An old woman, whose frayed clothes told me she probably lived in the Lower Chimes, brushed against us as more people joined the ranks and the crowd surged forward. Her hair was tied back in a kerchief, and she looked tired and worn but determined to be there.
Desmarc grimaced and wiped a smudge from his clothes, then turned his attention back to the front. “I can’t believe Prime Meridian Emerson insisted on keeping all the spectators together. It’s outrageous.”
“It makes sense to me,” I said, though his reaction brought his words about the Lower Chimes to the forefront of my mind. “The Prime Meridian is over the whole city, not just the Upper Chimes.”
Desmarc opened his mouth to respond, but then shut it as Byron Emerson, the current Prime Meridian, took the stage to a roar of cheering and applause. His top hat sat on his head at a jaunty angle and he wore a winning smile. It was easy to see how he’d won the last renewal eight years ago. His charisma was almost tangible, and if he’d been allowed to run twice in a row, he might’ve won again.
At his appearance, the crowd rolled forward, and the woman collided with Desmarc before falling to her knees.
“Watch it,” he said, barely sparing her a brief glance before returning his attention to the Prime Meridian.
“Desmarc!” I scolded him and offered the woman a helping hand.
He turned back to us and gave her a short smile. “My apologies. I’m just anxious for today’s debate.”
“Aren’t we all?” The woman fixed her hair, then faced the front again, but she squeezed between a few other packed bodies and disappeared.
I’d always thought Desmarc was thoughtful, but maybe that was only how he behaved toward people he perceived as equal. Could I marry a man who treated those from the Lower Chimes so poorly? Maybe if this was all I’d seen, I could’ve brushed it off with his apology, but I couldn’t stop thinking of his conversation in the street I’d overheard on my way to the bank. That, more than anything else, told me his true feelings since he’d had no idea I’d been listening.
“Thank you for coming today.” A microphone amplified Prime Meridian Emerson’s voice, but even still, it took a few seconds for the hum of the crowd to quiet enough to hear him. “I’m sure we’re all thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from these wonderful candidates, and we’re dying to know which of these men will be the one to fill my very large shoes.” He glanced down at his feet, and a few people laughed. “So, without further ado, I’d like to begin the debate by having each speaker introduce themselves, then we’ll start the questions.” He waved the three men forward, and they each took their place at a dais.
“I’m Asriel Eliver, and I’m here today to represent the Revolutionist faction.” He took off his top hat and swept it under him in a low bow.
“Do you think Prime Meridian Emerson will put a time limit on each candidate?” I asked Desmarc as Papá and Meridian Lambkins introduced themselves.
“If so, that will help keep things moving. Otherwise, this could easily continue for a few hours. But each Prime Meridian has their own way of conducting the debate.”
Another Blue Cape appeared at the corner of my eye, and I craned my head to see if it was Hiram, but it was an officer I didn’t recognize. Disappointment curled through me, but I focused my attention back on the debate.
“And now that we’ve met our wonderful candidates, let’s focus on why we’re really here. To see which of them is most devoted to taking care of our city, and how exactly they plan to do that.” After the roar from the onlookers quieted down, Prime Meridian Emerson continued, “The first question is: If you were elected as the next Prime Meridian, what would you do differently than what’s being done? Please keep your answers to two minutes or less.”
Again, the men answered in order, starting with Meridian Eliver.
“That’s simple,” he said. “I’d increase the funding for aether technology development. When you consider the money we could save in the future which could be used to better the city, it’s the only logical course of action.”
I remembered Professor Knight’s research and how worried Hiram had been that someone could use it to create a powerful weapon.
“Better the city how exactly?” Meridian Lambkins asked. “Do you have some sort of program in mind to improve the city’s infrastructure?”
Knowing politics, whatever money they gained from improving the city would end up lining the pockets of those in the Upper Chimes instead of going where it needed to go, widening the gap between the Chimes even further. I glanced at Desmarc but didn’t ask what he thought. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know. Instead, I scanned the crowd for Hiram again, listening to the debate with half an ear.
