by Gwynn White
These tourists were more relaxed and less hurried than the others. Sauntering between the stalls and tables and examining the wares, they looked fascinated by the market and its dark-skinned sellers. A small group of younger visitors—in their twenties, she guessed—stayed together in the center of the aisle and whispered, but it appeared to be an exchange of friendly information, not judgment on her people in general.
One of them, a man who looked to be only slightly older than Ember, caught her watching and smiled. He stood taller than the rest, his gray shirt pulled tight against his broad shoulders. His skin was light, as with most gadje, though his hair was nearly as dark as hers. Thick, black eyebrows framed his nearly transparent-gray eyes.
She felt her cheeks warm. She wasn’t supposed to find gadje attractive. Then again, her own company, or kumpania, thought there was something wrong with her. Few women reached sixteen, much less Ember’s nineteen years, unmarried. Most had a child by now. Her friend Bianca had a son, with another babe expected any day.
Ember mingled with the outsiders and took their money, but she had drawn a solid, uncrossable line no matter how attractive the outsider. Tradition was important above all because tradition kept them safe. It was the Roma creed.
She tapped her cards on the table. “Know your future,” she called to the man. “Five minutes, and I will reveal what awaits you.”
Surprise registered in his face, and then his grin broadened.
“Did you hear that, Stefan?” the petite girl at his side said with a musical laugh as she elbowed him in the ribs. “The gypsy girl wants to tell your fortune.” She wore a strappy blue dress that hung low over the bust and barely covered her rear end. Her light hair was streaked with blue to match, although Ember suspected the streaks were temporary.
“My future, eh?” he asked, thoughtfully tapping his chin. He finally nodded and made his way over to Ember’s stall.
“You can’t be serious,” the girl said.
“I’m serious if she is.” He settled himself in the chair. “What do you charge, gypsy?”
“Fifty credits.”
He entered the amount into his wristband with its approval code and extended his arm for her to scan. Ember quickly raised her own and intercepted the money, the wristband beeping as the transaction went through.
“Stefan, you’re not actually paying this—this thief to tell your future,” the girl snapped, glowering at Ember. “I could do it in thirty seconds.”
“I’m just curious, Eris. Get off my back,” Stefan said, then turned back to Ember expectantly. “You know what? If you impress me, I’ll triple your price.”
Ember knew she was gaping and hurriedly smoothed her face. One hundred and fifty credits. “Very well, but I’ll need silence from your friends.” She shot a pointed look at the blonde girl, Eris. The girl snapped her mouth shut, her cheeks going pink.
The street leading to the beach was filling with spectators now, most of whom seemed to know Stefan. Some looked impatient, but most watched with amused chuckles. Good. Entertained crowds meant good business and the occasional tip. Three times her price. She hadn’t gotten an offer like that before, ever.
Ember separated her cards, closed her eyes, and began to sway. She ignored the snickers that peppered the crowd and hummed a song under her breath as she spread the cards in front of her. Customers usually focused on the pictures, but the cards were just for show. The real magic took place within her.
Ember reached out, inwardly searching for the man’s inner light. She found it immediately—a flickering light, much like a flame. His soul was slightly dim since he was calm and relaxed, but it warmed her as she drew nearer to it and mentally grasped it.
The maze of walls extended as far as Stefan could see. Metal slabs stood tall and cold, littered with thousands of names. Stefan was only twelve, but he’d already been here three times—for his grandfather, his aunt, and now his older brother.
He tugged at his uniform before returning his gaze to the ground. It felt strange to stand with his parents and not have Adam here making fun of the well-wishers as they streamed past. Their expressions were serious and seemed genuine enough, but most had never even met Adam. They were just friends of his parents, ready to cross “pay respects” off their list.
“What an incredible sacrifice,” a plump man said. He stood a full foot shorter than Stefan’s father. “You must be so proud of your son.”
“We are,” Stefan’s mother said. “His heroic death has honored us.”
Stefan flinched. It was like he wasn’t even there.
“I’m sure the emperor holds your family in the highest esteem,” the man continued. “I hope you won’t mourn long, especially with another flicker in the family.” The visitor nodded to Stefan, but the man’s expression held no warmth. “Maybe you’ll make it to Empyrean someday after all.”
“I suppose there’s always a chance,” Stefan’s father said, looking upon his younger son, but the words were strained.
Ember pulled away and opened her eyes, settling her gaze on the customer. This older version of Stefan had stronger features and far more confidence. He watched her with what appeared to be curiosity, but she could still see a glimmer of emotion in his eyes, that inner pain from years before. He still suffered his brother’s loss, however well he tried to conceal it.
But that was the past. What this man wanted was the future. Ironically, most customers didn’t really want the truth but something to cling to. A hope. Ember sensed that wasn’t the case with this man. It was important to him that she get this right.
She reconnected mentally and moved toward the end of the man’s memories, pushing ever forward. When the memories ended, the light extended slightly, indicating these events hadn’t been fulfilled yet. The future. One particular scene pulsed brighter than the rest, and she plunged into the light.
