Chapter Thirty-Eight

 

 

 

LIGHT BLAZED FROM a castle window‌—‌the very window from which Ian had climbed out of mere hours ago. Katerina’s silhouette filled the frame. A clear beacon. A reminder that she not only wished to deliver his technology to Russia, she also wished to deliver him to Russia.

He stopped in the shadow of the castle’s stone wall. He’d lost much time and the advantage of surprise by rushing deep into the forest behind Wei, convinced Olivia and Elizabeth would both break their necks leaping from a seven-story window.

Squinting at the night sky, he searched for the Russian storm frigate through the driving snow. Nothing yet. But the mercury had dropped by several degrees and in the sky, a pteryform soared, flapping its great, leathery black wings, drawn by the increasing cold and awaiting its mistress’ signal.

The snow swirled about him as one patrolling guardsmen greeted another, each clapping the other upon the shoulder with a smile. Though Ian could not understand the words, one guardsman pointed to the tumor upon his mandible, speaking excitedly. It seemed word was out that a cure had been found.

The plan was to stop Katerina, press the osforare apparatus into Black’s hands, and see Olivia and Elizabeth safe across the border. Then he would return to this small German village. He owed a debt to the men, to the families whose lives had been irrevocably altered by the invasive bone cells he’d helped to create. He would obliterate Warrick’s legacy from their bodies, their bones. Only then could he return home.

Unless Katerina had her way.

Even without his cooperation, Russia could reverse engineer the osforare apparatus. Her chemists could deconstruct the biochemical residue and, given enough time, they might reproduce it. But he would do everything within his power to prevent a future where men with silver skeletons attacked Britain riding astride armored pteryformes.

British security, his honor and his future depended upon his success. Katerina Dyatlova had to be stopped, and he had until midnight. Less than an hour.

~~~

Olivia shoved the bioactive nocturnal goggles onto her forehead.

She’d made it. Barely. If not for said goggles, she would have lost her race to the many tree roots that had stretched out to trip her, or the branches that tore and ripped at her arms, each assault a reminder that she was woefully ill-prepared for this latest self-appointed mission.

Her fingers and toes and ears and nose were frost-nipped. Her legs ached and her lungs burned from the unaccustomed exertion. And she’d only just reached the base of the castle. Far overhead, a pteryform circled, still tracing a holding pattern. Katerina had yet to order the creature to its perch, to The Roost, and that meant Olivia was not too late. Excellent, for her plan depended upon being the first to arrive.

Breathless, she unfastened the sack at her waist and drew forth the dragon claws. She fitted the steel hind claws to the toes of her boots, yanking the leather buckles to secure them more tightly than was strictly necessary. Then she slid her hands into the fore claws. With thumb and forefinger, she twisted the dial on each foot, each hand. A low hum began, informing her ears that power surged through their inner workings.

Pushing the goggles into place with the backs of her hands, she tipped her head back, studying the stone wall that stretched into the night sky. The Roost lay ten stories above her. If Wei could manage with bare hands and feet, certainly it wasn’t madness for her to undertake the task with mechanical assistance. Was it?

Olivia took several long breaths, attempting to calm the anxiety that roiled inside her, then gripped the stone with one hand. With a flick of her index finger, the claw locked into place, holding fast. Impressive. She lifted her other arm and grabbed another piece of the wall. One foot secured with a toe-tap, then the next. A twist of her wrist and the first claw released. She reached higher. Hands. Feet. Limb by limb, she scaled the wall.

~~~

Five steps up the tower stairs, Ian froze at the faint creak of door hinges. Sword raised, back against the wall, he waited. Anyone wishing to reach The Roost would need to pass this way.

More than an hour remained until the scheduled flyby. Early yet for Katerina to have left whatever bolt hole in which she’d hidden, but he hoped the prowler was her. He’d rather complete this task quickly and head with all due speed to the French border.

Alas, the cold, fierce eyes that stared up at him were not hers. These two dark pools belonged to a mercenary chemical peddler. “The count has been murdered.” Zheng’s voice promised to inflict vengeance upon all involved.

“Imagine that,” Ian answered, keeping his face blank. “By his wife?”

Zheng’s eyes narrowed. “He was hunting you and yours. He rode out upon the back of his pteryform, but came back in its claws. The beast dropped him from the sky, shattering his skull upon the courtyard’s cobblestones.”

“That’s not murder,” Ian answered. “Merely a predator returning with prey.”

“Is it?” Zheng tipped his head. “The creature showed no interest in consuming him, but there were several deep puncture wounds. He’d lost much blood.”

“Have you seen pteryform claws? The razor edge of its beak?”

“Your unanticipated return to the castle suggests a man who knows his way around a multitude of blades played a role. Upon your arrival, I removed several throwing knives from your person.”

“So you did.” Was this an accusation? Ian fought to keep amusement from his face.

“But as you were taken captive, you betrayed no loyalty, and so we have no further argument between us.” Zheng waved a hand toward the stairs. “A Russian airship approaches, and that monstrous beast circles overhead. It now answers to the countess. I am certain she intends to leave with your device.”

“Were you unable to keep Katerina secure?”

Zheng hissed out several words in Chinese. “No. She is a slippery eel.”

On that they agreed. “I intend stop her.”

“I will help.” Zheng nodded. “It is good you have returned. Britain will have need of antimony. We will form a new alliance.”

It was hard to keep the shock from his face. “A partnership? With a man who allows his niece to sample poisonous food items? Who does not object to deadly experimentation upon young men or women? Who kills a man in anger knowing the answers that man holds might save lives?”

“You had his papers.” Zheng’s eyebrows drew together. “He killed your father.”

