“Genevieve,” she used the French pronunciation, which didn’t help her cause. “He put himself in there. I had nothing to do with it.”
“Then he’ll be grateful when you help free him.”
“I can’t do that. You don’t understand.”
“No!” Genevieve stepped closer pressing the blade into her mother’s clothes. “I’m not leaving here without him.”
I raised my finger. “Genevieve, I might be a little too much from the school of Diogenes lately, but I don’t think she can help us. If she gives us her key, the Inner Circle will know. They’ll all turn on her.”
Her mother looked up at me and smiled. “I like this one much more than the Duke’s son.” Her mother smiled. “He has brains, and guts. The other one? Pah!”
Genevieve eyed me. “I can’t leave him down there.”
“No, we won’t, but we have to give your mother an out, it’s the only way she’ll help us.”
“Oh, I really like this one.” The baroness knocked Genevieve’s saber away and flipped onto her feet. She took my arm and led me over to her seating area. There she had an open bottle of wine and several glasses. She poured herself one and offered another to me. I declined. “Tell me,” she said. “What do you have in mind?”
“Well, I’d take someone else’s key, or take yours publicly.”
“Hendrix is right about you.” She smiled and nudged me with her elbow. “Brains and you’re good looking. No wonder she doesn’t want her betrothed.”
“Please.” Genevieve rolled her eyes. “That is not—”
“You are so one of the reasons she left. She knew my husband would make her return to England, make her marry that boy.” The baroness and I sat down. “I like this plan, and maybe I want to help.”
“Can you get us into someone else’s room?”
“Maybe, but we are all confined to our rooms, right now. Hendrix doesn’t trust anyone.”
“Then how can we get off this Vimana, is there a hanger?”
“On Ring Three, there is a bay where the small craft are stored.” The baroness leaned in and ran her fingers along the leather strap wound around my chest. “You would actually steal the key from me, in front of Hendrix?”
“If it’s the only way, then yes.”
Genevieve walked over to us, “No. I’m not going to trade you for my father.”
“You won’t. I’ll get the key. Pass it off to you. You’ll get your father, and then we’ll meet up at the hanger and fly out of here.”
“A bold plan, Alexander,” the baroness said. She took a sip of wine. “I like bold plans.”
“But are you going to turn on me, tell Hendrix the moment we get on the bridge?”
“She’d better not, or we will match swords again.” Genevieve hadn’t sheathed her saber and now eyed her mother.
The baroness took a drink, finishing off the glass. She set it down and exhaled. “I... I don’t like seeing him in there either.” She turned away from Genevieve but locked eyes with me. “I know what Hendrix has planned and—”
I could see the pain in her eyes. She was truly conflicted about her husband and about Hendrix. Each time I’d seen her before, she was cocky, cool and collected. Now she seemed... to care about something. For the first time, she reminded me of Genevieve.
“You two hide in my room. I’ll find out when the next time Hendrix will let us out of our cages.” She turned to Genevieve and waved at a door. “Hide in there. I will be back.”
Genevieve nodded.
She went to the door and yelled for a soldier. With only two rooms and a bath, we slipped into the bedroom, each hoping we hadn’t just made a big mistake. Genevieve sat down on a chaise lounge, and Rodin stood on the wooden edge. “She could be calling soldiers to arrest us.”
I drew in a deep breath. “I don’t think so.” I looked around at the lavish room. Large circular windows looked out over China slipping silently below us. I walked up to the glass. I stared at the tower with the giant spinning propeller, unable to believe that I stood in a working Vimana. “I think she still cares for your father. And she definitely cares about what happens to you.”
“But she’s a Horseman.” Genevieve took off her jacket and lay back on the chaise. She ran her fingers through the plaits of her braid and shook it out.
I couldn’t stop staring at her. She was stunning, and suddenly I felt almost odd about being alone with her. I knew I should wait in the other room, a gentleman would, but I didn’t want to leave.
“Come here,” she said and patted the chaise lounge.
I sat on the end. She sat up and took my hand. “I don’t like this plan. You’re risking too much. I’m...”
“It will be okay. They won’t hurt me. Hendrix will try and turn me, try to convince me to join him, especially now that he’s lost Zerelda. I’ll play along, and then run, before they can catch up, we’ll be on an airskiff fleeing this place. They’ll expect me to go for the baron. You are the reason this is going to work.”
She hugged me, pulling me close. “You’re the bravest person I know.”
“Well, you’re the bravest person I know.” I ran my hand along her cheek and we put our foreheads together. My hand cradled her neck and the back of her head, and I kissed her. As our lips touched, electricity shot through me like I’d been hit by Baldarich’s lightning cannon. I pulled her closer and we didn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop. Despite the fact that, as gentleman, I knew I most definitely should stop. She didn’t pull away, either. Time faded away as we lost ourselves in each other.
We lay on the chaise intertwined in each other’s arms. The baroness appeared in the doorway, and smiled. “I didn’t realize you two needed a chaperone.”
I sprang up. “Apologies, I... I—”
The baroness laughed. “No need to explain. I remember being your age. Remember, too, I’m the bad one.”
Genevieve sat up, “I’m pleased you didn’t bring the guards back with you. What were you able to learn?”
“Hendrix will be calling us together about halfway over the ocean.” She poured herself a glass of wine. “He is keeping us all caged and guarded in the meantime.”
“This is hardly a cage, Mother.” Genevieve said. “Not like the one Father is in.”
Her mother sighed. “Whatever you want to call this”— she swept her arm through the air—“it feels like a prison to me. He trusts no one and is controlling everything himself.”
“So we what do we do until then?”
“You’ll have to wait until then, my dear. No one suspects you’re on board. I would dearly love to hear how you got onboard and found your father and me without getting caught.” She smiled, and looked at her daughter with pride.
“Then we wait,” I said. “It will give us a chance to get some rest and go over our plan.”
“And time to tell me of your adventures,” the baroness said. Then she smiled a wicked smile and chuckled. “Or...”—she took a long drink and looked at us over the rim of her glass—“... I could wait in the other room.”
I stammered and didn’t know what to say.
She laughed again and shook her head. “How cute you are. You’re both blushing.”
CHAPTER 43
ESCAPE
I sat on a ledge in front of the circular window as we soared over the deep blue ocean. We’d been hiding for a day, and being cooped up was getting to me. Gulliver’s Travels, one of my favorite books, lay open in my lap, but I couldn’t concentrate on it, and reading it in French was getting tiring. Genevieve and her mother were on the chaise lounge talking, and I stared out the window, watching as the Vimana flew above the clouds, as if this castle had come right out of a fairytale—or out of Jonathan Swift’s imagination.
A gong echoed throughout the baroness’s quarters. A haunting sound emanating from the hall. The baroness stood, took her daughters hands in hers, and held them for a moment before releasing her. She came over to me. “It is time.”
I close
d the book, set it aside, and stood. “You go ahead. I’ll be up in a moment. I need to make a grand entrance, remember?”
“God speed to you, Alexander.” The baroness touched my cheek lightly, and walked out into the corridor.
Genevieve came over and wrapped her arms around me. “Please be careful. This is a good plan, but I will be worried about you until we’re together again.”
I smiled. “You’re the one who has to stay out of sight. I just have to walk in and get captured.”
“You’re risking everything to help my father.”
I shrugged, “I’m used to it by now.” We laughed. “I’d do it a thousand times, not only do I owe you for rescuing my father, but I owe your father for everything he’s done for me.”
“You are the most honorable person I know. You are truly a knight.” Her fingers ran along my vest and the leather strap.
“Thank you,” I said. “But you’re the amazing one.”
“Let’s settle on the fact that we’re both amazing,” she said and stood on tiptoes to kiss me.
I didn’t want to let go of her, but the plan needed to be put into action if we wanted to save her father. “Fifteen minutes. After I slip you the key, you’ll have fifteen minutes until I run to the hanger.”
“We’ll be there.”
“Here I go.”
“Wait,” she kissed me again, this time passionately and I really didn’t want to let her go. “For luck,” she said finally.
