The Crystal Curse

by Gin Hollan

  Arabeth glanced at Melanie. Seeing the colour draining from her face, Arabeth stepped forward.

  "I'm sorry, Sir. We don't know your laws, being new to this city. Where we're from, privacy is a concern. There's a lot to take in here, for the first time visitor. We're a little star-struck, as it were, and as such, may be a little more reactive than perhaps is wise. Once we-"

  "Stop." He cut her off. "Your over-protective nature will get others killed. Let me talk directly to our newest would-be criminal." He looked directly at Melanie this time, glowering.

  "Sir, she's-" Clara started, but he interrupted her as well.

  "I know exactly who she is. You can go back to writing your report," he said, his voice stern and low. "I know all of you... but I suspect you do not know me, am I correct?"

  "Sir, I know... of you." Kennen had his hand raised but slowly lowered it.

  He pointed at Sam and Graham. "You wait outside."

  Sam looked like he wanted to protest but thought better of it. He reached out and gave Arabeth's hand as squeeze. "I'll be right outside," he said.

  Arabeth appreciated the gesture, but doubted he'd be able to break through the line of guards as well as get past any technology they had in place. She swallowed hard and fought down the sense of dread, her mind starting to filter through any facts she could use to defend them.

  "Ladies, I understand you are Exiles and this is your first foray out of your homeland. I'm going to give you a letter of passage, and three minutes after you have it, you will leave my city. My name holds some authority in all regions on this continent, you'll find. Before you feel compelled to thank me, associating yourself with my name will align you as one of my people. Do not use it lightly, or I will have you hunted down and dealt with in whatever form that particular tracker chooses to employ. Many of them are former criminals."

  Arabeth looked at Clara for a sign of how she should take this information. The woman sat, leaning forward but her head was raised, looking at them. The barest hint of surprise flickered across her brow, but she gave no other signs.

  "I understand. Thank you, sir," Arabeth inclined her head a moment, then lifted it to see him walking out again, through his small line of thugs.

  "Take yourselves back to the hotel and wait for the letter," he said loudly enough for them all to hear.

  Letting a long breath out, Melanie turned. "That was scary."

  Clara walked over to them. "You have no idea. Also, try not to use the letters if you can help it. I wouldn't say this normally, but he's not one of the good guys."

  "What do you mean? How is he in charge of this place, if that's the case?"

  "You think every leader is voted in? No. He stays where he is because he's not above killing. But you didn't hear it from me," she said, keeping her voice quiet. "He will have seen your quiet caution as subservience. That's why you're getting the letter. No doubt his ego is quite puffed right now."

  "That's a good thing?" Sam asked.

  "It means he'll be looking the other way when I sneak you out of here tonight."

  "But I thought the letter was a good idea," Melanie said.

  Clara shook her head. "The first town you show that at will label you as his chattel, and the news will spread like a plague. You will be hunted or protected, but you'll never truly be safe."

  "And you're doing this because we're related?" Arabeth asked.

  Clara smiled. "It's good you don't trust me. My motives are less than pure. I can't talk about why, but you can trust me more than him. Pack up and meet me by your wagon by 8 pm. We're going to pretend you're shopping for heavy things."

  Arabeth's irritation flared again. Why were people constantly shuttling them around, never letting them stay in one spot for more than 24 hours? Even Sebastian had been ready to suggest they move on.

  Arabeth scratched Marble's head gently, thinking it over as they walked. It was as though everyone assessed their usefulness then decided the risk was too great. Or perhaps it was that they couldn't be bothered with people who didn't understand the way things worked there.

  Now Clara. Why was she really helping them? How would they avoid the cameras?

  // Chapter 20 //

  Back in the hotel, Arabeth waved everyone on to their rooms before going over to the front desk.

  "Can you tell me where people shop here? For clothing and the like. "

  "Yes, Miss. Tell me what you need, and I'll see that it's brought," the young girl behind the counter said.

  "I like to choose my own things, thank you," she frowned.

  "It's been suggested that we aren't serving you up to the standard we ought. Let us do this for you." she smiled. "What do you need?"

  Arabeth accepted the pen and paper the girl held out, and wrote down a quick list with sizes and colours preferred. At the end, she added travel food, like beef jerky and dried chicken for Marble.

  "I'll wait over by Davin," she said as she picked Marble up again. Marble wiggled in protest of being packed around so much lately but settled in a moment later.

  "Yes, Miss," the girl said, looking the list over. "This shouldn't take long."

  At Davin's stall, Sam stood talking to the little horse and petting her neck. Clearing her throat, Arabeth walked over and set Marble down.

  "Next stop could be home, I suppose," he said, not looking at her.

  "That's true. We’ve finally met people who have the capacity to get us there," Arabeth agreed. She didn't want to tip him off that she wouldn't be going back with the rest of them. She still had to stop who ever had attacked Blastborn.

  "I know this isn't going the way you had hoped. We have no clues. There was no trail on side of the mountain and the ventilation shafts would have collapsed.”

  Arabeth looked around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "The one person who said he knew was Sebastian."

  "You're not thinking about going back there."

  "What choice do I have?"

