Free Wings of Sorrow and Bone by Beth Cato Page B

cinnamon.
    The chimera’s keening stopped though his shoulders still heaved. He pushed himself to stand, briefly stretching and testing his new legs, then squatted.
    Rivka rubbed his long, tapered ears. “See, not everything Broderick does is bad.”
    The magic dissipated, the circle cooling in an instant. Tatiana lingered at a distance, her expression worried. She was obviously building up her courage again.
    Rivka looked between Tatiana and Lump. “You know what? I’ll take the risk. If he lets anyone on, it’ll be me.”
    She flung her upper body over his back. It was wide enough that she balanced there, stiff like a plank. She hooked an arm around the far nub for a wing and dragged herself to straddle him. Her skirt hitched up and uncomfortably swaddled her thighs, exposing her petticoat and the lace of bloomers beneath.
    â€œIt’s just me, Lump. I’m riding you. It’s okay.” He quivered, and she kept rubbing circles into his neck. Her heart thrummed like a revved engine. She’d never even been on a horse, and here she was, atop a behemoth chimera. A designer monster.
    Lump’s quivering stopped, and he suddenly stood erect. Rivka gripped the wing nubs as she surged upward. His body shifted from side to side as he tested the joints of his new legs.
    â€œTatiana, your turn.” Rivka pressed down on Lump’s neck. “Down,” she said to him, and he lowered to squat again. He learned incredibly fast. She slid over his side to the ground and tugged her dress to proper length.
    Tatiana looked terrified yet resolute. “Well, you survived. That bodes well.”
    Rivka snorted. “Yeah. If I’m going to kill myself in a stupid way, it’ll probably involve machinery going amok.”
    She shushed and soothed Lump as Tatiana took her turn. Unlike Rivka, Tatiana had ridden on horses—­some family friend’s estate outside of Mercia, she said—­and made a point of showing how to properly sit. Straight spine, relaxed seat, knees lined up just so. It also helped that her skirt was looser. Rivka let her nervously prattle on as she walked around to get a proper look at the mechanical additions.
    Mr. Cody was right. This was highly relevant to her interests. She ran her hands over the smooth lines of exposed copper and brass. The soldering was almost invisible. The constructed femurs were a good ten inches across, made to support a heavy bulk. The big, clawed feet could squash a person like a bug. The knees were ball-­in-­socket and about the size of her head. She’d made repairs on similar limbs for automaton beasts back in Mercia.
    Rivka sucked in a breath. She could replicate Lump’s limbs on a smaller scale.
    It’d take practice, some example schematics, and time to scrape up money for crystals to power each mechanism, but she could make it happen.
    â€œI thought I was entertaining a silly whim by letting you stay. I didn’t think you were fool enough to actually go near the thing.”
    Mr. Cody’s booming voice caused Rivka to spin around. He stood in the entrance, a cadre of engineers behind him. Mr. Cody looked furious, while the other men’s expressions ranged from horror to awe. Lump stiffened at Mr. Cody’s words. A low growl emanated from his throat.
    â€œMr. Cody, sir—­” started Broderick.
    â€œShut up,” Mr. Cody snapped. “You should know very well that the chimera shouldn’t even be on its feet at this point, and you’re lucky that—­”
    â€œMr. Cody, I’m the medician.” Broderick’s voice was level. “I listened to the chimera’s song. He’s able to cope with the pain for now, and I don’t believe them to be in harm’s way.”
    Mr. Cody stared at Broderick as if miniature airships had begun to fly from his mouth.
    â€œLump has bonded with us. He’s not going to attack us,” said Rivka. Though the