Free Flight and Fantasy by Viola Grace Page A

name, little mechanic?”
    She blushed. “Annanya Fennor.”
    “It is odd to see one of your kind this far from the city. How is it that you come to be so far from the Orion Rest embassy?”
    “I was raised here, your highness. I was found as an infant and taken in by the Fennors. They tried to find anyone who knew who or what I was and were unsuccessful. So, they raised me with their own.”
    “I see. Unusual circumstance for an unusual woman.”
    “If I may ask, sir? What are you doing here?”
    He grinned, sending her heart tripping at nine times its normal rate. He was handsome, with his golden hair waving from his forehead to that chiselled chin and those devastating eyes. She could have fallen in love with just his looks if he hadn’t also been a philanthropist and polite, even to her in her wingless condition.
    “My shuttle had a malfunction over your fair town and I decided to land before I killed myself. I didn’t know that there was a festival going on, or I would have gone to the magistrate to arrange the repairs.”
    She smiled softly, dazed by his presence before she realized what he was talking about. “Well, your skimmer is fixed, but there was a problem with rodent infestation. You may want to watch where you park it.”
    He was chuckling while he spoke, “You fixed it while you were hiding under it?”
    “I needed to have something to do with myself and I had all my tools with me.” She patted the corset that was standard wear for a proper lady, but hers was stained with grease.
    “I will pay you for that bodice.” He reached into his pocket and withdrew a purse. “Also, I will reimburse you for the repairs.”
    She blushed. “Your Highness, it isn’t necessary. I destroy more clothing than I can count, and the repairs kept me calm. Also, you did drive off one of my pursuers so for that I owe you.”
    He tilted his head and ruffled his midnight wings. “Why were they after you?”
    “I am wingless, they are not, they enjoy tormenting me, knowing I have only one means of escape.”
    “I see.”
    She was afraid he did.
    “Will you attend the great mechanical exhibition in Morcroft next month?” There was something in his eyes that was inappropriate for his station, and hers.
    “I had planned to, yes. I have an item to exhibit.”
    He took a few coins out of his purse and pressed the purse itself into her hands. “Show that at the main tent and they will bring you to me. I would enjoy a conversation on how you gained your mechanical skills.”
    She looked down at the heavy purse with the royal seal on it and bobbed another quick curtsey. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
    “Call me, Denaric. I will see you at the display. It is shaping up to be quite the interesting event.” He bowed to her and kissed the back of her grubby hand before winking and waving for her to make her escape.
    As she crept out of the repair bay, she tucked the purse into her corset, feeling the warmth of his crest while his skimmer hummed to life behind her. Her repair was solid and he would make it wherever he was going.
    She was taking her money right to the supply shop to get the final component for her project. Her father had offered her bits and bobs from his workshop, but she needed the canisters to help the hydraulics run.
    She giggled as she dodged the sight of her pursuers and ducked into the supply shop. Time would fly until the great exhibition, and soon, so would she.
    Vahsha watched her pack up her creation. Annanya loved her sister, the only one of the Fennor siblings who didn’t pick on her. “I can’t believe it works.”
    It was the ninth time her sister had said that and Anna grinned. The test flight had occurred in the middle of the night, with only Vahsha as a witness. “I know, but it does and I want to display it at the exhibition. Father is bringing his new harvester so I will be down the centre from him. No one will know we are related unless he tells them.”
    Vahsha ruffled her dark grey