Chapter 18
“If a society is judged on how it treats its most vulnerable, then we have failed.”
- Marbrey Small, Gear Master
Ittook longerthan expected to get all the mechanicals mobilized. Between injuries and youth, they were all damaged in ways that made it difficult for them to move at a proper speed. It didn’t help that they watched us as if we might decide to tear them apart at any moment.
“How can we trust you?” A belligerent young man with half a chest of gears poked me in the shoulder.
Justin stepped between us. “Don’t touch him.”
“You don’t have to.” I kept my voice calm and even. If it were me, I would be suspicious also. I would bet my new workshop that most of these people had only known degradation and pain. “We are offering a choice. You can stay here, or you can accompany us. If you haven’t heard, the City of Magic has been opened and Oss here is their king.” I pointed out my friend and held back a laugh at the dubious looks cast his way.
“What will we do there?” Another piped up.
“I will give you homes, and we can discuss jobs once you are in better shape.” Oss stepped forward to address the crowd. “As you are now, you need to become healthier before you can decide what you want to do with your life.”
“We won’t be your slaves,” a blonde woman snapped.
“I’m not asking for slaves, but everything comes with a price. If you wish to become part of the City of Magic, you will have to earn your place like any other citizen, but only once you are healthy. There is no cost for getting you back on your feet.”
A wave of whispers swept the crowd.
Justin stepped forward, the consummate politician. “I’m sorry to say we can’t stick around and debate your future unless you wish to remain with your captors. They won’t let you go easily, and we’d prefer not to be here when they return.”
“What about Mark?” A tiny boy, more mechanical than flesh, hobbled forward.
“Who’s Mark?” Justin crouched down to speak to the child that barely reached his hip. He had to hold the baby tighter, so he didn’t drop him when he knelt.
“My brother. We were both born defective.” He dipped his head in shame. “Mark is fleshy except his right arm is metal like mine. They put him to work in the factories. I don’t get to see him very often, but I know he wants to be free.”
“We can’t do anything for him right now. We will focus on the factories after we get you all to safety.” Oss didn’t bother to make up shiny lies. The brutal truth worked far better for gaining their trust. We refused to promise to save the others. Not that we wouldn’t try, but making promises that we couldn’t keep would only undermine their faith in us.
“What are we going to do with the ones that are currently working?” Thorne whispered.
“Nothing yet.” Oss’s mouth thinned to a fine line. “If we break the slavery ring, they will be freed, but we have to focus on the most vulnerable right now.”
Thorne nodded his agreement.
As much as we wanted to free everyone immediately, trying to do it all at once would only lead to failure.
“How are we getting there?” I asked. I knew ways around the city but none that would see us to the Tower without being spotted.
“There’s a tunnel opening around the corner between the bakery and the bookstore,” Oss said.
“Won’t the bakery be open right now?” No sense on using stealth if we were going to walk directly into a crowd.
“No, Mrs. Bersley doesn’t open on Sundays. She’s a churchgoer. She claims that if someone can’t plan far enough ahead to buy their bread on Saturday, they don’t deserve any,” Oss replied.
“Your kind of woman,” I teased.
“Indeed.”
“What about the bookstore?” Thorne asked.
“It doesn’t open until noon.” That one I knew. I didn’t waste money on sweets because I could live on inventions and books alone.
“Good.” Justin stepped forward to help get people moving. Sexy man. “Let’s get going. Oss, if you and Thorne could lead everyone out since you are the only one who can open the tunnel door, Marbrey and I will cover the back.”
