The fact that the elder inventor had run off to see the airship, reassured Vonn. It meant the man was who the Duke called on for technological help. Vonn said, "I wanted him to see it anyway. We brought a lot of notes."

This shop seemed to have already gained from what Vonn's group had shared. As Vonn looked around, the shopkeeper said, "Let me give you a tour. I'm Steamline by the way, son of Firefern."

"Not Steamflower?" asked Tazo.

"Pa named the place after me and my sister Cloudflower. But she's six years old. Here, meet the rest of our team..."

Drills and saws and a furnace filled much of the shop, designed with practical aisles and work benches. Four assistants out of six were on duty today, two Human and two Aves. All seemed impressed to meet the newcomers, and kept asking about bicycles and flying machines. Tazo kept them at bay with a few answers and a promise to go over everything once the boss came back.

One of the Humans said, "And you'll want to meet Riz and her cousin. I bet they're busy at the Counting House."

Vonn faltered in trying to judge the machinery. "Uh. Yes, we should meet." His sister looked nervous too.

Young Steamline said, "Why are you helping us, anyway?"

"I want the whole kingdom to benefit. If we can compare our work we can trade ideas and parts, and within a few years we'll really have something amazing."

The Steamflower Works had a yard out back full of experimental engines. Steamline explained, "The little model we sent used lamp oil, but we're having more success with mined coals. The kind you can dig from the ground instead of charcoal. But then, it isn't small enough to use in a practical cart for city travel. It might work for a big overland wagon."

Vonn examined what was to him, a very early locomotive engine. Made by people who barely understood the concept of coal mining. Unlike the external-combustion idea he'd once discussed, this one was a sort of barrel with two distinct engine cylinders that would use steam pressure more efficiently. Something like Watt's work in 18th century England, with interesting gear arrangements.

Vonn nodded approvingly. He said, "Impressive! I'm thinking that a pair of heavy iron rails could support a coal-driven cart in the wilderness."

One apprentice said, "We've thought about that, after hearing about the trouble you had up north, but how do you get that much iron?"

"What's this Counting House, anyway?" asked Tazo.

"I'll take you there."

The Human led the two of them through a maze of streets to a two-story stone bunker where a sign displayed coins spilling from a bag. The walls were hung with banners in wing designs. The interior was a warren lit with regularly spaced crystals on the ceiling. Clerks with quills worked at rows of desks. The nearest of these had brass-rimmed glasses clipped to his beak. "Are you a current customer?"

"No, sir. Vonn and Tazo of Shieldpoint, here to speak with Miss Riz and her cousin."

"Let me check." The bird stood and stretched, then strutted off toward a side room.

Tazo spoke quietly. "I've never seen so many people working at the same thing at once."

"We'll need this many designers and builders."

"You don't seem surprised."

"I'm thinking there's a lot of money flowing through this company's record-keepers."

A thump came from one of those side offices, and a flurry of talking that made a few of the clerks turn to look. Then a fox-girl stepped out from there, wearing a feathered straw hat askew and sideways. Her work uniform was a plain black dress buttoned like a jacket, and her wide gold eyes looked the two of them over as she approached. "I'll take an early lunch," she told the front-desk clerk, and gestured for the newcomers to step outside with her.

"Well!" she said, fixing her hat. "I didn't know you were visiting. I would have arranged a day off. Or a tour of the city, or at least for everyone to meet you properly. Miss Tazo, is it? You'll want to meet Zovvah, but if he hasn't blown himself up he's busy crafting spells for tomorrow. We can go to drag him away, or get lunch, or... whatever you like, really."

Vonn said, "Um, hello. Glad to finally meet you. This is Tazo and I'm Vonn."

"Hello! I'm Riz of course. Do you have a place to stay yet?"

"The city guards strongly recommended the Gull's Rest while they have Firefern ransack our flying boat."

She, too, had trouble processing the idea. She took off her hat and her ears flicked this way and that. "So you really do have one. Will we be able to see it?"

Tazo told her, "Definitely. How well do you know Firefern?"

"I do occasional work for him. Really, more minding his books than building anything, though I've managed to cut metal without hurting myself. Is it true you two have a set of tools like his?"

"We do. Fewer full-time workers though. We're working with Ralator, a wizard east of us, to set up a permanent training program."

Riz said, "You both seem very busy. How did you get the time to come here?"

Tazo shrugged. "We had an excuse to test our ship on its longest trip yet."

"I would take you to a little food stand nearby, but it's cheap common food."

"That's fine, really."

Looking embarrassed, she led them to an outdoor cafe selling vegetable pies with bits of egg. They sat under an umbrella and ate. "What about your funding?" she asked. "I would think your Baron isn't eager to have you share your secrets with every nobleman who gets curious."

Vonn said, "We weren't ordered to hide it, and I'm hoping to spread the knowledge. We brought information to share with Firefern."

"We're under the direct eye of the Duke, here, and I must say poor Firefern doesn't know how to handle it. Our lord might well order him to stop writing to you."

"That'd be a loss for the kingdom."

Riz had to get back to work, but promised them a better dinner. She left them to return to Firefern's place, where the master Engineer had come back.