Tinderbox Under Winter Stars

by Emma Sterner-Radley

  That’s hindsight talking. Stay calm. Stay focused. What matters now is getting her back. Safe and untouched.

  She cleared her throat and began telling Anja the whole story. All the way from when she had first seen Lady Elisandrine Falk leaning out a castle window, to when they left Ground Hollow, through when she played cards with the Queen, then working her way to their voyage over and finally up to when she just walked in through the door. It was brief but still more detailed than the three-minute version Elise had given Hunter on the Nightport docks. He occasionally hummed and exclaimed as he got the full picture.

  When Nessa had run out of words and sat staring at her hands, Anja hissed. “I’ll tell you now, we’re not letting that tapeworm you call your monarch keep Elise prisoner.”

  Hunter nodded emphatically. “Certainly not. And neither is Elise. She has a backbone of hardened steel. No matter where she is right now, you know she is planning her escape.”

  “Mm. You’re both right. I… simply don’t know what to do. Well, of course I know what I’m going to do – I’ll take the next steamship to Arclid and then get to Highmere where I assume that the—”

  “Tapeworm,” Anja supplied.

  Nessa nodded distractedly. “Yes, the tapeworm is keeping Elise.”

  “But you don’t know what to do from there?” Hunter guessed.

  “Exactly. I can’t barge in and say that I want the love of my life back and just have Elise come sauntering down the stairs and into my arms. Violence won’t work either, that castle is known to be tremendously well-guarded.”

  Nessa stared at her hands again. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Hunter return to chewing his nails.

  “Perhaps there’s a way to get into the castle without being discovered. Or at least without being immediately thrown out,” Anja said, unusually hesitant.

  Nessa looked up at her. Anja was gazing into the distance, her eyes glazed over and the corners of her mouth turned down. She seemed suddenly older.

  That look isn’t only worry over Elise, Nessa realised.

  “Are you all right, Anja?”

  She scowled at Nessa. “Of course I’m not. A person I’m fond of has been kidnapped.”

  “Yes, but…” Nessa started.

  Anja held up a hand. “Fine, I may also not like the solution I am about to suggest.” She blew out a long breath. “I know a person at the Viss embassy here in Skarhult.”

  “What is a Whiss?” asked Hunter.

  “Viss,” Anja said pointedly, “are the people who live in the north of our continent. A more peace-loving and calm people than the Sundes or my people, the Wayfarers.”

  Nessa stood, sensing the tiniest hint of hope in the air. “Yes. The white-haired, pale people. Like the confectioner at the faire. How can this person at the embassy help us?”

  “Her name is Diinna and she is the right hand of the Viss ambassador. She… was meant to marry me a few years ago. Obviously, that didn’t happen.”

  Nessa’s cheeks grew hot. “I s-see. I’m very sorry to hear that, Anja. May I ask how she can help us?”

  Anja shook, as if shedding her discomfort. “The Viss have long tried to overthrow Joiners Square who, as you know, are in an alliance with your Queen. If we’re going to take up arms against Joiners Square kidnapping Elise for the Queen… Diinna is the perfect person to turn to.”

  “Why? Because the Viss are experts on Joiners Square and the Queen?” Nessa asked.

  “Or because they want to take on both the Queen and Joiners Square and therefore we have common enemies?” Hunter suggested.

  “Both. Diinna told me that Joiners Square are officially in talks with the Queen over trade deals. Unofficially, they want something answered and believe that Queen Marianna has the answer. But, the Viss think that Joiners Square also want to spread their… what is the word… dominion over to Arclid at some point.”

  “Right now, I’d almost welcome them in,” Nessa muttered.

  Anja carried on as if she hadn’t spoken. “Meanwhile, the Viss have become more and more vocal about wanting to separate our government from Joiners Square. They’re not alone in that, but for now, Joiners Square is too strong.” Anja paused to run her hand through her hair. “I don’t know what they’re planning, all I know is that they’re not friends with Joiners Square nor their co-conspirator, your Queen. And that Diinna will help me. She owes me that much.”

