300 Feet Above

Three: Dangerous Discussion

Much like the lobby, the dining room was exquisite, a rectangular, high-ceilinged restaurant occupying much of the airship's massive stern. Glass tables filled the room, occupied by hungry passengers of all shapes and sizes.

I remembered the tables being pushed against the wall. I remembered Quinn's announcement and Hisako Rin's rules. I remembered the knock on my door that followed, only hours later.

I remembered the storm.

My arms felt strangely naked without the oak armour I had accidentally constructed. The wooden gauntlets remained in my room, as I had discovered that it was easier for me to make armour than it was to unmake it. I still didn't understand how my power worked or how I had come to possess it, but I knew that it would come in handy if my plan went sour.

I was going to have a pleasant dinner with a once and future murderer and convince him to change his ways.

Was it naive? Undoubtedly. From what I remembered of my previous day, Blackwell had seemed confident in his decisions. However, by the time I had confronted him, he had already done the deed. If I was lucky, it would be far easier to talk him out of it before he had begun.

Already I knew that I had made good progress. I hadn't seen Captain Quinn all day, save for the odd passing glance at him through the crowd. In many ways, this was a good thing. Without his tour occupying most of my day I was free to spend more time with Blackwell. However, if my plan to reason with the baron failed, it would be difficult to find Quinn and warn him in time.

To my utter dismay, the outcome would rely on my social skills.

As waiters danced around the room carrying trays of tantalizing food, a shout reached my ears.

"Oi, Elijah!"

I had to remind myself to breathe. Blackwell liked me. He was my friend. He, like everyone else, remembered nothing. Despite everything we had been through, as far as I knew it had all taken place in another timeline. Or was this a different reality? Perhaps it had all only been a dream? My head hurt just trying to think about it.

"Baron!" I smiled. I spun around to see him sitting at a table near one of the restaurant's massive windows. White clouds rolled past, beautiful and innocent.

I was the only one who knew they wouldn't last.

If my memory was correct, we would begin seeing traces of an approaching storm soon. Before I had woken up on the dock the second time, Quinn and I had been finishing up our tour around now.

As I approached the table, Lucius rose to his feet, pushing my chair back for me with a flourish. He plopped back down in his seat with a happy sigh, making the silverware on the table rattle.

"How are you feeling, Eli?" Blackwell inquired. He looked genuinely concerned for my health.

I pulled my chair into the table, maintaining a happy facade.

"Fine, really," I lied. "The crowd and the noise got to me earlier, is all. I just needed to recuperate."

"I know what you mean," Blackwell chuckled. "This ship is so large, but there's only so far you can go. We're all trapped together for the next week and sooner or later people are bound to get a bit worn out."

"Exactly," I smiled. This was good. Blackwell was normal. Everything was fine.

I had to get to the point now or I was afraid I would miss my chance.

"Blackwell," I began, "is there anything you'd like to—"

My question was cut short by the polite cough of an approaching waiter.