The Prince of Machines (The Last Mechanics)

by Holly Law

  “I like that idea.”

  “Let's go then,” Elisha said standing

  “But I'm not done with mine,” Eldwin objected.

  “We can come back for it later. Besides, I think you're missing a part you need for that.”

  “You could be right,” Eldwin confessed, looking at the odd, spindly, hourglass like piece. “There is a gap in the mechanics that nothing quite seems to go in.”

  “Let's go make what money we can then.”

  They walked to the nearest store carrying the small machine. “Excuse me, sir,” Elisha said hesitantly to the man behind the counter. She felt very out of place in the store. Everything was neat and orderly. She felt all the more filthy for the surroundings. The man was a large, fat man who was dressed neatly. His distaste for them was instantly clear. “We repaired this machine. Would you be willing to buy it from us? It's a scrubber—it cleans floors and the like.” Elisha pressed a button to turn it on, and it happily started cleaning his counters.

  The man watched the little machine for a few moments. “Ten coppers,” the merchant offered.

  “That isn't even half its value!” Elisha objected.

  “It is more than anyone else is likely to give you,” the man countered. “Whose home did you steal it out of?”

  “I repaired it,” Elisha said angrily, offended by the assumption.

  “You're only a child, and a girl at that.”

  “I repaired it.”

  “My offer stands at ten coppers,” the merchant said again.

  Elisha looked at her brother, and he simply shrugged. “Fine,” she said shortly and held out her hand for the money. He counted off the coppers with a smug look on his face. Elisha was very angry when they left the store.

  “It's not worth being angry about,” her brother told her. “We just won't go to him again. We'll find someone who will give us a decent deal eventually.”

  “I know, but ten coppers! Who else do you know who can fix a machine?”

  “None,” her brother confessed.

  As they came to an intersection, a very fine carriage passed them. Elisha stopped and stared at it, as did everyone else on the street. It was exceptional for many reasons—the most obvious was the amount of ornate gold on the outside and the velvet curtains that were drawn shut. Elisha was not fascinated by that, however. What interested her was that it was an entirely mechanical carriage. There were no horses attached and only a driver up front turning a wheel. The streets cleared instantly for the remarkable carriage.

  Elisha and her brother found themselves running to keep up with it, curious about its workings. They were fortunate the carriage did not have much further to go, for it moved faster than they could run. It pulled up in front of the mayor's large house. They both watched it from a distance as the fine people inside stepped out. The first out of the carriage was a man that Elisha could only stare at.

  He was dressed in the finest clothes Elisha had ever seen and his blue coat was trimmed with fur of a sort she couldn't recognize. He had golden blond hair, almost white and of a medium length. He stood both tall and proud. Elisha knew instantly, whoever he was, he was important.

  A woman came out of the carriage just behind him. Elisha could not see her features; they were covered by the hood of her scarlet coat. The woman was clearly the lesser of the two and followed the man up the steps to the door of the mayor's house. When the two were permitted inside, Elisha and Eldwin approached the carriage.

  They stared at it from a distance at first. Examining what they could see, not wanting to intrude too much. Then the driver noticed them. “You can come closer,” the driver invited them, his voice carrying a foreign accent. “The Prince will be inside awhile and there is no harm in looking. You won't see another machine like this, I guarantee it.” The guard who was on top with the driver gave him a dark look but said nothing.

  Elisha and Eldwin instantly moved closer to the impossible machine. They examined every inch, careful not to touch the fine, polished surface. “This is amazing,” Elisha exclaimed. “I never would have even been able to dream up something like this.”

  “One of a kind,” the driver said proudly. “It's from before the Time of Restraint. Nearly a thousand years old I'm told.”

  “Whoa!” Eldwin said and went under the bottom of the carriage. “Elisha, look at these parts! I've never seen anything like them.”

  Elisha went under the carriage and heard the driver laugh. The parts underneath were definitely unique. They were also worn and hadn't been serviced for a long time—some obnoxious squeaks made that clear. Elisha watched the parts twist and turn together. It was complex, but made complete logical sense. Then Elisha had an idea, and her fingers itched to try it.

  “Eldwin,” Elisha said softly. “Deactivate it so I can try something.”

  “Are you sure?” Eldwin asked uncertainly, and Elisha nodded. He touched the machine and its lively hum stopped, as did the obnoxious squeak. Elisha worked quickly and with deliberate steps. She could see what the poor, ancient machine needed to run smoother. She had the problem fixed in under a minute. They both crawled out from underneath.

  “What did you do to the machine?” the driver demanded. He looked pale. “The Prince will kill me if…”

  “It's fine,” Elisha promised him and touched the machine, activating it again. It hummed back to life, but the annoying squeaks were gone. “I was just curious and saw what was causing the squeak, so I fixed it. It will work better now—might even be faster. Thank you for letting us look at it.”

  Elisha and Eldwin both left the carriage. “I think you scared the driver,” Eldwin said as he glanced back. “He still looks pale. Think that prince would really have killed him if you’d broken it?”

  “I don't know. I could only imagine how expensive that carriage was. I bet the prince will appreciate that it works better now.”

  “I hope so. I don't think I'd want to make someone like that mad.”

  “Maybe we should go back to the orphanage before we get in trouble.”

  “Yeah, probably about time to head back to that mess.”

  Chapter 2

  “Have you ever met a more ignorant man?” Lenora sniffed as she walked with the Prince back to the carriage. “He was completely unrefined. He didn't even know who you were!”

  “This is a very remote place,” the Prince reminded her calmly. The Prince showed his exquisite manners by helping her into the carriage first. She didn't know how he had managed to hide his feelings of offense in the presence of the obsequious man the city of Sumvale called a mayor. “He was very obliging.”

  “It does not excuse his ignorance,” Lenora said disdainfully as she leaned back into the comfortable seat. “His nieces nearly fell over when they curtsied!”

  The Prince laughed lightly. “Yes, they did look a bit awkward. The oldest was a pretty little thing though. Driver, a word,” the Prince called softly. The driver leaned down to hear the Prince's instructions. Lenora thought he looked a bit pale and wondered what was the matter with the man. The Prince did not seem to notice. The Prince gave him driving directions to the house he would rent in town. The driver nodded and the carriage started moving.

  “Do you think there are any civilized people in this 'city'?” Lenora asked helplessly. The Prince did not reply. Instead, he sat there frowning. His eyes indicated he was clearly listening. “Is something the matter?”

  “You do not hear the difference? There had been that faint obnoxious squeak before, and it feels like less of a bumpy ride than it did on the journey here,” the Prince observed. “Driver, stop.” The driver stopped instantly. “A word with you.” The driver stuck his head down and looked all the more pale. “The carriage seems to be functioning differently. What happened when we were inside the mayor's house?” The Prince spoke in a calm voice, but the driver looked all the more frightened for the difference being pointed out. He had confirmed with his facial expression that something had indeed happened.
>
  “There were two children,” the driver said in a rush of words. “Well, they were nearly adults I suppose, but they were young and so curious about the carriage. I let them come over to see it—you've told me many times, my Prince, that nothing could harm it. I saw nothing wrong with letting them see it a little closer. And they were so poor, I thought it might have been the highlight of their lives. The boy went to see the underside of the carriage first and then the girl. When she went under the carriage stopped. I thought they had broken it, my Prince. Then they came out, and I was angry. The girl promised me it was fine and touched the carriage with her hand. The machine came back to life and ran quieter than before. The girl said it would run better, maybe faster. They left very quickly then.”

  “I see,” the Prince said and his face was thoughtful. Lenora was stunned. The man had unknowingly encountered one with the ability to repair machines and hadn't even realized it. He thought only of the Prince's displeasure and didn't know that if he had detained the girl, he may have received a lifetime of riches. “When we arrive at our destination, I would like a description of the girl. I would like to have a word with her about what she did to my carriage.”

  “Yes, my Prince,” the driver said at once, clearly slightly confused and relieved that the Prince was not angry.

  “Continue on your way.”

  The ride continued, and Lenora did note it was much smoother. It was a welcome change, and she would have to thank the girl if she ever received the chance. She watched the Prince as they rode. He was silent for several long minutes, his eyes clearly contemplating the information.

  “The mechanic said there were others who could fix machines, who might have an eye for the finer details,” the Prince said after a moment. “He never could fix that squeak, said he didn't have the hands for it. This girl may be very useful. When we are settled in Sumvale, I want you to search for her. I do not wish to activate the Shaker until she is secured. Her kind are becoming more and more rare. I will not risk her being damaged.”

  “As you command, my Prince,” Lenora said at once. “I would be honored to try to locate this girl.”

  They rode in silence until they reached the house the Prince was to rent. He was clearly deep in thought of how to proceed once the girl was found. Lenora knew it drastically changed his plans for the city. She hoped they would not stay too long, but knew the search for the girl could become protracted.

  They stopped eventually, and the driver opened the door to let them out. He bowed as the Prince stepped out of the carriage before the steps of a building that definitely had some possibilities. It was the largest building in town, larger than the mayor's home. It was old though, and had not received all the maintenance it needed. Clearly, it belonged to ones who had come into great fortune some generations back, and recent generations had squandered their inheritance into non-existence. But the house had a good shape. The quality of the marble on the outside of the house was obvious, and with a bit of work, it would be suitable for the Prince.

  The Prince offered Lenora his arm and walked her up to the front door. Lenora examined the door for a moment before seeing what she desired. She reached out her hand and gently touched an ornate round button. She could hear the sickly sound of chimes inside the house. The machine was on its last legs. They stood there for nearly a minute before the door was pulled open by an elderly, hunched-over man.

  “May I help you?” the old man wheezed.

  “I was told you may be willing to rent out your home, for the right price,” the Prince told the old man politely.

  “For the right price,” the man agreed, bobbing his head.

  “We are interested in renting, may we see the property?” the Prince informed the man.

  “The price is eight hundred gold pieces a month,” the man told them, not letting them in. “Take it or leave it.”

  “A worthy price,” the Prince said smoothly and if he was irritated by the man's lack of manners, it didn't show. “My stay here is likely to be quite protracted. Perhaps another arrangement could be made. I will give you the sum of ten thousand for the house.”

  “Buy my house?” the old man asked confused.

  “Yes, I can see it needs repair, and I would like to do as I please with it.”

  The old man thought it through for a little bit. “Fifteen,” the old man countered.

  “Done,” the Prince said with a pleased smile that could have charmed the birds from the trees. “Lenora, ask the driver to bring the money up for me.”

  Lenora was unimpressed by the inside of the building. It had clearly been a fine building at one point, but the wear was inexcusable. She could not help but feel the Prince had been cheated. The carpets were worn nearly all the way through. The marble was chipped in places and had not been cleaned for some time. Lenora would not have slept in the flea infested beds if her life depended on it. She also made the unhappy discovery that the fireplaces had not been cleaned in some time, and there were no Warmers to make life more pleasant.

  Lenora watched as the Prince walked around the master bedroom, examining the little details. If he was displeased, it didn't show. He seemed almost amused by the surroundings. “Quite a bargain,” the Prince said after a moment. “The old man did not realize what he had.”

  “A bargain?” Lenora asked confused. “This building should be condemned.”

  “It needs work, Lenora, but as I said, our stay will be protracted. Perhaps as much as a year. In a few months, it will be tolerable. Much can be done this week by procuring new furniture, and I have it well within my means to see to the repairs. Once Sumvale is removed, this will be a cozy mountain escape.”

  “You are very optimistic.”

  “Come and look at this view, is it not spectacular?” The Prince walked out onto a balcony that overlooked the whole city. The main square was right in front of them and was a view worthy of the Prince. The view beyond the city of the surrounding mountains was even more welcome. It also removed her doubts of the purchase of the place.

  “The balcony is a peculiar design,” Lenora observed. “Why the outer staircase?”

  The Prince chuckled. “It was built back when the city was not here. It was aimed at making life easier for the owner.”

  “How do you know?” Lenora asked quizzically.

  “It was I who had it built, shortly before my imprisonment.”

  “Oh!” Lenora said startled.

  “I knew the potential of the building, Lenora, I did not buy blindly,” he chided her. “Do not doubt me.”

  “I am sorry, my Prince,” Lenora apologized. “It will not happen again.”

  The Prince laughed abruptly, and Lenora watched him confused. The Prince pointed out into the city. There was a comical scene going on in the market square, a pair of guards was chasing a pair of scruffy looking teenagers through the market. The two were doing an admirable job of avoiding them and making the guards look completely incompetent in the process.

  “Such rough and uncivilized people in this city,” Lenora said watching the two with distaste. “Even their guards are lacking in skill.”

  “Ah, you are too harsh on them, Lenora,” the Prince said smiling at the scene. “They are how they know to be. If you take issue with their manners then perhaps you should open a finishing school as a means of cover for your assignment.”

  Lenora thought about it for a long moment. The suggestion had merit and would satisfy her urges to instruct the naïve citizens of Sumvale. “Yes, that would be an adequate means to keep myself occupied as I search for the girl.”

  “And it would ensure that once she was found you had the means to educate her in the manners I would expect of one in my service,” the Prince said and then smiled at her. “It would also keep you out of my new house until it is in better condition. I sense that it is displeasing to you in its current state.”

  “It is,” Lenora confessed. “But I know it will be stunning by the time you are done.”

  “I
suggest you go look for a place to turn into a finishing school. Find Amalia and send her to me while you're at it. I want a status report on her efforts to find the Shaker.”

  “As you command, my Prince,” Lenora said, curtsying deeply.

  Chapter 3

  Elisha glared at the stubborn pot in front of her. She had been scrubbing it for what felt like hours and still it would not come clean. She wanted nothing more than to toss the stupid thing out the window, but she couldn't. She couldn't even get near a window. Qwilfree had chained her to the sink so she could scrub the dishes. It was her punishment for running away. She was told her brother was in the basement cleaning something else. They had both been chained since their return and had been kept far from each other.

  “Still think you're too good to put up with the orphanage like the rest of us?” Rebeka mocked Elisha.

  “Shove it,” Elisha said coldly and splashed some of the filthy water in her direction. Elisha and Rebeka had never gotten along. Rebeka was a pretty blond girl a year younger than her. There was currently someone in the city going through the paper work to adopt Rebeka, which had made her all the more unbearable.

  Rebeka squealed when the water hit her. “You're a complete primitive,” Rebeka snapped at her. “No wonder no one ever even considered adopting you.”

  “Nah, that's because she's a freak,” Naton jumped in. Naton always followed Rebeka around. His admiration of her was vaguely reminiscent of a puppy dog. “Who would want to adopt someone who would tinker with machines all day?”

  “Do I need to bean you with this pot?” Elisha threatened, lifting the heavy pot slightly.

  “You can't even reach me,” Naton snorted. “You're all chained up.”

  “Yeah, but that won't last forever, Naton. Then I'll get you.”

  “Naton, Rebeka, should you be doing your chores?” a voice said sharply from the door. Qwilfree stood in the doorway scowling at the three of them. Elisha started scrubbing harder. She could feel where she had been previously struck for not working hard enough. She didn't want to be at the receiving end of Qwilfree's stick again.