The Prince of Machines (The Last Mechanics)

by Holly Law

  “Yes, my Prince,” Amalia said with her complexion looking pale. That was one of the things that made Amalia something of a disappointment on occasion. She was extremely skilled at discovering information he needed, but she was squeamish when it came to necessary destruction. He hoped she would adjust to it in time.

  Again he reached out to the machine and marveled at it. Her assessment of its power was correct. It was among the more powerful machines he had seen. The only more powerful one he could think of was the one that had held him captive for so many years. He would look forward to using that power and showing the world what he was capable of. He was always disappointed by how easily they forgot the power that lay at his fingertips. It was time for the Sumvale to remember the power of the Havalla.

  “I have news for you,” Lenora called to her with a smile. Elisha looked up at her confused. She had been so intent on reading, she hadn’t heard Lenora enter. She became more confused when she noticed that Lenora’s smile was slightly off. She wondered what was bothering her.

  “News?” Elisha inquired, closing her book. “And are you well?”

  “More than well,” Lenora assured her. “I simply heard that it is the Prince’s intent to return home at the end of the month. I’m afraid the school will be closing, as I am to accompany him home.”

  “But…” Elisha began, feeling horrified. She didn’t know what she would do without the school. She didn’t know what she would do without the Prince and Lenora for companionship. She had grown to depend on them so much.

  “I know you’re surprised, but you knew it was going to happen. You knew that, Elisha. We’ve been here nearly nine months. The Prince is eager to return home.”

  Elisha sighed. “I knew it would come eventually, but I did hope otherwise.”

  “Before the Prince leaves, he has arranged for entertainment for the city. It has occurred to him that those who live in Sumvale have no true knowledge of how powerful he is. He has arranged for a parade of all the splendors of the empire to be brought in. The Prince desires for you to enjoy the parade with him from his palace as his guest. What may I tell him your answer is?”

  “Of course!” Elisha said at once. “I’d love to.”

  “Excellent, I will send word to him at once.” Lenora hesitated a moment before leaving and turned back to face her. “I think it is probably also fair to inform you that it is likely the Prince will make you an offer of employment at some point during the event.”

  “And I would be glad to accept such an offer.”

  Lenora smiled and looked truly pleased. Some of the stress on her face vanished. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear that. You will love Melink, and I’ll ensure you are properly settled myself.”

  “Do you think my brother could come too?” Elisha asked hopefully. She couldn’t dream of leaving Eldwin behind. She could only imagine the adventures they would have in the new city together.

  “Of course, Elisha,” Lenora told her. “The Prince only desires for you to be happy, and he knows you are very fond of your brother—as you should be as his twin. I’m certain a place could be found for him and employment if he wishes. I would be glad to give him a recommendation to any place he asks. He has been a wonderful, hard worker, and I have been very impressed by his work.”

  “What should I wear to an event like this?” Elisha pondered, excited about the event.

  Lenora laughed. “The finest thing you can. You have plenty of money, Elisha. I could send for the dressmaker if you like, and you can enjoy the parade in the best of style.”

  “That is true. Yes, I think I like that idea,” Elisha grinned.

  “Then I will go send a message to both the Prince and the seamstress. Again, I’m glad you’ll be going with us.”

  Lenora left the room, and Elisha wasn’t too far behind her. She couldn’t wait to tell her brother. She searched the whole house for him before discovering him in the basement. He was sitting at a work table tinkering with the machine she had given him. She smiled at finding him bent over the machine. She hadn’t seen him like that for months.

  “I thought you weren’t going to touch it,” Elisha teased him playfully.

  “It was too tempting,” Eldwin told her, still not looking at her. He was concentrating on welding a piece in place. That was one thing Elisha never enjoyed doing. She hated the machines that needed pieces welded in place. She much preferred the sort where everything simply fit together.

  “I had some exciting news today,” Elisha told him, sitting on a stool next to him at the table.

  “Oh?” Eldwin commented. “Careful not to get too close and singe your dress.”

  Elisha rolled her eyes at him. “The Prince is leaving at the end of the month and is throwing a large parade to show off. He has asked me to attend with him.”

  “Well, I’m glad he’s going so Sumvale can get back to normal, and I’m glad you get to attend with him and enjoy yourself,” Eldwin told her.

  Elisha hesitated before continuing. “Lenora thinks it likely the Prince will make me an offer of employment at the event. I intend to accept.” Eldwin froze in his work, and the torch went off. “I also asked if you could come with me. Lenora thinks it likely that the Prince would let you. Can you imagine all the fun we’ll have in Melink together? We…”

  “I’m not going to Melink,” Eldwin said firmly, looking at her like he had never seen her before. “For that matter, I can’t imagine you would leave Sumvale either. This is our home, Elisha!”

  “I know, Eldwin,” Elisha assured him, going pale at his refusal. She had never anticipated that he wouldn’t want to go with her. “But I want to go. They’ve been so nice to me. They…”

  “Been nice to you? They’re manipulating you, and you don’t even have the sense to see it! I can’t believe you want to go off and spend more time with the Prince! Haven’t you had enough?”

  “Eldwin,” Elisha began, tears coming to her eyes. The wonderful day had become a nightmare. It was worse than anything she could imagine. “This is all I want, Eldwin. I like working on machines, and despite what you say, they have been nothing but kind to me. Please, Eldwin. Come with me. I don’t want to be without you. We’ve been together our whole lives. You can’t mean for us to be apart. I’m not with the Prince all the time. Perhaps I would have a house to myself, and we could both live comfortably. Please, Eldwin, please come!” Elisha begged.

  Eldwin was silent for a long time. His eyes were torn, and he looked as unhappy as she felt. “I’ll think about it,” Eldwin said shortly. “No promises, but I will think about it.”

  “Thank you!” Elisha said earnestly and hugged him. “You won’t regret it. We’ll have so much fun in Melink. We’ll…”

  “I said I’d think about it, not that I’ve agreed,” Eldwin said firmly. “Give me time to think. I want to finish this. We’ll have dinner or something later, all right?”

  Chapter 21

  Elisha could barely contain her excitement as she got dressed for the parade. She had chosen to purchase a dress of simple design, but high quality. She could have afforded more, but felt inclined towards the simpler dress. Lenora had approved of it. It was made of white and golden material that fit her very well. She embellished it just slightly with some of the jewelry the Prince had given her over the past few months as a gift. When she walked from the room, she saw that the other girls were excited to see what she was going to wear.

  “You’re always so stylish!” one of the younger ones exclaimed.

  “That necklace is perfect!”

  “I wish I was going.”

  Elisha smiled at all the comments, and some part of her felt a hint of pride at all the admiration. It was so different from when she first arrived. She could scarcely believe that at one time, she would have admired the girls who surrounded her at that instant. She thanked them all for their compliments and made her way down the stairs. Lenora was waiting there for her.

  “My dear, you look stunning,” Lenor
a complimented her and kissed her cheek.

  “Thank you,” Elisha said politely.

  “I’m sure the Prince will agree. A very suitable dress. Are you all packed, dear? I can have the servants bring your trunks over.”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “Enjoy the parade. The Prince doesn’t show off like this often. I’m sure it will be an event to remember,” Lenora told her with a smile. Elisha still thought Lenora looked a bit off. She had seemed that way for a nearly a month, smiling, but never looking quite happy. She wondered what bothered her, but Lenora was always dismissive, claiming it was nothing.

  Elisha walked by herself to the Prince’s palace. Everyone along the way was festive and cheerful. Children were playing, and adults were already discussing the wonders they had seen pass through the city in preparation of the event. Elisha found it harder to walk the closer she drew to the palace. Everyone was lined up along the square where they had been told the best view was to be had. The gates to the Prince’s palace were open, but guards lined it, blocking any from accessing the palace without permission. Many were lined up among the fence hoping to get a glimpse of the Prince.

  She walked up to the guards and they recognized her instantly. They drew aside to let her pass. A servant was waiting for her at the door. The servant curtsied to her politely. “My lady, today the outside staircase will be more convenient for you. The Prince awaits you on the balcony,” the servant informed her.

  “Will you show me the way?”

  “Yes, my lady,” the servant said, bobbing her head. Elisha was led along the side of the palace to a staircase that was normally blocked off by a heavy gate. She walked up the ancient stone steps, taking care not to catch the hem of her dress. When she reached the top she could see the Prince clearly. The Prince was sitting on a throne-like chair overlooking the scene below. Servants and guards stood nearby, awaiting his every whim. A glass of wine rested in his hand, and he sipped it calmly as he waited for the festivities to start.

  “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to make it here in time, Elisha,” the Prince greeted her, looking out at the crowd and not herself.

  “The streets were busier than I anticipated,” Elisha apologized.

  “I am glad you could make it,” the Prince smiled at her and touched a chair beside him. “Please sit and join me. It should be starting soon.” Elisha sat down beside him, and he smiled at her again. Together, they sat quietly for several minutes. As she sat, a servant brought her a glass of wine, which she graciously accepted.

  “I spoke with Lenora earlier this morning,” the Prince told her, once more examining the crowd as they began to be hushed in preparedness. “She gave me hopeful news, but I will ask for myself. When I return to Melink in the morning, I would like it if you would join me. I have much use for one of your abilities. I could see it you were more than amply well paid and comfortable. Anything you wanted would be yours. Will you come to Melink and serve me?”

  “Yes, I will,” Elisha told him earnestly.

  The Prince smiled at her and looked truly pleased. He took her hand and kissed it. “I am glad you will be joining us. You will not regret your decision,” he promised her. “Ah, it is time to start.”

  A moment after he spoke, the event started. It began with a large marching band that played perfectly and filled the air with excitement. Acrobats followed them and women twirled and spun the flags of Melink, at times launching them high into the air only to catch them again. The feats were followed by much applause, and Elisha laughed as she watched.

  The next to follow was a large polished machine that seemed to be covered with some sort of protective enamel. It was a dark, navy blue and the sun glistened off of it. It moved forward of its own accord. There was one man inside steering the machine with a large wheel. It gave off a low rumble as it moved smoothly down the street. That too showed off in the square, racing around as fast as any horse, turning quickly so it spun.

  “I trust you will not mind being near such machines, Elisha,” the Prince said, watching her face with some amusement.

  “It’s amazing,” Elisha said not taking her eyes off the machine. “I never could have dreamed up anything like it.”

  “I think in Melink you will find many machines to make you wonder; sadly, some of the most impressive no longer move. Perhaps by the time you are done with them, the world may wonder at all that Melink has. I will show you the Crusher later if you wish. It is quite comfortable inside and far more suited to a long distance trip than my carriage, though the carriage is flashier.”

  “I can’t wait,” Elisha said eagerly.

  Next, there came exotic animals. There were people with them leading the beasts through amazing tricks. Birds flew through the air at command, performing impressive feats. Large beasts roared and walked on their back feet. Some raced around at incredible speed. After those animals were more amazing machines, and Elisha could not wait to see them close up as the Prince promised her. Each addition to the parade was more amazing than the last. Never had she imagined that the Prince had so much at his disposal.

  Eldwin glared at the Prince. The Prince was oblivious to his glare from such a great distance, and even if he had not been so far away, Eldwin doubted he would have noticed. The Prince was too distracted by whispering things to his sister, looking the whole while like a man trying very hard to impress the woman he was attracted to. He didn’t know how his sister continued to miss it. He knew even Lenora had tried to caution her, yet Elisha saw only what she wanted to. It sickened him, and he hated watching it.

  It was in that moment he decided he would not follow Elisha to Melink. He wouldn’t be able to stomach seeing her day in and day out on the arm of the Prince. He already detested hearing so much about the man. In his city, Eldwin doubted he would ever be able to avoid the topic. He wouldn’t be able to watch day in and day out as the arrogant man tricked and used his sister. It was just too much to ask.

  Eldwin was being pulled out of the crowd before he even realized what was happening. The people around him were cheering him on, and he could only look at the one who held his wrist confused. At first, he couldn’t see her as dancers in sheer, jingling outfits swirled around him, the light clothes brushing his face. Then he saw Amalia.

  Only she was unlike any Amalia he had seen before. Amalia had always dressed in a foreign way, but she had always been conservative and demure. There was nothing like the woman he was so familiar with twirling around him at that moment. Her dress was short and made of diaphanous material, just thick enough in places to hide what it needed to. Her mid section was bare and how she moved showed off her perfectly shaped stomach. Most of her coppery legs were bare, and her every step showed off how perfectly well shaped they were. Her face was made up fantastically, making her all the more an exotic beauty. As she danced, a piece of sheer cloth was whipped around in her hands, dancing in front of him.

  “What are you doing, Amalia?” Eldwin demanded.

  Amalia smiled and there was something off in the smile. “Dancing as I have been instructed to do,” Amalia told him. She drew closer to him and whispered in his ear. “And giving you a warning. Do not speak.” Amalia continued to dance around him, drawing wild cheers from the crowd. Sometimes she drew his hands closer to her, trying to engage him in the dance. Eldwin found it difficult to think straight with her acting that way with him, but the words she whispered as she danced grabbed his attention. “You must flee from the city as soon as I am done with you. I found the machine the Prince desired. He is going to destroy the city because it will not serve him. If your sister has agreed to serve the Prince, then she will live. Be quick when I am done. That machine summons an earthquake you must be far from here.” Amalia continued to dance around him after she was done talking. Eldwin could barely breathe. Amalia finished the dance with a kiss. Eldwin had not expected it and was stunned when her arms latched around his neck and her lips pressed against his. He wasn’t quite certain where it was safe
to put his hands, but it didn’t matter. The other dancers were returning him to the crowd a moment later.

  “Wow, are you lucky!” a man laughed and slapped him on the back. “That’s a once in a life time opportunity, dancing with a girl like that!”

  “It was, uh, something,” Eldwin said still staring at Amalia. Then his thoughts turned to his sister. He needed to warn her, to let her know what was about to happen. He looked at Elisha, and as he did, the music stopped on one last loud final chord. With that chord, the Prince stood, and the crowd fell silent. The dancers were on their knees before the Prince, their heads pressed firmly to the ground.

  “I think my brother just got a show he won’t soon forget,” Elisha laughed as she watched her brother pulled back into the crowd. Even from a distance, she could see that his face was bright red.

  “Indeed,” the Prince said. “But I think this last bit will be a show no one will forget. The Havalla do not often show off, but when we do, it is a show that cannot be rivaled.”

  Elisha looked at the Prince sharply, but he had already gained his feet. Elisha could barely breathe at the words that had come from his mouth. She had heard rumors before, horrible rumors, but it had never occurred to her that such a thing could be true. The Prince was such a kind, giving man. He could not be one of the horrible Havalla that every living human feared and cowered before.

  “As many of you know, I arranged this display as a going away gift for the city,” the Prince began, and there were cheers of gratitude at the statement. He waited patiently for them to end. When it was quiet, he continued. “The parade is done, but the show is not. I have a rare treat for you to see this day. I know rumors have been in the city for some time that I am not human. Those rumors are correct. I am Havalla, the Parnia of the Havalla, a title that most have forgotten. It means ruler, king, or as the Havalla commonly translate it Prince.” The Prince smiled as he said it.