Stefan stepped forward and saluted. He stood stone-still while an officer placed a pin on his uniform collar, the same pin his brother had once worn. It weighed far more than the .06 ounces it was supposed to. He was an official flicker now. This was exactly what he’d always wanted, but it felt empty somehow. Hollow. Meaningless.
He stepped back in line. Someone patted him on the back, but it felt like consolation, not pride.
Ember pulled out and opened her eyes. Stefan watched her carefully, his smile bemused. He probably assumed she was making something up to scam him out of his money.
“You want to break out of your brother’s shadow,” Ember finally said. “But it won’t bring you the happiness you crave.”
Stefan blinked in surprise.
“What kind of fortune is that?” the Eris girl exclaimed with a snicker. “I don’t think you even know what fortune-telling is, gypsy girl.”
“Wait,” Stefan said, still stunned. He raised a hand to still the muttering crowd. “You’ve got to give me more than that.” He leaned toward Ember, his gaze so intense she couldn’t look away if she’d wanted to. “Be more specific, and I’ll quadruple your price. That’s two hundred credits.”
Two hundred. Her mind ran through the possibilities. She could pay for her father’s medicine with money to spare. They’d eat like kings for a week. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she hadn’t eaten since yesterday.
He expectantly held out his wristband, and Ember accepted the higher payment, feeling dazed.
Movement caught her eye as a group in silver uniforms made their way down the aisle toward her. Ember’s heart sank. Definitely soldiers. One had an unusually large chin, and his black uniform was littered with colorful patches and ribbons. His build, chiseled and hard, was the type that required hours of work each week. One look at the man’s eyes made Ember shiver.
The crowd parted to let them through. The man in black led his soldiers straight for her, then they stopped behind Stefan as if to watch.
Panic rose inside her. Did this man know she hadn’t paid homage? Would they take any money she earned today?
; She forced herself to breathe normally, to think clearly. If she had to, she’d pay homage out of the two hundred credits. She’d still have just enough for Dai’s medicine.
Ember took a deep breath and closed her eyes, feeling the weight of two dozen eyes on her. Once again, she reached out internally and plunged into the light.
Ember stared at him with her lips slightly parted, her beautiful, dark eyes wide in surprise. A strand of her wild black hair hung over face, and he longed to brush it aside. But he didn’t dare, not until he knew how she felt.
“Did you—” he began, but she didn’t give him a chance to continue. She threaded her fingers into his hair and pulled him downward, pressing her lips to his.
He grinned against her lips and placed his hand on the small of her back, pulling her against him. He’d longed for this for weeks, and now here she was, making the first move. He deepened the kiss, and she responded until his head went dizzy. He could hardly bear the heat jumping between them.
Someone walking by hooted, as if they were just another couple. Two soldiers about to embark on a battle, just two people from completely different galaxies whose futures were forever intertwined.
Ember yanked herself out of the vision and shot out of her chair. It fell to the dirt with a sharp thump. She gasped for air, looking at the crowd with an edge of panic. They watched her with interest now, obviously unsure why she’d stopped her humming and card shuffling so dramatically. Her mother’s cards were strewn haphazardly across the table. Some had even fallen to the ground.
“I—” She cleared her throat and tried to smile, but she knew it was shaky. “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing else.”
2
The crowd was silent for a moment. Stefan’s face registered shock.
The girl named Eris burst out with a bitter laugh. “I told you, Stefan, didn’t I? She’s an actress. Gypsies are all the same. Let’s go to the beach now.” She whirled and headed toward the sleeping woman with the sunflower seeds.
“I will return your money.” Ember typed in the amount and held out her arm. Her hand trembled slightly.
Stefan was still watching her carefully, his eyes narrowed in suspicion. “You’re sure you didn’t see something?”
“The stars are silent.” Her voice broke on the last word, and she cleared her throat.
He nodded slowly, as if Ember had confirmed something in his mind. Then he stood. “Keep it.”
Stefan turned and crossed the street to follow Eris. When he reached her, they began what looked like a heated argument. Normally Ember would be curious to know the details of their exchange. It almost looked like he was defending Ember. But she was too numb to do anything but stand and watch . . . and think.
Ember had never questioned her gift before. Her visions were just too detailed to be made up by her subconscious, and most of her repeat business reported that her predictions had come true. But this? The stars had to be playing a twisted joke on her. How could she kiss that . . . that . . . gadjo? Not just kiss him, but throw herself at him in a most un-Roma way.
The market tilted and swayed around her. She kicked her chair upright and plopped into it again, remembering the way they’d looked at each other in her vision. It wasn’t just the excitement of a new relationship or the possibility of a future together. He’d seen her as something precious—like she was everything that mattered to him. And she had kissed him with an openness, a complete trust she’d never experienced before. And there was something else hovering between them during the kiss, something Ember still detected in her father’s eyes whenever he looked at her mother’s photograph.
Love.
She shook her head. Her gift had betrayed her. That man would climb back onto his ship and go back to wherever he’d come from, and Ember would go home and care for her father. Eventually, when her father was better and didn’t need her anymore, she’d fall in love with a respectable Rom man. She’d forget about the outsider by next week.
