Tightly Wound

[Erica]

As the illustrious Monarchist decided to rant and rave, Andrei Volos looked past the senator to the Senate building. No smoke arose from the building, and no ships were nearby: he would have seen their approach. The only ship he had seen approach had been a small ship flying the Rhoghan colors, but that had passed on to a destination on the other side of the Senate. Apparently the attack had come from within the Senate itself, which only increased his worry for Anna. At least she looked more herself now. Despite the circumstance and the state of her clothing, she looked more angry than cowed by Mr. White's tirade.


Therein he found hope.


Anna stood on the deck, arms folded and eyebrows lifted at Mr. White's demeanor and colorful language. When it appeared that he would not slow anytime soon, she stepped into his path and grabbed his cane before he could slam it on the deck again - or into anything else.


Andrei stopped checking the instruments to take a small step toward the pair of Senators, anticipating the need to intervene.


Anna stood defiant, her back straight and eyes locked on Mr. White's, even as she held tight to his cane. "Ranting does no one any good, and bemoaning past choices is a fool's expenditure of the wise man's time. You are right: we do not have the full picture. Obviously there are factors in play that elude us, and if our suspicions are correct, the Prince's life - and the King's - may be at stake." After a rather undignified wrestling match for control of the cane during her impromptu speech, she let go of it to allow him control again - although she did not fully release her grip until the last few words of her next sentence. "So kindly stop bemoaning the existence of Synge and his works and focus on the issue. At. Hand."





She met his gaze, her own bright with anger at the situation, given focus. "Who would want to destroy the power structure in Aneora? If those attacking the Senate are in league with the others we discussed, we may have just been provided a clue."

 

[Chordling]

"Some politicians we are," he huffed. "Just-" Something suddenly took hold of his cane as a new sense of rage surged through him. His fist still wrapped tightly around his cane, and he turned to send a fiery glare at Ms. Stroud. When she had given her release, Mr. White's footing faltered beneath him, though he quickly regained his posture. He returned the cane to his side, and they continued to scowl at one another.


"How exactly are we supposed to know who the attack came from?" he responded. Subtly, the shade of red that colored Mr. White's face seemed to fade, though his anger was still present. "I certainly caught no sight of them when we were forced out of the building by that pathetic intern." His hand rose from the top of his cane, and made a gesture by his side as if the young man were standing beside him. "No, it couldn't have been them," he continued, referring to the Blackcastle Engineers. "Unless they were able to escape the palace walls before us, or sent an external party to take Senate Hall under siege," his thoughts continued. Slowly, he began to pace the floor again. "No, as desirable as it is, its simply impossible." Robert paused in mid pace to think. Who else would have access to both areas, despite their motives for the nation? Robert could only think of one possibility, but it seemed so unlikely.


He turned to the mechanic, who had been observing their previous interactions with a rather serious expression. "You hadn't happen to see any signs of an attack before we were ushered out of the building, had you?"


"Yes, in fact, I'm afraid I did," Andrei confirmed as he took a step forward. "Before you two had come outside, I spotted one of the small Roghan ships."


"Where did they dock?" Robert spoke urgently, nearly interrupted.


"On the other side of the building," Andrei confessed as his posture leaned back, his mind slightly concerned.


"That's where Edward said the attack was coming from," Robert muttered to himself before quickly turning towards Anna. No, his latest assumptions couldn't be possible, could they? His expression suddenly warped into one that easily reflected fear, then he swiftly ran to the stern of the craft. A gust of wind pushed against him, delaying his arrival to the very end of the ship, and forcing him to hold onto the brim of his hat with one of his hands. The fearful expression deepened, and he shook his head while muttering in denial. Far in the distance, a small speck of maroon slowly made its ascension into the sky. With the same, lively speed, he returned to Anna and Andrei. "Are you sure the guards were the only arrivals?" Robert asked him in a rather unusually, hasty manner. He held Andrei by the shoulders, though his grip was not menacing. The mechanic hesitated briefly, and Robert repeated his question with more gusto. "Are you sure?"


"I all ready told you what I saw," Andrei replied, trying to convince himself that the man who was physically handling him was simply stressed, and meant no harm towards him. "Just the ship. I swear by it."





Robert finally released Andrei, and the younger man distanced himself from the agitated Senator. Mr. White realized that none of this ever answered Ms. Stroud's question, but it didn't add up. "It's not possible," Robert nearly demanded. Desperate, he turned back towards the Horizon, and squinted his eyes. A new, dreaded look spread over his visage, and Robert's mind struggled between fear and disbelief. The ship he had noticed before, was it following them?

 

[Erica]

"Why do you believe it is the King's Guard? The King must know we interceded to protect him and Prince Harold. No. It must be the Blackcastle Engineers," Anna said from beside Robert. She shielded her eyes, squinting as she tried to make out the details of the ship on the horizon. The light of the sun prevented her from discerning anything new. "We cannot stop; not yet. They clearly deciphered the purpose of the prototype spider. They may have created more of them, perhaps even on a larger scale. Else why would they have been willing to destroy the prototype back at the palace?"





Andrei stood at the wheel, already making adjustments. "May I suggest we make haste to your home, Ms. Stroud? It seems to me it will provide some ... perspective."





Anna looked briefly at Robert. "He is right. While it seems unlikely, there is the possibilty they are not following us. We have enough of a lead on them that we can be home before they catch up with us. It will give us an opportunity to think through our options." She looked him over, then herself in turn. "And perhaps to change our clothes."


"About that..." Andrei said. By now they had caught the wind and the hum of the propellers caused the ship to vibrate softly. As he turned the ship around a corner, Anna's home came into sight, its lush green garden the center point of the sprawling estate. "I took the liberty of arranging for a contingency plan. For the unlikely event that the meeting with the King went sideways."

 

[Chordling]

Mr. White wished he could have explained his thoughts to Ms. Stroud, but he was afraid that none of it made clear sense to him either. The ship was unmistakably that of the King's Guard. In dismay, he shook his head, unsure how else he would give clarification without driving himself further into madness.


"My heavens," Robert sighed in a vexed manner. "What in blazes are you talking about?" he continued with a slight undertone of annoyance. One hand rested over his cane while the other pressed against his forehead in pure frustration.


"We're here," the mechanic simply replied as he steadied the vessel for landing, not wanting to draw further away from the real task at hand. The ship delicately landed on the wooden dock, and Andrei quickly allowed the senators to depart. Only then did Robert realize he had never had the chance to return to his own residence since the shooting. This idea seemed to devalue his mood even further, for whatever reason.


Without any delay, the senators proceeded inside. After the brief period of time Robert had spent in Ms. Stroud's residence awake, it only seemed fitting for them to meet in the garden. But first, a wash up. Robert didn't bother to fully bathe himself. He simply cleaned his hair, removed the soot from his face (which only then did he realize the shade of his facial hair was darker than he desired), and put on a new change of clothes. The jacket he had worn to the palace was the only jacket he had available, so a soft blue dress shirt and light brown, leather vest would have to do. His cane, of course, remained by his side.


Within an appropriate amount of time, he reconvened in the garden, and refused a cup of tea from her servants. "I am paranoid." The statement was implicit. Even with fine tuned grooming, the man looked greatly distressed. The idea that the King's Guard could be searching for their very souls clawed at his gut, and the idea that their nation could very well be in unpreventable danger plagued him even more. It felt like they had spent too much time for things to go afoul. Or had this been the beginning of their troubles? Was worse yet to come?


He dreaded the idea.


"In the name of Valentina herself, what is going on?!" Robert felt like he declared for the millionth time.

