by Wayne Meyers
The jewelry shop was small yet neat, with an interesting assortment of bracelets, rings, earrings, necklaces, and tiaras for sale. The master jeweler behind the counter held a small, round device to one eye to help him see more clearly the gemstones adorning his wares.
Babette was in her element here. I had rarely seen her happier. “Look, Hofen.” As excited as a little child presented with candy, she placed a thin, silver tiara above her brow and jutted her chin toward me. “How do I look?”
“Radiant,” I replied. The tiara matched her hair perfectly and gave her an altogether regal appearance.
She paraded for me a bit, then nearly threw the tiara back onto the countertop when something else caught her eye. She held up instead a thin bracelet composed of three fine strands of gold intertwined about each other with such precision your eyes became lost trying to unravel one end from the other. It was a stunning piece, both beautifully simple yet deeply complex, the same as I thought of Babette. With an irrational compulsion I wanted to buy it for her. She checked the price tag that dangled from the bracelet by a string, and then put it back down reluctantly, like I had the antler-handled knife, and though she sifted through a few other items none made her eyes shine nearly as bright.
To tease her, I held up a large man’s ring set with a huge black stone and spoke in a high-pitched voice. “Look at this ring. It is so pretty.”
She laughed, her sweet disposition rising over the disappointment of the unaffordable bracelet. “Oh, you. Come on, then, let’s go.” She danced out of the store in a cloud of laughter.
I hurried over to the master jeweler smiling at us from behind the counter. “How much for that bracelet there and please, I’ve not time for haggling.”
He was an elderly man, with a large, white beard, and a kindly smile. “I understand.” He winked at me, then offered a price that was half of what had been tagged on the bracelet itself.
I asked him if he was sure he had quoted me correctly, and he chuckled.
“In a hurry, but not in that much of a hurry to cheat an old man, eh? Well, that’s the price young sir, so hurry and take it to your sweetheart out there. My sweet wife died only a year ago, after standing behind the counter next to me for thirty years. Her bleeding heart cost me more than I earned sometimes, and how I protested in vain, but I’d give away everything I own now to have her by my side for but one more day. She would have given you the bracelet for free and with a smile that made me forget how skimpy dinner would be because of it. Well, I’ll still feed tonight, don’t you worry, but I don’t eat much anymore, so here you go and good luck to you.”
My throat choking with gratitude, I paid him the discounted price which nearly emptied my pocket, and left with the package hidden within my belt pouch.
Babette rolled her eyes. “That must have been some ring. You couldn't put it down? And you say I’m bad.”
I wondered when I would have a chance to give the bracelet to her, for I wanted it to be a private moment. “Where is Spaldeer?” I asked, looking around.
Babette made a twisted face. “He went into the demimonde guild across the street.”
“He did what?” I was amazed at Spaldeer’s nerve. Odds were he’d get thrown out for being too young.
Babette grimaced. “Oh, he made up a story about checking out some other weapon shop and that he’d be back in a little while, but I saw exactly where he went. You boys are such animals.”
“Why?” I asked in confusion. Visiting a demimonde guild seemed a common, everyday activity provided you were old enough. The older apprentices certainly chatted enough about it, in hushed tones along with a great deal of chuckling. I remembered when Marcos and Brentor had visited one before I became an apprentice. Journeyman Krellus had once supplied some insight on the demimonde guild and the appetites of men, but the conversation had become so awkward and uncomfortable that he soon changed the subject to something else.
Babette threw me such a scathing look I didn’t ask again. “How about we sit down beneath that tree over there?” I pointed down a side street.
We walked a little way to where things were less hectic. A tree sprang up on the side of the road with long, spreading branches and we sat down beneath its cooling shade, sharing an ice cream Babette bought from a stand on the way over. Knowing our time alone would be brief, I took out the bracelet and wordlessly handed it over to her.
The look on her face was more than worth the cost. Her mouth hung open and she shook her head slowly back and forth. “Is this for me?”
