Beneath was a machine about the size of a railroad car and looking something like a cross between a steam engine and the inside of a clock.
Images copyright 2009 by Clipart.com. Used with permission.
I feel like I’ve been running around with my head cut off, trying to write and publish and study for my Masters and teach. Bah! I’ve got to get organized. While I wait on any word of Senta and the Steel Dragon from Baen Books, I need to get things going. Here is my plan.
1. Hardbound “His Robot Girlfriend”
As the Target lady says “Approved!”. You should see it at Amazon soon.
2. Multi format ebooks of “His Robot Girlfriend”
Now available!
3. Finish writing “Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Elven Princess”
It’s done!
4. Publish paperback “Eaglethorpe Buxton”
Waiting for the Review Copy.
5. Free multi-format ebook “Eaglethorpe Buxton”
Available today!
6. Second edition of “Princess of Amathar” in hardbound and paperback.
7. Multiformat ebook of “Princess of Amathar” with a new lower price.
Of course, if word should come that someone wants to publish Steel Dragon, everything goes on hold as I finish book two.
*This marks my 300th posting on City of Amathar. Thanks to those of you who have been following along.*
Terrence picked up his helmet which was sitting next to him, then stood up and began trudging up the hill at a modest pace. When he saw a blood covered Zeah Korlann being escorted by two riflemen into Iolanthe’s headquarters tent, he ran the rest of the way.
“What’s going on?” he asked, as he burst into the tent. He stopped short when he saw Miss Lusk, lying on her side, bloodied, on the dirt floor. “Let’s get Father Ian in here.”
“Father Ian isn’t coming,” said Zeah shakily.
“Sister Auni, go get another acolyte to cast a cure wounds spell,” ordered Iolanthe. Then she opened the top drawer of her desk and pulled out a brown bottle. “Soak her bandages in this and poor the rest down her throat.”
She handed the bottle to Dr. Kelloran, who was kneeling over the red-haired woman’s prone form. The doctor did as directed and a moment later was rewarded with Miss Lusk opening her eyes. Sister Auni arrived a few minutes later with Brother Galen, who followed the exact same procedure that she had in casting a spell. Color returned to Miss Lusk’s face and she began to breathe freely.
“Who did this to you?” asked Iolanthe.
“I didn’t see them,” said Miss Lusk. It was an obvious labor to speak. “Someone was running the Result Mechanism. I went around the corner to see who it was, but…”
“There were papers coming out of the machine,” said Zeah.
“Go find those papers,” Iolanthe ordered her brother. “Maybe we can find out who was using it.”
Terrence nodded and left the tent. He picked up a gas lantern nearby and stomped down the hill toward the still chugging and clanking Result Mechanism. Just before he reached it, the machine stopped, letting out a long whistle of left-over steam. He pulled out one of his nickel-plated forty-five revolvers and circled around the huge device. Standing at the controls was his brother Augie.
“What’s going on, old man?” said Augie, when he noticed Terrence.
“What are you doing here?” Terrence asked.
“You know you really shouldn’t answer a question with a question,” Augie replied. “The machine was running and nobody was here, so I shut it down.”
“You didn’t see anybody here?”
“No, and I waited around for a couple of minutes too.”
“Are there any papers coming out of the slot on the side of the machine?”
They both stepped around to the far side, where the printing slot was located, but there were no papers either sticking out of the slot or on the ground below.
“You don’t have anything to do with this, do you?” asked Terrence.
“Anything to do with what? A bloody machine making a bunch of racket?”
“The stabbing.”
“Stabbing? What stabbing?”
“Egeria Lusk has been stabbed. Right over there, by the look of the ground.”
“Kafira! And you think I had something to do with it?”
“No. But you were at three of the crime scenes, at least three, so some people are going to get the idea you could be involved.”
Senta again saw the beautiful woman in the white, pin-striped dress.
Images Copyright 2009 by Clipart.com
The United Kingdom of Greater Brechalon is the country from which most of the characters in Senta and the Steel Dragon come. It is a fantasy analog of Edwardian Great Britain, with a few steam punk elements thrown in. Magic exists and wizards are relatively common, though they are usually employed by the military or the police. Sorcerors are more scarce. Steam travel is common as are telegraphs and gas lighting.
The UK is made up of three large islands and several small ones and possesses the world’s most powerful navy. Its traditional enemies are the Kingdom of Freedonia and the Kingdom of Mirsanna.
City of Amathar 