Deals and Dangers

by Kay L. Ling

  “The Watcher returned this morning,” said Arenia reluctantly. “Franklin and I went out to meet it, and Bounder came with us. The Watcher doesn’t like Bounder, so it kept its distance, and I could tell it wanted to get away quickly. It warned us to enforce Emanicus laws and not make trouble, and that was it. If you ask me, it just wanted to intimidate us. It didn’t say anything new, really.”

  Tina Ann said, “Next time it come, me an’ Ben oughta bring Head Spy on a pole. Bet that pythanium fly away an’ never come back.”

  “Don’t you dare,” Tyla said. It would be just like Ben and Tina Ann to threaten the creature with a severed pythanium head.

  “One would think you’d be tired of danger,” Arenia said, frowning at Tina Ann.

  Tina Ann just shrugged.

  “Now that it’s no secret The Emanicus is an evil organization, Ben and Tina Ann have opened up about what happened to them at Emanicus headquarters. Their stories about being turned into lizards and held captive have kept our minds off our troubles.”

  “Since we be heroes and all, can we come ter dinner with ya?” Tina Ann asked. “Yer ern’t gotta feed us. Already ate.”

  “I suppose,” Tyla said. “That way, I’ll get the full story of what’s been happening around here.”

  “I didn’t plan to hide anything,” Arenia said sharply. “I just wanted you to eat in peace before we burdened you with problems.”

  “I need to change out of these dusty clothes and see Lant and Eemie for a few minutes, but I won’t be long.”

  “Don’t hurry,” Arenia told her. “We won’t start without you.”

  When Tyla entered the dining room, Maggie Ann and Brenda Ann were putting food on the table. Like Ben and Tina Ann, they were relieved that Tyla was back and started babbling about strange shadows, unnatural cold, and skittish animals.

  Arenia silenced them. “Disturbing news can wait until everyone is fortified with food and fialazza.”

  When the meal was over, Tyla said, “All right. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Tell us what’s been happening here.”

  “It’s a good thing Elias and Ertz warded the fortress,” Arenia said. “So far, the wards are holding, but we can tell whenever there’s an attack.”

  “Attack?”

  “Now and then the entire fortress goes teeth-chattering cold. It lasts ten or fifteen minutes, then the temperature goes back to normal. Elias was here the first time it happened, and he consulted the spell book. The book says cold indicates dark powers are being repelled.”

  “How many times has this happened—the cold?”

  Arenia hesitated. “Five.”

  She didn’t say “so far,” but Tyla felt certain Olissa believed there would be more. “You’d think The Emanicus would give up after the first couple tries since the wards repel their attacks.”

  “Maybe they’re trying something different each time,” Olissa said, then asked Higgart and Othir, “What do you make of it?”

  “We’ve had run-ins with Outcast gem masters, but nothing on this scale,” Othir said. “Gem Master Ertz has studied dark powers. You could check with him.”

  Tina Ann nudged Arenia. “Tell ‘em ‘bout the sneaky shadows.”

  “It’s happened three times. A shadow appears about a mile from here and flows over the ground toward the fortress and barns. When it reaches our wards, it stops, but it keeps rippling and shifting as if trying to break through. After a few minutes, it disappears.”

  “I seen it,” Ben said. “It be creepy.”

  “The shadow must indicate some kind of malevolent powers, so it’s a good thing it isn’t getting past the wards,” Olissa said.

  “It be somethin’ evil, all right,” Ben said. “Erum an’ maraku go wild when it come.”

  Arenia toyed with her goblet. “So far, the wards seem to be handling whatever The Emanicus throws at us, but we’re glad you brought Olissa and these officers back with you.”

  Tyla’s mind returned to the pythanium. “This morning, we came across a pythanium blocking the road. It was intelligent and could talk, just like the ones during S’s reign. I suppose it’s the same one that came here.”

  “Probably. It went to Strathweed first. Elias warned me it was headed our way so I had a few minutes to compose myself.”

  “What did it tell Elias?”

  “It warned him not to get involved. It said gnomes would suffer if he or anyone else tried to kill it.”

