by C. R. Daems
She tried a small silver ring with a bright blue stone for a long time. It had cost only a few silvers. Like the dress, she didn’t dare buy it. She comforted herself with a fried fruit pie sweetened and some licorice root candy from a nearby stand.
The people who visited the market fascinated her. They varied from people in velvets and jewels to the poor in work clothes that bagged and had holes. Because the market had something for everyone, from used to new and from cheap to expensive, it made for an interesting and entertaining day.
A man dressed in fine clothing spent many gold coins for a bracelet of shiny green stones in a gold setting. She shook her head at the idea of spending so much for anything. It had been a fun day. She had lost track of the time and left the market late. By the time she approached Post Street the sun had set. She strolled along, unconcerned, as Post Street was in a safe neighborhood.
She didn’t notice the small dark coach until the door opened and a man with streaks of white in his dark brown hair and mustache stepped out into her path. “Hello,” he said.
He towered over her but seemed skinny. His clothes, dark-purple wool, were tailored to fit. Liada stepped back. The street was empty except for him and the driver, who seemed a part of the coach. He dressed all in black and perched on a high seat, holding the reins in his left hand and a long thin whip in his right. He kept twisting his head back and forth as if looking for something.
“Hello.”
Her mother had warned her many times about talking to strange men on the street no matter how nice or well-dressed they seemed. She backed up another step. Maybe he just needed directions. However, he looked and sounded like he lived in Ostono and probably Stonecross.
“Would you like to earn five silvers?” Something about his voice, the smugness, and the slight sneer set off shivers in her. The street was quiet and empty, and he was big. Tali was too small and delicate to help and couldn’t use her greater power for fear of alerting the priests and their Quag.
“No, thank you, sir,” Liada backed up another step. She should run but he stood too close. If she started to run, he’d catch her before she could escape. He looked old but wiry and strong.
“Five silvers if you come with me willingly. Nothing if I have to persuade you to join me.” Quick as a viper, he grabbed her arm. Smiling, he began to drag her toward the coach. She writhed and twisted. “I guess you don’t want the five silvers.” He laughed.
“I’ll help,” Tali said in her tiny voice.
The air around the man glimmered and sparkled.
“Damn?” The man clapped one hand to his eyes while he kept his hold on Liada with the other hand. “Jolar, help me?” He scrubbed at his eyes and staggered. Liada jerked but he held tight.
The driver looped the reins to the carriage and stood to jump down. “Ow?” he yelled. He dropped his whip and clasped both hands to his eyes. He missed the step and fell head first into the road. Blood oozed from a split in his forehead and he moaned.
Liada jerked with all her strength, but the man didn’t turn loose. Desperate, she wrenched as hard as she could. But with all her effort, he managed to hang on. Swearing, he stumbled again.
Liada grabbed the hand holding her arm, and jerked him towards her as she hopped over the fallen driver. The man tripped and fell, and he lost his grip on her. Heart hammering, Liada ran as fast as she could for home.
“Thank you, Tali,” she managed to get out between pants for breath.
“It’s all we can do to help. We don’t like doing it, but you were in real danger,” Tali said, close to Liada’s ear.
“What did you do?”
“We made tiny grains of sand all around them. It burns when it gets in the eyes, but can be easily flushed out with water or tears. However, rubbing hurts and can even scratch the eyes. We do not capriciously harm people. But you are, while you shine, part of my circle and under my protection to the limited extent I am able.”
As Liada turned onto Lansee Street, she began to feel safer. She kept checking over her shoulder but saw no sign of the man who’d tried to kidnap her. She walked as fast as she could without running. Five minutes later, she came within sight of the inn. She looked behind her again. When she turned back, a man stepped out of the shadows to block her path. She jumped backwards, out of reach.
How had he gotten ahead of her? He didn’t look like he had any trouble with his eyes. Tali must have been wrong about the dust. Her heart raced like a shot deer. It was dark, the road narrow with woods on both sides, and right now deserted—the inn so close yet so far. No one would hear her scream. And even if they did, by the time someone reached her, it would be too late.
