the other end. Raeth’s leg ground against the solid floor each time, having to drag it as it no longer bent at the knee.

  Penton peeked out then stooped and motioned us to follow. Not one soul walked down the stone street. However, horses clopped and conversations sang from the other side of another wall.

  Penton raced down the street with Ryder close at his heels. Lagging behind, I stayed by Raeth’s side. Each time I passed an opening in the wall that led to the busy inner street, I held my breath, waiting for someone to spot us.

  Raeth stopped and panted against the stone.

  Penton and Ryder turned the corner out of sight. I peeled Raeth from the wall. “Got to go, hon. Not much further,” I whispered.

  We rounded the turn and I collided with someone. I looked up, expecting to see Ryder, but instead saw a person of elite class, a relative of a council member.

  I sucked in a quick breath at the realization Ryder had continued ahead. It would be another minute or so before he discovered we were left behind, cornered. By that time it would be too late. We’d be captured when the woman screamed and a dozen of the queen’s guards surrounded us.

  Wind whipped down the tunnel connecting the two streets. I moved my hand to the pistol strapped to my side and swallowed hard. The woman raised her hands and opened her mouth to scream.

  Bleach and floral perfume drew me right back to the ship. I was once again a frail child, facing one of the queen’s council.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  The lady clutched my arm.

  Ryder appeared behind her, his hands glacial.

  “No,” I screamed and shoved the woman to the wall and Raeth to the ground.

  “She’s one of us.” Penton stood between them like a human shield. Stupid kid was going to get himself killed before this was over.

  “But she’s a—”

  She stood up, straightening the tight bright-blue corset around her plump frame. “Slag, yeah. And you’re a parasite. Now that we understand each other…” She studied me for a moment. “Just because we both look the part, doesn’t mean we have to act like savages and pretentious jerks.”

  Silver eyes shining bright, her crossed arms shielding her plump body. Then I saw it. A small, black T painted on her wrist.

  “How’d you know we were here?” Ryder asked, his tone accusatory.

  “Let’s step out of the walkway before you’re noticed. Then I’d be happy to answer any questions you have. Personally, I’d prefer not to be executed at sundown for harboring a criminal.”

  I helped Raeth up.

  My gaze narrowed. “Criminal?”

  “Your boyfriend here is accused of kidnapping you, Princess.”

  My mind spun. “But—”

  “Listen, we can chat about the fact that you’ve got the hots for Mr. Eye-candy over there, later. Right now, we need to find a less congested place for small talk.” The woman hobbled over to the entry and looked out then back at us. “Where were you trying to go?”

  “The train,” Penton answered before we could stop him.

  She was obviously part of the same group as Penton, but it was more difficult to trust her. Perhaps it was because of her council clothing and allegiance to the queen, opposed to the worn clothing and dirt stained face of a human.

  “Take them to the slave entrance at the third house down from the Queen’s Square. I’ll make sure it’s unlocked. Hide in the basement until I can get there.” She whirled around in a long swirl of sapphire material and disappeared into the crowd at the end of the passageway.

  Penton nodded down the street. “Follow me.”

  “Trusting the woman because she wrote a T on her arm? Not only does it sound a might suspicious to me, it could be a trap,” Ryder protested.

  “She’s one of us and taking a great risk,” Penton snapped at him.

  “W-where are w-we going?”

  I smiled and took her by the arm. “To a friend’s place.”

  Ryder’s energy blasted through the alley. “Too trusting.”

  “Tone it down. You want to freeze the entire wall? Like that wouldn’t draw any attention now, would it?” I snapped. “If she wanted to take us down all she had to do was scream, and fifty guards would’ve appeared with guns drawn.”

  Penton held up his freakishly long arm and we all stopped.

  Ryder maneuvered around Raeth and me to join Penton. “What is it?”

  “Lots of slaves. You guys are going to have to keep your head down and don’t talk to anyone. Some of them would turn you over for a scrap of food.”

  I pulled Raeth’s skirt down over her leg and stood to her right side, keeping her near the wall.

  We turned down a slim walkway. Buildings shot up on both sides. No breeze drifted down the passageway, the stench of body odor driving me to pull my collar over my nose and mouth.

  A child sat in his own filth, small bugs fling around his head. His left eye sat lazy, while the right shot around like a fly in its socket.

  I lowered my chin to my chest and continued through the crowd, trying to breathe through my mouth. Never had I witnessed such poor conditions, not even in the Mining Territory.

  Penton’s head whipped right and left then he climbed four grey steps to a bright green door. He twisted a brass doorknob and leaned inside.

  I didn’t know what waited for us on the other side of that door, but the dozen eyes glaring at us made me itch to be anywhere but where we stood.

  A welcomed floral and cinnamon scent drew me further into the home.

