by Shawn Sodman
Adolayn looks again at Evelena's necklace. When she notices the red beads, she looks at the necklaces of the others. She says, “I see you all have earned honor tokens for combat.”
“They were mostly small groups,” Evelena says.
Ja'noa says, “At least until we got to Ogre's Mead. There were two ogres there.”
Now even more concerned about the safety of her daughter, Adolayn says, “You shouldn't have ventured so far into their territory.”
“Relax, mother,” replies Evelena. “We had a plan of escape and a very good guide.”
Yentroc says to her friends, “Speaking of Sven, I’m going to see if I can find Lyra.”
Adolayn, now looking around at the group, asks, “Where is Lyra?”
“She was upset earlier,” Yentroc answers. “I’m not sure where she went, but I think I know where to start.”
“I'll go with you,” Gelana says.
The two Amazons leave in search of their friend, while Evelena begins to tell her mother about their journey.
Chapter 39
The Smelling of Roses
In the lower level of the Library, Lyra is sobbing at one of the tables with her head down in folded arms. Sven enters and walks down the center stairs. When he sees her, he asks, “Lyra, is that you?”
Lyra quickly sits up and frantically wipes her face while turning away from Sven. Sven makes it to the bottom of the stairs. As he approaches Lyra, she clears her throat and says cheerfully, “Hello, I didn't hear you come in.”
“Are you all right?” he asks.
“Yes,” she answers with a forced smile.
“No, you are not,” Sven says. “Who hurt you? Tell Sven.”
Lyra sighs and shakes her head, “No one hurt me, but I think that I helped someone hurt another.”
“Who?” he asks.
Lyra takes a deep breath before bombarding Sven with a quick synopses of the recent events. “I thought Chance had told you to stay away from me, so later when Kristieana was trying to keep Va'leen away from Chance, I told her to invoke neita, that way Va'leen would have to stay away from Chance unless she fought Kristieana, but Chance didn't want them to fight over him, so now Va'leen has to stay away from Chance, but I didn't know that they were only talking about Chance's sister, who was killed in Northwind. Now, Va'leen is angry with me and so is Chance. And I only helped because I thought Chance told you to keep away from me, but he didn't.”
Sven tries to take all of Lyra's words in. He nods and says, “Chance gave Sven much to think about, but Chance did not tell Sven to stay away from Lyra.”
“I feel so bad,” Lyra says. “I helped Kristieana keep Va'leen away from Chance.”
“Va'leen is one that Kristieana has fought over men in past?” asks Sven.
“Yes,” Lyra replies. “They have fought over men before, but this was different.”
Sven asks, “Sven thought that Kristieana was with Isen now. Why does did she care about Va'leen and Chance?”
Lyra sighs. “From what Gelana told us, Kristieana and Chance met at the Pick Ax in Copper Pass. She’s not exactly sure what happened between them, but Chance did write her a passionate letter.”
In sudden realization, Sven says, “Chance must have been other man in Kristieana's life that she told Sven about in Lunarus's cave.”
Lyra says, “Then she fell for Isen while we were in the north.”
“When, we returned, Isen kissed Kristieana and Chance saw. It must be why he left so suddenly.”
Lyra adds, “And if I remember correctly, Kristieana left right after.”
“Sven wonders if Chance and Kristieana are still involved,” says Sven.
Lyra replies, “Kristieana claimed that she was trying to protect Chance from Va'leen.”
“Was Isen there?” Sven asks.
“No,” Lyra replies. “I don't think he knows about Chance.”
“Sven feels very sorry for both Chance and Isen,” replies Sven.
Lyra sighs, “I shouldn't have gotten involved.”
“Just tell Chance that you are sorry,” Sven says. “He will understand.”
“I did,” replies Lyra. “But I need to do it again and make him understand that I really mean it.”
“Sven knows Chance very well,” he says. “If you are really sorry, he will forgive you.”
“Well, I am,” says Lyra.
Sven smiles and asks, “Did you really help Kristieana because you thought Chance told Sven to stay away from you?”
