The Earl of Brass (The Ingenious Mechanical Devices Book 1) (21 page)

Thieves Among Us

The trek back to the tents had become a bitter journey through the third ring of Dante’s seventh circle as they marched through the cooling desert sands. They slowed their pace on the way back, knowing there would be no warm welcome waiting for them. Hadley tried to strike up a conversation about what they did in Billawra to keep Eilian’s spirit up, but as they passed the new dig site, which more closely resembled a sinkhole than an excavation, she could see the silent signs of despair creep into his features. His eyes lost their glow and his features fell into somber reverie. Before they were in view of the row of tents, she squeezed his arm reassuringly, causing a forlorn grin to stretch across his features. As they crested the hill, Sir Joshua rose from his seat at the campfire and came toward them.

“Eilian, Henry, we saved you some meat,” he called, gesturing toward the empty seats.

Henry eyed the baron suspiciously, but Eilian seemed relieved, even thrilled, to be included once again. When Eilian took the invitation without hesitation, Henry hesitantly followed him. Sniffing the meat discreetly, he poked it with the bent-tined fork for bullets but still worried it was tainted or laced with poison. Why else would Joshua suddenly be so affable?

“I want to apologize for my atrocious behavior. I’m afraid my lack of finds and shortage of funds got the better of me. Would be willing to give me another chance and teach me about the Billawrati? That is, if you can accept my apology, Eilian.”

For the first time in weeks, his features brightened as he beamed with delight. The weight that had caused him to question his trip and occupation vanished. “Of course I do. Henry, would you get our notebooks, please?”

The artist nodded, but as he headed toward their shared tent on the other side of the site, he had the nagging feeling that something was amiss. A person doesn’t simply change overnight without a reason, especially one as calculated as Joshua Peregrine. Taking the books from their desk and drawers, Henry turned to see Edmund Barrister staring at him from the open flap of his tent across the aisle. His heart froze as the hunter’s eyes shined in the darkness, boring through his green vest and boyish façade as he held his gaze like a trapped antelope. At the sound of Eilian’s voice, he darted back toward the fire without looking back. As Henry handed over the sketch pads and watched Sir Joshua pore over his notes and drawings, he couldn’t help but feel that something was definitely not right.

***

Hadley Fenice snapped straight up in bed, gathering her blanket close as she listened for the noises that had awoken her from a sound sleep. She thought there had been movement outside and the resonating clang of metal striking metal, but as she focused in the disquieting darkness, she heard the palpitating swish of gravel being disturbed under the tread of boots. A heavy breath to her left broke her concentration, but as she spun to face the intruder, she realized it was only Eilian sleeping. Sliding her feet into her slippers, she soundlessly padded toward the door. An ibex baaed in the distance, and the fear ebbed slightly. As Hadley was about to climb back into bed, a metal bucket crashed and bounced near the wall of the tent her bed rested against. Instinctively hopping back, she landed on Eilian, who awoke bewildered only to find the woman sitting on his chest.

“What is going—”

She clasped her hand over his mouth as wood splintered outside, dragging down the wall of her side of the tent. “Something is outside. Are there any lynxes in the Negev?”

“No, the only predators here are vultures, snakes, and people. It is probably a bunch of goats wandering through looking for food.” He strained to see what was outside, but the silhouette was hidden by the predawn darkness. “Sleep on my cot. It butts up against the cliff, and I will take yours.”

Hadley grabbed his arm as he stood up. “No,” her eyes widened as she whispered, “what if there are bandits outside? I don’t want you near the wall either.” It sounded farfetched, but with her mind still half in nightmares, anything was plausible. She moved the table and lamp that stood between the two beds and pulled her cot against his. “This is safer, but I will take you up on your offer anyway.”