“Of course, you ninny,” I replied. My face and neck reddened. “I’m not showing it to you for your opinion before I give it to Spaldeer. Besides, your birthday is coming up in a few days.”
“Oh Hofen, you’re so sweet.” She flashed me a radiant smile, ogled the bracelet, then sighed. “Now take it back.”
“Back?”
“Yes, it cost a fortune. I couldn’t possibly accept this.” She maintained a brave face as she grudgingly handed the sparkling bracelet back to me resting on her open palm.
I gently curved her fingers over the bracelet and held them shut. “Don’t be ridiculous. It is a gift for you, so it would be an insult to ask me to return it. You deserve to have beautiful things.”
She looked down at her feet and spoke in that tiny, hushed voice I had not heard since our first kiss. “Then, I deserve to have you.”
Her words made my body shiver, but I shrugged the odd sensation off and focused on convincing her to accept the present. “It doesn’t matter if you can’t wear it in the guild now. It will be something for the future when you are a journeywoman and we travel the land together.”
“We? Would that be possible?”
I flashed her a reassuring smile, but truth be told, I had no idea what the future would bring to us. In truth, this was the first time thoughts of how our lives might become after finishing apprentice training seriously crossed my mind. It was unthinkable, however, that Babette would not play a major role in it whatever it was. “I would think so.”
Her grin was so wide I thought her face would split in half. “You are too kind to a poor little girl.”
And then, she pulled out something from within her robes and handed it over to me. I stared at her hand, dumbly. It contained the antler-handled knife I had coveted earlier that day. I looked up at her radiant face, stunned, unable to utter a sound.
“Well, take it, dummy. You're not the only one with surprises, you know. I saw the way you were salivating over it and bought it for you while you were playing with the axes. It’s a good thing you didn’t hear me whispering to the shopkeeper.”
I gingerly took the knife and grasped the handle, loving the sure grip of the bone and the weight of the large, wide blade. It was a beautiful knife, but had I bought it, I would not have been able to buy her the bracelet, which she now slid over her slender wrist humming as she turned her arm first one way, then the other, to better catch the sun's rays. And then I realized she could not have bought the bracelet for herself after purchasing my knife.
She looked at me while I stared at her, both of us realizing there was far more going on here than simple friendship no matter how hard we tried to resist it. Before I knew it, she had her arms around me and was burying her face against my shoulder with a powerful hug. I felt her body molding against mine with every pore of my skin, especially her growing breasts, and I had to move her away from me.
I croaked in a painful voice while pushing her slightly backward by grasping her tightly about the shoulders, “You are not so little anymore.”
She tightened up in surprise when I first grabbed hold of her, then melted in my grip, allowing me to move her with ease wherever I chose. Her eyes sparkled dangerously as she proudly tossed her hair and pushed her chest out further. Her voice became low and husky, the tone sending lightning bolts throughout my body. “No, I am not.”
A new understanding passed between us raising every goose bump on my body—among something else—
and sent hot flashes up and down my spine. Our breathing quickened, and I was drawing her closer and closer to me as the moment lingered, my hands still grasped tightly about her slim shoulders, her lips a mere breath away. My mouth yearned to press against hers, urging my body forward.
Then she broke my hold with an effortless raising of her arms, ending with one hand clenched against my windpipe. I nearly went mad with frustration and bewilderment until I saw her own exasperated eyes motioning behind me.
Turning my head, there was Spaldeer rapidly approaching us from down the street. I stood up and bowed to her as though we had finished executing a technique, and so Spaldeer came up to us without a clue as to what he had interrupted.
His voice was excited and somewhat breathless. “Well, Hofen, I saw some really interesting weapons.”
Babette cut in before I could respond, “Did you now? Such as?”
“Uh, all kinds. I’ll tell you about it later, Hofen.” Spaldeer gave an awkward laugh. “Maybe the next time we go out to the city I can show you this place.”