 

[Erica]

The airship dock for Anna’s estate was a narrow affair, modified over the years to accommodate Andrei’s ship perfectly but not much else. Machines of various purposes (and in varying states of completion) riddled the dock, but like a well-worn path in the woods, a wide route to the main household was maintained out of necessity. It was this path that Mr. White took, in a hurry. Andrei took Anna’s arm before she disembarked after him, speaking quietly.


“He may be right. Those sails. They looked like the King’s Guard.”


Anna looked at her friend curiously. “Are you saying that the King sent his men after us?”


Andrei took off his hat and wrung it between his hands. “I am saying you should hurry to whatever needs to be done, and perhaps we should depart again.”


“We have done nothing wrong!” Anna said, her hat bobbing in the wake of her shock.


Andrei nodded understandingly. “Of course not, but ... could someone make it appear otherwise?” When Anna did not reply immediately, he nodded in the direction of the house. “I suggest you bring Mr. White back as soon as possible. If I am wrong, it will hurt nothing but my pride.”


Anna looked at her friend, searching his face for humor or jest but finding none. Eventually, she nodded and made her way inside. It did not take her long to change, although she did bemoan the state of the dress she removed. It would need to be discarded. With no time to tend properly to her hair, she opted for a slightly larger hat to match the deep emerald gown she had selected.


She found Robert in the garden, still seething and practically yelling at herself. Opening her mouth to speak, she never got the chance. Instead, she could hear pounding at the front door. While she turned to look at the disturbance, one of the servants ran into the garden. “Ms. Stroud! The King’s Guard are here.” He inhaled deeply, gathering enough breath for the next phrase. “Threatening to break down the door! They say you are ... traitors!”


Anna blanched and looked at Robert, momentarily stunned.


“Not that I believe them, Ma’am. Of course not!” The servant clarified.


Anna barely heard him. Instead, she took Robert’s hand and pulled him toward the docks and Andrei’s waiting ship. “We need to go. Now.”

 

[Chordling]

Just as Robert had made his exclamation, a boisterous pounding was at the door, and one of Anna's servants burst their way through. He sharply turned his head towards the disturbance with a threatening glare, then felt his expression warp into confusion. Them, traitors? Was he hearing them correctly?


It seemed his thoughts would have no say. In another swift moment, Robert felt his hand jerked away from his side. His eyebrows lifted in shock as the woman continued to drag him out of the natural sanctuary, and back towards the docking station. Before they could reach Andrei's vessel, Robert harshly pulled his hand away from Anna's grip, then took her by the shoulders and glared at her.


"My question was never answered," he growled. "I want to know what the Hell is going on! " h continued to hold Anna. "We are not traitors. We are loyal senators to this nation. The Royal Guard has clearly made a mistake. There is no reason for us to flee, we can fix this." Clearly a part of his logic was not functioning properly at that time.


Andrei attentively watched as the senators interacted with each other from the dock of the ship, particularly Robert's actions. He could not here what either one was saying, but the least could said about his lack of appreciation towards the man's methods of confronting Anna. He had also noticed the manner which Anna forced Robert back outside, and took this as a signal that their luck continued to plummet. Briskly, he left his position from the ship, and made his way towards the politicians.


"They'll understand," Robert tried to reassure, with the underlying message that as long as their correction came from a monarchist, everything would be okay. From this statement, Andrei instantly caught onto their conversation.


"They're not looking for a debate, Mr. White," he intervened with a stern glare. Robert returned the expression, and finally let Anna go. "That is, I suspect that they come with threatening consequences."


"So you're suddenly an expert over politics? Do you mind updating me on what is currently happening right now? Because honestly, I haven't the slightest idea!" he spoke as his rage began to build again.

 

[Erica]

Anna had foolishly believed it would be simple to impress upon Robert the urgency of their situation. The flaw in her logic lay in their different perspectives. To him, the King's Guard were an extention of the King's benevolent wisdom and righteous authority; To her, the King's Guard were an extention of the monarchy's will, including the human failings that came packaged with that will. Where she saw the potential for the King to have been swayed by Mr. Harper - or whoever was truly behind the madness they had been attempting to investigate, Robert saw the ability to reason with the King, who could not do wrong.


She stiffened in his grip when he grabbed her shoulders, her features twisting into a combination of anger and fear at his tirade. He clung to the idea that he could simply tell them he was innocent and they would believe her. By the sounds coming from the front hall, that was not likely.


Andrei attempted to step in, but his argument fell short. Who could convince Robert White that he was wrong about the King? Proabably no one, and so they faced a dangerous dilemma. She would not leave him behind.


Not that the idea failed to tempt her.


"I do not have all the answers, but I know you have run out of time to find them before your lives - yours and Anna's - are put in serious jeopardy. You have been outplayed, Mr. White, and if we do not leave immediately, you will get no answers at all. You may not even survive the day."





Anna recognized that Robert was ready for an argument, and although Andrei's words contained strong and sound reason, she suspected Robert could not hear it. So she took his arm to turn her toward her. "We are not traitors, but someone has made us appear as such. Else the King would have sent a messenger, not his Guard. Please," she emplored, squeezing his arm gently, "I have no wish to die, but I will stay if we must. I fear that will cost us both --"





Her words stopped abruptly when Andrei hit Robert soundly on the back of his head with the butt of his pistol. She gasped as he crumpled to the ground, Andrei catching him before the man could hit his head on the floor.


"Grab his feet," Andrei instructed. "We need to leave immedaitely."





To shocked to argue, Anna reached down to grasp Robert's ankles and helped to carry him aboard.

~ * ^ * ~

​

“What do you mean, she is not here?” James Simeon, Lieutenant of the King’s Guard, stood in the foyer of the Stroud estate, arguing with one of the servants. His voice, clearly accustomed to commanding others, bounced off the hard surfaces of the floor and walls. “We followed Ms. Stroud from the Senate. Her ship is docked here. Where else would she be?” Behind him, four other guards dressed in the King’s colors fanned out into the small space. They did not await an invitation or even a response; instead, they started searching the nearest rooms before moving deeper into the house.


To his credit, Anna’s manservant managed to keep his voice and gaze steady as he lied through his teeth to protect his employer. “I could not say, Sir. I have not seen her since late morning.”


The guard grunted and pushed past the servant, making his way into the house. He would waste no further time with the servant. Despite clearly stating that their employer was a traitor to the crown, the servants seemed rather unfazed by their presence - at least those he could see. They looked up from their tasks, blinked at the guards, and then went back to their work. Yet he could feel the scurrying in other hallways, like one can sense rodents moving around beneath the floorboards.


She was here.


He let the servants’ reactions determine his path. The more relaxed and friendly they were about his presence, the less likely that Ms. Stroud or Mr. White were nearby. When they began to fidget or offer assistance to delay his progress, he forged ahead, paying them no other attention, nor letting them delay him. Two of his men fell into step behind him, sensing that they were on the right course.


When he reached the airship dock, it was too late. The damned woman’s ship was airborne and starting to take on speed. He turned on his heel and started running for the front door; back where his ship was waiting. “Quickly men! We will not let them get away!”

 

[Chordling]

Robert fought to convince the other senator and mechanic that he would be able to repair the damage that had been done, but neither of them would accept his logic. Andrei spoke, his words regarding their dwindling time and the sake of their lives. Robert felt his anger deepen. Time? What did Andrei know about time? If anyone knew anything about time, it was Robert.


Of course, if anyone knew anything about repairing, it was Andrei.


Just as he was ready to rail the mechanic for his misunderstanding over time and reality, Anna took him by the arm and spoke. Her words were almost poetic enough to convince him, almost. Had she been able to finish her phrase, he might have at least considered what Anna mentioned, but both of their thinking processes were suddenly interrupted. Robert felt a heavy object bash against the back of his head, and slowly felt his sensibility slip away.

