Глава 12

Given in, Miss Successor?

I did not receive orders to intervene in this.

I'll take that as an agreement.

As long as a deal has been made, the Duke of Caster forever honors her commitments. Every single one.

You've no worries, 'Brigadier.' That's our foremost tenet.

(Ines.)

(Understood.)

Does every Victorian do that? Never ask the people in question for their opinion?

I think, Mr. 'Trilby Asher,' I just told you a second ago your metaphors suck.

And calling us pawns, that's a metaphor.

So Rhodes Island is hanging onto ties with the Duke of Windermere as its last thread?

That's not a good idea. You're on the wrong team.

We don't have to pick a team to start.

Then you can only—

Wait...

That Windermere girl... Is that illusionist and shadow Arts combined?!

Where is she?

Rhodes!

Impressive rapport there, Mr. 'Trilby Asher.'

It's a question of our tenets, after all.

The thing about honoring commitments forever?

No, a different one.

Never let the winner take all.

This is all meaningless now, Taran. If this lot send their message out, the dukes' main fleets will be forced to push in.

And at that point, the airship goes to whoever takes it down.

It seems none of us will be bringing home the gold.

Fine.

Doctor, careful!

Miss Ines, I made it.

We saw the shadows outside the door.

Rhodes Island... The Duke would rather not fall out with you.

Didn't your actions just now amount to a fallout?

Fine, fine. Feel free to apologize.

Then may we meet again, someday.

Dublinn army corpses...

They <i>did</i> set up people here.

Their wounds are fresh, can't have been made long ago. Blade cuts, some seem like they're cauterized...

Who's there?!

The room is oppressively vacant. No one responds.

Delphine grips her dagger tight.

Her mother always admonished her for not putting more energy into combat training, but being the daughter of the Duke of Windermere of Victoria, her swordsmanship reputed, she's got the confidence to take on most enemies.

Comms station should be around here...

I—

Wh—What the hell...?

A tangled cord of wires comes into Delphine's view, but the device meant to attach to them has vanished without a trace.

All that's left on the table is a thick layer of dust.

Someone came and took the comms station away beforehand... <i>long</i> beforehand.