On the Verge (A Charmed Life Book 1)

by Joseph Bonis

  During the more leisurely-feeling drive back home, and especially the filling-up of the gas tank, Tracy considered how much she'd been driving lately. Usually she took the bus - it was cheaper, and while it took a little longer, it gave her a chance to relax and think about things. Often she would bring a paperback along so she could read, but she'd missed her stop a few times that way. Despite the extra time, she didn't feel quite so impatient about getting to where she was going when she wasn't behind the wheel, and that extra peace of mind really mattered to her.

  She idly wondered how much of the stress of the last few days was from her world turning upside down, and how much was from the much more mundane source of dealing with traffic and bad drivers.

  She pulled into her underground parking space when she got back to her apartment, and thought about it only briefly before skipping her apartment entirely and heading right down the street to Schrödinger's. Her rumbling stomach had a lot of influence on the matter - the fruit had helped, at church, but she still was terribly hungry.

  At first, she ignored the pressure, the soft press on her mind that told her another wielder was nearby, because she knew there was - his name was Hans, and he was up ahead, running Schrödinger's. As she got a little closer, she realized the pressure in her mind was less like when she had approached Shroedinger's last, and more like when she had approached the arena. She was pretty sure there was more than just Hans waiting at the restaurant.

  She looked warily around as she entered, trying to sift through the new and conflicting sensations running through her mind. The other wielders had to be somewhere, but there were too many to sort through the sensations. With one person, it was easier, but with so many, she was just getting confused.

  She hadn't gotten more than a few steps into the small restaurant when a man in a suit stepped out of one of the small side areas and gestured to her. “This way, Miss.” She wasn't sure what to make of it, but decided to take it in stride and be ready for anything.

  The area held three tables - only one was occupied, and the man at the opening was probably making sure the other two would stay empty. At that table were Lord Pax, Lord Brin, Jacob, and one other man in a suit that Tracy didn't recognize. They fit in rather tightly around the one small table, especially because they were leaving one spot open for her, and one spot open, she would assume, so that the two sides would not be sitting next to each other.

  “Ah, Tracy!” said Lord Pax, “I'm so glad you got my message and could make it!”

  Tracy did her best not to let her surprise show on her face. “My apologies, Lord Pax,” she replied. “I'm afraid I did not receive your message - I have not been home all day. I left earlier this morning in some haste, and have not returned since. What message did you leave for me?”

  “Ah,” replied Lord Pax, “it was merely a request to meet here to discuss the details of our duel. It is traditional to handle that sooner rather than later.”

  “Of course,” Tracy, giving a small, polite smile. “I had thought we had agreed to handle that tomorrow. It is simple fortune that I happen to be here at the right time. Allow me to hang up my coat, and I shall return swiftly.”

  “Please,” offered Lord Pax, “Allow my man there to take your coat for you.”

  Tracy glanced at the man in the suit standing just outside the small area, and shook her head. “No, thank you. I feel more comfortable doing it myself.”

  Really, she just needed a moment to compose herself. She did not want to allow Lord Pax to put her off her game, and that meant she needed just a few seconds to gather her thoughts and prepare.

  She took off her light coat, which she had taken more out of habit than out of any real need, then stood for a moment with her eyes closed as she cleared her mind. Her Aikido meditations were very useful in keeping her calm in many situations, but not as useful for confrontation. When she was called upon to present herself before someone, or speak to a group, she'd developed her own sort of mental preparation.

  She always felt better if she was dressed the right way for what she was doing. When that wasn't possible, she found she could make herself more comfortable by picturing, down to the last detail, the clothes she wished that she was wearing. For this case, a variety of outfits flashed through her mind, many involving armor, many involving really old-fashioned garb with lots of skirts. Finally, however, she settled on tall, folded swashbuckler boots, tight leather pants tied at the waist by a simple leather thong, and a billowing white poet's shirt laced loosely up the front. She mentally tied up her hair with a plain black cord, and just for good measure, she added a gleaming silver rapier at her hip, taking a moment to fix in her imagination the curves and patterns of the intricate basket.

