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raised its ugly head again. You must be desperate indeed. You also had planned to go to the Ivory Market, not to the New World after London. Did an assassin find you? It is the only explanation I can find for such a foolish move, even from you. Does he know the name you travel under now? Should I be looking out my window for a sign of the Horde’s elite guard?

Lovingly,

Zenobia

P.S. I intend to call it Archimedes Fox and the Idiotic Impossible Quest. Anyway, there is no point. A survey by Bishop Mendi reported that most of the buildings along the canals were all underwater, as were the streets, and that zombies filled every inch of dry land. Overgrown with moss and vines, nothing on paper could possibly have survived. It is a fool’s errand, brother.

Wien, Ludwig Principality, Johannesland

June 27

Z—

Regarding the Awful Dilemma: So far, he has sent only bumbling fools to kill me. You know that he has much better at his disposal, who will not give any sign of their coming. I cannot return his goods, but returning their value may appease him—and I’m far more likely to find such a treasure in a city that I haven’t already picked over, and that wasn’t emptied while its population fled to the New World.

Tomorrow I am bound for Copenhagen. A man claims that he’s developed a breathing device for underwater that doesn’t take two to operate. If I keep to the canals, I will avoid the zombies.

What airship captain dared to take Bishop Mendi to Venice? My only worry was finding someone to take me directly to the city, because they must fly too close to Horde outposts and the occupied territories across the sea. Now you say someone did?

Archimedes

P.S. It will be Archimedes Fox and the Astonishing Discovery.

Fladstrand

July 3

Idiot,

By now you will have looked up the scientific article and know that Mendi was aboard Lady Corsair. Do not do the same, brother. You will never reach Venice. If you are lucky, she will only hang you naked and upside down from her bow like she did that Castilian comte—but more likely, she will open you from gut to gullet like she did Bloody Bartholomew, then feed your dismembered limbs to megalodons.

Zenobia

P.S. Archimedes Fox and the Merciless Mercenary.

Copenhagen

July 19

O! doubting Zenobia,

How will she know who I am? Like you, I resemble our departed Mother, and no one suspects anything of Archimedes Fox, Adventurer. Even if I do see someone I knew, I no longer wear a beard and have dropped two stone since my last run to Horde territory.

I have purchased the underwater breathing device, along with a glider contraption that converts into a waterproof satchel to carry any letters or writings, so that it is useful after I leave the airship rather than dead weight. I have already jumped from a balloon and the glider maneuvers perfectly. You can see for yourself when I visit next week. You will not be able to resist taking a jump.

He has also repaired my grapnel and spring-loaded machetes at my wrists. I am ready to flee from zombies—though I much prefer it when you write me fighting them.

Yours,

Archimedes

P.S. Archimedes Fox and His Brilliant Acquisitions.

Chatham, England

September 6

Zenobia—

Quickly, for Lady Corsair is about to depart, and I must hand this letter over to the porter before the captain fires the engines.

The Iron Duke is aboard. I have been recognized and exposed by that damned pirate, but I still live. I wore my yellow waistcoat. I’m certain that our favorite mercenary rather fancied me before she threatened to slit my throat. She relented when I reminded her that she would lose out on the price of my passage—and I am certain that she also recalled that she will receive a quarter of my salvage, if any.

I have learned her name: Yasmeen. She’s as magnificent as I’d hoped, and I’m tempted to write poetry celebrating her green eyes, tight breeches, and sharp blades. If she gives me the least bit of encouragement, I will fall in love.

If I do not return, you should make an arrangement with