by Gin Hollan
The younger man was dressed in what was turning out to be the common clothing here: hip-length tunic and loose leggings, but not quite trousers. If she had to guess, she would think him to be Sebastian's son, having the same general countenance and bearing. Suddenly she realized she was staring and turned away.
“Let's head back to the tables. They may have started serving.” Sam softly took one of her hands and pulled her away from the door. She felt heat rise up her cheeks but let him lead the way.
"Ah, there you are." Graham greeted them from a chair, his plate stacked as though he may never see food again. Arabeth quickly filled her plate and went to sit in the chair across from him.
"So, how are you? You're wide awake, so I'm guessing the experiment failed?" Graham continued.
"It's odd," Arabeth started. She looked around, wondering how much to say. "It started exactly like Melanie, but went away, as though my body rejected it."
"That's going to disappoint our host, no doubt. Will you be journeying home today, then?" he asked through a bite of egg on toast. “Both of you?”
Arabeth nodded. "Melanie may stay. She wants to test and see if we'd be welcome on this side again."
“And you? Don't dodge the question.”
“She has a valid point, and I'm curious. It would be wise to get people more accustomed to spying to do it, though.”
"Ha!" Graham barked. "Her mind's been addled by those crystals. That's what this is."
Arabeth could only shrug as she started eating. Her own plan was far more dangerous. Ditch them all and track down their attacker's associates.
They were nearly done eating when Sebastian and several others came in to eat.
"Good morning! This is a great day for us,” Sebastian announced. “I want to extend my personal gratitude to Miss Arabeth Barnes. Her walking the crystal field last night was an act of bravery and we owe her a debt. Now we can move on to the next phase of our work. Enjoy your meal; eat well. The work is about to begin in earnest."
Confused, Arabeth looked at her companions. They each shrugged back.
Had he hoped she would not transition? What did that mean?
She stood and went over to talk to him as he filled his plate.
"You do not seem disappointed that I didn't transition," she said.
"No, indeed, my dear. That is exactly what I had anticipated. You had full exposure, gained abilities, yet did not fully turn. The modifications I've made to the soil those crystals grow in worked. You changed, but it faded shortly after. That was perfect. Now I can focus on lengthening the amount of time the abilities remain within a person. This is barely phase one. I hope you will stay for phase two. I would like to see how a susceptible person is affected by the next crop, but better yet, make some friends while you're out and bring one back. If we're going to roll this out to the larger market as a productivity boost, I need to find a way to make a crystal that the non-susceptible benefit from."
Arabeth had no words; she simply stood there, her mouth agape. As she regained her composure, she nodded. "Ambitious indeed. This could take years." He wanted people to gain the benefits Melanie had, but only temporarily. “That's quite the business model.”
"It may take years, but I would rather get it right." He looked at her with a twinkle in his eye. "Then again, it may not. Most of the crystals you walked among were synthesized. I've been adding nutrients to the soil to improve the speed they grow at. Fragments grow to that size in weeks instead of months."
"Brilliant.” She nodded. “And interesting, but I'd better let you eat. Thank you." She bowed slightly to excuse herself and went back to her seat.
His plan was either brilliant, or mad. Was Sebastian’s experiment normal, or was he to be feared? She couldn't quite decide. Either way, he'd helped cement her decision. She wouldn't be going back today. How could she trick Sam into leaving without her, though?
Arabeth looked at Melanie, hoping she didn't mind sleeping in the back of a wagon again … unless Heather and Mabel had taken it when they left. It was probably theirs anyway, Arabeth thought, sighing.
"You have a lot on your mind," Sam said.
Arabeth just nodded. Their host wanted her to find other potentially susceptible people and bring them back to be experimented on. She had no intention of bringing him anyone. She had to tell someone, though. The authorities had to be warned ... if there were any for this area, she thought, remembering what Sam had learned.
"We have to go, after breakfast. I want to follow Heather and see why she didn't stay."
"Hey, that's right!" Melanie said. "That woman, Grace, talked like Heather and her daughter had been planning to come here."
Each of them glanced at Sebastian. He sat laughing and talking at one of the larger tables. Clearly, it was a good day for him.
“How are they getting you home, Graham? Has anyone said?” Arabeth asked.
“No.... Truth be told, I've looked around. There are no train tracks, no long-distance wagons. It's got me unsettled.”
Arabeth covered a smirk.
“I know, I know—what doesn't have me unsettled, right? Well, this is different. You all can't stay behind. Trust my nerves this time. Let's just load the wagon and get out of here.”
“He has a point,” Sam said.
“I agree. But I want one last look at the crystal field.”
“Why? Is there something different about them?” Melanie asked.
“I'll tell you later.” It was probably better that way. Melanie was a product of the old crystals. She might be offended by his experiment … or worse.
// Chapter 13 //
ARABETH PRETENDED to wander as though lost in thought. Sebastian's business acumen could not be faulted, but something about it felt unsavoury. He was manipulating a natural resource to fuel a long-term income, but putting people in an almost addicted state to do it. What other lines would he cross along the way?