~ ~ ~



​

The Stroud Residence was quickly evacuated by the King's Guard, small pieces of furniture being knocked down in their massive wake, and messes were left behind as they were for the servants to take care of. "Quickly now!" James barked as his men boarded the airships. The sails swiftly unfolded, and the motors roared to life. Time had barely passed, and their vessel took flight. "After them, don't let them get away! Pull the sails, turn up the motors! King Roghan demands it!" James continued to command.


The head guard locked his gaze on the skies as he viewed his target. "More!" he raged while his prey proceeded to gain distance. Without debate, the other men pulled, twisted, pushed, and pressed whatever mechanical devices they could to increase the speed of their transportation. Slight satisfaction seemed to grow over James' expression when he could clearly see the fine wood work on the back of Andrei's ship.

 

[Erica]

The King’s Guard prided itself on its airships. Agile, efficient, and elegant, they represented the monarchy; thus they were cleaned daily, scrubbed to a brilliant shine even if the ship never departed its dock that day. Today it would collect its fair share of soot and dust as it travelled through Silchester, but it would be worth it to capture the two traitor Senators. This is why they had a ship, after all: to respond as the King required.


The wind whipped about the occupants of both ships, causing several hats to be lost and distraction amongst many of each crew as they fought to keep theirs in place. Andrei’s ship was lean and light, but the King’s Guard had more mechanical power behind it. They were well matched in a straight run, as evidenced by how quickly the Guard began to close the distance.


Anna knelt on the deck beside Robert, his head on her knees as Andrei and a small crew ran to and fro on the deck of the ship. She could not see the King’s men behind them, but she heard the shouting on the wind, and saw the fear in the eyes of the men around her. To their credit, they followed Andrei without hesitation. No one questioned their choice to flee, at least not outwardly. Instead, they focused on their assigned tasks.


Andrei stood with one hand on the wheel, looking ahead into the clouds. Then he called to Anna over his shoulder, “Come here! I need you to take the wheel.”


Anna looked between her friend and the unconscious Robert White. Leaving Mr. White unconscious on the deck seemed cruel somehow, but she was wise enough to know it would be worse if they King’s Guard caught up with them. She set his head down gently on a pillow, leaving him lying on the deck beside a support that would keep him from rolling one way or the other. (Or at least she hoped it would.)


Hurrying to Andrei’s side, she put a hand on the wheel where his had been. “I mean no offense, but I will do you little service.”


As soon as her hand was on the wheel, Andrei let go and moved to a crank in the corner. He yelled out to his men “Ready to let out the main sail!” Then he looked to Anna with a small, conspiratorial smile. “You do not need to know anything; just do what I say. When I tell you, turn the wheel clockwise as hard as you can.” At that moment, Anna made the unfortunate choice of looking behind them and saw the King’s Guard not only gaining speed, but loading rifles. As her mouth fell agape, Anna heard Andrei’s voice again. “Anna! Do not focus on them.” He held her with his gaze when she looked his way. “Our path is not behind us, but before us.”


She nodded nervously, hoping she had not doomed all of them with her decisions to date.


Andrei pointed up ahead to the spindly spire that showed the top of a coal refinery. “See that spire? The one that looks like a needle?”


Anna nodded and gripped the wheel tighter. “Yes,” she called out. It seemed the wind was not inflating their sails as it had been, perhaps because of the King’s ship’s approach.


Andrei nodded. “We’re going to use it as our marker. When we get close enough, I will tell you to turn the wheel. You turn, as hard and fast as you can, do you understand?”


Swallowing her nervousness, she nodded again. “Yes.”


Andrei nodded and flashed daredevil’s smile. “Good.” As the distance closed, he called out to his men, “Ready, boys! On my mark!”

 

[Chordling]

"Keep it tight!" James barked back to the pilot as a strong row of men with various sorts of artillery formed against the perimeter of the ship's deck. Gradually, the large body of the vessel pushed to one side, and deprived Andrei's ship of proper air currents. Other crew members raised the sails to gain the ship more momentum, and the distance between James and his success decreased by the second.


"Ready on the firing line!" his voice boomed. Suddenly high pitched crack split the air as a single bullet was projected from the long barrel of a riffle. The bullet continued its short lived journey through the clouds until it abruptly exploded, much like the brightly colored fireworks seen on certain celebratory occasions. Of course, the purpose of the burst was not to entertain, but to destroy. Both parties had been fortunate that the bullet did not find its desired target. Another loud crack followed before James could discontinue their premature assaults with his voice. "Hold your fire, hold your fire!" The two men who had misinterpreted their leader's command did not say a word, but it was not hard to seek out their remorse.


The ships were just feet away from one another, end to end, but the gap would be too large for someone to make any audacious leaps. James could spot them clearly now. Anna had been uncomfortably standing by the wheel, the unconscious had been abandoned to the side, and Andrei defiantly commanded his own crew about. "Back down, now!" James spoke over the wild currents. "Back down now, and you may be spared! Or, continue your circumvention, and forever bear the grudge of The King!" His words remained unconvincing. Andrei decided to ignore the man's ignorance, and focused on his own task. The spire came into clear view now, and he gave his mark, praying he would not damn the lives aboard his ship.


"Now!"


"Fire!"





Andrei covered his ears as the line of men on the opposing vessel released their assault, and called out to his crew to keep low. As he crouched, he tilted his head sideways to watch the sky fill with the bright explosive bullets, all but one spontaneously exploding in mid flight. One had strayed dramatically, and hit the tip of the spire.


James began to release a set of profanities as he watched his target slip away from him. He screamed at his pilot and crew to pursue them, but the build of the ship refused. "Out of my way!" he ordered, and bullied the pilot away from his post. James's determination had set in; he would do whatever it took to capture Anna Stroud and Robert White.

 

[Erica]

With the ship behind them rapidly approaching, Anna felt her pulse race. Her grip on the wheel was slick with the combination of the moisture from the clouds and her nerves. In no time, the King’s Guard would be upon them. She tried to focus on Andrei’s commands.


Then the sky lit up with fire.


She shrieked and glanced back to ensure Robert was all right. Andrei shouted for them to keep low. Before she could duck, several explosions followed. Unknowingly, Anna had helped, for when she ducked, she moved the wheel, tilting them away from the King’s ship enough that most of the rounds exploded over their heads. It was terrifying, but the damage to the ship was minimal. The sails suffered a few small holes and the spire beside them was pockmarked when the volley ended. Smoke hung over the ship as Andrei called. “Now, Anna!”


It took her a moment to realize it was the signal he had mentioned. (It seemed like so long ago, with the expanse of the explosions between now and then.) She turned the wheel hard as Andrei worked at a series of levers. The ship instantly began to fall, so rapidly that Anna gripped the wheel tighter to keep from losing her balance. The ship lurched to the right, spiraling around the spire. She lost her grip on the wheel, causing the ship to veer away from the spire to the northeast. As she reached for the wheel, Andrei yelled, “No! Stay the course, Anna. Hold it there.” He turned his head and yelled to the crew, who were also holding onto whatever they could, but with much more confidence, “Men, now!”


Acting as one, the men unfurled more of the main sail, which promptly caught the wind despite a few holes in the canvas. Anna looked above them to see the King’s ship sailing on its original trajectory over a hundred feet above them. It might have been her imagination, but she thought she could hear the commander of the ship yelling orders as well.


Meanwhile, they were still descending and began to pass through the cloud cover. Andrei slowed their descent enough to stabilize their collective footing, then spoke more quietly to Anna. His eyes darted upwards, watching the King’s ship. “Once we’re through the clouds, cut hard right with the wheel. I’ll tell you when.”


Anna nodded, believing she understood Andrei’s plan. The question remained whether the King’s ship could catch up in time to track them beneath the layer of clouds. Below them was the busier airship traffic between Silchester and Ashington. With luck, maybe they could blend in with the other ships and escape.

