by J. K. Holt
She pushed on the large door and it creaked but didn’t budge. Throwing her back into it, she heaved again, and spilled into the shop.
The interior was dimly lit, dusty, and clearly belonged to a serious hoarder. Various goods including but not limited to figurines, hats, signs, watches, and one curiously placed hand iron took up space among cubbies, shelves, and bookcases filled with, among a myriad of other things, books. Books contained knowledge, and it was knowledge Tessa sought. She’d come to the right place.
However, it also looked like the kind of place that hid a secret torture chamber downstairs where no one could hear you scream.
Tessa ventured further into the gloom reluctantly, aware that she was armed only with her wits and a paltry two weeks of self-defense training (in which ‘aim for the eyes’ and ‘scream fire, not help!’ had been the takeaway messages). If there was a serial killer in here, she was totally screwed.
Her stomach rumbled in the silence, betraying her to any assassins lying in wait. She was hungry again, but her demanding bodily needs would have to wait. She had sleuthing to do.
She was ten steps into the room when a husky voice rumbled behind her, in the direction of the exit and her handy escape.
“Help you, miss?”
Run! It’s the voice of doom! screamed her internal voice.
Her internal voice was kind of a wuss.
She turned to meet her fate.
Chapter Three
The man who belonged to the voice was wiry-haired and thin. His suspicious expression fit comfortably into the confines of his ordinary face, but his aura radiated out, illuminating his surroundings in the closed space, and for a moment Tessa forgot not to stare.
He cleared his throat, pushing glasses higher onto a blunt nose. “I said, can I help you?”
“Oh!” Tessa said, starting. “No thank you, I was just looking.”
“For anything in particular?”
“Well, erm, I saw on the sign that you have books. Could you tell me what types?”
He gestured towards the general space with one arm. “This ‘n that, kind of scattered about like.” He scratched his face, glancing around as if to get his bearings. “What little I have of the fiction is in that area, vocation over there, medicinal books, there,” his finger pointing as he spoke. “There’s a few histories, tide charts, maps-“
“Maps?” she interrupted. “Over here, you said?”
“Aye,” he answered slowly, the crease in his forehead growing more pronounced. “Any region in particular?”
“No, just some of your, uh, general, general maps would be fine.”
He stared at her for a moment before shrugging, leading the way through the bric-a-brac towards a back corner. She followed, careful to avoid knocking the precariously stacked items, seemingly balanced with no concern to the nature of gravity. Dust motes drifted lazily through the air, catching the light like fireflies and highlighting the depths of the shop which had seemed, from the outside at least, quite shallow. Instead, it followed through to the back of the building, revealing a large, rambling space crammed with all sorts of objects. Curiosity begged her to explore, but she forced herself to remain intent on the mission at hand.
“Here’s what I have.” The man led her to a collection of scrolls on a shelf, in a back corner of the shop. “Most of em’s not for sale, on account of I only have one copy and sometimes people ask to use them as references, but I s’pose you can have a look as long as you’re careful.”
Tessa glanced about, spying a chair pushed against a small wooden desk that had seen better days. Nearby, a small alcove jutted out from the main space, and a tiny cot was tucked into its corner, seemingly out of place in even this random assortment of junk. She glanced back at the shopkeeper.
“Thank you. Could I sit here for a bit and look over them?”
“Aye, that’ll be fine.” A bell tinkled towards the front and he grunted before disappearing among the shelves, back towards potential customers, the glow from his aura receding until Tessa was left in the remaining dusty grey space.
Uncertain of where to begin, Tessa grabbed several of the nearest scrolls and sat down to perform closer inspection. Small, cursive writing along the rims added a few sparse details, though little helped steer her course. Alitura, Realm Proper. The Lonely Isles, North. The Lonely Isles, South. Merktown and Surrounding Areas. Oh! Wharfton Proper. The guy in the market had welcomed her to Wharfton, if memory served.
