Free Steamsworn (Steamborn Series Book 3) by Eric Asher

she reached the tale of Mordair, the Butcher’s brother’s rule in Fel, the collapse of Dauschen, and Newton Burns—the Butcher’s—influence of Parliament in Ancora that Lady Katherine’s indifference turned to something far, far darker.
    “So …” Lady Katherine said. “The Butcher is showing his hand.”
    “Dauschen and Ancora are in his grasp now,” Mary said. “An attack on Bollwerk seems imminent. And if Bollwerk falls …” Mary shrugged.
    “He rules three of the largest cities in the Northlands and commands their armies.” Lady Katherine squeezed her forehead. “That is why Archibald sent you. They will take Cave, and the small villages in the western deserts, and then they will come for Bollwerk.”
    “My Lady,” Smith said as he stepped forward.
    She looked up. “Archibald hopes we will support Bollwerk with our airships.”
    Smith hesitated. “Only as a last resort. Archibald does not wish to force you into a war.”
    “Clearly he does,” Lady Katherine said. “It is his way, Biomech.”
    “He …” Smith took a hesitant step backwards. “We need help.”
    “My lady,” Alice said, stepping up beside Eva. “If Archibald moves one of the warships away, half the city will be unguarded.”
    “Why would he move one of the warships away?”
    Alice didn’t think, she spoke. She told the Lady Katherine of the plan to cut out the invasion force in Dauschen. Charles’s mad plan to collapse the base and send it off the cliff. She told her of Samuel and Drakkar and Jacob.
    “It is a bold plan,” Lady Katherine said once Alice finished speaking. “I can tell you have feelings for these people, but that does not justify our city entering a war, old blood though you are.”
    “What? No, I don’t—I mean I do, but I didn’t mean that’s why you should help us!” Someone squeezed her shoulder, and she looked back to find Mary.
    “We fear there may be an alliance with Ballern,” Mary said, her voice just loud enough for Lady Katherine to hear. “If Archibald’s spies are right—and they’re rarely wrong—Fel could have the support of Ballern’s warships. If the attack fails in Dauschen, it could bring forces against us by land and air. If it succeeds, it could trigger a response from Ballern that we can’t foresee.”
    Lady Katherine was silent. Her posture stiffened and her hands squeezed the ends of her armrests. “If either of those scenarios come to pass, Bollwerk will fall.”
    “Yes.”
    “I know you wish for decisive action, but I must think on this.” Lady Katherine looked at each of them in turn. “We have been an isolated, defense-oriented nation for almost a century. Archibald is asking us to openly enter a war. It is not a decision to be made lightly. I have heard your plea. I will have your answer by daybreak.

CHAPTER NINE
    J acob spent the rest of the night on a flimsy cot on the first floor of the safe house. It wasn’t much, but at least no one else was in the room for him to disturb. The Dead Scourge was open, propped up on a loosely piled blanket. The book felt more real somehow, now that he’d met Archibald.
    He slid the photo of Alice and the Jumper out of the back cover and stared at it for a moment. Some part of him wished he could go back to that inn. Jacob sighed as he slid the photograph into a pocket on his vest. He wished he had one of his parents. Some days it felt like he was on a grand adventure with Charles and Alice and would see his parents at the end of the day. Other times he remembered the dead and prayed his parents weren’t part of them.
    “Still up?”
    Jacob looked toward the gruff, sleep-laden voice. Charles stood in the doorway, barely lit by the lamp Jacob was using.
    “She’s safe with Smith and Mary. Don’t worry about that.”
    Jacob’s eyes flashed to his vest and then up to Charles.
    “I saw you looking at the picture again,” Charles said with a small smile. “You miss her. It’s natural.”
    Jacob frowned and then