The Nullification Engine (The Alchemancer: Book Two)

by Scott Marlowe

  A near-endless stream of Brighton's military poured forth from the palace now. Cavalry riding four abreast, followed by column after column of foot soldiers, all moving in slow, perfect unison from the palace square, across the white brick of Three Rivers Bridge, and down into the Southern Boroughs. From there, they'd cross each of South and Alters Bridge before entering Hickory Heights. A couple more bridges and the Trader's Borough later, and they'd complete their circuit back to the palace via Illuminating Way. Tonight, in a private ceremony attended by those closest to the royal family, the bodies of the earl and countess would be taken to the family crypt beneath the palace, there to remain for eternity. Chilled all the more by such thoughts, Serena did not relish the idea of remaining on the balcony for as long as it was going to take for the procession to complete its circuit. She said as much to Aaron, who nodded in response.

  Aaron no longer looked his old self. Washed and dressed properly, with his sandy brown hair combed instead of all mussed as it had been since she'd met him, Chane had found him a suitably sized pair of black trousers, a dress coat of like color, and a tailored shirt. A ruffled tie which she'd helped put on gave him quite the handsome look, she thought.

  "I wonder how long it will take for them to make it back here," Serena said.

  "I saw the route on a map inside," Aaron said. His brow furrowed a moment. "Based on an estimation of the distance and their rate of travel, they should return in about forty-six minutes."

  He sounded very sure of himself. Seeking a distraction from the cold, from her thoughts, and perhaps wanting to toss a few barbs Aaron's way for not saying anything about the way she looked, Serena decided to test how sure.

  "Did you take into account the narrowing of the street on Maplewick and Parkland?"

  Aaron shook his head. "I didn't know those streets narrowed."

  "Also, there's a circle where Lark and Berryway join. That will probably slow them down."

  Aaron crossed one arm while the hand of the other went to his chin in a contemplative stance. "So put the estimate at fifty-one minutes."

  "What about the ninety-degree turn at University and Miskatonic?"

  "I saw that. I factored it in."

  "Their rate of travel will change, too, based on the road's surface. It's smooth marble and stone here, but out in the city it's mostly cobblestone. They won't want to jar the wagons too much."

  Aaron scratched at his head. Clearly he had not taken those criteria into account.

  "Fleas again?"

  "What? No!"

  Aaron shot her his typical look of annoyance, which she countered with her usual smile.

  "It sounds like your estimate remains a little off," she said. "Let me know when you've come up with a more accurate figure." Turning a shoulder to him in feigned dismissal, she found herself face-to-face with one of the girls from the other side of the balcony.

  The girl was a tad shorter than Serena, with dark hair held in a tight arrangement and a face Serena thought pretty even without the light blush on her cheeks. The girl was alone. Serena didn't know if she had been one of the worst gigglers, but she knew what was coming nevertheless. She braced herself for it.

  When the girl only curtsied and said hello, it took Serena a moment to recover. Shaking off her surprise, she returned the gesture and the greeting.

  "My name is Emily Stewart," the girl said. "You're Serena Walkerton, aren't you? I don't know if you remember me. We learned our letters together. Oh, but that was a while ago, so I don't really expect you to know who I am."

  Serena, still surprised by Emily's cordialness, proceeded with caution. "Of course I remember you. We both used to sit at the front of the class, right?"

  "Yes, we did," Emily said, smiling. "You just returned to Brighton, correct?"

  "This morning. We had a little trouble at the gate, and got thrown in prison. But, here we are."

  Emily flashed Serena a look of confusion before she dismissed the words as playful jest. She probably had heard about the square exploding, but initial reports were calling it a gas leak. A terrible accident, but nothing a lady would have been involved in.

  Both of their gazes went to the ongoing procession, which had grown in length now as members of the well-to-do class, many on horses or in carriages of their own, followed the last of the soldiers. Serena imagined her parents somewhere amidst that last group, though the carriages all looked more or less alike so it was difficult to know for sure. Other people on foot slipped onto the back of the procession until the square was near empty but for servants, groomsmen, and some others who preferred to await the procession's return.