Lyra begins to blush. She smiles and says, “Well, you left suddenly last night, and I thought something was wrong.”
“That is Sven's fault,” he replies. “Sven is sorry he left without explaining.”
“So what exactly did Chance say to you that gave you so much to think about?” asks Lyra, slightly fearful of his answer.
Sven smiles and says, “It does not matter anymore. What is important is that Sven and Lyra make their own decisions.” He takes her hand and says, “And Sven has decided that he enjoys Lyra's company and would like for Lyra to spend more time with Sven.”
With her heart beating rapidly, Lyra smiles and says, “I can do that.”
She puts her arms around Sven's waist. While her head rests against his chest, Sven inhales deeply the sent from her hair. Lyra looks up at him, smiles, and asks, “What are you doing?”
Sven replies, “Sven was smelling roses.”
The door at the top of the stairs opens and Isen enters. He looks down at Sven and Lyra and asks, “Am I interrupting?”
Sven laughs and says, “It is all right.”
“Good,” Isen says as he begins to come down the stairs. “What are you talking about?”
Lyra replies, “Nothing that would interest you.”
Sven asks, “What are you doing here?”
“Well, there’s a beautiful garden right over here,” Isen says as he points to a doorway on the south wall, just to the left of the enormous stained-glass window.
“It’s a good place to read,” says Lyra.
“I wouldn't know,” Isen replies. “I can't read. But it’s good for relaxing, and the women usually like it when I bring them here.”
“So you are meeting woman, then,” Sven says.
“Yes,” replies Isen. “Kristieana should be here shortly.”
“Well, then,” Lyra says, “we should leave.”
“No, don't go,” Isen says. “We’re just meeting here. I plan to take her to the Black Rose Inn for dinner.”
“They have good food there,” Sven says. He turns to Lyra and asks, “Would you like to go there to eat?”
“I would like that,” Lyra answers.
Just outside the library entrance, Kristieana is standing at the door. She has on a green dress that fits her tightly as the previous owner of the dress—Princess Kianna’s handmaiden, Amanda—is much shorter than Kristieana. Because it has been adjusted to fit her taller form, the flounce portion of the dress has been brought in so that the length still extends to the ground. Kristieana's red hair is braided and pulled up.
Yentroc and Gelana arrive at the library just behind Kristieana. Yentroc says to her, “Excuse me, ma'am, but is this the library?”
Kristieana turns and replies, “Yentroc, it's me.”
Both Gelana and Yentroc are amazed by their friend's transformation. Gelana says, “I can't believe it's you.”
“Well, it is,” replies Kristieana. “How do I look? And be honest.”
Yentroc says, “You look great.”
Gelana, teasing her friend, says, “Yes, just like a delicate flower.”
Kristieana sighs. “I shouldn't have worn this.” She starts to walk back down the hall away from the library when Gelana gets in her way.
“Don't leave,” Gelana says. “I was only joking. You look wonderful.”
Looking down at her dress, Kristieana says, “I can't believe I’m doing this. This isn't like me at all. I hate dresses.” She looks up at Gelana and asks
, “Does it really look good on me?”
“Yes,” reassures Gelana.
The door to the library opens and Sven and Lyra emerge. Yentroc says, “Lyra, I’m glad you’re here. I was coming to check on you. Are you all right?”
“I am now,” Lyra smiles. She looks at Kristieana and says, “Kristieana, I almost didn't recognize you.”
Isen comes out from the library and says to Kristieana, “Oh, good, you’re here. I was just about to come find you.” He looks at the dress and asks, “Where did you get that?”
Kristieana shakes her head. “Is that all you have to say?”
Sven says, “Sven thinks that what Isen meant to say is that you look beautiful.”
Isen quickly says with a smile, “Yes, that’s what I meant.”
Sven adds, “You look like rose. The dress is stem, and your hair is like soft red petals.”
Kristieana, pleasantly surprised by Sven's complement, smiles and says, “Thank you, Sven. I’m glad someone can appreciate the trouble I went though.”
