Clockworks Warrior

By Martin Vavpotic

Carrus Vertigelli, a young aristocrat, enrolls in Scholar Society, the greatest academic establishment in the Hegemony. He joins the Clockworks department where tiny flying machines called speyes are built to act as scouts for Hegemony's legions. War brews and a mysterious new enemy appears without warning, devastating provinces on all sides of the Hegemony.
Carrus brings fresh ideas to Clockworks, overhauling the obsolete speye models, turning the tide of the war in Hegemony's favor. However, this also makes the enemy very interested in Clockworks and soon they bring their own devices to counter Hegemony's speyes. A furious competition of predator and prey ensues as Clockworks employees struggle to keep up with the enemy's endless ways to disable their speyes.
Until the enemy decides to employ the most direct way of disabling the Clockworks department...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Martin Vavpotic
• Release date: Apr 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476153988

Martin Vavpotic

Martin Vavpotic is an independent writer who has recently begun writing in English to reach more readers than his native language permits. So far, Clockworks Warrior is his only published book in English but he plans to change that as fast as humanly possible. Look for upcoming titles at Smashwords and other ebook retailers. Follow my blog at: martinvavpotic.wordpress.com

Book preview

Clockworks Warrior

A Steampunk Novella

by Martin Vavpotic

Copyright 2012 Martin Vavpotic

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition License Notes:

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Arrival

Chapter 2 – Clockworks

Chapter 3 – Effort

Chapter 4 – Strength in Numbers

Chapter 5 – Power of the Wheel

Chapter 6 – The Breach

Chapter 7 – Leader

Chapter 8 – Courage

Chapter 9 – The Warrior

Epilogue

About the Author

Chapter 1 – Arrival

The coach finally stopped and Carrus had to strain himself not to open the door and jump out. At last he had arrived to Koriantal, the seat of the Hegemony. In truth, the Capitol itself didn’t interest him. His full attention belonged to the cliff that towered above him. This was the steep face of High Hill and on top of it awaited the Hegemonic University.

Carrus had burned to come here for a decade. Now he could finally begin fulfilling his dream. ‘It will not be easy’, the old Scholar had warned him, ‘but with hard work you could achieve many wonders’. Carrus had only one wonder on his mind. A true marvel, simple in thought, nigh impossible to achieve. He wanted to learn to fly. It had been his dream since it happened and the Metaphysics Research department of Hegemonic University would help him reach it.

The servants took more time than usual to unload his chair. He wanted to lean out of the coach and shout at them to hurry but found the necessary restraint just in time. Even now, manners had to be minded.

As he waited, he looked out the window. An immense gatehouse stood at the foot of the cliff. No walls connected to either side of it as if someone had forgotten to build it. A serpentine path spiraled around High Hill and reached ground level just behind the gatehouse. Someone dressed in a sky-blue robe was coming down. A Scholar, Carrus thought.

Finally the servants opened the doors and grabbed at his legs. They swung them out like a couple of hams, then took him under the shoulders and unloaded him on the wheeled chair which they took so long to unload and assemble. It was not the busiest street in the City but there were enough people that Carrus could feel their eyes upon him. Normally he would be offended but now he didn’t bother to look around to see them watching. Carrus knew he offered the world a fascinating sight. It’s always interesting to look at someone else struggling as long as it’s not you.

It had been twelve years since the accident. He still found it difficult to think about. As a child of ten, he had loved to ride. No one could’ve kept him away from horses. Sometimes he would have heard stories about people falling off their mounts but he had thought those people must have been inept. He had never been inept. As soon as he had sat on one, he had become one with that horse.

Until that horse had thrown him from the saddle and turned his life into a nightmare. A nightmare with no legs to support him.

By the time the servants were done unloading the rest of his belongings, the blue robed person had descended to the very base of High Hill. It was an older man gone completely bald yet he walked with a vigorous step, something Carrus could only dream of. The man’s eyes shone with intelligence. Definitely a Scholar of the Society.