She had enough money for Dai’s medicine now. The next bottle would last him two more months—plenty of time to recover. This was definitely her day.
As the crowd dispersed, the officer stepped forward. “My turn.”
Her stomach plummeted. She’d forgotten about the soldiers. Ember’s heart threatened to pound right out of her chest as she faced the man. Her instincts were shouting at her now, telling her to get away. She could hear sounds of fumbling with boxes and hurried preparations coming from the other stalls. Of course. The other sellers had already begun to pack up at the sight of an officer. She should be doing the same thing, yet she sat here, frozen.
“Um . . .” she began. “Are you a homage officer?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. Just curious about my future.” Her unwelcome guest sat himself in the chair Stefan had just vacated. His four guards—three men and a disturbingly tall woman with pink hair—surrounded him, eyeing her like prey. The officer programmed the payment into his wristband and extended his arm.
Ember didn’t dare breathe. Officers never wanted their futures read. Ember had always assumed it was because they already knew what awaited them—a lifetime of killing ended by an abrupt and violent death. Dai had been an Empire soldier before joining the Roma, and he refused to talk about his experiences. It must have been a terrible thing for a human being to fight in battle, particularly one as kindhearted as Dai.
No, Empire soldiers didn’t like their futures told. That meant this man had another reason for his request. She couldn’t imagine what it would be.
Something is wrong, her heart told her. Get out of here.
“I will pay double your fee,” the officer said. He brought his wristband closer so she could verify the amount on the screen. It was a fancy, lightweight model she’d never seen before.
“Ember!” a frantic voice called from behind her.
“Bianca?” Ember turned to find her friend coming down the road from their village. Bianca was breathing hard and holding her back as if in pain. She didn’t often descend the hill these days, not with the birth so close at hand. Her news had to be urgent.
“Your dai needs you,” Bianca said in broken Common. “You must come right now.” Her eyes flicked to the officer, and she swallowed hard, staring at the ground.
Ember’s panic began to dissolve. If it had been a true emergency, her friend would have been far more frantic and spouted off in Romani. Bianca had obviously seen the officer and decided to rescue her. Dear friend.
“Forgive me, sir.” Ember swept her mother’s cards into her hand, then quickly bent to retrieve the ones that had fallen into the dirt. She pulled the tablecloth into a bundle in her arms, exposing the ugly table underneath. She didn’t have time to carry the chairs today. She’d have to risk them getting stolen.
The officer’s eyes narrowed, all pretense gone. “What is your family name, Ember gypsy? Are there others like you?”
“Gheorghe, sir.” She paused. “I’m the only one who reads the cards.” She didn’t actually need the cards to read a person’s future, but she wasn’t about to tell the officer that. Dai was the only one who knew about her strange gift, and even he seemed ashamed, forbidding her to discuss it with anyone. Not even Bianca knew specifics.
Her answer seemed to please the officer, though she couldn’t imagine why. A strange glint entered his eye. “How did you know about that man’s brother? A lucky guess?”
Her heart pounded against her ribs. All Roma knew how dangerous soldiers could be, and this was an Empire officer. She was required by law to answer his questions. Which would be worse, saying she was a liar or admitting she had a gift?
“I must go,” she finally said, her throat tight. “My father is ill. I’m very sorry.”
He gave her a long, searching look. Finally he spoke. “I will allow you to leave on one condition. You will return tonight at sunset. Be on time, or I will come looking for you, and believe me, that will be rather unpleasant. Understood, Ember Gheorghe?”
He’d arranged her name in the Common way, but she didn’t point it out. “Yes, sir.”
The officer looked her up and down for a moment, and stories of soldiers claiming Roma women, then leaving them with child flooded through her mind. Her dark hair was unbraided, flying free to signify she was a maiden. Did this man know what it meant? Was that the cause of his inexplicable interest?
“Go,” he finally said.
Ember didn’t hesitate. She grabbed Bianca’s arm and pulled her along toward the hill.
An officer. Earth hadn’t seen an Empire officer in over a decade—and now one had issued her an order. She had no desire to return, but dared she defy him? Especially since Bianca was now involved.
Maybe he really did want to know his future. Ember couldn’t bear to think of the alternative.
Bianca loosened up a bit as they walked, making jokes as if nothing had happened, but Ember’s mind was elsewhere.
She felt the officer’s eyes on her back long after the market was out of sight.
3
He looked even meaner up close,” Bianca said as they walked.
Ember let her shoulders slouch a bit now that the village loomed before them. Hundreds of cinderblock homes stood on either side of the dirt road. Most were simple cubes with a small outdoor courtyard for cooking, but occasionally there was an actual glass window. Ember’s home had once boasted two before the village children smashed them.
“I owe you,” Ember said. “How did you know about the officer?”
“Mimi sent me to the market. She’s sick.” She emphasized the word with a grin. Bianca’s mother-in-law was frequently drunk and spent much of her time in bed. As one of the older and therefore more respected women in their kumpania, Mimi took full advantage of her status. “Dretta’s son walked by and said an officer was lingering at your stall. Who else would help but me?”