Free The Guild Conspiracy by Brooke Johnson Page B

the proposition to a vote, she had a chance—­a real chance—­to join the Guild, even if it was a highly restricted position. But if Julian rejected the idea, if her other detractors disagreed with the soldier’s proposal, then she would be forced to make a desperate decision: allow the Guild to build the quadruped without her involvement, or formally withdraw her application and suffer Julian’s wrath.
    Neither would help her in her goal to delay the war.
    Finally, Julian turned his attention from the colonel back to her. “Miss Wade,” he said. “Would you agree to such terms?”
    Petra stood a little straighter. “I would,” she said with a nod. “If you allow me to oversee the project and have a part in the construction of the prototype, I will give my permission for the Guild to commission the quadruped, and therefore prove my loyalty to the council.”
    â€œJulian,” said Mr. Fowler. “You can’t seriously—­”
    Mr. Goss held up his hand, regarding Petra with a calculating gaze. “If anyone here wishes to call into motion the colonel’s proposal, we will put the decision to another vote.”
    Petra locked eyes with Lyndon, silently pleading for him to help her, to do this one thing. If he called this motion, she would never blame him for not helping again.
    The vice-­chancellor sighed. “I call to bring the motion to the floor.”
    â€œSeconded,” said another councilor.
    She exhaled a breath of relief.
    â€œThen we will put it to a vote,” said Mr. Goss, standing with a measure of authority. “The Guild moves for Miss Wade’s application to be accepted on a probationary level. She will be allowed to work on the quadruped in accordance with the Guild’s conditions. As such, she will have limited access to the project, and only under the supervision of a senior member of the Guild, as chosen by the council. She must report her progress weekly, as is required of all our engineers, and she will not be allowed access to any other Guild office or workstation besides her own, except with the permission of the respective Guild employee, her supervisor, and a member of the council.” He surveyed the room with a scowl. “Are these conditions acceptable?”
    The entire bench exchanged glances with one another, some of the men nodding in agreement, others offering no more than a disinterested shrug, while the rest, including Mr. Fowler, remained sour.
    â€œI would like to propose an addendum,” said Lyndon.
    Julian’s mouth twitched. “Yes, Vice-­Chancellor?”
    â€œShould Miss Wade complete the quadruped as proposed, without any perceived treasonous action against the Guild during its development, I would like to suggest that she be offered a permanent position within the Guild, as an engineer of her caliber deserves.”
    Petra turned toward Julian, her heart racing.
    He hesitated a moment before replying. “Very well. We will put the motion to a vote.” He glanced around the council bench. “All in favor of allowing Miss Wade a probationary position during the production of the quadruped . . .” He raised his hand.
    Petra held her breath. She needed only eight votes. Eight votes in her favor and she might actually have a chance to put a stop to Julian’s war.
    One by one, the councilors lifted their hands.
    First two, then three.
    A fourth, fifth, and sixth.
    A grudging seventh.
    Just one more vote . . .
    A single vote to guarantee her position on the quadruped project, one more vote to ensure that her plan to delay the war could go forward. But if the vote stalled, if no one else voted to approve the amended application, she was doomed. Julian would not rest until she paid for this final defiance against him.
    She swallowed thickly, glancing at the few members whose hands remained down. “Come on,” she whispered, willing them to