The Pyrette Queen and the Schismatic's Spyglass

by S. S. Engle

  “Maybe, if you’re lucky.”

  2

  Kassidy was forced to stop off at the brothel in order to sell her lie to the Dreadcrank man named Lucky. It wasn’t a lie that she worked there as a cook, but it was a lie that her sack of money was for Madame Chauvet and not her own expenditures. After a half an hour she made her way back to the palace, but not before hearing some interesting information among a pair of drunk patrons. Apparently the reason Asa had come back so early was because there was going to be a party held in his honor tonight at the Seaside Hotel. From what Kassidy could make out it was to celebrate the subversion of the Dreadcrank gang, therefore in some people’s opinion, making Engia a safer place to live. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at that falsehood, but let the men spew their plans for the evening.

  At the abandoned royal palace Kassidy was careful to stash her wads of cash in various places throughout the many rooms she had to herself. There was only one way in or out of the place, all the doors and windows having been locked years ago. To keep people away she wanted the place to look as desolate as possible, and therefore kept her activity to a minimum outside. Inside however, she had perfect living conditions. She made her central home in the grand library, and most of the cash therefore was stuffed into books on high shelves with dusty covers. She had intended to lay low on her return to Engia, but she couldn’t get this party out of her head, and her curiosity was getting the best of her. The Ringer in the alley was a man surely not to be trusted, and if he was close to Asa at all her identity would not go unnoticed for long. She might as well make the best of a bad situation and see what this party was all about.

  The Seaside Hotel was the farthest building from the Royal Palace in all of Engia. Kassidy waited until it was completely dark outside to make her trip across the city. She had to get across the river, which meant trekking back through the alley behind the O’Brien mansion again. It was familiar enough territory that she knew she wouldn’t get lost in the dark or attract too much attention. The narrow stream of water however was a cause for much concern, not wanting to ruin her dress or boots she was forced to take a more direct approach to the hotel, and cross the O’Brien mansion on full display. It was a beautiful home, grandiose in nature, but still beautiful. It was four stories of nothing but glass, then three more stories of a glass dome on top. It had an inviting double door entrance built from mahogany off of an old airship and carved elaborately with the O’Brien seal across it. Even standing in the street Kassidy was in awe. The streetlights were all coming on now, lighting the place up so the reflections off the windows danced across her. She didn’t want to admire it for too long, but she would rather have liked, under different circumstances of course, to go through those front doors, just once. It’d be so nice to be invited to a place of such elegance rather than sneaking into some back or side door praying not to be found out.

  As was her specialty, Kassidy arrived late to the party at the hotel. Upon crossing the river and the O’Brien mansion she also had to walk clear across the giant airfield on the shore. It was full of all sorts of hot air balloons and airships. Lots of money was here tonight to celebrate the demise of her father’s gang. It was bittersweet and left a nasty taste in her mouth as she stepped inside. These people here tonight, they were all glad her father was dead. All of them. Her goal was to blend in, float through the crowds for a few hours, and pick up as much information as she could about the state of the city. She’d been gone for seventeen years, and obviously there was a lot she had to catch up on. She was making her way to the dessert table when Lucky spotted her from across the room.

  Lucky was a man of information, though he never missed an opportunity to gain even more. Tonight was no exception. He was wining and

  dining with Engia’s finest lady at the moment, Natasha Grekova. A famed mistress of Asa himself, she was not uncommon to frequent many a man’s bed on any given night. Lucky had never indulged her, and therefore he presented Natasha her greatest

  challenge yet. Natasha was a gorgeous woman by any standards, so to desperately seek any man’s attention was truly a waste of her time, though that didn’t mean she didn’t waste it any chance she got. She had dark brown hair perfectly styled and pulled back, not a hair out of place, even on the windiest of days. By personal preference she wore enough makeup for ten women, and favored an oversized diamond shaped necklace which she was never seen without. Her dress draped off her shoulders, she had a full length heavy skirt made of the most expensive fabric Asa could find, and let it trail behind her with grace and poise. But no matter how many things Natasha had going right for her, she didn’t have everything. And right now what she wanted most was Lucky’s attention.

  “Why do you keep staring across the room? What’s so interesting down there?”

  “Nothing. And I’m not staring.”

  “I am more than aware when a man is staring at a beautiful woman. And right now I am more than aware that you are not staring at me. So who is she? Who’s the girl? Where is she?”

  “Stop it Natasha.”

  “Is that her? What on earth happened to her dress? Half of it is missing. Poor thing, she must be terribly lost if she thinks she belongs here. Is that why you were staring at her? You must feel sorry for her.”

  “I’m not staring at her.”

  “Well let’s get her to turn around. I want to see if she looks as poor as she dresses.”

  “Just let her be Natasha!”

  “Why so defensive Lucky?”

  “I’m not defensive.”

  “Why don’t you want me to see what she looks like? Do I know her?”

