Free The Lady Machinist (Curiosity Chronicles Book 1) by Ava Morgan Page A

opened the tenth volume encyclopedia. A third of its text had been carved out, allowing for the stashing of documents. She shoved the papers into it and stuck the volume back into the case. Just as she closed the glass panel, something hit the ship.
    Everything that wasn’t nailed to the floor came crashing down.
    Lydia sprinted from the cabin into the dim corridor and dashed up the stairs. Water seeped through the door leading topside, splashing the front of her legs in cold brine. The ship rocked, tossing her against the wall. Lydia regained balance and pushed the door open.
    Rain poured on the deck. Rhys stood in the center shouting orders as the crew scrambled to furl the rigging. The men moved in an organized chaos, ropes and tethers flying everywhere.
    Lydia hit the deck as a cable flew past her head. Thunder partially drowned out her cry of surprise.
    Rhys heard her and turned. His hair was plastered to his head as rain drenched his shirt. “Get below deck. We’re under pirate attack.”

 
     
     

Chapter 9
     
     
    A sudden coldness ran through her. Lydia raised her neck and looked starboard side at a ship that rivaled the size of The Enlightened . Though it was not close enough for its crew to board, she saw the men dressed in motley tatters scrambling to light cannons and ready their boarding axes. The rain and rough winds diminished their efforts, but by no means halted them.
    “Fire,” a shout came from the starboard side as one of Rhys’ crewmen flipped a switch. The sound that Lydia heard before was magnified eightfold as all of The Enlightened ’s cannonry let loose their iron rounds.
    The blast sent tremors through the deck as the cannons pounded the other ship. The Enlightened ’s timbers creaked as waves bucked against the hull. Lydia grabbed a railing for support. One of the crewmen scurried past.
    “Captain, the ship’s taking in water. The pirates breached the hull at the waterline.”
    “Patch it best you can.” Rhys twisted as the engine’s air vents sputtered water and seaweed on deck. “Smythe and O’Neil have to get that engine unclogged. Lydia, I told you to get below deck,” he growled.
    “I can get the automatons to help you.”
    “And let the pirates know we have them in our possession? Why do you think they’re after us?”
    The ship bucked again as a giant wave approached. Water rose above the rails and over Lydia’s head, slamming her with frigid fists. The force shook her hold off the rails and sent her feet careening out from under her.
    She slammed shoulder first onto the deck. The shock of the fall knocked the wind from her. Lydia opened her mouth only to receive an onslaught of water. Coughing, she got back on her feet before a second smaller wave washed up.
    A pair of strong arms seized upon her waist and hauled her backwards. “If you don’t get back below, I’ll toss you down myself.” Rhys dragged her in the direction of the door, kicked it open, and did exactly that.
    Lydia caught herself from landing on her face. She looked back just in time to see him bang the door closed. The bolt slammed home on the other side.
    The sounds of the storm and battle produced an eerie symphony within the interior of the ship. The floorboards moaned beneath Lydia’s feet while the wall facing the exterior of the ship seemed barely able to contain the roaring water that battered the heavy wooden frame. With each pitch and sway of the vessel, the sound of glass breaking and objects falling was not far behind.
    Lydia clutched her stomach as her own fear produced a new bout of nausea. She groaned as the bile rose in her chest and burned the back of her throat.
    “Lydia?” Nikolaos’ voice sounded from down the corridor.
    She turned as he rounded the bend, stumbling as the ship rocked hard to the left. The hem of his trousers was wet and soiled in the water at his feet. “Have we hit a squall?” His wan pallor had grown paler since the voyage commenced.
    “Yes.” Lydia