She stopped behind the castle, staring at the crystal field. What had he changed, exactly? These crystals seemed like the others. How could anyone tell the difference? If she could find his lab, she could talk to his assistants. They should be allowed to answer cursory investor-level questions.
At the edge of the field she crouched down and touched one of the blue crystals. There was a slight tingle in her fingertips. An impression of thought came from it, but it felt muted, like the crystal wanted to speak to her but was somehow restrained. Frowning at the odd thought, she touched a red one this time.
Sensations of sadness, rage, and the feeling of being trapped came from this one. Marble nudged Arabeth's side then put her paws on Arabeth's arm, nudging her again. Realizing she was starting to echo the shard's feelings, Arabeth snatched her hand back from the crystal, but didn't stand. Feelings? From a piece of rock?
"Interesting," she muttered, at once confused and intrigued. She reached out to touch a different crystal, slightly larger than the others. It mirrored the impression she got from the first one—despair, muting, hindrance. This one also carried the impression of separation, of death. Arabeth stood up and backed away. What could that mean?
"They are beautiful, aren't they?” Sebastian said, walking up to stand beside her. “I can't tell you how many hours I've spent just staring."
"With your augmented vision, they must look amazing in the sunlight. What happens when you touch them?" she asked. Had he been watching?
"I'd appreciate it if you don't make actual contact. They need to rest. I want them ready for phase two, and for that they should remain undisturbed." She caught the slight tremor in his voice, but he acted indifferent.
Based on the crystal’s interaction with her, she got the impression that something about him worried them, scared them. Wasn't that an odd thing to say? What she'd just experienced intimated these were life-forms. If they could think and understand the nature of their existence, even share their thoughts, they were not simple crystals. They were self-aware and perhaps even intelligent, even if only barely.<
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She wanted to challenge Sebastian on this. She had myriad questions coursing through her mind right now, wild in the aftershock of shared emotion.
Choosing the wiser course, Arabeth simply nodded. "They are curious things.” Turning, she smiled at him. “Is there something you need me for?"
"Yes, well, I was wanting to send your friend Graham on his way, and thought you might want to say farewell."
Arabeth pulled out her pocket watch. "I didn't realize it was that time already." She laughed.
He took her elbow as she walked away from the field, as though guiding her away. After this, he would definitely control her access to the crystals. That was fine. She had seen what she needed to. Her new goal was to find his lab. Maybe she should talk a bit about her ability to invest, not simply act as a guinea pig.
As she stuck a fist in one of her jacket pockets, she bumped into something new. Opening her hand, she recognized it as a crystal. How had that gotten in her pocket? It wasn't there earlier, she was certain. Rolling it between her thumb and fingertips, it seemed to resonate, as a cat might purr. As it did, Arabeth felt her senses heighten, as they had last night. She let the crystal settle back into the bottom of her pocket, wiggling it until it sat below her pocket watch.
She looked for Marble and as usual, her little friend was walking nearby. Arabeth realized she hadn't been giving the fox much attention lately and stopped to pick her up. As was her habit when thinking over potentially troublesome things, she rubbed around Marble's ears and gave her neck a scratch, using that time to consider her options.
Graham was going home. Maybe they all should, or at least pretend to. Truthfully, she wanted to go back to the first crystal field and compare those to the one in her pocket. She also wanted to find out what her country thought of the history lesson she was given by Sebastian, and how they viewed crystals.
"Sebastian, I appreciate your hospitality and the generosity of allowing me to participate in your project, but I think I should go as well." Would Sebastian believe she was homesick?
"Ah.” He continued to walk, his tone and step remaining even. “You're disappointed."
"A little, but really, seeing you hard at work on your own project has left me feeling neglectful of my own. I need to stay on track. And after last night, I don't feel ... entirely like myself. I'm ... slow."
"I had noticed something was off about you. Do you think rest will be enough?"
“It couldn't hurt.” She shrugged. "Also, I think I'd like to become one of your investors. My family is business-minded, and this venture has real potential.”
"I see."
He seemed to want her to say more, but she refused. The knot in her stomach grew and tightened. Why did her nerves always go to her gut?
Suddenly he laughed. "I want to give you some information in exchange for putting yourself at risk yesterday.”
“Oh?”
“Your search for Tanner Stein will lead you to the king. I am not sure you are prepared for that battle.”
Arabeth stopped and stared at him. She'd given up trying to figure out how he knew so much about her and her friends, but this was a surprise.
“Care to elaborate?” She spoke slowly, being careful to not show her temper.
“Oh, come now. Surely you want to avenge the attack on your city, or some other pseudo-noble goal. I'm saving you time and trouble. Find the king and you will find your answers.” He patted her on the head. “Your group is waiting, and the horse and wagon are ready," he said, changing topics abruptly. "I am curious if you'd be interested in being one of the participants in the next series? I'm going to plow these under and regrow with the modified soil."
"Thank you for your hospitality, but no. I’ll pass.” She said the expectedly perfunctory words, getting more anxious to leave by the minute.
This man had known their names and backgrounds before sending Grace to meet them on the road. He would continue keeping an eye on them, no doubt. But how was he doing it?
In the entry courtyard, the wagon stood, horse and all. Her friends looked ready to go.