He scooted onto her bed as she climbed over him and faced the wall with the blanket tucked over her head. Even with her eyes closed, she could feel his form looming beside her, sheltering her with his body from whatever was outside their tent. She laid there for what felt like hours trying to sleep, but the little noises outside kept catching her attention. Plastering the quilt to her ears, she clenched her eyes shut, but her mind was too on edge to allow her to sleep. Rolling over, Hadley found Eilian already fast asleep beside her with his prosthesis tucked under his head. Inching closer, she rested her head against his outstretched arm, letting the rhythmic flow of his pulse lull her.

***

Eilian opened his eyes as the sun beat through the canvas of the tent and pleasantly warmed his body. He glanced over at Hadley’s peaceful, slumbering face as she rested on his left arm and smiled. With his prosthesis, he grabbed his pocket watch off the table, but upon seeing the time, he nearly fell out of bed.
Why did no one wake us?
he thought as he gradually pulled his arm out from under her head without disturbing her. Forgetting the screen, he threw on his clothes and began assembling his external prosthesis as he headed for the door of the tent. Darting out, he expected to be chastised by Mr. Barrister or Sir Joshua, but the campsite was silent. Lord Sorrell ran from tent to tent, looking for the other men but found no one. All the equipment had been left just as it was the day before as was Joshua’s tent, which still contained his desk and trunk. As he stared at the fluttering tents and empty camp, the vast stillness of the desert overwhelmed him. The only things around were the tiny goats in the distance and the rolling, rocky hills gleaming with a blinding white light in the midmorning sun.

“Hadley! Hadley, wake up!” he called as he shook her shoulder. When she finally looked at him and confusion faded into understanding, he continued, “Everyone is gone. Everything is still here, but the men are nowhere to be found. They aren’t at the other dig either.”

Hadley flew out of bed, changing behind her screen, but as she darted for the flap of the tent, Eilian’s desk caught her eye. An ink pot had been pushed to the side and papers were scattered across it and on the floor. She quickly inventoried what had been on it for the last few months. Upon realizing what was missing, she dug through the drawers. Eilian watched his companion as she ran over to their trunks and whipped out their clothing until finally she haphazardly stuffed everything back in and caught her breath.

“Our notebooks are gone! All of our sketches and notes about the Billawrati are gone! I had two on the desk and a few in the drawer, and now they’re gone,” she cried as she rushed over to the night-table but found it was empty as well.

As Eilian easily pulled open the previously locked drawer of his desk, he uttered, “So are our airship tickets.”

“Are you telling me we are stranded? Do you think thieves could have come and killed the others?”

“They wouldn’t spare only us. No, the thieves were among us the whole time. Those greedy bastards. How could I have been such a bloody fool?” he spat as he slammed his fist into the desk. “I can’t believe they would do this to us!” Eilian drew in a deep breath and pushed the anger down. “Let’s just pack up our trunks. If we start walking now, we can make it to Beersheba by evening and get to Jerusalem in a few days. I’m sure Uncle Malcolm will help us get back to London.”

As Hadley threw her remaining clothes and effects into the trunk, she paused at the unmistakable crunch of shoes on gravel. Climbing to their feet, the two adventurers peeked out the tent opening and watched as a tall figure cloaked from crown to toe in a black, silk shroud walked between the rows of tents. Touching her chest, she reassured herself that her derringer was still there as the creature turned toward them and shuffled in their direction.

“May I help you?” Eilian asked as the column of black pushed into their tent.

It threw off its hood to reveal long, white hair and a colorless face. “Neuk requests your appearance in Billawra. Now,” the messenger commanded before pulling his cloak back over his face and disappearing into the sunlight.

Eilian and Hadley threw the last of their belongings into the trunk and headed out into the desert behind the man. Lord Sorrell couldn’t imagine what they had done to get such a curt invitation, but as they reached the cave, he realized why. All the books were gone. The shelves were empty except for the occasional fragment of parchment flapping in the dry breeze. After a month of traveling through the tunnels, they were able to navigate the many twists and obstacles of the cavern to reach the end within a few minutes. As they came to the fork between the orchard and the mine, they were greeted by the entire tribunal. Every ivory countenance was stony and severe, except Uta, whose eyes were ringed in red and stained with tears. Her body curled inward, far from the arrogant confidence she exuded normally, as she leaned against Neuk for support.

