A Study In Ashes Part 54

They hadn't come all this way for this to happen. Panicked, Evelina thrust her power forward, willing the tragedy to just stop.

And it did. Time froze.

Panic morphed into bewilderment. Evelina stared around her. Everything was as immobile as if it had been cast in bronze. The half-woman's long gray hair streamed behind her, the ropey muscle of her calf straining as she launched from the gra.s.s, and yet she did not move. The prince's expression was a mask of wide-eyed revulsion, one arm raised to block her attack. Nick was there beside her, caught in the midst of his weapon's recoil as his target fell backward, suspended at an impossible angle in the air.

Evelina's scalp crawled. She'd never done anything like this before! She took a deep breath, relis.h.i.+ng how quiet it was with the din of battle stopped. Except it wasn't silent. Something else besides her was moving around.

She turned toward the noise. It was the giant dog, standing just inside the ring of frozen battle. It really was the size of a small calf, with the huge, square head of a mastiff. The coat was brindled brown and black with a white chest and two ma.s.sive white paws on its front legs. It might have just been a big dog except for its glowing red eyes and the blue-green s...o...b..r dripping from its jaw. A dog that drools aether? Evelina thought. What had the scientists at the laboratories done to the poor creature?

And yet here it was, oblivious to her magic. It started to lollop toward her, a deep baying cry escaping from its chest. Evelina backed away, unsure how to stop it but knowing she must. She gathered her magic-or tried to-but it seemed as immobilized as the scene. She fumbled, her abilities blunted by having used so much power only minutes ago. Had she even cast the freezing spell, or had it been the hound?

The creature sprang for the prince. Evelina leapt to stop it by sheer strength, but her fingers slipped from the sleek fur, the muscled body far too powerful to even flinch at her a.s.sault. But it didn't grab the Schoolmaster in its ma.s.sive jaws; it savaged his attacker instead. Those huge white paws slammed into the half-human's sides, bearing her to the ground before snapping her neck with a single, sickening crunch.

Evelina gasped, and the hound turned its head, red eyes like a whirling ma.s.s of clouds turned ruby by a spectacular sunset. There was something ancient about them and very uncanine, and something that told her she wasn't the only magician in the war.

"I saw you at the laboratories," she said.

An image formed in her mind that made her skin crawl. This was indeed the dog Nellie Reynolds had described-part hound, part clockwork, and part aether engine. But through the magic unleashed during the wreck of the laboratories, the beast had become host to Dartmoor's spirits-and they were just figuring out the potential of the hound's internal workings.

"Is this trick of stopping time your magic or something built inside of you?" she asked.

Both, it replied.

The hound's deep voice startled her tired magic to attention.

"Why did you follow us?" she asked.

Events have been set in motion. The dragon awakes. Magic walks. Crowns rise and fall. No one can stop the wheel from turning now.

The creature's words chilled her to the core. Her power rose, tingling and ready for a fight, but the creature gave an acknowledging whuff and bounded away. As soon as it had vanished from sight, the racket of the battle resumed with the force of a thunderclap. Nick's victim fell. The prince gave a surprised cry, blinking as he saw the woman dead on the ground. Evelina slumped into a crouch, her head spinning.

"What the bleeding h.e.l.l happened?" Nick demanded.

What indeed? Evelina reeled from the suddenness of what she'd just seen. What had Dr. Watson been writing-something about a hound that haunted the Baskerville family?

She thought he'd made it up, but she would bet her last s.h.i.+lling she'd just seen the object of the good doctor's latest tale.

THE NEXT MOMENT, THE AIRMEN LEAPED INTO ACTION, breaking Evelina's thoughts.

"Get the prince back inside the s.h.i.+p!" Nick commanded, and his crew sprang to obey.

"No!" said the Schoolmaster. "Others have fought on my behalf long enough." He unslung the modified rifle he had over his shoulder. "I can't command what I will not do myself."

