Like Clockwork

Chapter 1 - Hitchhiking

My slender, silken-gloved hands shook nervously as I attempted to flatten out the wrinkles in my long, navy dress and readjusted my lace corset. The curls in my hair bobbing lightly in the autumn breeze, the rays of sun that broke through the clouds made its light brown colour shine. My hazel gaze flickered to where I could hear a carriage rolling loudly down the large gravel road that led into the small city of Steamwood. I took a deep and shaky breath to help calm my nerves before stepping up to the edge of the road, my teeth digging into the soft flesh of my plum coloured lips. I watched the dark-blue and gold-lined coach grow closer and I waved a hand with a pleading expression to try and signal the driver to pull over, but as the carriage drew near I noticed something was 'off' about it. It slowed to a stop before me and I gasped as my eyes grew to the size of cogwheels, I couldn't help but reach out towards the horses, tentatively, to make sure I was not seeing a mirage. I did not think to reply to the elderly man sitting atop the carriage with the reigns.

"Beautiful, aren't they?" My head snapped over to the carriage door to see a tall man seemingly in his twenties, his piercing blue eyes looking me over intently. His long black coat and shoulder length dark brown hair was flowing in the slight breeze as he hung himself out the door; his knee-length leather boot was just barely reaching the ground as he was using his ringed hand to support his weight by holding onto the door frame, a deep crimson tie was tucked into his navy vest, adorned with a golden crest pin that shone brightly along with a matching chain that lead into his vest pocket. "They're my own design." He boasted with a smirk, I gazed back at the twin horses, mesmerised.

"They can't be real, such technology is impossible." I stated in disbelief, the sound of faint clicking and whirring becoming more numerous with every movement the false equines made.

"Leonardo DaVinci made a clockwork lion out of nothing more than wood for King Francois the first in 1515, and an autonomous knight before that, why would it surprise you that in this modern society we would be able to do better?" He gave a smug grin as he watched me intently study the masterpiece before me. I adoringly ran my gloved hand across the thick glass casing that protected the mass of shiny copper clockwork machinery that gave the illusion of a living horse, a series of gears and levers causing the ears to turn and eyes to blink realistically.

"They're truly amazing Sir..." I turned to him with a curious gaze, wordlessly asking his name and he gave a slight chuckle.

"Where are my manners? I am Lord Ryan Copperheart." my jaw dropped and I grew flustered, taking a step back from the mechanical horses awkwardly.

"As in 'The Lord of Geardonia' Copperheart?" he gave a mock bow from his awkward hanging position, his wavy hair hanging freely.

"At your service, and what may I call such a sweet thing as yourself?" I felt my face heat up at his antics, my head bowing to let the few strands of my hair that weren't tied up to fall before my rosy cheeks.

"W-well, I'm glad to make your acquaintance my lord. I am Miss Carla Wingdread." I stuttered as I gave a stout curtsy, careful to not get my dress dirty.

"Indeed. Now, if I may ask, what is a fine young woman such as yourself doing by the side of the road all on her lonesome?" He purred inquisitively. I stood up straight and flattened out the creases in my dress.

"Oh my lord, I was just out for a walk and seemed to have wandered a bit too far with my head in the clouds. I don't suppose a fine man like yourself, if it's not too much trouble, could give me a lift back to Steamwood?" I watched as his deep blue eyes scanned myself up and down before snapping to lock with my own.

"As it happens; we seem to be heading towards the same city." with little effort he jumped from the carriage and strode towards me, stopping mere inches away, causing me to flinch back in response. He was a little under a head taller than myself and quite intimidating "And I would much rather ride with one as beautiful as yourself than spend the rest of my journey bored to the point of drowsiness." He twirled a piece of my hair through his nimble fingers as he jested "My lady?" he graciously held his hand out for me to take.