“I appreciate it,” Isen says. He nudges Sven. “Thanks for throwing me under the wagon.”
Sven laughs. “Any time, my friend.”
“Come on, I have something I want to show you,” Isen says as he opens the door to the library for Kristieana. “Just follow me.”
Kristieana and Isen head off to the garden as Sven says to Lyra, “Are you ready to get something to eat?”
Lyra looks down at her worn clothing. She had never noticed before how tattered they had become. After having just seen how beautiful Kristieana looked in her dress, Lyra becomes self-conscious of her own appearance. She looks at Sven and says, “I’m not really that hungry right now, and I was going to try to finish a book that the library let me borrow. Perhaps tomorrow we could meet here at noon, and spend the day together.”
Sven smiles and nods, “Yes, Sven could show you all of Sheathelm.”
“That would be nice,” Lyra replies. “I'll see you tomorrow, then?”
“Yes, tomorrow,” agrees Sven.
Lyra turns and grabs Yentroc's arm before walking away. Gelana follows them, and Sven is left standing at the library entrance alone.
Yentroc says to Lyra, “I cannot believe that you’re choosing to read a book over going to dinner with Sven. You must really not be hungry.”
“I’m famished,” Lyra replies quietly. “But I’m not about to go out to dinner looking like this.”
“Oh, now I understand,” says Yentroc as they reach a stairway.
Lyra says, “Do you think Kianna can help me find something to wear for tomorrow?”
“Let's go find out,” says Gelana.
Chapter 40
Collections
At the far end of the city of Sheathelm is a small tavern named the Rusty Dagger. Captain Fidelma McMurphy and Samantha are outside. Samantha says, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“No,” answers Fidelma. “But we are in need of money, and there aren't currently any bounties that we have leads on.”
Samantha nods and says, “But collecting late payments doesn't pay very well.”
“They don't take much time, either,” counters Fidelma as she goes inside the tavern. “And a few silver for less than an hour’s worth of work isn't that bad.”
Inside the tavern, it is dimly lit. There is a foul odor in the air from spilled drinks that have been ignored. There are enough chairs for about fifty patrons, but less than half are filled. With the impending orcnea attack, many have left the city.
As Fidelma makes her way to the back, the men eye her and Samantha. While this would be an unsafe place for most women, Fidelma does not feel in the least bit threatened. In fact, when she makes eye contact with the intimidating bar patrons, most give her a nod of respect.
With a hoarse voice, a man calls out warmly, greeting her. “McMurphy!” He is an older man with an unkempt gray beard. He walks with a limp from an injured left leg as he approaches. “I haven't seen you in these parts in quite some time.”
“Hello, Stefan,” says Fidelma. “I’ve come to find some work. Is there anyone here from the Goblin Trade Company?”
“Aye, there is,” Stefan replies. “In the corner. His name is Phit.”
Fidelma looks and spots a goblin sitting at a table with his back to the corner. His chair is higher than the others so that he can sit at the table more comfortably. Next to him is a large hobgoblin. They are similar to other goblins, but much larger, and generally not as bright. They are commonly used as bodyguards for the members of the Goblin Trade Company.
Fidelma pulls out a chair and says, “Good evening, Phit, my name is Captain McMurphy.”
The goblin grins, showing his sharp teeth. With the typical raspy voice of the goblins, he replies, “Well, well, Captain McMurphy. I’ve heard a lot about you. It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person.”
Fidelma smiles as she sits down. “I hope the things you’ve heard were all good.”
“Most of it,” replies Phit. “In fact, we were discussing you at this morning's briefing.”
“Discussing me?” Fidelma inquires. “Why’s that?”
Phit replies, “It seems that you are behind in the payments on your ship.”
“Oh, that,” sighs Fidelma. “Well, you see, that’s why we’re here. I need some work immediately so I can take care of the amount that’s late.”
Phit laughs. “Well, I’m afraid there isn't anything that’s going to pay well enough for that, but don't worry, they haven't issued a collection notice for you... yet.”
