Page 107 of Prince of the Undying

Diesel? I spun around. He stood near the Eisenkrieger, wearing a white coat like everyone else. He dabbed the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.

“Dr. Rudolf Diesel.” I shook my head. “I never thought I would see you again.”

His mustache twitched with a smile. “We parted under unusual circumstances.”

“Circumstances I regret.” That night wasn’t my fault, but guilt still wormed inside my gut at my failure to protect him.

Diesel touched my elbow and glanced at me. “I’m worried.”

I stared at him. “About what?”

“Project Lazarus is powerful. I shudder to think of that power in the wrong hands.”

A shiver crawled down my spine. I hadn’t even seen these Eisenkriegers in action yet.

Konstantin stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. “Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Diesel, but we’re rather pressed for time. Do you know who has the second prototype?”

Diesel glanced between us. His eyes glinted with curiosity. “Archmage Carol. We discovered yet another flaw in the Eisenkrieger’s leg pneumatics, though she should be finishing the repairs presently.”

“I had hoped we might borrow both of them.”

“Borrow?” Diesel asked. “Both?”

Konstantin cocked his head. “We can’t operate more than one at a time, not with the interference, but we can power up two to triangulate his position. Otherwise, we will be working with much less accuracy.”

Diesel studied him with shrewd eyes. “May I ask who you want to find? And why did you rewire the control systems for both of the Eisenkriegers?”

“Ah.” Konstantin cleared his throat. “Well…”

I interrupted. “Unusual circumstances.”

Diesel stepped back and held up his hands. “Understood.”

“Thank you.” Konstantin linked his fingers behind his back. “Would you find Archmage Carol for us?”

Diesel nodded. “Might as well stretch my legs.”

He tucked his handkerchief in his pocket and trudged down the length of the laboratory.

Konstantin glanced back at me. “Ready?”

“Ready for what?”

He smiled like I might be joking. “To pilot the Eisenkrieger, of course.”

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The muscles in my legs locked. I stared into the machine’s hollow metal head.

“Why can’t you pilot the Eisenkrieger?” I asked.

Konstantin clapped me on the shoulder and steered me closer. “Because I need your help. And I’m a bit too tall for the prototype. My legs cramp if I stay in there for too long. It’s uncomfortable and unproductive. Though the final Eisenkriegers will be much bigger.”

Much bigger? Seven feet tall wasn’t tall enough?

“Ardis?” Konstantin waited for my answer.

“Technically, I have to take orders from you.”

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