Monsieur Vertigelli, I presume, the old man spoke as he approached.

That would be me, said Carrus.

My name is Gaston. I shall be your mentor here. The old man extended a hand. Welcome to Koriantal.

A hundred different responses came to him, but the one Carrus uttered as he shook the offered hand was Thank you. He noticed a worn bandage on the side of the old man’s palm.

Gaston’s eyes flashed at Carrus’ entourage. You travel light, he said.

For an aristocrat anyway, Carrus finished, aware of the large trunk the servants struggled with behind him. His parents had wanted him to travel with all the things befitting his rank and station. Knowing they would– they could not listen, he offered no protest. Halfway to Koriantal, he had donated two thirds of his belongings to a temple he’d seen by the road. He would have dumped it all if Nalvo, the head of the servants that travelled with him, wouldn’t have threatened to inform Father.

Twenty-two years old and I still tremble at the thought of Father’s displeasure.

Carrus pushed at the wheels of his chair and moved towards the path leading uphill. Gaston stepped behind him and took the handles at the back of the chair. No, Carrus said a touch too quickly and unkindly. I can manage.

The Viper Trail is a long climb, particularly on the power of one’s arms, Gaston said. Carrus did not respond until the Scholar released the handles. Side by side, they began the ascent while the servants struggled with the heavy trunk.

You studied with Thrason? Carrus asked; they were above the gatehouse once more, making a full turn around High Hill.

I did, said Gaston.

She’s Master Scholar of Doria Faculty now. Before that she was my mentor.

I know, said Gaston, his face solemn. She informed me of your situation and asked me to assist you in the matter. The fact is…

I don’t require assistance, Carrus interrupted. I know exactly why I’m here.

By the time they reached the middle of the ascent, Carrus was sweating and breathing heavily. A few times he noticed Gaston throwing him glances as if thinking to help but never moved to do so. Carrus didn’t know if he should be grateful or angry. He could almost hear Mother’s voice. ‘Don’t be silly, Carro. It’s all right to ask for help.’ But I never asked for it and yet you kept giving it to me!

The sweat was making his hands slippery; his grip was failing. A part of him wanted to call for help but he choked it down just in time as Gaston said: Damn these old bones. I need to rest.

They rested and looked on the Capitol of the Hegemony. The City of Koriantal stretched as wide as the eye could see. The other three hills loomed in the distance. Holy Hill was the farthest away, the Golden Spire of the Temple clearly visible, the afternoon sun glittering off it brilliantly. The Temple of the Hundred Gods was a marvel in itself yet it paled in comparison to the Palace of the Hegemon, perched atop Hawk Hill. A hawk, armored in mail of fish scales, was the sigil of Hegemon’s House.

To the opposite side of the first two hills, Carrus could see the villas of Half Hill. Lowest and broadest of the four, it was the domain of the high and mighty. If his family should choose to live in the Capitol, they would most certainly live there.

Did you meet any trouble upon the road? Gaston asked.

You mean Halmurri? said Carrus. The old man nodded. There was talk of them attacking a nearby town. We changed our route slightly to avoid it. Gaston nodded again.

We should continue, the old Scholar said, otherwise we’ll be here by nightfall.

By the time they reached the summit, Carrus could hardly feel his arms. Still, he would not be beaten by a pile of rock, no matter how steep and tall. Not now.

Not after waiting for so long to be here. Father has never let me push my own chair. No, there always had to be a servant to do it. If they’d let me, I might even develop some arm muscles. But no, let’s keep our son a baby forever in a safe place where it’s nice and warm and he will never experience anything that could be called life!

They emerged in into an immaculately groomed courtyard. Carefully trimmed meadows spread like a welcoming carpet in the shape of a horseshoe. Trees old and young gave shade to countless benches, many of them occupied. It seemed academics favored sunlight over artificial light in any part of the Hegemony. Beyond the courtyard stood buildings of the University.

From below, High Hill’s summit didn’t look vast enough to support everything a University needs. Carrus had