Page 23 of Inked in Emeralds (Inkbound #3)

W e didn't waste any time. Each of us grabbed a room at random and tucked our belongings away. Fifteen minutes later, we left our quarters with Bonnie holding down the fort.

And by holding down the fort, I meant perched on a curtain rod sleeping.

I couldn’t even blame her. She’d had the longest journey of all, traveling between the pages, and it only seemed fair that at least she get some rest. She’d earned it.

Billy took the lead, retracing our path through the palace corridors until we reached the long flight of steps, we’d trudged up more than an hour before.

We stepped out onto the pristine streets of Emerald City moments later.

Metal gears hummed overhead as city folk rushed in and out of fancy shops.

Several people stopped in their tracks to stare and murmur, but I followed Billy’s example and avoided eye contact, barreling my way through.

Someone could try to step in front of us and stop us for a chat, but they’d be risking life and limb to do it.

Still, when we came across a small crowd gathered near a long metal structure that ran right through the gardens, I couldn’t help but slow.

Men and women in grease-smudged clothes bustled around, barking instructions and working on the strange contraption, a seemingly endless carriage, only with no horses to pull it.

Interesting…

“Do you know what’s going on there?” I asked a short blonde woman standing a few feet in front of me.

“Trouble with the trolley.” She eyed me like she wanted to say more but then tugged her shawl tighter around her shoulders.

“Is that what that’s called? A trolley?”

Her brows shot high in surprise. “You’ve never seen it before? Steam-powered. Those gadgets there,” she gestured toward a group of large metal cylinders, “heat water and the steam drives the engine forward on the rails. It hauls people and cargo across the city.”

I stared at the enormous metal beast, fascinated. Workers shouted and hurried around, tightening bolts and looking at gauges.

“Clever, isn’t it?”

“Amazing.”

Damn. Why hadn’t I thought of this back in The Hollow?

How much easier would things have been for people?

For a second, homesickness hit me in a rush.

Me and Moll, walking through the streets of The Hollow, brainstorming inventions and her teasing me.

We’d had plenty of struggles, but there was a lot to miss about it, too.

This wasn’t The Hollow, though, and instead of sweating where our next meal would come from, I stood in The Emerald City, preparing to wage war against the most powerful being who ever lived. If it could even be called a war when one side consisted of three soldiers, a magicless tinker, and a bird…

“Are you…You’re…her, aren’t you?”

How was I supposed to answer that? My cheeks went hot, and I shrugged.

“I guess so?”

She took a furtive look around. “I know we aren’t supposed to bother you, but me and my family are big fans. Good luck at the trials!”

I managed a smile. “Thanks.” As much as I liked hearing anyone was on our side, the sense of being watched and recognized wasn’t one I loved.

I turned my head, about to move on, when I caught sight of a massive sign that read “Ruby Reach”. The letters were made from real rubies, inset into the wood.

Duncan squinted up at it. "Ruby Reach?"

"It’s going to be so wonderful,” came a smooth voice from behind us. We turned to see a well-dressed older woman with her hand resting on the shoulder of a teenage boy. "They've been working on it for a year and a half now. It’s meant to be Emerald City’s sister, only a day’s journey by train.”

The young, ginger-haired man at her side grinned, raising his broad shoulders. "I just got chosen to join the work crews myself. Headed there later this week."

Billy tilted her head. "Chosen?"

The woman nodded. "There's a drawing every fortnight. Pretty much anyone can apply, and they pick people through a lottery system to help keep things fair."

The boy beamed. "My pa went three months back. Can’t wait to get out there and start working with him."

"Hope the trolley is fixed soon, then," I said. "Good luck."

Billy shifted nearby and glanced at her wrist as if it carried a watch. “It’s getting late. We need to get a move on.”

I spared a final glance at the trolley, taking in every detail I could, missing my magic more than ever.

If I’d had it, it’d have read it like a blueprint in my mind.

An image that I could recall any time I wanted.

Instead, I was left doubting I could replicate this feat of engineering even if I wanted to.

“Right. Sorry.”

We continued, but my thoughts stayed on the trolley.

As we made our way deeper into the heart of the city, the emerald spires and suspended bridges gave way to simpler structures.

