Residual: The Gray-Matter Chronicles Book 3 (The Matter Chronicles 6)

by P. G. Thomas

  A large, foul-smelling, scruffy man dressed in rich rags stood over him, “Ain’t never seen dogs dis big before.”

  A second man walked over, who was behind Sam, “Ain’t dogs, wolves. Biggest I’d ever seen.” Then he felt the man run his hand through his thick fur coat, “Told ja my baits always gets da best. These two, special, big. We gonna charge more.”

  “Where we gonna puts them. Ain’t got no cage big enough?”

  “We takes them straight to him. Then to that alehouse youse likes. Where da drinks is sweet, da girls is sour.”

  Feeling himself lifted, from his inverted gaze, he saw the carriage approach, felt himself thrown inside, and then everything went black.

  *******

  The night before, Lauren had taken one of the berries that Gingaar had given her, and even though her sleep was not restful, she woke in the late morning. Entering the dining room, the house staff timidly hid in the kitchen shadows, and sitting at the table, Jasmine and the Guardian who held the Heart of Earth Mother. “Are you two friends now?”

  “I do enjoy my silent friend’s conversation more than words harsh spoken day past.”

  Lauren looked at one of the house staff, “I’m sorry for yesterday. May I please have a cup of hot bean juice?”

  “Earth Mother, what happens?”

  “First, I need to apologize to you both,” then Lauren looked at the dwarf who was holding out his hand. “You already have one, so don’t push your luck.” He quickly withdrew his arm. “When my daughters entered that portal, I nearly died, as I never thought I could get back here. Now, I see girls lining up to give away their babies, but because I have to heal Mother, I can’t look for mine, which all seems to be taking too damn long. I guess I just needed to vent my frustrations.” She thought of her plant, “Now I have an idea on how to feed the children, so maybe we are making progress even if it is slow, but hopefully my outburst lit a fire under them, so they’ll all be more serious about this. About my brother and what is eating away at him? I have no idea. Where is the bastard?”

  “He still sleeps.”

  Accepting a mug of the desired liquid, before Lauren could say thanks, the servant scurried back to the kitchen. She took a sip, “Where are the rest?”

  “Gayne went to the school while Mirtza took Steve, Eric, and your husband to watch Zymse. Panry said he had personal matters to discuss with one foul, but Gayne left those,” Then Jasmine pointed to a portal bracelet, a platinum ring, and a golden amulet for transportation.

  “Good, I want to go visit Krisp,” replied Lauren.

  Hearing the shuffling of feet on the stairs, they all turned to the hall where Logan appeared. “What happened yesterday?”

  Lauren groaned, “What were you drinking and how much?”

  Logan grabbed the sides of his head, “Not so loud. What? No idea. How much? Too much.” He looked at one of the house servants, “Lots of bean juice, please.” Then he slowly lowered himself into a chair. “That even hurts. How come I’ve never seen John like this?”

  “He drinks smart,” replied Lauren.

  Logan was staring at the kitchen door, “He drinks like a fish. Do you have any extra berries from Gingaar that would help silence the bongo drums in my head?”

  “Yes, but I’m not giving you any.”

  A cup of the desired liquid silenced Logan’s response, and after a long drink, he replied, “Fine, I’ll use this nectar instead.”

  “So what has your panties in a knot?”

  “I don’t know, or like John would say, something really long with double talk.”

  “Well, what do you remember?”

  He let out a weak smile, “Waking up this morning?”

  *******

  There was a knock on the door, which the thief inside recognized, opened it, and he saw the four elves. Inside the dimly lit bar, the thugs who watched Jedimac’s door were also holding it open. Panry, followed by Cethail, Erust, and Catic, walked into the poorly lit office to see a smiling Jedimac waiting for them.

  “My indebted friend, how are you?”

  Panry was not smiling, “You played host to Bastard night last. Got him drunk so that he talks. Why did you question him, and what did he tell you?”

  “Me? Do that? I saw him walking the streets, and since the Bright Coast can be such a dangerous place, I brought him back here for his own safety. We just talked about old times in Alron. When I offered to take him back, he seemed frustrated, continuing to ask for one more drink. Me, I was just being a gracious host—on your tab.”

  “Gracious with golden liquids, like the Unchosen at the great battle and Darkpaye hostages quiet.”

  “You live, you learn, but it is a remarkably simple and quiet way to obtain knowledge. However, as I have much to do this day, I will save you the agony of our games. I just wanted to know what is transpiring, because if something happened to you, well, it would make it very hard to collect on your massive debt, my diminutive friend.”

  “I am good for my debt, but the services you rendered that night were small when compared to your massive reputation.”

  “Oh, you are so wrong, as we matched the results of the great Moonshadow. If you had made your friend talk and we had not, oh, such shame you would have brought to my house. The Bastard, all he told me was Zymse stole Earth Mother’s children, triplets I believe he called them, but let’s face it, as I already knew you had an interest in him, so maybe I can help now. He said how she is trying to help Mother while Rage Heart and the others search for them, including the root that John has been playing with. It is in my best interest to help Mother, as the chaos in the Bright Coast is smothering it. The sooner she goes away, the better. My life returns to normal,” Jedimac winked, “and then you belong to me.”