“And would have died,” Ian spat, “after sharing all his secrets.” Not entirely true. Given the option, he would have preferred for Warrick to end his days in a dank, dark cell. He gripped the hilt of his sword tighter as Zheng slid his hands into his sleeves of his tunic and withdrew a matching pair of wide but short—‌no longer than his forearms—‌swords. “I would rather proceed with your cooperation, but I cannot allow the device to fall into the hands of the Russians. As you decline an alliance…‌”

That was all the warning Ian received before Zheng attacked, shouting as he charged up the stairs. Both knifes spun in his hands, slicing through the air.

Steel clanged against steel and stone as Ian focused upon defending his position, of deflecting the unfamiliar slashing and hacking motions in the narrow confines of the tower stairs.

Zheng’s short blades—‌perfect for fighting in tight, close quarters—‌and his unusual blade work quickly cut through Ian’s defenses. A slash, a stab, and blood welled on his arm. But not before he managed to draw Zheng’s blood as well—‌his tunic gaped open and a trickle of blood ran down from a small cut at his neck.

With a growl, Zheng altered his grip. Ian modified his defense strategies, and the fight clamored on.

“Gentlemen,” a voice interrupted from below. “Please. I must pass.”

Katerina. For once a welcome distraction. Again, she wore riding attire, black leather from head to toe, layered with a fur hat and cloak. In her hand she held his metal case containing his osforare apparatus.

Zheng spun to face the new danger, but spread his arms wide to keep a blade pointed at both threats. “You need me, Lord Rathsburn.” He threw the words over his shoulder. “Admit it. Together our countries can stop Russia’s imperial aspirations.”

He tried to imagine Queen Victoria agreeing to an alliance with the Chinese emperor. The woman deferred to no one, and she certainly wouldn’t appreciate Ian negotiating on her behalf. Except…‌

“That case she holds,” Ian said. “Without it Queen Victoria will refuse to receive us.” Zheng’s blade lowered a fraction. Ian stepped closer. “And the countess is a Russian spy who once plied her trade on British soil. What a gift you could present to the Queen.”

“Turn around, Countess.” Zheng pointed both blades in her direction. “Tonight we board my dirigible, not yours.”

Ian raised his blade and smashed the hilt into the base of Zheng’s skull. He crumpled against the wall. Pointing his sword at Katerina, Ian said, “Set down the case.”

“I am not in the mood for an argument, Lord Rathsburn.” Katerina straddled Zheng’s unconscious form, pulled a knife from her boot and slit the man’s throat. As blood gushed onto the floor, she wiped the blade on Zheng’s tunic. A kick with her booted foot sent him tumbling down the stairs, a gruesome trail of blood in his wake.

Great aether but this woman is cold.

“I regret ever suggesting to Otto that he invite a Chinaman into our home. That man was nothing but an impediment from the day he arrived, unnecessarily complicating everything with his irritating loyalty to my husband.” She raised her eyebrows. “Have you finally made the sensible decision to accompany me? I will make it worth your while.”

“Set my case and your weapon down, and I will let you pass.” They both knew it for the lie it was. “Flybys are swift and fleeting.”

“My pteryform will wait.” She slid the blade back into her boot and lifted a pronged weapon from her hip. “Russia needs a scientist such as yourself. I’ll ask once more. Will you join me?”

The weapon she pointed in his direction was oddly reminiscent of a salad fork. Uneasy at its benign appearance, he took a step backward and upward. “I’m afraid I must decline.”

She did not follow. “Bigamy? Or a trip to Russia?”

“Both.”

“Your loss.” She aimed the strange weapon and fired. He threw himself against the wall, but in the confined space—‌

An intense pain radiated through his arm, twisting and spiraling down to his wrist, his hand, his fingers. Every muscle convulsed. His sword clattered to the ground. Ian stared at the gelatinous strand that stretched from his arm to her weapon. It glistened in the torch light like…‌ a tentacle?

Fighting to draw breath through the pain, he bent, reaching for his weapon.

“Ah ah,” Katerina warned as she advanced, pointing her weapon at his abdomen. “Leave the sword on the ground. The cnidoblast of the sea comb contains enough poison to paralyze a grown man. A direct hit to the diaphragm, and you will stop breathing. Olivia will arrive soon, and it would no doubt distress her to learn of your death.”

“Olivia?” he breathed out.

“Oh, yes. The poor, misguided fool followed you. Stay where you are, cause me no more trouble, and I will let you live. Once I’ve extracted your secrets from the device and her bones, I will ransom her. The Duke of Avesbury will pay handsomely. I wonder what secrets he would be willing to part with to see his daughter safe.”

“Olivia is gone,” he insisted through gritted teeth, praying that this time she hadn’t ignored Black’s direct orders. “She is safe.”

“Safe? The way she keeps running after you, meddling in your affairs?” Katerina laughed. “If she persists in this business, please see that she receives some proper training. Her external ascent of the tower leading to the docking platform is lacking in both subtlety and finesse.”

“She’s here? Upstairs?” he gasped. The pain slowly crept over his shoulder, tendrils reaching out toward his throat. Please, no. But when had Olivia ever taken the safe path?

“Mmm. The poison seems to be affecting your hearing.” Katerina kicked his sword. The blade clattered and clanged, scraping down the steep stairs until it stopped with a dull thud against Zheng’s body. She turned sideways to pass. “Yes. Olivia will soon reach The Roost. Goodbye, Ian. I wish you had agreed to accompany me. As it is, I’m afraid I must ensure you do not try to follow. Do keep up the good work. I look forward to stealing your next discovery.” She shifted her hand and discharged her weapon again. This time in his thigh.

Ian howled, then cursed as the pain shot through his knee and threaded across his hip, coiling about his lumbar vertebrae. His spinal nerves screamed the pain all the way to his toes as his legs collapsed beneath him.

“Until next time.” Katerina blew him a kiss, then ran up the stairs.