  “I doubt it. I don’t think the two of you travel in the same circles of people. Besides, she’s…new to Engia.”

  “New? Then it’d only be polite for me to introduce myself.”

  “I don’t think that’d be a good idea.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because nothing about you is polite.”

  “You’re very protective of this girl. Alright, I can wait. She has to pull herself away from that dessert table sooner or late…oh my god! What is she doing here?!”

  “Keep it down!”

  “I most certainly will not!”

  “How do you even know her?”

  “Asa needs to know…”

  “What Asa doesn’t know won’t hurt him. You of all people should know that.”

  “Fine. I won’t say anything. But that trash has no business here. She’s foolish for even getting within a mile of me.”

  “What happened between you two?”

  “She harassed me Lucky! I once feared for my life because of that…that von Detten heathen!”

  “That seems a bit much.”

  “You don’t know that girl Lucky, and trust me, you want nothing to do with her. She’s dangerous.”

  “Alright.”

  “Did you hear me?”

  “I heard you.”

  “So why are you still staring at her?!”

  “I’m not staring at her.”

  “Sure you aren’t.”

  “So what if I am?”

  With a plate full of anything chocolate she could get her hands on Kassidy began to wander the room. She didn’t make it five minutes without being noticed. Thankfully it was an old friend. Proof that not even a family name could be a warrant for hate. Harlan O’Brien was Asa’s younger brother, and about as far from Asa behaviorally as two people could get. Because Harlan carried the family name he was entitled to ritzy parties and money being thrown at him, but he never cared much for any of that. As kids Harlan and Kassidy often played together in the park, her father believing such a relationship would be interesting to develop and exploit later on, though he never got the chance to fully realize it. Exploitation now was the farthest thing from Kassidy’s mind as her old friend approached her through the crowd. They were both all grown up now, and he hardly recognizable from the gangly little kid who used to follow her around like a lost puppy. But s
he knew it was him, he had a stutter as a boy, and even into adulthood he’d failed to lose it. Harlan was clean cut, and a sharp dresser, everything hand tailored to fit him perfectly. She looked down ashamed of her dirty and scuffed up white boots. He had his hands running up and down his suspenders as if he didn’t know what to do with his hands.

  “Had I known I was going to see you again after all these years, I would have cleaned myself up a bit more!”

  “Non-n-nonsense. Kass-ss-idy you look a-a-am-amazing as always!”

  “You’re just saying that. Well come over here! Give me a hug! It’s been too long!”

  “Y-y-yes it has.”

  “So catch me up. What have I missed?”

  “Wh-where do you w-want me to st-st-start?”

  “You pick.”

  “I w-w-wouldn’t even know w-where to begin.”

  “Well for starters, how have you been? You look great. You got so tall! I have to look up at you now!”

  “Y-yeah.”

  “So, how’s the city? How’s Engia doing in my absence? I guess it’d be hard to imagine that everyone is going to give me a warm welcome.”

  “Does Asa kn-kn-know y-you’re back y-yet?”

  “No. And I’d like to keep it that way for as long as possible.”

  “I underst-st-stand.”

  “Good. I was hoping that much had not changed.”

  “Are y-y-you with the Dreadcranks ag-g-gain?”

  “Not yet. Haven’t had the chance. I just got back a few days ago. I’m still trying to feel my way around this place. It’s been built up a lot in the past seventeen years. I’ve heard the Dreadcranks are alive and well though. What do you know of them?”

  “N-not much. Asa s-s-still treats me l-l-like I’m five. But I do kn-kn-know that they have a n-n-new leader.”

  “What’s his name? I should like to do business with him. It is my father’s gang after all. I mean, I should have some right to it don’t you think?”

  “It’s d-d-dangerous. And g-g-girls aren’t in the Dreadcranks.”

  “But it’s my father’s gang. Surely I could reason with their leader. What’s his name?”

  “I-I-I only kn-know his street n-name. They call h-h-him Lucky.”

  “Lucky, you don’t say. So tell me something, how has Natasha been lately?”

  “Sh-she’s b-been around.”

  “Good.”

  “W-w-why?”

  “I have to go take care of something really quick. Will you excuse me?”

  “S-s-sure. But I d-d-don’t think she’s anything to w-w-w-orry about. Her corset is s-s-so tight it squeezed h-h-her heart right out o-o-of her chest y-y-years ago.”

  “Thanks Harley. You always were looking out for me.”

  Kassidy hugged her old friend quickly and made a path for Lucky and Natasha. She’d seen them up on an upstairs balcony when Harlan found her, and now she had some questions she needed answered. There was no question her intended conversation was going to be less than kind, and Natasha was smart enough to remove herself from Kassidy’s reach before it was too late. Lucky was alone on the balcony by the time Kassidy had climbed the stairs. He was awkwardly holding two glasses of wine, and with his hands full was unaware of how to greet her. He half bowed, and Kassidy rolled her eyes in response. She knew who he was now, who he really was, and she was angry he had lied to her. Not only that, but he was on friendly terms with the woman she hated most in the world. She couldn’t trust a man like that, and now more than ever she was going to need people that she trusted in her life. She had one, she’d always have Harlan. But she was going to need more than that if she was ever going to do right by her father.

