Unseen from the outside, the Skydock Market’s cog was unique. The cog spun around the city, just like any other, however, rising from it was a series of cogs within the cog, moving up, down, and around, almost a Copperopolis in miniature on a cog to itself.

One of the miniature cogs at the market appeared to be devoted almost entirely to exotic street foods, the aromas wafting over, enticing Dellen ahead.

“Do you think the owner here also knows you?” Gilgamesh said.

Dellen shot him a look, again unwilling to speak to him directly where he could be overheard. Fortunately, Finnegan had a similar thought.

“If you know the owner or anyone of authority here, perhaps it would save us some time.”

Dellen covered his discomfort with a laugh. “Don’t be fooled by these pretenses at familiarity; anyone running a venture as successful as this is likely to have an excellent memory for customers, as well as a working knowledge of the wealthy houses of the city.”

“That was good,” Gilgamesh said. “Of course, eventually, someone is going to say something that you can’t just brush off. What then?”

“So you all just pretend to know each other?” Finnegan said.

Dellen shook his head. “No, we have frequently met each other, but relationships are rarely as jovial or friendly as they can appear on the outside.”

“Lord Northcote!” A loud voice rumbled. “Welcome back, welcome back!”

Dellen didn’t let the groan escape his throat. He turned around and saw an unfamiliar face approaching. The speaker was middle-aged with a thick mustache over a beaming smile.

“I just wanted to thank you for the last batch of alloys from Northcote Industries. They were top-notch, as always.” He clapped Dellen on the shoulder. Dellen did his best not to glance at the hand with annoyance. “With all of our shipments from outside the city running late, having a reliable local supplier is reassuring.”

Dellen nodded and chuckled, playing along. “We’re always glad to be of service; being on time is good business.” He turned to Finnegan. “I don’t believe you’ve met Finnegan.”

“A pleasure to meet you; I’m Cedric Woolworth.” Cedric turned from Finnegan to direct his full attention back to Dellen.

“What brings you to the Skydock Market?”

“I’m looking for a ship,” Dellen said.

“Oh, and you’ve come in person,” Cedric said, stroking a mustache. “Now, why would you need to come in person? You have people for that.” He gave a thoughtful hum. “Unless you’re considering a new venture. Yes, that might be it, a new venture requiring more attention from the Lord himself. So sorry to hear about your father and grandfather, by the way.” He dipped into a momentary expression of sadness before resuming his monetary musings. “What kind of venture would a young lord be interested in, I wonder.”He gave Dellen a piercing look. “Are you trying to enter a new market or to upset a competitor maybe?”

Dellen felt regret that the familial condolences were lost on him. “Nothing so grand,” Dellen said. “I’m just looking for a personal airship. The Northcote Estate allowed its last carriage to be sold off, and I miss the convenience.”

“Now, that was a good lie,” Gilgamesh said. “If I hadn’t personally seen you bleed, repeatedly, from your eye sockets, I would find it easy to believe you were a young fop who hadn’t spent even a minute struggling for anything. It seems reasonable that you wouldn’t want to walk.”

Dellen flicked his gaze to Gilgamesh and away again.

“Well, I think you’ll find everything you want here.”

“I’d also like to be able to leave Copperopolis with the carriage,” Dellen said.

Woolworth squinted at him, “Ah, so you need something with a battery. Well, well, well. That is a rather different beast. Are you sure that’s a good idea with the current troubles? Strongly discouraged, you know. I’d hate to lose a customer to mishap. That’s bad business.”

“I’m sure,” Dellen said.

Cedric shrugged but did not look entirely at ease. “In that case, perhaps it would make sense to have two ships? There aren’t many personal airships with batteries. I don’t remember the last time we built one. Even then, it wouldn’t stay aloft for long.” He looked around as though considering the different ships sat atop the moving plinths around the market.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“Why wouldn’t it stay aloft for long?” Finnegan asked.

Cedric gave him an annoyed look, glanced at Dellen, then answered the question. “My dear boy, Aether is thinner outside the city and non-existent around our immediate perimeter unless you know the flows. Airships need to keep to the flows. If you’re going to be in the sky, it’s best to stay with someone who can follow the flows, and that means the Mercantile Guild. A battery will keep you up for a while, but then it will run out, and then, well.” He shrugged, and his gaze went down, acting out an abrupt crash.

“Well, we wouldn’t want that,” Dellen said.

“Oh good,” Gilgamesh said, his voice dry. “You do have a survival instinct, after all. I was beginning to wonder. Granted, I met you in The Refinery where aetherforged are smelted and reborn anew, so perhaps you’ve never had what one might consider a phenomenal instinct for self-preservation.”

