“Too true, Alexander,” my father said. The Tinkerer’s smile grew even bigger.
I heard the door of the house open and I spun on my heel, and a familiar face emerged. Taller than I remember, but still robust and dressed in a fine suit. Owethu ran from the porch. I sprinted toward him and we hugged like brothers.
“Alexander, my friend, it is so good to see you again.”
“Owethu, you came!”
“I told you, whenever you needed me, I would be there.” My vision swam with unshed tears at the sight of my friend. When I’d left Zululand, I wasn’t certain if I’d ever see him again. I was overwhelmed and wasn’t certain if my heart could take any more surprises. He gripped my shoulder and said, “My family sends its warmest regards to my American brother.”
“Tell them, I think of them often.”
“I will.”
He saw Genevieve and rushed to her. He stopped and bowed before her. “I am so glad to see you have been freed from that awful Milli-train.”
She curtsied and bowed her head. “It is wonderful to see you again, Owethu.”
I stepped beside Genevieve. “You’ll be pleased to know the Milli-train was destroyed.”
“That demonic machine is no more? What wonderful news.”
My father looked at me, “How?”
“A dragon named Āgō āṁdhī melted it with blasts of fire as if it had taken flight right off the pages of a book. The dragon rained fire on it again and again until it tumbled right off the mountainside.”
Everyone fell silent as if I’d damped a fire with a blanket. I wasn’t certain if it was the excited way I’d talked about the destruction of the Milli-train or the description of the dragon, but I think they suddenly realized what kind of adventure Genevieve and I had been on. My father might have been locked in his office, the Tinkerer might have spent endless weeks in his workshop, and Owethu might have traveled all the way from southern Africa, but we had been chasing our enemies across the top of the world. Genevieve and I had done so much in the last few months, and I wanted to tell them everything. Well, I might censor a few parts for my father, but we had more important things to do at the moment. The Knights of the Golden Circle were coming. I could feel them looming on the horizon.
I turned to the Tinkerer. “In Tibet we found a hidden valley with a factory that was mass producing armors, smaller than yours, but enough to protect a soldier.”
“Mass production,” he huffed. “The heart and soul might be the man inside, but the real magic of these machines comes from every hammer strike I make, and every weld I forge.” He shook his head. “Your Black Knight won’t fall to these knock-offs.”
“I don’t doubt that, but they have hundreds, and I fear for our forces. Plus, they have a Vimana, or flying castle, and a Dragonship, both armored and equipped with cannons and who knows what else.” I pushed the hair out of my eyes again—sure that at any moment my father would tell me I needed a haircut—and said, “I’m afraid they mean to overwhelm us. They even have new Iron Horsemen.”
The Tinkerer motioned for us to follow him. “Your father and I... well, he told me what he discovered, and I’ve been working on something that might help.”
“One of the texts you sent me talked about how the Crusaders defeated the Horsemen of their time.” My father pushed his glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. “The forces of nature can defeat them. They harnessed the earth itself and used landslides, tornados, and volcanoes to defeat the Horsemen. It is possible that we can do the same.”
The Tinkerer yanked a tarp off his workbench revealing a long lance with a pronged tip and a large cylinder on the butt end. “I call it a Lightning Lance.” It should render any armor or rider incapacitated if employed correctly.”
“Fascinating,” I said.
“That’s not all. I also have a tornado creator and maybe one or two more tricks up my sleeve—if I can get them done in time.”
I nodded. “We don’t have much time, but we’ll make it work.” I looked at my father. “It makes sense to use Mother Nature.”
A carriage pulled up in front of the house, and we all turned. The footman hopped off the back and opened the door. The Duke and his son Richard stepped down. The Duke glanced around with disgust on his face. Richard’s eyes locked on me, and Genevieve standing beside me. Anger flashed across his face.
“What is he doing here?” The Duke asked.
CHAPTER 48
NEVER
The Tinkerer stepped out of his workshop. “Your Grace, what brings you out today?”
