Chloë

by Marcus LaGrone

  “That is quite practical.”

  “Not sure if it actually pans out in the math, but it is pretty much a tradition more than anything I guess.”

  “Your town seemed to have a big market; these are bigger then, I take it?”

  “Yep. Edmundshire is the largest town within two hundred miles. More of a commercial hub than an agricultural hub.”

  “Hence your Mother’s idea that it may be a better place to look for an apprenticeship.”

  “Yep, yep! It’s a nice town, lots of cool shops and new faces to meet.” Heather blew a raspberry. “It’s just not fun spending all that time looking for schooling or a job.”

  Chloë laughed, “Well, it beats getting married off!”

  “You got me there. That still sounds so weird, honestly. And at your age? Yiesh!”

  Chloë smiled and nodded. Things were just so different… not just different, better.

  12

  A little more than an hour later, they found themselves floating up to the docks and the low boat ramps that made up the outer reaches of Tavelton or South Edmundshire as several people joked. The most immediate feature was the large monolithic stone structure that was the so-called Gatehouse. It was massive! It was easily a four story tall block of solid living stone that had been intricately and lovingly carved. The structure had a massive set of stone doors that stood open revealing a simple hall with three well-carved interior walls. But it was the center of each wall that caught Chloë’s eyes: they were portals. Wormholes by any other name, they were fascinating to watch as she could see out of them and into other Gatehouses and passages that she knew to be hundreds of miles away.

  Heather laughed as she watched Chloë gawk at the structure. “The Gatehouse back home is actually larger, and has more interior rooms. I should have taken you by that one before we came here.”

  “And it is carved like this one?” asked Chloë flabbergasted.

  “Yep, top to bottom, carved over every square inch. They say it is a single solid block, that’s cool in its own right, but the fascinating part is how detailed the carvings are, and the structure is at least ten thousand years old. No sign of weathering or anything.”

  Chloë nodded as she appreciated the uniqueness of the artifacts. “Ten thousand years of rain and you’d expect at least a little wear and tear. So who made these?”

  Heather smiled as she shook her head. “We have no clue. They were here when the Highlands government was restructured some eighteen hundred years ago. Even back then they just called them ‘the Ancients.’ Not much of a name, but, well, you had to call them something.”

  “We just walk through the portal and ‘poof’ we are in Edmundshire?”

  “Well, there is not ‘poof,’ per se, and we actually end up a quarter mile outside of town, but yes, more or less. Shall we?”

  Chloë grinned and took Heather’s hand as she timidly approached the portal. It looked like nothing; that is to say, there wasn’t even a shimmer save for the very perimeter of the wormhole. It just looked like the world continued as it should. It was quite bizarre. When one traveled through a wormhole in the blackness of space, the portal was only open for a split second, so there was no chance to marvel. Here, it was like time stood still. “And they don’t require some insane power source to operate?”

  “Not that we know of, come on! Let’s get to town!” Heather pulled her through the threshold and they instantly found themselves standing in a similar Gatehouse just outside of Edmundshire. The trees visible outside were much shorter, almost exclusively pines and the air had a bit of a chill to it. Chloë shuddered lightly against the cold.

  “Sorry, should have warned you about the temperature, it’s about another two thousand feet higher in elevation. We are just barely below the tree line.”

  “And there isn’t a strong wind at the portal from the difference in air pressure?”

  Heather just stood there, “Um, no. I’d never thought about that, but you are right. There ought to be a stiff breeze. Hmm… something to ask Maria about when we get home.” She smiled broadly as they stepped out into the sun. “Well, we can do that later. Come on! Let’s go check out the town!” Heather started a light jog down the path beckoning Chloë to follow. Chloë just grinned and started after her. Once Heather got going, it was impossible to slow her down!