  “Come on.” Penton urged us to another door that opened to a stairwell.

  My boots sunk into a lush red carpet with each step. Ryder’s eyes darted from a massive chandelier overhead to the plush carpet. He’d probably never seen such wealth. He nudged a marble pedestal sending a gold statue teetering. He grabbed it before it smashed to the ground.

  Penton held a long finger to his lips.

  “I simply must go,” the woman’s voice from earlier echoed through the enormous home. “It’ll be the social event of the year.”

  Penton ush
ered us down the steep stairs to a dark cellar. A click sounded and a bright sphere—different from the luminaries back home—cut on. Furniture, boxes, and paintings filled the room.

  No metal. No Earth. No escape route. The perfect trap.

  Ryder paced the small area around the discarded items. Such a waste, considering the people who starved all around us.

  The door opened above and Ryder took his fighting stance. Crisp air formed a cloud that danced from his lips with each breath.

  “Calm yourself. The queen would’ve executed you and married me to the general by now if they were going to betray us,” I said.

  The stout woman from earlier reached the bottom step. Clutching her large chest that spilled from the top of the corset, she panted. “I see you’ve made it.”

  I brushed by Ryder and greeted the woman with a warm smile. “Thank you for assisting us.”

  “So the rumors are true. You have hooked up with a boy and run away from home.” She chuckled, her breasts bouncing so that I feared they’d bust free if she didn’t stop.

  “Are you gonna help us?” Ryder asked.

  “Ah, yes, you are the hot blooded Neumarian. Definitely live up to the rumors about your…masculinity.”

  I didn’t like the way her eyes roamed down his body as if he was her next meal to devour.

  “I’m Ralona, Senior Council Member and sympathizer to the less fortunate. I must say, Semara, you are not looking your best.” She chuckled. “Yet, the warm glow of love gives you a new beauty.”

  Ryder scrubbed his stubbled chin. “Why would you risk all this to help us?”

  Her eyes grew dark and sorrowful. “I wasn’t always one who cared.” She clutched the banister and she shifted under his stare.

  “What made you join Triune?” I asked in a soothing tone.

  Ralona shook her head. “For one reason, to take down that pig who calls himself the general. The entire council doesn’t respect him. The rest of the reasons don’t matter. Listen.” The tone of her voice changed and her chubby cheeks tensed. “I’ll make sure my husband is upstairs with me. There are three trunks in the front foyer that are supposed to be filled with my clothes. Crawl inside and don’t make a sound. Those trunks will be transferred to the steam train bound for Acadia East this evening. You’ll hide in the storage area until the train reaches the platform then sneak off. I’ve already disposed of some clothing. I’ll claim it stolen when we arrive.”

  Ryder reluctantly stepped toward Ralona. “Is there anyone else in the house that we should be—”

  “My husband. No one else here. Not anymore.” Ralona gave a half smile. “I wish you luck once you get there. This’ll be the last time we speak. Oh, and hon—” She smiled at me. “I would’ve chosen him, too.” She winked then hobbled up the stairs.

  Penton grabbed the banister. “I have to go before I’m missed. My shift at the factory starts soon. I’ll be here, waiting to serve the rebellion under the guidance of the Triune.”

  I followed him back up, hugging him at the top of the stairs. He blushed and held up his wrist as if to salute an unknown force.

  “Th-The m-mark.” Raeth smiled. “B-Bendar.”

  “I knew I’d seen it somewhere.”

  “No need to check. I’m sure it was the wind,” Ralona’s voice echoed down from the second story.

  We raced down the hall and found three trunks next to the front door. I glanced out the front window. Tons of people walked along clean streets with no worries. A world of the elite and divine.

  Three loud raps at the door startled us. Heavy footsteps thumped overhead.

  Ryder and I helped Raeth into one of the boxes. Then we each crawled into our own trunk.

  A doorknob clicked. “We are here to take the delivery for the train bound for Acadia East this evening.”

  I listened, curled on my side and twisted in an awkward position.

  “Yes, yes, they are over there,” Ralona trilled.

  I braced myself for a bumpy ride and held my breath as footsteps neared.

  “Would you like to be present when we search them?”

  “Search?”

  “Yes, the queen will be on board tonight’s train so we’ve been ordered to search all cargo.”

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The latch clicked. Leathery air weighted down my lungs. My heart pounded in anticipation of the inevitable.

  “How dare you touch my things!”

  “What’s the trouble, Soldier?” The unmistakable booming voice of the general drove me to the brink of losing control. My hands burned and I could smell a hint of melting metal. I sucked in what little air filtered through the small holes pierced on the sides of the trunk. He’d be merciless this time. My stomach clenched like a belly up desert beetle left to die in the sun.

