Steam Legion by Evan Currie Page A

power and strength had bled away as if her throat had been cut. Dyna was surprised in some ways that she had made the walk all the way back to the Library without collapsing. Afterward, despite being barely able to walk, she couldn’t even sit still let alone contemplate sleep.
    She’d worked for hours before Cassius arrived, almost to the point where she was asleep standing on her two traitorously weak feet. She couldn’t remember anything of what she was working on when he came in, nor of returning to her rooms. Dyna was pretty certain she hadn’t undressed herself, however, because while she knew the benefit of oil and powder, she had never in her life used perfumed powder on her body.
    Dyna shrugged into a chiton, the common dress of a noblewoman, tying it only loosely before she pulled open the doors to her rooms.
    The two large men outside turned to look at her, and one stepped forward and bowed his head.
    “My Lady, what are your needs?”
    She paused, thinking about that for a moment. Finally she nodded. “Food. Who put me to bed last night?”
    “Via, my Lady.”
    “Have her bring it, if she is available.”
    “It will be done.”
    She didn’t have to wait long. Via arrived within minutes with a tray of light fruits and cereal for her.
    “You were expecting a call?” Dyna asked, sitting patiently as Via set the tray in front of her, carefully laying the food and utensils out.
    “Yes, My lady,” Via said. “I asked to be alerted when you awoke.”
    “Oh?”
    The young girl blushed at Dyna’s intense stare. “Yes, my Lady. I expected you would need…preparation for the day.”
    Dyna took a deep breath. “I believe you prepared me quite well last night. I’ve rarely woken quite as comfortable, thank you.”
    “It is nothing.” Via cast her eyes down. “But begging the Lady’s pardon, if you’re going to wear armor regularly, you should have it fitted.”
    Dyna involuntarily cast her eyes to the armor resting on a chair near her bed, a feeling of longing filling her. She shook her head sadly. “I doubt I’ll have the occasion to wear it again, Via.”
    “If you say so, my Lady,” Via replied, not contradicting her, but her tone was clearly doubtful.
    Dyna sighed and began to eat, not willing to get into an argument with the young slave at this time. It just seemed silly to fight with someone who by rights couldn’t fight back, and pointless as well since she knew that her days leading men into battle were most certainly at an end.
    She was glad to have tasted it once, but Dyna feared that knowing the call of blood the way her ancestors had would come to drive her to madness by its absence.
    Via, for her part, picked up a hair comb, took a seat behind Dyna, and began to wordlessly brush out her hair.
    “What are you doing? I am quite capable of caring for my own appearance.” Dyna pulled away, mildly annoyed.
    “My Lady should be eating now,” Via said, shifting so she could continue. “And it is not your capacity I question, but your opportunity. Centurion Cassius has sent word that he will be by today. Master Heron wishes to see you at your earliest convenience…”
    Dyna started to rise. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? I’ll go immediately—”
    “My Lady will eat” —Via pulled her back down by her shoulders— “while I see to your preparations. Master Heron expects you to see him refreshed, hale, and likely prepared to work. You will be none of those things, for long at least, if you do not replenish yourself.”
    Dyna sighed, sullenly popping a slice of fruit into her mouth and chewing before she half turned to Via. “Which of us is the slave here again, if you’d be so kind as to remind me?”
    Via smiled beatifically, having returned to brushing out Dyna’s hair.
    “We are all slaves to our Masters, my Lady. Some of us are merely more aware of it than others.”
    ****
    Dyna entered the private workshop of Master Heron a little hesitantly. Via had insisted on