He stopped and looked at her, shrugging after a moment. “Fine. You can buy it for yourself. Do you have any coins on you?”
“Yes. I made sure of that. They’re safely tucked away,” she assured him as they continued walking. It was a relief that he would let her buy something for herself instead of wasting his money.
The Wizard’s Mall was on the northwest side of the Tower District while the Guard and Blossom Districts were on the southeast side. The journey to get there would be somewhat dangerous even in the daylight.
Bobbell was one of the few people who held Pelya’s hand with their right hand. He was left handed and needed that one to be free should a fight occur. One thing that was constant was that everyone she was with held her hand. No one was ever willing to risk losing the most precious member of the Guard.
Pelya knew she was special, everyone told her so, but she didn’t know why. Other kids had parents, brothers, sisters, grandparents and normal aunts and uncles. They lived in nice houses or run-down houses, depending on their parent’s lot in life. They had normal lives and seemed quite happy with them for the most part.
Then there were the kids that were orphans, or worked under slave-like conditions. They seemed mostly miserable, but even they were ordinary in the sense that it was a common occurrence. Pelya, on the other hand, did not have a normal life. There was always someone looking after her. Literally thousands of Guard members checked in on her in the course of a week even if it was just to say hi. Not only that, but they smiled when they saw her.
On the rare occasion she did something wrong, Frath would punish Pelya by grounding her to her room, but worse than that was the fact that everyone seemed to know about it. They would be disappointed in her and then they would all lecture her, which hurt more than any punishment. A number of people in the Guard didn’t like her, but the majority kept them quiet and she didn’t see them often.
At times, her life seemed miserable and she wanted the normal life with parents and a house, but that didn’t happen very often. Having so many people to hold her hand and teach her what they knew was wonderful. Plus she liked being in the Guard now that she was certain no one was angry at her and they weren’t going to kick her out.
“Hold, Guardsman. I would speak with you a moment.” The clear, powerful voice brought Pelya out of her reverie. Bobbell stopped and put the right half of his body directly in front of her in a shielding motion.
“Hello, Sir Knight. What would you speak of?” Bobbell asked the person who had spoken. He gave a slight bow with his free arm out to the side.
Pelya looked up and saw a man in shining plate armor sitting atop a magnificent warhorse. The first thing she noticed was that his eyes were the same color of the sky above him. His face was strong and noble, but kind at the same time. Dark blonde hair fell to his shoulders and matched the neatly trimmed beard and mustache. A fine orange tunic had a golden sun embroidered on the chest and matched the cloak flowing down his back. She curtseyed as was proper.
“The child whose hand you hold, that would be the daughter of Frath Jornin, yes?” he asked in a voice golden as the embroidered sun.
Bobbell didn’t answer immediately, but had no reason to hide the fact. “It is, Sir Knight.”
“She is well?”
“Yes, My Lord,” Bobbell answered, not volunteering any other information.
“Her father is well?”
“Yes, My Lord.”
The knight’s gaze settled on Pelya. His eyes had a dignity about them and she found herself trusting the man instantly, though she couldn’t say why. He spoke directly to her. “I am pleased that you are well, Pelya Jornin. It is my hope that you will know peace in your life.”
“Thank you, Sir Knight.” She curtseyed again, wondering how he knew her.
“There will come a time that I will need your assistance, child,” he told her mysteriously.
Pelya stared at him incredulously. She wanted to respond, but had no idea what to say. Bobbell obviously didn’t know either.
“It will not be for a while, so do not concern yourself. Reanna’s blessings upon you and your father. May her light guide your way through the darkness.” With those words, the knight turned up the street, followed by his squire and another man who were also on horses. They nodded at her and Bobbell as they passed.
Uncle Bobbell stared after them until they disappeared into the mildly crowded street. A few people passing by stared at the two of them curiously. Pelya finally asked, “Reanna is the Goddess of the Sun, right?”
He turned and faced her. “Huh? Oh, yes. Goddess of the Sun, yes. There’s a God of the Sun too that most people worship. I’ve never seen a follower of Reanna to be honest with you.” Bobbell looked around before focusing on her again. “That was the most unusual thing. How do you know him?”
