Clockwork Menagerie: A Shadows of Asphodel Novella Read Online Free PDF

the butterfly to his fingertip, where it perched, legs prickling his skin, wings flexing. He peered at the tiny coil of its proboscis, as if a mechanical butterfly might need to drink nectar.
    “I would love to dissect this,” he murmured. Seeing her face, he hastily added, “Not that I wouldn’t reassemble it afterward.”
    The countess returned the butterfly to her hair. “I’m sure you would to do a splendid job. You have such long fingers.”
    “Thank you.”
    “Do you play the piano?”
    “A bit.”
    “I would love to hear you play.”
    “It would be an exceedingly short concert, one or two songs at most.”
    Zinoviya laughed. Himmel cleared his throat, though when Konstantin looked at him, he shook his head. Who knew why?
    After the soup course, they dined upon filet of salmon, followed by a salad of beets and walnuts. Zinoviya chatted with the gentleman to her right, who seemed approximately a century old and almost deaf, while Konstantin pondered the most productive methods of flirtation. At last, he thought of something.
    “Are you fond of travel, Countess Victorova?”
    “Yes.” Her eyes focused somewhere faraway. “The late count brought our family to many countries during his service to our Tsar.”
    “Vienna?”
    “Once.”
    “When you return, I would be honored to show you my laboratory.”
    “How generous of you,” she said airily, as if she received such invitations regularly.
    Grimacing, Himmel sliced his finger across his neck. Oh, dear. Perhaps it would be best not to reveal too many secrets about the Archmages of Vienna around so many potential spies. His ears on fire, Konstantin finished his salad and polished off two more courses: beef stroganoff, then tarts stuffed with cherries.
    Zinoviya’s spoon chimed against her wineglass. “Wasn’t dessert simply magnificent?” Murmurs of approval rippled around the table. “Though we have yet another treat. Shall we all see the clockwork menagerie?”



onstantin!” As the guests filed from the dining room, Himmel fell in step beside him. “What are you playing at?”
    “Pardon?”
    Grabbing his elbow, Himmel muttered in his ear. “You and the countess.”
    “Are you… jealous?”
    The captain laughed and let him go. “Are you insane?”
    “I’m not sure what you mean.”
    “Don’t look so offended.” He laughed again. “You really have a way with women.”
    Somehow Konstantin detected sarcasm. “Don’t laugh at me. It might prove useful if I earn the favor of the countess.”
    Himmel clapped his forehead. “God, leave the poor widow alone.”
    “Was it that bad?”
    “Worse.”
    Konstantin groaned. “What an utter waste of my time.” He hesitated. “Other than this clockwork menagerie, of course.”
    “Of course.” Himmel stroked his mustache. “Walk with me. Explain this technomancy.”
    Konstantin’s pride wasn’t wounded enough to refuse him. “If you insist.”
    Her hands clasped, the countess waited outside an imposing pair of oak doors. “Thank you all very much for coming tonight.”
    Von Bach puffed like a rooster. “My pleasure, Countess Victorova.”
    With a smile, she summoned the footmen. They opened the doors to a ballroom with enough mirrors to rival Versailles. There wouldn’t be any room for dancing, however, with the clockwork beasts wandering about.
    A rooster with feathers of blood-red enamel bristled as it crowed; chickens pecked at the marble, their clockwork ticking. A fantastic peacock fanned its gilded tail, glittering beneath a chandelier. Near the windows, a little blond boy laughed and clapped his hands as a great black bear danced on mechanical paws.
    “What a fantastic expenditure of money,” Himmel said dryly.
    Konstantin arched an eyebrow. “Undoubtedly.”
    The captain pointed to the peacock. “That’s entirely clockwork?”
    “It’s difficult to tell without dissection.”
    “You and your dissection.”
    The little blond boy ran to the countess, who bundled him in her