Page 45 of Night's Fall
“I believe it was interesting forGarwahtoo,”Alekseireplied as we followedSetto the doors of the building. “Idon’t knowGarwahvery well, though she’s always invited to events and celebrations at thePalace.However,Idoubt she engages very often in historical debates, and it appeared she enjoyed it.”
“I was probably being impertinent,”Imumbled, thenIblinked because, as we strode over the pavement, the doors to a sleek, blackJetPanther570 boosted up with a sultry purr.
I knew about theJetPantherbecause everyone knew about theJetPanther, considering it was the pinnacle of land-sky craft in all the realms.Everyinch of it was handmade (unheard of), and it was so highly engineered, and as such, high performance, you could actually pilot one to a satellite resort.
I wasn’t all about crafts, soIdidn’t pay attention, thusIcouldn’t be sure, but ifIremembered correctly,Iheard it took so much time to make one, not to mention, very few could afford them once they were made, they only built five a year.
Aleksei stopped us at the passenger door that perched high like a wing and turned me to face him, which successfully tore my attention from his elite craft.
“I suspect she deals mostly with the social-climbing daughters of social-climbing mothers who salivate over royal etiquette and twist themselves into knots to be the best at it in hopes of catching the eye of a duke.”
“Or a prince,”Iput in, realizing in that moment that he’d been a sort of prey all his adult life.
Also realizing how much that had to suck.
He conceded my point with a tilt of his head. “Ora prince.Inother words, you were probably a breath of fresh air.”
It was unexpected, butIsensedIwas. “Ihope so.”
“I’ve little doubt,” he murmured as he helped me into the low-slung craft hovering at the curb.
I settled in, unsurprised at the luxury, but surprised at how roomy it was.Itwas small, a two-seater, but it had great leg room.
He settled in beside me, the doors descended, and he commanded, “StainedGlass.BrushIsland.Manual.”
The dash lit blue and replied, “Assessingclear route, your highness.”
StainedGlass?
He was taking me to the finest restaurant in all ofNocturnand its islands?Maybeeven all ofNight’sFall?
Were we ready for that?
I thought we were doing private things to get to know each other.
As if he knew my thoughts,Alekseishared, “We’llenter from the back.Noone will see us.We’llhave our own room and be attended by bots programmed to confidential.Theonly being who knows we’re coming is the chef, who’s a friend of mine.Iwould have liked to take you to my flat and cook for you, but there isn’t time to do that and go to theCatalogues, becauseIhave a meeting off-planet in the morning, andIneed to leave early.”
“Why didn’t you leave tonight?”Iasked stupidly, seeing asIwas in hisJetPantherand he was taking me out to dinner.
He shot me a glance confirming he didn’t becauseIwas beside him in hisJetPantherand we were off to dinner.
“Clear route accessed and loaded.Manualengaged,” the dash said.
WhenAlekseiput his hand on the control, the display in front of him showed the elevation we were to attain, my body vibrated in a delightful way as the thrusters under us lit, and up we went, high, higher, until we could clear the tallest skyscraper.
Whoa.
That was a damned fine rush.
The display changed to knots, he flipped some switches, entered some data, the boosters at the rear of the craft engaged, and off we flew, fast and incredibly smooth.
And that was a rush too.
Land crafts used stacked routes accessed above the old grid of streets that used to be traversed by horses, carts, then cars and hovers.
It was a thrill to take to the open sky.
Even so,Ihad other things on my mind.