 

[Chordling]

Just as Anna had been given her cue, Robert's unconscious body tilted away from the support at a rather threatening angle. He settled as they made their way around the spire, then was forcefully leaned once more as they began their descent. His rocking state continued with every movement of the wheel, some pressing to push him away from the security Anna had tried to give him, though others less menacing and nothing to be acknowledged.


The firing line reloaded their weapons, and waited for another command. "Fire!" their captain roared once more, and another set of bullets flew through the sky. Just as the last set had done, their aim was proved unimpressive. Close, but no cigar. As the last bullet sent out its final hoorah, unnoticed specks of ash wandered their way through the air, and into the lower pipes of the opposing ship's engine.


James had not expected them to turn so suddenly, so when they had lurched away to the side, a puzzle expression jumped onto his face. It did not stall him for too long, however, and he quickly lead their vessel around the spire. His next surprise came when the traitors' ship began to descend through the clouds. No matter, he attempted to pursue them further. The engines were cut and the sails withdrew as they controlled their own fall. Briefly, a thick layer of air hindered their vision, but James was confident the senators were not too far ahead. They couldn't have been.


At this point, anything that came to a surprise turned into frustration. Crew members could detect the bright shade of red that dominated their captain's visage as they continued their heightened voyage. His emotions had been understandable. Before they had nothing but a single target to watch for. Now the scoundrels dared to elude them further through natural disguise. Ships of all kinds lay beneath them. Ones which carried industrial goods, and others probably transporting other influential figures of the nation. James did not care for these ships. The one which mattered most would be the one carrying Anna Stroud and Robert White.


Two could play at this game.


So not to disturb the other, honest travelers, James disband the firing line, and set them to aid the crew. Some had suddenly realized who had been sailing among them, but their gossip was instantly stifled by the look on James' face. Some men looked above them, others were brave enough to severely lean over the edge of the ship and glance down. One of the brave fellows quickly lifted himself back onto the deck and rushed over to James, reporting a potential sighting of their target. To be sure, James repeated the brave soul's action, and looked below. Sure enough, he spotted Anna, still holding onto the wheel, and Robert, still unconscious upon the deck (it bothered him how Robert came into that state, but he did not allow his thoughts to fall into tangent).


In a short manner they had managed their way through the maze of ships, and decreased the agonizing distance between themselves. Andrei had been so focused on one task to even notice the King's Guard had arrived. Eventually their ships had come side to side, and James smiled.


"Hello," he mocked. Andrei turned his head to see who his greeter had been, and gasped. The satisfaction on James's face was clear, from his muddy brown eyes to his stupid looking smirk. "Nice weather we're having, don't you think?" For a moment, Andrei hesitated, afraid that his plan had been foiled. But when he realized the firing line had been disassembled, he turned to Anna.


"Now, god dammit!" he screamed. "Now!"

 

[Erica]

As they cleared the cloud cover, Anna focused on steering the ship toward the flow of traffic below. She caught sight of Robert's prone form, a distance from where she had left him. She started to call to one of the men, to ask them to see to Mr. White, when the Lieutanant's crisp baritone greeted them. Her head snapped to the right to see him, smiling with apparent victory. Like Andrei, she half expected the next sound to be the rapport of gun fire.


Instead, Andrei yelled at her. She blinked once, twice, then remembered his previous order. Closing her eyes, she tight, she pulled hard on the wheel, turning their ship directly into the King's. The ships collided with the sickening sound of splintering wood, and she heard the Lieutenant spew a string of profanities. The lighter ship did not have the mass to push the King's ship far off course, but it did have agility. Its shaped hull scraped the side of the other airship and its rigging tore a hole in the larger ship's sail. The King's Guards were not primarily sailors, so their response was slow. Before they could react, Andrei had adjusted the ship's altitude, causing their ship to rise rapidly. Fortnately, this caused Robert to roll back into the more secure position Anna had originally intended.


Unfortuanately, Andrei's next action was not nearly as helpful.


Andrei yelled to Anna,"Now hard left! Now! Now!"


The ship started to plummet as Anna struggled with the wheel. The ship wanted to continue moving in the direction it was already headed, and the wheel was designed for people stronger than she. Still, with a great deal off effort (and some very unladylike noises), she managed to reverse the direction - and once it started, the process became easier. Their ship titled to almost a forty-five degreee angle, scraping the bow of the King's Guard's ship as it descended rapidly into the traffic below. Andrei let loose the altitude controls and hurried to the wheel, taking over for Anna as they dove through the spaces between other ships.


Anna ran to Robert, holding him tightly in place as the crew took over. Above them, she saw the King's Guard's vesssel. It was easily spotted due to the smoke pouring from its engines and the tattered sail blowing in the breeze.

 

[Chordling]

Chapter XIII

Though Andrei's ship was smaller in comparison, the deliberate collision gave a moderate amount of damage. Profanities spewed from the Lieutenants mouth like the smoke and oil that fell from the lower pipes of the vessel as he scattered his men with commands. James' desire to capture his victims remained intense, but the given condition of the airship put a final end to his chase. In defeat, the King's Guard ship slowly pointed back into the direction of the royal palace, causing surrounding ships to break their tight formations to give the royal subjects appropriate space. Those who had witnessed the heated event were unsure whether the crash had been an accident, but they didn't have much time to investigate as Andrei's ship swiftly slipped through the crowded skies. Their ship eventually reached a much calmer, lower level, and the crew members were able to give their full focus on maintaining the vessel.


The worst of the damage that could be seen belonged to the finely crafted woodwork along the right side of the ship. The wood that had once been polished and shined was now mutated by breaks and scratches. Frowns were visible upon the men who investigated the area. There was nothing they could do to repair the ship until they grounded, but such an opportunity would not be easily given by their threatening circumstances. Though saddened by the ship's unfortunate condition, the crew was relieved to know that the collision had spared the engine.


Later during the flight, a sudden groan leaped from Mr. White as the deep pain in the back of his head pulled him to his conscience. The man attempted to lift his head, but this only agitated his pain. Once the feeling in his head made its departure, Robert slowly sat himself up, and leaned himself against a wooden fixture of the ship.


"My heavens," he muttered initially as he rubbed the fatigue from his blurry vision. One of the other crew members had noticed his waking, and quickly rushed over to off the senator a blanket and water. Robert quickly refused the generosity, and when the man insisted to take his offerings, Robert gave the younger man as much of his mind as he could under his rocky state. His thoughts were obsessed over the events that occurred prior to their flee, but there was little he could say over the matter that would hold much meaning, mostly because he didn't quite understand all that was happening. Had the Blackcastle Engineers claimed them as traitors while they were being retained? Even if such a question had been affirmed, it would be difficult to comprehend why someone would believe their claim after the damage they caused within the palace. No, something wasn't right. There must have been hidden forces plotting against them to place such a fate on the loyal senators.


"Mr. Volos," a crew member called as he was seen on some part of the ship with a parchment under his hold. "The boys and I have successfully drafted a path we could take," he continued to report. "We've just sailed over the town of Ignottingham, here," and the navigator placed his index finger on the map as he displayed it to his captain. "It should be in our best interest to head over the West Silchester border, then head South. If we've calculated correctly, we should be out of the capital before dawn, and dock here," and the navigator slid his finger across the paper until it reached the small print that read MENDELEVE. "Then we can find a place to stay, get some rest, and continue the next morning. News shouldn't travel as quickly, so we should be safe."

 

[Erica]

Anna had sat beside Robert for nearly fifteen minutes before Andrei requested her help. So she had been near the helm, discussing options at a high level, when Robert had awoken - alone: a situation she had hoped to prevent. The other senator’s tirade against offered courtesy drew her attention and a shake of her head. Granted, he had a right to be angry with them. They had knocked him unconscious.