“That was interesting,” the man said.
Liada gasped as she realized this man wasn’t as tall as the other. Then she recognized the voice.
“You stood and watched…and didn’t help.” Liada jammed her fists on her hips and glared. She felt her face flood with heat.
“You didn’t seem to need help. L’Engrist appeared to be the one who needed help.”
“And what if he’d managed to get me into his coach?”
“There are rumors surrounding l’Engrist and missing women. He is, however, a member of the House of Laws. Its members are very powerful and accountable only to each other. It would be a terrible dilemma, antagonizing a powerful man or losing my informant.” His eyes sparkled with amusement.
“I hate you.” Liada’s face felt tight with rage.
“Are you up for another job?”
“Why should I work for you? I think you’re…you’re as bad as…l’Engrist.” Liada’s voice shook with fury.
“Because I pay well and you find the work fun.” He smiled, which made Liada even madder. He was right, damn him. It excited her in a terrifying way. “I’ll pay five silvers.”
Liada stood there in shock. Her parents’ inn made only three silvers on a good day. She would have eight silvers, two silvers short of half-a-gold piece.
“That’s a lot of money,” Liada managed to get out without stuttering.
He came closer. “It’s a dangerous task with high risks,” he whispered. “Someone’s coming.”
Liada turned to see Zeph. This was not only getting frustrating, it was getting harder to explain. When she turned back, her mystery man had disappeared.
“Liada, where have you been? Who were you talking to?” Zeph asked as he approached. “Your da got worried when you were late.”
“Some strange woman.”
“It looked like the man I’ve seen you with before.” Zeph narrowed his eyes as he looked into her face.
“Everyone looks the same in the dark. Are you calling me a liar?”
“Well…no. But it didn’t look like a woman.”
“Well, go chase after her and see,” Liada said as she stormed towards the inn. All she didn’t need was for Zeph to interfere. He followed.
“You’ve been acting funny, Liada. You have me worried. Why won’t you tell me what’s going on?”
“Zeph, I know you’re my friend.” Liada paused, deciding what to say next. She did like Zeph. They’d been friends since they were children. She didn’t want to hurt his feelings, but her secret could put everyone around her in danger. The priests of Roganista were rumored to do terrible things in their protection of the people. They burned homes and dragged off the people who lived there. Some were never seen again, others tied to a post and beaten bloody. And the Quag set loose to hunt and kill their First Ones. She daren’t share her secret with him. “If I need help, you would be the first person I’d turn to. You and I are grown now. So it may seem like we are different. We aren’t. We just have new responsibilities.”
Zeph frowned and shook his head. “I care about you. And I still think you’re keeping something secret.”
* * * *
Liada woke early the next morning, dressed, and went to the privy. Afterward, she wandered into the woods, trying her best to look casual, and sat on a fallen tree.
Liada could feel the little legs dangling and Tali’s head resting against hers. Tail’s presence went far beyond her dreams. A First One, her friend.
“Yes, life’s getting complicated. I hate keeping you a secret. I’d like to run around and shout it to everyone that would listen—this beautiful creature is my friend. But I know I can’t. I’m happy just to have your companionship.”
“It has been a long time since the First Ones has allowed themselves to be friends to humans. It is hard to forget having so foolishly used our powers to help our human friends. It was wrong to get involved, to kill and to hate,” Tali said so softly Liada could just make out the words. It sounded like the memories were painful.
“I promise not to ask you to do anything you don’t think is right.” Tali was a friend she never wanted to lose. “If you think we should stop helping the mystery man, I will.”
“I do not mind spying for you. The First Ones have been spying on humans for centuries.”
A melodious laugh tinkled in Liada’s ear.
“Had we limited our help to spying we would not be hunted today. And we would not have fought and killed each other after the humans had settled their differences. We were wrong to kill, even for friends.”