“Now isn’t that a considerate thought.” Babette glared at him, then at me. “But Hofen has seen enough weapons to last him a lifetime. Isn’t that right?”
I looked straight into her face as though Spaldeer did not exist. “Yes, a lifetime.”
A light ignited within her eyes, softening her face. “Okay, then. Shall we head over to the air-tube station now?”
“No, I’ve, er, lost my desire to walk that far,” Spaldeer groaned. “In fact, the spot beneath this tree you were sitting under looks quite comfortable.”
We all sat down around the tree, resting our backs against the cool bark. “It is a good tree.” I smiled at Babette, whose eyes blazed as bright as her hair against the backdrop of the setting sun. “A most wonderful tree, indeed.”
Chapter Twenty-Four—Stairwell Surprise
It was maddening, but Babette and I resumed our normal routine. We had to. If anyone suspected at the very least, they’d separate us, and the most I’d see of her again would be a glimpse across the dining hall—if they even permitted us to eat at the same time.
My mind turned over many scenarios, most of which were about how we could be alone again, soon, for even a few minutes. Watching her during practice became an effort of will to hide my feelings from everyone around us. Don’t stare too long, I thought, forcing my attention back to my current task—too many times throughout the day.
Yet, I watched her as much as I could from the periphery of my vision as she did pushups several rows over. Sometimes she caught me and though her expression remained rigid, I’m sure her eyes sparkled.
Of the future I could not dwell, for ahead lay darkness and uncertainty. Babette would be an integral part of my life, and I would not give up the guild I so loved—my family—to be with her, either. Beyond that, everything was shadow.
Late one night in our room a week later, when I thought him to be asleep, Spaldeer noticed me playing with the antler-handled knife Babette had given me. I had slipped it out of a hiding place in the back of my desk drawer just to feel the weight in my hand, and, truth be told, to remind myself what had happened was more than a passing daydream.
“My dear altbrud, wherever did you get that knife? I know you didn’t buy it, even though you coated it in saliva at the shop.”
I frowned, cursing the moonlight that flowed through the open window. I did not want to lie to my friend but struggled to think up some excuse.
My brief silence was all the answer he required. Spaldeer had not achieved first place in the aptitude exams for lack of wits. “Oh,” he said, a moment later. Then, “Ohhh.”
“It was just…a token of appreciation. For sparring with her.”
“Of course.” He turned over on his bed, yawning. “Good night, altbrud.”
“Good night, Spaldeer.” Had he believed me? Would he say anything to one of the masters or journeymen? I didn’t think so, but then, were his loyalties weighted closer to me or to the guild?
After that, I did not look at the knife again unless I was alone, and since I spent most of my time outside practicing or studying, rarely found a chance to do so.
Several more torturous weeks passed before I became reabsorbed in the guild routine of training, eating, and sleeping. Repeat. Muscles ached, sweat soaked the courtyard dirt, obsession took over. Attack, parry, counter. Every new technique shown was a fresh challenge to master. Single-mindedness inspired motivation and left little room for frustrated longings with no possible solution. Instead, fulfillment came through success. My skills improved at a rapid pace. My tree was now less than half its original girth.
The only real worry was over Journeyman Krellus, who after several months, still had not returned from whatever mysterious mission he’d been assigned to. When I asked Master Voralius what was taking him so long he only frowned and said, “Such matters are of no concern to an apprentice. Focus on your training. Krellus shall return when he’s ready, and not before.”
“Your training must be going well, Hofe,” said Marcos to me at dinner that night.
My head tilted. “It is, but why do you say so?”
He bit off a crusty chunk of bread. “You seem much happier lately.”
My eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“He means,” Spaldeer interrupted, “that your usual foul humor has lifted of late.”
Marcos nodded while chewing noisily. “We all know you’re getting special training.”