  "It's so sad about Lord Nicholas and Lady Deidre, isn't it?" Emily said. "I don't envy Lord Phillip having to go on without them."

  "It's a tragedy," Serena said. "I don't envy him, either. But I think he'll be all right eventually."

  Emily nodded, though she did not look convinced. "That's actually why I wanted to introduce myself. I wanted to thank you."

  "Thank me?" Serena swallowed. "For what?"

  Here it came. Though she'd detected no sarcasm in Emily's tone, Serena expected her tone to change as the girl expressed her bitter appreciation for Serena having burned down her house. Or her parents' business. Or...for killing them. Serena knew people had died. But no one had ever told her who, or how many.

  "For saving my life. For saving my family's life."

  Serena shook her head in small movements. She'd no idea what Emily meant.

  "Two years ago, during the Burning, my parents and I were trapped inside our house. The fire had come so quickly, we didn't have time to get out. We thought we were going to die. But then the flames died down, like someone had doused them with water or smothered them with a blanket. Except, no one had. No one came at all, actually. There were so many fires... I found out later that it had been you who'd stopped them all. I wanted to thank you back then, but by the time I'd made it to your estate, you were already gone. I can only imagine how traumatic it must have been to have your master go crazy like he did. He tried to burn down the entire city! But you stopped him. I know it must have been difficult standing up to him and all. So I just wanted to say, thank you."

  Emily's words didn't make any sense. That was not how it had happened at all. Serena managed a smile as she sorted through Emily's version of the story. Serena did have a master who'd gone crazy, but that had been Ansanom, not Persimmius. Meanwhile, Emily looked past her to Aaron.

  "Who's your friend?" she asked.

  Serena turned back to Aaron. By the way he stood in such contemplative thought, she knew he still worked away on his calculations.

  "His name is Aaron. As you can see, he's a little busy right now."

  "Doing what?"

  "I'll let him tell you. Aaron, this is—Aaron!"

  "Hmmm... Oh! Sorry."

  "This is Emily Stewart. Emily, Aaron Shepherd. She's wondering what you're doing."

  "Adding unsteady flow conditions to the time estimate. With all of these additional people following, it's created a stretched flow, which means—"

  Serena interrupted. "He's trying to determine how long it will take the procession to make its way back to the palace."

  "Oh, that's easy," Emily said. She took out a sheet of decorative parchment which she'd folded in half. "The program says one hour."

  "There you have it, Aaron. One hour."

  He didn't seem convinced.

  The balcony emptied now as people wandered inside. Seeing her friends amongst them, Emily excused herself.

  "It's very nice to finally meet you, Serena. Perhaps once you've settled in, you will join me for tea, or even for dinner if it doesn't impose on your schedule. I'm sure your family will want to monopolize your time since you've only just returned."

  "That's a nice offer. Thank you."

  "Wonderful! Mum and Dad will be so happy to meet you. I'll have my steward contact your household and arrange something."

  As Emily rejoined her friends, Se
rena hooked one arm into Aaron's before he returned to his little project.

  "Shall we go inside as well?"

  As they vacated the balcony, they were immediately followed by two royal guardsmen. Captain Fuchs might have agreed to release them into Chane's custody, but that didn't mean the captain didn't want them watched. The men remained as unobtrusive as possible under the circumstances, and maintained an air of neutrality toward their charges. Since they had refused to provide her their names, Serena had taken to calling them Dip and Dup. They didn't seem to mind or care.