* * * *
A sixday later, Zeph accompanied Liada to the markets. She wasn’t sure if it was his idea or her ma’s. Liada didn’t mind. She enjoyed the company. And to her surprise, he didn’t pursue the topic of the mystery man. At the market, she got him interested in the “guess where they’re from” game. Zeph would guess then Liada would give her opinion and tell him why. She proved much better at the game, which made Zeph grunt and scowl in disgust. A few times Zeph insisted on proof.
They were watching a man as he bought a hot pie from a stand. The man was short, clean-shaven with long black hair tied in several knots. His clothes were wool, good but not new, and his pants legs were tucked into calf-high boots. His shirt hung to mid-thigh, fastened with a leather belt. “He’s from the Sporish Empire, probably Osshaft on the coast,” Zeph said after several minute’s thought.
Liada studied the man in silence. “I agree he’s from a coastal town. I’d say Hawks Point in the Gorlack Empire.”
“Why? How do you know?” Zeph frowned as he looked at her. “I’ll bet you a piece of licorice he’s from Sporish. Maybe Breeze Point, it’s a coastal town down south.”
“It’s a bet. If I’m right, he’ll have tatts on his hands, arms, and body. Usually arm bands high on his arm and possibly spirals and swirling waveforms on his forearms. If he were a high-ranking Gorlack, which he isn’t, he would have tatts on his face.” Liada giggled. “If we can get him to take off his shirt and pants, I’ll bet he has tatts on his back and legs.”
“And how do you know that?” Zeph’s gaze darted between Liada and the stranger.
Liada wanted to laugh at Zeph’s expression. Shock. Surprise. Bewilderment. Annoyance.
“By listening, watching, and asking,” she said. “Few people mind a sweet young thing asking questions.” Liada fluttered her eyelashes, head lowered, and smiled. “Come—let’s follow him.” She crossed her eyes at him.
Looking like he was in shock, Zeph followed her. They walked several paces behind the man who wandered from stall to stall looking but not talking. Finally, he stopped at Licek’s stall and examined his leather wristbands.
“How much, merchant?” the man said. He spoke in trade with a strong accent, clearly not from Ostono.
“Two silvers each.”
Liada felt like telling the man, for a few coppers, that he could do better at merchant Mudir. Zeph grinned at her as if he had read her thoughts. The man pushed back the sleeves on his shirt to try on the bands. When he did, they could see the blue and green spirals and swirling wave on his arms. Liada poked Zeph in the ribs while nodding towards the man.
Zeph laughed. “Merchant Mudir would have charged less.”
“But Mudir would have started higher when he saw the man was a foreigner. If the man bargained well he would have gotten it cheaper. Licek charges everyone the same and doesn’t negotiate. That’s why people like your father like him.” She laughed as she headed in the direction of the candy stall. “Now let’s go get my licorice.”
Zeph hesitated as a neighbor girl named Gashila swayed by. He watched after her with his mouth slightly open.
“I just saw a fly buzz onto that tongue hanging out,” Liada said, keeping her face carefully straight.
He glared at her and she laughed.
* * * *
The next morning, she first stopped at the barn to get milk and eggs for the day’s meals. She was milking the cow when she felt Tali’s hair brush her ear. It tickled and she giggled.
“The mystery man is here,” Tali said.
Liada jerked around but saw nothing. Well, the mystery man was good, but not as good as Tali. “I assume you want to say something, or are you here to learn how to milk a cow?” She grinned.
He stepped into the light from the open doorway, frowning. She didn’t think he liked it that she knew he was there. Even watching, she wasn’t sure where he came from. He seemed to appear from nowhere.
“Are you up to a more challenging assignment, my mystery woman?” He wasn’t wearing a cloak this time, but he was dressed in black, tight pants and shirt, no hat. Slender, he moved like a hunting panther.
“How challenging?” For most spies her previous assignments would have been challenging, so how did he define more challenging?
“Five silvers.”