  “It may have heard that some of its predecessors were attacked and killed. I bet S is still fuming over the one Jules killed. Head Spy was her favorite.” Tyla added for the newcomers’ benefit, “When it wasn’t in the air spying on everyone, it kept her company and served as her advisor.”

  Othir frowned. “If the Watcher knew we had a horde of gems with us, it might have told us to hand them over. I’m glad we got them here safely.”

  “I’d like to distribute some of S’s gems among Amulet clans, but we have to make sure they aren’t intercepted by Emanicus gnomes, Outcasts, or pythanium.”

  “It’s a good idea not to keep them all in one place, no matter how well they’re warded,” Higgart said.

  “Last time I talked to Elias, he said Lana was bringing us more Fair Lands gems. We can distribute some of those as well,” Arenia said.

  “Fair Lands gems intrigue me, but I don’t know much about them,” Olissa admitted. “During our raid on The Emanicus, I got a quick lesson in anomalous reactions, and I know taking them outside the Amulet destroys them. Can Fair Lands gems help us fight The Emanicus?”

  “Probably not,” Tyla said. “Most of them make you more confident, courageous, optimistic—that kind of thing. But with everything we’re facing right now, that would be helpful.”

  “Their healing gems are superior to ours,” Arenia said. “And there are a few impressive gems—ones that have oracular powers, turn you invisible, or protect you from danger.”

  “I shouldn’t downplay Fair Lands gems,” Tyla said. “Something about our world amplifies their powers, so even the most mundane ones become more useful here.”

  “Interesting. I never knew that,” Olissa said.

  “We have an advantage here in the Amulet. We can use native and Fair Lands gems, and we have an alamaria mine on our doorstep,” Tyla said, topping off her fialazza.

  “You’re lucky to have that mine,” Othir said. “Alamaria boosts any gem’s power, and you have an unlimited supply.”

  “Outside the Amulet, it’s called nimest,” Higgart said. “The only mine besides yours is near Pantirek City, and their deposit is nowhere near as large as yours. I wouldn’t doubt the pythanium has orders to keep an eye on your mine.”

  “The Emanicus is sure to use our supply for evil,” Tyla said. “I’d love to stop shipping it out of our region, but that would be asking for trouble.”

  “The income was one of the many benefits of rejoining Ahmonellian society,” Arenia said, “but now that the Emanicus has taken over, there are no benefits, only problems.”

  As if on cue, the air temperature plunged. Tyla could see her breath.

  “Here we goes again,” Tina Ann groaned.

  Frost began to form on the walls.

  “That be somethin’ new,” Ben said. “Never seen the walls turn white.”

  “What do you think it means?” Arenia asked.

  “I think it means this attack is stronger than the rest,” Olissa said. “Let’s hope the wards hold.”

  Tyla remembered the sense of dread she had felt on the way home. She had an uncomfortable feeling that it had been a premonition of the dangers she’d soon face.

  Chapter 4

  The temperature drop lasted about five minutes. Then, the room suddenly went back to normal, and the frost on the walls began to melt. Everyone at the table looked relieved.

  “That was strange,” Tyla said, still tense.

  “It be a worser attack, but they gived up sooner,” Tina Ann said.

  Tyla hadn’t thought
about Rimwick for days, but now he came to mind. “I wonder what our inmate thinks of these attacks.”

  Higgart raised a brow. “Has anyone told him about recent events?”

  “No. Lant and I didn’t think it was our place to tell him anything about The Emanicus,” Arenia said. “We’ve been carrying on as normal, feeding him once a day. Yesterday we gave him wash water and clean clothes. We couldn’t stand his odor anymore.”

  Tyla was surprised they’d dare enter his cell, but she supposed taking him a washbasin was no riskier than delivering a food tray. “He hasn’t given you any trouble?”

  “No. He stays in the back of his cell and rarely says anything. He has no idea we’ve figured out who he is.”

  Olissa leaned back in her chair and folded her arms. “According to Ben and Tina Ann, he helped turn me into a rat. I’d like to go down there and make him talk, and not just about what he did to me. I have a lot of questions.”