  “That is all he told you?”

  “Well, while he was somewhat sober, as I guess we failed to properly water down the drinks, he started talking about meeting the children of Mother in some forest, but at that point, his words were slurring.”

  “No, hours long he spent here. There must be more!”

  “It took a while to win his confidence, but while I already knew we had problems, he just helped to arrange the pieces on the board. Simply put, there is a conflict between Mother and Zymse, maybe Darkpaye, and in the middle, Earth Mother with her usual crowd. Now I know what to watch for, so when opportunity knocks, I can take advantage of it, as information is the key that unlocks knowledge.”

  “There has to be more.”

  When their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door, one of the thugs stuck his head into the office, “They done be ready boss. Shoulds I brings them in?”

  Jedimac shook his head, “Since it is getting stuffy in here, set up a table out front.” Then he turned back to Panry, “Honest, I am just looking out for your best interests—and my growing interest. Helping Mother, it cannot be a bad thing, right? When it happens, whatever it is, I would rather be on your side than stuck in the middle. Now join me for a special meal.” When Jedimac left his office, the Earth Guards followed him to the bar area at the front. There they found a large table covered with numerous platters, holding a selection of odd foods that several of the guild members were currently sampling.

  “Da good, boss, real good.”

  Picking up one, Jedimac started to nibble on it, “Just like he said.” Then he turned to the Earth Guards, “Please, help yourselves. The Bastard called them finger foods: wings from chickens, ribs from pigs. Butchers usually grind them up, making sausages, so today I will corner the market on them.”

  Picking up a large chicken wing, Panry bit into the crisp skin and moist meat, swallowed, “They are good.”

  “Boss, tries one of those, the poppers, but they is hot.”

  Picking up the small brown object, after Jedimac bit into it, he grabbed a mug of beer. “Did not expect that.”

  Panry tried another wing, liked it, “Why do you covet sausage ingredients?”

  “I asked about
that ‘pe-saw-rea’,” began Jedimac, “so he explained how it was his idea. Since it is doing so well, I asked if he could open a second eatery, what would he do? He told me about a place where they employ young ladies to serve these ‘finger foods’ to the customers. If you correctly prepare the cheapest parts of the animals, you can create the most interesting foods, but you really have no desire to know what we cook them in. Then, by using this unique marketing strategy, I should be able to mimic this ‘Whoters’ he talked about. I have so many debtors defaulting on loans, who keep offering their daughters to work it off. If I refuse to accept that payment, they might do something else, and we both know what that means. Basically, the simple math is this. Since I own a restaurant that is dying for business, I purchase the most offensive meats that nobody wants, and with free labor, well, I will have to invite you to the grand opening.”

  While the remaining Earth Guards were sampling the menu, Panry set down his wing. “I knew there was more, but I thought your intent was foul, not fowl winged.”

  After the elves had left the guild house, Jedimac continued to taste the assorted foods, and then six presentable guild members walked in. “You will all visit every ‘reputable’ butcher in town, getting me exclusive rights to these waste products. Make it clear that none of them will sell ribs or wings to any other.”

  One clean-shaven, well-dressed guild member stepped forward. “Should not be a problem, boss. They will most likely be glad to get rid of them. If one should decline?”

  “I anticipate a shortage of sausage filling, so if they do, we may just have to consider that market also. Now, I have to prepare for my meeting with the Shadow Council, but they are not going to like what I have learned. Make sure nobody disturbs me!”

  *******

  “I’ll go wake up Logan to drive the carriage,” began Lauren, “and then we need to go to the pizzeria.”

  “Why do we need him?” asked Jasmine.

  “Well somebody has to drive it, and I’m not going to.”

  “I can. You are worse than Moonshadow, trying to supress myself. I am your Earth Guard captain and capable of the task!”

  “Fine,” Lauren grabbed the portal bracelet, putting it on, pushing the amulet with the ring to Jasmine. “Go materialize the coach, and I’ll be down in a few minutes.” Going to her bedroom, she retrieved the heavy satchel that Gayne had given her, withdrawing several of the kitbags.

  Having taken the magic items to the stable, before Jasmine could complete her task, Oxron Icefeather approached her. “Ironwood, why do you punish myself?”

  “I do not, but it is difficult to explain.”

  “Is it because I repeated the stories Panry told?”

  “No.”

  “How can I serve and protect Earth Mother in here tending to animals?”

  Jasmine stamped her foot, “You will serve like I command.” Then she thought of Lauren’s angry outburst the day before, “I will explain it to you later.” When Oxron had returned to his chores, she placed the first amulet on the ground, the ring on her finger, and mimicked the actions that she had seen Eric perform several times. Just like before, with that simple act, a carriage with horses appeared in front of her. After Lauren had entered, Jasmine held open the door for the Earth Mother, the Guardians, and their wolves. Then she took to the bench, guiding the horses through the rain, with the remaining Earth Guards following mounted on their deer.

