Open Doors. TWO

Deryn lowered the Clanker glasses to see the up coming mountains. Seeing itself at the far far distance. She let out a shuttered sigh. The weather was getting colder. The Huxley above gave it's out shutter of chills. Deryn tapped the nearest tentical, trying to settle of beastie from setting her down to the icy terrain below. "There there beastie, calm down." She scanned once more the surrounding skies for any German airships, none so far. Deryn put out her semaphore flags, giving her signal. A-L-L C-L-E-A-R.

Newkirk signaled back to reel her in. If she could have, Deryn would have stayed a little more longer in the air, even through the stinging cold. To be aloft with no ground under her feet, it felt too natural to go back down to the Leviathan. As the sounds of the winch came to Deryn's ears, she reached out a gloved hand to a low cloud passing by, her eyes stinging. "Da, I hope you can see me." Her voice when high, girly. Deryn's foot of Faith wasn't sturdy, but she silently hope her dad could see her from wherever he was.

Deryn's feet met the scales of the airbeast's dorsal, unclipping her own pilots rigging. Newkirk smiled. "Nice view Sharp?" Deryn could only nod, she had another duty to attend to. "I have to go see to our Prince." Her voice back to being masculine, now it seemed more natural to speak in a boy's voice. "Aye, but first you have orders to see the count." Newkirk spat on the word count. Deryn punch him in the shoulder. "Oi, close your clart trap. Like it or not he's a count, and Clanker or not, he's a noble." Deryn didn't even wait for the midshipmen's reply. She was taught and order to respect nobles, Clankers or King George himself. Nobles was nobles.

As Deryn descended to the gondola, she couldn't help but skip alittle. The only ones going to be upside were herself, Alek, , Hoffman and Bauer. No more, maybe less. The weather was much too cold for anymore solders to be topside. Deryn herself was to supervise, since she was still a decorated officer now. Deryn looked to her medal on the breast of her middy uniform. She felt proud.

Deryn came to Volger's stateroom, took a deep breath and knocked. "Enter." He spoke. Deryn entered, closing the door behind her. "You wished to speak to me?" She spoke in English, not wishing to try out any of her Clanker. But Deryn spoke with a more proper tone, hoping Volger would mark her for proper noble speak.

Volger turned from his seat and stared his usual face to her. "You never did tell me your real name, Mr.Sharp." He used the same tone Bovril kept repeating. Deryn's breath caught. She's didn't forget the count knew. Deryn took another breath and lowered her head. "Must I tell you? You already know my secret." Deryn took a quick look. No Message lizards around to hear, she hoped it'd stay that way for the entire conversation.

Volger stood up, arms behind his back and walked closer. Deryn was only a wee bit shorter then the man, but he still held the presence of being much. much taller then her. "Yes, I know. But one can't help and be curious to a young lady's name."

"I am no lassie! You don't see me wearing a skirt and flowing around like a village girl!" Deryn's hand quickly went to cover her mouth. That was too loud for her liking. If someone had heard, her life on the Leviathan was as good as gone. If not for being found out, then for being a barking mad boy shouting he wasn't a girl. Volger stepped back, one brow raised with concern. Deryn held her ground, hands lowered and becoming fist. Volger knew how to anger her, she had to control herself. She was a solder for sakes. "I know, if you were, you'd be home properly. Waiting for a man to court you to be his bride."

Deryn felt an upset within her stomach, the thought was sick. Being a little lass back home, in a skirt and corset, blushing and giggle like a blistering idiot as a boy woo'd her with charm. Then Alek came to her mind, bowing before her and handing girl Deryn a rose, a smile on his face.

"Blushing are we? One way to give out your true identity, unless boy's blush as well." Volger almost gave out a sneer of a chuckle. Deryn's hands came to her cheeks. They were warm as glowlamps. Deryn closed her eyes, pushing the through of Alek kissing her hand out of her barking mind. "I must be Barking mad, but if'll quite you."
"I will." Volger stepped closer, looking into Deryn. She had to step back.

Taking a breath, Deryn opened her mouth, her hands tugging at the hem of her coat. "D-Deryn...Skye Sharp." She looked away, she didn't have to give out her middle name. That was just cream on top of the pie she's handed Volger.

"Deryn?" Volgger sat back to his chair and chuckled again. This flared Deryn's face. "What? My Da named me Deryn, got a problem with it?" She bit her tounge.

"No, it's rather fitting." Volger stopped chuckling and began to tapped a Clanker pen on his desk, not laid out by random paper with Clanker scribbles all over them. "I guess." Deryn looked to the window, it was covered in frost. "Yes, If my English is correct, Deryn is Scottish for Bird." The count looked to Deryn, she was still looking to the window. The wind was now blowing. "Aye, my Da thought is best to name me bird. Seeing as how he would bring home wounded birds that fell into his balloon basket." I was his little bird Deryn bit her lip, she couldn't cry in front of Count Volger, not even.

Volger gave a nod and scribbled on a blank piece of paper. "Thats all I wanted. You can leave now." Deryn mouth fell. He only wanted to know her name? What was that? So he could blackmail her more by 'accedently' calling her Deryn instead of Dylan in public? Her thoughts raced, but she had to leave. Deryn began towards the door, but Volger's voice stopped her. "I also know that since you are so close with Alek, I must warn you." Deryn thought to humor the man and looked back to him, but the somewhat mock smile on his face made her just want to punch the clart out of him. "He seems to have inherited his father's charm, so I warn you ." Volger looked up. "Try and not to fall too hard like Sophie did. It's be best to not muck up his Highness' feelings for a commoner."

Deryn could feel her face flare like a fire. She pulled the door with all her might and slamed it loudly as she left. Deryn put her back to the door. Her eyes stinging agin from oncoming tears. She kept her head up, she couldn't let the tears flow, not here. That bum-rag! How could-How dare he! But She had to push the thoughts away, she had to hold down her girly feelings. She was a solder! Not a barking flirty girl. But she let one tear fall at Volger's one bitter word. Commoner. Thats right. Alek could never be with her. Deryn Sharp was as common as dirt and ever ant on the ground. No royal blood. Alek even said himself. He could never image putting his own children through what he'd gone through as a child. All because his ma wasn't fully royal. At least she was some what of a princess, but Deryn was nothing. I'm princess of Fabs, thats what I am.

Deryn rubbed her eyes and began to Alek's room, she had orders to follow.

A/N: I don't know if it ever mentions Deryn's real middle name, but i was stumpped and my brother gave me the idea, giver her the middle name Skye since Deryn is a common scottish name(I should know i'm part scott xD) meaning Bird(Master Westerfeld you clever boot xD) and so, yeah. arry if u don't approve but i couldn't help myself :D