Read Steam & Sorcery for Free Online Page A

in some cases their heirs did.
    The lad’s enthusiasm visibly waned. “And during the training? Just ’ow long does that take?”
    “About a year after you finish university.”
    “University?” Tommy’s cackle of cynical laughter caught the attention of a few onlookers, so he paused a moment before lowering his voice and continuing. “For the likes of me? Sorry, guv, but you’re out of your gourd.”
    Merrick shook his head. “Not with me as your sponsor, and the Order behind you. It would depend on your abilities, of course, but University is usually part of the package. You’d come live with me, have a tutor to prepare you while we start your training.” Merrick tried not to wince at the thought of having a young hellion sharing his quiet, peaceful home. It couldn’t be helped.
    Tommy bit his lip. “I can’t,” he said finally, and Merrick could see the tears he tried to blink back. “I got responsibilities.”
    The other children. Merrick nodded gravely—he’d been expecting this, wouldn’t have respected Tommy much at all if he’d left the others on their own. “We’ll come up with something, son. My aunt assures me she can find good homes for them all. Don’t forget, the escaped undead may have seen you. Wapping probably isn’t safe for any of you anymore.”
    “No.” Tommy shook his head sadly and held out his hand. “No splittin’ us up. The girls would never go for that. Thanks for the offer, though, guv. Anytime you need a ’and down ’ere in Wapping, you look me up.”
    “There’s five of you altogether, right?” Merrick began to panic. He knew nothing about children. Not planning to have any of his own, at least not until he’d left active service, he’d never seen the point in learning about the species. Growing up in a Knight’s household was a hard life—even harder for a Knight’s wife, which was why Merrick didn’t have one. Although he’d been a small child, he’d watched his mother wither a little more each time his father left on a mission until she finally gave up and died.
    Tommy nodded. “That’s right. Five.”
    The words came out of Merrick’s mouth before he could stop them. “Then I guess you’ll all have to come live with me. Wink and my aunt should get along like a house afire.” If they didn’t end up killing each other—or Merrick—first.
     
     
    Shrieks of laughter and running footsteps pounded in the upstairs hallway as Merrick stepped inside his townhouse. Wincing at one particularly loud war whoop, he handed his hat and cane to Mountjoy, his butler, before retreating to the sanctity of his library. At his gesture, Mountjoy followed Merrick into the quiet haven, his long, lined face looking remarkably like that of an offended bloodhound.
    Things weren’t much better in there. Though presently empty, the place showed signs of recent occupation. A stack of rare first editions was piled haphazardly on the floor, one open with the spine splayed ominously and a glob of what looked and smelled like melted peppermint stick on the pages. Piers. Merrick’s working miniature steam locomotive had been disassembled and lay in the middle of a now oil-stained rug. Wink. His mother’s music box was flat-out missing. Nell. Finally, shards of what might have once been his grandfather’s porcelain snuffbox littered another corner. Jamie. Lord knew what Tommy had been up to. Probably rooking half the staff out of their wages in a card game.
    “Have the staff remove all fragile ornaments from the public spaces until further notice,” Merrick said to Mountjoy.
    “We already have, sir. I believe that was a teacup.” Mountjoy looked down his nose and sighed as though he were in a great deal of pain. “The new, inexpensive china, purchased by the crate. You’ll be relieved to note the music box and snuffbox are safely locked away.”
    “And let’s keep this room locked, shall we?” Now that Mountjoy mentioned it, even the paintings were missing from the