“Atastefor agriculture?” repeated Hypnos, his lip curling. “I’m sure that’s how those souls in Africa see it too.”
A marble dolphin broke the surface of the ice before disappearing under the waves while an agate chamois goat and a stately onyx horse trotted beside two ornate carriages.
“House Njord, House Hadúr, and House Atya of the Austro-Hungarian factions,” said Eva.
Hypnos crossed his arms and let out a low whistle. “And what do we have here? Ah, even the British decided to take a peek at our wares.” He waved at a shimmering golden lion making its way slowly across the ice. Beside it, a smaller and less ornate carriage. Like an afterthought.
“They tend to keep their findings to themselves and their museums,” said Hypnos, rolling his eyes. “But the Fallen House’s long-lost wares tempt them all.”
Enrique felt his stomach turn as he watched the procession of the Winter Conclave. The Order thought of themselves as guardians of Western civilization, but their might was far more powerful and terrible; they were custodians of history. What they took, the world forgot. And he had helped them.
Eva tugged at her silver ballerina pendant. “They’re going to want to see all of you tonight… the great treasure hunters who found the hidden nest of the Fallen House.”
“I don’t want to see them,” said Enrique automatically.
“Oh, come now,” said Hypnos. “EvenIdon’t like them, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be useful to us.”
“I’m afraid none of us have any choice in the matter,” said Eva, before pausing to look around the hall. “Where’s Mademoiselle Laila?”
It was only then that Enrique noticed a weightlessness in his palms.
He looked down and realized he was no longer holding her hand. When he turned around, he only saw the icy archway of the Sleeping Palace. Laila had disappeared.
“Where did she go?” asked Enrique, turning to Zofia.
But Zofia’s gaze was fixed on the arriving Houses of the Order of Babel. Enrique looked to Ruslan and Delphine, but they had broken away to greet the other Houses.
“And where’s Séverin?” asked Enrique.
Eva shrugged. “The last I saw of him was an hour ago. He was supervising the transportation of treasures from out of the leviathan.They still have to be catalogued and prepared for the Winter Conclave’s Midnight Auction.”
“Where are they keeping the objects?” asked Enrique.
“The library, I believe.”
“It’s nearly three in the afternoon,” said Zofia.
Eva fixed her with a stare. “So?”
“The leviathan only stays for an hour. It mechanically cannot stay longer.”
“I’m not sure it has much of a choice when there’s Forged metal ropes involved,” said Eva.
“David has been leashed to the ice?” asked Zofia, her voice rising.
“David?” said Eva with a laugh. “We would’ve pinned that thing to the ground earlier if those ropes hadn’t taken so long to Forge.”
Zofia glowered.
“Excuse us,” said Enrique brusquely.
He nudged Zofia out of the crowd, then steered them far away from Eva and the Order’s procession.
“See, this is why you don’t name mechanical monsters,” muttered Enrique as he marched them deeper into the atrium.
“Why are we leaving?” demanded Zofia.
“One, we have to find Séverin in the library. And two, I didn’t want you to set Eva on fire.”