Before she could take a step toward him, one of Andrei’s men arrived with a map. She moved toward Robert, offering him her hand so that he could review the map as well. Whether or not he took it, she would address Andrei. “It seems the best course. Getting us out of the Guard’s reach,” she looked at Robert, “At least until we can uncover the true culprits behind our condemnation.”


Andrei shook his head, looking displeased but resigned. “We have fewer connections there, but it will be a port of safe harbor.” He nodded to the crew around him. “Adjust course accordingly.” He then looked at Robert, frowning at the state of the Senator’s clothes and head. “My sincerest apologies, Mr. White. I did what was necessary in the heat of the moment, but I assure you I did not rel ---”


His apology was cut off by a distinct bang from beneath them, followed quickly by one of the crew at the stern of the ship yelling “Fire!”


The crew scrambled on deck as smoke billowed out behind their ship. Apparently, the damage from their collision with the other ship was worse than they initially believed. Andrei swore and grabbed one of the maps, spreading it out before him. He trusted his crew to do what they could to repair the damage, but he had seen enough to know they would not make it to Mendeleve. “Anna, please tell me you still have connections in Ashington.” He glanced up, noting that they were descending, ever so slowly.

 

[Chordling]

Robert felt like he had just pulled himself up from the deck with the aide of Anna's strength when the unforseen noise interrupted their conversation. Had he not been leaning against Anna's shoulder, he would have most likely tumbled back down. Instead the worst that came to him was faltered footing, and his balance eventually recovered. To say in the simplest terms, Robert was greatly annoyed with the events that were beginning to unfold. He had barely regained consciousness, and now their lives were at the expense of an impaired engine. Mr. White would at least have liked to express his agreement to arrive in Mendeleve.


It seemed by Andrei's urgent words that his opinion would not have mattered. As the mechanic turned his head upward, so did Robert, and they spotted the same thing. Their altitude had been making an unsought decline. After a brief moment the senator had to return his head to a normal position before he placed a gruesome headache on himself, and made a rebut.


"Ashington? No, we must make it out of the capital. The guards will surely scour the cities first."


"Again, I apologize, Senator, but we might not have a choice," Andrei spoke in the calmest manner possibly as he lifted his head once more to examine the sky, only noticing the speed of their fall gradually increasing. Then, another distant bang erupted from beneath, causing Robert to rely on Anna once more for stability.


"Damn it, move, move, move!" One of the crew members could be heard shouting. Tension grew among the other members as they continued their frantic running. Robert suddenly wondered why they were having technical issues now when it never even seemed possible with such a skilled engineer as Andrei, but he didn't bother to ask, to save himself the hassle.


Andrei had been briefly distracted by the new commotion, but his attention quickly returned to the senators and the map he had stretched out before them. "It just can't happen. We have to land in Ashington, somewhere. We're just to far from the capital border, we won't be able to make it." His words caused a scowl to form over Robert's lips, and the senator shook his head in defeat. "Anna, did you say you had connections in Ashington?" the mechanic asked again, forgetting he had asked her the very same questions just moments ago, possibly due to all of the chaos that surrounded them.

 

[Erica]

Anna surveyed the sky as Andrei looked up, noting after he did their descent. A short while ago, she might have mused that the day could not get any worse. Now she wondered the opposite: were they going to crash? Surely Andrei could and would prevent that, but their options were dwindling quickly.


At the second bang, she clung to Robert even as he used her for support. Events were unfolding quickly, and yet Robert still took time to argue against landing in Ashington. The man could be exceedingly stubborn. When Andrei voiced the question again, she shook her head. "I did... once. Sam's allies were scattered among the eastern and northern boroughs. They would know me if they saw me, but it will take some time to locate them. And Cecilia does not have a dock sufficient for our ship... plus, she will be one of the first they approach." She glanced over the side of the ship toward the city sprawled out far below them. The ramshackle buildings that made up Ashington lacked the elegance of Silchester. She had always admired the ingenuity of the people there, though, and found a differnt kind of beauty in the complex patterns spun by the overlapping buildings and repurposed parts. Now, though, the sight of the city's layers of open scaffolding and varied, makeshift architecure reminded her of a porcupine - one whose quills would be unforgiving to their ship.


"I do not know of a port or safe harbor. We could try the east gate," she mused, referring to one of the main entrances for commerce between Silchester and Ashington, "But this ship will catch the eye of many people there. If we plan to repair her and move on, it will be virtually impossible to do so..."


Andrei nodded and finished Anna's thought "... not before the Guard finds us. They will search the main ports first, once they regroup."


Anna frowned. "What we need is a discreet dock, apart from the main trade routes."


Already scanning the map, Andrei tapped a finger on one small section to the south. "It is a shame we do not know anyone in Greenwich; it is the closest area we can reach safely... and fits the bill of being off the beaten path."


Anna looked at Robert out of the corner of her eye. "You grew up there, did you not? Can you recommend a port of safe harbor?"

 

[Chordling]

Damn, damn, damn. Mr. White took in a large breath, then released a heavy sigh. The small mediation was not enough to sooth his annoyance and confusion, however. Things just weren't going as desired. "Landing in Greenwich will be just as dangerous as harboring by the East gate," Mr. White growled as he avoided Anna's question. Robert was certain Anna knew the answer to that question. Everyone in the Senate did, but it was rarely mentioned. The name itself brought pain to Robert's ears. "We are not harboring in Greenwich," he strongly finished.


"It is our best chance," Andrei cut in. "It's Greenwich, or a main trade route. Either might not be a perfect solution, but if there are people in Greenwich we can trust without fear of exposure, we have to know." The younger man turned a serious glance up toward the senator, hoping he would cooperate. Before more could be said, the ship's gave off a choke, and caused the entire deck to violently shake. When the brief rupture had finished, crew members could be heard yelling and cursing as they tried to address the source of the issue, and the ship's descension slowly increased.


Robert didn't want to believe what he was about to say, and he didn't want to believe that he was about to succumb to the words of a simple mechanic, but their situation pressed too dire circumstances. "There's a port on the West side of town." Robert's eyes seemed to turn downward. "You'll be able to see it within the next minute."





Andrei had been slightly surprised by Mr. White's response, but he was thankful. "Right then," he sighed in relief as he took one last scan over the map, then quickly walked away to help the rest of his crew. "Just keep her steady, we're almost to Greenwich," Andrei's voice assured. A blanket of tension seemed to lift off of the crew's shoulders. All ready they seemed more at ease. Robert's words had been correct. Within the next, short period of time, the crew quickly spotted the port which he spoke of earlier. As they came closer and closer to the port, other wandering ships and townsmen swiftly departed to avoid disturbing the incoming vessel's rugged state. Mr. White could feel his muscles tense as the detail of the town grew clearer and clearer. He was all ready rethinking his decision. Maybe she should have just shut his trap and let them crash instead. The idea at the time seemed more appealing than arriving in his home town.


At last they finally landed, and the ship was secured with long, winding ropes and stabilizers. While the crew had still been surveying all of the lines, Robert moved his gaze over what he could see of the town. A horrifying sense of nostalgia washed over him as he spotted the old general market and Rudie's Bar and Inn. Further down the road on either side he noticed the coal mines, and residential buildings could be seen behind the rest of the town. It was certainly far from what rested above them. The homeless sat near every corner, and women huddled in groups exposed as much of the flesh on their chests as they could to cast lust on any man who dared to pass by. It was disgusting.


"Aight, y'all can ge off thee ship now," the harbor master called before raising a glass bottle to his lips. Andrei's men made sure everything was still in place, then gathered as many of the supplies they could before departing the deck. Without any hesitation, Robert clasped his fist around Anna's shoulder, hopefully to hold her in place, and he inched his head close to her ear.


