by G. H. Duval
“I’ll fetch breakfast. You both need food without delay.” Culari’s voice allowed no discussion on the matter, and he left the room through a side door.
“Breakfast?” Exhausted herself, Wilha looked up from Siare’s drawn face and realized that dawn was fast approaching. Nearly three hours had passed since she’d arrived. “A good night’s work, Daughter.” She patted Siare’s hands before also sinking back into her heavily cushioned chair. “A good night’s work.”
Nine
“I will deliver unto you more than your imagination can bear.”
–Helig R’ad, Teachings of the Great Shepherd
Mina’s shoulders ached. When her mother had first suggested that she could be of help in the shop, she’d been ecstatic. It was not every day that she was allowed to be out front, to see the customers and talk to new people. She had sped through her bath, dressed in a hurry, and nearly choked as she gobbled down porridge and toast.
As she entered the shop and been put to work, however, her exuberance had quickly waned. There was all manner of dusting, sweeping, and oiling to be done. Entirely more than one person should be asked to see to, Mina thought. Entirely too much!
She dipped her rag in the soapy water, rung it out, and set to the last display cabinet. Scrubbing gently, in a circular motion as her mother had instructed, to clean the wood. Once that was done, she would have to dry it and apply the oil, sealing the wood against future dirt and dust. At least for a time, then the entire process would need repeating.
As she set about it, her mind wandered from her task. For the barest of moments, she remembered an image from her dream that morning. It was puzzling. She remembered a man—tall and thin—but he was unlike any man she had ever seen. He was too thin. Too tall. His hair and eyes had been lavender, and where his ears should have been, there were instead long, feather-like protrusions. She supposed they could have been ears, if ears were stretched and pointed…The man’s eyes bore into Mina’s, and as beautiful as he was, she knew he was not to be trusted. He meant her harm somehow.
“They come!” he had warned her. “They come to bear the Mother away!”
She tried to ask him what that meant. Whose mother would be borne away? Was her family in danger?
But he’d only gone silent—silent and smiling. And when she tried to remember what came next, the entire image vanished.
She shook her head. The buzzing, pulsing sensation that preceded her blackouts rose, and she stopped to concentrate. Taking deep breaths, she pictured a box, and into that box she pushed the pulsing red noise that was never far from her—always threatening to steal her mind and send her body into the seizures her family must endure.
After a few moments of this, the ever-present buzzing was as low as she could make it, and she knew she had fended off an episode. Satisfied, she put the strange dream from her thoughts and refocused on her chores.
“Agatha!” she heard her mother call from a display cabinet near the front of the shop. Mistress Agatha was one of her mother’s regular patrons. She rushed over and beamed at Mina’s mother.
“Lena!” she gushed. “I need your help! There’s to be a reception at House Hevlin tonight, and Marlette has been asked to play! She’ll play for the Lady Hevlin, herself! And she’s nothing suitable to accent the new gown we found for the occasion. Do you have anything in red?” she implored.
Mina’s mother smiled, her voice reassuring and calm as she reached across the counter and took Agatha’s hands in her own. As if this were an actual crisis worthy of consoling.
“Of course I can help! In fact, I just finished a new piece a few days ago. It may just be the thing.” She opened the display and brushed her hand across the sparkling pieces within. She selected a piece and placed it on a cushion atop the counter. The brooch was round and bronze with little twinkling garnets set along the outside ring; the center stone was a bright yellow citrine, and it only made the garnets appear to shine more deeply red by contrast. Agatha touched it lightly, running a finger along it. Around and around we go. Mina shook her head, trying to dislodge Agatha’s voice in her mind. She was sure it was Agatha’s voice and not her imagination.
Mina didn’t wish to be rude, but she could not help but eavesdrop on Agatha. The woman was always a boor, pushing her wants and her emotions all over everyone else. The woman never ceased to set Mina’s jaw to clenching. Her stomach to knots.
“Mother,” she called, keeping her voice light, but plaintive.
Her mother glanced over her shoulder, a worried furrow between her brows. Mina hated to see it, hated that she’d caused her mother even a moment of unnecessary concern. But today was special. Today she felt good. Normal. Today, she would speak the truth.
Her mother excused herself politely and the woman at the counter nodded in understanding, muttering something about her own daughter and the demanding nature of girls Mina’s age. As her mother turned to Mina, the woman smiled at her, but her eyes had the look. It was always the same. A mixture of pity and fear.
I should die if Marlette were ever afflicted like that poor child. Doomed to a life of being nursed with no future of courtships, of charming young men, of advantageous marriages. No pretty dresses, or ribbons, or baubles… like this brooch. Marlette will love it. It’s the perfect hue and it’s well priced. Even a bit underpriced, but Lena has so little sense of what her beauties are worth. They come to her so easily…Of course, I’ll have to haggle a bit anyway. It just wouldn’t send the right message to take it at the asking price…
Her mother reached her, bending on one knee to look her straight in the eye. “Mina!” She whispered, sounding anxious and almost angry. It snapped Mina back to herself. “Are you dreaming, dear? You mustn’t do that now. Are you listening, Mina?”
