With her crinkly face, white hair, and missing teeth, she reminded me very much of Justina, the matriarch of the Fantazikes. Knowing Camilla probably held as much sway and influence over her family—and possibly the whole circus—as Justina did over her nomadic clan, I bent my knee and dipped before her, showing the deference she warranted. I guess a woman doesn’t always need an empire to be a queen.

Camilla offered a withered hand spotted by age and embellished with several large, sparkling rings. I pressed a quick kiss to her papery-thin knuckles. Her eyes glittered green like emeralds, and I paused to consider her striking gaze. Something about her bejeweled eyes troubled me, but I had no time to ask questions. Falak cleared his throat and flapped his hands, shewing me along, herding me like a sheep, once again.

He led me to another striped tent, one a quarter the size of the main pavilion. A loud caw greeted us as we stepped through the flaps into the dim space smelling not of feathers, fur, or manure, but of oil, polish, and alcohol. A high chittering voice answered the bird, and my jaw fell open as my vision adjusted to the low light. Before me stood a menagerie of exotic animals that had only appeared in almanacs and encyclopedias in Fallstaff’s library. Some I thought only existed in the old legends: butterflies and dragonflies, peacocks and parrots, a chimpanzee, a dragon the size of a large dog, a baby elephant, and a unicorn. “H-How?” I stuttered.

My host reached behind a flap in the tent curtain, and gas lamps flared to life around the room, revealing the truth. Light reflected from the beasts’ metallic surfaces, exposing skins of brass, iron, and copper. Subtle gear-works clicked and purred as the animals shifted, mimicking the movements of their live counterparts. Dull bladed feathers, like rows of butter knives, fluttered as birds flapped their wings. The unicorn’s horn glowed a warm gold as she pawed the ground. The elephant’s trunk curled upon itself with a tink-tink-tink of metal joints compressing. He flapped his great ears, raising a breeze that stirred loose hairs around my face.

Like a key turning a lock, a realization clicked in my head. “The wagons...those are mechanical, too, right? You don’t use horses to pull them.”

He shook his head, and the gaslights threw warm highlights across the dark strands peeking out from his cap. “They are completely automated.”

“It’s like Magic,” I said, breathless with awe.

“You wouldn’t say so if you knew the work it took to keep these things running. There’s a mechanical lion, too, but his jaw’s locked. Svieta’s working on him now, trying to fix him before the show tonight.” He grinned and waggled his eyebrows. “What’s a lion without his teeth?”

He’d introduced me to the aerialists and their matriarch who created the circus’s costumes. He’d showed me the animals, and he mentioned the woman who kept the mechanical beasts purring and chirping. Yet, throughout it all, he’d never spoken of his own role within the circus. “So, what do you do here? Are you a juggler? Do you swallow swords or breathe fire?” I grinned at him, teasing. “Are you a clown?”

He returned my smile, although his took on a cagey quality. “If you come to the show tonight, you’ll see for yourself.”

My smile fell as my good humor fled. “I can’t tonight. I have....” I hadn’t revealed my identity or my connection to the Bonhemmish throne. From previous experience, I’d learned it was safer being a nobody. In truth, I had no conflicts preventing me from attending other than the risk of exposing myself in a public place, and if the empress had discovered me so easily, then others, such as Le Poing Fermé, might find me as well. Riding this far away from the safety of the castle’s walls on my own was an impulsive decision for which Gideon would undoubtedly berate me. “I have a prior commitment.”

Falak winked. “An engagement with your lover.”

Heat scalded my cheeks as my thoughts went to Gideon. I glanced away and shoved my hands deep into my trouser pockets. “Nothing like that. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Then, why do you blush like so?” Without touching me, he swept a gloved finger over my cheek.

“You shouldn’t ask such things. It’s not polite.”

He snorted. “Don’t come to a circus if you’re seeking polite society.”

He’s got a point. The comradery between us cooled, and we exited the tent, stiff and silent, but a sudden shout cut through the stilted atmosphere. “Evie!”

I flinched and wheeled around. Gideon strode toward me, clearing the open concourse between the wagons and the main pavilion with long-legged strides. I braced myself for his anger, but instead he drew to a halt several feet away and said nothing. His gaze evaluated and dismissed Falak in a blink, obviously determining he was no serious threat.

