Deals and Dangers

by Kay L. Ling

  Kaff gave a discouraged sigh.

  “I’ll think about it. No promises.” He’d need a map of the Tree Community, but he could find one. In fact, Eneff told himself, finding the map would be far easier than finding the courage to visit Ertz.

  Chapter 18

  Two days later, near closing time, Eneff was sweeping the floor when Old Pommet burst through the door again.

  “Aberell officers been around askin’ questions. They come here?”

  “No, Eneff said, wishing they had. “Are they still here?”

  “Don’t think so. A couple fellas saw them headin’ out of the O.D. ‘bout an hour ago.”

  Eneff frowned. Too bad. He’d rather talk to Ertz or officers after tomorrow’s meeting, but if they had come in today, he would have told them what he knew and called it good enough.

  “They stopped at the green grocer’s, askin’ questions ‘bout The Emanicus. Then they went to the gem shop. Saw Old Squint Eye’s Out of Business sign and was all in a dither over that. They questioned Eldra, an’ she told ‘em she runs a news shop, but she don’t have the news they’re lookin’ for.”

  When Pommet left, Eneff went back to sweeping, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Aberell officers must suspect a few O.D. residents were in league with The Emanicus and might know where they were hiding. Morty and Old Squint Eye probably knew, but they were gone.

  In the past, fortress officers avoided the O.D. Now, they were nosing around, but they wouldn’t learn much. No one would tell them that The Emanicus was enlisting O.D. residents to fight in the coming war, and that Outcast gem users had received Dark gems.

  Eneff set his broom aside and looked around the shop, feeling nostalgic. He’d put a lot of work into this business. It would be a shame to walk away and leave it, but integrity was worth more than a shop full of junk.

  Eneff went home, still pondering what to do. Usually, Kaff was home at this hour, but there was no sign of him today. Eneff checked the office, which doubled as Kaff’s bedroom, but Kaff wasn’t there either. When the lad didn’t show up for dinner, Eneff started to worry, and he grew increasingly concerned as the evening wore on. He was about to turn in for the night when Kaff finally came in.

  “Where have you been?” Eneff asked more sharply than he’d intended.

  There were bruises on the lad’s face, and his pants were torn across one knee. He looked like he’d been in a fight.

  “Aberell officers came to town. I panicked and hid.”

  “They weren’t looking for you, and even if they were, you can’t hide. You have a tracking spell. They were questioning folks about The Emanicus.”

  “That’s what I heard at Lumpy Lew’s. I was relieved they weren’t looking for me, so I celebrated with a beer, and one beer turned into three.”

  “What’s with the bruises and torn pant leg?”

  “Some of the fellows at Lumpy Lew’s don’t like me and implied I should watch myself going home. I infused the blue gem to make me run fast. Running fast is great when you’re sober, not so great if you’re not. I tripped over a curb and went flying. Have you tried any of your gems yet?”

  “No, I haven’t. Stop pressuring me.”

  “Did you find a map?”

  “Got one this morning, ironically, from Eldra’s shop. It was in a publication about city improvements. I’m going to bed. See you in the morning.”

  Eneff went to the shop earlier than usual. He had a secret cache of IGs in a hole under his sales counter. If worst came to worst, and he needed to skip town after the meeting, he should have the money on him.

  Accessing the hiding place meant moving the heavy sales counter, which wasn’t easy, but that’s what made it a good hiding place. He retrieved the small leather bag, tucked it into his tunic’s inner pocket, and shoved the counter back into place.

  At opening time, two customers came in. One bought a pair of rusty shears, the other a dented copper cooking pot. Both stayed to talk about the meeting, a topic Eneff wanted to avoid.

  “Wish I were a gem master,” Vorg said pointedly.

  “We know you don’t use gems, but you’ll have to now, won’t you?” Tiluck said with a hint of malicious glee in his eyes.

  Eneff didn’t answer. He wished they’d leave.

  “What gems did they give you?” Vorg asked.

  “Most are negative energy gems, and I could use a couple test subjects, if you have some free time.”

  Tiluck blanched. “Er, uh, kind of in a hurry today.”