  With their escort in tow, Serena and Aaron entered a busy chamber where guests spoke in low voices while servants wandered about with trays of refreshments. Serena led Aaron through the crowd, down two flights of stairs, and onto a wide, circular mezzanine. While thinly populated for the time being, the balcony overlooked the Earl's Rotunda, a formal receiving area of blue and white marble, whose purpose now served as the final lying-in-state chamber for the deceased before their burial this evening. Serena rested her arms on the balustrade as she looked down at a set of catafalques, arranged side-by-side, surrounded by a forest of roses. The biers, of equal size and design, were an exquisite blend of hand-carved, darkly lacquered wood set beneath individual golden canopies. Pikemen in ceremonial armor, standing at attention facing outward, ringed the display.

  Aaron settled in beside her. Neither of them spoke for some time as they watched others arrive. Their choice of location was perfect. They'd see and hear everything, for Lord Phillip was expected to address the gathering from the rotunda floor.

  "You're unusually quiet," Aaron said.

  Serena leveled a sidelong stare at him. "Are you saying normally I talk too much?"

  Aaron shrugged. "You already know you do. Everyone tells you so the moment they're given the opportunity, which isn't often once you get going."

  "Humph," she said, lifting her chin.

  "So what was your friend talking about?"

  "What friend?"

  "Emily. The girl on the balcony. She said you saved her family. Did you?"

  Aaron was more observant than she gave him credit for sometimes.

  "I don't know. I mean, I guess I did. But it didn't really happen the way she said it did."

  "Oh? How did it happen then?"

  With a simple thought. That's how it had happened. One simple thought she couldn't control.

  "Can we talk about something else?"

  "I guess so. I didn't mean to—"

  "It's all right, Aaron. I'll tell you all about it some other time." Hopefully before someone else had a chance. She'd rather he hear it from her. Of all people, Aaron just might understand the most.

  The mezzanine was nearly full now. Whispers circulated. The procession neared its return to the palace.

  "Do you know any of these people?" Aaron asked.

  Serena looked around the balcony. Some did, in fact, look familiar. But when and how she'd met them, she'd no idea. "I recognize some better than others. But know any of them? Not really. Before my parents sent me away, I spent a lot of time by myself, studying and practicing."

  "Where are your parents?"

  "Chane said they were taking part in the procession."

  "Have they come to see you yet?"

  "No."

  "Shouldn't they have?"

  Serena shrugged. "You'll meet them soon enough, and then you'll understand."

  That quieted Aaron, but only for a moment.

  "I heard Brighton has a planetarium. Have you been there?"

  "Yes, many times."

  "Do you think it's open today? Not that we can go, of course, since we're supposed to remain in the palace. But maybe... I mean, I want to pay my respects to the earl and countess the same as everyone, but maybe they'll make an exception to our house arrest for just this afternoon, as long as we promise not to—"

  "Everything is closed today, Aaron."

  "Oh."

  His genuine disappointment almost caused her to smile. She'd never known anyone quite like him. Smart and unassuming, his most pronounced personality trait was his humility. It was a quality she admired in him.

  "What about the palace arboretum?" he asked. "That should be open, right?"

  "I suppose. Whatever do you want to do at an arboretum, Aaron? Look at flowers?"

  "No. Well, yes, actually. I read once that Brighton's arborists were able to grow a species of lotus which lacks the usual addictive qualities. The pollen can be liquefied and diluted to form a solution which possesses certain medicinal qualities. Healers in Alchester were using it to cure a rare form of splotch disease. I was wondering if—"

  "Now who's talking too much?"

  Outside, a single trumpet heralded the return of the procession. Its call brought an immediate silence to the chattering around them as the sound echoed throughout the rotunda. Now the flow of people coming onto the mezzanine stopped, but only because there was no more room. Serena imagined the balcony above was just as crowded. Despite the crowd, a small space remained around Serena and Aaron. Serena attributed this to Dip and Dup's presence. While no one inquired about their presence, Serena noticed the curious and sometimes suspicious stares thrown their way.

