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They heard a shout behind the to catch up Di reticule co and corseted waist ruous

Sophronia and Sidheag waited for the pleased with hireased your end?" Sophronia asked, looking to Di, we dumped hiues away by now Here, thought youlately?"

"Only the vampires’ crystalline valve frequensor"

"Brilliant! You keep hi new to add to the puzzle of what the va with that transet out of that drone before we chucked hi infor it That valve was hooked into the sketcher component The part on which letters appear The drone wasnotes on athe mass mechanical malfunction?"

"It doesn’t see on, her attention taken by the dirigible in front of theressively toward them

Flywaymen Sophronia had hwayy britches tucked into tall boots, with sashes about their waists Sophronia thought the outfits a bit much, but she supposed if one was a crinore all the rules of proper attire They had handkerchiefs tied about their heads, instead of respectable hats, and cravats pinned with onion brooches It was a hodgepodge of styles that Mademoiselle Geraldine had explained was "only affected by the disenfranchised" Really, thought Sophronia, you’d think with a Pickleman alliance some style would rub off However, there was no way to know if these flywaymen were allies or not There were ether Besides, as she to talk fashion? Sophronia pulled her tweed cap farther down over her forehead, ensuring that her plaited hair was still tucked securely underneath

Sophronia said to her friends, "Ready, boys?"

Felix said, "You sure you don’t want me to talk?"

"Best not Flywaymen have allied with Picklemen before Your father could be involved You could be involved"

"Ria, you wound enuinely upset "My father would never fraternize with the lower orders, not even for the good of the Eood of the Empire?"

"Of course"

"It’s just that they think that the E under their direct control"

Felix bristled "That’s not fair!"

Sophronia realized she’d made an error "My dear Lord Mersey--Felix It’s not that I don’t trust you It’s the Picklement is in question"

Felix looked a bitabout his own instinctual alliance with the Picklemen every time they were mentioned She added a cautious "You do realize that you still have the choice Your father hasn’t ht have i to win him over, so she added quickly, "That choice can always be to follow him I know you are not the type to be told what to do by anyone" She tried a little flattery "Far too strong in character I si a choice" She tried a winsome little smile

That see over her words Ah to hi out for me Such a supportive attitude"

He leaned toward her and his tone, much softened, indicated that he now perceived her attempted influence as tantamount to wifely concern for his future Perhaps she had taken it too far He did have the prettiest eyes