The Duke and Richard walked past him without an answer and stepped over to Genevieve. The Duke eyed her outfit with disdain, but said, “My dear, we are so glad you have returned. Sinclair sent word that you’d arrived safe and sound and then told me where you were. We’ve come to pluck you from this mediocrity and take you to a meeting where we will plan our response to the coming attack. Your observations might be needed.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Genevieve said dripping with sarcasm. “I would be happy to attend, but I would think you’d require Alexander as well, he has an even greater knowledge than I.”
The Duke gave me a side-eye glance, sighed, and said, “The insolent pup is not invited, but if you insist, you may bring him along.”
My eyes narrowed. I wasn’t about to stand for this after all I’d done. “I—”
“See how it speaks without being spoken to?” he said to Richard. “Some lesser men just never learn.” The Duke turned his back to me. “My son is positively thrilled that you are safely returned to us, isn’t that right, Richard?” He turned to Richard, who said nothing, but continued to stare daggers at me. “It is our hope to have you two married as soon as possible so we can put all this adventuring nonsense behind us, and you can give Richard an heir. It is, as you well know, of utmost importance that our noble lineage be continued. Now, let us proceed to the meeting. Our carriage is waiting.”
Genevieve’s mouth dropped open, and for a moment, I thought she might actually slap the ridiculous man. But she regained her composure and said, “It was so good of your son to show his concern while I was kidnapped, Your Grace. Too bad it was another who came after me.” She took a deep breath and smoothed out her jacket. “I do thank you for alerting me to the meeting, and I am eager to give my account of the Knights of the Golden Circle. Alexander will accompany me, of course, both for his expertise, and as my escort. I thank you also for your offer of transportation, but we will take the carriage that brought us here.” She made a delicate wave with her hand toward the front of the house where the carriages were waiting. “Please see that our driver has directions.”
The Duke sputtered for a moment, then spun on his heel, and walked off. Richard, who had done nothing but stare at me during the whole exchange, had to run after him to catch up. The footman opened the door to the carriage, and the two stepped in. The Duke leaned out, said something, and closed the door. The footman ran over to the other coachman and then hurried to hop on the back of the Duke’s carriage as it rolled off.
Genevieve stomped her foot and let out an exacerbated sigh. “By god, if that man doesn’t just wiggle under my skin like a worm.” She turned to me. “I am sorry he treats you in such a contemptible manner, but we should be going before he fills the rest of the Templars’ heads with nonsense.”
I nodded. “I can’t stand him, either. But you’re right. We need to get there before they do any damage.”
She smiled, turned to my father, and gave him a light kiss on the cheek, which made him blush. “We will see you again soon.”
I turned to the Tinkerer. “Before we go, I wanted to tell you that Mr. Singh is on his way on the Sparrowhawk, and we have a new friend who will be joining us, too. Do you think you can create an Iron Lotus?”
“An Iron Lotus?” The tinkerer turned his head slightly and twirled his mustache between his fingers. “Hmm... yes... well... right... I think I can do that.”
“She likes
knives and uses an owl like a weapon.”
He raised his finger as an idea came to him. He nodded and walked off into his workshop, already deep in thought. I turned to Owethu and my father. “I have to go, but will return soon. Can you help the Tinkerer until I get back?”
Owethu nodded. “It would be my honor.”
My father said, “There’s something you should know before you walk into this meeting and get blindsided. The Americans and the British have been arguing about how best to defeat the Horsemen. You’re stepping into a hornet’s nest that’s been building for months. Be careful.”
“We’ll try, but they need to hear what we have to say.”
Genevieve took my father’s hands, “We will be the bridge that brings them together, or we will build a bridge of our own.” She looked at me and then turned back to my father. “Do not worry. We’ll return soon.”
“I hope your father recovers quickly,” my father said as we turned to head to the carriage.
She smiled, but it faded quickly. “Thank you. I do, too.”
Genevieve and I climbed into the carriage, and Rodin flew in through the window. After telling the driver to get us to the meeting as quickly as possible, we took opposite seats and waved goodbye as we pulled away from the house. As soon as we were down the lane, she moved next to me. Rodin curled up across from us, and I took her hand, interlocking our fingers.
