Iron Horsemen Read Online Free Page B

kid.”
    With a nod I turned and walked into Eton, lost in a world blurred by tears.
    As I passed through the colonnade of one building, I saw the shattered window of my father’s office across the courtyard. Its jagged edges mirrored my world, and just like that window, I couldn’t put the pieces back together. Two days ago, my biggest concern was homework, but now fear for my father crushed my shoulders and weighted down my back. With hunched shoulders, I found my way to class, without even knowing how I’d gotten there. I stepped into my school and all eyes turned toward me, their questioning gazes like arrows piercing my heart.
    â€œGlad you could join us Master Armitage. Please have a seat,” the professor said.
    Obviously the professor knew what had happened. Otherwise, I’d have been reported for being late. I wanted to rip off my wool armor and run, but I sat down.
    Eton’s desks were connected in long rows unlike my classes in America. I took a seat on a bench in the back of the class, but had to slide past some other boys. I slumped down and tried to disappear.
    The professor pointed to the black board. “Wellgentlemen, I hope you’re ready for the exam. Remember this will focus exclusively on the Tesla experiments we ran last week.”
    A loud groan erupted from my classmates, and I slipped further into my chair.
Could this day get any worse?
    The white parts of the test, the part I was supposed to fill in, stared back like a vast arctic expanse. I dipped my quill pen in the inkwell at the top of my section of the bench desk. I wrote my name—that was easy—but as I tried to read the first question my mind spun and tears blurred my vision.
Why was I taking a test when my father could be in danger?
    The other students stood to leave and beyond a couple of ink dribbles from the end of my quill, the page was empty. I flipped it over hoping the answers would be on the back: blank.
    I’d spent the class worried about my dad, not the answers. I hadn’t taken the test. My classmates handed over their exams and filed out the room.
    I quickly scribbled ‘Sorry’ at the bottom of the page, ran up and slipped the paper into the middle of the stack. I ran from the room, the long tails of my coat flapping behind him.
    I ran until my arm was snatched by Count Blackthorne’s son. “So what happened to your father, colonist?”
    â€œLet me go!”
    â€œI saw his office. Did the cowboy trash it like some western saloon?”
    â€œThadeus, leave me alone.”
    The young nobleman with the good looking hair turned to his friends and laughed. “Ah, poor baby, do you need a wet nurse?”
    Anger swelled within me until I was nearly blind with it. I wasn’t a baby. I was tired of being bullied, and my fists clenched until my knuckles hurt. I couldn’t punch him. Iwanted to, but my father and the headmasters of Eton had made it clear. If I fight, I get shipped back to America.
    Thadeus pressed both palms against my chest. I stumbled over his feet and slammed into the wall. Pain rippled across my body as he and his friends laughed wildly.
    I whipped around and locked eyes with the nobleman’s son. “Don’t push me!” The strap’s rough edge of my leather bag dug into my tightening palms. I swung the bag loaded with books into Thadeus’ side.
    â€œStop, you crazed colonial.” Thadeus and his friends tried to run, but I kept swinging in a wild rage. Tears streamed down my face as I continued to pummel the nobleman’s son.
    Thadeus and his friends charged through the nearest door yelling for a master.
    I struggled to catch my breath and calm my nerves as I leaned against the bricks. I punched the wall, hoping to force these hateful feelings out, but all I did was scrape my knuckles which started to ache.
    Beside me an engraved plaque had been mounted in the wall. It had been engraved with several names and above