"Pardon, my lord, but you need to stay alive long enough to actually win the day," Nick broke in, waving a hand. "Otherwise, this has been a colossal waste of time."

The prince bridled. They might have argued longer, but a roar of cannon made the ground shudder and drowned out anything else they had to say.

Evelina ran for the ladder that led back inside the Athena, but instead of crawling back inside she used it to work her way onto the s.h.i.+p's backswept wing. A handful of rooks were already there, and they hopped aside to make room for her. Her skirts started to tangle around her ankles as she climbed, but she kicked them aside, no longer worried about the rips and mud along her hems. She finally got to her feet, shading her eyes against the falling angle of the sun. She could sense Athena, who was lost in a swirling, hazy doze despite the chaos all around.

"What do you see?" Nick called up from the ground.

"The battle's s.h.i.+fting," she replied, but another boom ate her words.

It didn't take long to figure out what was going on. The caterpillar and its surrounding mob had lifted the barricades and were pus.h.i.+ng in their direction, a.s.sisted by Smythe's cavalry. The sudden gap between the Gold and Blue forces had an instant effect as the two opposing forces rushed to fill the breach. Evelina noticed at once the difference between the steam baron's armies-a vast wave of thugs and mercenaries-and the small number of professional regiments still loyal to the Crown. The Yellowbacks and Blue Boys were serious fighters, but the regiments were disciplined soldiers fighting for their home. It was unfortunate they were badly outnumbered.

A handful of the Gold King's machines-there were a few still functional-began blasting their way toward the Blue King's rolling spheres. It would have been an equal match, as far as Evelina could tell, but neither side had counted on the prince's southern army.

Keating's Yellowbacks had largely ignored the ragtag mob of makers, retired soldiers, and malcontents-right until they drove a wedge through the back of Keating's main line, splitting it. One half was forced north into Covent Garden, the other straight into the Blue Boys.

Nick landed lightly beside Evelina. "I can't hear a thing you're saying from down there." But then he followed the line of her pointing finger, and fell silent.

The Gold King's main force had been split, but it had one last card to play. From her vantage point she was just high enough from the ground to see the small, light dirigibles rise from the northwest. They were a pale green, telling Evelina that they had been commandeered from the Green Queen's holdings. Though they were small, they were nonexplosive aether s.h.i.+ps and that was a good thing, for a long chain dangled from each, and at the end of the chain was a round cage filled with flames. Evelina recognized it as the same wicked, clinging fire used in hot harpoons. The s.h.i.+ps began unleas.h.i.+ng the blaze over the ranks of the Blue Boys.

King Coal's army broke like a puddle exploding from beneath a stomping boot. Panic raged through the tightly packed ranks as the southern portion of the Gold Army surged forward and the two armies became one seething ma.s.s of men and machines. The Blue King's wheeled spheres ground forward through the mob, meeting the Gold King's mobile cannons like two species of t.i.tans battling with thunderbolts.

One of the Blue King's spheres exploded in a shower of flame and shrapnel. The noise sent the rooks into a hysterical flurry. When the smoke cleared, Evelina could see flames erupting from several of the buildings nearby. She wondered how much of London would be on fire before this was done.

Nick grabbed her arm and pointed. Two of the professional regiments surrounding the prince began working east. "Look."

"What are they doing?" asked Evelina.

"Pus.h.i.+ng back the Blue Boys, from the looks of things."

Nick let out a joyous laugh. "They're making a safe pa.s.sage for Roth and his merry men."

Sure enough, she could see the head of the caterpillar bobbing above the crowd that was streaming past its rippling rows of red-booted feet. Evelina let out a whoop as the running mob shouted Prince Edmond's name. And then suddenly the prince was on the wing with Evelina and Nick, waving his striped m.u.f.fler in the air.

"Welcome, friends!" he cried, and the rebels screamed their approval. Another war machine exploded in the distance, melding with their roar until the sound seemed to reverberate like thunder. "That's the spirit. Let's give them a taste of our steam!"