  “Me too,” Vorg said. He and Tiluck beat a hasty retreat to the door.

  Eneff smiled when the door banged shut, but his expression sobered when he thought about the unwanted gems. What should he do with them? If he refused to use them, Maniz would find someone who would. Maybe Kaff was right. If he infused the harmless ones, it would seem like he was cooperating.

  Eneff emptied the pouch on the counter. Before he lost his resolve, he picked up the gem for courage and drew its power. Confidence and courage surged through him. He felt capable of anything. He could face Eldra, Maniz, and Hepple without flinching. Whatever happened at the meeting, he could deal with it.

  He put the gem down, used the strength gem next, and spent awhile infusing it so he could draw its power later.

  The meeting was at one, so Eneff ate lunch earlier than normal and went to Heggert Park. Meetings were always inside the arbor or just outside it, depending on the size of the group. There was a row of statues inside the arbor, and benches so residents could sit and look at them, though why anyone would want to, Eneff couldn’t say. They all had heads or arms broken off. Everyone in the O.D. was broken and deformed, and the statues seemed like a cruel reminder of that.

  Today, Eldra and her flunkies had carried the benches outside. As residents arrived, she recorded their names.

  When everyone was present, Eldra gave a rousing speech, saying Outcasts’ lives would improve once The Emanicus set up their new government. Outcasts should feel privileged to fight for them. Normal gnomes despised and mistreated Outcasts, and this was an opportunity to pay them back.

  The crowd shouted and cheered. They didn’t realize the dangers. They’d be facing highly trained fortress troops that included many experienced gem masters. O.D. residents would be mostly Nopes with no military training, backed by the likes of Eldra and Maniz. They’d be relying on Dark gems to give them an advantage. Of course, The Emanicus would fight, using the Focal gem, but The Emanicus wouldn’t care how many Outcasts died. O.D. troops would be expendable.

  When the meeting ended, most everyone stayed to talk.

  “Maybe we should slip away now while everyone’s here instead of waiting till dark,” Eneff whispered to Kaff.

  “Do you have the map?”

  Eneff patted his pocket. They threaded their way through the crowd. “I’ll go back to my place and get our cloaks. Meet me at the dock.”

  When Eneff reached the dock, he untied the raft, jumped onboard, and gave Kaff a cloak. “Put this on and pull up the hood. Then, you’d better sit down. I infused the strength gem so we can make the trip in record time.”

  Eneff pushed off hard. The raft shot away from the dock. Switching from pole to paddle, he started paddling upstream. When he looked back a few minutes later, the O.D. was far behind them.

  Within ten minutes they had reached the area circled on the map, a neighborhood of riverfront Tree Homes. Channels of water ran inland, providing space for boat docks.

  “I hope Ertz is home,” Eneff said.

  “His sister Mag lives with him. She may be home even if he isn’t,” Kaff said, studying the map. “We’re almost there.”

  The strength gem was wearing off. Eneff’s arms were starting to ache.

  They passed several inland channels. Finally, Kaff pointed and said, “This is the one. There’s his boat.”

  Eneff maneuvered the raft up to Ertz’s dock, and Kaff sprang out and secured it, then consulted the map again.

  “His place shou
ld be the Tree Home straight ahead, up the stairs from this dock.”

  Pulling their hoods forward, they climbed the stone steps and came to an enormous tree with a stone annex. The annex had a recessed alcove with a blue arched door.

  “Do you think the place is warded?” Kaff asked nervously.

  “Probably so, but he wouldn’t use a ward that hurt visitors, would he?”

  Just then, the door opened, and Ertz said, “I would say this is quite a surprise, but I foresaw your coming.”

  They went inside, and Eneff looked around in wonder. There were potted plants everywhere, some with vegetables growing in them. Wall shelves held pottery, gem rough, and geodes. Conventional furniture stood around the perimeter, but there were also green upholstered cubes that served as seats.

  “Please sit down,” said Ertz. “I know you came with news for me, but I have news for you.” His voice was tense, and he looked worried. “I just received word that Commander Finnack was attacked. He’s lost his memory.”