  They quickly made their way down the short cobblestone road and turned to enter the town; it was just like the other town, but much, much larger! Stone and timber frame were the norm as before, but the buildings were larger, the streets broader, the fountains more ornate. In the distance she could make out the soaring roof of what she guessed was the town hall, easily six or seven stories tall. On the side road, Chloë could make out beasts of burden, large elk of some type, hauling carts and dragging barges down stone lined canals.

  Heather noticed Chloë watching the elk pull the barges and interjected, “The canals make a big ‘H’ through the town. They keep the pedestrian paths clear of the canals and then they take a break twice a day, every day, to clean the animal, um, ‘stuff’ off of those side streets. Then they flood the canals twice a week, drain them and then refill them. Keeps things quite tidy!”

  “Yes indeed! So they hose the animal waste into the canals and then take care of it later, but at regular times. Quite practical.”

  Heather shook her head, “Nope, there are side vents to fast moving sewer lines that they use for the animal waste, they hardly ever have waste end up in the canals. They drain those mainly to make sure icky bugs don’t set up house!”

  “Wow!” remarked Chloë, “That is quite a system. It is such a bizarre dichotomy—beasts of burden in the side streets and artificial wormholes connecting the towns.”

  Heather just shrugged, “Never thought about it. It’s just what I grew up with. Come on, my cousins’ inn is toward the middle of town. Let’s get there so we can lose these backpacks.”

  Chloë nodded and smiled, “Let’s!”

  The pair quickly threaded their way through the town and converged on a four story structure with a fanciful sign of two foxes playing leap-frog hanging out front. As they turned to face into the structure, Chloë could finally make out the lettering: Playful Fox Inn, Daily or Weekly Rates. Pub Open Noon-Ten o’clock. Ellis Foxglove Proprietor. They moved inside and blinked as they tried to adjust to the dimmer light. Heather ignored the front desk and turned and poked her head into the attached pub on the ground floor. Like the lobby, it was simple but tidy. Massive wooden tables with alternating benches and chairs filled the room. Heather’s attention was with the lone woman busily preparing the room, “Hi, Kelly! Where is Ellis?”

  The woman stopped from her work and turned and smiled before closing and hugging Heather, “Oh, hello, dear! Glad you made it so quickly. Ellis is in back. Let’s go!”

  Heather motioned for Chloë to follow and the three of them were soon in the back storage rooms where Kelly passed the two girls off to an older lady with a white coat and black rosettes, almost exactly like Chloë’s. Silly as it may be, that helped her feel more comfortable immediately.

  “Good to see you!” beamed Ellis as she hugged Heather. “The trip went well then, I take it? Oh, and so you must be Chloë. Maria’s letter mentioned you would be coming along. I’m Ellis, proprietor here. Do you want to see your rooms first, or grab lunch?”

  Both sounded very good, but the desire to lose the backpacks was stronger. The pair was soon shown to a pair of adjoining rooms on the second floor facing the town center. A quick bounce on the ever-so-comfortable beds, and they returned to the pub for a simple, but very filling lunch.

  “I took the liberty of telling Fiona Greenburrow you were coming to town,” offered Ellis as the two younger girls ate. Heather’s fur suddenly flared and stood on end causing Ellis to break out laughing. “No, she’s not trying to set you up with a boy again. She wants to know if you will help with the weddings coming up day after next. It’s four new families and six family additions
and they are all holding a joint reception.”

  “So… what does she need me for?” asked Heather suspiciously.

  “Dance instructor for the younger crowd as well as for some Lowlanders who will be visiting. A lowlander is marrying a local, so his family isn’t going to be used to our customs,” grinned Ellis back. “See, nothing scary.”

  Heather visible relaxed, “Ok, doing a crash course in local dance. Now that does sound like fun.”

  “Good, if you could meet her after lunch she would really appreciate it.”

  Heather nodded and turned to Chloë, “Now’s the chance to learn some local dances.”

  “That sounds like fun,” replied Chloë with a broad grin.