Tessa pulled the scroll from the bunch and unrolled it onto the desk, weighing down the edges with various heavy objects as she attempted to make sense of the drawing in front of her. There was no key to be found on the parchment, nor an estimate of distances. A town, sketched rather roughly, took up the majority of the paper, colliding with a body of water called the Ethereal Sea for a south-eastern border. Using this as a marker, Tessa identified the boardwalk that sprawled along its length as the origin of her travels, and traced a route more or less equivalent to what she must have traveled in her rambling path around and into the town, ending in an open area on the map that she could only assume was the square. Streets meandered out from the market area in a pattern that might be considered lazily parallel, following the boundaries of the shore until scattering toward the outward edges of town, which looked to be probable farmland in one direction, mountains another. No markers indicated more about the ocean except for a hastily scrawled note, appearing to be written after the map was made, that pointed an arrow off of the page and read “the Sea Dimple”, while another larger scrawl proclaimed areas north and west of the town to be “Greater Alitura”.
She studied the map of Wharfton for another few moments, attempting to place a few main roads in memory before moving on to the scroll titled Alitura, Realm Proper. It depicted a large island, slightly longer than it was wide. Narrow mountain ranges cloistered around the center of the land mass before sprawling out towards the edges, creating a natural boundary between the north and south. Numerous land-locked bodies of water sprinkled the landscape, as did small dots that Tessa realized represented towns, their names written neatly in tiny script. She scanned the lower area of the island before identifying Wharfton, on the south-eastern tip of the mainland. A few smaller islands took up residence on the eastern and northern sides of the main island, but no other large land areas were noted.
Tessa returned to the original stack of scrolls, searching for a map that might place the location of Alitura into a bigger picture, but found nothing. Most other maps identified regions that she had noted existing on the island, but none seemed to span a larger area than the island itself. She pulled out several that she was unsure of, to double-check, but all were disappointing upon closer inspection.
So this was it. She was in town called Wharfton. On an island called Alitura. Surrounded on all sides by the Ethereal Sea. And not one of these places or names rang any kind of bell. Tessa leaned back in the chair and ran a hand through her hair, wincing as it caught on knot and sent a sharp pain across her scalp. She considered scrounging for a comb among the items in the shop. Would that be crossing a line?
“Find what you wanted?”
“Oh!” Tessa leaned forward quickly, righting the chair from its tilt and turning to meet the face of the shopkeeper. Her heart, which had briefly considered a relocation to the middle of her throat, returned slowly to its preferred location in her chest, and she felt a slight tinge of guilt, as if she’d been caught goofing off by the teacher. “Sorry, yeah, thanks. I think I did. Only, by any chance, do you happen to have anything the covers a larger area? Bigger than Alitura, I mean.”
The wary expression returned to his face. “What, in the sea? Tell me you’re not here for information on the Dimple. I lent the Reed boy my only map, against my better judgement I’ll add, so if he’s sent you to root out any more, you can tell ‘im-”
“No, sir, nothing specific like that, really,” she interrupted, caught off guard by the steel in his tone. She was sensitiv
e to his change in demeanor, in no way interested in upsetting a person who might have information that could help her. “I was just hoping for a larger reference point.” She took a chance. “For example, a map that shows the nearest large continent or ocean? North America, Europe maybe?”
The man’s features muddled into confused, and his aura shimmered slightly before returning to its normal steady glow. “America?” He cocked his head, studying her. “Listen, child, I’m a well-read man and I’ve never heard of such a place. There’s a few other shops around town you might visit, might have some maps I don’t, but if I don’t know what you’re talking about, my guess is they won’t either.”
He leaned against the nearest bookcase and crossed his arms. “Where you from, exactly?” He attempted nonchalance as he posed the question, but his body language betrayed him- too studied, forced.
Tessa anticipated the question this time and had pieced together a simple lie earlier as she scanned the map. “Inland, outside Merktown.” She hoped she was pronouncing it right.