  “You’re a well-known gem master in Mierek, and we think that’s where he’s from. I thought you didn’t want The Emanicus to know you’re not a rat anymore,” Tyla reminded her.

  “Who’s he going to tell? He’s never getting out of here.”

  “Still, it might be safer if he didn’t know. Elias and Ertz tried to make him talk,” Tyla added, “but they didn’t get far.”

  Olissa frowned at the implication that she didn’t stand a chance because Elias and Ertz had failed. “If we tell him his associates are controlling the government while he’s here missing out, it might goad him into talking.”

  “Even if he didn’t open up and divulge all their plans, he might blurt something useful,” Higgart agreed.

  Tyla nodded thoughtfully. Maybe it was time to try again. “I’d love to know if they’ve turned S back into a woodspirit or just gotten spells and advice from her. He might know.”

  “Give me a chance. I’ll pry information out of him,” Olissa promised.

  Tyla glanced down the table at the breghlin who were following this conversation but not saying anything. They gave her feral smiles of encouragement.

  “All right,” Tyla said. “When should we do this?”

  “No time like the present,” Olissa said.

  Rimwick probably thought the worst he’d face at Elantoth was boredom and bad food, but he might think otherwise once he met Olissa, Tyla thought with an inward grin.

  The air in the dungeon was stale and tinged with smoke. A lone torch provided light for Rimwick’s cellblock, and he was the only occupant. Tyla, wearing a lightgem on a cord around her neck, led the group to his cell.

  Rimwick was lying on the straw-covered slab that served as his bed. When Tyla drew her knife, the blade began to glow. Rimwick turned his head and looked at her, then sat up and faced the group.

  “You have company,” Tyla said.

  “Rimwick! This is no place for you!” Olissa exclaimed, making an expansive gesture that took in all of the cellblock. “Why haven’t your Emanicus friends come to rescue you?”

  Rimwick’s mouth fell open, but he quickly recovered himself and said in a voice hoarse from disuse, “Who’s Rimwick? Emanicus friends? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Right,” Olissa said. “I don’t suppose you know who I am.”

  He scowled at her. “No. Why should I?”

  “Let me give you a hint.” She squeaked like a rat.

  Rimwick’s eyes widened. He slid back on the slab as far he could go. Apparently Gem Master Neban had a reputation, Tyla thought, amused.

  “Come over here and face me, you worm,” Olissa growled.

  Rimwick had to be wondering how Olissa knew who he was, much less that he had turned her into a rat. And considering it took a Dark gem to reverse the process, he’d wonder who had restored her.

  “I-I didn’t do it,” he stammered. “That is, I didn’t play much of a part.”

  “True. You were one of many using the Focal Gem.”

  He didn’t say a word.

  Olissa looked at Tyla and mouthed, “Play along,” then turned back to Rimwick. “It’s over. Your headquarters is vacant, the Dark gems and Parnatti sculptures are gone, and Havinth and Sethan are in Aberell’s dungeon. They’re not very good leaders. In fact, they’re quite stupid, really. Some of your associates are still out there, trying to attack the fortresses, but we adopted your mist ward, so we’re not too worried. Eventually, we’ll capture the rest of you.”

  Tyla bit her tongue to keep from laughing. This was sheer genius. Everything Olissa said was true, but Rimwick, unaware of the real situation, would put a totally different construction on her comments.

  “What about Sheamathan?” Rimwick asked shakily. “Do you have her, too?”

  Olissa avoided the question, toying with him. “She betrayed her Outcast supporters during The Great Upheaval. I don’t see why you’d want anything to do with her.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” Rimwick snapped. “Knowledge and power.”

  “It’s not worth the price. Dark powers never are.”

  “If you want to spend your life playing things safe, go ahead.” He laughed derisively. “You don’t know what you’re missing.”

  “Sure I do. Ugly lumps and deformities. But I don’t want to look like you.”

  Rimwick bolted from his seat and strode to the door, anger and frustration overcoming his fear. “You self-righteous gem masters make me sick! It’s worth a few deformities to wield great power.”

  “Dark gems destroy the mind and body. The more you use them, the more they use you. You can’t see that because they’ve already clouded your judgment.”