  “You lied to me! Why?”

  “I did not lie to you.”

  “You lied to me. You told me you were a Dreadcrank.”

  “I am a Dreadcrank.”

  “You didn’t tell me you were their leader.”

  “It didn’t come up.”

  “What else didn’t come up when we talked?”

  “An awful lot. Like your name for starters.”

  “You were talking to Natasha. Judging by how fast she ran away I’m guessing you already know all about me.”

  “Astonishingly little actually. But I do know who you are Kassidy. I just don’t know why you’re back after all this time.”

  “Family business.”

  “You have no family.”

  “That’s why I’ve got business.”

  “I saw you down there with an O’Brien. So before we go pointing fingers at each other why don’t we just both calm down and explain things.”

  “Harlan is one of my oldest friends.”

  “Isn’t that convenient.”

  “What?”

  “Nothing. I just find it odd you’re best friends with your supposed enemy.”

  “Harlan is nobody’s enemy. He’s too kind for any of that gang business. He doesn’t wear the ring.”

  “He could have just taken it off when he saw you.”

  “You’re one to talk. I trust him more than I trust you. I know him. I don’t know you.”

  “Only because you don’t want to know me.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Don’t play coy. I saw you staring at me more than once when you were talking with Harlan. Now for all I know it’s because you can’t believe I’m as attractive as I am.”

  “If all you have to offer is being physically attractive then I feel sorry for you. I would have hoped my father’s gang had fallen into more suitable hands. Sorry, hand.”

  “Ouch. That really hurt.”

  “It couldn’t bruise your ego. It walks in a door ten minutes before you do.”

  “Sorry, did I not leave enough room for your own ego? It’s quite expansive you know.”

  “You think you’re so clever.”

  “I know I’m clever. There’s a difference. And all I heard you say was that you think I’m attractive.”

  “I’m new to Engia, I’m not blind.”

  “You’re not new. You’ve just been away for too long.”

  “I have been away for awhile. It wasn’t my intention to do that, but I’m here now.”

  “Yes you are. And what are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to make everyone pay for what they did to me, my family.”

  “And just how are you going to do that?”

  “I’m going to need some help.”

  “What was that now?”

  “You heard me.”

  “I don’t know. My ego may have gotten in the way of my hearing. Were you asking me for help?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’ll have to think about it. But first you’re going to have to do something for me.”

  “What?”

  “Come here, we’re going to have to hug this out. Let bygones be bygones.”

  “Hug it out?”

  “No hug, no help.”

  “Alright alright. A hug is a cheap price to pay for what I’m asking.”

  “No kidding.”

  As Kassidy returned to the party on the main floor Lucky really felt like he had accomplished something. Then Natasha came out with a grin and he got nervous. She took her glass of wine back, knocked it down, then chased it with Lucky’s glass too. Now she was holding two empty glasses, and in need of a refill. She nodded to the party but Lucky didn’t want to follow her. She shrugged her shoulders and began laughing to herself. Self conscious he was concerned what the source of her amusement was, after all, it was terribly bad timing on her part. She came back over and simply tapped on his back pocket. Lucky noticed he felt her tapping, and he shouldn’t have. He clasped both hands on both back pockets now, then his front pockets. His eyes danced across the ground to see if it had just fallen on the floor and he hadn’t noticed. Flushed and worried he met Natasha’s smug gaze.

  “Hope it wasn’t important.”

  “It was!”

  “Then you shouldn’t have let h
er take it right in front of you! You fool! Don’t you know who she is? They don’t call her the Pyrette Queen for nothing!”

  3

  Trying to chase Kassidy down was going to be an impossible task. Lucky didn’t want to draw attention to her like that, but maybe drawing attention was just what he wanted to do to get her back. She’d stolen a very important notebook from him. Inside it held all the information Dreadcrank had on the whereabouts of Captain Wilhelm von Detten’s hidden treasure. With gold and riches that were sure to be tucked away, it would be the difference between who ruled Engia and who died in the streets, penniless. Lucky wanted the Dreadcranks to rise up from the depths of despair and knock the Ringers down a size. But with the O’Brien’s supply of endless money, it was going to take the Captain’s treasure to do this. Money needs money. Panicked and low on ideas Lucky ran out to the garden, picked up a small rock, and began drawing against the cobblestones. A faint but legible line could be made out even in poor lighting. Stepping back to admire his handiwork he was relatively pleased for once to be joined outside by Natasha. The quickest way to get anything spread around the city was for her to know about it.