I nodded. “Good night,” I said. “And um. Thanks for telling me all this.”
“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t sooner,” Kewyn said. “Good night.”
I curled up under the blankets and I glanced up at Kewyn’s bed. Only a few more nights and we would be flying up to the Spire ourselves. I wondered what we would find up there, and what ‘state secret’ Kewyn was talking about that could change everything. I passed quickly into sleep, the ale in my veins still making my body warm and tingly.
The next day passed quickly. I slept late, and by the time I got off of the spare mattress Kewyn was gone. By the time I walked down the stairs, the mechanic was already inside for lunch, and he was arguing with his daughter. Hesitantly, I interrupted their steadily rising voices with a knock on the doorframe. They shushed, and Kewyn beckoned me in.
“Good afternoon,” I said.
Aenlilea frowned deeply, and looked at Kewyn as if she should be the one to speak.
“I’d best get back to the shop,” he muttered, and walked out the front door.
As his footsteps retreated, Kewyn let out a breath she did not seem to realize she had been holding.
“Sorry about that,” she said.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Kewyn had her arms wrapped around herself and dug her heel into the floor. “I told father that when the airship is finished that I would like to be the one to fly it,” she said.
There was a knock on the door and I jumped. Rio stared into the window at us, nose pressed against the glass. Levent stood a few feet behind him.
“Hey in there!” I heard Rio’s voice say through the door.
“What is it?” I said, opening the door.
“You two should get out here!” He was grinning.
“Why?” The blonde asked suspiciously.
“You’ll see,” he said finally before walking away.
He and Levent retreated down the stairs. I glanced at Kewyn. She shrugged, and we walked outside. Once on the porch, my eyes widened and I dashed down the stairs after the half-blood.