  Rimwick’s face darkened with rage “Don’t you dare lecture me!”

  Nausea and dizziness struck Tyla. She gasped for air. Beside her, Olissa bent over, retching, and the others groaned in misery. Tyla closed her eyes for a moment, hoping to lessen the room-spinning sensation. When she opened them, the luminous being that had appeared to protect her from the pythanium was in front of the cell door. Its arms and legs rapidly grew more distinct. Undeterred by iron bars, it entered the cell.

  Rimwick gaped in horror. He had no time to defend himself. The glowing being grabbed him by the throat. Its hand seemed to be made of pure energy. Maybe it couldn’t literally choke him, but it could produce pain. Rimwick let out a piercing scream.

  Tyla’s nausea and dizziness vanished.

  “Let me go! Let me go!” Rimwick gasped, his whole body trembling. “I won’t do it again!”

  Tyla looked down at her blade. It glowed pale yellow, no longer registering any danger.

  “It’s satisfying to watch him suffer,” Olissa said, “but you can release him now.”

  Tyla had no idea how to dispel the being, but she wasn’t about to say so. Before, it had vanished on its own. The knife was supposed to know what she needed, and right now she needed it to stop protecting her. Much to her relief, a few seconds later, the being winked out of existence.

  Rimwick retreated to his slab. Now that he thought The Emanicus was crumbling, he might be more cooperative, hoping for a lighter punishment. They needed to capitalize on that, but Tyla wasn’t sure how. “I think we’re done here. Let’s go.”

  As they returned to the office, Tyla tried to reconcile herself to the idea that the luminous guardian might be an ongoing part of her knife’s powers. Elias was researching gem-bonded items. Maybe he’d find something about this unusual protective power.

  Chapter 5

  Tyla was tempted to stop reading newssheets. In the last few weeks, there had been several reports of public officials losing their memories or developing grotesque deformities. Stories like that left her on edge.

  These days, Watchers landed in the cities to deliver edicts and messages, intimidating the population and interrupting normal commerce. Folks were afraid to go anywhere, and the same was true within the Amulet. Just as Tyla had feared, it was all but impossible to find anyone to serve as Council members or peacekeeping officers. Last wee
k, Higgart and Othir had abandoned the idea of an all-gnome peacekeeping force and started recruiting breghlin.

  Work had come to a halt on road, bridge, and mine construction. The Emanicus didn’t care about improving life in the Amulet, and furthermore, they had disbanded government agencies in charge of such projects. They would channel tax revenues into things that benefited their own organization.

  The only good thing Tyla could say was that the dark power attacks on Elantoth had become less frequent. Even so, a feeling of uncertainty prevailed, wearing on everyone’s nerves, especially the breghlin who were superstitious by nature.

  Rimwick hadn’t divulged as much information as Tyla would have liked, but he’d admitted there were cells of Emanicus gnomes scattered across Ahmonell. Using appearance-altering gems to pose as normal gnomes, they met with officials and used dark powers to influence them. Tyla finally understood how The Emanicus had known Mierek was sending Olissa to find S’s gems.

  No one knew whether S was a beetle or a woodspirit, and newssheets were rife with speculation. Woodspirit News and Views said Emanicus gnomes had probably changed her back, realizing she was more suited to leadership than they were. A Mierek publication, The Woodspirit Times, had interviewed S’s sister, Anatta. She admitted to putting a tracking spell on S while visiting her at Elantoth and said it should enable her to find Sheamathan, but it wasn’t working; something was blocking the tracking spell. Gnomes scoffed at that, many going as far as to say Anatta was in league with The Emanicus.

  A few days ago, Tyla had talked to Commander Finnack. He’d told her Marrid had come to see him again and he’d turned her away. His refusal to see Marrid seemed cowardly. Sure, she was one of The Eight, and it paid to be cautious in these dark times, but Finnack was a gem master himself, and he had dozens of officers on hand. He was hardly defenseless, and Tyla couldn’t help losing a little respect for him. She had a chance to rethink her opinion of Finnack and his lack of courage when Parcune came to the office and said Marrid had just arrived and was asking to see Tyla.