Nathaniel Bowden has his eyes set on captaining a steamship of his own, a distant horizon with the crew suspicious of his noble background and his position as cabin boy. He's willing and eager to win their approval through hard work while learning every aspect of the ship. Only the ship's engineer holds fast against his charms, denying him access to the mysterious chamber that holds their ailing steam engine.
When the engine draws Sam to it under the guise of a safe hiding spot, Nat's life becomes a lot more complicated while Sam must figure out how to survive without being seen or giving in to the engine's demands.
In an alternate Victorian Era where Naturals like Sam can harness the power of aether to transform conscious machinery, dangers surround the fugitive Natural and lowly cabin boy. Only honor and friendship can see them through.
About the author
A storyteller for as long as she can remember, Margaret McGaffey Fisk explores the barriers between cultures, economic classes, and social standing regardless of genre. Her short works have been published in numerous science fiction and fantasy anthologies, and her published novels fall into the steampunk, science fiction, and romance genres.