  There was venom in the last words, and Nessa shot Hunter a glance. Anja fetched her coat and began to get ready; Nessa followed her example. Hunter carefully smoothed down his hair before starting to apply his lush fur coat, fur hat, furry boots, and even a scarf lined with what looked like mink fur.

  He’s taking ages. And looks like he’s wearing two packs of rabbits. I hope the meat was used so those animals didn’t just die for human vanity.

  Anja opened the door and Nessa’s thoughts turned from animal deaths to her own suffocating panic. She saw flashes in her vision and reminded herself to breathe. She had always helped those who needed her, and she had always sacrificed everything for Elise. Now, she would have to find the confidence to do that again. Somehow.

  Stepping off the cable car, Anja explained that Diinna was constantly busy and that they would probably have to wait for an appointment. All while Hunter shrieked with joy as he saw snow fall for the first time. Nessa just wanted to be on a ship. She had finally found something worse than her fear and insecurity: helplessness. Her stomach roiled and ached. She put a gloved hand on it, willing it to calm.

  “It is only a few minutes ahead. You see that one building that isn’t just white? The one with the mint green gables? That is the Viss embassy,” Anja explained.

  “Oh, look, the colours of the building match the flag up there, white with a mint green cross. I like it. Sort of winter-themed, I should say,” Hunter answered, leaving Nessa to her panicked silence.

  She focused on breathing and putting one foot in front of the other, meaning that she wasn’t looking up into the snow-dotted sky. Because of this, she walked straight into a man who had stopped in front of her.

  “Nessa? I thought that was you. Careful there, yes?”

  She looked up at the man. “Master Fabian? What are you doing here?”

  He beamed. “I’m on my way to a restaurant. Meeting a lady friend tonight. One who I hope will be more than a friend soon, yes?”

  Nessa wiped away the snow that was landing on her eyelashes. “I see.” She turned to Anja and Hunter. “Go ahead. Try and get an appointment to see Diinna. I’ll meet you there as soon as I’ve talked to my master.”

  “All right. Don’t delay,” Anja said and trudged on. Hunter smiled at them before hurrying to follow Anja’s much faster gait.

  Nessa shifted her weight from foot to foot. She needed to say goodbye to Fabian. She’d be leaving soon, either to save Elise and settle down somewhere or to help Elise escape and then spend the rest of their lives running and hiding. Either way, she had to leave this life they had cobbled together, including her apprenticeship. It was a conversation she had to have now, but she wanted to hurry away, to be actively doing something to save Elise, not stand here wasting time wondering how to say goodbye. Wondering if she should be honest or tell a lie. She fidgeted with her hat.

  “Nessa? You look like you have ants in your blood. Are you hurt?”

  “No. N-not physically, anyway. I’m… just not sure how to handle this situation. I need to s-say goodbye to you. I m-must leave. I don’t know how much I should tell you and I don’t have much time to explain.”

  Fabian surveyed her with his head tilted. “I see. Tell me only the necessary then, yes?”

  Easier said than done. Short version… think, Nessa… what is the short version?

  She wrung her gloved hands. “Um, well. I n-need to go free Elise, which will anger the uniform monkeys and probably have dire consequences.”

  Fabian laughed as he clapped her on the shoulder. “These are decent things, I think. Go help
your wife and kick those apes in their monkey nuts, yes?”

  Nessa almost smiled. “I’ll try.”

  “Not try, you will do it. And you’ll tell them that Fabian Smedstorp says hello. Also that next time they want my services… they let me make the whole glass palace, not just the dainty bowls. Those big-time glaziers have been boasting constantly about making that palace.” He snorted before adding, “I could grow my business, get machines, and employees, and I could make their glass panes, too.” He scowled and spat into the snow.

  For a moment Nessa could hear Elise’s voice in her head. “Did he just spit in the snow? How crude and unhygienic.” She chuckled sadly and then felt her whole body itch with the need to be doing something, to be helping Elise, to be closing the distance to wherever she was now.