“What’s going on?” Eilian asked meekly, feeling like a child in trouble with his parents.

“We told you they were not allowed down without your supervision,” Neuk scolded, but his tone softened as he beheld the confusion in the foreigners’ eyes.

“We had no idea they came here. We only awoke an hour ago and found the camp deserted,” Hadley explained. “What did they do?”

“They raided our cache of fabric, stole over a dozen silkworms, and emptied the cave library in the middle of the night,” Paten began as she read from her ledger. “We awoke to find these things disturbed, but more importantly—”

“Kae is missing!” Uta drew closer as her body shook with sobs. “I have looked from top to bottom and haven’t been able to find her. She likes to get up to practice early in the morning, but she never returned. They took her,” she wept, seething with anger. “I know your
friends
took her. I know we couldn’t trust them! Tell me where she is!”

Eilian’s head reeled. How could they do this? “We didn’t see her at the camp, but that does not mean she isn’t there. Uta, we
will
get her back to you. They couldn’t have gotten far. They have to stop at Beersheba to refuel before going on to Jerusalem. We will chase after them and get her back for you. Hopefully, we can return your goods as well.”

Neuk wrapped his arm around Uta, pulling her closer until her forehead rested against his shoulder. “We don’t care about the goods. We care about Kae. Get her back.”

As Hadley scrambled out of the cave system, she recounted the morning’s events. The crashing and banging that awoke her must have been Joshua making his getaway. If she had gone outside, maybe she could have stopped them. On the other hand, she could have been kidnapped as well.
Was there anywhere I missed?
Lord Sorrell thought about his quick inspection of the tents. He had only glanced into the supply tent as it was so filled with crates and equipment that Joshua or his men couldn’t hide inside, and he had skipped Edmund’s tent out of habit as he always feared being shot if he intruded unexpectedly. There was still a chance the dancer was there.

When they neared the camp, they split up as Eilian headed for Edmund’s tent while Hadley investigated the store of supplies at the opposite end near the pits. Edmund’s room was roughly the length of a steamer like Sir Joshua’s, but instead of a desk, it only contained a bed and a small camp table on top of a tiger-skin rug. The massive head snarled at him even in death. The guns that had hung dutifully in the rack were gone along with his trunk. Eilian checked under the bed and on the table but found nothing to suggest if he had left alone or with his cohort. He tiptoed out of Edmund’s space and went into Joshua’s chamber, tearing through anything that could give a hint as to what happened.

***

Glancing over her shoulder toward the hills, Hadley sprinted from tent to tent. She ripped back the flaps of the men’s flimsy hovels as she made her way to the massive, canvas storehouse. Several collapsed in her wake, but she didn’t care. She had trusted them, but they were just as bad as the others. As Hadley stomped into the supply tent, her shin collided with the corner of a crate. A stack of shovels fell over, clattering to the ground as she froze.

“Everything all right, Had?” Eilian shouted from down the aisle.

“Yes, I only tripped.”

She shimmied between the stacks of boxes and the canvas wall as she walked the perimeter, hoping to find a new crate or the dancer tied up at the back like in a dime novel. Nothing appeared to have been touched except the extra wooden panels, which were missing. With a sigh, Hadley ran her eyes over the packages again one by one until they came to rest on a peculiar box. In their haste, they had nailed the unfinished side of the wood on the outside and left the stamped portion hidden. Clattering over the other crates, she shoved the cumbersome box of canned food off the chest below with her feet. Using one of the fallen shovels, she wedged the edge under the lid and pushed with all her strength. The coffin-sized crate groaned under the strain until, with a final death rattle, the top crashed to the ground.