  13

  The days quickly blew by. It may not have exactly been what Maria had in mind for Heather, but at least Heather was being responsible and helpful. Of course the idea of asking Heather to help teach dance was about like asking a fish if it wanted to swim: it seemed to be second nature to her. Chloë just rolled with it all; beyond learning local dances and customs she was having a grand time meeting a wide variety of people from all walks of life. Chloë was none the wiser as to what she might do professionally, but she now realized there were a lot more opportunities out there than she had first imagined for a town that was outwardly so simple.

  Noon of the big day was upon them and the girls were delighted to meet April and May at the pub for lunch. Not that the locals weren’t nice people, but the twins brought a level of mischievous humor with them that was enjoyed by all.

  “Did you bring your bells?” asked one of the twins.

  Heather laughed, “I didn’t pack them, but someone put them in my backpack for me. I wonder who that could have been.”

  “Maria, actually,” replied the second twin with a broad grin. “Does Chloë have a set?”

  Heather quickly turned to look at Chloë, “I’m sorry. I didn’t even think about that. Do you have a set? Ack! Of course she doesn’t have a set silly, she just moved here from off world…,” she groused to herself.

  “She is quickly starting,” began one twin. “to lose her accent,” finished the second. “You are quite the good study of language,” they offered in unison.

  Chloë flushed at that, “Thank you both very much for that. I have been trying.” Chloë was tickled; it wasn’t like the twins to say something like that unless they really meant it. “But, I don’t know what bells you are talking about, much less have any.”

  “These might be,” began one twin. “Of some help then,” finished the second as she placed a small bag in front of Chloë.

  Chloë opened it to find a whole range of brightly polished silver bells with ribbons attached to them. “Well they are all very lovely, but what are they for?” she asked of the twins.

  The pair of twins just laughed so it was up to Heather, “I keep forgetting your aren’t from around here. At big dances, eligible girls wear bells on their fingers and toes, or ankles for that matter. The bells on ribbons lets guys know that you are old enough to start to date and willing to look around. If you see a gal whose bells are attached by rings, well, she has already got a steady boyfriend and they are serious. For larger dances and mixed dances it lets you know who will mix and when the boys just need to watch their furry noses. If you don’t want to get asked by a boy to dance at all, then don’t wear bells. Then you will only be dragged into the family circle dances.”

  Chloë laughed, “So no bells is, not interested. Ribbons and bells is cruising for a guy. Bells on rings are, I have a guy already thank you.”

  “Exactly!” beamed Heather. “So what will it be? Bells or no bells?”

  “What the heck. I’ve gone through all the trouble to learn the local dances; bells it is!”

  “Excellent!” replied the twins in unison.

  14

  The dances started right at sundown, and soon the town center was alive with people and the flicker of lamps mixed in with artificial lights. The mezzanine to the town hall was laid out in a great banquet, and Chloë was fascinated to notice people brought more food and drink to the long tables as the night wore on. It was truly a community event! April and May along with two local musicians played from a central elevated gazebo while the great swirling masses of dancers surrounded them. Heather was quite the trouper; she made almost every open dance. Chloë had far less endurance but had no less fun. She was flattered to be asked to dance by a variety of boys as well as being asked to join the larger dances that contained between two and four girls per boy. It was all quite so different and a lot of fun.

  Ultimately, however, the refreshments kept calling her back; she was going through an insane amount of fluids trying to keep up with Heather. She was in no shape compared to her. Heck, none of the boys seemed to be able to stay on their feet as long as giggling Heather. Chloë sighed pleasantly to herself as she watched the masses below.

  “Enjoying the evening, miss?” asked as young man behind her.

  She turned to find a fetching young man of eighteen or nineteen, “Why yes, it has been a lot of fun.”

  He smiled cryptically, “Too bad not everyone is having fun. Anna, for example, is having a terrible time.”