Mina nodded, but instead of answering the questions put to her, she whispered back. “She wants the brooch, mother. She wants it badly. She should pay the full price or not have it at all.” Her brows drew together, and she barely managed to keep from grimacing at Agatha—who had long since forgotten about her and was completed focused on the jewelry in her hands. “She’s not very nice, mother.”
Her mother sighed, something Mina noticed she did a great deal, and glanced over her shoulder for a quick moment. She put the back of one hand against Mina’s forehead. Mina allowed it for a few moments before pushing away, and she bit her lip to keep from saying something impudent. Her mother did not care for it but said nothing.
“You’re not fevered or clammy,” she said after a while more. “So that is the only reason you called me over? To tell me you don’t like one of my customers?” Her voice was chastising, but Mina caught the smile in her mother’s eyes. The relief.
“I feel fine, mum. I swear!” Mina whined.
“Do not swear, young lady,” her mother corrected her, almost absently. “Finish your chores, then you can help me organize the rings. Yes?”
“Yes mother,” Mina agreed, somewhat glum as her truth was once again being ignored. She turned away from her mother and went back to scrubbing the counter.
From behind her she heard her mother say, “Oh Agatha! How could I be so silly?” She sounded embarrassed and very contrite. “I seem to have placed that brooch in the wrong tray. That one is almost two Sovereigns more. I’m so very sorry for the mistake.” Agatha wasn’t very happy about that. She went on and on about how often she visited Lena’s shop and how much it would pain her to have to leave the brooch. Especially with “the big event” this evening. Finally, after letting the woman complain far too long in her opinion, Mina heard her mother say, “Of course, dear. I want you to have it, but I just couldn’t let that piece go for so little. Why don’t we split the difference, and I’ll give it to you for only one Sovereign more? Just for you since you’re such a loyal customer?” And that was that.
Mother had listened! She did that every now and then—listened to Mina’s dreams, or whatever they were. But not very often. She could never quite determine why her mother
believed her sometimes and not others. But that didn’t matter today. Today, she had truly seen Mina. Today, she had believed.
When she had finished sealing the counter with oil, she returned the cleaning implements to the work basin in the kitchen. She stretched and bent, trying to work out the kinks in her shoulders and back from all the bending she had done for the last several hours. Her limbs were far sorer than they should have been from the chores alone, and she suspected that the seizure she’d suffered that morning had been worse than her family was letting on.
If that were true, and they’d all already decided to keep it from her, there was no point asking about it again. They would only continue to lie. She shrugged. She was used to that by now. She decided instead to find Brandin to see what he was up to before helping Mother with the rings.
She found him swinging a purple piece of glass on a gold chain back and forth in front of Corrine. He was forever flirting with the girl. She was the eldest daughter of a well-to-do clothier in Loring Hill, and she had the biggest bosoms Mina had ever seen. She liked Brandin because he never looked at them. And he liked Corrine because she never let him kiss her, even though they both knew she wanted him to. The two caused Mina headaches without fail.
Mina wanted to gain Brandin’s attention, but she knew she’d have to wait until they were done doing…well, whatever it was they were doing. She tried to ignore the nervous feelings they always pushed when they were near one another and moved away from them toward the shop’s front door. At times, a little distance could help.
She was standing next to a large display case that allowed her to hide from Brandin while still watching the door. She settled against the case, getting comfortable for what she hoped would be another session of watching passers-by before her mother noticed that she was loafing. This was, after all, one of her favorite things to do—stand in the sunlight coming through the door and watch those passing by. She was not often allowed to enjoy this, and she would not let it be spoiled by anyone.
She liked to pay careful attention to the faces, as most people did not push their feelings like her family did, and it didn’t hurt to watch. At times, one person might push a little. But since they were strangers, she didn’t mind learning to some small degree what it would be like to live a life so very different from her own. The last time she had been allowed in the shop had been over a month ago, she estimated. The last of the summer days she enjoyed so much.
That last time, there had been one girl who captured her attention more than any other. She had seemed not that much older than Mina, and she had been so happy Mina couldn’t resist listening to her. She had worn a bright yellow dress with matching ribbons in her hair. Mina had fallen instantly in love with the dress. It was clearly new, which was powerful enough, and it had even been in Mina’s favorite color. She had wished to be exactly like that girl, but not because of something as simple as a dress.
The girl had been walking along with her father, and he’d barely even held on to her hand. He wasn’t worried about her at all—wasn’t worried that she couldn’t keep up, or that she would fall, or that she would get lost. He treated her like she was the same as he—healthy and whole. And the best part was that the girl had been blessedly, tantalizingly normal. And she had bounced along the road next to him, completely unaware of how special her life was, talking the whole time. When she did push, her feelings had been easy to understand, simple and uncomplicated. It’s hot, but that’s alright—It’s better than being cold. I’m hungry…we’ll be getting some rock-ginger before we go home, so I won’t say anything to daddy. The candy is our secret—just mine and daddy’s. Mother would be so cross if she knew. That last part had made the girl laugh, a light and happy sound. For at least a week after Mina had seen her, she would lie in bed and pretend that she was wearing that yellow dress. And that any minute, her daddy was going to swing her up into his arms, listen to everything she had to say, and buy her a piece of ginger candy.
