image of a noble lord philosopher. Especially compared to Lord Engal, who was big and hearty and looked like he could do a good day's manual labor without suffering unduly. Emilie expected that Lord Ivers' gentlemanly appearance probably had a lot of people fooled.
He stopped a few paces away, nodded to Dr. Marlende, and said, “Dr. Marlende, I presume.”
Lord Engal said dryly, “I did that already.”
Lord Ivers eyed him, his lip curled in mild derision. “I'm sure you enjoyed it. You've always been greatly pleased by your small accomplishments.”
Lord Engal sputtered, “It's your petty competitiveness that turned this from a philosophical experiment into a race-”
“Oh, you calling anyone 'petty' has to be the ultimate-”
There was some restless movement among the others. Kenar gritted his teeth, Rani rubbed the bridge of her nose in tight-lipped annoyance, and Dr. Barshion sighed wearily. Emilie was pretty certain it was Daniel who had snorted incredulously. Dr. Marlende cut it off before it went on any longer, saying sharply, “Gentlemen! If this is a race, I've won it.” He turned to Lord Ivers. “Now release my daughter, sir, or I'll shoot you.” He rested his hand on the pistol tucked into his belt.
Now that's more like it, Emilie thought. Everyone seemed a little taken aback, except Rani, Kenar, and Daniel, who obviously knew Dr. Marlende better than the others. Lord Ivers looked affronted, and Lord Engal startled. Lord Ivers said, “You would shoot a man in cold blood-”
Dr. Marlende was unimpressed. “My blood is hardly cold. Release my daughter. Now.”
Lord Ivers watched him a moment, then evidently decided to get down to business. He said, “I will be happy to release Miss Marlende in exchange for your assistance with repairs to my aetheric engine.”
Dr. Marlende countered, “Release my daughter now, and I'll forgo my desire to shoot you.” He added, reluctantly, “And I'll consider not stranding you and your crew of miscreants here.”
Emilie was watching Lord Ivers very carefully, and she thought she saw relief and satisfaction flicker across his face, though it was too brief to be certain it wasn't her imagination. He said, stiffly, “My engine wouldn't have failed if it hadn't been sabotaged, unlike yours and Engal's. I suggest you will benefit more from my assistance.”
Lord Engal laughed. “'Your engine?' I don't know who you stole it from but-”
Dr. Marlende interrupted again. “You've heard my offer. Release my daughter now, sir.”
Lord Ivers' jaw tightened. “You agree to repair my engine?”
Dr. Marlende didn't budge. “As I said, I'll undertake not to strand you here. Now give me your decision. I'm just as happy to shoot you and continue this negotiation with your second-in-command.”
Lord Ivers said, grimly, “I see I have no choice. I'll release Miss Marlende.” He turned, and lifted his arm to wave, once, at his airship.
Emilie tensed, aware that everyone else had too. The sailors moved restlessly, shifting their grips on their weapons.
But after a moment a single figure in a battered tweed jacket and skirt stepped out of the door and onto the platform, and started to climb down the ladder. Emilie's heart leapt. It was Miss Marlende.
Emilie held her breath as Miss Marlende quickly walked all the long way down the beach, but it wasn't a trick or a trap. As she reached them, Kenar muttered something in Cirathi, sounding profoundly relieved. Lord Engal still watched Lord Ivers with skeptical suspicion. Dr. Marlende just stepped forward, and said in a thick voice, “Are you quite well, my dear? I've engaged not to shoot him, but I'm happy to retract the promise if you've been harmed.”
Lord Ivers looked affronted. “I beg your pardon. I've treated the girl in a perfectly civilized-”
“I'm fine, father. He's an arrogant and greedy cad, but he didn't hurt me,” Miss Marlende assured him. She looked tired and a little mussed, but didn't seem injured at all. She reached Dr. Marlende and hugged him tightly. “And I'm so happy to see you.”
Emilie managed to wait her turn behind Dr. Marlende and Kenar, but finally she could throw herself into Miss Marlende's arms. “I'm sorry we couldn't get you out too,” Emilie said in a rush, aware she was babbling but unable to stop. “By the time Rani and I got back, the airship had taken off-”
“Emilie, it's all right,” Miss Marlende assured her, hugging her back. “If I'd been quicker off the mark, I could have jumped into the water after Rani, but I missed my chance. There was nothing you could do.”
“This is a very