Secrets of the New World (Infini Calendar) (Volume 2) by Scott Kinkade
Authors: Scott Kinkade
Ads: Link
He was severely punished for that.”
Farahilde pondered this for a moment. The name wasn’t at all familiar to her. “Deschanel, huh? Well, just as long as I don’t have to call her Jeanne de Fleur. Thanks. But why are you so willing to tell me all this? I figured I’d have to at least torture you a little.”
Celeste gave her a bashful smile. “Well, it’s because…you were milady’s friend. She trusted you with her life. And if she could trust you, so can I.”
Surely she hadn’t heard that right. “She…considered me a friend? After what I put her through?”
“I think…I think she came to understand your heart, and your reasons for doing what you did. You were both victims of the French government, so she could sympathize with you.”
Suddenly there was an abrupt rumbling. “What’s going on?” Farahilde asked.
Celeste gave her a look that suggested it was a stupid question she had just asked. “We’re moving.”
“But I slashed the balloon! This airship shouldn’t be able to fly.”
“Oh,” Celeste said, as if she suddenly understood Farahilde’s confusion. “You probably think the Minuit Solaire II is still vulnerable to water. In actuality, we worked to insulate it, and now it can travel through the sea like a traditional ship.”
For the second time that day, Farahilde felt like a dummkopf . The airship had landed in the water next to the Hapsburg Pride ! Of course it had to be insulated. Taking out their balloon might slow them down, but it wouldn’t necessarily stop them. “This is not meine day,” she said, slipping back into German.
“You’d better get off this ship quickly,” Celeste cautioned. “Unless you want to come with us to America.”
“I’m going there anyway. But I’ll be damned if I’m going with you worms.” The young engineer looked a bit slighted at the insult. “Present company excluded.”
Celeste laughed. “Don’t worry about it, Miss Farahilde.”
Farahilde walked over to the window. After determining that it was large enough for her to fit through, she opened it and jumped out into the sea. She hit the cold water and, although it didn’t feel good, she was grateful to be out of there.
Chapter VI: Land of the Free?
The Istanbul Strait, November 11, 1792 (Infini Calendar), 2:00 p.m.
In the wake of the Minuit Solaire II ’s departure, the crew of the Hapsburg Pride fished Farahilde out of the water of the Istanbul Strait. Leopold had a lot he wanted to yell at her about, but that had to wait, as she really needed to change clothes and dry off. Frederick expressed his relief that she was all right.
“Of course I’m all right,” she said as she walked across the deck. “As if a little water could kill me.” She was a little annoyed the Ordre had taken her bladed gauntlet, but no matter; she had more of those below deck. Plus, the satisfaction of escaping their clutches more than made up for the loss. They were probably cursing their own stupidity right now.
***
“Farahilde Johanna has escaped!” Vice-Commander Emil announced as he rushed into the bridge.
Commander Deschanel was sitting in the captain’s chair. She had expected as much. She hadn’t counted on the vile Austrian woman being held in the brig for long. She only had her put in that cell to keep up appearances. The truth was, Deschanel would much rather have killed her personally than suffer her continued presence on board the Minuit Solaire II . “No matter,” she said.
“But she attacked us,” he protested. “Shouldn’t we go back and—”
She cut him off. “And what? Recapture her by force? You know full well the Emperor gave us explicit orders not to attack the Austrians openly. We’d risk starting a war. France’s resources are already severely drained from the Alset Project. Besides—our present mission is far more important than some Austrian chienne . And you never know; we might meet her again in the new world.” I hope
Farahilde pondered this for a moment. The name wasn’t at all familiar to her. “Deschanel, huh? Well, just as long as I don’t have to call her Jeanne de Fleur. Thanks. But why are you so willing to tell me all this? I figured I’d have to at least torture you a little.”
Celeste gave her a bashful smile. “Well, it’s because…you were milady’s friend. She trusted you with her life. And if she could trust you, so can I.”
Surely she hadn’t heard that right. “She…considered me a friend? After what I put her through?”
“I think…I think she came to understand your heart, and your reasons for doing what you did. You were both victims of the French government, so she could sympathize with you.”
Suddenly there was an abrupt rumbling. “What’s going on?” Farahilde asked.
Celeste gave her a look that suggested it was a stupid question she had just asked. “We’re moving.”
“But I slashed the balloon! This airship shouldn’t be able to fly.”
“Oh,” Celeste said, as if she suddenly understood Farahilde’s confusion. “You probably think the Minuit Solaire II is still vulnerable to water. In actuality, we worked to insulate it, and now it can travel through the sea like a traditional ship.”
For the second time that day, Farahilde felt like a dummkopf . The airship had landed in the water next to the Hapsburg Pride ! Of course it had to be insulated. Taking out their balloon might slow them down, but it wouldn’t necessarily stop them. “This is not meine day,” she said, slipping back into German.
“You’d better get off this ship quickly,” Celeste cautioned. “Unless you want to come with us to America.”
“I’m going there anyway. But I’ll be damned if I’m going with you worms.” The young engineer looked a bit slighted at the insult. “Present company excluded.”
Celeste laughed. “Don’t worry about it, Miss Farahilde.”
Farahilde walked over to the window. After determining that it was large enough for her to fit through, she opened it and jumped out into the sea. She hit the cold water and, although it didn’t feel good, she was grateful to be out of there.
Chapter VI: Land of the Free?
The Istanbul Strait, November 11, 1792 (Infini Calendar), 2:00 p.m.
In the wake of the Minuit Solaire II ’s departure, the crew of the Hapsburg Pride fished Farahilde out of the water of the Istanbul Strait. Leopold had a lot he wanted to yell at her about, but that had to wait, as she really needed to change clothes and dry off. Frederick expressed his relief that she was all right.
“Of course I’m all right,” she said as she walked across the deck. “As if a little water could kill me.” She was a little annoyed the Ordre had taken her bladed gauntlet, but no matter; she had more of those below deck. Plus, the satisfaction of escaping their clutches more than made up for the loss. They were probably cursing their own stupidity right now.
***
“Farahilde Johanna has escaped!” Vice-Commander Emil announced as he rushed into the bridge.
Commander Deschanel was sitting in the captain’s chair. She had expected as much. She hadn’t counted on the vile Austrian woman being held in the brig for long. She only had her put in that cell to keep up appearances. The truth was, Deschanel would much rather have killed her personally than suffer her continued presence on board the Minuit Solaire II . “No matter,” she said.
“But she attacked us,” he protested. “Shouldn’t we go back and—”
She cut him off. “And what? Recapture her by force? You know full well the Emperor gave us explicit orders not to attack the Austrians openly. We’d risk starting a war. France’s resources are already severely drained from the Alset Project. Besides—our present mission is far more important than some Austrian chienne . And you never know; we might meet her again in the new world.” I hope
Similar Books
