The Gadgeteer Box Set

by Gin Hollan

  She glanced at Sam. Her blood? That was a little ... oddly phrased. The man wasn't planning a blood sacrifice, she hoped, and she had to stifle a laugh at the thought.

  "And this all hinges on what happens in the field?" Graham asked, seeming to have appeared from nowhere. "I think I'll pass. I want a way home, and I'll send people who are better suited to heroics."

  "Even if it makes your tinkering amazing and easier to do?" Arabeth said.

  He shook his head. "Surviving is more my style. I'm allergic to pain."

  "I understand. I will arrange your transport," Sebastian said to him. "The lack of crystal fields to clean our air would be hard on you, although I won't deny I'm disappointed. I have a workshop I'd love to turn you loose in. Your work with explosives is legendary."

  “How do you know so much about us?” Sam snapped.

  “It's hard to explain.” Sebastian leaned back in his chair, seeming unconcerned. “And time will fix that. Stay curious. You'll figure it out.”

  One of the doors to a bedroom opened and Melanie shuffled out. "There's food? I'm starved." She walked a straight line to the buffet table and started eating, hand to mouth.

  Arabeth jumped up and went over.

  "How are you feeling?"

  "Good. Hungry. Tired. In that order. I'm sorry to worry you. It's the heat—and don't say it's a dry heat. Hot is hot."

  "We need to talk about that, actually." Arabeth wondered if she should say anything until later, but that might be too late. "You aren't ill. The lack of crystal fields is creating a toxic level here that we aren't used to. And....” She paused. “Your exposure to one of the only active fields is changing you."

  "That's a relief, to be honest. I feel different. My mind works faster, and my senses are sharper, but it all wipes me out," Melanie said as she started piling food onto a plate.

  "I'm glad you're eating again. When you need the lavatory, it's over there." She pointed. "Grab a plate and join us?"

  "Uh-uh," Melanie mumbled. "I need food then sleep. Sorry."

  "All right. I'll bring you another plate later, before they clear it away."

  She watched as Melanie shuffled back to her room and disappeared inside. Heightened senses would be useful in gadgeteering, but the cost was altering Melanie’s base physiology. It gave her stomach butterflies to think about.

  Back at the table, she looked at Sebastian. Others had come to eat, including Grace, and Arabeth hesitated to ask, but if these crystals were linked to something in her, she wanted to know.

  “How do you know Tanner Stein?” she asked.

  “He's travelled this way. He was hard to miss, actually. You see, the field resonates and tells me things. I know that sounds irrational, but all the same, I know things I couldn't otherwise know. I knew what he was attempting, but I knew your blood would defend you.”

  “Again with the blood,” Sam said. “What do you mean?”

  “Stay curious—”

  “Don't dodge the question,” Sam snapped.

  “It's hard to explain.” Sebastian shrugged.

  “And how do we know this isn't some elaborate confidence game?” Graham asked.

  It almost seemed he'd appeared out of nowhere when Sebastian looked at him.

  “This is all way too serious all of a sudden.” Arabeth smiled, not wanting the situation to escalate. “Can I go out there tonight?"

  “Arabeth, wait," Sam said. "Are you sure about this?"

  Graham simply stared at her, mouth open.

  "Indeed, but your friend's caution is warranted. As the first person to walk through them after they rested a full year, you will get the highest possible exposure. There is a chance ... or rather, there is a higher chance that your reaction will be extreme—stronger than your friend Melanie's reaction.” He returned her smile.

  "It won't kill me, though, or change who I am, right? My personality and core values will remain intact?" Melanie had gone through a field this man said was basically untouched. “Give me one good reason to expose myself to that kind of change.”

  "You will live and be yourself. You will be a truer version of yourself. If it were not a moral obligation, it would be a personal one. This is the double-sided edge to your status. It is like any form of power—an abundance of it will make you more of what you already are.”

  “Sure, sure. What's the downside?” Graham asked.

