“I say, are you alright, Senator?” A voice came from the direction of the switched-off lights, further breaking the moment. Jack coughed behind her and began fumbling with the straps that bound them together.
“Yes, Stevens, just a moment,” he replied hastily, ducking his head and fiddling with the last of the attachments. Deliverance stretched after she stood, freed of the constraints. Suddenly, she was blinded by a flood of light.
“Put your hands up!” The same voice that had spoken before commanded. Deliverance cast around, confused. “Put your hands up or I will shoot!” Fades! The man had a bow!
Erratically, Deliverance spun around looking for an escape route before Jack piped up.
“Stevens, for Christ’s sake. She’s with me. And you don’t own a gun.” He sounded slightly perturbed, wrestling with the mounds of swishing fabric, but did not give the armed man the slightest care.
“Oh! Oh, very good, sir! Sorry about that… I may not own a gun, but I got this illuminating taser from Mrs. Potter.” The voice came again and the lights shut off in a scramble.
“Jesus, put that taser away, man. You’ll bloody likely shoot yourself. And come help me with this!” Jack ordered, stumbling toward a large wagon-looking contraption.
It was sleek and shinier than any paint she had ever seen, with the bright lights affixed to the front. After wrestling the tandem rig into the backside of it, Jack glanced up at her and took in her wonderment.
“Oh…this is an automobile,” he said, gesturing at the wagon.
“Aught-to-mobile?” Deliverance tried.
“Something like that, but we really must hurry, otherwise all this subterfuge and clandestine-ness will be for naught. Come along,” Jack said as he shuffled her into a seat near the back of the aught-to-mobile.
The man, Stevens, Deliverance assumed, climbed in the front and grasped a round wheel while Jack piled in beside her.
“To the hideaway!” Jack ordered, although Steven must have thought him tongue in cheek because the older man rolled his eyes. Deliverance could see it in the mirror affixed to the front window. With a roar, the aught-to-mobile sprang to life and Deliverance gave a start. There were wild animals enclosed in the front of this carriage!
Jack noticed her widened eyes and took her hand. “It’s alright, love. It’s supposed to sound like that…well, mostly like that. It needs a new muffler.” Deliverance looked at him quizzically as they sped away.
“I imagine you’ve never moved so fast in your life. Is it disorienting?” Jack asked, studying her, almost scientifically, as if he could catalogue her reactions for further research.
Deliverance put her other the hand to the transparent glass next to her and peered out at the world zipping by. It was disorienting. She wondered what type of animals were contained in the front of the carriage to cause them to move with such speed.
“Yes…but I like it. It’s fascinating,” she admitted, not taking her eyes off the landscape whizzing by. If she could drink it all in, she would. It was difficult to see anything in the dark, although she gathered when they had traversed from countryside into more populated areas. Strange gas lamps began to illuminate the road, which had transformed from a normal, rocky path to something altogether strange and smooth. Someone had painted symbols on the smooth road and occasionally another aught-to-mobile monster would whiz by them in the opposite direction at a dizzy speed.
Occasionally, Deliverance caught Stevens eyeing her through the mirror in the front. She tried not to stare back into his watery grey eyes, which, although wary as he regarded her, seemed kind enough. He was wearing some sort of dark jacket and waistcoat, but no hat, although the weather seemed a bit chilly. Involuntarily, she shivered.
“Stevens, can you turn the heat up, old chap? Thanks,” said Jack, although Deliverance did not know how they would light a fire in the contained space. Miraculously though, hot air began to blow forcibly on them through tiny vents in the ceiling and floorboards.
“There, is that better?” Jack asked her, looking torn as to whether or not to slide over and provide physical warmth or not, but then evidently decided against it when he met Stevens’s eyes in the mirror. “Yes, alright. We will have a family meeting post haste when we arrive at the manor, but until then, Miss Deliverance…er, well I suppose you do not have a last name do you?”
Deliverance shook her head. “No, if someone has a last name on Nar, it is because it is their job. Mother and I do not have official stations or titles.”
Stevens gave a walloping exhale, spitting toward the windshield, and began to cough. Jack had to reach around and pat the elder man on the back to help him with the fit.
“Sir, I…” Stevens began, clearly concerned, but Jack interrupted him with a hand up.
“No, this can wait for the family meeting. But Miss Deliverance, may I present to you Edward Stevens, my manservant? Stevens, this is Miss Deliverance.” Jack gave perfunctory introductions, unphased.
“Pleased to meet you?” Deliverance tried.
“Yes…um. The pleasure it all mine, Miss. Yes…” Stevens replied then trailed off, turning his attention back to the road. A worried grimace had affixed itself to his visage, trailing deep crevices in the man’s face.
“Don’t mind him,” Jack said to Deliverance. “He has my best interests at heart. Has since I was a boy. Is a bit of a worry wart, though.” Deliverance heard a very faint grunt of protest from the front seat but nothing else followed it.