  The trumpet sounded again, this time much closer. They'd not long to wait at all now as a single trumpeter garbed in full military dress marched onto the rotunda floor below. The man put his instrument to his lips and blew a solemn, monotone note. As the trumpet's soulful crescendo faded, it was replaced by the marching steps of the Vanguard. The horsemen must have turned off, for the first to enter the rotunda were the Vanguard's foot soldiers. At their head, standing alone, was Lord Phillip. The soldiers' lines, which had narrowed to accommodate the chamber's entrance and size, moved with coordinated precision around the twin catafalques. As they made their turn, Lord Phillip left their ranks to position himself at the head of the biers. He stood there at attention, facing the room's entrance, while awaiting the entry of his deceased parents. As the last of the foot soldiers exited, in came the open carriages, one at a time. The first, carrying the earl, made a three quarter circuit around the catafalques. The next, with the countess, moved to just opposite the other before it also stopped. Following the carriages were white-gloved pallbearers, who took up positions around the carriages. They waited at attention as Field Marshal Durant entered. He was the last.

  This close, Serena got her first good look at the man. His dark hair was combed back straight and fell to his shoulders. Sharp eyes, which took in the crowd with a glance, were perched over a narrow but strong nose. A dark, well-trimmed beard covered much of his face. Beneath his sash and tunic, he wore leather, but it was new and well-kept. The field marshal signaled the pallbearers to lift the coffins and place them on the raised platforms. Once they were done, and the open carriages and their horses led outside, Durant spoke.

  "I am Durant Chandler, Field Marshal of Agratis and Lord of Easthedge," he said in a deep, formal baritone that echoed from the room's furthest corners. "On behalf of our earl-in-waiting, Lord Phillip, I welcome you all to these proceedings. Today we bid farewell to our beloved earl, Lord Nicholas Roberts, and countess, Lady Deidre Roberts. While this day brings with it sadness, it also brings joy, as we celebrate the lives of these two most influential people. Theirs was a life filled with dreams of prosperity and peace for all."

  As Durant went on, pontificating about the many accomplishments of the lord and lady, Serena noted some smiles but mostly tears on the faces of those around her. Many sobbed or cried, and one woman let out a wail of anguish before burying her face in her husband's chest. It wasn't long before Serena discovered tears in her own eyes and a tightening in her chest, as the totality of the proceedings settled over her.

  The field marshal concluded with a brief hunting story people apparently knew well, for nods went all around as Durant told it. The story started with the young lords Malcolm and Nicholas hunting as boys, and ended with an escaped deer and young Nicholas sliding down an e
mbankment, falling off a shallow cliff, and splashing down into the Silvercross. Its conclusion shifted the tide of emotions from sorrow to subdued joy. Then Durant stepped aside to allow the earl-in-waiting to address the assembly.

  Lord Phillip took the field marshal's place between the coffins. He did not speak right away, but composed himself while taking in those who'd come to pay their respects. Serena expected him to begin by thanking the assembled guests and to give a speech honoring his parents in a format similar to Durant's. Also, she expected more tears from the crowd. She'd readied herself to deal with her own emotions, when Lord Phillip spoke not with sorrow in his voice, but with anger.

  "My friends,” he said. “My fellow citizens. That which we suspected has been confirmed. Our earldom has been attacked."

  The words swept over the crowd in a slow wave. Those weeping, stopped. Those with heads hung, raised them.

  "This attack has damaged much of our city. It has taken the lives of many, including those of my mother and father." He paused. "But our attackers have not defeated us. The spirit of our city—of our people—is strong, as is our determination." Phillip moved out from between the coffins. "For the past few days, refugees from Norwynne have entered our city. I have spoken to these people. Broken bread with them. I know many of you have as well. We welcome them and, despite our own needs, will continue to provide relief to any who have suffered as a result of the Chaos. Let none among us forget who and what we are, for we are of Brighton, the City of Light."

  Nods from the audience assented.

  "Now, more than ever, we must live up to our city's founding principles and remain the beacon in the dark for all. Save for those who attacked us. Save for the one who attacked us."