He raised an eyebrow but didn’t contradict her. “And what brings you here? Odd place for a grounder, isn’t it?”
Tessa shrugged. “Just…needed a change I guess. I’m Tessa, by the way. Tessa Landry.” She stuck out her hand from habit and was relieved when he took it. His grip was solid.
“Gowan Rudge.”
“Nice to meet you.” She gave him her best I’m innocent and just looking to make friends and gosh golly, maybe learn some things along the way smile. It often worked with adults who needed some softening up.
He returned the smile. Her best interpretation of his was, I’m not buying it but there’s something about you I like anyways, so I’ll let it go for now. “And you.”
“What did you mean, the Dimple? I think I saw it mentioned-“
“Never you worry about that,” he interjected. “Where are you staying, while in town?”
“Oh. Um, I’m not sure yet. I’ll work something out, though.”
“Be careful of areas west of the bluff,” Gowan warned. “There’re a few inns this way, though most charge a fair amount for the pleasure of their lumpy beds.”
“Thanks. I’ll find something, I’m sure.” She wasn’t.
“Is there no one else with you, then? Come with a brother, or father?”
Tessa resented the implication. “No, but I’m old enough to travel on my own, and I can take care of myself.”
He shrugged. “Aright, then.”
“Is it okay if I stay for a bit longer? I’d like to have a look at some of your other books if I could.”
“Fine, fine. Just mind yourself and be careful to put things back where you found them.”
He left Tessa to fend for herself as she tried to remember the areas he’d indicated with his first tour. She doubted she’d find much likely to help her in the next few hours, but she was out of options and needed a place to hunker down for a bit; this seemed as likely a place as any other to do so.
Tessa had to come to some odd conclusions. She couldn’t imagine a place existing that spoke English but had never heard of America. And she was fairly certain that Mr. Rudge hadn’t been jerking her chain in his responses; he’d seemed genuinely perplexed by her questions. If he was to be believed, then truth of it was that she was somewhere new. New new.
The realization wasn’t as alarming as she expected it to be; she threw the idea around in her head for a few before deciding to go with it, at least until additional information presented itself. The whole day so far had seemed like a practice in managing the surreal, and perhaps it was the slow burn of new information that allowed it to feel more possible than it had that morning.
Regardless of the cause, she met the knowledge of the impossible with a willingness that surprised her. She couldn’t escape the same thought as before- anywhere was better than where she had been. The day had been so eventful, so packed with novel experiences and questions, that until now she hadn’t even once had the time to feel the bitter ache of missing Maggie. This, if nothing else, was something to be was grateful for.
The prospect of finding her next meal and a place to sleep was something that she could no longer continue to avoid, but neither did she have any current brilliant ideas for solving either of those dilemmas. Perhaps by rummaging through this place some more, Tessa could find some additional knowledge to armor herself against this new world before she stumbled back out into it.
The back area, dimly lit from the sunlight that found its way through the distant and dirt-stained windows, had a musty smell that appealed to Tessa, and she began to explore outwards, perusing the shelves and glancing for helpful book titles as she went. It wasn’t long before she noticed a pattern within the maze of items that at first appeared disheveled and unorganized. Books on nautical terminology and sailing could be found beside an assortment of shells, and these items led to some sketches of ocean and wildlife for sale, while next to them lay art supplies, charcoals and loose paper. Tessa ran her fingers along them all, smiling at the method to the madness. It was like tangibly following the rambling thought patterns of a scattered genius. Luckily, she happened to speak this brand of crazy.
Tessa took her time, only catching glimpses of Mr. Rudge on occasion as he busied himself in the front. A few customers entered, she heard the rasping of the door hinges as it reluctantly opened, but he dealt with them quickly enough and none ventured back towards her. She found a few more books and scanned them, but without a vast amount of time, most of the remarkable ones were placed back where found with a mental note to return to them another day. The problem was that she didn’t know what else she was looking for. A book titled What to do if You Find Yourself Transported Here From Another World would have been immensely useful, but alas, none seemed to exist. Barring that, she felt a bit without direction.
