“Yeah…”
“What if,” Marasi said, “we came into the elevator from the back? You can make a door in any wall, right? What if we made one into the elevator from behind?”
“That’s possible,” Moonlight said. “Though I’m not comfortable with how busy it looks. We were hoping to slip in during a quiet moment.”
Marasi agreed—though as she considered it, she realized that had been naive of them. The Set knew that they were in Bilming and actively trying to stop them…
Marasi hesitated as she watched several of the trucks roar away from the factory, heading toward the hill with the government offices. Then she found herself smiling.
“They’re worried about Wax,” she said. “They’re marshalling troops, gathering resources… I’ll bet they’re sending it all to deal with him.”
“Maybe,” Moonlight said.
“Trust me,” Marasi said. “Where Wax goes, fireworks follow. The Set is worried about him—and they likely know exactly where he is. Flying through the air does tend to make him conspicuous.”
“If you’re correct, my lady,” TwinSoul said, “then they might not be expecting our incursion here. Their eyes may be diverted toward Dawnshot.” More trucks pulled away, and TwinSoul pointed toward the northern side of the city, where a giant plume of dark smoke was rising. “That’s the mayor’s mansion. Perhaps Dawnshot is being… extra difficult?”
“I’ll take it,” Marasi said, leading the way down the steps. “Let’s strike while everyone is distracted.”
43
Everyone in the room—including the kandra—gathered around Steris to read the letter Wax had sent. Perhaps they didn’t trust her to deliver the information out loud, or perhaps they needed to see it with their own eyes.
Bomb is confirmed real, and already fabricated. City-destroying capacity. Enemy is trying to find a way to deliver it to Elendel. It’s time to evacuate the city.
They know I’m after them. I hope that my presence won’t cause them to do anything rash. Investigation suggests attempts to deliver by train or road failed and they seek alternative, perhaps some kind of self-propelled artillery shell. Regardless, I suggest you close off all routes into Elendel as a precaution.
There is conflict among the Set. Some want to destroy Elendel, others maybe the entire Basin by restarting the Ashmounts, judging by a strange photograph we’ve found. I may be able to exploit the schism between them. Either way, my primary objective is neutralizing the bomb’s delivery mechanism.
Get as many people out as you can, as quickly as possible, in case I fail.
I love you.
Waxillium
Adawathwyn immediately ordered the young radio operator sequestered—along with anyone who might have heard the communication. Everyone else in the room slumped into chairs at the table, and several looked to TenSoon.
“We should believe Dawnshot,” he said. “Harmony has long thought the enemy was working on something like this. The deadline is… far more urgent than we realized. Rusts. We need to take thisveryseriously.”
“I am forced to agree,” Adawathwyn—of all people—said. “I don’t much like Ladrian, but… this news, with a kandra confirming it… My lord governor, it seems we have a gun to our heads.”
The governor leaned forward on the table, grim.
Finally,Steris thought, releasing a held breath.They are giving this the attention it deserves.Maybe now she could get something done.
“Time is of the essence,” the governor said, looking around the table at the three senators and his vice governor. “If there really is a bomb… we have to move fast.”
“Agreed,” Lord Cett said. “How quickly can we get out of the city?”
“That depends,” the governor said. “Ambassador Daal? Can I take that airship ride now?”
“So long as the streets aren’t packed,” Adawathwyn said, “we can theoretically be out of the city via motorcade in under an hour.”
“Will that be quickly enough?” Lady Hammondess said. “What is the destructive radius of this weapon, kandra? How far away do we have to get to be safe?”
“I’ll send for our families,” the governor said. “We have to do this quietly though, to not inspire a mass panic.”
Steris closed her eyes, feeling sick. On one hand, she understood their emotions. After all, she had sent her children away immediately.