  Sebastian smirked as he continued. “There is always a chance that things will go badly—in extreme cases, gravely. You should know that at the outset. The odds are less than 2 percent that you would lose the keenness currently in your senses. In fact, you could have fingers that barely feel, ears that barely hear, and so forth."

  Arabeth chuckled nervously. "I can always go into banking, to the endless joy of my father. He has wanted that for years now."

  "Since you are duly warned, when the meal is complete, meet me at the back gate."

  "Are you sure you don't want to sleep on this?" Graham asked, his voice hushed. “Would you be all right if you had to stop Making?”

  "The odds aren't bad. I've worked with much worse." She turned to look at Sam. "Aren't you going to oppose me as well?"

  "Once you've made your mind up to do something, it would take an act of God to change it."

  "You could try too, Sam. Imagine what heightened senses and quicker thinking would mean for your police work."

  "That's what Melanie has now?” Graham stared. “Who would resist that outcome? Send me in, too.”

  “It will be better if only one of us at a time do this," Sam said.

  "It's decided, then." Sebastian clapped his hands together once. Standing, he picked up his dishes. "Let us meet at the back gate in twenty minutes."

  Arabeth stole a look in Grace's direction, noting an unexpected nonchalance in her expression. She was suddenly too nervous to eat and stood to clear her dishes.

  When Sebastian left, it was as though his people were cued to leave as well. Too bad, Arabeth thought. She wanted to hear their perspective on what the field was capable of.

  “You're going to trust him?” Sam asked.

  “I think so. He's been open about his objective, and the risks. Moral obligation aside, the reality is that we don't know what's going on. This may feel like a shortcut, but it may also be the only way to understand our history, and our future.”

  The silence at the table was thick. She could see protest in both Sam and Graham's eyes.

  “I'm doing this, but neither of you are obligated to assist or watch.”

  “I'll be going with you,” Sam said.

  “I’ve changed my mind. I'm not having any more to do with this witchcraft,” Graham said.

  Arabeth rolled her eyes. “That is your prerogative.”

  She turned and walked away, putting her dishes in a bin sitting on a small table near the buffet.

  Sam dropped his in as well.

  “Thank you, Sam. You're a good friend.”

  “I'm more than a simple friend, you know.”

  “Of course you are, but.... You know what I mean.”

  He smiled. “I'm messing with you. Relax. You need to be clear-headed and rational. I won't get in the way of that.”

  Impulsively, Arabeth turned and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Thank you.”

  // Chapter 12 //

  THE SUN WAS starting to set as they walked out through the back of the castle. Graham refused to come with them, saying he'd seen a crystal field once and that was plenty. Grace had also bowed out, citing chores that should not be delayed. Sam hovered inches away, silent. Sebastian hummed, carrying a small brown journal and ink bottle. Arabeth presumed the pen was in his pocket.

  They stopped at the edge of the field. The entire patch was overgrown with grass and wildflowers, nearly obscuring the crystals until the wind shifted.

  “These crystals are much smaller than the ones in the other field. Will that matter?" she asked.

  “Their strength is not determined by their s
ize," Sebastian explained.

  "Oh." Arabeth shivered, suddenly nervous. She took Sam's hand and smiled. "I guess I'll see you on the other side."

  He nodded. His face was calm, but she checked his eyes. Yes, he was worried. He wouldn't be the Sam she knew if he wasn't.

  "Stay to the middle of the path. We don't want you getting impaled on the way down, even if you will quickly heal from it," Sebastian said.

  "Is there anything you haven't told me that I should know before I go in?" she asked. Yes, she was stalling, but why hadn't she asked that one sooner?

  "I am learning as we go, too." He opened the notebook and withdrew a pen quill. "Whenever you're ready, Arabeth. Sam, you'll be the one to retrieve her. Let her fully collapse and lay for about five minutes. We may need to give these crystals a bit of time, because they're young. I'm not sure if being surrounded by trees, as they are here, instead of out in the open will have bearing."

