The east used a different mechanism for their airships, that was what Madorn said, at least. They were transitioning into steam-powered ones for now, for whatever reasons, but the airships had once used a secret fuel that was efficient enough to allow a speed that was twice that of a regular airship. The old eastern model of ships could also hold larger quantities of cargo.
Mad said that while he was not able to simply find out the ingredients of the secret fuel due to the heavy spy complex built to protect classified eastern information, he could try to logically shut out all unviable options and create some of the fuel in his own laboratory.
"So, it has been decided? It will happen on the Fin?" Eknie asked Ted as they were overlooking the process of setting up Mad's secret laboratory.
"I have made the final decision, yes," Ted said. "It will be easier if we are somewhat isolated from the rest of the world. And the dark winter is certainly a big bonus."
"Imagine the luxury you can live in," Eknie chuckled. "Watching icebergs from your window, living on a frosty hill and having entire castles of ice built in your garden every year. No one to bore you down there, just those you want to speak to."
"And you think you will be one of the lucky ones?" Ted raised an eyebrow.
"Is it luck, or is it talent?"
Her face never moved, no microexpressions revealing an inkling of fear were present, and her strong constitution was now visible, she didn't shy away from his hand as he instinctively put his hand on the back of her neck.
"I could have let myself destroy you and I still might do just that," Ted whispered to her, glancing towards the construction workers to be aware of any potential eyes or ears observing him. "It will be tempting at some point in my life to make you, too, disappear as well. You think you can live with that fear?"
"I will crawl right back to you," she whispered so close to his face that he could smell her fresh, minty breath. "Alive or dead, it doesn't matter."
Shivers ran down Ted's spine. He had never seen such dangerous obsession, passion bordering on suicidality, and because he was an evil man, because he was an honest man, he was thoroughly impressed.
He had to admit to himself that he could always use her as a shield, as a supposed charity project, poor unvirtuous woman clinging onto her last hope, a true gentleman bringing out the good in her, someone who could make her a respectable lady again – he just conveniently refused to want to tie himself in the damned chain that was holding her.
No, he would mot dispose of her just yet, she was a worthy ally.
"Stay close to me," Ted said to her and pulled away. "Not too close, though."
He had to be somewhat present for Madorn's unpacking. There were pieces of equipment that had to be brought into the cursed cellar that had once seen unnecessary and cruel shedding of dog blood. The stairs were dangerous, and the inventor required assistance with the assembling of certain, rather large wooden structures.
Ted wanted to use his physical body to do something productive. This ended up in the two men being stuck putting bolts and large planks into their rightful places for hours and hours, talking all the while, about the glorious era of secretive airships and the degeneration of the technology.
It was a sunset over the golden age of the neighboring country, but on the other hand, things had been too good and too stagnant in Sennas as well. Everything was coming undone.
It would not be long until what was promised to be commonplace would only be locked up in the manors of people like Ted and his associates. A collapse, a dwindling trend in the world, something was on the rise.
Rats, roaches, selfish men and women, they would prevail in the hypothetical collapse.
"You want to grab a smoke, Mad?" Ted said after exhausting himself with a rant about the delights of having a roomy balcony from which he would watch the flames rise when the world would end.
"Sure, are you calling me Mad already?" Madorn smirked. "I got under your skin."
"You're a high quality individual. If you could stay still for a split second, I would sew your right arm to my left one…better to stay on the move. Mad."
They laughed as they climbed up into the fading light of the evening sun.
Ted had not told Mad about the whole thing. Not the sun god, not the sacrifice, no words spoken about the real juicy stuff.
"Clove?" Madorn smelled the cigarette Ted had given him.
"And some other spices. I am not too sure."
"They say this is bad for the lungs, you know." Madorn lit the cigarette and drew in the first lungfuls of smoke. "I don't particularly care about that."
"Smoke…steam…fuel. Tell me, Mad, do you have any idea about the nature of the secret fuel?"
"It has to be something really…well. There must be a reason they are giving it up, that's all I am saying."
The Diamond King had kept relations to Sennas in rather good shape. Still, not all fruits of his projects were for the benefit of all.
"Give me a year to find out the whole thing," Mad said.
"And you want what in return?"
"Fund me." There was no fear on the face of the scientist.
Ted liked it when worthy people were this brazen. It made him feel like their thoughts were worthwhile.
"Anything you need for your projects, and upkeep, too. I hope you are into exotic Karshaan cuisine."
"Whatever goes. Luxury is not important to me. Progress is."
Mad was the best mind the Diamond King had ever lost. His credentials, his current work, everything about him was outstanding. A shame for the Diamond King that those cards played for Ted now.