Fidelma sighs with relief. “Well, what work do you have? I need something now.”
Phit unrolls a scroll and looks at it for a moment. He smiles and says, “Here’s one for you, and it’s an easy one. The order just came in today. I could probably do it myself, but there is the whole matter of deniability, and the Goblin Trade Company would prefer to absolve ourselves of the responsibility if something... unfortunate were to happen to him.”
“Don't worry,” Fidelma says. “We’ll get the payment from him. Who is he, how much does he owe, and how much do I get?”
Phit writes something down on a parchment and folds it in half before sliding it across the table to Fidelma. He says, “Here is the name and the amount due. Once you have collected it, you sign your name at the bottom for his receipt. As for your payment, you get to keep the ten percent late fee.”
Fidelma looks at the parchment. She says, “He only owes five gold crowns. I'll only get five silver for this.”
Phit says, “He’s only a few buildings down. You can be back in ten minutes and get a new assignment.”
Fidelma stands up and puts the folded parchment in her coat pocket. She says to Samantha, “Come on, Sam, let's make this quick.”
They exit the Rusty Dagger and start to walk down the street. Fidelma says, “It's been a while since we had to shake someone down.”
“Are we going to go with the 'good collector/bad collector' plan?” Samantha asks.
Fidelma says, “This is the place.” She looks at the sign, which says Simon's Apothecaries. She turns to her friend. “I think this may call for the 'my clumsy friend' plan.”
Samantha smiles and nods as they enter. The shop inside cramped, and there is very little space to maneuver between the walls and the long table that is centered in the middle. There is shelving on the walls that contain empty glass jars and potions. The table is covered with potted plants and herbs. In the far corner, a balding man with glasses is kneeling on the floor as he fills a box with jars from one of the shelves.
The man looks up and asks, “Can I help you?”
“Are you going somewhere?” asks Fidelma.
“Yes,” replies the man. “I’m leaving before the orcneas get here.”
“I see,” says Fidelma. She studies the plants on the table for a moment then asks, “You don't have any Verity vines, do you?”
“No,” the man answers. “We’ve been sold out for over
a week.”
“Would you like some?” she asks. “I’ve recently come across a bit of it.”
“How much do you have?” he asks as he stands up.
“Quite a bit, actually,” Fidelma smiles. “How much do you want?”
“I'll give you five silver per pouch or ten silver for each living sprout,” he says.
“I have six sprouts,” Fidelma says. “They’re all healthy. Are you interested in them all?”
“Sure,” he nods. “Do you have them with you?”
“No,” Fidelma says. “I don't. But since you have six gold, then perhaps you would like to pay your debt to the Goblin Trade Company.”
The man nervously says, “I don't have the gold actually here.”
“Oh, I think you do,” Fidelma says as she looks back at Samantha and nods.
Samantha brushes against one of the empty glass jars, and it falls to the floor and shatters. The man says, “Hey, be careful.”
“I’m sorry,” says Samantha. “I always seem to be knocking things over. I’m just glad it wasn't a full jar.”
The man turns to Fidelma and says, “Please, have your friend wait outside.”
Fidelma smiles and replies, “That would rather rude, don't you think?” She pulls the parchment from her coat and says, “Why don't you just give me the six gold and I'll sign off on this payment.”
The man takes the parchment and studies it. He says, “This says I only owe five gold and five silver.”
Fidelma smiles and says, “The extra silver is for us giving good service today.” She looks at Samantha and says, “Sam, don't you think we’ve given him good service?”
“Yes,” Samantha replies. “I have been very good. I have only broken one jar.” She picks up a flask containing a white potion and asks, “What is this?”
Fearing that she may drop the potion, the man relents, “All right, I'll get you the gold. Now, PLEASE put that down.”
Samantha shrugs and places the potion back on the shelf. The man walks behind a counter that is along the back wall. He opens a drawer and takes out five gold coins along with ten silver ones. He says, “There, that’s all I have.”