"You are to remain between Andrei and I at all times, do you understand?" he whispered lowly, his eyes still scanning the treacherous environment. "Especially when we pass through the coal mines." Robert hoped he would not have to explain the meaning to his command. It was not to control her, it was to save her from unwanted complications with concupiscent and inebriated men.

 

[Erica]

The tension in Robert's shoulders and bearing would be evident to anyone. Anna hated to ask him about his past. Everyone in the Senate knew about the locale of his birth, almost as many knew the rumors about his father - and those who were not privvy to the rumors would hear them soon enough. Part of Robert White's story centered on his perseverance despite a colorful past.


Before recent events, it had been the only thing they shared.


As they descended, Anna took in the city below them. It did not feel cohesive or planned. Parts of it may have once been deliberately laid out by a city planner or at least some group of wealthy families. (Wealthy by the local standards, of course.) But those initial buildings and designs had been subverted over the years, the spaces between municiple buildings and core establishments occupied by whichever tenant grabbed the next space, filling the gaps in such a random fashion as to make the layout indescipherable to a stranger's eye.


As she had discovered when she had met Sam, it was the people that gave any part of the lower cities their character. Greenwich was no exception to this, although the "character" was quite off-color. Anna walked off the ship, curiosity and trepidation mixed on display on her features. They were out of the immediate danger of pursuit by the King's Guard, but this was a city where one must remain vigilantly aware of her surroundings. To her surprise, Robert grasped her shoulder and kept her tight beside him as they walked. His words sending a brief shiver up her spine.


She knew his meaning. She also knew it was not an entirely unfair warning, if a bit melodramatic. What she objected to was the implication that she should hide like a meek schoolgirl. She was an adult woman, a widow of means, and dressed with far less provocative clothing than the average woman here. With a shake of her head and a sigh, she shrugged off his grip to walk with her head held high. While she remained close to his side, she clearly did not like the implication. "I appreciate your concern, but I am not new to visiting the lower cities. There was a time I frequented them often." The pause lasted only a moment, but she hoped he would not take too much offense to her reference to Sam. She left off, of course, that she had never travelled them alone. Sam had always escorted her, or ensured she had an escort. Being his wife had provided her both notoriety and safety at the time, but that was not absolute.


"You act as if every man here is a miscreant, incapable of any sort of restraint," she quipped, no small amount of chastizing in her tone. At that moment, a man demonstrated his poor judgment regarding alchohol consumption by vomiting directly in their path, forcing them to walk around. Anna grimaced and side-stepped the offending man and his lunch on the cobblestones with as much dignity as she could manage.

 

[Chordling]

And there was a time when Robert also frequented the lower cities as well, but that idea had all ready been implied. Robert avoided the alcoholic's direct line of regurgitation before the upchuck even hit the ground. The latter action seemed to justify Robert's instantaneous judgments. "I did not mean to offend you," he sighed before standing up right, then continued to lead their group down the road. His customary accessories had been in his possession as usual, though he would deposit them safely when the opportunity was given. Walking around with a hunks of gold and jade was never the most intelligent decision to make when in Ashington.


Traveling through the city submersed Robert into a state that made him feel completely out of place, despite the area being his hometown. He quickly lifted his cane over an odorous mound of cloth, which suddenly spoke to them, and waved a metal can in the air.


"Please, sir, just a coin?" the man's pray faded as they walked away. The vagabond mumbled in defeat, and chucked the metal container against the dirt. There was a time when guilt would seep its way into Robert after passing a man less fortunate than he, but now his nerves were to conditioned against sympathy, and he simply could not stand the idea of his donated money being wasted on illegitimate substances. He was sure Anna thought otherwise. If she even dared to throw him a penny, Robert would make sure he would drag the woman to his side. Anna may have worked with those in poverty before without having to deal with any severe complications, but Mr. White felt she did not have any right to assume Greenwich, his God forsaken hometown, was anywhere close to safe.


As they passed their way around the block, a small circle of women had been waiting for them. One them of them gasped excitedly as she spotted the trespassers, and Andrei had been the unfortunate subject she responded to first. The madame slunk her hand around his shoulder as she let off a high pitched laugh.


"Well, look what we have hear, ladies," she swooned. Andrei was appalled. "And what is a handsome young man like you doing around an old place like this?" She raised a thin, curved eyebrow. Before anymore interactions could occur, Robert pulled Andrei away from the scene by his shoulder. At first the madame frowned, then capriciously sent a little grin and her closed her adieu with a kiss.


The coal mines were in plain sight now. It almost seemed as if it was a completely different world, separated by a thick cloud of dust and smoke. Even the rhythm of their chatter and labor seemed foreign. Robert's pace seemed to quicken, despite what laid ahead. He only hoped they would make it through without having to deal with any trouble. Curious, coal smudged glances came from every direction, some ending with ignorance, others lasting just a little longer before someone prodded them to return to work. One of the workers even cursed at Robert, another seemed to cat call towards Anna. Mr. White remained indifferent to the latter and other, various reactions they received as they continued their passing.


"Thar she blows!" a voice slurred, and a loud explosion followed. Robert nearly jumped in his place as the sound erupted, and even took a moment to confirm that Anna and Andrei were still by his side. He did not, however, stay a minute longer to investigate the source of the detonation or any other related details.


"Let's hurry," he spoke as the speed in his walk increased once again. Thankfully the rest of their promenade through the mines wen uninterrupted; Robert considered themselves lucky. He inhaled, and his lungs suddenly felt lighter when they finally reached the edge of the neighborhood, Robert's neighborhood to be precise. Mr. White lead them a little ways further, and then turned to them. "Stay here."





In truth, he couldn't strongly affirm that his mother still lived in their old house. The chances were very likely, he couldn't imagine where she would get the money to move out, and the woman never accepted anything he attempted to send her. He left Anna and Andrei, trusting that they would remain in their place, and understand that it was a safety protocol. Then he made his way farther up the street until he reached the respective home, number seven, and gently stepped up to the door on old, wooden planks. There was a moment where everything in Robert's figure seemed to completely stop, like a lifeless stopwatch. Face towards he door, feet on the ground, cane in hands. Then the only movement that was present was a slight twitch in his index finger, though it wouldn't have been noticeable from any distance. His cane suddenly swung up from the porch, and gave a gentle tap on the base of the front door.


Sounds could be heard from within the house, or was it just Robert's imagination? He rested his cane in front of him again, just before someone suddenly swung open the door. A petite woman with silver, vintage styled hair tilted her pointy chin up towards Mr. White through wide, blue eyes.


"My heavens," she uttered in a nearly inaudible tone.


"Hello, mother." The woman seemed immobile, and just continued to stare at Robert. "Serves me right I suppose. I never expected a grand parade when I came home." Ms. White continued to stare. Robert stared back.


"E-Edith?" the woman managed to choke after what felt like an eternity. "Edith!" she called again, her eyes still locked on Robert in disbelief. Robert's expression shifted from default to a mix between shock and fear.


"For goodness sake, Valerie, what is it now?" another, feminine voice spoke. When she turned the corner, a curdling scream jumped from her lungs and caused Mr. White to cringe. This woman had been slightly taller than Valerie, and still had hints of natural color through thick streaks of grey. "He's back, from the grave!" Edith dramatically concluded.


"No, no!" Valerie began to laugh as she turned her gaze away from her son for the first time. "It's Robert!"


"Oh, goodness, I thought you would have never guessed," Robert replied.


"Oh, shush," Valerie prodded. "Don't make me smack you," she tried to tease, but Robert's expression remained stagnant. "Come in, come in, Edith was just about to make tea," she smiled as she turned to Edith. Taking the hint, Edith scurried back into the house to find a pot and some water. Valerie had just been about to head back inside herself, but stopped in her tracks when she noticed her son had not been following her.