Pelya shook her head. “I don’t know him. What do you think he meant when he said that he’s going to need my assistance?”
“I don’t know. Knights tend to get hit in the head a lot. Maybe the Sun Goddess baked it in that helmet a little too long,” he suggested with a grin.
“No. I believe him, but I don’t know why. Maybe daddy knows him. He asked if daddy was well,” Pelya suggested. The man intrigued her. Something about him was familiar, but she couldn’t say what. The knight also had an aura of good that stood out in the city of Dralin as a flame stands out in a pitch-black room.
They resumed walking. “You may be right. We’ll ask him when we get back this evening.”
A little while later, they were on the confusing streets of the Tower District. From there, it took a short while to reach the Wizard’s Mall and the trip was mostly uneventful.
“Here we are, the most amazing place in the world where you can find everything from the tooth of a carnivorous fairy to the scale of a mighty dragon,” Bobbell announced, gesturing grandly at the streets ahead.
They were in a large plaza surrounded by tall buildings with cone-shaped tile roofs. A bronze statue of a renowned wizard was in the center surrounded by an area of flowers. Six more flower gardens were around the edge of the plaza. Inviting benches were next to the gardens for people to sit and relax.
“This is the nice part of Wizard’s Mall,” Bobbell told her as they moved to a spot clear of bustling wizards, workers and assorted individuals out for a day’s shopping, work or leisure. “You’ll find high quality stores this close to the Tower District.” He pointed to well kept shops that were brightly painted and had placards announcing their wares. “A wand shop, potions, books, rune balls, artifacts and antiques, and a shop for the finest spell components and focuses a person could ever want all at prices that make even the richest wizards choke.” He grinned at Pelya and got the laugh he was anticipating.
Then he became serious and leaned in. “Of course, you don’t want to see these places even if they would let a pair like us in. You want to go into the shadowy, twisty streets with shops that sell dark magics and mysterious wares don’t you, my little viper?” Pelya nodded hopefully, doing her best to contain her excitement. He gripped her hand firmly. “You hold on to me and do everything I tell you to. Understood?” he asked, his grim face close. When she nodded sincerely, he said, “Let’s go then.”
Pelya stared at everything she could as they walked, all the while holding Uncle Bobbell’s hand tightly. Wizards, male and female, roamed the streets. Some were brightly dressed with flashy robes that glistened in the sunlight. Others wore sinister robes and held their chins up in contempt of lesser people that dared to walk the same streets as them. Many were disheveled and had stains on their old cloth robes. Those had a tendency to mumble to themselves and run into things. In the upper windows of a few buildings, people stuck their heads out over laundry lines strung from building to building and gossiped about current events.
“Why do all wizards wear robes, Uncle Bobbell?”
“Hmm? Not all of them do, just most,” he answered absentmindedly. Bobbell had been busily looking ar
ound at people and buildings as though searching for something. “A robe is one single piece of clothing with a large surface to thread or embroider runes into. It makes for stronger magical storage and protection. If they were to separate it into tunics and leggings, it would cut the amount of power that could be imbued into it.”
“Do you have to have runes to store power in something?” Pelya asked, thinking of the magical sword Ebudae had given her.
Bobbell didn’t answer right away. Then he looked at her thoughtfully. “I honestly don’t know. I suppose so. Runes help to store, channel magic, and define what each specific effect is. I can’t say that I’ve ever seen a magical item without them. Why do you ask?”
“I was just curious,” Pelya said quickly. “I’m eleven. It’s my job to ask a never-ending string of questions,” she told him with an innocent grin.
He laughed at that. “I suppose it is, my little viper, I suppose it is.”
The streets were gradually becoming darker. Paint chipping from looming storefronts and worn placards showed the declining quality of buildings. Powerful looking wizards were becoming much less frequent, replaced by furtive figures that would slink from one shop to the next. The only thing that didn’t change was the absent-minded wizards who talked to themselves. It seemed they went everywhere. A crow perching on a second story eave of one of the shops caught her attention. Pelya was certain it was staring at her.
