Agatha H. And the Clockwork Princess (53 page)

Selnikov shook his head. “Not from you, my darling niece, but from Lucrezia. He’s all alone. Surrounded by her priestesses.”

Anevka turned away. “Please. Tarvek could charm Klaus himself.”

“But if she’s enslaved him—”

Anevka spun and glared at the older man. “Your Lady’s filthy wasps don’t work on Sparks. That was part of the deal she made with those fools in The Order.”

She studied Selnikov’s face. “—But of course. There’s something you’ve been keeping from me.”

Selnikov looked at her, gave a small snort of amused resignation and sat down. He pulled open a desk drawer, and selected a glass. He then reached over to the ornate pen holder on his desk and pulled the pen toward him. A small spout popped out and a stream of brandy filled the glass. “No, he’s safe enough from Lucrezia’s wasps.” He took a sip, and settled back deeper into his chair. “But there are others.”

He looked at Anevka. “Your father may have been the Head of The Order, but there were others who were tasked with guarding some of The Lady’s devices. She probably didn’t trust any one person enough to own
all
of them, even someone as devoted to her as your father was.”

He hoisted himself up from his chair and strode over to a map of the region. He poked a finger at a large red pin that was stuck through a town. “Remember Herr Doktor Snarlantz? The fellow with the unfortunate teeth? Over in Passholdt? He was the one entrusted with most of her hiver engine manufacturing secrets.” He toasted the pin with his glass before drinking.

He turned back to Anevka. “To be fair, he was fascinated with them. He was always trying to improve them.”

Anevka stopped him by raising a hand. “Wait—Passholdt? But—”

Selnikov drained his glass and drew another. “Oh yes, I see you’ve heard about how well
that
all worked out.” He sighed. “Damned fool, that was an important pass. All to our short-term benefit, of course, but it’s important to remember the bigger economic picture.”

“Wasps?” Anevka said, tapping her foot.

“Yes, yes, yes. Anyway, Snarlantz occasionally got some amazing results from his meddling. This particular device, well, if we can believe his notes—”

Selnikov put down his drink and held his hands about ten centimeters apart. “It’s a miniature Hive Engine. Capable of generating but a single wasp, but a wasp designed to infect a Spark.”

“How very useful,” Anevka purred. Then she started. “Wait. Are you saying this thing is in the palace?”

Selnikov nodded and gingerly picked up his glass. “Oh yes. The Jotun Brothers and I found it in Snarlantz’s lab, after we lost contact with Passholdt. We had to remove all traces of The Order’s involvement before the whole mess became public.” He drained his drink. “It was quite a fire. We had a fine old time getting out.” Astonishingly, one could tell that the old fellow had actually enjoyed himself.

Anevka leaned in. “Why wasn’t I told?”

Selnikov looked at her blandly. “Because your dear father didn’t trust you. I cannot imagine why.”

Anevka looked away. “Does my brother know of this?”

The idea of Tarvek being considered more trustworthy than his sister caused his Lordship to snort in amusement. “No. My dear brother-in-law hid it away in a secret safe of his own design. I will show you where it is, but good luck getting it open.”

Anevka drummed her fingers on the table for a second, then spread her hands. “A device Lucrezia doesn’t even know about, hidden where she cannot find it, in a safe she cannot open? No, I think we have more pressing things to worry about.”

Vrin frowned down at the small device in Prince Tarvek’s hand. A small gaggle of Geisterdamen clustered around and tried to get a better look. It certainly looked like a diminutive Hive Engine, but—

She glared at the smirking young man. “And this will enslave a Spark? You’re sure?”

Tarvek idly tossed the device up and easily caught it again. “Quite sure.”

Vrin considered the device and the annoying fellow who held it. “So, what, exactly,” she said slowly, “Is keeping us from using it on you?”

Tarvek rolled his eyes. “And go against your Lady’s wishes? Now that would be stupid. Besides—” He casually tossed the sphere to the priestess, who frantically caught it in midair and then glared at him. “There is only the one. She isn’t foolish enough to waste it on me, since I’m already so obviously loyal to her.”

Vrin ground her teeth together silently. Tarvek smiled and continued. “Evidently not everyone who gets infected stays sane, you know.” He deftly reached out and plucked the sphere from Vrin’s hand. “Or even lives. And since she still needs me…”

“For now,” Vrin conceded. She eyed the device speculatively. “So she will try to use it on the Baron?”

