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"Why?"

"I’ve got a e froer’s stony countenance shifted a squick His left eyebrow arched, then finally he stepped back A moment later she and Tazza were inside the roo at theanother step backward

"Oh, that’s just Tazza He’s hare he’d done to the lady boffin’s cabin "Well, unless you’re a set of curtains, which, u like a ninny The

"Will it repeat our words?"

"What, Tazza, talk?" Deryn stifled a laugh "He’s no e lizard He’s a natural beastie, a thylacine froh, as you can see, he’s e frolanced up at theits head from one, and the count clapped his hands once to scare it off

"Those godless things are everywhere," he "

Deryn rolled her eyes The other Clankers were even more twitchy about beasties than Alek They see aboard the airship was out to get thees They don’t eavesdrop"

"And how can you be sure of that?"

Now, that was a daft question Message lizards ht repeat snatches of conversation by accident now and then, especially when they’d been recently dazzled by a Tesla cannon But that wasn’t the sa, was it?

Then she relish when he’d co secrets And how Dr Barlow had pulled the sa not to know any German No wonder those tere always suspicious of everyone - they were both sneaky-beaks theer than walnuts," she said "I don’t reckon they’d ood spies"

"Perhaps not" The count sat down at his desk, which was covered withas a paperweight "And what about your brains, Mr Sharp? You’re clever enough to be a spy, aren’t you?"

"What, me? I told you, Alek sent ht I was informed that Alek was hurt in the battle, but I haven’t been allowed to see him or Master Klopp And now I receive this ’secret’ e?"

"But he ," Deryn began, then groaned with frustration This hat she got for doing favors for Clankers "He’s my friend He trusts me, even if you don’t"

"Prove it"

"Well, of course he does! He told er’s eyes narrowed at her a moment, then he stared down at the sword on the table "His secret?"

"Aye, he told an, but a slow realization was creeping over her What if Alek had never er that he’d spilled the beans to her? Finding out nowsecret?"

The air hissed as Volger whirled around, sunlight flashing on steel, the chair spinning across the floor and sending Tazza leaping to his feet The sword suddenly stretched froer’s hand, its cold, naked tip at Deryn’s throat

"Tell me what secret," the wildcount demanded "Now"

"A-about his parents!" she sputtered "His father andwar! And he’s a prince or so!"

"Who else knows this?"

"Just me!" she squeaked, but the metal prodded her "Ulared at her for an endlesstheir way into hers Tazza let out a lol

Finally the wildcount pulled the saber a few inches back "Why haven’t you informed your captain?"

"Because Alek ht you knew he’d told us!"

Count Volger lowered the sword "Obviously I did not"

"Well, that’s not my fault!" Deryn cried "Maybe it’s you he doesn’t trust!"

The man looked at the floor "Perhaps"

"And you didn’t have to cut hted the overturned chair "It was only to get your attention And I used a dull edge Surely you know a fencing saber when you see one?"

Deryn reached out and grabbed the weapon’s blade She swore - it was the very saber she’d practiced with yesterday, no sharper than a butter knife

Count Volger sat heavily, shaking his head as he cleaned the sith a pocket handkerchief and then sheathed it again "That boy will be the death of me"

"At least Alek trusts someone!" Deryn said "The rest of you Du and sneaking andscared ofit’s no wonder the world’s in a barking great war!"

Tazza growled again, then s Deryn knelt to caler

"Is Alek really hurt?" the man asked

"Aye But it’s only a bruised rib"