I turned to my host and briefly curtsied. “Thank you for the tour. I’m sorry I can’t see your show tonight. Maybe another time?”

He waggled a finger at me. “The performance tomorrow evening is our last. We’ll pack everything and be gone by the next morning.”

A pang of disappointment surged through me. “A friend’s hosting a dinner party tomorrow night, and I’ve already promised to come. Now, I’m especially glad you gave me a tour.” I glanced at Gideon who shifted his weight and folded his arms over his chest. He caught my eye and flicked his head toward our horses, urging me to leave. I turned to Falak. “But you really must tell me what you do.” He was tall, but slim and wiry. He probably weighed little more than I did. “Feats of strength?” I laughed.

“No.” He winked. “It’ll remain a secret. You’ll have to come and find the circus if you want to know the answer.”

“Where are you going next?”

“We’ll be heading for Toksva.”

My breath hung in my throat. He’d named the capital of Varynga, the country Otokar had seen in his scrying when looking for the Fantazikes. “Truly?”

He narrowed his eyes. “I never lie.”

“I-I’m sorry,” I stuttered, excitement making me gauche. “It’s only that I’ve been searching for some friends, and I’ve recently learned they may be in Varynga. Maybe....” I patted my pockets as if expecting to find a piece of parchment and a quill. “Maybe I could give you a message to pass along if you see them.”

He gave me a skeptical smile. “That seems very unlikely. How would I recognize them?”

Gideon snorted. “Wait until she tells you who they are.”

Falak’s dark eyebrows drew together. “I must say, you’ve made me very curious, Evie.”

I stopped fidgeting and forced myself to be still. “I’m looking for the Fantazikes, and I have reason to believe they’re in Varynga. If you see them, you must tell them that...that....” I glanced at Gideon and silently begged him for inspiration. Could I give away my full name?

Falak wrinkled his nose, folded his arms over his thin chest, and arched an eyebrow. “Fantazikes? You are friendly with that lot?” By his tone, he could’ve been talking about pigs, or street urchins, or any manner of unsavory subjects.

“They were very kind to me, once. Their matriarch made me a promise, and I intend to collect on it.”

Falak hacked a derisive laugh. “You must be talking about someone else.”

I thrust my hands on my hips. “The Fantazikes—they fly about in airships fueled by lightning. They breed Rhemonies and sell them at their carnivals. They hold boxing matches and musical concerts. I flew aboard the Charosvardo with the Tippany family for nearly a week.”

His jaw dropped. “A week? That’s not possible.”

Far, far in the distance, thunder rumbled. Gideon and I both gasped and glanced at each other. In the deep recesses of my mind, a faint connection glowed, like the farthest star in the night sky, dim and barely twinkling. But it was there. Had Falak’s skepticism inspired such a strong emotional response that even the obstinate thunder couldn’t deny it? Perhaps the storm was merely a coincidence.

His mocking expression turned curious again as he studied me and Gideon. “There’s something more to you than meets the eye, Evie. Am I right?”

“There’s something more to everyone, especially you, I’ll bet.”

He ducked his chin and threw out his hands at his sides. His posture suggested capitulation and apology. “Perhaps you’re right.”

“You owe me nothing, Falak. But I’ll ask you, as one wandering soul reaching out to another in a harsh and lonely world: will you do me the kindness of passing a message to the Fantazikes, if you see them?”

His chin bobbed once. “What would you have me tell them?”

“Tell them I’ll be making my way to Varynga. I’ll contact any kareeyatids I cross along the way, and that is to whom they should send a message, indicating their whereabouts, if they wish.”

“They’ll know you simply as Evie?”

“They should. But if not, tell them the lightning girl is in Bonhemm, and she’s on her way to find them.”

Falak flinched. “Lightning girl? What does that mean?”

“They’ll know what it means. That’s all that matters.”

He stepped back and bowed. “As one wandering soul to another, I’ll do this thing for you. But you’ll remember my kindness, yes?”

I nodded. “Of course. Always.” The list of debts I owed to kind people had grown one line longer, but it was worth it. And I would repay them all. Somehow.

Falak gave me one last hard look before marching away, disappearing around the corner of the tent.