  Prepared now, she turned and walked back down the bent aisle of the small restaurant, making her way back to the table. She was aware that her walk had shifted from her normal quiet step to a confident, rolling, and balanced stride, ready to spar.

  The men looked up as she got back to the table, and Lord Brin blinked and shook his head with a quick, uncertain little movement. She felt a slight tingling in her mind as he looked at her again, and without any hesitation or doubt, she tightened her jaw and mentally bellowed inside her head, get out.

  Lord Brin gave a small start in his chair, enough so that Jacob looked over and noticed. She heard Lord Brin's voice in her mind, My apologies. The image was so strong that for a moment I was seeing double, and couldn't tell which you were wearing. I had to sort it out.

  She formed the words in her mind, more quietly and politely. You're forgiven, but all the same - get out now. Though he didn't move, she had the impression of Lord Brin bowing to her politely, then her mind was her own again.

  She strode forward confidently, took the chair that had been left for her between Lord Brin and Jacob, and settled into it in a more sprawling manner than she usually sat. She brought one ankle up on her opposite knee, making sure her skirts were arranged to keep her decency, and leaned back with her arm across the back of the chair. It was a bit of a cocky posture, and she noted with some amusement, after noticing the flicker of Lord Brin's eyes, that her other hand was at her hip to push the nonexistent rapier out of the way.

  “Is it morn or afternoon?” she asked, a slight catch in her voice as she barely kept herself from slipping into the accent she used when she visited the Renaissance Faire.

  “Just after noon,” Lord Pax replied. “And we were just about to order.”

  “Then I wish you a good afternoon, and thank you for taking care to prepare this meeting so swiftly. I apologize for my own laxity in taking care of it, myself, but this is all quite new to me, and I've been sorting through a good deal.”

  “Not at all, m'lady,” assured Lord Pax, politely. “The important thing is that it happens. We all make allowances towards those new to our community.”

  Lord Brin lowered his hand to his side. There was a glint of reflected light in mid air, and suddenly his blade was there, leaning propped up against his chair. “So that we're not overheard,” he assured those assembled, and Tracy felt a rushing feeling, a pressure against her ears, as if she was in an airplane taking off or a car driving up a steep mountain road. She swallowed a few times to pop her ears, and looked questioningly at Lord Brin.

  “A working of air,” he assured her, “to make sure our words do not carry beyond these half-walls.”

  “A fine precaution,” Tracy said. “I'll have to learn how to do that, myself.” She took a moment to look around.

  Lord Pax and his man looked much as they had last evening, dressed to the nines in fine suits. Jacob might not have changed clothes since yesterday - he wore the same t-shirt, at least, and had a harried, rumpled look about him. Lord Brin was not, however, made of metal this time. His hair was a dirty blond, his skin lightly tanned. Today, he wore tan slacks and a pale blue polo shirt, and yet, bore himself in a manner that gave the impression he was dressed more impressively than Lord Pax.

  Lord Pax
broke the brief quiet. “So,” he asked, “How did you come by Schrödinger's, if you've been in our community for such a short time?”

  Tracy laughed lightly. “I live only a few blocks away,” she explained, “this is one of my favorite restaurants. I'm just stopping by for lunch now that I'm done with church.”

  “Of course,” Lord Pax said with an indulgent smile on his lips. “I forget that sometimes even mundanes can see the value in a place such as this.”

  Tracy raised an eyebrow at the tone of voice when Pax said 'mundane,' as if it was an insult, but she said nothing. No one else seemed willing to bring up the subject of the duel just yet, so neither did she. They remained quiet until Hans came in. The small restaurant didn't have any waiters - the customers came up to the counter to order and collect their food - but for a matter like this, apparently Hans came to serve the food himself.

  “Gentlemen,” he said politely. Then, “Tracy,” as he nodded to her. “Today you have dishes of fresh fruit and of steamed chicken breast or of braised vegetables and rice.”

  “I'll have the chicken, then,” replied Lord Pax. He smiled to Tracy. “If you haven't had his steamed chicken yet, you really should. He makes the most marvelous steamed chicken.”