CHAPTER 10
Deliverance
As they ventured into more populated areas, the illumination grew brighter. Deliverance could see outlines of large, stone-built homes, some all smashed together in a row. Tall metal rods held the not-flickering lamps over the streets and their curious signs and symbols. It was odd how still the light was, having no life like flame normally has. Occasionally, she caught a glimpse of a group of men wearing coats similar to Stevens’ traveling together on the lip of the roads, or a woman in a cloak curiously attached to a dog with a rope. She wondered if the woman was alright or if she was mentally ill. She decided even if she was, the woman’s clothes were fine enough—she probably had caretakers looking after her. Although, she hoped they knew their charge was wandering the streets at night being led by a dog on a string, or that at the very least, the dog knew where they were going.
She was amazed at how far they had to travel before entering the sector in which Jack’s “manner” was located. There were so many people all crammed together in this city, and yet the structures were more enormous than anything she had ever seen. Perhaps they enjoyed living so close to one another if the monstrous structures provided some privacy?
After what seemed an age, they turned onto a cobblestone street. Here the homes became statelier and imposing, and the roads were lined in gardens. The change in street material caused the aught-to-mobile to bounce slightly, disrupting the alien smoothness of the journey thus far.
“Shall we pull around back, Stevens?” Jack asked, shifting impatiently in his seat, as if to survey for possible onlookers.
“’Fraid everyone is awaiting you at the front, sir.” Stevens replied as they pulled up to a large, wrought iron set of gates. A scrolling Q was rendered into the blackened metal
and the gates creaked open after Stevens pushed a button on the ceiling of the aught-to-mobile.
“Bloody hell. Well, Deliverance, it seems you are about to get inundated with attention. Don’t worry, it’s just the family. Are you ready?” he asked, turning to stare at her intently. She nodded, with a nervous lump in her throat. What would this family be like? Would it be like the ones in the town in Nar, like the Butcher’s, where there was a father, mother, children, and perhaps some grandparents if they survived? Or would it be like Deliverance’s own—a cobbled-together threesome of her, her mother, and Effie? Jack had mentioned he had a little sister. Were there others? What would they make of her?
Her racing thoughts were interrupted as they pulled through a circular drive in front of the main entrance to what Deliverance assumed was a “manner.” She never thought of houses having manners or lack thereof, but it must’ve been some sort of idiomatic expression. There was lots she would have to learn. Large pillars propped up a roof over the area in which Stevens pulled the aught-to-mobile to a halt. Jack sprang out of his seat and swiftly came to her door, opened it, and proffered his hand to take hers. Inhaling deeply, she reached out and allowed him to help her from the carriage.
A large, double-door entrance sprung open, billowing warm light out into the night and reaching them. Jack firmly guided her along with him into the entrance of the “manner” and chaos erupted.
***
Deliverance was inundated with cheerful sounds from the host of people converging on them. They seemed to be wearing uniforms of some sort, the women wearing black and white ensembles and the men wearing similar ones, but not in skirts.
“Welcome back, Senator!” A kindly old lady greeted Jack, pausing to wipe her hands on a frilly apron encircling her modest, high-collared dress.
“Mrs. Potter!” Jack began but was interrupted by a high-pitched squeal, the kind only prepubescent girls could make.
The sea of people parted slightly and a blur of fabric attacked Jack, leaping at his chest. Deliverance took a step back and took in the reunion. A girl, about twelve or thirteen if she were guessing in Narisi age, wrapped her arms tightly around Jack’s midsection. Jack’s eyes, for his part, were afire with affection as he returned the embrace.
But it was so odd. The little girl had no hair. None atop her head, none where her eyebrows aught to have been. If this was the fashion in Arcanton, Deliverance thought, maybe the women were more practical than Jack had made them out to be. She could see definite advantages in the girl’s choice of haircut, although it seemed hard to maintain. No more difficult than her wild, unruly mess of curls though, she thought ruefully, and then became uncomfortably aware that not only was she a grimy mess, but everyone had stopped talking and was staring at her.
Jack cleared his throat and announced, “Everyone, this is Miss…pardon, Lady Deliverance. She will be staying with us for the foreseeable future. Please prepare her a guest suite and see to it her needs are met.” He stopped talking but everyone did not seem to notice. They continued to stare at her. Deliverance fidgeted uncomfortably.
It was the girl who broke the standoff finally. She came up to Deliverance with a bright smile upon her bald face and dropped a curtsy in front of her. Deliverance did the same, not sure of the protocol but deciding mimicking would be the best way to get along for now. The girl held out her hand, beckoning Deliverance to take it.
“I’m Eleanor!” The girl introduced herself effervescently.
“My name is Deliverance,” she replied. The girl giggled and clapped her hands, evidently pleased. She cast her attention to her older brother.