“Quite right,” Brentor said. His forehead wrinkled. “What we don’t know is why, and if we ask, we are either told to mind our own business or do a few hundred push-ups.”
I put my fork down. “You are asking about me?”
“Of course we are,” Marcos said. He took another bite of bread and sprayed crumbs over his tray. “We had to sneak onto rooftops, but it seems you’ve found an easier way.”
“Not that we’re jealous, mind you,” Brentor added. “But if you have a say in it, can you loop us in?”
My face reddened as I looked from face to face. Even Babette appeared eagerly curious. “If I could say, I would. None of this was my idea.”
Marcos held up a finger. “None of what, exactly? What have you been up to?”
My mouth opened and closed. I did not want to keep things from my friends, but I had sworn not to reveal anything.
Spaldeer took pity on me. “He promised not to say, but I made no such oath.”
Brentor leaned toward him. “Hofen told you?”
“Of course not,” Spaldeer said. “But living with this grumpy oaf does have its privileges.”
“Formerly grumpy,” Marcos said.
“Indeed,” agreed Brentor.
Spaldeer nodded, conceding the point. “Yes, formerly. They’ve been teaching him journeymen techniques.”
Both Marcos and Brentor now leaned toward me. “Nice! Which ones?”
“I—I”
“Buoyancy is one,” Spaldeer said.
Marcos and Brentor swiveled toward him. “Buoyancy?”
“He can jump really high.”
They looked back at me. “Really? How high?” Marcos asked.
Brentor’s face lit up. “Can you demonstrate?”
“What? No!”
“Aw, come on.” Babette clasped her hands beneath her chin. “Put on a show.”
“Not helping,” I said.
She gave a little shrug. “I want to see, too.”
Spaldeer laughed. “Sorry, altbrud. But at least I didn’t tell them about the other one.”
Heads swiveled back to Spaldeer.
Marcos pounded a fist on the table. “There’s more?”
“This one I don’t know,” Spaldeer admitted. “But it involves the hands.”
Now everyone was staring at my hands, which were resting on the table next to my tray of cold food. “What?”
“Tell us,” Brentor whispered loudly. “What are you learning with your hands?”
“I
t’s nothing.” I lowered my hands to my lap beneath the table.
Marcos’ eyes widened. “Can you punch through a wall?”
“Wood or steel?” Brentor asked.
“Stone?” Marcos added.
I rose to my feet. “Enough of this. I see I can’t even eat with my friends.”
Marcos rose with me, his expression contrite. “No, no, we are just teasing, Hofe. Sit back down.”
“We’re happy for you,” Brentor said. “And a little jealous.”
“Hush,” Marcos said to him.
Unmollified, I scooped up my tray. “Well, whatever it is, I am not able to tell anyone what it is, if it’s anything at all.” I dropped my tray off at the disposal area and stormed out of the dining hall.
My reaction was probably unwarranted, but the conflict between keeping promises and hiding things from my friends had put me in a sour mood. Even Babette had joined in, which pricked my feelings more than I wanted to admit.
When I stormed into the stairwell leading to my floor in the dorm building, I sensed someone walking up behind me. They had moved so smoothly and silently I thought it must be a journeyman, perhaps Journeyman Krellus returned, come to scold me for revealing my training secrets. To my surprise, though, it was Babette.
Before I could ask her what she wanted, Babette pressed her body against me and kissed me hard on the lips, her arms reaching up to encircle my neck. By reflex I kissed her back, lost in her mouth for an eternity that lasted only a few heartbeats before she pulled her face barely away from mine, keeping my head still with her hands.
“What was I supposed to do, silly? Stay silent? Tell them to leave you be? We must fit in, dear. Do not forget to behave as though we are but guild siblings. Besides, I enjoyed seeing you squirm.”
My mouth opened and shut, but as usual, Babette was right, and I was overly sensitive. My arms wrapped about her body and pulled her tight against me, savoring her warmth and scent, the softness of her hair against my cheek. “I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered.