The Dragons of Nova (Loom Saga #2)(20)
“I am trying to actually help you.” Florence’s plate was empty and she greatly missed the forced breaks in the conversation that came from eating. “But I need more gold and more explosives to do that.”
“And I’m telling you that you’re not going to be getting any more.”
“Have you tried speaking with the Vicar about these matters?” Derek stopped Florence mid-breath. Which was likely for the best, as her patience with Nora was running thin.
“No… Do you think I should?” Florence hadn’t properly been in a guild for nearly three years. Additionally, she’d just been an initiate in the Ravens and it had been made clear to her then that appealing to the higher powers simply wasn’t done. The Vicar Raven always had the Dragon adviser at his side, and Florence had always heard he was strict about adhering to certain expectations about hierarchy.
But Florence had never seen a Dragon in the Alchemists’ Guild, not counting Cvareh or corpses.
“You could try pleading your case.” Derek shrugged.
Florence regarded him skeptically, wondering if he was trying to get her into a worse spot by bringing up her losses with the Vicar.
“Or don’t.” He stood. “It’s your choice. But your options seem to be growing thinner.”
Derek held out a hand to Nora, which she took. He helped her to her feet, lacing his fingers against hers. The two left Florence alone to her thoughts.
She knew better than to pick up any of her remaining chemicals or powders. When her mind was so wild, she’d only produce greater mistakes. That stress had certainly not been helpful over the past few weeks, when her failures were the only thing keeping her ledgers company.
Florence flipped through her notes, wondering what the Revolver had seen in them. He was a journeyman of the Revos, his tattoo completely filled. He had years of practice ahead of her, and was willing to impart none of it.
She snapped the book shut.
Loom was like a mirror that had been cracked by the Dragons’ first descent. Spider-web fractures stretched across its surface, turning a single image into smaller pieces. They were all parts of one whole that fit together, but no longer joined cleanly at the seams. For one dark moment, she wondered if it was a wound that could ever be healed. By what magic could Loom be put back together into a single, flawless piece?
And then Florence made her way to the Vicar Alchemist. She wasn’t one to sit in place contentedly. Ari had taught her better than that. Even now, from above the clouds, the woman known as the White Wraith challenged Florence to be better, do more.
She received a few curious stares as she boarded the elevator that went directly to the Vicar’s laboratory, but no one stopped her. It seemed to be an accepted practice in the Alchemists that there were times when one needed to speak to the Vicar. At least, that was what Florence hoped. If not, everyone was about to have a good laugh at her expense.
“Enter,” a voice called from behind a door emblazoned with the symbol of the Master Alchemist, following Florence’s knock.
Florence entered, her heart in her throat. Sophie, the Vicar Alchemist, straightened away from her work table. She pulled the refined goggles off her eyes to get a better look at her visitor.
“I wasn’t expecting a little crow.”
“Little bullet would be more appropriate,” Florence corrected tiredly. Sophie arched her eyebrows in surprise and Florence added, carefully, “Just a suggestion…”
“We’ll settle on Florence.” Sophie smiled thinly. “Why has Arianna’s student come to visit me this day?”
Florence scraped together every rogue bit of boldness before speaking. “I need your backing on some experiments I’m running.”
“My backing?”
“Yes, as the Vicar. I’m working on some things to help the rebellion but I need more gold and more gunpowder, at the very least. I’ve been refused.”
“I know.” Sophie continued to smile and, in that moment, reminded Florence of King Louie. There was nothing physically similar between the capable looking Vicar and the bony man of Mercury Town. But their eyes, their mannerisms, suddenly overlapped so strongly it set off warning bells between Florence’s ears.
“Then you should know exactly why I’m here.” If Sophie was like Louie, then Florence would treat her as she would the little king of Mercury Town. The only difference was that she no longer had a White Wraith nearby to keep her safe.
“We’re skipping the small talk then? Excellent.” Sophie’s mannerisms shifted and she returned to managing some bubbling beakers on her table. “Your answer is no.”
“Vicar, I need—”
“Whatever you need pales in comparison to the needs of my Guild and this rebellion I’m trying to build.”
“I want to help the rebellion.”
“Then actually help us.” Sophie gave her a challenging stare.
Florence knew that look. It was so similar to the ones Arianna had given her, it was eerie. It reminded Florence, yet again, how little she knew of Arianna’s history.
“Let’s cut a deal.” Part Ari, part Louie, Florence knew how to navigate this personality. “You know better than anyone the needs of guild and rebellion. You know what I need and what I can do. Tell me how I can help you.”
“And in return you want access to your resources.”