by Kay L. Ling
The second day seemed slower than the first, mostly due to the weather. It rained on and off, and fog ruined what would otherwise have been a scenic drive. The trip had to be extremely tedious for Kaff, riding alone in the confinement wagon. During their afternoon break, Tyla decided to go over to the wagon and talk to him, but it was an awkward situation. What should she say? As soon as she opened her mouth to say hello, he snapped, “Come over to laugh at me?”
“No. I just wanted to—”
“You think you’re a big deal. Sure, you and your team fixed the Amulet, but humans figured out the method. You got lucky and found the right gems. Don’t let it go to your head.”
“We all worked very hard, and—”
“Save the speech for someone who cares.”
“What’s the matter with you? I came over here, trying to be nice! I shouldn’t have bothered.”
“No, you shouldn’t have. You helped Elias capture me after I kidnapped S. Don’t think I’ve forgotten that. Leave me alone. I don’t need your fake concern.” He spat through the bars. She wiped saliva from her cheek, turned in angry silence, and walked away.
After that, he went from being belligerent to refusing to speak to anyone, including his parents. He ate his meals alone and slept in the wagon, surrounded by guards.
At the end of the third day, before the group turned in for the night, Officer Whigget announced they would reach the border of the Amulet in the morning and get their first glimpse of Aberell City an hour later. Everyone broke into excited conversation except Kaff who sat staring glumly through the confinement wagon’s bars.
Tyla could hardly wait to see the city. She had seen a few drawings in S’s books, but those pictures were very old, and things had probably changed a lot since then.
The next morning, they ate an early breakfast and set out with the carriages in the lead so the confinement wagon wouldn’t block their view. The cloudless sky was a bright blue, and it was already getting warm. Tyla lowered her window enough to let in some fresh air but not much dust.
Their compartment had two bench seats facing each other, and Tyla tried not to stare at Ben and Tina Ann who sat across from her and Arenia. They were holding hands and staring out the windows. Arenia closed her eyes and soon nodded off.
After about an hour, they entered a desolate area with rocky outcroppings and few plants or trees, a sure sign they were nearing the barrier. The carriage was warm, and the heat and motion made Tyla groggy, but she fought the urge to sleep.
When they crested the last of several hills and started down, Tyla finally saw the Aberell River and the city along its bank. She gasped and grabbed her sister’s arm. Arenia woke with a start and looked around in confusion.
Just then, the driver slid aside a section of window and called back, “That’s Aberell City up ahead!”
The breghlin, who were facing the other way, turned in their seats to look, and Tina Ann let out a squeal of excitement. Arenia slid down her window, heedless of the dust.
It was easy to tell where the Amulet ended. On this side of the invisible barrier, the land was barren. On the other, the land was green all the way to the river. In a few minutes, they reached the dividing line. The driver called, “Passing through the Amulet now. Welcome home.”
Tyla got a lump in her throat. She had briefly stood on this side of the barrier after the team restored the Amulet to proper operation. Now, she would see more of this new world.
Tina Ann said, “We made it! We be the first in over two hundred years ter come here! Guess it be worth eatin’ that dried-up gnome food an’ sleepin’ in a tent no bigger than a bedroll.”
The closer they came to the city, the more impressive it looked. Row upon row of stone buildings climbed up a gently sloping hill. The buildings on the left were one level, packed closely together, and made of a white stone that was probably depleted corrustone. Straight ahead, she saw two-level buildings of gray stone that had steeply pitched roofs and many windows. The buildings on her right were probably public buildings because they were too large to be shops or homes. Many had ornate columns that reminded her of Elantoth’s throne room. There were a few sets of public docks along the river, and she saw boats of all sizes and shapes. Until now, she had only seen boats in books.
On the opposite side of the river rose a great forest. She could see stone structures among the trees along the riverbank.
Arenia said, “Look at that ugly building over there.”
Tyla knew which one she meant. The place had a forbidding look. It was the tallest building in the area, and its gray stone-block walls had small windows, set very high. Was that the confinement?
Officer Marn launched into a description of the city. “On your left is the Outcast District, which I’m sure you’ve heard about from Gem Master Ertz. Next is the commercial district and homes belonging to wealthy shop owners. On your right, you’ll find public buildings including the city administration building, the confinement, and the fortress.”
So, the ugly gray building was the confinement, Kaff’s home until his trial.
Marn’s next comment made Tyla forget about Kaff. “The main residential area of the city, called The Tree Community, lies across the river. There’s a bridge that leads to it just beyond the fortress. We’ll take a quick look over there, and then I’ll bring you back to the fortress. The other carriage will miss the tour, since they’re going to the confinement now, but I’m sure they’ll get a chance to see it later.”