“I know we were just visited by—”
She turned to me and put her finger to my lips. “I don’t want to talk about that right now.” She leaned her head against my shoulder and pulled my hand into her lap.
The driver took Genevieve at her word, and we sped toward our destination in Georgetown, nestled on the banks of the Potomac River.
“I know you’re not going to be able to hold your tongue,” Genevieve said. “It’s something I like about you.” She kissed the back of my hand. “Know that I support you, and will be by your side. They need to hear what we—what you—have to say.”
“Thank you. Having you at my side means I don’t need anyone else. I know what has to happen. They must take on that army of armors, while we take on the Iron Horsemen. They won’t like it, but I really do know how to defeat them. At least I think I do.”
“We will. I have faith.”
“I’m glad you do. Sometimes I fear I’m too much like Diogenes. Too cynical for my own good. I do know if we can defeat the Inner Circle here... I think they are too fractured to continue.”
Leaning in, Genevieve kissed my cheek. I turned toward her and she kissed me. We didn’t stop until the carriage came to a halt. She slid to the door to step out, but I grabbed her hand, slipped my arm around her, and pulled her back to me. With her pressed against me, I smiled. “After this week, everything is going to change.”
Her eyes lit up as she stared into mine.
“There’s something I’ve wanted to tell you. I want you by my side, like this, always.” I leaned closed and put my forehead against hers. “I never want to be apart again.”
She bit her lip, but didn’t answer. I knew she couldn’t, but I knew what thoughts passed through her mind. Our lives were too complex for idle talk. But I wanted her to know how I felt, how she made me feel. With her beside me, a surge of confidence roared through me like a dragon’s call. I felt the leather strap across my chest and shoulders and the weight of the Amethyst Heart in my bag and recognized something else, a deeper, darker feeling. I knew what I wanted, and nothing would stop me from seizing it.
She touched my face, and with a quick kiss I let her go. We slipped out of the carriage and stood before an old wood building. I saw the symbols of the Freemasons on the door and elsewhere on the building. Another lodge.
Inside, light flickered from sconces on the walls in the hallway, and as we entered the great hall with elaborate high-backed chairs arranged in a circle, candle flames danced from the towering candelabras. The Duke, with Richard next to him, Grand Master Sinclair, Eustache de Moley, James Revere, and several other Templar Knights and Freemasons were already seated. They fell silent as we entered and stared at us as we approached. Genevieve curtsied, and I bowed, but without seats, we had to stand on the edge of the circle.
“Welcome,” Grand Master Sinclair said. “For those who don’t know, allow me to introduce Genevieve Kensington, daughter of Baron Maximillian Kensington, and Alexander Armitage, son of Professor John Armitage of Eton College.”
The Duke took a drink from a goblet and said, “They are here because they have accompanied the baron around the world and seen the enemy. Since he is ill and cannot attend, I have asked his daughter to join us.”
I swallowed the anger building within me. The Duke would never change. He almost proved Hendrix’s point about the Templar being out of touch, but I knew there were others who welcomed me here.
Eustache nodded to me. I smiled at my old friend, but his face held a troubled expression.
Sinclair ignored the Duke and addressed the other men. “Our spies have spotted their airships heading this way. They come in a flying fortress and intend to send an army upon this very city. Alexander and Genevieve, please explain a bit more about their intentions. Tell them what you told me.”
Genevieve looked at me, and pointed to herself. I nodded and she began. “They are determined to destroy the Templars and the US Government in one final battle. General Hendrix has already killed anyone who opposed him. The latest was Xerxes, a Persian member of the Inner Circle. Alexander witnessed this. The Pirate Queen Zerelda is dead as well; she plunged into a volcano. We both witnessed this. The Heart she carried was destroyed, which means they now possess three of the Crusader Hearts and two of the Ancient Hearts, the ones from Malta.” She looked at me and at the bag around my shoulder.