"I have friends," she spoke plainly, then poked his head away from the doorway to spot Anna and the rest of their crew. He cocked his head to signal them to come over, then turned his attention back to his mother. "We need your help."

 

[Erica]

Their trip through Greenwich proved educational, even while hurried by Robert’s aggressive pace. It had been years since Anna had visited Ashington. After Sam’s death, she had attended several memorials in his name. In the years to follow, she visited when she could, which had been increasingly less often as the years went by. And yet she had only been to Greenwich once, when Sam had still been with her. At that point, she had barely noticed the squalor and depravity. Now it stood out more clearly.


She glowered when she attempted to fetch a coin for the beggar, only to have Robert pull her to his side. A brief roll of her eyes summarized her feelings on his nervous and protective nature. Yes, the people here lived in desperate and destitute situations, but that was no need to walk around clutching their belongings to their chest and run between well-lit areas.


Andrei, on the other hand, saw some reasoning in Robert’s caution. After all, he had been assaulted by a painted lady; he had surreptitiously wiped his cheek after they departed, attempting to cleanse himself of the kiss. When Robert instructed them to wait for him, he exchanged a brief glance with Anna. She did not appear nearly as concerned about their circumstances as he thought she should. Then again, her composure was often legendary. Nearly as much as Robert White’s.


The exchange at the door only inspired more lifted eyebrows and a smile from both Andrei and Anna - although Andrei’s held far more amusement than Anna’s. When Robert finally turned to introduce them, Anna stepped forward, offering her hand to Valerie. “Anna Stroud,” she said, refraining from including her title as a Senator. Most people knew her name. If they did not, it would be uncouth to underline her station: after all, those who chose not to know of the two leading Senators probably did so for a reason.


“It is a pleasure to meet you. My sincerely apologies for the circumstances, but Mr. White is correct. We are in need of aid.” She glanced once to Robert before looking past her to the inside of the house. “Would you be willing to discuss it with Robert, my engineer, Andrei, and I... inside?”


Behind her, Andrei watched the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and dread on his face. When Anna mentioned his name, he took a small step forward and tipped his hat to the woman at the door.

 

[Chordling]

"Well yes, of course," Valerie replied with a new expression of concern. "Please," she said as she opened the door further to allow her son and friends to enter. Robert left his cane beside the doorway in a customary fashion before walking towards the small living room. The area had been decorated with small pieces of furniture and framed photos. One side table boldly displayed three portraits; one of Valerie, one of Carter, and one of Robert. More family photos ornamented the shelves and dressers, and even the windowsills.


Edith scrambled nearby in the kitchen as she fetched a few tea cups and a small sack of herbs. "I hope you don't mind green tea!" she nearly sang while she monitored her work station.


"So, what is the matter we need to talk about?" Valerie said as she ignored her sister's tease. The front door was all ready closed, and Valerie stood beside Robert.


"What have you heard through the news lately?" Robert inquired. Even though they were still located within the capital, news had a funny way of delaying its arrival.


Valerie simply smiled. "Well, last we heard, there had been some marvelous discovery in The Library."


"That's it?" Robert's voice raised with anxiety. Ms. White smirked as she began think, periodically nodding and shaking her head. Robert always wondered what could possibly be running through his mother's mind as she secretly conversed with herself.


"No!" she suddenly exclaimed. "Now I remember. Why, I just read it in the paper the other day. The monarchy is planned to present a speech about the material related to The Library," and she nodded with pride. Robert simply sighed. "What?"


"The speech in Market Square was at least a week ago," Robert started to inform. "Unfortunately the even was cut short when an attempt on the King's life was made." Clandestinely he sent a glare between Anna and Andrei to hold their tongues. He didn't want to tell his mother what truly transpired, at least not yet. The rest of Silchester was still wrongly informed, so why waste his breath? "Thankfully, the bullet missed, and no one was harmed," Robert strongly dictated, and released his gaze between his comrades.


"Just about a week later, Ms. Stroud and I traveled to the royal palace to witness a presentation from the team of Blackcastle Engineers, who are also performing research on The Library. There was a series of events that followed, and that I feel must remain concealed in order to protect you from any false suspicions." His mother shot him a curious glance, but he continued. "We returned to Silchester to discuss the topic in depth, but our meeting was interrupted when we were pursued by royal guards and chased out of the sky-kissed city. Our original plan was to land in Mendeleve, but we ran into complications with the ship's engine. We do not know the identity of the assailant, we do not understand the meaning of the events that occurred during the presentation at the palace, we do not understand why we were chased out of the city; thus, we do not know why we are here, but we need a place to stay."


"Well of course," Valerie gently smiled as her sister handed her a warm cup of tea. It sounded as if half of what she heard actually processed. "Come, have a drink." She began to lead her son towards one of the small sofa's in the living area. Perhaps her ignorance could be explained by her strong, motherly attachment to her only child. Robert left for Silchester to study politics 14 years ago, and never made the effort to return to Greenwich ever since. Occasionally he would send her letters from the university, but this type of personal communication slowly dithered over the years. The only way left for Ms. White to connect with her son was through news articles. After a while it seemed like a visit of any kind were to be impossible.


"We will only stay for as long as we need to," Robert continued to speak as he caused the sofa to screech under his weight. "I suspect that the guards will be searching for us through the capital first. Once Mr. Volos is able to find the materials he needs to repair the airship, we will be on our way." He tried to stare his mother down, hoping it would inspire some idea that the circumstances they were under were dire.


"Well yes, of course, deary!" she affirmed, but her tone still held the same sense of oblivion. "Oh, Anna deary, did Edith give you a cup of tea all ready?" the topic suddenly changed. Robert's cheeks nearly flushed. He had forgotten that his mother was not used to aristocratic customs, and that addressing someone of importance who you were not familiar with by their first name could very likely be considered an insult. His eyes panned up towards Anna as a way of apologizing for his mother's nonchalance.

 

[Erica]

The collective relief was palpable Robert’s family allowed them inside, off the streets and away from prying eyes. Anna and Andrei stayed back, observing the interaction between Robert and his family from a polite distance - or as much of one as they could manage in the small house. Anna found it interesting how Robert spoke with his mother. Even with her, he remained so professional and distant. Why had she thought he might be warmer with his family?


When the speech at the Market Square came up, Anna refrained from correcting Robert although she did shoot him a pointed look. Eventually Valerie would hear about Robert being hurt in the attack. What point was there in lying about it? Except perhaps to avoid immediate concern. Surely the woman would be upset later when she discovered that her son had lied to her.


Or perhaps not. The woman seemed oblivious to the magnitude of their peril. The expected queries for details - at least about why they might be hunted by the King’s Guard did not follow. Instead, she immediately agreed to hide them and led them inside for tea. Either Robert’s mother was the most poised and agreeable person under pressure in history, or she did not possess all of her faculties. Anna remained unsure which it might be.


When Valerie addressed her by her given name, Anna’s eyebrows lifted but she quickly schooled her expression and donned a smile. Given that she had grown up with privilege and amongst Silchester society, it was easier for her to forgive the breach of etiquette. Now, seeing where Robert had come from, she better understood his strict adherence to societal codes. She surmised he clung to them to differentiate himself and prove himself worthy of the status he had attained.


So she smiled at Valerie and dipped her head toward her empty hands. “No, not yet, Mrs. White. Although there is no rush.” She glanced at Robert, smiling at him as well to reassure him she was not offended as she claimed a seat beside Robert on the sofa, perching on the edge and adjusting her skirt before she looked back up to their hostess. “Milk and sugar, if you will. Or shall I get it myself?”


