Chapter 108: Keep Your Enemy Closer Part 3

The men ran from both directions, spreading out across the width of the bridge to leave no space to escape.
They were no more than ten feet from the carriage when Bundo pulled the lever. With a loud hiss, steam poured out from beneath the carriage, hitting the cold stone of the bridge and making an instant fog.
"Go."
Cal heaved the rope over the railing, then rolled over to stand on the outside of the bridge. She rappelled down the pillar to a few feet above the river. A ledge ran around the base of the pillar. Her feet on the ledge she hugged the stone and sidled around to the boat and climbed in, then unclipped from the rope. Shouts and curses came from above, then a splash told her someone had gone over the side. Bundo surfaced beside the boat and rolled into it.
"Wait." He held up his hand. A sharp bang echoed off the warehouses on either side of the river. "Let's go." He took one oar, Cal the other as she cast off. They'd hardly cleared the shadow of the bridge when a much louder bang sounded. The second blast blew the fog away from the bridge, showing Cal the steam carriage burning while a few men fled with hands up, shielding their heads. None of them took time to look over at the river. Another thump sounded as the boiler blew, sending another cloud of steam out. Bundo had them pull into a tiny slip a few minutes' row downstream.
He climbed out of the boat and led the way through back alleys to a road where they could hire a cab. He seemed about as rattled by the turn of events as if Beth had announced she was making shepherd's pie instead of chicken pot pie for supper.
Hans met them in the yard, looking curiously at their dishevelled states.
"Problems with the steam carriage?"
"You could say that." Cal led the way to the house. "First thing, Bundo, get dried off and dry clothes on. Meet me in the parlour."
***
"It looked more like an attempt to capture than kill." Bundo drank his tea and nibbled the sweets on a plate left by Beth. "They had a plan, but no backup. Someone should have been sent back to watch for exactly the kind of trick we used."
"What would you have done if they'd had guns?"
"Taken them away, made them regret their stupidity." Bundo stared into his tea. "We won't be able to use the same trick again. Next time they'll be ready and won't close in. Our response will need to change."
"I can ask for an escort to and from the Academy." Cal put her tea down and poured herself a glass of brandy. "An attack on a Commander demands a heavy-handed response. The advantage will be you can shadow us and see who is planning what. Whatever they want, I don't think a pitched battle in the city is part of their plans."
"Very well. I'd suggest you send a messenger immediately."
***
The Navy Coach and the twenty-man squad made the trip to and from the Shed safer, but slower. Cal took to bringing her sketchbook in the coach to give herself something to do. The guard at the Shed doubled.
Bundo reported that no one followed them, or observed from anywhere he could see.
Cal still went out to social events, not as frequently as before, but to her surprise, she enjoyed the chance to talk with people about things which had little connection to anything important. She occasionally saw Bri, always with Sigrid on his arm. He made sure he never got close enough to talk to Cal.
Early in October, Cal was invited to a masked ball. It wasn't a family who asked her before, but she'd spoken to them on occasion. It sounded like fun. Crysabel plotted with Hyansea to have Cal go in Zithayan Dynasty clothing.
The outfit looked gorgeous, a deep red, with a serpent embroidered on the hems and cuffs. The shoes for the thing looked uncomfortable, but Cal thought them better than the slippers she'd had to wear with the gowns. The only drawback was the outfit was more restrictive than any of the gowns Cal owned.
"You must walk slowly with small steps. You are too important to rush." Hyansea coached her on how to act.
On the day of the ball, Crysable, Hyansea and Nyian, the Zithayan woman who lived in the house as a language teacher, worked together to stuff Cal into the dress and put on the layers of makeup which went with the outfit.
Bundo had to lift her into the coach, where Cal sat stiffly, afraid to move and put anything out of place. Nyian rode with her to repair any damage. Bundo lifted Cal out, then Nyian inspected the outfit and gave her approval.
As a masked ball, people weren't announced. Whispers went around the room when Cal walked into the room with her tiny slow steps. To add to the effect, she used her very small store of Zithayan words to greet people.
The buzz followed her all evening. Cal found she didn't mind that eating and drinking looked to be more difficult in her new outfit.
Nobody had thought about what she needed to do if she had to use the washroom. Cal didn't think she could get out of the clothes by herself, never mind get back into them. In desperation, she cornered one of the maids serving the guest and asked her to take a message to Nyian who'd be waiting with Bundo near the kitchen.
Cal headed down the long hallway away from the ballroom, following the maid's directions. Nyian would meet her there. Walking with such small steps was exhausting. Cal briefly considered making an early exit, only she was sure Hyansea would be disappointed.