  Sam turned and faced her, turning her as well. "You can't believe you'll be safe going back there."

  "I don't see why not. I'm no threat to him, but if we can work out an arrangement, he might tell me who we're looking for."

  "I don't trust him."

  "I know." She leaned forward and stood on her tip-toes and gave him a peck on the cheek. "Thank you for worrying about me."

  He looked at her, startled.

  "You know me - I can't go back until I know the threat is over," she said.

  "Then neither can I."

  "You won't be able to trick me onto whatever conveyance they're sending us home on, then go off to track these people down on your own. That's not going to happen. You are a detective, but I am a Bail Enforcement tracker. Finding people is my specialty and honestly, you guys are slowing me down. I can't ask the questions I need to ask if I know it's going to cause danger to you."

  Sam sighed and pulled at his collar a moment. "I've been thinking the same thing... maybe we should officially team up. Let's get Melanie and Graham safely on their way and start at the beginning."

  Arabeth nodded. "No double-crossing, by either of us. A proper team. Agreed?" Arabeth held her hand out to shake his.

  "Deal," he agreed, but instead of taking her hand he reached out and took both of her hands, pulling her closer. "Not to pressure you or anything, but have you thought more about my proposition?"

  Arabeth didn't want to admit anything just yet. Even thinking felt dangerous. Still, he deserved as honest an answer as she could manage. "I have but I haven't changed my mind. If I do remarry, you are my first choice. But that's all I can say right now. I can't promise you more."

  She felt Sam relax. She was about to back away when his arms tightened around her just a bit more and he bent down to kiss the crook of her neck. "That's good enough for now," he whispered.

  "I'm not even sure a marriage over here would be legally binding back home," she said.

  "Married before God. That's all I care about. Do we need a priest for t
hat, or would a friar do?” he wondered.

  "Our friar is a conscript, serving prison time there instead of in the military. He's not an actual friar."

  "He's what?"

  "He's a serial thief with a strange sense of justice."

  Sam frowned.

  "He steals what others have first stolen, but instead of returning it, he sells half of it and uses the other half to get them caught by authorities."

  "What an odd ethic," he said, turning his face back into her neck and kissing her lightly. "And paperwork won't matter until you're pregnant.”

  "Okay, we're done talking about this," she said, pushing herself away.

  "Too serious? Too fast?"

  She nodded. Too real. And oh, so tempting. Everything about him seemed designed to please her and that meant he was too good to be true.

  Had he spent so much time around her that he'd found a way to become her ideal? She rolled her eyes. She was making excuses. It's not like he could choose to be her ideal height, body style, eye colour, timber of voice....

  "I'm going upstairs." She looked for Marble and saw her stalking shadows down the hall. Melanie had warned her that Sam changed after Arabeth got married. She wanted to get a good look at what those changes were. "Marble, this way," she called out.

  She had to be on her guard. Here, in the land of potential danger around every corner, the real Sam would come out. She'd be watching.

  "Melanie, how do you define love - the heart one? Not lust. "

  "I left you alone with Sam too long again, didn't I?" Melanie chuckled. "Your purchases arrived." She pointed to a stack of bags on a small table. "I'm going back to sleep. You wouldn't have pain killers in there, would you?"

  "We should get a doctor to look at you. Is it a headache or more of a body ache? We should find Kennen. He says he's a healer."

  "It's all over. I can't move without hurting, but sleeping takes care of it. It's like I'm rusty."

  Arabeth looked through the bags until she found one from the pharmacy. "Here. Pace yourself. You don't want to become dependent."

  "I know," she said, taking the bottle Arabeth pulled out. "How long are they keeping us locked up here?"

  "Clara didn't say when she'd come for us, but it would have to be ahead of the time Mr Weatherstone plans to get us. Why?"

  "I still want to look around. I'm sure I'll never be back here, and it's strangely familiar."

  Arabeth frowned. "Familiar?"

  "Don't worry, but ever since that field, I have impressions of places and people before we even get to them. And... I know this is just the sleepy talking, but now and then I think I can hear voices. No one near us. Just random snips of chatter. They don't make sense."

  "Maybe not. One of the uses for those crystals is long distance communication. I wonder if you're being influenced by them." Arabeth reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the one she'd snuck from Sebastian's field. "Does anything happen when you hold this?"

  "You have an undamaged one," she whispered, reaching out cautiously. Taking it, she put it in the palm of one hand and closed her fingers around it. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she closed her eyes, smiling. "Never mind that painkiller."

  "It's late. Dinner was a couple hours ago. And before you sleep," she pulled a silky blue bundle out of a bag, followed by an ocean green one. "Which do you prefer?"

  Melanie opened her eyes and pointed at the blue one. "What is it?"

  "Some proper sleepwear." She tossed it to her friend. "Change before you pass out."

  Melanie slipped into the bathing room to change, giving Arabeth a chance to change as well. As she unfolded the tunic and pants, she ran her hand over the material and stitching, appreciating the moment. The loose, flowing fabric felt amazing on her skin. She'd sleep will tonight, she smiled. As she straightened the collar and checked herself in a standing mirror, she promised this would go straight into her backpack when she changed.