Tarvek shook his head. “Not this one. Not at first, but in time. We still have to find out how it works. My uncle wasn’t able to recover the creator’s notes. A pity, that.” He sighed. “But once we’ve relocated, we’ll find a minor Spark and infect them with it under controlled conditions. With that data, and with the spent engine to reverse engineer, we should be able to duplicate it, and construct as many of them as your Lady wishes.”

Vrin reluctantly looked impressed, and Tarvek spun the tiny sphere on a fingertip. “And then this little bauble will hand us the Empire.”

Vrin looked like she had something to say about the word “us,” but at that moment, another priestess entered and hurried up to them. “Lady Vrin,” she said respectfully, “All of the Lady’s devices have been removed.”

Vrin nodded. She looked at Tarvek and smiled. “Excellent. Prepare the charges to collapse the tunnels. All traces of our Lady’s work must be erased. Bring in fuel for the fires, enough that there is no trace of this chapel.”

“What?” Tarvek exclaimed. “A fire? In my family’s castle? I think not.”

Vrin gently placed her hand upon the pommel of her sword. “Putting your family’s castle ahead of the safety of our Lady? You disloyal pig. A fire in the chapel will ensure—”

Tarvek interrupted her. “—That the Baron’s Questor will examine the place with a fine tooth comb! You couldn’t
do
anything more suspicious!”

Vrin’s grin faltered. “But we must hide—”

Tarvek rolled his eyes and strode over to a wall. Without even counting, he gently pressed down on a particular brick. “You people,” he sneered, “Have all the finesse of a Jägermonster sandwich.”

The room rumbled, and before the Geisterdamen’s startled eyes, walls, floors and the ceiling split and folded, spun and dropped around them, and less than thirty seconds later, the chapel laboratory had been transformed into a rather neglected looking library filled with old books.

Vrin blinked in astonishment as the dust settled. Tarvek stepped up behind her. “We
have
had the Baron’s people visit Sturmhalten before, you know,” he said conversationally.

The chief priestess glared at him and then strode off. Tarvek watched her go, and then pocketing the sphere and humming a tune, he went looking for Lucrezia, who he found dressed in traveling clothes in a small laboratory attached to one of the parlors.

When you had Sparks in residence, having quick access to materials and equipment became a high priority. Architects and decorators learned to just swallow their objections and expect the client to want a smelting furnace next to the master bedroom.

“My dear lady,” he said as he entered. “I would appreciate it if you would have your servants refrain from trying to ignite parts of my house.”

Lucrezia looked surprised. “Oh. Well, if you wish. I rather thought when we were done, you could just build another one. Besides, a fire can be so jolly on a chilly night.”

Tarvek considered this and carefully removed his spectacles and cleaned them with a bit of silk. “Yesss—In a running, screaming, trying to save life and property sort of way…” he allowed.

“Anyway, we’ve been having so much fun!” She gestured, and Tarvek noticed the occupant of the nearest chair with a small start of surprise.

“Come, come,” Lucrezia said, pulling at his arm, “I’ve been telling her our plans!” She turned to the chair. “This is Tarvek Sturmvarous, my dear!”

The occupant of the chair smiled. “Heavens! He
does
look like dear Wilhelm! Possibly a bit handsomer!”

Lucrezia grinned. “Isn’t he though!”

Tarvek made a graceful bow. “Hello, my Lady. It is, as ever, an honor to meet you.”

“Ooh, and so polite! Well, we always did have exquisite taste.”

Tarvek started. Lucrezia laughed girlishly. “Oh, he’s not
ours,
dear. Not like that.” She sensuously brushed her fingers down her front. “
He’s
gone all sentimental over The Girl.”

“Pish,” the other replied. “Between the two of us, we’ll soon change that.”

Lucrezia sighed. “Now, now, we mustn’t be selfish. Besides, he still plays with dolls, and I’m not sure that he’s ever—”

A scarlet-faced Tarvek executed a stiff bow. “If you’ll excuse me,
ladies
,” he said frostily. And strode off.

“Oh, now we’ve embarrassed him.”

Lucrezia smiled devilishly. “Yes, he’s so stuffy. Just like dear Klaus, remember?”

“Oh yes, this will be fun.”