  She took Fabian’s hand. “Thank you for taking me on as an apprentice and for everything you’ve taught me. You’ve increased not only my skillset but my confidence. I’m sorry I must leave before you’ve finished my training.”

  He laughed. “Don’t worry about that. You’re good enough to start learning on your own, yes? Now you only need to practice, practice, and practice. You will get it wrong 499 times, yes? But he 500rd time will be most excellent. You don’t need me to be there for that. Just don’t give up on the glass. It likes you.”

  Nessa had to smile at that. “Thank you. I like it, too, and I like you as well. I’ll miss you.”

  “And I you. Open a hot shop that becomes famous all over the orb, and I’ll come and visit, yes? First making sure you’ve steadied your hand when you open up the glass, like we’ve been practising. Then taking all the credit for your education, yes?”

  “Ha! I think my first masters would dispute your claim. Anyway,” she bit her lip, unsure of how much to say. “There might be some political rumblings around here. Take care of yourself and perhaps speak quietly of having known me.”

  He scoffed. “I always survive. If the uniform monkeys rule Storsund, I’ll teach them not to overlook my skill again. If they’re overthrown, I’ll make the new government love me, support their revolt, and then make all their glass. I land on my paws.”

  “Your feet,” Nessa corrected before squeezing his hand, not an easy thing to do when they were both wearing such thick gloves. Still, she hoped he felt the squeeze and the sincere sentiment attached to it.

  “Thank you, good luck, and goodbye.”

  “Same to you, Nessa Glass. Now, we cannot say goodbye without big bear hug, yes? If you don’t like hugs, better stop me now!”

  In reply, she laughed and hugged him, an instant of respite from the sharp fear and impatience biting in her stomach.

  Then, as he walked away, the respite was over. Her mind’s eye filled with images of Elise. Angry, worried, or worse… crying, trapped, petrified. Nessa set her jaw and took off running through the falling snow, chasing Anja and Hunter into the embassy.

  Chapter 22

  The Konspiratoria

  Something woke Elise. Was that a seagull’s cry? Her eyes struggled to open. Her eyelids felt heavy and sluggish, slow to obey her mind’s commands. Not that her mind was all that sharp, a fog of confusion and sleepiness lay thickly over it. As her eyes finally opened, the light cut Elise and worsened what promised to be a headache of epic proportions.

  This is worse than the time I challenged that duke to a drinking contest in Obeha. Luckily, I do not appear to be wearing a horse racing trophy as a hat this time. Thank the gods for small favours.

  She forced her eyes open a little more and instantly regretted it. Why was she feeling like this?

  “Have I… been poisoned?” she whined, not realising she said it out loud until she heard the words echo around her.

  “Not poisoned,” a voice said. “Only given strong powders to make you sleep and be… happier to come along, yes?”

  Elisandrine’s eyes popped wide open now. There was someone in here with her! Wait, where was here?

  “Who are you? Where am I? This is… not right. Wait, I…” Something cleared in her mind.

  Strong powders. To make me sleep.

  “You beasts! How dare you slip me some sort of anaesthetic? Where was it? In the water you gave me in the carriage?”

  There was a snigger. “So many questions. So much shouting.”

  The speaker came into view. It was the young Joiners Square soldier who had taken her, the one who had defended the cat. Elise looked around but couldn’t see his older colleague.

  “Answer them and I might shout less,” she growled.

  He grinned, his hands in the pockets of his uniform trousers. “I can answer some, yes? I’m Under Lieutenant Anders Dahl. You’re in a cabin on the Konspiratoria, bound for Cawstone. When we have… what’s the word… docked, we will travel to Highmere. You’ll be delivered like a parcel. Hopefully unharmed, yes?”

  “Konspiratoria? A ship. To Arclid. Is it a sail ship?” She asked with a glimmer of hope.

  The under lieutenant snorted. “A steamship, of course. We would not travel on something as old and slow as a sail ship. Not like you backwards Arclidians, yes? Was that how you came to Storsund?”

  She winced. She had hoped they were travelling slower, giving her ample time to figure out a plan before they got to Highmere.