I added, “The Vimana, the flying fortress that Grand Master Sinclair spoke of is more heavily armed than any airship in your armada. It carries thousands of soldiers and hundreds of battle armors. They aren’t as powerful as the Iron Armors like the Black Knight, but they’ll decimate your troops. The Dragonship is heavily armored and more maneuverable than any airship you have—more than anything you can imagine—and together they will wipe your armies away like insects. But worse, if we do defeat them, they know they can use the hearts like a bomb. They’ll unleash the power in one act and destroy the city. Either way, they win.”
Mr. Revere leaned on his elbow “You make it sound like we are doomed before we even begin the battle.”
“On the contrary, I’m trying to make you understand the severity of the situation and what is at stake. But, my father has discovered a power that can defeat the Hearts once and for all.”
The Duke waved his hand as if to dismiss me. “We already have a plan. We will face them in combat, defeat their armies, rip the Hearts from the Horsemen, and you won’t have to worry about them anymore.”
“No. You won’t.” I said. “You cannot defeat them with traditional armies or traditional weaponry.”
The Duke stared at me with narrow, hate-filled eyes. “We’re enacting the plan that should have been implemented in London.”
“Nothing has changed from London. The baron is not ready for combat, and,” Eustache pointed to his chest, “with my clockwork heart, I should not be in battle. Besides, you and the Masons have never piloted these armors.”
“And,” I said, “Lord Marbury is the mole; he knows that plan. They’ll be expecting you, anticipating every move you make.”
“They will not be able to defeat us. We are the one with the righteous cause, with God on our side.” The Duke took a deep breath, “We’ve heard enough from this school boy, time to let the men fight. You are dismissed.”
“What!” I stared at him as my blood boiled and my hand twitched at my side. “I will not be cast aside. This is my fight.”
“Your fight? What a pompous...” The Duke could barely speak. “The armors will be piloted by knights, not boys!”
Revere raised his hands, in order to quell ou
r anger. “Gentlemen, please, let’s take a moment to calm down. Alexander, you’ve done great work, but we have warriors and generals who will take it from here.” He looked to Sinclair, who held his head in his hands. “We will have a mix of Masonic members and Templar Knights. All of whom have served in the military. We are the best qualified for this task.”
I eyed Sinclair, and he nodded, but couldn’t look at me. With a furrowed brow Eustache shook his head. Genevieve put her hand on my arm and Richard cringed. The Duke’s face contorted with a smug grin. The burning within me, erupted like the volcano. Rage ripped at every inch of my skin as if something were trying to break free. I turned to Sinclair. “Am I to be made a Templar?”
He looked at me, but before he could answer, the Duke laughed, “You?” He chuckled, the annoying noble laugh that was too constrained to be an expression of joy. No, it was a sign of contempt. “You will never be a Templar Knight, you insolent pup.”
I stormed into the center of the chairs, seizing the room like Captain Baldarich would. I stared at each one of them before focusing on the Duke. “First, I don’t care what you think or what you’ve planned. Second, I’m no longer a school boy; I’m a Sky Raider. Third, I’m going to tell you how this battle will unfold and you are going to listen. Indihar Singh will be here soon along with the crew of the Sparrowhawk. When they arrive, Genevieve, Indihar, Owethu, Lianhua, and I will take the Iron Armors into battle. Why? Because we have the most experience fighting the Iron Horsemen.” I turned to Revere and Sinclair. “Your forces will engage the Knights of Golden Circle’s armors and airships. You’re going to need all those experienced military men if you want this country to remain whole. I suggest you line up every single soldier and cannon you can find in front of the White House and the Capitol Building. That’s where he’s going, and that is where I will be. This isn’t about your egos or mine. General Hendrix is coming here to become Emperor Hendrix. He killed Kannard and seized control of the Inner Circle to create an American Empire that will spread tyranny across the world. He has claimed the gold hidden by the remnants of the Confederacy—Genevieve and I witnessed this—and he can buy each one of you ten times over. Including you.” I turned and stared right at the Duke. “I’ve spent three years of my life fighting the Golden Circle. My ancestors gave their lives fighting the Golden Circle, and for all Hendrix’s, faults he knows one thing to be true, and he made me realize this truth, and now I’m going to explain it to each of you. I, like Alexander the Great before me, will determine the outcome of this battle.”
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