  Arabeth nodded and stepped onto the path. Behind her, she heard Sam take a sharp breath and hold it. Three steps in, the crystals began to radiate the coloured mist they'd seen around Melanie. Arabeth copied Melanie's motion, raising her arms and breathing in deeply. An odd sense of peace filled her and she relaxed. She turned to look at Sam, wishing he could feel this. She'd have to talk him into trying it, too.

  The air around her cleared, sharpened. She held up one of her hands and looked closely. It was as though she wore Graham's specialty goggles, showing her the blood vessels and varying tissues under the surface. A scent caught her attention and she turned toward it. Inhaling, she identified seven different aromas mixed together.

  The air around her felt hot and her knees went weak. She felt herself sink slowly to the ground, wondering why her senses seemed to leave her, hovering outside herself for a moment. This moment, so foreign to her in every way somehow. Chemistry could help or hinder, harm or heal. Her vision faded and she found herself in a dream.

  * * *

  Arabeth woke on a fluffy mattress in a dim room. Marble and Melanie both hovered until they saw her sitting up and both came over.

  "You are crazy, you know that?" her friend scolded. "I'll get Sam."

  “How long did I sleep?”

  “Not long. Maybe an hour.”

  “Why am I awake?”

  “That was one of the possible outcomes. I don't know if it means anything, but trust me, the sleeping-all-the-time thing is not fun.” Melanie pulled the door shut as she went out.

  Arabeth turned to put her feet on the floor. She paused a moment as understanding sank in. She was immune to the crystal field’s effects, it seemed. Even in the dim light of the half-turned lantern, she could tell. None of her senses gave extra depth to her understanding of the space she was in, or the things surrounding her.

  Sam hurried in and took hold of one of her hands. "How do you feel?"

  "I'm back to plain old me." She smiled weakly, trying not to let her disappointment get the better of her.

  "Seriously? You went down like a load of bricks," he said.

  "At first there was a difference, but it's like I slept it off. I'm not even exhausted, like Melanie was."

  "I'm glad, Arabeth. This may seem like a boon, but trust me, it’s closer to a curse. There are voices in my head sometimes. I think I'm going crazy. When Graham heads out in the morning, let's all go home with him."

  Arabeth was too disappointed to argue. Her goal to find their attacker seemed a vague, pointless endeavour right now.

  "Heather and Mabel left this morning. There's nothing holding us here now," Melanie added.

  She nodded. “Wait, where did they go?”

  “I'm not sure. Grace told me,” she said.

  "What are you thinking?" Sam asked.

  “It's bad timing. I wanted to talk to Heather. There's more going on here than hidden crystal fields and a lack of national governance.”

  “We could follow her,” Sam suggested.

  “No, I don't think so. I want to go home, as fast as possible. Standing in that field.... It was like finding something you didn't know you needed. Now that it's gone, I really don't care to be here." She sighed. "Home is what I need. Once I'm back in my workshop, I'll be happy."

  Melanie nodded. "How could it be temporary?"

  "My luck, I guess." Arabeth didn't want to think about it.

  "You know, I've never fit in back home,” Melanie said. “But here, I've got this great gift and direction. At least you would have known what to do—design and build amazing things. Going back home gifted may feel like falling into a box. Yes, it's a familiar, comfortable box, but there's no direction. If I thought I didn't fit in before, how can I hope to now?" Melanie grumbled.

  “So, you want to stay? Find your place here?” Arabeth asked. She hadn't expected that. "You've always had a heart for helping. Maybe you should go into medicine, or pharmaceutical development."

  "Pharmaceutical? Me, doling out medications?"

  "Or developing remedies. Blastborn is surrounded by farmland on two and a half sides."

  "Maybe."

  "All I'm saying is, you'll excel at whatever you put your mind to. Now that things will come more easy to you, pick something that's a challenge, so you don't get bored and frustrated."

  "Like you when it comes to banking?"