Tarvek stood next to a roaring fire in the fireplace of one of the smaller workrooms. He was emptying out a set of file boxes, perusing their contents, and then tossing the papers into the flames. A great many people on Castle Wulfenbach would have wanted to see those papers, and Tarvek took a quiet satisfaction in watching them blacken and curl before they ignited.

Suddenly, he raised his head slightly. “Ah, there you are, Veilchen. I trust you had a pleasant trip?”

There was a pause, and then the cloaked assassin stepped from behind the doorway, a worried look on what was visible of his face. “How did you—?”

Tarvek fished a small device from his pocket. “Please. You can’t sneak up on me.”

The assassin peered at the device and then glanced at Tarvek with a renewed look of respect. “I thought that was just your watch.”

“Good.” Tarvek smiled as he tucked it back into his waistcoat pocket. From another inside pocket he drew out a bizarrely shaped key. “This will allow you access to the controls for the lightning moat and the drawbridge. From what I’ve been able to observe of the crowds outside, Anevka should be ready to move.” He glanced out the window and gauged the lightening sky. “We want everything done in daylight, so let her in when the tower clock strikes seven.”

Veilchen took the key. Tarvek continued. “Now this is important. I believe that the Baron’s Questor is already in Sturmhalten. We want him here at the Castle, but not too early. Try to keep him out until eleven.”

“I don’t suppose you know what he or she looks like?” Veilchen asked sourly.

Tarvek smiled. “Not a clue. But if it was easy, I wouldn’t have you do it.”

Veilchen shrugged modestly and bowed. “Thank you, your majesty.” He paused. “You might be interested to know that there was a rescue party coming for some girl.”

Tarvek paused. “I am interested.”

“They were some of her companions from the circus you took her from. They saved your sister from some Geisterdamen in the sewers. They were an odd lot. A lover, I’m guessing, a female barbarian from somewhere I’ve never heard of, a talking cat…” he paused, “—and three Jägermonsters.”

Tarvek frowned. “A
real
talking cat? How odd. I’m assuming that you took care of them.”

Veilchen nodded slowly. “I did.”

Tarvek turned back to the fire. “A pity. A real talking cat. I would have liked to have seen that.” Veilchen shook his head and with a ripple of his cloak, was gone.

Tarvek stood nodding for several seconds after he was sure that Veilchen had actually left, then released a gust of breath. He took a tentative sniff and grimaced. “The next time you wish to sneak up on someone, my dear Veilchen,” he muttered, as he checked his watch, “Don’t come via the sewers.”

The tops of Sturmhalten Castle were glowing with a rosy dawn light as the crowds began to form before the front gate. The crackling of the lightning moat could still be faintly seen, but the charged air kept everyone back behind the low stone walls. From an upper observation deck, Anevka and Lord Selnikov gave the crowd organizers their final orders. A quiet man sidled up to his Lordship and murmured quietly in his ear. Selnikov frowned and caught Anevka’s eye. She leaned in.

“Highness,” Selnikov reported, “A rather… unusual airship was sighted last night, and this morning my people have found it on the northern caravan grounds. It must be the Baron’s man, but he has yet to announce himself to any of the cities’ agencies.”

Anevka waved at the crowd. “I was expecting that. No doubt he is assessing the town. Put out the word that any strangers are to be detained. Politely, of course, by someone smart enough to play stupid. We’ll release them once Lucrezia is dead.”

There was a sudden cessation of sound, and a few seconds later, the crowd gave a roar as they realized that the moat had been shut down.

The roar doubled in value as with a rattle, the drawbridge began to lower, revealing the great metal and wood doors. With a boom, it dropped into place. The crowd milled about indecisively, until the foremen whipped them up into action. A crew shoved a large wheeled battering ram slowly forward towards the waiting doors.

Lord Selnikov lowered a telescope and frowned. “They’re not firing on us.”

Anevka adjusted her hat. “I have never seen the Geisterdamen use anything but swords and pole axes, but I imagine with their backs to the wall, they’ll find something suitably nasty to surprise us with.”

The battering ram was now shoved up to the door. Part of the crew locked the wheels, while the rest released the chains that had kept the immense ram from swinging freely.

The crew chief called out, and the men swarmed to their positions, and as the chief began to chant, they began swinging the ram back and forth. With a final yell, they pushed the massive beam forward. With a crash, it smacked into the doors, bursting them open.

Selnikov blinked. “They weren’t even barred.”