  Eneff’s stomach sank. “The Focal Gem.”

  “Yes. I’m sure you know he sent officers to the O.D. yesterday, asking questions about The Emanicus. We think someone with a communication gem reported this to The Emanicus, and they retaliated.”

  “I bet it was Eldra,” Eneff said. “Old Squint Eye and Morty Venik closed their shops the other day. Word is they’ve joined an Emanicus cell. I wouldn’t be surprised if Eldra leaves eventually, too, but at the moment, she’s passing out Dark gems and forcing us to infuse them.”

  “What?” Ertz asked sharply.

  “Every gem user received an allotment,” Eneff said. “The Emanicus expects us to fight for them.”

  “Gems preserve us! What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. Kaff and I want no part of this, but Eldra’s thugs will enforce her orders, and we’ll be in trouble if we refuse. Here, take a look at these.” He handed Ertz the gem pouches.

  Ertz moved a pile of newssheets and poured the gems onto an end table.

  “I can’t identify all of these without consulting my reference books, but some are negative energy gems. I hope you didn’t touch them.”

  “We didn’t, but when I tried to refuse my gem allotment, Maniz used one on me. The pain was so bad I passed out.”

  “You need to get out of the O.D. right away. Both of you.”

  “I can’t leave Aberell City because of the tracking spell,” Kaff reminded Ertz.

  “No one’s going to track you,” Ertz said. “That would be Aberell’s job, and with Finnack leaving and everything in turmoil, you’re the least of their worries.”

  “For now. But what about later? They’d find me, and when I go to trial, they’ll tell the court I tried to escape.”

  “The Emanicus disbanded the government, and once they’re in power, who do you think will control the legal system?”

  “I see your point,” Kaff said. “They would. But it’s still a problem. Normally, they’d take my side, but not if I run away.”

  “Then make sure they never find you.”

  “We could live off the land, but it wouldn’t be an easy life,” Eneff said.

  “Amulet gnomes have been living off the land for generations,” Kaff told him, “but it’s easier as a community. We’d only have each other. I suppose we’d manage.”

  “There’s another solution,” Ertz said thoughtfully. “I have a place in mind, and I believe they would accept both of you.”

  “Where?” Kaff asked.

  “Elantoth.”

  “Don’t count on it,” Kaff said gloomily. “My own clan sentenced me to ten years in the dungeon, and no one at Elantoth likes me.”

  “Why would they take me in?” Eneff asked. “I’m an Outcast.”

  “You’ve both done things to redeem yourselves. Kaff shared information about The Emanicus, which confirmed our suspicion that they were not what they seemed. Eneff, you helped us find Ben and Tina Ann. I think Elantoth would make allowances for that, and you may contribute even more in the days ahead.”

  “Assuming they’d take us, how would we get there?” Eneff asked.

  Ertz smiled. “Leave that to me.”

  Chapter 19

  Tyla rode back to the fortress with Franklin, in brighter spirits than when she’d left. Loud Mouth had looked at the picture of the stone building, and while he hadn’t agreed to search for it, he hadn’t refused either. Franklin believed that with a little coaxing, Loud Mouth would help them.

  As they neared the perimeter ward, Franklin slowed the cart. The wards let trusted outsiders like himself in, but no one else. Not even the mail courier, who now left mail and newssheets in a receptacle.

  The air shimmered briefly as they passed through, and a slight tingling sensation further confirmed the ward was working.

  “Pardon the bumpy ride,” Franklin said as he left the trail and drove across the field toward the rear entry.

  “Look, there’s Ben bringing in the mail,” Tyla said.

  Ben had a canvas sack slung over his shoulder with newssheets peeking out, and he was carrying a package that was too large for the sack. Suddenly the package leapt from his grasp. He made a desperate grab for it and caught it before it fell.

  “Looks like you got something besides newssheets for a change,” Franklin said.

  “Yes, and I’d like it in one piece, whatever it is.”

  The package flew from Ben’s grasp again. How very strange. Now it was hovering. When he tried to grab it, the package shot upward as if trying to elude him. He finally captured it.

  Franklin came alongside Ben and stopped the cart. “What in Ahmonell have you got there, Ben?”