They passed the fortress and came to the bridge, which was made of a hard, white material that was perfectly smooth except for clusters of lightgems set into its waist-high walls.
At the end of the bridge, the road led into the forest. Enormous trees, larger than any Tyla had ever seen, lined the right side of the road. On the left were equally large trees that were clearly Tree Homes, but unlike Tree Homes in the Amulet that were just trees, these took her breath away.
Ben and Tina Ann looked out the window with childlike wonder.
Attached to each tree trunk was a fanciful stone structure. Some were one level with two or three round windows and roofs made of overlapping pieces of wood. Others had multiple levels with various rooflines trimmed with carved birds and flowers. Some had chunks of gemstone rough set among the stones. Many had porches with ivy-covered trellises. Some had windows with small panes of colored glass. Each home’s door was unique, and many had been painted a bright color. Tyla was amazed at the variety.
“Look at that one!” Ben cried.
It was obvious which one he meant. The stone annex was so large it connected two trees.
“The Chief Administrator lives in that big home,” Marn said. “Aren’t many like it in Aberell City, but plenty in Mierek, I hear.”
“Does folks just live in the stone part?” Tina Ann wondered aloud.
Tyla asked Marn, “Do gnomes live inside the trees or just in the stone additions?”
“The tree is the main part of the home, but the annex provides additional space and sunlight. Wealthy folks have a big annex with many rooms, and folks like me have a small one with a single room.”
The group stared out the windows, exclaiming over all the clever designs. The trees were spaced far enough apart for sunlight to filter through the high canopy of leaves, and shade-loving wild flowers grew in profusion.
“Why aren’t there any other carriages?” Tyla called.
“Few people own one,” Marn replied. “They’re very expensive, and there isn’t much need for one unless you’re traveling outside the city. In that case, you rent a carriage or an open cart, whatever you can afford.”
“How do folks get around?” Arenia asked. “Do they Walk With the Wind?”
“Yes, we use that row of trees to your right.”
“Perfect,” Tyla said. “A designated tree road.”
Amulet gnomes had often found it necessary to Walk With the Wind to avoid breghlin, wild animals, and S’s monsters. They accessed trees’ interd
imensional space, passing from one tree to the next as if they were linked. It quickly grew tiring, though, and was best for short distances.
“We have other tree roads, so you can travel quite a distance in the Tree Community. Carts take folks across the bridge to the non-forested areas where we have public buildings and shopping areas, or you can take a boat to the public docks.”
Before long, Officer Marn turned down another road and took them past Tree Homes with small annexes. A few mothers sat on stoops, holding babies. Others played with youngones in yards bordered by flowering shrubs. The youngones waved at the carriage.
As they neared the river, Officer Marn turned left toward the fortress, and they hadn’t gone far when they found a cart blocking the narrow road.
A male carrying a crate came out of a home and called, “Sorry! Be out of your way in a minute!”
They followed his cart until he turned, and as he started up the adjoining road, Tyla read on his cart: Jifpatty’s Mercantile – Lowest Prices.
Tyla was sorry to cross the bridge and leave the Tree Community. It was a charming area, and so peaceful.
Soon they reached Aberell Fortress, and as they drove over the drawbridge, Tyla looked down into the moat. It had probably never held moat monsters. She shuddered at the memory of her first day at Elantoth. Four brontskellers had crawled out of the muddy water and gone on a rampage. She had been frightened half to death. Tina Ann had stayed by her side while most of the staff went out to hunt and kill the creatures.
“This place sure look like Elantoth,” Tina Ann said.
It did, but the surrounding area couldn’t be more different.
The carriage bypassed the front door and went around to the rear, giving them a good view of Aberell’s equipment buildings and animal barns.
“Welcome to Aberell Fortress,” said the driver. He got out, opened both passenger doors, and began retrieving everyone’s satchels.
Two gnomes in work clothes emerged from one of the barns and hurried toward the carriage.
“This be strange,” Ben whispered to Tina Ann. “Gnomes tendin’ to us, ‘stead of the other way aroun’.”
They got out of the carriage and stretched, trying to coax life back into stiff limbs.
Commander Finnack and Officer Pentar came out to greet them.
“I trust you had a pleasant journey,” Finnack said pleasantly. His eyes lingered on Ben and Tina Ann, and Tyla wondered what he was thinking. She was tempted to read his mind, but she didn’t want to be like Gem Master Ertz. Which reminded her—Ertz was acquainted with Finnack and Pentar. While she was here, she would ask what they thought of him.
“I bet you’re ready for a hot meal and something to drink,” Finnack said.