A hooded woman came toward them from a dark corner. “Here now, what a pretty little girl.”
“You’ll die quickly if you touch her, you old bat,” Bobbell threatened in the most sinister, hissing voice Pelya had ever heard from him. The woman hissed back wordlessly, scraping the air with a claw-like hand before slinking back into the corner.
They went past a few more stores before he stopped in a clear space. “This was a terrible idea. We should go back,” Bobbell told her with a sigh. “No member of the Guard is supposed to be in this district alone, and I’m definitely not supposed to bring you here. This was a stupid decision.” He rubbed his brow while keeping an eye out for danger.
Pelya wanted to protest, but realized immediately how much stress it was putting on him. She was also beginning to get a bad feeling about everything. “Yes, Uncle Bobbell. I’m sorry,” she said contritely.
He looked at her and smiled gently. “You’re such a good child and a wonderful person. I love you, my little viper,” he told her, wrapping her up in a strong hug.
“I love you too, Uncle Bobbell. I’m sorry I suggested this. I don’t want you to get into trouble.”
“No. Don’t you worry about that,” he replied, taking her by the shoulders and looking her in the eyes. “You want adventure and excitement as every child should. Don’t worry, I’ll keep you safe.” He looked around again. “The store I want to take you to is nearby. After that, I have one quick task to do. Then we’ll go have a nice lunch in the park or something safe like that.”
“I really, really don’t want you to get into trouble, Uncle. We should go back now,” Pelya told him worriedly. A crow cawed at them in agreement from a placard jutting out of a nearby shop. She couldn’t tell if it was the same one that had stared at her before.
Bobbell didn’t seem to notice it. “Nonsense. I’m known here. We’ll be fine.” He grinned and led her back into the street. The crow cawed in warning again. Pelya stared as they passed it. For an instant, she was certain its eyes flashed purple.
“Uncle Bobbell. Please let’s go back. I have a really, really bad feeling,” she pleaded, pulling on his hand.
“The shop is right there,” he pointed at a grimy stone building with two steps in front of an iron-braced wooden door. Its placard had a peeling picture of a hand with green fire coming from the palm. He opened the door, which rang a bell to alert the shopkeeper that there was a customer.
Inside was a space packed with shelves that held a myriad of tightly packed items. Many appeared to be magical, but it was hard to tell. A skeleton of a large bird hung from the ceiling next to a couple dozen representations of the moons, which were a favorite decoration of wizards. Everything was dusty and the light coming in from dirty windows was dim, which most likely helped to hide some of the flaws in the items.
“Bobbell, you little weasel, have you come for that special item or another tumble in bed?” a husky-voiced woman asked from behind the counter.
“Tibella, none of that now, I have my niece with me,” Bobbell said quickly. “I have the gold piece you’re asking for the item.” They walked through the narrow aisle to the counter.
“Your niece?” Tibella asked with raised eyebrows. She was short, but stout and busty with green eyes, dusky red hair and a pretty face. Pelya guessed her age to be in the late thirties, older than Bobbell. “I happen to know for a fact that you’re an orphan.” She narrowed her eyes at Pelya and put her hands on hips. “Bobbell, I know you like things a little kinky, but I never figured you were this depraved. I won’t have anything to do with it,” she spat out angrily.
Pelya stared at her in shock, not really understanding the meaning, but getting the feeling that it was bad. Bobbell instantly disputed the claim. “That is not what she is here for and don’t ever suggest it! She’s under the protection of the entire Guard and I’m caring for her for the day. Nothing bad will happen to her as long as I’m alive,” he said fiercely, jabbing a thumb into his chest.
Tibella looked back and forth between the two, finally relaxing when she realized he was sincere. “Sorry. There are a lot of people who would do that sort of thing.” She brushed dust off the front of her robe. “You’re not getting the picks for her, are you?”
“Yup. I didn’t say I wasn’t corrupting her,” he replied with a grin.
