Free Sparrow Falling by Gaie Sebold

you are one. Leave me be. If you don’t like what I’m doing, you can... you can look the other way, or you can just go. ” She glared at him.
    Liu rose to his feet, shut his eyes and clenched his hands. His fox-tail puffed out straight behind him, his teeth grew sharp, and long claws pressed into the pads of his palms.
    “Lady Sparrow, sometimes...” He took a deep breath, then he walked away, across the lawn among the shadows and sun, into the woods, where all the birds were singing as though their lives depended on it.
    Evvie’s chest was tight and her eyes brimming. She’d never argued properly with Liu before, insults, yes, and well, there was when she’d found out what he was, but not since they’d been proper friends.
    But she was furious, too. How dare he! She felt as though she were trapped in brambles, with thorns snagging and tugging at her every which way. Well, she was going back to Stug and she’d get this job and more, too – and they’d all see that she knew what she was about.
    She needed some sleep, first. Sleep and breakfast and then she’d be able to think, and deal with Stug.
    She saw Beth on her way to her workroom, with a pencil behind her ear. Beth was such an early riser, unable to wait to get to her beloved mechanisms. Even Mama didn’t get up so early, now she didn’t have small children to care for.
    “Oh, hello, Evvie. You’re up early – or late,” she said, looking at the bag still clutched in Eveline’s hand.
    “Things to do.” Beth was about the only person she could stand to see right now. At least she wasn’t forever going on about what she thought Evvie should do with her life.
    “Are you all right, Evvie?” Beth peered anxiously at her face. “Would you like some tea?”
    The kindness brought tears brimming. Eveline swiped at her eyes. “Go on, then.”
    Beth waited until they had tea in front of them, before she said, “What is it?”
    “Oh, Liu was being stupid.”
    “Oh, dear. I’m sure he didn’t mean it.”
    “He just thinks he knows better’n me, and it made me cross.”
    “That’s men for you,” Beth said.
    Hearing one of Ma Pether’s phrases come out of the mouth of Beth, who’d had almost nothing to do with men until Eveline had come into her life, bringing Liu with her, made Evvie smile, and feel a little better. “How would you know, you juggins?”
    “I watch,” Beth said. “I listen. I know you think I’m silly, Evvie, and never think about much that isn’t made of metal, but I’m not completely foolish. I do know things. And I know that Liu is a good sort, only he’s got a lot of pride. Like you.”
    “I ain’t proud!”
    “I don’t mean it in a bad way. You’re proud of what you’re good at, and why shouldn’t you be?”
    “Right now my life’d be a lot easier if I had something else to be proud of, Beth. You can make machines, you can invent, and no-one thinks the worse of you for it – what you do, that’s useful to anyone, and don’t make trouble nor get you the wrong side of the law.”
    “Just being interested in machines got me into enough trouble, remember?” Beth said. “My mother threatened me with an asylum if I hadn’t agreed to go to the Britannia School. And whether machines are legal rather depends on what they get used for. I just wish...”
    “What?” Evvie said, a little snappishly, hoping Beth wasn’t about to start on her.
    “Oh, nothing.” She looked forlorn.
    “Go on, Beth, what is it?”
    “I just wish there was someone I could talk to about it. I mean, your Mama’s wonderful but Etherics is different from what I do, and there isn’t really anyone else here. The girls try, but there’s none of them... anyway. It’s nothing you should worry about.”
    Eveline gave her a quick hug. “Poor Beth. I’ll keep my eye out, see if I can find some lass with a mechanical eye, eh?” She snickered. “That sounded strange.”
    “Urgh, don’t,” Beth said. “Although...”
    “You’re