“Of course, we’d choose programs to improve the city once we’d made the adjustments,” Meridian Eliver said.
“But is aether technology really of the highest priority right now when there are so many in the Lower Chimes who need help?” Papá said. “We should be prioritizing the citizens’ current needs over those of the future. I would work to improve the housing situation for those in the Lower Chimes and—”
“I’m surprised he went this direction,” Desmarc murmured. “He mentioned it earlier, but I didn’t think he was going to go through with it.”
I jerked my attention from the crowd to stare at Papá. He’d mentioned what we’d talked about...maybe because of what I’d said. Soft currents of hope swept through me.
“Are you all right?” Desmarc asked.
I wiped away the tears gathering in my eyes. “Yes, I don’t know why I’m crying. I guess I was just surprised.” Maybe it wasn’t too late for Papá and I after all.
“If I were the Prime Meridian,” Meridian Lambkins said, “I’d work more closely with the Iron Watch to crack down on crime in the city and make the streets safer for everyone. I’d also work on improving infrastructure in the city, like Meridian Annandale stated.”
“Smart move mimicking your father’s statement.” Desmarc tsked. “It weakens your father’s position if he only had that supporting him, while strengthening his own platform.”
I glanced at him. Was he going to provide a play-by-play of the entire debate like this, as if I didn’t understand what was going on?
“Now let’s move on to the next question,” Prime Meridian Emerson said. “What would you implement to encourage a culture of innovation and inspire the next generation of inventors to ensure our city keeps progressing?”
The debate continued like this for another twenty minutes. I half-listened to the candidates while they debated education opportunities, work programs, tax breaks for those implementing aether power, my attention catching on every flash of blue among the multitude while Desmarc continued to provide unnecessary commentary.
I sighed and his attention returned to me again. “You’re sure you’re all right?”
“Yes, I’m—” My eye caught on another Blue Cape, but this time it was Hiram. He made his way toward me through the host of people separating us. If we were going to talk in public, I needed to be away from anyone who might be paying attention.
Our eyes met. The alarm in his expression had me straightening.
Something was wrong.
My stomach tightened uncomfortably, and I stiffened.
“Kyra?” Desmarc took my hand.
“I’m sorry,” I said, casting about for an excuse. “I’m not feeling well. I think I’m going to go sit down over there.” I gestured vaguely toward the edge of the gathering in the direction of the Ninth Chime, doing my best not to let my attention drift to Hiram again.
“I’ll go with you,” he said with a reluctant glance toward the stage where Papá stood. It was clear he didn’t want to lose his spot in the front, but he also didn’t want to leave me alone.
“Why don’t you stay here? I’ll sit for a bit, then come back and join you.”
Desmarc glanced back at the stage again as Prime Meridian Emerson questioned Papá about his specific plans for how to help the Lower Chimes.
“Really, I’ll be fine,” I insisted. Though I also wanted to hear about Papá’s plans—if I was being honest, this was the only part of the debate I truly cared about—I couldn’t focus on the debate knowing something was wrong.
“All right.” Desmarc brushed a kiss against my other hand, then turned his attention back to the speakers.
Over his shoulder, I met Hiram’s eyes and pushed through the crowd. His expression was grave—whether from frustration that I’d ignored his warning or because his concerns had just become reality, I couldn’t tell.
Finally, I broke free of the press of people and made it to one of the shops that bordered the street. Even here, quite a few people listened to the debate.
As Prime Meridian Emerson asked everyone about energy policies and labor rights, I glanced over my shoulder. Hiram had almost caught up, so I led him down an alley where there would be fewer eyes to spy on us.
He glanced around once as if making sure we were alone. “Poppy, I was hoping you wouldn’t come,” he said in a low voice that sent goose bumps across my neck. “But also, I’m glad you’re here.”
“Why?” Despite the warm sunlight filling the space, it couldn’t warm me past the chill in the air and the way my blood turned icy as I imagined the worst.
“We found another body.”