Chenda and the Airship Brofman Read Online Free PDF Page B

again found the release for the secret panel. Chenda kissed the letter, and placed it along with the stones into his desk.
    She climbed the stairs to her room, where she began to gather the things she would need for her journey. She found a small, simple canvas sack in Edison's wardrobe and sat at her dressing table to sort through her jewelry.  She collected her tortoise shell hair combs, a pair of pearl earrings, gold and silver bangles and a cameo broach and dropped them into the bag. Moving to Edison's bureau, she took his pocket watch and fob from the top drawer and slipped it into her bag. She looked through the rest of the drawers, both hers and Edison's, but, aside from a few heavy gold coins, there was little she wished to take with her. She placed her bag of trinkets at the bottom of a small carpet bag and piled some clean clothes, her toothbrush and an embroidered handkerchief on top. She was packed.
    She stretched out on the bed she and Edison had shared. She touched his pillow, caressing where his head once rested. She felt her grief rising again.
    I've got to get out of here. I can feel that now...
    For the eighth night in a row, Chenda cried herself to sleep.
     
    Early the next morning, Chenda awoke with her dreams fresh in her mind. She'd been flying, free in the open air, arms held out low to her side, brushed backward with the speed of her soaring. She wasn't alone. Edison had been there with her. He held her to him, his arm wrapped around her waist, holding her back tightly to his chest as they flew in a brilliant sky. Floating below him as they bobbed along on warm, silky air, Chenda felt happiness – her mood lighter than it had been in days. She looked up at Edison's scarred face, wondering where he was leading her, but she couldn't find the words to ask. Chenda also looked down. Clouds touched with strands of amber and rose sunlight stretched out below her as far as her eyes could see. Every moment of their flight bought them closer to a sound, the clear ringing tone of the azul pedradurite, the blue Singing Stone. Just as the sound's crescendo brought her to where she thought her ears would burst, she awoke.
    It was so vivid. Sitting there on the edge of the bed, alone again in the light of day, Chenda felt her heart breaking, yearning for Edison to be there, comforting her loneliness and guiding her.
    As Chenda went through the routine of washing the sleep from her eyes and dressing for the day ahead, she tried to fix the details of the dream in her mind. But, as all dreams do, the elements evaporated, leaving her with only the pulpy, raw emotions.
    Glancing at Edison's picture on her bedside table, Chenda steeled herself for another day without him. She rejected the intricate braids and curls of her usual up-do and pulled her long, dark hair in a modest bun. The understated look matched her clothing, a colorless blouse and long plain walking skirt in brown silk. She turned away from her mirror and marched down the stairs to find Alme waiting dutifully, at the landing.
    “Good Morning, ma’am,” she said. “Breakfast? Cup of tea?”
    “Yes, and toast please” Chenda said, “I'll take it in Edison's study, thank you.” She walked across the foyer, but turned back to Alme.
    “Also, I have several things I need from Lilienthal's Aerofitters. Would you send Daniel there with this list and ask him to wait while they fill it? I want these things right away.” Out of her pocket, she pulled the short list Candice had drawn up of necessary items for an airship journey, and handed it to Alme. Chenda continued into the study.
    She stopped at the first bookcase she passed and started looking for any books that had anything to do with The Tugrulian Empire. There were several tomes on the military struggle between the Empire and the Republic. As she worked her way around the room, her search turned up a variety of books on Tugrulian culture, government and agriculture. Finally, she found a small book