Trent Jamieson - Night's engines

“I’m not in the practice of bowing.” David nodded towards Margaret. “And don’t even bother expecting it of her.” It was Margaret’s turn to give him a look of warning. He hardly noticed it.

Mother Graine clasped her hands together, stared down at the Orbis Ingenium. “So it is you! The wolf in the clothing of such a dull child.”

David blinked. Perhaps he hadn’t taken enough Carnival that morning; it had been hard to administer while Margaret watched him. He gritted his teeth, he was going to fix that and soon. “Not quite,” he said. “Cadell is buried deep.”

Mother Graine nodded, and what may have been disappointment passed across her face. “You are not nearly as annoying as he was,” she said at last. “That’s something at least. He'd have grabbed my hand and dragged me from this place, and we would have been fighting within a minute.”

“You haven’t been around him long enough,” Margaret said.

Mother Graine stared at her appraisingly. “My child,” she said. “I have known him longer than you could believe.” She clapped her hands for silence. And it worked. “Here are our guests. David Milde, lately of Mirrlees, and Margaret Penn of the Tate Penns, last of a line of thinkers — though you would not know it to look at her. We are blessed indeed to have them here. Bid them welcome one and all, let them enjoy our city’s hospitality. For they will not be here long, and where they are going will require strength and bravery beyond anything that either has known.”

“We’ve much to talk about,” she said quietly, to the pair of them. “But not here. Not now.” She gestured to Kara. “Maiden Jade will see to your comfort. We will have a reception tonight, very informal, of course. Afterwards we will talk.”

She dipped her head once, and David bowed, stiffly. Mother Graine laughed. “Tonight,” she said, her eyes searching his face, and David worried that he was disappointing her. “Please, remember that you are welcome here.”

THE CITY OF DRIFT 1400 MILES NORTH OF THE ROIL

Margaret couldn’t understand what was happening. They’d clambered off Pinch to see Kara Jade, safe and sound, both of them on edge for signs of betrayal, and now here David seemed to be flirting with a Mother of the Sky.

She glanced over at Kara Jade. Margaret gestured at David and the older woman, and Kara Jade shrugged. It was as though they had ceased to exist.

“We thought you were in trouble,” Margaret said.

“A misunderstanding, no more,” Mother Graine said, suddenly back in the conversation.

“Yes, yes, misunderstanding,” Kara Jade said.

Margaret wasn’t very fond of misunderstandings. She looked over at David, and he stood there, still looking very confused, and not a little flustered.

Mother Graine smiled. “We’ve ammunition for your weapons, even Chill should you wish it; our artisan chemists are among the best in the world. Though where you’re headed I doubt you will require either.”

“My guns and my blades kill humans just as well as they kill creatures of the Roil.”

Mother Graine patted her arm gently. “Of course they do, my dear. I’m sure you could kill with a glance.”

Though if that were true, Mother Graine would be on the ground twitching out her last. “I’ll take whatever you can spare,” Margaret said. “We’ve long miles to the north.”

“Yes, you do,” Mother Graine said. “And though I’ve not set foot upon the earth in an age, the way to Tearwin Meet is familiar, and perilous. Even to think on it for too long is dangerous. There are forces there that will ruin your mind should you let them.” She sighed. “But that is for another time.”

“I’d hear it now, if I could.”

“Yes, I know, you must be anxious to begin the real journey. We are all anxious to see an end to this, but there are other things we must consider first.” Mother Graine looked over at David. “Tonight. We will discuss them tonight.”

She left, walking back through the crowd, and they parted for her like water is parted by the bow of a boat: swiftly, elegantly and almost without thought.

“Now, there goes a woman with the weight of the world on her shoulders,” David said.

Margaret watched after her. “So, she would have us believe.” With her gone the crowd began to relax.

“Where are the other Mothers?” David asked.

“Mother Graine has always been the foremost voice,” Kara said. “But these last months the Mothers have all but disappeared. We are bred to trust them, almost as much as we distrust the earth below, but even that acceptance has been stretched to its limits.”

“So you don’t think we will see them here?”

“No, not even for you and Miss Penn over there. There is something going on, I guess, plans. Maybe even a new weapon against the Roil,” Kara Jade said. “A single Mother is common. Indeed, Mother Graine is all we have seen in the past few weeks. Now, I really must introduce you to a few people before we get you into your rooms. Unless you'd rather go straight there.”

Margaret shook her head furiously. “I've been cooped up inside for days. I’m rested enough.”

That proved a mistake.

After being stuck with just David, these crowds came as a shock. At first it was exciting, almost energising, but soon, all these people — even with Kara offering some protection — were exhausting. All that noise, questions of the south, of the true fall of Tate: Margaret was forced to consider things that she had been avoiding for weeks.

Finally, Kara Jade led them out of the scrum to rooms within the Caress, and the crowd did not follow. This was the oldest building in Shale, it demanded quiet and respect — and sometimes it got them.

A single doorway connected David and Margaret's rooms. Kara nodded to it, and grinned most salaciously.

“That door won’t be opened, I guarantee it,” Margaret said primly.

“Of course,” Kara said, “from you I would believe it. Though I'd watch this one, seems he can even charm a Mother of the Sky.”

THE CITY OF DRIFT 1401 MILES NORTH OF THE ROIL

Kara Jade let out a long breath and grinned.

“You,” she said, and swung her arms around him, she didn't hold him for long, but David appreciated the effort. “How do you stand her?” she whispered in his ear. Then much louder, “I didn’t think I would see you again.”

“I never thought it would happen, either,” David said.

“And I’m happy to see you, too,” Margaret said.

“Of course you are,” Kara waved a hand in the air. “Of course you are.” “I’m sorry,” Margaret said, “if our parting was a little heated.” Kara laughed. “Heated, I suppose some of your threats could be considered heated.”

“You left us alone, mired in the politics of Hardacre.”

“I left you because I was summoned home. You can be scary, I suppose, but you’re nothing compared to the Mothers of the Sky. You saw her, and that was a good day. Imagine seven more, all in a fury because I didn’t deliver you to them.”

“You were meant to deliver us to them?” Margaret said.

“I think it was implied more than a direct order. Otherwise I would have taken you here immediately.”