  “Actually,” Hans demurred, “The chicken recipe is of Tracy. We talk of recipes quite often, she share this one with me.”

  Lord Pax looked surprised, then gave a small half-bow of his head to Tracy. “M'lady,” he nearly purred, “A woman of many talents, I see.”

  Tracy felt uneasy at that tone of voice. There was nothing technically wrong with it, but it just felt oily. Perhaps it was empathy, or perhaps it was just her imagination, since she knew what sort of man he was. “I dabble a bit,” she said modestly. “There are so many things in this world that it would seem almost rude not to partake of as much as possible.”

  They went around the table, each giving their order, and Tracy wasn't sure if she felt like being contrary, or just because she'd had chicken earlier that week, but she ordered the vegetables and rice.

  It was only a few minutes before Hans returned with their lunch. The chicken he served on separate plates, but the vegetables and rice he had in two large bowls, enough for everyone and then some, along with a stack of smaller, empty bowls.

  For the man in the hall, he brought something different. Tracy recognized a little side-dish he often had available - meat rolls, where he'd taken several thin slices of beef or pork, wrapped it around some sliced vegetables and grilled that up, then baked it into a small roll.

  The guard - she could think of no other term - looked uncertainly to Lord Pax when he received the unexpected food, then took a small bite before smiling his thanks to Hans.

  Tracy took one of the empty bowls - a small, oriental-style bowl with tall sides to it. She piled some rice into it, followed it up with vegetables which had been cooked so briefly they still seemed fresh, barely warmed up, but had browned grill-marks along their edges. They smelled lightly of some oriental spices, oils, and vinegars that she simply couldn't place. She picked up the ceramic chopsticks, bowed her head briefly over her food, then sampled it.

  The vegetables still had the tangy taste and sharp smell of fresh vegetables - although where Hans got fresh vegetables this time of year, she had no idea - but the flash-roasted lines along the cut strips added that sweet caramelized flavor of roasted vegetables. “Hans did exceptionally well with this dish,” Tracy murmured appreciatively. Lord Brin and Lord Pax's second both nodded their agreement.

  “So, I've met most of us here at the table,” said Tracy, as they all started to eat. “But I'm afraid I have not yet met your second, Lord Pax.”

  “Ah, how rude of me!” exclaimed Lord Pax. “This is my second, Anthony. He will, of course, be standing in, depending on the conditions of the duel!”

  Tracy nodded a greeting to the man. “A pleasure to meet you, good sir,” she said politely, then turned back to Lord Pax. “Shall we get on with the conditions, then?”

  Lord Pax smiled and gave as much of a bow as he could give while being so closely seated at the small table. “Of course, Miss Tracy. As you wish.” He cut off a small piece of his chicken and slowly ate it, looking thoughtful, as if wondering how to go about it.

  Tracy didn't buy it for a second. She was sure that someone like him didn't get into any sort of situation like this without knowing exactly how things were going to go beforehand.

  He patted at the corners of his mouth lightly with his napkin, then placed it in his lap. “The way I considered it,” said Lord Pax, thoughtfully, “is that you're quite new to this, while I've had quite a bit of practice. You and your second versus me and my second, two runes each, in an official arena setting. That way, he can make up for your inexperience.”

  Tracy looked over at Jacob, who looked thoughtful, himself, for a moment, then gave a small nod. She looked back her opponent. “That seems fair, Lord Pax. What charms shall you and your second be using?”

  “Lady!” Lord Pax protested in surprise. “I don't-”

  “You know exactly which charms we shall be using,” Tracy cut him off, leaning forward, “As we have only two charms each which we can use. You can plan against ours, but we cannot plan against yours. By making it so we both must fight, and we both must use both our charms, you have eliminated the uncertain for your side, but not for ours. It is only fair, then, that we also know which charms you shall be using. Surely you would not be so ungentlemanly as to seek such an unfair advantage?”

  Tracy heard a small 'ha!' from Jacob beside her, and Lord Brin gave her a barely-seen grin of encouragement.