Time seemed to slip, and Tessa could not have guessed how much had elapsed when the door was once again hefted open and a small woman with a pinched expression approached Tessa a moment later. “Hello, I’ll need some help finding a few things.” She held out a small piece of paper in two fingers, already turning away as if disinterested.
“Oh, right… I’m sorry, but I don’t work here.” Tessa craned her neck to see past the woman. “Is Mr. Rudge not at the front?”
The woman appeared affronted. “Of course not, as I naturally looked there first. What a bother, I’ve no idea where to find these items. I usually only come here for the medicinals, but I thought it might save time… he really should label the shelves, you know.” The tone and implication made Tessa feel guilty, despite her lack of responsibility for the current state of the shop.
The woman glanced around, her mouth curling at the sight of the disarray. “I haven’t the time. Oh well, I’ll try the shop down the way instead. Ta.” She began to tuck her list back into the folds of her jacket when Tessa stopped her.
“Well, wait, I think I know where some things are. Let’s see what you’re looking for.” She couldn’t explain the urge to help, other than a desire to not appear utterly useless. Possibly there was also a felt debt, not to the rude woman in front of her, but to the shopkeeper himself for his gratuitous nature in allowing her to stay for so long in the safety of his shop.
The woman hesitated, then shrugged, handing over the list. Tessa scanned it, relieved to see only a few things, two of which, a vase and paring knife, she remembered seeing earlier in the day. With the woman in tow, she found both areas again quickly enough, allowing the woman time to make her selection before moving on to the next.
“I’m sorry, though, I’m not sure where-” Tessa glanced back at the paper, “-a ‘calendula’ might be”. Or what it is, for that matter, she thought.
The woman looked over Tessa’s shoulder then, a smile relaxing the features of her face. “Ah, Gowan, there you are! Perfect timing- I need some calendula and this girl can’t help me with that.” Tessa turned to see the shopkeeper leaning casually against a shelf, eyeing her with
a critical, if not unfriendly, gaze. She wondered how long he had been watching.
“Well, that I am happy to help with that. If you’ll allow me to show you what I have in stock, Mrs. Boyner?” He detached himself from the wall and strode forward then, plucking the paper from Tessa’s hand before he took the lady gently by the elbow and maneuvered her towards the display cases in the front. Tessa followed a bit behind, curious now.
Mr. Rudge stepped behind the cases and removed a box with a lid, lifting it to reveal the contents, which appeared to be a dried plant with yellow flowers, tied in bunches with ribbon. “How many bundles today?”
“Just one, thank you.”
He placed it in a small paper bag, and handed it to the woman as he tallied what she owed. “You know, you might go see the apocathary in Riptown for these next time, or even our own small shop here in Wharfton, over nearer to the breakers. Not that I don’t enjoy your business, but I have such a small collection of these things compared to them.”
“Pish,” the woman responded, waving her hand dismissively. “I was over this way and needed a few other things anyways. No need to make two stops when I can make one. But really, dear, if you aren’t going to be out in front all the time, you’ll need to get a new worker. How long has Loren been gone now, two, three weeks?”
“Yes, I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you arrived,” he responded, ignoring the question. “But I needed to do as nature intended, and was gone for only a few moments. Surely you can’t fault a man for that.” He flashed her a smile that could almost be considered charming. “That’ll be twelve.”
The woman counted out small coins that looked unfamiliar to Tessa from a distance and continued her lecture. “But really, a person could have come in whilst you were gone and robbed you blind, Gowan. You leave everything unlocked, and the valuables so close to the entrance. It isn’t smart business sense.”
Mr. Rudge blinked, and Tessa imagined she could see his filters slamming into place before he spoke. “Alright, Mae, I’ll try to be more careful in the future. Now, in the meantime, you go finish your errands and stop worrying.”