"We have a map this time." Melanie smiled, holding up a large folded paper. "The hard part will be getting into Owen without being stopped."
"Owen?" Arabeth frowned. "How far is it?"
"It's the first town on our side of the map." Melanie shrugged. "There's one favour we need to do, in exchange for the map, but it's on our route," She added. "There's a box in the back for us to drop off at a friary we'll be passing."
"Simple enough." Graham slipped his backpack off and dropped it in the back of the wagon as it started rolling.
“And are we in Vensay? This country is called Vensay. Do we know who the king is?” She looked back over her shoulder as they walked out. This seemed too easy, after all the kindness shown. A man with a mercantile mind should have tried to turn a profit. She double-checked her satchel, just in case.
“It is Vensay, but I had no idea they were a monarchy,” Melanie said. “That's pretty old-fashioned, right?”
Arabeth stopped rummaging through her satchel. “Well, that figures,” she snipped. "I knew that was too easy."
"What?" Graham and Melanie both said.
"My listening device is gone."
“They stole it?" Sam asked, looking irritated. "What do you want to do?"
"Nothing. It wasn't calibrated. I threw it together, just in case."
"So, it won't work?" Graham asked.
She shook her head.
"I say we look in the box and see if there's something worth taking a closer look at," Melanie said. “Since they stole first.”
"That's your choice," she answered. “But I'm not robbing friars because of Sebastian's people.”
“Fine, but I'm still curious,” she said.
Arabeth stopped the wagon and Melanie went around and climbed up inside the back. A moment later they heard a loud gasp and a thud as she hit the ground. Running to the back, Arabeth saw Melanie staggering back to her feet behind the wagon. She lifted the back flap and looked in. Several hundred crystals sat there, each a dull white with a low red glow at the core.
Arabeth reached for the crystal in her pocket and rubbed it between thumb and forefinger again. Her vision, hearing, and sense of smell increased. She lifted the crystal out and moved it closer to the box. As she did, dread filled her. It was no wonder Melanie reacted to it—these crystals were toxic. This was the equivalent of a death threat. She quickly put her own crystal back in her pocket, trying to calm herself.
"This is...." Arabeth couldn't find the words.
"It's barbaric. That's what it is." Melanie spat the words.
"What? Why? It's just a box of those crystals," Graham said.
"No, there is something inside these ones—something deadly. I can see something odd about them.… A hidden property," Arabeth said.
"Can we bury them? We have to get rid of them somehow," Melanie insisted.
"Well, it's a weird thought, but water. Let's soak them in water and see what happens," Arabeth said. “Start with the simplest solution.”
"Water? Why?"
"That red colour makes me wonder if they are hot in the middle," Arabeth said. "They may steam and boil at first, but at least the wagon will be safe."
"You can see that, too?" Melanie asked. "Can either of you?" She directed the question to Graham and Sam, looking at them.
"Nothing looks out of the ordinary to me," Sam said. “They're plain white crystals.”
Graham pulled down his goggles and took a closer look, flipping each of the five sets of lenses down one at a time, then trying combinations. "They do seem a little different, but I can't tell how."
Arabeth had already pulled out an oilskin she'd filled with water and started pouring it over the crystals. The steam built slowly, but soon the entire canopy was filled with it and the shards sparked up out of the water, causing her to flinch away more than once. When her flask was empty, she went to pull her pocket crystal out, but
it seemed to resist.
"More," she said. "We need more water. Melanie, does that map show a stream or other water source anywhere?"
"Oh, right." Melanie pulled it out and unfolded it, checking as she did. "I think if we go that way, we'll find something." She pointed along the road, then away into the trees. "Didn't you teach Marble to find water?"
"It's on my list of things to do."
"Well, the wagon can't go in there and the box was heavy when they loaded it. I say we follow the road and take every turn that goes that way."
"Someone close it until we get there," Melanie said, her posture making it clear it wouldn't be her.
Arabeth looked at Sam, hoping he'd volunteer. He gave a half smile and went to close the lid. He paused before closing it completely. "Maybe we should leave it open. This thing is pretty hot. I'd hate for it to burn down the wagon," he said.
"Open or shut, we need to move fast," Melanie said, map out in front of her as she marched past.
// Chapter 14 //
THE ROAD WOVE too slowly for Arabeth. A foul smell wafted by now when the wind shifted. She knew it was from the box. Handing the lead rope to Sam, she went to make sure nothing needed immediate attention. Hauling a box of corrupted, angry crystals made them all anxious, including the horse.
As she walked, she stayed to one side of the thin line of liquid that now dripped from the back of the wagon. Graham joined her, walking on the outside, farther from the wagon.
"Let's talk it out," Graham suggested. "If you were in your lab, how would you dispose of a toxic and potentially damaging substance, like something radioactive?"
"Put it in a lined metal box and mark the half-life on the outside."
"And then?"
"Take it to the warehouse, for long-term storage."
"Right. What if you didn't know how long that half-life was, and had none of those resources...."
Arabeth sighed. "Well, I wouldn't deliver it to a group of unsuspecting monks."
“This may be an expected delivery.” Graham chuckled. "And they may have disposal methods we don't know about."