A confident and assertive woman stepped into the scene with a wide grin plastered across her face. “Ah, Dellen Northcote,” she exclaimed, her voice rising with enthusiasm and cunning. “I’ve heard so much about you! Cedric, old friend, I hope you don’t mind if I borrow your esteemed guest for a moment. I have something I believe will be of great interest to him.”

“You know,” Gilgamesh said. “I’m beginning to wonder if we’ve been visiting entirely the wrong places. You seem to be known around the city, just at the more expensive locales; I wonder if you might make better progress somewhere other than cluttered artificer shops and underground boxing matches.”

Without waiting for a reply, she looked her arm through Dellen’s, her grip firm, but not unfriendly. Cedric raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

“My name is Isadora.” She said to Finnegan, “And you would be?”

“Finnegan, pleased to meet you.” He said awkwardly.

“I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation; it seems like you’re in the market for any airship, am I right?”

Isadora guided Dellen through the busy market, her confidence and determination easily cutting a path through the crowd. They soon arrived at a sprawling well-organised space filled with an impressive array of airships in various shapes and sizes.

“Now, Dellen,” Isadora began, her voice brimming with pride, “I’m confident that we have the perfect airship for your needs here at the Skydock Market; I’ve got everything from sleek, fast ships for those who value speed and maneuverability, to sturdy, well-stocked vessels for those who prefer to bring everything with them, regardless of where they might be visiting for the day in the city.”

She gestured around her. “Tell me, what exactly are you looking for?”

Dellen hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal about his true intentions. He kept it vague, saying, “I need something reliable and versatile. I’m not sure, exactly, what I’ll be using it for, but I want to be prepared for anything.”

Isadora nodded thoughtfully. “How many people do you need to accommodate?”

“Two to three.”

Her eyes flashed with excitement. “Ah, well, that narrows it down immediately, a small, personal carriage.”

Isadora led Dellen and Finnegan to a section where smaller airships were displayed. These compact vessels were designed to accommodate two to three passengers.

They perused the selection of small airships, Isadora pointed out different models and their unique features. She led Dellen and Finnegan to a sleek, silver airship with a streamlined design that prioritized speed and maneuverability. “This one here,” she explained, “Is perfect for a quick jaunt or pleasure cruise about the city.”

Next, she guided them to a sturdy, dark green airship with reinforced armour plating. “Now, this vessel,” she said with a grin, “Is built to withstand anything. You’ll feel confident in this airship in the face of any threat.”

Dellen looked at her with an arched eyebrow, “Do you think I’ve been reading too many stories from the back of the broadsheets, why would anyone need an armored carriage in Copperopolis?”

“I’m sure I don’t know. Fortune favors the prepared,” Isadora said with an airy wave of her hand.

“Let me stop you here,” Dellen said. “What is one of these vessels going to cost me?”

Isadora smiled and replied, “Well, depending on the ship, you’re looking at around eight to ten thousand sovereigns.”

Dellen’s eyes widened ever so slightly, realising it was more than he could afford. Maintaining his outward composure, he suggested, “Would it be possible to establish a line of credit for House Northcote?”

Isadora’s smile faded slightly, “I’m sorry, Lord Northcote, but we don’t offer credit options here. We’ve had issues, particularly with noble houses. Customers have often failed to pay their debts. It’s become strict policy to require full payment upfront.”

Dellen had three days until the city fell apart and no idea of how to lay his hands on eight to ten thousand sovereigns. He nodded at Isadora while he scrambled for an answer. “Quite understandable, house Northcote has also experienced similar issues occasionally. An unfortunate hazard of business. I’ll come back once I’ve arranged things with the bank.”

Isadora’s smile returned to full force. “Splendid, I’ll look forward to your visit.”

“Can you really get eight to ten thousand sovereigns?” Finnegan asked.

“It’ll take me some time; I’d need to move around some house finances,” Dellen said. It was probably true, maybe, but not in the time frame that he was working with.

Gilgamesh was blunter, even if Finnegan couldn’t hear him. “No, you can’t. Now, please don’t do anything extreme. It would be novel to survive to the end of a week and see the city explode again, don’t you think?”

Dellen didn’t relish seeing the city explode, but it was better than dying repeatedly, as he had been doing.

“Besides,” Gilgamesh said, “Don’t you want to see if those letters you send to the broadsheets every reset have any effect?”

Dellen did want to see that. Though, he didn’t know which cogs were worst affected. If he stayed on the Northcote estate, he might fall into the chasm before knowing the explosions had begun. Similarly, he didn’t remember which of the giant airships had exploded or if the Aetheric Cultivators had been among them. The only potentially safe places he could think of were the city’s edges or in a privately hired carriage that he spent the day in.

He stopped.

A privately hired carriage.

If he chose the right carriage in all the chaos, he’d be in an excellent position to see the explosions and perhaps do a little exploration.

“Finnegan, you’re going to have to excuse me; I need to return to House Northcote; I have matters to attend to that will consume a few days.”