Mechanic. LaaiA

stepped aside. My father strode towards us, stopped beside and addressed me in a soft bass.

      – Nicholas, I’m glad to see you. You’ve grown up… – my father’s voice wavered slightly. He shifted his gaze to my shoulder and raised a dark, broad eyebrow. – It’s him?

      I nodded. Inis also shook his tuft, proudly raising his beak.

      Father ordered to follow him. Pontiar was looking at my phoenix, me and Dinah with interest.

      – Nicholas Lodesco, Phirin’s son, did you create this bird?

      – Yes, your Majesty, – I answered essentially and bowed.

      – Did you, lady Dinara, breath the magic of life?

      Dinah nodded, crouching in a light curtsy. She was nervous, but she was carefully concealing it.

      – Can you repeat it? – the king addresses to both of us.

      – Yes, but I don’t promise that it will work – said Dinah.

      – Are you unsure of your magic? – the king’s gaze became more demanding and heavier.

      Dinah crumpled the fabric of the dress with her slender fingers and bit her lip.

      – Your Majesty, I am only a housemaid. My knowledge of magic is small, and such a revival happened for the first time, perhaps by accident.

      By the end of the sentence, her voice was slightly hoarse, and perspiration appeared on her forehead.

      – However… – I interceded.

      Demons, I forgot – I am not asked, be quiet. However, the king nodded and I continued:

      – We will try.

      – Can I take a look at the phoenix? – the king held out his hand.

      Inis looked at me, I nodded, and he immediately flew towards the king. A red ribbon was glittering behind him. He landed on the brocade sleeve where the golden rings were. Inis bowed his head, peering into the face of the king, who was looking at the bird in surprise.

      – Why does he have eyes of a different color?

      – I put the glass that fitted – I sighed.

      Dinah caught my smile and winked.

      – This is the first time I’ve encountered such magic. This bird is incredible. Is it really mechanical? – the king asked incredulously.

      Yes. He doesn’t eat. But he sleeps… I think this is how he restores his strength… – I didn’t finish.

      – Is it true that he awakens a magical gift that hasn’t been revealed yet?

      How did he…? Mom. She had probably informed my father about this.

      – It happened only once, and I can’t say for sure – I shrugged uncertainly.

      Inis was already uncomfortable with Pontiar. He jumped. The king grabbed him imperiously by the paw. Inis made a crackling sound with his beak. I felt a sharp pain on my ankle, as if it was shackled with manacles. The guardians moved towards the king, but he winced, let go the bird and gave the order to the magicians to return to their place. What happened?

      – And the phoenix bites, and, apparently… – the king winced again, squeezing out a smile, – he belongs to one owner.

      Well… Phirin! – The king waved to my father, who immediately went to the door behind the curtain.

      – I beg your pardon, your Majesty – I glanced at Inis. He muttered something and scratched my shoulder with his beak.

      Pontiar raised his hand with a clearly visible burn.

      – No, you shouldn’t! It’s my own fault. If you are injured by someone else’s weapon, can you blame its owner?

      I exhaled gratefully the tension. And that’s true. I was glad the king hadn’t got angry. But apparently his arm hurt. I wonder what happened when he grabbed him?

      The king’s retinue now was looking at me warily, ready at any moment to protect Pontiar. Dinah touched my pinky finger and pursed her lips. She understood that if it were not for the wisdom of the king, something irreparable could have happened. But who could have known? The curtain moved, grabbing our attention. The father returned with something in his hands.

      – Mechanical pigeon? – I asked, lifting the wing spoke.

      – It was made recently and has not yet been revived – said the father, placing the pigeon on Dinah’s hand.

      She raised her eyes filled with excitement and awe.

      – Don’t worry! – I encouraged my friend.

      Dinah squatted down, laid the pigeon in front of her on the marble floor, and cast a spell. And nothing. Well, everything was usual as it was with other simple mechanisms. The pigeon fluttered, flapped its metal plate wings, flew around several columns and landed at the same place. No energy spheres, nothing special. So, it was not all about Dinah.

      – Apparently, it’s not all about the lady… – Pontiar pronounced and looked at me intently.

      – But the guy has no gift, right? – he clarified, referring to my father.

      – No, your Majesty, however…

      The king didn’t let him finish. He raised his hand and turned to Dinah:

      – Lady, deactivate the bird. Can you?

      She nodded.

      – And you, Nicholas, disassemble and reassemble it with your own hands. Probably… – the king exchanged glances with father. – How long will it take for you? Do you need any tools? – he looked at me.

      – A few minutes, your Majesty. And no, I have my own tools. But they… – before I could finish, I heard an echo of footsteps behind me.

      The tall elf who stood at the door was carrying my bag. He held it out, winked and, in a whisper, wished me good luck, and went to his place.

      In Dinah’s hand was a pigeon, whose head hung unnaturally.

      One of the courtiers brought up a small wooden table that looked more like a stool. I took out my tools and laid them out. It wasn’t difficult to disassemble the bird. Inis was watching my actions carefully.

      The parts that made up the bird were perfectly fitted, oiled and expertly carved. It was a kind of masterpiece. I carefully reassemble the pigeon and put it on the table on its paws. It looked at me with black beady eyes and seemed it was going to grumble.

      – It’s done. Dinah, it’s your turn – I gave way to my friend.

      She sighed and, plucked up all her courage and began. After casting the spell, several sparks of fire flashed around her. But nothing more. The pigeon hummed with the metallic squeak of gears, flew up, made the same couple of circles as the previous time, and landed on the table. Dinah dropped her shoulders in disappointment.

      An unpleasant silence hung in the air. Peter smiled sympathetically at Dinah and me. The guardians didn’t even blink, they didn’t receive this order. Four short men with starched frills stared at the king who had come down to us.

      – I was hoping you were one of them … – He clenched his teeth and snapped at the stupid bird’s brass head with displeasure. The pigeon didn’t react. It was looking through me into the space with an empty gaze.

      – Of them? – I asked in bewilderment.

      – There is a legend… – the father began, but the king didn’t let him finish.

      – Nonsense! I shouldn’t have believed. This bird is an absurd accident, nothing more. And you know very well that even the Mechanics had magic! – the king remarked with displeasure and fell into thought. Apparently,