“You naughty rascal! I cannot believe you did not let me in on this!” The girl chastised Jack, although he returned her enthusiasm with a quizzical stare. Deliverance stared back and forth between the two of them, one dark head and one shiny. Jack had not known when he had set out on his voyage he would encounter her, so what was the girl implying?
“Yes…I did not?” Jack said, unsure.
“It has been one hell of a wait. No, do not tsk tsk me, Mrs. Potter for language. It is the truth! But now I will finally have a sister in law!” The girl clasped her hands in glee and excitement, and Jack had a coughing fit.
Oh no, Deliverance thought. They thought…
“Yes…this is my…fiancée. My fiancée, everyone. She is just in from… the Southlands, so please excuse her if she is not familiar with our customs. I am sure you will help her and make her comfortable,” Jack managed, although his voice squeaked uncomfortably with the lie.
Deliverance remained quiet. It was as good a subterfuge as any, she supposed, if he meant to keep her Narisi origins a secret for now. The household seemed to accept this answer with ease and started to break away into a flurry of activity.
“Please, Deliverance, come with me. We shall retire to the drawing room and you shall tell me all about yourself. Jack, she is so pretty! No wonder you fell for her!” Eleanor babbled as she started to lead Deliverance off.
“Er…Stevens…Mrs. Potter? Can you accompany us to the drawing room as well? We need to have a family meeting….we REALLY need to have a family meeting,” Jack said weakly. Deliverance wondered how stressful it would be on him to maintain such a fib as their cover. She had not considered he might already have someone else—another woman, already in his life. What would happen to his personal affairs if that were the case? What a pickle she had put him in!
Once all five of them were ensconced in an elaborate room evidently deemed a “drawing room,” Jack shut both of the carved wooden doors behind them and flipped the latch. Stevens and Mrs. Potter were gazing at him expectantly, although Eleanor seemed keen to pull Deliverance over to the fire to chat. Jack rested both of his palms on the closed doors, leaning forward and taking a moment to compose himself before turning to face them.
He clasped his hands together. He began by calling Eleanor’s attention back to the here and now, although it was clear the girl would rather be happily enveloped in a tête-à-tête about wedding plans and getting to know Deliverance. She stuck her lip out in protest at her brother seizing her attention away from her new playmate.
“Yes, so…I lied,” Jack admitted meekly. Mrs. Potter cluck-clucked, sucking wind through her pursed lips, although she did not seem surprised. “It seems my antics may have caught up to me. I was out, as you know, on one of my data collection missions when we received a distress beacon from a very old registry. It was the informant frequency from Nar. So we followed it and came upon a primitive sailboat, adrift with no wind and out of provisions…and in it, Miss Deliverance.”
Stevens gasped. “Are you saying, Senator, that Miss Deliverance is…?”
“Um, yes. That is what I am saying. She is Narisi. In fact, she is Cat’s daughter. Apparently, there was an emergency and Cat sent Deliverance out to sea with the distress beacon activated to avoid imminent danger. It was all very sudden,” Jack explained.
Mrs. Potter sank into one of the ornate looking chairs and began absently running her fingers along its finely embroidered filigreed fabric.
Jack looked at her. “I could not just leave her out there!”
“No…no, of course not,” Mrs. Potter replied quietly, obviously shaken. The elderly woman’s face had taken on an ashen sha
de.
“Wait…” Eleanor interrupted, catching on. “So…she’s not your fiancée?”
“No, although that is a brilliant cover. Good job, Eleanor. I hadn’t thought of a decent cover story until you did,” Jack replied, not seeming to notice his sister’s utter disappointment.
The girl seemed to deflate in a flounce of lace and crinoline beside the hearth. A pouting lip wormed out to complete the picture of utter dismay. Deliverance almost hated to let her down, but the truth was important. She hoped they would not have to keep up this ruse long and she could reach Lord Asher without too much difficulty. It would not be necessary if the entire household had not seen them enter, but Deliverance imagined the staff would talk and rumors would spread. She was beginning to understand Jack was a lot more influential in society than a pirate…Fades, no, they had called him Senator! How had she missed that point? God’s teeth, he was part of the top tier of Arcanton’s government!
Finally, Stevens broke the silent mulling of the group, clearing his throat. “Well, it certainly seems ill advised, sir, to bring an actual Narisi woman into Arcanton…but it cannot be helped now. We must find a way to proceed as carefully as possible.”
Deliverance piped up. “Why is it so precarious—my being here?” It could not have been all that odd for people to travel in the Outside. Their storywinders told them often of epic odysseys in which heroes or even regular folks would embark on journeys.
Mrs. Potter fielded her question. “That, my dear, is a very complex question. The simplest way to answer it would be the rest of the world—the Outside, as you call it—is afraid of what the Narisi women may be capable of.”
Deliverance’s brow furrowed. “I do not understand. We are an island of farmers, weavers, potters, and the like. We have useful capabilities, but they are simple. Our women are, well, quite ordinary. The men do most of the power wielding on Nar.”
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