  Ben clutched the package to his chest. It seemed to be struggling to get away.

  “Dunno, but it be for Tyla. Has T Y L A on it,” he said, spelling out the letters with evident pride.

  Tyla couldn’t imagine what was inside. If it was something harmful, would the Guardian know and protect her? The package shook violently, dropped through Ben’s arms, and having made its escape, flew to Tyla. She instinctively grabbed it, and when she set it on her lap, it didn’t move.

  Franklin shook his head. “Do you dare take it inside? What if it’s something harmful?”

  “That crossed my mind. Sending a package here would be a clever way to get something past our wards.”

  “Ya gotta find out what it be,” Ben said. “But ya better let me open it in case it be somethin’ dangerous.”

  Tyla was surprised at Ben’s dedication and bravery. “Thank you, Ben, but that won’t be necessary. I’ll check it with my knife. If the blade doesn’t show flames, I’ll take my chances and open it.”

  She passed the knife over the package. “It appears to be safe.”

  “I still doesn’t trust it. Ern’t right it be jumpin’ aroun’,” Ben said, frowning.

  “Do you think someone warded it so no one but you could open it?” Franklin asked.

  “That’s an interesting theory.” She handed him the package. “Try to open it.”

  He was about to untie the twine when the package sprang away and landed in Tyla’s lap.

  “I’d say your theory holds,” Tyla said. She cut the twine with her knife. Under wads of soft packing material, she felt something smooth and round. With a gasp of pleasure, she lifted out a dendrite ball.

  “Franklin, see if there’s a note.” She examined the ball like a youngone with a long-awaited toy while he rummaged through the packing materials. He held up an envelope.

  Tyla put the ball away and read the note. “Marrid says I should contact her when the ball arrives.” She slipped the note back into the envelope. “I wasn’t expecting this so soon. I haven’t even paid for it yet.”

  “She trusts you,” Franklin said. He drove her to the entryway. “I’ll stop by in a day or two to borrow your latest newssheets.”

  “Are you sure you want to? They’re full of bad news these days—especially Woodspirit News and Views. Kit
ana gloats over our misfortunes and tries to predict which leaders will be targeted next.”

  “Why do you subscribe to her newssheet?”

  “Gnome newssheets don’t cover woodspirit news. Hers has articles about the Seekers and other woodspirits groups.”

  “Don’t take her malicious comments to heart. She’s just trying to sell newssheets,” Franklin said as Tyla got out of the cart.

  Tyla went to her office and put the dendrite ball in a bowl on her desk so it couldn’t roll away. If anything happened to it, she couldn’t afford another. She sat down and looked at it, marveling that she owned something so rare and valuable.

  “Is that a dendrite ball?” the spell book asked, startling her.

  “Yes, I got it from Marrid. I’ve never used one before.”

  “You have only to hold the ball, think or say the name of a person who owns one, and your ball will establish a link with theirs.”

  Tyla picked up the ball and studied the black fernlike shapes inside while she worked up the nerve to contact Marrid. She would thank Marrid for sending it, and she would use this opportunity to say she had decided to keep the guardian spell. After hearing what had happened to Finnack, it seemed foolish to part with anything that might protect her.

  “I’d like to speak to the woodspirit, Marrid,” Tyla said. She waited with nervous anticipation for Marrid’s face to appear. After a moment, the ferns broke apart, then swirled within the orb briefly and resolved into Marrid’s face.

  “Tyla! I see the ball arrived safely.”

  “Y-yes,” Tyla stammered. “Thank you. It was quite a surprise. I didn’t know you’d found one yet. And I haven’t paid you.”

  Marrid smiled. “I told you I have connections. Don’t worry about paying for it right away. I hope you’ll allow me to come for a visit. We’ll settle up then.”

  “That would be fine. I’d like to form an alliance, and I’ve decided to keep the guardian spell. A lot has happened in the last few days. You probably heard about Finnack.”

  “Yes. It’s been in all the newssheets. I was so sorry to hear it. I’m sure the fortresses keep you informed, but I’ll contact you if I hear something they might not know.”