  After they had left, Oxron closed the stable doors and went up to his stag, which was pawing at the ground as it wanted to follow the others. “We caannot go my friend. Our command is to stay, though I do not understand why.”

  When they arrived at the pizzeria, Jasmine took them to the back door where all of the two-legged occupants quickly disembarked, who then headed into the kitchen. Even though it was the early afternoon, the restaurant was extremely busy, as Iljam called out commands like a general on a battlefield. Lauren, followed by the rest, headed for the back stairs. On the top floor, with Krisp nowhere to be found, Lauren scanned the many inhabitants, spotting Joyat. Explaining how the portal bracelets worked, she told her about the new forest where the gifts of Mother waited for them.

  Before she could leave, Joyat said, “Daughter Krisp has selected eight more, and Brother Croy has handpicked their Earth Guards. They have been waiting for you.”

  Lauren nodded, following her to the waiting Earth Daughters. Her hand was on the top of the staff, which now measured three feet tall, and she was hoping not to spend too much, so when she needed it the most to save her daughters, sufficient funds would remain. Knowing that she could not win this battle alone, she met with the new candidates. After an hour of talking to them, she proclaimed them all Earth Daughters. Twenty minutes later, she did the same with the new Earth Guards before heading back to the carriage.

  “Back home, Earth Mother?” asked Jasmine, holding open the carriage door.

  “No, we need to go to the forest, as I need to plant the homing amulet.”

  “Earth Mother, the forest is large. Should we not take the Champion or Bastard?”

  “We can’t wait since the garden will be dead by now, and I need to make sure the Earth Daughters can harvest the necessary gifts. I have my Earth Guard and Granite Guardians, but what I do not have, is time.” However, she also remembered her spoken words; ‘Daughter Krisp, you need to listen to your protectors and follow their instructions.’

  Hours later, when the carriage arrived at the forest, Lauren waited while the Guardians did a perimeter search, and Jasmine changed the transport back into a golden amulet. Then the female Earth Guard captain followed her charge into the dark forest, her deer ears swiveling back and forth, listening for any signs of threats. At the desired clearing, Lauren dug a hole in the moist ground with her boot, burying the amulet.

  The entire time Jasmine was thinking about the last attack in the forest, wondering how she would be able to protect Earth Mother, as she knew that if the Granite fell, blood would flow.

  When Lauren started the motions to materialize a portal back to the stables, Jasmine stepped forward. “I have other business that I need to see to. I shall return to Gayne’s house in days of three.” Lauren just nodded, opened up the portal, which allowed the remaining group to enter it.

  Inside the house, Gayne with Mirtza had locked themselves in the study, but in the front room, Steve, Ryan, and Eric were discussing how angered Zymse appeared to be by the recent setback from the fire, and Logan was fast asleep in his room.

  *******

  It was late that night when Jedimac called for the carriage to stop. Stepping out into the dark streets, he checked to make sure nobody was watching. Blending in with the blackness, he let the dark swallow him, as he followed one of the numerous paths to the secret destination. Once there, pushing on the unseen mechanism, he felt the door silently open, and entering quickly, he pulled the black mask over his head, concealing his appearance. While the hall he walked in had no illumination, it had numerous traps, which he avoided by counting out the steps. At the final door, taking several deep breaths to calm himself, he opened the access to the Chamber of Shadows, finding an empty chair upon entering. Four years ago, in order to get a favored seat, members had to arrive early. That was when the guilds numbered over two hundred, and unclaimed seats were like the Darkpaye immigrants north of the Key River: few. Waiting patiently in the dark, they discussed old business, grievances, and such. Then, hearing the words, he smiled behind his black mask.

  “Is there any new business?”

  He stood in the dark room, cleared his throat, “Two years ago, I implored the council to act. Last year. I begged them, but today, I demand it. Darkpaye is rising, and this tide does not bless us.”

  From the shadows, he heard a choir of comments; not again, seriously, jackass, and such, but he waited for quiet.

  “Does the honored member have any evidence?”

  “Evidence is our greatest fear since it places us behind bars. Do I have new facts? No,
but I speak that which all know to those who refuse to embrace it. Our councilors disappear like the guilds that once claimed the territories north of the Key. Of the failed attempt to segregate the Bright Coast, only silenced by the volumes of Calicon residents brave enough to stand against those who wish to crush us. In addition, the news I brought of ‘unsanctioned’ assassins operating in our territories. Even though the council granted certain guilds exclusive rights to investigate, their words are like light in this room: absent! Finally, all know of the show in the mall where a man named Zymse from Darkpaye offered the Newlands back to Calicon. The best part, to keep them free from trollmares, he proffers a magical brand? More so, he can cure those infected by Midnight Sun with a similar one? When you leave this room, do you steal the shadows that conceal you now, so once in the daylight, they will hide the truth from you? Our membership shrinks, our territories diminish, our opportunities vanish, and our revenues are like fruits left in the sun for too long—they wither into but a taste of what we are used to. Yet nobody raises any concerns?”