  Chloë’s hair stood on end—Anna was the name of her governess. “What about Anna…”

  The man’s grin turned more sinister, “Well, she survived the crash, but is in poor shape. We can’t decide who we should take her to for proper medical help. The nearest Altshea canton here on Afon, or maybe back to Bervik.”

  “What do you want?” demanded Chloë with an icy breath.

  “Well, we would like you to ride along with her back home. And if that doesn’t seem to suit your fancy, a generous cash donation would go a long way to ensure Anna made it across the border and safely to a local hospital.”

  “You are nothing but a self-serving mercenary,” snarled Chloë.

  “Yes, but you may be surprised how often we get the jobs done. All those dirty jobs your precious father doesn’t want to admit doing.”

  “So are you the ones responsible for my mother’s departure too?”

  “No,” he laughed, “that was more than a little before my time. Things are simple. If you don’t want to go back home and don’t want for Anna to have to do all that explaining, then you meet us across the border tomorrow night with three million in cash and everything will be fine.” He handed her a small card with a single address on it. “Eleven o’clock at night on Friday. No big deal.”

  “Even if I wanted to, how would I come up with that much cash?”

  The young man smiled, “The Nedej Mercantile Bank. Your father holds many assets there, and his daughter should have no problem pulling some petty cash.”

  “Petty cash? Three million?” asked Chloë incredulously.

  He just shrugged, “You could at least try, eh? See you Friday.” With that he wandered off into the crowd and quickly disappeared.

  Chloë just sat there in shock and disbelief. All the life seemed to drain from her and despair and desperation started to take over. Could she even get the cash if she wanted to? Tomorrow night, and travel how far? Was Anna actually alive but just injured like he claimed or was it all a ruse?

  “Are you all right, pretty lady?” suddenly asked a young boy of about eight.

  Chloë tried to smile at the youngster, but just couldn’t. Instead she broke out crying.

  “You are Heather’s friend, aren’t you? You stay here; I’ll go get Heather for you!” The little boy sprang into action and quickly disappeared as well.

  Chloë had just enough time to start a second cycle of depression and self-guilt when Heather came running up to her. “Little Penn said you were… oh, no! What happened Chloë? Someone try to get fresh with you?”

  Chloë shook her head, “No, someone came up and said that my governess Anna was alive but horribly hurt and I had two choices: return with them home or pay a ludicrous amount of cash on Friday and they would turn her over to the loc
al hospitals.”

  “One day… I assume the rendezvous is across the border…think think think. Odds are, they are going to try and double cross you; capture you and the cash…” Heather’s mind was whirling but it was her relative calm that surprised Chloë. “We pack up and head out in the morning. I’ll get a message to Dad and see if he can meet us there. All else fails, he has some old friends in the borderlands. Okay, back to the inn. Pack up and sleep tight because we are going to need to head out early in the morning. Before sunrise in fact.”

  Chloë just stared at Heather with disbelief. “We? It’s stupid enough for me to do anything, much less drag you along…”

  Heather blew a raspberry, “Pardon me, but I can hold my own, and you could darn well use a good escort on the way there. Dad should be able to catch up. If not, like I said, he has retired friends in the borderlands.”

  “Should we just go to the constable and see if he can help?”

  Heather rolled her eyes, “The local constable is an idiot and scared to death of my dad. Going to him would just guarantee inaction.”

  Chloë was confused on several levels. Why would the local constable be afraid of her father? Why was Heather, whom she had known now for less than two weeks, so ready to help her? “Do you actually have a plan?”

  Heather nodded, “Of course. By morning it might even be a good plan.” The joke fell flat. “Look we get the cash, get a proof of life, make the swap. If they try to double cross, my dad’s friends pound them. You can get the cash, yes?”

  Chloë shrugged, still somewhat dazed at the bewildering rollercoaster of emotion, “Um, maybe. They said my father had money at the Nedej bank, and I ought to be able to pull it.”

  “Oh, that is even better. When this is all over, we let your father know that they made off with his cash. That will go over well.”