Some people stared as we passed, but looked away quickly.

The Wizard had done his job well. He clearly held a lot of power and influence over the citizens of Emerald City.

Strong motivators that made it hard not to wonder…

Even if he was telling the truth and had started the whole con to unite the city and help protect its people, had it gone to his head? Was he really looking out for them…or was he looking out for him ?

I vowed to do my level best to find out before I left. The goal, as ever, was to return to C’an Saas. But somewhere along the way, it had become just as important to leave each story—and the people in it—better off than when I’d gotten there.

Two down, one to go…

Soon enough, we found ourselves in a section of town that reminded me of The Smudge back in Alabaster, except less grungy, and not hidden from sight by a magical shroud so that rich people didn’t have to insult their eyes by looking at it.

Simple wooden houses dotted busy streets where children played and merchants shouted greetings, advertising their wares.

Everything was a little aged and worn, but there was a warmth to it all, too.

The same held true for the people. Still smartly dressed by Hollow standards, they were much less fussy than those closest to the city center.

Regular citizens; mothers chasing little ones, shopkeepers, laborers, and craftsmen.

Most of whom were too busy working and living their lives to spare us a second look.

The tight feeling in my chest unfurled and I took a deep breath as my steps slowed to something close to normal.

My kind of people. My kind of place.

I hadn’t realized how being surrounded by fancy things and even fancier people affected me, both inside and out. My body had been in a constant state of fight or flight. It was exhausting.

And necessary, I admitted to myself. My “betters” had shown time and time again that they were anything but that, and I’d be insane if I didn’t sleep with one eye open when on their turf.

Billy paused by a fountain carved from brass and waved us closer. "Alright,” she said in a low voice, "Now we're far enough from prying eyes, it's time to make a plan."

This was a language I understood. Planning…strategy. I was already feeling a little less gloom and doom.

"Agreed." I stepped closer, adrenaline forcing the exhaustion away. "We only have a couple days to prepare, so we need to focus on three things. First priority is getting my magic unlocked. I’ll almost certainly need it for the trials.”

“Seems like.” Hook nodded. "And the second?"

"We do as Billy said. Talk to people. Ferret out information…anything that could help us against the Witch," I continued, ticking off item two on my fingers. "I’ve only gotten this far by being out and about and keeping my eyes and ears open. No reason this place should be different."

"And the third thing?" Duncan asked.

"We train. We all need to be as sharp as possible in every discipline. Hand to hand combat, weapons, speed. We need to be ready for anything."

A smile momentarily softened Billy’s features. "A woman after my own heart. You’re growing on me, Princess."

Hook glanced at the sky and then back at us. "We’ve got a plan. Let's not waste any more daylight."

Billy took the lead again, and we headed toward a row of open-air stalls and merchants. She seemed at ease as she moved through the vendors and patrons, pointing out changes in the city she'd noticed since she’d been here last.

"That place there used to sell honey buns for two coppers," she said, nodding toward a busy shop with a display case bursting with baked goods. "But it seems the new owner prefers filling pockets over stomachs. Prices have doubled."

Duncan jerked a thumb at a guy selling skewered meats and vegetables. “What about that one?"

"You can, but I wouldn’t. Word on the street was that mystery meat surprise he’s always on about is actually rat.”

“I’m hungry,” Duncan said, “but I don’t think I’m quite ‘rat’ hungry yet.”

"I know a place. Food’s good and cheap, and there’s a guy I want to see over that way in any case.”

We walked for another ten minutes or so before Billy stopped in front of another little bakery, and I let out a groan at the smell of yeasty bread and cinnamon.

"This is the place. Best baked goods in all of Oz, and the price is right,” she announced.

“What should we get?”

Inside, we ordered exactly what Billy recommended.

Golden pastry pockets stuffed with meat and gooey cheese, and half a dozen dumplings filled to splitting with goozleberry jam.

The owner, a sharp-featured woman with a dusting of flour on her apron named Connie, packed everything into parcels.

Duncan fished out the coins to pay her, and then we were on our way.

“It’s still warm,” I murmured, tucking into one of the savory hand pies.

“Eat up. We’ve got another ten-minute walk. No point in waiting for it to get cold.”