The shopkeeper laughed loudly and unlocked a cabinet along the wall behind the counter. She pulled out a tied leather packet and brought it over, unraveling it onto the counter. Pelya gasped when she saw the set of lockpicks and tools. “Here it is,” Tibella stated. “They have good magic in them. They won’t break and they’ll get warm in the hand as a warning if there’s a magical ward on a lock. They’ll stay steady even in the shakiest hands too.”
“Perfect,” Bobbell said, going through them to make sure they were all there.
“It’s illegal to have them, of course. If a member of the Guard catches you with them, you’ll be in trouble,” Tibella said with a wink as she leaned on the counter. They both burst into laughter at the joke. Pelya stared at the picks, wanting them very much. She was really beginning to like dangerous things that could get her in trouble and picking locks was fun. “I could easily get five gold pieces as you know, but you did right by me and I’m letting them go for the gold piece I paid,” Tibella told him. There was a look on her face as though she regretted the deal. “I have to get that much though.”
Pelya instantly reached into the pouch hidden under her tunic and pulled out the largest coin. It was one of two shiny gold pieces she kept out of the bank in case she wanted to buy something especially nice. She laid the shiny coin on the counter and watched the shopkeeper snatch it faster than lightning. “Well, well. That’s quite a pretty coin for someone so young,” Tibella said with a leer. “I wonder how she earned that.”
Bobbell’s sword was at Tibella’s throat faster than the coin had been snatched. “Don’t ever insult my niece again. She’s the best person in the world.” Blood drained out of the shopkeeper’s face and she trembled while nodding slowly. The sword was placed rapidly back in its sheath. “Do you mind if I use the back exit?” Bobbell asked. “I need to talk to someone.” He wrapped up the lockpicks tightly and handed them to Pelya who tucked them securely away under her tunic where the pouch was. She had a secret place in her room where she would keep them.
Tibella nodded weakly and then looked at Pelya. “You don’t want to take her into the alleys . . .”
“She’s safe with me. Don’t worry,” Bobbell assured her. The shopkeeper looked back and forth at the two of
them, but courage had left her, so she nodded again and led them into a back room even more cluttered than the shop. The door had ten locks keeping it secure. She undid them quickly and stuck her head out before waving them through.
Locks clacked shut behind them as they studied the tight alley. Bobbell carefully looked both ways for any sign of danger and then led her to the right, moving quickly and quietly.
Pelya followed, but didn’t like it at all. “Uncle Bobbell, we should go back please,” she urged in a low voice. “I’m sorry I asked to come. I won’t ever do it again.”
“This will only take a few minutes then we’ll go back,” he reassured her.
“I have a really bad feeling,” Pelya protested. The blood in her veins had gone cold with dread by that point, but he didn’t answer.
Buildings loomed over them menacingly, letting little light through even though the sun was directly overhead. Bobbell made her step carefully over a trickle of brackish green liquid coming from a drainpipe out of the back of one of the buildings. She recognized it as magical waste. If they touched it, it could lead to deformities.
After a number of twists and turns, they finally stopped in front of a black, ironbound door. Bobbell knocked on it in a pattern of nine raps. A metal plate slid back and a face looked through at them before the door opened and a rough looking man with a spiked club stepped aside to let them through.
Pelya was honestly terrified. Everything was wrong and she didn’t want to go in. She gripped Bobbell’s hand with all of her strength and stayed as close as possible while they walked down the hallway to the next door, pushed open for them by another dangerous-looking man. If she could have gone back and started the day over, she wouldn’t have ever suggested coming to Wizard’s Mall. Perhaps she would have just stayed in bed.
A man sat behind the desk at the far end of the lavishly decorated room. Silver sconces, vivid tapestries and lush carpets were entirely out of place from the exterior of the building they had just entered. Five men sat or leaned around the edges of the room. Every single one of them looked dangerous. A red-haired wizardess wearing green robes threaded with golden runes stood behind the man at the desk. The men in the hallway who had opened the doors came inside, closed the door to the room and stood in front of it to prevent escape. Every nerve in Pelya’s body was screaming at her and she wanted to cry in fear.
Dralin Page 20
