Clockwork Heart by Dru Pagliassotti Page A

barefaced and dresses like a famulate. Taya, dear, he’s a freak. And an ill-tempered freak, at that.”
    â€œHe’s not so grouchy when you get to know him.” Taya wasn’t sure why she was defending the bad-tempered clockwright. Gwen was right. Still … she felt a little sorry for him. It couldn’t be easy, living the life of an outcaste.
    â€œWell, he’s not so important, either. If I were you, I’d worry more about offending a decatur than an outcaste. If you’re going to fly with the eagles, dearest, you can’t waste your time on the crows.”
    Crows. Taya’s lips curved up. Cristof did look like a crow, and he certainly squawked like one.
    â€œThen you think I should go?”
    â€œYou want to join the diplomat corps, don’t you?”
    â€œWhat— oh.” Taya’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Oh!”
    Exam scores were only part of the decision-making process. Diplomatic envoys had to work closely with exalteds, so political acumen and personality were also important. Gwen had a point. The corps selection board would be inclined to favor a candidate who had friends on the Oporphyr Council.
    â€œOh. Oh, Lady,” she groaned, suddenly seeing everything in a new light. “Why did you have to say that?”
    â€œHmph, some diplomat you’ll make! You’d better start thinking like a politician, love. You have a golden opportunity to advance yourself, and there’s no shame in making the most of it. You didn’t rescue that woman for selfish reasons, and you didn’t ask the decatur to invite you out to dinner. But as long he has, it’s your duty to accept the Lady’s gift and use it!”
    Taya squirmed. She’d applied to the corps so she could interact with foreigners, get a taste of their cultures, and maybe even travel outside of Ondinium someday. It was the unusual and exotic that had attracted her to diplomatic work, not the politics and power plays.
    â€œIt just seems so … manipulative.”
    â€œWhether or not it’s manipulative is up to you. I’m not telling you to accept dinner, sleep with him, and then start pestering him for favors. Just go and do your best to impress him with your good sense and good manners.”
    â€œYes…” Taya drew in a deep breath. Yes, that was sound advice. “Thank you, Gwen.”
    The landlady smiled, pleased with herself.
    â€œA decatur— you’re a lucky girl, Taya. Who knows? This could be a turning point.”
    Cassi didn’t agree that a flight suit was appropriate dinner attire, but after a frenzied survey of the wardrobe of every icarus in the eyrie who was roughly Taya’s height and build, she had been forced to agree that it was Taya’s best option on such short notice.
    â€œBut,” she warned Taya, “if this is what your new life is going to be like, we’re going to have to get you a better wardrobe.”
    â€œI’d be perfectly happy spending the rest of my life in this suit,” Taya confessed, looking at herself in Cassi’s mirror. They’d gone up to the docks to retrieve it and had spent two hours replacing worn straps and buckles and buffing the well-worn leather to a soft glow. “It’s comfortable, practical, and warm.”
    â€œYou’re not going to catch yourself a man wearing comfortable, practical, and warm,” Cassi said tartly. “About the only thing a flight suit has going for it is that it’s tight.”
    â€œBig deal.” Taya scowled at her chest, pressed even flatter than usual by the suit’s snug fit. “I look like a boy, just like your nephew said.”
    â€œWell, we could pad you out, but your decatur might be surprised if you suddenly grew breasts.”
    Taya smiled. “This is just business. I’m not trying to seduce him.”
    â€œGood thing, if you’re wearing that .”
    Taya sat on the porch stairs