  Lord Pax simply smiled benignly. “Ah, of course, I hadn't thought of it that way.” He sounded absolutely sincere and trustworthy, but Tracy assumed it was a lie all the same. “I intend to be using a rune of technology and … ” He looked thoughtfully at Jacob for a while, then glanced back at Tracy for a moment before looking again at Jacob. “a dual rune of air and fire. And my second shall be using a dual rune of earth and fire, along with a fire rune-” he cut off, looking at Tracy thoughtfully. “No, a second dual rune of earth and fire.”

  “High stakes,” observed Jacob.

  “Well, for beginners,” replied Lord Pax, “You do have some fairly rare runes of your own.”

  Jacob nodded. “And the stadium - how shall the arena be set?” he asked.

  “Hrmmm,” pondered Lord Pax. “Some light cover, and traps as a complication?”

  “Traps?!” said Jacob incredulously. “Where your Tech Token gives you a clear advantage? I don't think so.” He smirked a little. “How about full cover, with environment complications?”

  Lord Pax let out a short laugh. “A hunt, Jacob? Where your mind rune gives you the clear advantage instead? No, we won't have that, either. Why not a compromise? Light traps, medium cover.”

  Jacob paused, looking suspiciously at Lord Pax. Then he turned to Tracy. “Up to you,” he deferred to her. “You're the primary.”

  Tracy considered it for a moment. “Do you think it's fair?” she asked, frankly.

  Jacob bit his lower lip as he glared at Lord Pax. “He agreed a bit easily,” he ground out. “I suspect he's got an angle, but I don't know what it is.”

  “Then … ?”

  “I say we accept it,” Jacob grudgingly admitted. “We can use that sort of terrain as well as anyone.”

  Tracy nodded. “Very well, then. Let's do it!” She turned back to Lord Pax. “We accept your terms. Shall we say … next Saturday, just after noon?”

  Lord Pax nodded. “Perfect.”

  Tracy nodded again. “Excellent. Then, if you'll excuse me, I'd like to speak to my friend Hans for a bit.”

  There was a murmur of assent around the table. Tracy refilled her bowl with some more rice and vegetables, bowed her farewells, then strode proudly out of the small alcove. She did not dismiss her mental image of the swashbuckling clothes yet, waiting at the counter, perched on the edge of the stool with one fo
ot up, one foot down, resting her hand at her hip as if still resting on the hilt of an unseen rapier. It was irrational, but she felt safer that way, as if verbally sparring with Lord Pax was as dangerous as a sword fight. Then again, she considered, that might not be that far off after all.

  Hans came to her and looked at her a little oddly. Tracy realized many people were giving each other suspicious looks, lately, and it irritated her to see a look like that directed towards her from her friend Hans. Did he suddenly distrust her because she was part of this secret community now?

  “What is it?” she demanded.

  Hans shrugged a little, seeming unsure. “Are you all right?” he asked.

  “Why?”

  Hans tilted his head to the side. “You are very stiff. As if readying for fight.”

  Tracy blushed in embarrassment. She was the one giving him odd looks, it seemed. She let the mental image of her swashbuckling clothes slide, relaxing into a more natural posture in her seat.

  “I'm sorry,” she apologized. “Lord Pax unnerves me.” She paused, and frowned. “I suppose I should be more unnerved around Lord Brin, but Lord Pax unnerves me more.”

  Hans nodded. “Lord Brin is harsh … but truthful. Lord Pax lies. Lord Brin will try to be fair. Lord Pax … he will do things only knowing things he should not.”

  Tracy smiled. “Jacob has his mind charm … he can't do that anymore.”

  With a shake of his head, Hans dismissed her reassurance. “There are many ways of knowing things. Do not think that such a small thing would stop him.”

  With a grimace, Tracy nodded. “I should know better than that. Only a couple days and already I'm taking things for granted.” She sighed. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

  Hans smiled, and Tracy felt that faint rush of moving power that was starting to feel familiar. A faint touch of a breeze caressed her cheek. Hans moved his lips, and his whisper sounded next to Tracy's ear. “Your Lord Brin's wall of air is good for groups, but for two people, a whisper is easier, and more comfortable.”