  Arabeth went back to the bags and sorted the contents into three piles. What was hers, Melanie's, and what was for the common good of the group. She'd had somethings bought for the guys too, including night wear. Hopefully a comfortable, good night's sleep would put everyone in a better frame of mind tomorrow.

  Melanie still hadn't reappeared. Arabeth knocked on the bathroom door. "Mel, you didn't fall asleep in there, did you?"

  Arabeth knocked louder. "Wake up, sleepy. Your bed is out here."

  Melanie eased the door open. "That's only a little embarrassing." She shuffled past and fell over on the bed, head to pillow, hand still clutching the crystal. Arabeth stared at Mel's hand, wondering if she would mind giving it back now that she felt better, and was mostly asleep. Melanie tucked her hands into her stomach and curled protectively around it.

  "Relax, I wouldn't actually take your new pet away." She giggled at the comparison and looked for Marble. The little fox had made itself comfortable on a large, soft chair by knocking a couple decorative pillows over but not off, then curling up behind them. She wanted to get a look at the crystals she had soaking in the wagon. They should be cleared of the toxin by now, right?

  One other thing she'd requested was a guide book to the area. Opening it, she took the seat opposite Marble's. Instantly, she wished for tea and got up again.

  Someone knocked on the door between hers and Sam's room. As she opened it, he leaned in and whispered.

  "I think we should pretend to be married while we're here," he said.

  Arabeth blinked rapidly a moment from the sudden suggestion.

  "You've been drinking. I’ve barely had time to get settled, and you're already in the whiskey?" she said back.

  "You know it’s is more than that. You know I've been your thrall since we were nine years old and I was running errands for your grandfather."

  "And you really mean we should pretend?" She narrowed her eyes, wondering if this was a tactic or cruel joke. He hadn't shown more than a passing interest since their first conversation, months ago.

  "Arabeth, I'm serious. I think you'll be safer. We all will.”

  “Can we talk about this tomorrow?”

  He shook his head. “Let's go somewhere and talk now.”

  A throat cleared behind Sam and he turned.

  “I'm going to go look around. You two can talk here.”

  Arabeth's heart started racing. She didn't want this conversation. Not now. Not ever. The outside door clicked as Graham left. Arabeth glanced behind herself. Melanie was sound asleep again.

  “I'm not ready for this conversation. I know you don't want to pretend, and I think it would be cruel to do that to you.”

  “So let's not pretend.” He reached out and pulled her to his side of the door, closing it behind them.

  She was exhausted and he was making her angry on top of it. She didn't want to talk about marriage again. Ever. To anyone.

  “I'm a good friend. That's how this should stay.”

  “I get it. Your first husband died. That had to be hard on you.”

  “No, it's not that...”How could she make him understand? Maybe he'd give up and find a good wife if he knew the truth about her. “I know the truth about marriage now. It's about money, and connections. It's about perpetuating an estate.”

  “For some, maybe. I'm not like them. My heart went to you the day we met, back when I had no idea about your family or status. If anything is a hindrance, it’s that status of yours.”

  Arabeth felt her teeth clenching and relaxed her jaw. Maybe she should tell him the nasty truth about her marriage. He deserved to know, in a way. He needed to understand why she resisted him. She looked around for his whiskey bottle, hoping they called it liquid courage for a reason. She poured herself a small amount, suddenly not caring to wait until it was in her system, but drinking it nonetheless.

  “Look, Sam... I didn't have the kind marriage people thought I did. I was a prisoner, mostly. I couldn't leave the house unless it was to visit my parents, or run errands. That was hard enough, but.
.. the part that people think is a natural, expected thing in a marriage... he wouldn't approach me in bed. He said..." she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "He said I did nothing to arouse him and I was no one to be seen naked anyway. He married my estate, not me, and I won't let myself be that vulnerable again."

  Sam took one of her hands and led her to a cushioned chair next to a small table before sitting in the chair opposite. "Do you know why they didn't let you near his body, even though you'd heard about the accident and gone to the coroner’s office?"

  "I know he wasn't alone where they found him, and that he had several lovers over the years. We had separate bedrooms but I could hear him leave most nights around two am. The next day, his laundry smelled of cheap perfume and other clichés of the unfaithful man. The only normal part of our marriage was that we still sat down at dinner time. It became routine and we both went on with our lives in that way – he with his work and lovers, me with my gadgeteering."

  She stopped short of the most embarrassing truth - her family had traded her for political gain. But Sam didn't want to just pretend. He had proposed once before, and she resisted.

  “He'd promised to leave me on our seventh anniversary. He was going to fake his death.”

  Sam shook his head. "Arabeth, at the time I had no idea. It wasn't until his death that I knew. You looked happy anytime I saw you in town."

  He was so serious, it caused her already knotted stomach to flip. She finished her drink in one gulp. She couldn’t say she was happy in those moments because she saw him, missed him.

  "I trust you and care about you. I know you care about me, but I'm not sure I can ever be that vulnerable again," she explained. “You are my best friend, and I can't throw my issues on you. You deserve a fully committed, doting wife.”

  "I don't want that," he insisted. “And there have been women who offered.”