L’Engrist had offered five silvers. She knew she didn’t want l’Engrist’s five silvers. What about the mystery man? “What do you want me to do? Five silvers is a lot of money.”
“I want you to copy a letter for me.”
“It seems like you could have a scribe do that for a few coppers,” Liada said. Getting information from him was like milking a cow; it took many squeezes to get enough to drink.
“I’ll give you a name, house, and description of the letter I want. You will have to break in, find the letter, and copy it.” He leaned forward as if to better hear her answer.
“I’ll try, but without more information I don’t know.”
“Can I trust you, if I give you the information? It will be bad for you if I can’t.”
“You would have let l’Engrist kidnap me and you want to know if you can trust me?” Liada snorted. “I’m the one who should be concerned about trust.”
“We appear to be at an impasse.” The mystery man leaned against the wall in the shadows.
“No, you’re at an impasse. You care, I don’t.” Liada wasn’t sure if she wouldn’t prefer he left. Things were getting complicated, and she couldn’t trust him.
“It’s 15 Lower Terrace Place. The document will have the seal of the Priests of Roganista, addressed to Imorla and dated five days ago. Her office is on the third floor of her mansion.”
“I’ll look and let you know if it’s possible,” Liada said. She’d have to talk to Tali. As she sat thinking, the mystery man disappeared.
I wish I knew how he does that.
“He distracted you. He touched the cow with something and it moved. Unconsciously, you looked in that direction. When you did, he slipped out the door.”
“Not so mysterious, just sneaky.”
She collected the eggs, picked up the bucket of milk, and headed for the kitchen.
Her mother stood in the kitchen stirring a pot. The kitchen was steamy, and she wiped her brow with the back of her hand. “Help me with the bread, and I’ll show you how to make a fruit cake. There’s a party tonight, and they wanted a cake.”
Liada enjoyed making new things. She’d seen and eaten fruitcakes before and looked forward to learning how to make one.
While the bread baked, her mother got the ingredients together: flour, eggs, butter, honey, sweet spices, and dried fru
it. It turned out to be easy, as most things were when you knew how. And the cake smelled delicious when it came out of the oven. She hurried though the lessons with Tybes and Kesti.
Liada left on her way to check out the house by early afternoon. There was no short cut to Lower Terrace Place. It took over an hour. She worried that she might look out of place in such a rich area, where wealthy people had their mansions. She didn’t. She passed girls dressed like servants carrying baskets to the market and merchants going to the rear doors to make deliveries. No one seemed to notice her.
15 Lower Terrace was one of the bigger houses, three stories high and built of cut stone with mullioned windows. “Tali, what do you think?” Liada whispered to avoid drawing attention.
“It may take time. I can’t open doors or windows and can’t pick up heavy objects even with the help of my circle. Even a piece of paper can be a problem. We could pick it up, but it would be difficult transporting it. We couldn’t get it out of the house unless someone opened the door. If anyone saw paper flying, they would report it, and any wind would blow it away from us.”
“Just be careful. You’re more important than that paper.” Liada returned to the inn.
* * * *
Two days later, the mystery man showed up as Liada picked vegetables in the garden.
“Well, have you decided yet?” He stood several feet back in the shadows of the trees.
She stood up as she dusted the dirt off her hands. Tali hadn’t returned and she had no idea what had gone wrong. She was far more concerned about Tali than the mystery man or his money.
“It’ll be hard. I’m not sure if I can do it.” She shrugged. Without Tali, she couldn’t and wouldn’t think of trying. Tali made her spying easy and risk-free. However, she’d begun to rethink the risk-free part. Maybe it wasn’t risk-free for Tali. “How do I get back to you?”
“You don’t.” He slid back into the trees and disappeared.
Liada kept turning and thumping her pillow that night because she couldn’t sleep. In the kitchen the next day, her mother finally told her to leave early because she made too many mistakes. She shortened her lessons with Tybes and Kesti, much to their delight. Restless, she decided to try to distract herself, so she walked down to the smithy.