“I feel pretty lucky.”
We slipped out of the room and headed up the stairs. I left her to hide in the shadows and I walked right onto the bridge. At first, no one noticed me. General Hendrix was talking to the Inner Circle atop the platform as the crew moved back and forth on their level. I walked up the stairs and reached the top. Hendrix had his back to me, but the baroness sat up and gripped the arms of her chair, an alarmed look on her face. She was an excellent actress. Wilhelm, the Kaiser’s liaison jabbed the air, pointing at me, and Antiocus jumped to his feet, nearly tipping his chair over. Lord Marbury’s mouth dropped open, and his hand went to his chest. For a weapon or because he thought he’d seen a ghost, I didn’t know.
Hendrix turned and stared at me with strange mix of surprise and admiration. “What are you doing here? How the hell did you even get here?”
“I’ve come to negotiate for the baron’s release.”
Antiocus turned to the crew, “Search the sky for an armada.”
“You won’t find anyone. I am here alone.” I was stoic, standing with a hard but not threatening stance. I made no sudden movements and kept my hands far from my weapons. “As I said, I am here to negotiate.”
Hendrix waved his hand and the Inner Circle settled back into their seats. “An armada could never get close to this flying fortress without being seen. For whatever trick he pulled to get here, I think he’s earned the right to be heard.” He turned back to me. “So what do you want, Mr. Armitage?”
“I offer a trade. Myself for the baron.” I looked at each one of them, trying to see who had their key to the dungeons. The baroness wore hers around her neck, and Hendrix had an identical key on a leather cord around his neck. I didn’t see Antiocus’ key, but Wilhelm had his around his wrist. Lord Marbury had his tucked into his vest pocket. I could see the same leather cord as Hendrix and the gold tip poking out. If they all had them, they must be used for more than the cages. With so many to choose from, I decided not to take the baroness’ key.
“You wish to be my prisoner?” Hendrix clapped his hands together.
“Prisoner? No.” I walked around him, as if addressing each member of the Inner Circle. “I will accept your offer. I will become the Horseman of Death, but only to secure the life of my mentor.” I stopped in front of Lord Marbury. “Unlike some, I still owe loyalty to my friends.”
“I like your bravado, boy.” Hendrix smiled and tipped his Stetson. “You’ll make a fine Horseman.”
“When we land, I want him released, and until then, I want him treated like a nobleman deserves. If you do not carry through with his safe release, I will not carry through with my promise.” I leaned in toward Lord Marbury locking his eyes with mine. He had trouble maintaining eye contact with me. He wanted to turn away, but I held his gaze. I wanted to punch him, to slam my Thumper down on his traitorous head, but instead, I slipped my hand down and snagged his key. I drew it out slowly using my body to block anyone else from seeing my actions. Once I had lifted the key I bunched it up in my palm.
Hendrix nodded. “He’s being well cared for now.” His fingers twisted the key around his neck. “But I like your offer. However, if we let him go, he’s just gonna come back with an army.”
“At that point, I will have fulfilled my duty to him and repaid my debt. After that....” I turned back to Hendrix. “After we have the other Heart, no army will stop the Horsemen.” I walked back toward the stairs, pacing as if I was impatient and tired of the whole thing, trying to be just as arrogant and confident as Hendrix. Glancing down, I could just see Genevieve’s eyes shining in the shadows. I flashed the key in my palm.
Hendrix looked at each of the Inner Circle members around him. “Did you hear that? This kid has more guts than any of you. He’s noble, but he ain’t a blue blood like you Marbury. He’s braver than you’ve ever been Antiocus. He’s got more balls than my assassin, and he’s more loyal than the German is to his Kaiser.” Hendrix stepped forward, addressing each of them in turn. As they all stared up at him, I did a quick scan of the crew and the Inner Circle, made sure they were focused elsewhere, and then tossed the key toward Genevieve, hoping she’d catch it before it hit the stairwell. When I didn’t hear anything, I risked one more glance her way and saw the stairwell was empty. I wanted to jump for joy, but I didn’t. Instead, I took a deep breath. I still had a quarter of an hour to stall.