She was hoping someone at least as interesting would pass by the door today and immediately got her wish. A very tall man swung from the largest horse Mina had ever seen and tethered him to a nearby rail. His head turned to glance over his shoulder. She thought he must be listening to someone behind him that she couldn’t see, but she didn’t mind. It meant he remained where she could see him longer, and to her, he seemed magical. Like the Fae of legend. He reminded her of Brandin as he also wore a red tunic and had gold rings peeking out from his hands. He, too, had blonde hair, but his hair was much longer and much lighter than Brandin’s. Like sunbeams. Or clouds. Suddenly, he looked at their shop more closely. She guessed he found what he was seeking because he nodded to his unseen companion and moved to enter.
She was so excited that she forgot all about Brandin and Corrine’s silliness and ran right over to Brandin. She began tugging at his tunic with one hand and pointing emphatically with the other toward the visitor. She was beyond happy with Brandin in that moment as he clearly thought the man as special as Mina did.
Brandin’s eyes went wide and round. They shone orange instead of their usual green, and he seemed to have forgotten all about Corrine. Mina thought Corrine would be cross, since she was always after Brandin’s attention, but she wasn’t. She was too busy staring at the man, herself.
Then something even stranger happened. Spring came in right behind the man, and she had another new person with her—a woman with black hair. Mina didn’t think she’d ever seen hair that particular shade before. And behind the woman came a man that Mina could not name, but he looked familiar. He wore a grey robe banded in lavender, and she could have sworn she had seen him once before. But as she tried to recall when or where, the buzzing she was keeping at bay rose and threatened to break out of the box, so she left off.
Spring came over to Mina, with a sad and serious look on her face. She was pushing a lot at once, emotions that seemed to contradict. Fear and hope. Excitement and hesitation. All mixed together. The buzzing rose once more.
Spring got on one knee like her mother had done before and put her arms around Mina quickly before Mina could resist. When she let go, her eyes were moist.
Mina was confused. She wanted to ask how Spring had found these Fae-like people, and how she had gotten them to come here, but there was so much pushing going on she could not complete a single solid thought. There was too much pushing at her.
She put her hands over her ears, but it didn’t help. It never did, but for some reason, it made her feel better to do it. Emotions poured over her, but she understood none of it. Brandin was about to burst with excitement and heat. A lot of heat. Corrine was pulsing with a heavy feeling Mina could not name. And her mother…
Her mother was terrified.
The black-haired woman stepped forward, and though she hadn’t moved much, the look on her face made the rest of those assembled move away from her. She was staring at Mina’s mother and, when Mina turned to look, she saw that her mother was staring right back.
“Lena au Terre,” the woman said, still staring at her mother as if no one else existed in the world. “It really is you. I never thought I would see you again.” She looked as amazed by Mina’s mother as Mina was by her.
“No,” her mother whispered, even though that was, indeed, her name.
“No!” And this time, her mother nearly screamed. She rounded the counter and rushed forward with both palms up, as if she meant to push them all right out the door.
“This is not happening.” She moved to Mina and stopped, pulling Mina behind her, blocking her from everyone else. Mina had to peek around her legs to see what was going on.
“Brandin,” her mother barked. “We’re closing early. Take Corrine home. Then immediately get your father and bring him here. Tell him it is urgent.”
Mina wasn’t sure Brandin heard her, and he didn’t say anything or even move for a few seconds. He was still staring at the blonde man, who was staring back at him with the same orange-tinged eyes and a strange smi
le on his face. Perhaps it was her imagination, but it seemed to her that they were both glowing softly.
“Now!” her mother shouted, and all of the jewels in the shop flared—from dustings to full, round gems—as if each and every one of them had suddenly caught a perfect ray of sun at just the right angle. With that flash came a sudden feeling of pressure, as if a storm were about to blow in.
Brandin startled, grabbed Corrine’s hand, and pulled her through the door. He turned the wooden square that read “OPEN” and pulled the door shut behind him as he left. The jewels were still flickering, mirroring her mother’s anger. The multi-colored light moved in waves of red, green, amber, and sapphire over the faces of the adults who loomed above her. Mina didn’t like the look of it, though she couldn’t say why, and the anger and fear her mother was pushing scared her so much she started to cry. She hated that she couldn’t keep the tears at bay.
“Do you see?” her mother demanded first of the black-haired woman, then took in each of those standing in a loose circle around her. “Do you see what you’ve done?” She jabbed a finger at Spring, “Take your sister upstairs.” Her voice was very quiet now, yet it was more frightening in its intensity, and a stab of alarm moved through Mina.
“Lena,” the grey-robed man said, taking a half step forward. “Sending Mina to her room will not resolve this, I’m afraid. Please calm yourself.”
“Spring,” she said again, even firmer this time, as if the man had not spoken. “You will take your sister upstairs and you will stay in your room with her until I tell you to come down.”
Spring looked stricken. All the color was gone from her face. “Not one word, Spring. Just do as I tell you. Right this very second.” The words were clipped. Full of restrained fear and fury.