Andrei followed in their wake, politely taking up a position to the side of the sofa. “Mrs. White, please forgive the interruption. But as Mr. White has implied, time is of the essence. Is there a mechanic nearby? Or better yet, a salvage yard?”

 

[Chordling]

Robert's posture made subtle changes when Anna sat herself down. Part of him found it odd to sit beside Ms. Stroud, even after all of the events they endured together, and he was far more accustomed to their adjacent positions. He would have made more room for Ms. Stroud to sit on the sofa, but Andrei snatched away his opportunity as he took the other side of the sofa, and their conversation returned to more serious matters.


"We will have to visit Mr. Wilhelm at the general market," Robert answered as he looked to Andrei, then shook his head. "There hasn't been a mechanic in Greenwich for years, and we've never had a salvage yard. I cannot imagine much has changed." Then he looked to his mother to confirm that his words had been true, and that he was not unwittingly robbing them of opportunities. Ms. White smiled and shook her head before raising a small, ceramic cup to her lips and taking a small sip from her beverage.


"And, how exactly will Mr. Wilhelm be of service to us?" Andrei seemed slightly distressed, and faced Robert as he address him.


Robert turned his head again to respond to the mechanic. "He is the general market owner. Mr. Wilhelm will have connections with other towns. We can leave tomorrow morning once we have settled-"


"My heavens, Robert, what on Earth is on the back of your head?" Ms. White sharply interrupted. Her small frame leaned forward from her seat as she examined the back of her son's skull from a slight distance. "Were you hit? Did you fall?" she suddenly began to worry, then removed herself from the seat across from them and rushed over towards Mr. White.


"Mother, please," Robert groaned as he attempted to ward the elderly woman away while she coddled his head. "It was simply an accident, just let it be," he continued to beg. Of course, Ms. White refused to move away. She pushed away the hair that covered the sore area, causing Robert to occasionally flinch and protest.


"Oh, come now, let mummy help you," she chided. Andrei's expression had deepened while Ms. White continued to investigate her son's injury. He was about to confess his wrongdoing and explain his reasoning, but was stopped when a high pitch voice rang through the house.


"Here is your tea!" Edith widely smiled as she suddenly appeared into the living space with a small, round tray carrying a fresh pot of tea and a mismatching set of cups. Valerie sighed as she noticed her sister's presence.


"Splendid, but now isn't the time." Ms. White turned back to take another glance at Robert's sore. "Oh, just put the tray down on the table, then get me a wet cloth- sweetie just hold still." Robert rolled his eyes.


"For a younger sister you sure are bossy," Edith teased as she gently placed the tray onto a small table that was centered between the sofa, then scurried back off to fetch Valerie's desired item. "And mum and dad thought she was the nice one, ha!" she quickly whispered to Ms. Stroud before completing her departure.


Andrei reached for the tray and began pouring drinks for Anna and himself. "I am sure Mr. Wilhelm is a very nice man, but why can't we simply travel to a nearby town ourselves?" he asked as he finished pouring himself some tea. He placed the metal pot back onto the tray with an alarming clunk, then began to doctor his drink with appropriate amounts of sugar and cream.


"I never said nearby," Robert grunted as his mother started to pat his head with a damp cloth. Edith had returned just moments before, and slumped herself onto one of the chairs with a warm cup of tea in her hands. "The only way we will be able to get what you need is to have it delivered here." He continued to explain that traveling to pick up the necessary materials was not safe. Greenwich transportation only flew so far, and they would risk being discovered hopping port to port. It was best to remain home. "My heavens, woman!" he growled when Valerie seemed to press too tightly on a particularly tender spot.


"Mmm, well you wouldn't be complaining now if you told mummy about this earlier, would you?" she naturally retorted.


"If I may, Mrs. White-" Andrei attempted to speak, but he was interrupted once more.


"Oh, darling, please, Mrs. White is my mother in law." The cold, damp cloth she held in her hand clapped against the back of Robert's head as if to punctuate her sentence, and sent a warm smile toward's the younger fellow. She knew it was customary for strangers to address her with the married title, though she preferred otherwise. The mechanic sat back in his seat with a cup of tea in his hands, figuring maybe it simply was not the time to address past matters. "Here sweetie, just hold this." She took Robert's hand and placed it over the cloth. Robert rolled his eyes once more, but obeyed, and held the cloth in its place.


Mr. White lightly suggested that they would need rooms to sleep in. His mother simply agreed, and she sat back down into her seat. "Edith and I can share the master bed room," she noted as she poured herself a second cup of tea. "Edith and I are used to sharing."


"We've practically shared everything... well, except for a husband that is." Edith slunk back in her seat.


"And your old room is still in tact," Valerie turned to Robert. "Then one of you can have the guest room and... oh." It was almost perfect. For one glorious moment Valerie thought that she could successfully house a party of guests without rooming complications, but her joy was short lived. Her face went under a series of expressions, and she began to compare the number of people and available rooms on her fingers. "Well..." her lips pursed as her eyes rested on the sofa before her.

 

[Erica]

Over the years, Anna had occasionally wondered what the home life of well renowned Senator, Robert White, had been like. He was a paragon of etiquette and a walking paradox: a refined monarchist from Greenwich was a rare and unusual thing. Most people from Ashington wanted to speak for the working man. Robert seemed to want the opposite. Somehow - despite the stories about his father - she had imagined at least one member of his family represented a paragon of etiquette and intellect. Some guiding hand to inspire him to improve his fellow man.


If that were the case, then that pillar of societal norms was not either Valerie or Edith. Observing their interaction - and the way Valerie mothered Robert - amused and surprised Anna in equal measure. This was not the household she had pictured. Somehow she had expected it to either be completely downtrodden - something to overcome and persevere through - or a bastion of calm and poise amongst the rabble. It was neither, resembling a carnival more than a cotillion.


Robert began to get upset, but did not tell them that the knot on the back of his head had been Andrei’s doing. She took a cup of tea, doctoring it with cream and sugar as they fussed over Robert and began to argue about the sleeping arrangements.


While Anna attempted to interrupt once or twice, the house remained the domain of these two rambunctiously eager ladies. She did not want to display her amusement to Robert, so she largely hid behind her tea cup. Yet when the sleeping arrangements stumped Valerie, she thought instantly of a solution. One Robert probably would not enjoy. There were three bedrooms, and people of two genders. It only made sense to fit two people to a room, not three, so perhaps Andrei could sleep on the floor of Robert’s room. Or, if there were a comfortable chair, perhaps she could maintain her vigil. (The likelihood that these ladies had the room or means for a comfortable chair in the bedrooms was, unfortunately, very slim.)


“We will figure something out,” Anna reassured Valerie. “Perhaps Mr. Volos could...” she began, looking to the mechanic.


Andrei, already sensing where Anna was leading him, interjected quickly, his teacup clinking on the saucer as he set it swiftly down. “I will sleep on the couch,” he exchanged a quick, meaningful glance with Robert, perhaps in thanks for not disclosing his identity as the source of the other man’s injury, or maybe to dissuade him from speaking otherwise. He looked to Valerie and Edith with a smile for both ladies. “I do my best thinking in the evening, and I would not wish to keep anyone awake.” He looked at the couch and added warmly. “I dare say your couch looks far more comfortable than the one in my workshop back home.”


Anna smiled gratefully at her friend as she stood, tea in hand. “You are generous, Andrei - and should you need rest during the day, of course you could utilize the guest room.” Belatedly realizing she had taken over, she looked to Valerie. “Forgive me, Mrs. White... Valerie,” she corrected. “I did not mean to assume. Will that be satisfactory?” One glance at Robert told her how dearly he wished to leave the room - and his mother’s doting presence. “I hope you will forgive me. For the day’s events have left me tired, and it would do me good to rest.”