Page 20 of Magick and Lead (Dragons and Aces #2)

ESSA

T he proprietor of the pawn shop pointed me to a large, horseless carriage called a “streetcar,” and said it followed a road that led all the way to the Air Base.

But of course, I would not use heretical necromancer technology for transportation.

Instead, I followed the car’s path on foot, walking for miles through a city that seemed endless.

I passed shops of all sorts. Scents of delicious-smelling foods wafted from the dozens of restaurants as I passed.

And the people! In Maethalia there were many races—mankind humans, elf-scion humans, sprites, dwarves, faekin, a few goblins, dragons, of course, and many other beings who kept mostly to the wildlands.

Here, everyone I saw was an ordinary human—but every variety of humanity seemed to be represented, from the dark-skinned beauties of the under isles to pale, red-haired northerners, to the lovely folk of the west. And I counted half a dozen languages spoken, too, leading me to believe Ironberg must contain people from every corner of the vast Admarian Republic.

It was no wonder we’d had such trouble defeating them at war, I thought, when they had such a diverse swath of humanity to draw upon.

At last, the vast, towering buildings gave way to more modest brick townhouses, then to factories, then to fields.

When it seemed as if my legs would carry me no further, I at last saw a sign that read, in the Admite language, McNally Air Base.

The place was surrounded by metal fencing, and a wooden hut that could only be a guard shack sat in front of it.

I strode up to the window and found two men inside, both of whom looked hardly old enough to have finished their schooling.

“I’m looking for an ace named Charlie,” I said. “Charlie Inman.”

The boys exchanged a glance. “Not pregnant, are ya?” one of them asked, and the other stifled a laugh.

I fixed them with a glare. “No,” I said, holding up my fist. “But I might try impregnating one of you with this if you don’t tell me where Charlie is.”

Their eyes went wide, then they both broke up laughing, falling over one another in their mirth.

“Damn. I like this one,” one of them said.

“Right? I’m afraid, but I like it,” the other one said. “Listen, hun, if it doesn’t work out with Charlie?—”

“Do you know where he is, or not?” I snapped.

“Sure, sure,” the first one said, wiping tears from his eyes. “Everybody knows Charlie. The guy’s like a god around here.”

This irritated me even more than their laughter had. Of course they adored Charlie… His betrayal of my kingdom had probably made him more beloved than ever.

“Where does he live?” I asked.

They pointed back the way I’d come. “Officer’s housing. C Complex. You can’t miss it. He’s on the second floor, I think.”

I turned on my heel and started walking.

“Go easy on him with that fist!” one of them called after me, and I heard them both laughing again like a pair of drunken leprechauns.

I shook my head, muttering curses.

You faring well out there, Dear Heart? Othura asked, sensing my irritation.

My feet are about to fall off. Aside from that, I’m fine.

You could have let me come, she teased. You’d be riding dragon back right now.

Right, I said. And the entire city would be trailing after us like a pack of dogs.

You seem cross, Othura pointed out . I know it will be hard seeing Charlie again after everything that’s happened…

After everything that’s happened, putting a dagger in him will be easy, I shot back. And that’s what I’m here to do.

I know, but… I could sense Othura’s skepticism—and, worse, her pity. The two of you had a bond. And as much as you’d like to simply cut that off or pretend it didn’t exist ? —

I’m about to cut you off in another instant, I shot back. It wasn’t easy for a rider to slam her mind shut against her dragon, but it was certainly possible. I wouldn’t hesitate to do just that, and Othura knew it.

Fine, she said with a sigh. All I’m saying is, beware. I’ve taken a liking to little Parthar. I want to see him healthy and rebonded as much as anyone. But there is what the mind thinks, and there is what the heart needs. And sometimes, the two don’t match up. When you see Charlie again ? —

Enough! Go eat your rats, I shot back, and cut off our connection.

I made the rest of my hike in merciful silence.

At last, I found my destination, a dozen or so two-story apartment buildings oriented around a central lawn and surrounded by a low brick wall.

A helpful sign read Fort McNally - Officer’s Housing C .

A metal box near the entrance—which I surmised was for receiving paper messages—was labeled Inman #6.

The apartment labeled with a metal “6” was on the second floor.

I climbed the stairs and pressed my ear to the door, but heard only silence.

From my place on the stair landing, I turned and looked down upon the courtyard, which contained a paved area marked with a painted grid.

Motorcars were parked in some of the spaces, but the spot labeled “6” was empty. So, he wasn’t there.

Fine. I’d wait for him.

Down the stairs I went, stepping into the bushes to hide. I was just edging to the far side of the building through the underbrush when the rumble of a necromancer engine caught my attention, and I ducked into hiding.

Peering out, I saw a two-wheeled vehicle roll into the space marked “6” and stop.

Then, I saw who was riding it and my heart stopped beating.

It was him.

Him, his hair tousled by wind.

Him, his dark azure eyes narrowed against the sun.

Him, the veins in his forearms standing out as he squeezed the handlebars of his vehicle and silenced its engine.

Him. He was beautiful.

But he was not alone.

A young beauty with short blonde hair and alabaster skin rode behind him on the steel horse, and I watched as he dismounted, then took her hand and helped her climb off—giving me a good view of her shapely legs.

She took both his hands in hers, and the two of them began speaking, though I wasn’t quite close enough to hear what was said.

I desperately wanted to probe into his mind.

Since we were both bonded to dragons, I could have tapped into him through Parthar.

But to do so would almost certainly give away my presence.

And anyway, Parthar was likely too far away to create a good connection.

So, I sat for an excruciating few minutes, watching them talk and struggling in vain to read their lips.

She was nodding and leaning into him. He was shaking his head.

It was not jealousy I was feeling, I told myself. Not jealousy, this burning in my belly. This fast beating of my heart. This trembling of my lips. It was hatred. The hatred of an enemy. Nothing more.

At last, he seemed to sigh, and the two walked together up the steps toward his apartment. Toward his bedroom, no doubt…

My teeth clenched together so hard they might break. My hand found the hilt of my dagger.

And to think—Othura thought it would be hard for me to kill Charlie…

I hurried to the back of the building, clambered up on top of the brick wall, then leaped over to grab the wrought iron rail of a balcony, my dagger clenched in my teeth.

Climbing up with one hand was hard, but no harder than keeping dragon-mounted in the middle of a battle five thousand feet in the sky.

In a second, I’d leaped the rail to crouch on the balcony.

He was inside. I heard the muffled words as he spoke to his whore.

He was so close. Part of me had never dared believe I’d be so close to him again.

Only this paltry glass door separated us now.

I’m coming for you, Charlie, I thought. And when you see me, it will already be too late.