Hats, scarves, and someone's lacy knickers flew into the air in approval of the handsome young prince. "They never do that for me anymore," Nick complained. "Not since I gave up the circus."

"It's all a question of venue," Evelina replied. "Would you really want to see Striker's unmentionables?"

Nick made a face. "That thought's going to give me nightmares."

At that moment, General Fortman and a group of other men arrived. The prince gave a bark of satisfied laughter and immediately climbed back to the ground. At the same time, a handful of the newcomers-these looked like former soldiers-pushed through to the front. "We have a prisoner!" one of them announced. "One you're going to want to question."

"Beg your pardon, Your Highness, we need to coordinate our plan," Fortman countered.

The prince turned to address Nick and Evelina. "Please see what the prisoner has to say while I tend to this." With that, he strode off.

Nick signaled to the soldiers to bring their charge forward. Two more appeared, dragging a man between them. "Dark Mother of Basilisks," Nick growled. "It's Juniper."

Nick swung back to the ground, dropping lightly before he strode easily toward the man. Sudden vertigo seized Evelina and she crouched, waiting out the shock that sent her head spinning. The prisoner was looking up at her, his face a pale circle below. She recognized the lean visage of Professor Moriarty. The Ladies' College seemed far away now, like a story from a book, and yet all her emotions about the place were just as keen. He'd been the only faculty member who had even tried to understand her, and now-just as he'd predicted-they were on opposite sides.

Evelina gathered herself, quickly scrambling for the ladder. When she reached the ground, Nick was walking toward her. "He wants to speak to you," he said, curiosity shading his voice. "He seems to think you can help him."

"I'm not sure how," Evelina replied as they approached a sheltered spot near the Athena where there were far fewer people milling about.

The two men holding Moriarty had forced him to kneel in the muddy gra.s.s. One still gripped his hair, tilting his head back slightly so that he regarded her through slitted eyes. His hands were lashed behind him so tightly that his shoulders twisted backward. The sight of it made Evelina's stomach hurt.

"How did you make out with the salt of sorrows?" Moriarty asked as she drew near.

Of all the things he might have said, she wasn't expecting that. All her ambivalent feelings about the man came flooding back. "Did you know that I would try to use it to overload the mechanism of the bracelets?"

His mouth twitched, but it didn't make it all the way to a smile. "I never know precisely what people will do. There seemed a high probability you would figure out a way to get the bracelets off if you got out of Camelin."

"The salts didn't help with that, Professor, although they did a.s.sist with destroying Her Majesty's Laboratories." She wondered if he knew the chemical compound would make her ill. It was hard to tell.

The guard let go of his hair and Moriarty wrenched himself away. "Then my little gift did give you an advantage."

That was true, and Evelina didn't like it. "Why did you ask for me, Professor?"

"Remember that I arranged for you to get out of captivity. You might, uh," he rolled his eyes toward his guards, "think about returning the favor."

She remembered his words: Shall we bargain, Miss Cooper? My influence on your behalf for a future consideration? Anger hissed through her blood. "I don't have the authority here to grant you favors, Professor."

Moriarty gave an ingratiating smile. "But you can convince Prince Edmond that I am a man of honor. I keep the promises I make. Think back, and you'll see I'm telling the truth."

"Are you intending to make a promise now?" Nick asked dryly. "It doesn't seem to me that you have much to offer at the moment."

"A good portion of the Blue Boys owe their allegiance directly to me. Let me go and I will turn the tide of battle for you."

"To you, eh?" Nick returned. "And what did they do to find themselves in that position?"

Evelina remembered Moriarty's description of his network-the favors owed and debts gathered. "I think the battle is already turning. Perhaps the prince doesn't need your help."

"Brave words, but not well founded. We've kept the bulk of our forces under the earth. There's another third of our force the rebels haven't even seen."

"The Blue King kept his army in the Black Kingdom?" Nick asked.

"The army rented s.p.a.ce under the streets, no more than that."

