Emilie & the Hollow World by Martha Wells Read Free Book Online Page B

achievement, inventions, discovering places and things, all of which seemed fairly minor compared to this. She thought finding a way to visit the Hollow World must be the biggest philosophical achievement of the age. “He's going to steal your father's glory?”
    “Well, to put it bluntly, yes.” Looking out at the serene sea, Miss Marlende grimaced. “Lord Engal and Lord Ivers and my father were all working - separately, you understand - on mapping the aetheric currents that could be traveled in, the spells needed to protect a vehicle, and perfecting an aetheric engine. My father had an advantage. He's a sorcerer himself, unlike Lord Engal and Lord Ivers, who have to hire sorcerers who are experts in aetheric studies to work with. My father finished his engine first, and rushed to place it on an airship. He took a small crew, and entered the current inside the cauldron of Mount Tovera on Aerinterre. I camped on the island with the ground crew, and waited. He was gone for six weeks. Then Kenar arrived, to tell us the engine had failed and he needed help.”
    “How did Kenar get back through the current by himself?” From what Emilie had observed, this was impossible, and she couldn't imagine climbing up through a volcano, even a dead one.
    “There were several hot air balloons stored aboard the airship for emergencies, and my father fitted one out with the protective spell, so they were able to travel the current in it. Another man came with Kenar, my father's apprentice, Jerom Lindel.” Miss Marlende added, bleakly, “He died on the trip.”
    From behind them, Kenar said, “The journey was...rougher than we expected. Jerom said the spell was meant to protect a large vehicle. It didn't work the way he thought it would, and there was nothing he could do to fix it.”
    “I'm sorry,” Emilie said to both of them, meaning it. The man must have been a friend of Miss Marlende's. Kenar sounded as if the trip had affected him severely, and she didn't think he was someone easily overwhelmed.
    Miss Marlende sighed. “Originally, the plan was for Jerom to get the materials needed to repair the airship's aetheric engine, and then he would set the spell on the balloon and he and Kenar would return through the volcano's current. But with Jerom dead, there was no one who could manage the spell.”
    “I hope it doesn't hurt you to speak of him,” Kenar said, watching Miss Marlende.
    Emilie said, “Did you have an understanding with him? I mean...” Shut up, Emilie, she thought, realizing belatedly she hadn't been acquainted with Miss Marlende nearly long enough to ask that question.
    But Miss Marlende just shook her head, her expression regretful. “He was a good friend, but I wouldn't have married him. I don't intend to marry at all. I'm not sure I ever quite convinced him that I was serious about that.” She continued, “But his death also left us with no way to send assistance to my father and the others, so we had to go to someone for help. I chose Lord Engal to approach.” She gave Kenar a dry look. “I hope I made the right choice.”
    He laughed, a soft huffing noise. “It's too late to change your mind now.”
    “Well, if I'd chosen Lord Ivers, I'm not sure Lord Engal would have sent men to harass us, shoot at us, and attack the ship before we left.” She leaned back, her mouth set in an ironic line. “At least I don't think so.”
    “I don't think so, either,” Emilie offered. “Lord Engal isn't subtle. He seems more the shouting-at-you-in-person type.”
    Miss Marlende gave her a quizzical expression. “An astute observation.”
    Emilie wasn't sure if she was being teased. She said, a little stiffly, “I'm used to dealing with people who shout.”
    “Who shouts at you?” Kenar asked.
    “Oh, you know, my uncle.” She made what she hoped was an offhand gesture, sorry she had brought it up.
    “Is that why you ran away?” Miss Marlende asked, frowning a little.
    “Mostly, yes.” Emilie made the