Carmer and Grit: Read an excerpt from the steampunk-infused middle-grade novel

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The duo partners up when Grettifrida Grit recruits Felix Carmer III (a.k.a.

Carmer) to help her investigate a spate of recent faerie disappearances.

Credit: Algonquin Young Readers

Only, as the pair eventually learns, maybe magic and machinery dont work well together.

Horwitz steampunk-infused middle-grade hits bookstores on April 25.

You canpreorder it here.

Emma Young

Carmer received more than a few pokes and prods with her hatpin sword.

After the fourth time Carmer squashed her head down into his pocket, Grit had had enough.

What are youdoingthat for?

Someone will see you!

hey, do you think Im daft?

It certainly hasnt been by letting every bumbling human in the world see us plain as day.

Youre not invisible, but .

And they forget all about us.

For the most part, humans only see what they expect to see.

Carmer was quiet for a moment.

As far as Grit could tell, they were approaching the western side of the Arboretum.

With any luck, she wouldnt be at the mercy of this dimwitted boy much longer.

And youre doing all of this?

Carmer asked, eyes wide.

Though it took me a while to learn without faerie dust.

Truth be told, Grit wasnt supposed to be doing magic at all.

Her mother had forbidden it except in small, controlled practice sessions.

Well, I cant very well make my own dust without two wings, can I?

And most faeries use their dust for magic, so Grit stopped, suddenly gripped by doubt.

You should know all of this, she said, suspicion creeping into her voice.

Why dont you know all of this?

Carmer looked down at her guiltily.

Grit tried to conceal her growing panic.

Youre not a Friend of the Fae, are you?

The presence I sensed, that had nothing to do with you at all!

exclaimed Grit, stabbing Carmer with her sword and kicking his chest with the thorn spurs on her boots.

Youre aliarand a

Ive just never seen anything like

Oh, Im athingnow!

Just hold still, then!

It gurgled pleasantly, the cool water utterly indifferent to their fight.

Grit scrambled to her feet and glared at him with a mutinous expression.

Look, Im sorry.

Ive never met anyonelike you before, and .

The boy couldnt seem to find the words.

He rubbed a hand across his face and through his messy black hair, making it stick straight up.

Grit would have laughed if she hadnt been so angry.

She doubled back as gracefully as she could.

Where are you going?

Home, spat Grit, head held high.

Carmer watched her helplessly.

Weve got a quarter of a mile until the edge of the Arboretum.

You said so yourself.

Think youre going to make it there at your pace before dark?

Before dark.The words sent a shiver down Grits spine.

She knew what unnamed horrors might find her on the open streets in Skemantis after dark.

Echolaken, and whatever the Wingsnatchers had done to her, was proof of that.

A second shiver ran through her, and Grit noticed a change in the air.

A shadow passed over her, disappearing in the next instant.

Dont move, warned Grit, her eyes darting around the garden.

She silently cursed the tall grass and shrubbery around them, providing cover forsomethingthat had obviously caught their scent.

Carmer obligingly froze; he must have sensed something wrong as well.

Carmer whispered, and Grit realized she did.

The heady, unmistakable smell of

Oil?

They both guessed simultaneously.

And then the thing pounced.

Grit saw only a metal monster, legs outstretched as it leapt over her from behind.

She dodged just in time, the air next to her still humming from the sharpsnapof the creatures jaws.

The claws came next, paws striking at her with ferocious determination.

The creature stopped in mid-swipe, distracted.

Carmer had picked up a large stick and was waving it back and forth in front of him.

Here, kitty kitty, he said tentatively.

As Grit scrambled backward, she saw that Carmer was right.

Just before it turned around, Grit caught a glimpse of pointed, razor-sharp teeth and glowing orange eyes.

The catfor Grit could think of nothing else to call itwatched Carmer curiously.

It seemed almost confused, as if it were not sure what to do with Carmer there.

Carmer cautiously tapped the stick on the ground.

you want to play, huh?

he asked the creature, tapping the stick again.

You want the stick?

The cat licked its lips, making a metal scraping sound that set Grits teeth on edge.

Carmer threw the stick in the opposite direction and the cat bounded after it.

In a flash, Carmer was at Grits side.

He hurriedly scooped her up, and this time, she didnt protest.

He ran for the garden gate, their only means of escape

But the cat was ready for them.

Carmers distraction hadnt lasted long enough, and the cat was already blocking the exit.

It growleda horrible, grating soundand lunged right for Carmer.

The force of the beasts attack sent Carmers feet out from under him.

The cats full weight pressed on his chest, rows of gleaming teeth gnashing and hissing in his face.

It went straight for Grit, but Carmer rolled to knock the creature off balance.

Carmer panted, holding Grit out of harms way.

The oil lubricating its joints dripped into Carmers face, dark and sticky.

Grit glimpsed something silver and shining inside the cats writhing body.

Grit shouted to Carmer.

Its using fae magic!

I dont know how, but it is!

Carmer dodged another swipe from a vicious claw.

His coat, already bedraggled, was getting torn to shreds.

And what about you?

By sheer luck, he managed to land a good kick.

The cat flew backward, giving Carmer just enough time to get to his feet.

You made a lamp explode!

Thethatin question was circling them again.

Grit felt her cheeks burn.

How could she tell himthis silly human boythat her magic wasnt strong enough to defeat this powerful a foe?

Before she had a chance to answer, however, the cat jumped againstraight for Carmers head.

He threw up his arms in self-defense, prepared himself for the worst, and

SLAM.

Something tackled the cat to the ground in mid-leap.

It was a puppet.

The marionettes were a strange lot.

But they advanced on the cat all the same, herding it away from the garden gate.

It swung its barbed tail and yowled with impatience.

The milkmaid approached Carmer.

Well, what are you waiting for?

it asked crossly in a low, gravelly voice that clearly belonged to someone else.

A magic carpet service?

Carmer didnt need to be told twice.

He shoved Grit in his pocketAgain,Grit sighed to herselfand took the puppets proffered hand.

Grit shook her head at the puppets, eyes wide.

They didnt look any less terrifying than the cat.

she yelled, kicking Carmers chest.

Would you rather stay back there?