  Or perhaps a chance for Nessa to free me.

  “No. I arrived on a steamship, too,” she snapped, rubbing her temples to clear some of the fog and headache. “I need to use the washroom. I must change my rags.”

  He paled but immediately helped her up, and even handed her the satchel with a diffident bow.

  Moments later, when Elise was climbing back into the bed, she said, “So, six weeks at sea together. I am glad to have a name for you then, Under Lieutenant Dahl. I would tell you my name, but I assume you know.”

  He avoided her gaze. “We were to fetch the woman disguised as Elise Glass. That was all I need to know. A soldier doesn’t ask questions.”

  She quirked an eyebrow. “You were not curious? About my name? Or the reason you are taking me to Highmere?”

  “We’re taking you to the Queen,” he answered defensively.

  “Yes. However, you do not know why. Do you?”

  He stood firmer, avoiding her gaze. “I don’t need to know. I’m a—”

  “Soldier,” Elise supplied. “Yes, I know. Still, a little curiosity is simply human. Especially in someone as young and clearly intelligent as you.”

  A small twitch by his eye was the only reply he gave. It was enough. She knew now that he was curious. She leaned on her elbows to see him better and fought her headache enough to put a hint of flirtatious teasing into her voice. “I could answer your questions, you know? Divulge the secret of why such a big deal is being made of me. And the rush to get me to court.”

  That twitch appeared again. He opened and closed his mouth in a way that made him resemble a fish. “I… I don’t need to know. Joiners Square gives the answers I need, nothing more and nothing less.”

  Curse it. He was not lured in.

  In anger, Elise dropped off her elbows, regretting it the second her head hit the pillow. She peered over to the door.

  He followed her gaze. “You can’t escape through there. The sergeant is on the other side.”

  She groaned. “Of course he is. So, is he the man you were with when you kidnapped me?”

  “Kidnap is an ugly word, yes? You came voluntarily.”

  “Only to make sure you did not batter my head in!” she screamed, rage triumphing over her headache.

  He shrugged, looking down at his feet, discomfort visible in every part of his frame.

  Not fond of violence. Good. I can work with that.

  She rubbed her temples again. “If we are to travel together, we might as well get to know each other. You are a proud soldier of Joiners Square. Were you actually a joiner at some point?”

  “No. Only the first people were joiners. Back when it was an organisation for joiners’ rights at work, yes? D
o you call it union?”

  Elise tried to nod, but it made her head pound worse. “Yes, a workers’ union.”

  “I was recruited a few years ago. When it had grown to a national organisation making our nation thrive and creating a, um, organised society. No more endless talk and wasted time, yes? We get things done.”

  He looked so proud that part of her wanted to laugh.

  Under Lieutenant Dahl smoothed his short blond hair. “So. Yes. Uh, my father was a joiner and part of the organisation from the start. He wanted me by his side, so proud of me being a soldier. Now I serve in his memory.”

  “Your father has passed away as well, then?”

  He looked up, searching her face for a second. “Yours, too?”

  “Yes. My father died when I was young. He was an architect. He worked himself sick for the woman you are forcing me to go to right now.”

  Dahl swallowed visibly. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Elise rubbed at her forehead. “I do not expect you to apologise. You are a soldier following orders. Joiners Square knows best, right? If they say that forcing a woman into slavery to someone she abhors is the right thing to do, you must do it. Correct?”

  His pale cheeks flushed red. He took a step back, as if she had slapped him. “Don’t say things like that!”

  The sound of his shrill voice must have alerted his sergeant. He barrelled through the door, barking questions in Sundish to his under lieutenant. Elise tried to follow the rapid conversation. The sergeant was asking what was going on and Dahl was replying something about having questions. His superior moved close to him and in a threatening hiss said something she couldn’t make out.

  Dahl left the room with unsure steps. Elise was left with the sergeant who was smiling at her. “Couldn’t help but make things difficult, yes? They said you were trouble. They gave me this to help with that.” He took out an oblong box from the pocket of his uniform jacket.