"And you would turn your coat for queen and country?" asked Nick.

"I value my life."

"What's to keep you from turning it again?"

"The prince needs my loyalty for today. By midnight this war will be decided. And to be honest, I tire of serving King Coal. This is my chance to escape from his service once and for all."

Nick looked to Evelina. "You know this man. What do you think?"

Evelina considered. The dark power was tasting Moriarty's promises, rolling them around like candy on its tongue. They tasted like truth, but in a dangerous way. "I owe him a service, so I am discharging that service by speaking on his behalf. I believe what he has just said is completely true. He will fight for Edmond."

"But?"

"Just that. By destroying King Coal, he serves himself. He does not do this for the Crown."

"What a charming ally." Nick paused, eyes narrowed. "What surety can you offer?"

One of the Gold King's rolling cannons boomed close enough to hurt Evelina's ears.

"Only my own character," Moriarty returned. "As Miss Cooper so delicately puts it, our interests coincide. This is a three-way battle. I can give the rebels an edge."

"I believe in you about as far as I could hurl my airs.h.i.+p. But I do believe in Miss Cooper's instincts." Nick gave a curt nod and turned to the guards. "Get him ready to present to the prince."

They looked doubtful, but they cut his bonds while Nick went to make his report to Edmond. Moriarty rose stiffly and made a bow. "You will not regret this choice. All obligations between us are fulfilled, Miss Cooper. But no doubt we will do business again."

Evelina sincerely hoped not.

And then Moriarty pointed toward the top of one of the rolling spheres. It was just visible from where they stood, the muzzles of its twin cannons pointing above the battle. It was turning back toward Waterloo Bridge.

"Do you want extra surety of my good faith?" asked the professor. "Then there you are. That machine holds King Coal, and he's abandoning his Blue Boys to the tender mercies of Gold's army. He thought he had the stomach for battle, but it appears he has lost his appet.i.te for once. Fancy that."

Evelina gave him a sharp look. "Are you telling the truth?"

He looked mildly offended. "Absolutely."

She set off at a run to find Nick and Prince Edmond. The chance to capture one of the steam barons was too tempting an opportunity to pa.s.s up. She didn't have to go far, because the two men were already headed her way.

"Where is Moriarty?" Prince Edmond demanded. "He killed Sir Charles Baskerville!"

Evelina recoiled in shock. "He just pointed out the war machine the Blue King is riding in."

Prince Edmond's eyes widened as if he'd just stepped into a magnetic coil. "King Coal?"

They broke into a run, but when they reached the spot where Moriarty was being held prisoner, the two guards were lifeless on the ground and the professor had vanished. Nick bent over the guards. "Their necks are broken."

"I have to catch him," Edmond said at once. "If there's a search party, I have to be the one to lead it."

"And who will chase the Blue King?" Evelina asked. "Moriarty will be impossible to find. The Blue King isn't."

Nick looked up. "You don't have infinite resources to waste seeking individuals in the middle of a battle. At least none who aren't steam barons."

"And he knows that," Edmond said bitterly. "Moriarty knows I can't afford a personal vendetta when he's thrown a bigger prize my way."

Nick and Evelina waited while Edmond cursed under his breath.

"Fine. King Coal it is." Then the prince was suddenly in motion, striding into the surrounding throng. "Get me some men! Get me weapons and a horse!"

Nick gave her a worried look. "I should go with him. Striker can stay with the Athena."

Evelina grabbed his arm. The Blue King's forces were using weapons Magnus designed and no one understood that magic better than she did. "I'm going, too."

Meeting her eyes, Nick gave a slow nod. She could see he wanted to protect her, but he also relied on her strength. "Bring a pistol," was all he said.

THEY WERE ON a battlefield crammed with machines, but the cavalry unit led the charge toward the Blue King. Nick, Evelina, and the prince were mounted in their midst. She had no difficulty riding astride, and the horse was better trained for war than she was. The hardest part was getting to the bridge through the crush.