I walked over to one of the chairs and sat as if this seat had been saved for me—which, I realized, it might well have been. They all turned. Antiocus eyed me with a harsh suspicious expression, but Hendrix smirked.
The baroness waved a hand my way. “He’s certainly making himself at home. That’s a good sign. I can’t say I want my husband released, but if that’s what it takes for the General to get his prize, then so be it.”
Lord Marbury twisted in his chair. “I don’t agree. This is a trick.”
“No. It’s not!” I stared at the traitor with a sneer and spit venom with my words. “It’s about loyalty and honor, things you’ll never understand. He was your friend and you betrayed him.”
Hendrix stomped his bronze clad foot. “I like it! He’s right. We have him, because he’ll be loyal to ensure the baron is safe. It’s perfect!”
“You’re being a fool,” Antiocus said under his breath.
“Watch what you say, my friend!” Hendrix growled.
As they continued to argue about whether my offer was some sort of trick, I tried to count the minutes. The only clock I’d seen was down with the crew, and I couldn’t tell if it was the right time, or if it was counting down to something. So, I counted in my head. First to sixty several times until I got a feeling for how long a minute was, then at five minutes I tapped my foot. I was getting nervous as the time wound down. No alarms had rung, a good sign, but I had no idea what Genevieve was doing. What if the baron was too weak to walk? Maybe I should have given her more time? I took a deep breath at the ten-minute mark trying to ease my nerves.
Finally, I stood. I watched everyone in the room to see who might try and stop my escape. My biggest concern was Hendrix. He had a grappler on his mechanical arm, as well as a gun. None of the other Inner Circle members looked like they carried weapons. However, there were four soldiers spaced around the room with rifles. I needed a distraction.
The voices in the background rose and fell as I searched for something, anything, a valve I could open, a button I could push. Then I saw that the center of the platform was segmented, not a solid disk, but split into four equal parts.
It reminded me of the trap door at the Snake Palace. Risking a glance at Hendrix’s chair, I saw an upraised button on the right arm. Just a few feet away from where I stood. I knew what I had to do. I started the final countdown.
As I reached the last few seconds, Hendrix turned to me and declared, “Then it is settled.” He retook the center of the room, looking down at the other seated members of the Inner Circle as if he were their lord and master. “Alexander Armitage, I accept your offer, but I will not release the baron until after you have fulfilled your role as Horseman of Death. Kensington has been a thorn in my side for years, and I’d rather not get stuck again.” He stood right in the center of the trapdoor. “I pledge to treat him as a guest—no more torture—and when we’ve conquered the world, you can determine his fate.”
“That’s not what I offered.”
“You said you came to negotiate. So, I’m negotiating. This is my counter-offer.”
I stood up and spun around as if considering his offer. I paced around the chair, rubbing my chin. Hendrix turned to Marbury and tipped his Stetson. I took a step closer to his chair. “Well, I reject your counter-offer. The deal’s off.”
I slammed the palm of my hand down on the button. The floor opened up and Hendrix fell through. Everyone turned toward the trapdoor with stunned expressions. I bolted for the stairs and leapt down them two at a time. As I reached the floor, Hendrix unleashed a blood curdling scream that echoed out of the hole. When I stepped onto the circular staircase I heard his grappler fire. I didn’t look back. I kept running, leaping down as many stairs as I could.
When I reached the third level I rushed toward the hanger. I found Genevieve and her father had already selected an airskiff. A wooden frame like a boat, held a balloon in the front and back of the vessel, with an open section for passengers in the center. A pair of large triangular wingsails sat on each side.
Genevieve stood by the hanger door and the baron sat in the ship. As I entered, she pulled the lever, causing the gears to turn, raising the large gate.
I jumped into the skiff and cut the anchor lines. Genevieve rushed over and jumped into the craft. She lifted us off and guided us toward the door. Soldiers rushed into the hanger. I aimed my Thumpers and fired. The blast knocked them back and we soared out of the Vimana.
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