  “General, thank goodness you have blessed me with your presence. These worthless peasants wish to inspect my delicates.” A mass of shuffling feet indicated a mad dash away from the trunks and I knew Ralona had swooned. She was good. No one would want to tell the queen they caused her closest council member to faint.

  “Sir, I—”

  “I will deal with this personally. Be off with you,” the general commanded.

  I released my fist. An ache remained from where my nails had dug into my palm.

  “Please forgive the intrusion. We’ll have your trunks transferred immediately. Why don’t I personally escort you to the station?”

  The general couldn’t stand the council women. He always found their girth revolting but he was wise in the ways of politics and had great ambitions. He had a singular mission in life—to become King. If I escaped the marriage, he would be forced to either overthrow the queen or marry her. It was only a matter of time. And I was betting on the coup.

  Ralona called up the stairs for her husband.

  “Men, transport these trunks to the station immediately,” the general ordered.

  There was stomping of several feet then my box lifted into the air. It teetered and I nearly fell out.

  “Be careful. I have a gift for the queen in there,” Ralona screeched before her voice became faint in the distance.

  I prayed I wouldn’t be separated from Ryder and Raeth on the journey to the station.

  The vehicle jolted forward and began the journey to the train. I let out a sigh and my aching shoulders relaxed. Not that there was much room to stretch. How had Ryder ever fit in the trunk? I sighed, imagining the bad shape he’d be in if he had to stay in there the entire trip.

  I couldn’t wait to speak with Raeth. My mind spun with memories of Bendar. Each time, all I saw were his rosy cheeks and large grin, never his wrist. All those years he was by my side and I never saw the strange mark. I had to have noticed it at some point, but couldn’t place where. Yet Raeth, who’d only seen him for a short time remembered it.

  I dug deeper into my memories but his sleeves always covered his arms and he never stood still for long, always jumping in and out of vents. Of course, we’d spent time together in the engine room when Raeth was hidden there.

  The wheels squealed beneath me for a moment and the vehicle jarred twice then stopped. I swallowed the little remaining moisture in my mouth and hoped there wouldn’t be a search prior to loading.

  Sweat poured down my temple into my eye. With my arms trapped, all I could do was blink. Finally, I gave in and closed both. The trunk rose suddenly in the air, causing my head to bang against the bottom. My knees ached from remaining in the same position.

  At last, they shoved the trunk in and swung the door shut with a bang. Did I dare open and peek out? I had to know if Ryder and Raeth made it.

  Before I could move, a commotion erupted outside the door and I strained to hear. Were we discovered? If so, I needed to get out and help. I reached for the small button to the latch but the train lurched and I missed. We were moving. I waited for any sounds to indicate the others were near.

  There was nothing.

  I pressed the small brass
circle and the latch popped open. Lifting the top slightly, I peered out. A rush of stale air greeted me. No sign of a guard, only several boxes and trunks. I pushed harder but something held the top down. With only enough room to fit a hand through the opening, there was no way I could escape. I shoved hard but met with more resistance.

  “Raeth? Ryder? Are you there?”

  No answer. My arm shook under the weight of the lid until my elbow gave way and the lid slammed shut.

  I scratched for the latch in the darkness but couldn’t find it again. Hot air lingered. The weight of what held the trunk closed was nothing compared to my panic and the immense pressure pushing on my chest. I struggled to breathe. My nails scratched against the leather surface. No air. No one to help.

  I opened my mouth to scream, but my throat closed. It was as if I’d been sent into the hole for reconditioning all over again.

  Logically, I knew I wouldn’t suffocate in the closed trunk. Yet, my mind couldn’t grasp the knowledge. My thoughts swirled, unable to settle.

  I thrust the lid with all my strength. Again, it stopped at the same position. I couldn’t melt leather and whatever kept me caged wouldn’t budge. Footsteps neared and I held my breath. A muffled whistle blew in the distance.

  Two raps but no words.

  It wasn’t Ryder. He would have lifted the lid and pulled me out. The only possibility was a guard or train worker. I could take one down.

  Trunks and containers banged outside my small, poorly ventilated world. Then the distinctive sound of a strap sliding.

  The lid swung open and a flood of light blinded me. I blinked then saw his skinny little face. “Penton. What are you doing here?” My heart soared at the sight of his freckled, dirty cheeks. “How’d you get on the train?”

  Penton offered his hand and I unfolded my body with caution. With each move my joints grinded. “Ralona thought you’d need some help. She signaled me to board. Good thing I came. You were belted in.”

  “Thanks. Where are Raeth and Ryder? Are they okay?”

  “Don’t know. Haven’t found them yet.”

  I looked back and forth, jumped out of the trunk, tumbling over into another one, then tried the locks on a few others.