Ethen Gearhart's Arc

Chapter 3 of 9

Ethen climbed the stairs at the back of the trial hall. Smoke still hung over the wrecked clockwork monsters below. Behind him, the guard who had called him a forger followed close. The man would not let it go. He kept talking, low and fast, to the officers climbing beside him. "The seal held, fine," the guard said. "But look at him. A stray with a stolen gun. He'll shame the princess and the order both." He pressed near the top of the stairs, where a broad hall opened. "Commander. One word before you decide." The commander stood at the far end. He was older than Ethen remembered, gray at the temples, but Ethen knew the face. Two years ago this man had laughed and tossed his application aside. Now two machines flanked him. Clockwork snow leopards, plated in pale metal, their joints turning with soft clicks. Their tails swayed. One leopard had yellow eyes, the other blue. Both watched Ethen. The commander raised a hand without looking at the guard. "You've whispered in my ear since dawn," he said. "Enough." The guard pushed anyway. "Test his nerve, then. Not against rusted scrap. Against something that still works." He gestured at the leopards. The commander's mouth twitched. "A fair idea, finally." He snapped his fingers. Both leopards crouched, gears winding tight. "Knight. Stand your ground. If they take you down, the guard keeps his post and you leave." Ethen set his boots and raised his gun. The yellow-eyed leopard sprang first. He fired. The shot sparked off its shoulder and knocked it sideways. The blue-eyed one lunged from the left. He swung the barrel and cracked it across the skull. It stumbled, rolled, and came up low. Ethen did not back away. He stepped into them. He fired into the yellow one's joint and its front leg locked. It dragged itself and fell. The blue leopard leapt for his throat. Ethen jammed his forearm under its jaw and held. Metal teeth scraped his sleeve. He pressed the barrel to its chest and pulled the trigger. The gears inside screamed and stopped. The leopard went still in his arms. He let it drop. The hall was quiet. The commander walked forward and looked at the two ruined machines, then at Ethen's face. He studied the scars he had once laughed at. "I never read your application," the commander said. "I read you now." He turned to the guard. "He stays. You've argued against a man who won't fall. That's over." He pointed at the door. "You're reassigned to the outer wall. Report there tonight." The guard's face went white. He opened his mouth, found nothing, and left. The commander faced Ethen again. "You're admitted. But admitted is the bottom rung." He stepped close. "The princess sponsored you. Now the crown wants to see what it paid for. You march with us at first light."