  Arabeth nodded.

  "Can I say ... I'm glad you're back to being yourself. You weren't suited to banking and that was a possible outcome," Sam said, still holding Arabeth's hand.

  "I'll think about it. There has to be something I find compelling, right?" Melanie smiled.

  The other two nodded.

  "Don't tell anyone I'm 'normal' until later. I'm sure they'll be disappointed, but if it means we've worn out our welcome, I'd rather have another good meal in us before they send us packing."

  Arabeth wanted to lie back down and sulk just a bit. The sooner she acknowledged those feelings and worked through them, the sooner she could move on. That was her theory, at least. She tried to laugh at the absurdity of it. "Why would I grieve the loss of something I never really had?"

  "What if we all stay on this side of the mountains? Maybe not for long, and definitely not Graham—good riddance to him—but there is a lot to learn over here. Blastborn's population keeps growing and people will need somewhere for people to go. We can stay and fix our reputation," Melanie said. She looked at Arabeth. "This may be providence. Weren't you complaining that you needed access to raw materials and a proper smelting shop, instead of reworking parts shipped in with the other supplies?"

  "I know there is a bigger picture here, but we just got here, really. We need to think this through, get the facts.” Arabeth nodded. “I agree, and I want to see what other knowledge our ancestors conspired to keep from us … but not without a plan."

  “What kind of plan?” Sam asked.

  "I'm nearly broke after buying the supplies and I'm sure my spy-maven mother must know where we could be the most effective here."

  “Spy maven? Your mother?”

  Arabeth laughed at the look of surprise on Melanie's face as she looked from Arabeth to Sam, who nodded in response.

  “Long story, and I only found out recently. She runs a spy network, and with no one really to spy on back home, I have to believe they've been coming over to this side of the mountain” Arabeth said.

  "Look, I'm tired. Let's talk after breakfast. I'm going to nap until they call us," Melanie said.

  Arabeth clamped her teeth together. Every time Melanie was about to lose an argument, she found a way to delay, bow out, or otherwise avoid saying someone else was right. Why was she so stubborn? Melanie threw her covers off and sat up. Someone had removed the outer layer of her clothing, leaving her in her shirt and undergarments only. She snapped the covers back over her legs.

  "Sam, out." She pointed at the door.

  He chuckled and stood. “I'll wait outside.”

  Arabeth remembered to put salve on her heels then dressed as though she were leaving, tuc
king her pistol inside a long pocket on the inside of her jacket. At least they hadn't disarmed her. It wasn't much of a weapon, but it had started to feel necessary.

  Out in the hall, the tables were set and ready for food to arrive. Either someone was an early bird, or they pre-set it last night, she thought. Checking her pocket watch, she noted it was nearly five a.m. Sam waited on a padded wooden chair just outside her room. Had he sat out here on a chair all night, waiting for her to wake up?

  “Ready?” he asked.

  She nodded as he stood.

  Soon the area became active, with people bringing in serving containers set over candles to keep the food warm. No doubt the rest of the castle would be coming to life shortly. As one of the younger servants walked past, Arabeth caught her attention.

  "Excuse me." Arabeth smiled. "We arrived with two other people—a woman and her daughter. Do you know where they went?"

  "Do you mean Mabel and her mother? They went to Owen." The girl bowed and turned away.

  “Wait—who is Owen?” Arabeth asked.

  The girl giggled. “Owen is a city.”

  “Oh,” Arabeth mouthed.

  Arabeth and Sam wandered the castle, not talking. Occasionally she caught a worried glance from him. She didn't want to think about why he still seemed concerned, instead distracting herself with their surroundings.

  She was impressed with how comfortable it had been made. She'd heard castles were drafty and, in places, quite damp and odiferous. She encountered none of that unpleasantness here.

  In a sitting room along what she imagined to be the east-most wall, she found Sebastian standing in front of a bookcase talking with a younger man. She rapped lightly on the door frame. Neither turned.