“Ah.” I looked up at the thing again.
Out of the corner of my eye, I examined Rio and Levent’s faces. Both of them were completely enthralled, though the half-blood’s face showed it with a huge grin and the kin was simply staring at it with a vaguely pleasant expression.
“When can it work?” The kin asked.
“Soon. Well, sooner than it would have before now that I can actually buy the parts. Right now it’s hardly more than an empty shell. Its engine is little more than a candle.”
“It’s fantastic,” Rio oozed. “I can’t wait to see this thing working. This is the future, m’lady.” He clasped my shoulder. “Can you imagine me flying one of these? The Lady Theatus the Second. Would have to be bigger, though.”
I could imagine the half-blood flying a giant skyship, but it was not a pretty picture. These things would be so much easier to crash than a ship on the water, and the thought of Rio flying the thing straight into the spire was both amusing and very sad.
“I would wait until this one works before you try that,” I suggested.
“You’re probably right, m’lady, but it’s still exciting to think about.”
I was pretty sure I heard Rio mumble the phrase “sky-pirate” under his breath before I decided it was time to move away.
I circled the skyboat, slowly examining it while trying to overhear Levent and Aenlilea quietly discussing funding. If the two of them could get this flying boat to take the skies and not kill too many people in the process, it would completely revolutionize the technology of our world.
“Father!” A female voice yelled from the front room. Only Rio and I seemed to hear it, but by the time I had pointed out the sound to Aenlilea, the woman had called again. “Father?”
The mechanic moved into the shop, and the three of us followed. I looked at the kin, but he gave no sign of glee in finding a person to build him a way up to the spire. It was just as well, I supposed. If Levent had been smiling it would have scared me.
“I’m here,” Aenlilea called through the fog. By the time we caught up to him a familiar-looking woman was clasping his shoulder.
“There you are! I-“ She paused.