“Yes!” Tyla and Arenia agreed in unison.
Finnack said to Ben and Tina Ann, “I understand your tastes differ from ours, but we’ll find something you like.”
Tina Ann said, “Don’t make no fuss over us. A hunk of raw meat and some beer will do.”
“Mebbe some spoiled fruit, if you has any,” Ben added.
Tyla had a feeling the next couple days would prove interesting for everyone.
Chapter 8
The official fortress tour would take place tomorrow when Raenihel and the others could join them, but Tyla and her group saw quite a bit of the first floor on the way to the dining room.
Aberell was remarkably bright and clean, with none of Elantoth’s cobwebs and soot-stained walls. Wall-mounted fixtures with yellow glass globes lit the passageway instead of torches, and Finnack said there were lightgems inside. Lightgems must be common outside the Amulet, Tyla thought in amazement, because it would take hundreds to light every room and passageway. At Elantoth, lightgems were only used briefly for extra light.
Paintings of local scenery, famous buildings, and important gnomes, hung on the walls, and Tyla hoped to get a better look at them after lunch.
She lost track of how many doors they passed with doorplates including the words, “Department” or “Administration.” Would Elantoth be required to have all these offices? If so, who would work there? Few gnomes in the Amulet could read and write, and it had been difficult to find six gnomes to work in the Ministry of Gnome Affairs.
At the end of the passageway, Finnack said, “We’ll stop here for a moment.” He opened a door marked Staff Haven. “Office workers use this room for meals and rest breaks. You’ll find newssheets on the tables, although they’re usually a day or two old.”
Pale blue fabric, the color of an early morning sky, hung from rods that ran the length of two walls, brightening the room. Several round tables surrounded by chairs with blue cushions occupied the center of the room, and there were couches and end tables along the back wall.
“This be the place gnomes come to gossip,” Tina Ann said to Ben in a loud whisper.
Pentar laughed. “Office staff use this room. The kitchen staff and cleaning folks have a room off the kitchen, but some of us go there, too. We can’t resist the smell of freshly baked bread and simmering soups.”
“Most gnomes eat their main meal at work,” Finnack said. “Large businesses have their own kitchen, and small businesses rely on delivery carts.”
He took them to the dining room, typically used by high-ranking officials. There were several framed paintings on the walls, including one of the Aberell River. Tyla looked around with an appreciative smile. The furniture wasn’t as ornate as Elantoth’s, but the room felt more inviting. Mineral-oil lamps flanked a vase of red flowers on the table, shedding a warm light that was cozy and intimate. Five places had been set, and the fragile-looking plates and bowls had a stylized “A” for Aberell in the center.
Finnack said, “Please be seated. I must resume my duties, but Pentar will have lunch with you.”
There were pitchers of beer, wine, and fialazza on the table, and Pentar told them to help themselves while they waited for their food.
Ben and Tina Ann were on their second beers when two female servers arrived with a platter of raw meat and a bowl of fruit that looked well past its prime. Identifying which guests this unusual food was for, the servers placed it in front of Ben and Tina Ann who smiled at them, showing jagged yellowed teeth. The servers looked frightened, and when the breghlin, disregarding their plates and utensils, grabbed pieces of meat from the platter and began to eat it, the servers all but ran from the room.
A few minutes later, Tyla heard tense whispers outside and three servers came in with a platter of bread, a plate of sliced fruit, and a covered tureen. The breghlin were on their second pieces of meat, and their hands were bloody. Tyla was afraid the servers would bolt, but after a brief hesitation, they deposited the food in front of the gnomes, ladled stew into their bowls, and said, “Enjoy your meal,” before fleeing.
Ben and Tina Ann, oblivious that they had created a stir, grunted and smacked their lips, enjoying their food.
Tyla had been watching Pentar from the corner of her eye. Now and then he cast surreptitious glances at the breghlin, but he didn’t stare at them.
There had been little conversation to this point, and Pentar stuttered when he asked Tyla and Arenia how they liked their stew.
It contained an unfamiliar meat, but Tyla found it delicious.
“It’s very good,” Arenia said. “But I don’t recognize the meat.”
“It comes from an animal called a sheep.” Pentar pointed to the painting Tyla had admired earlier. “Those are sheep, grazing along the river. They’re one of the animals that will be reintroduced to your region.” Then he asked about their journey, and they talked about the things they had seen along the way. He tried to draw the breghlin into the conversation, but their mouths were always full, and their replies were incomprehensible.
As they finished their main course and started on the fruit, the conversation hit a lull, and Tyla decided to ask about Gem Master Ertz.
“Funny fellow, that Ertz,” Pentar said. “He’s likeable enough but has some
odd habits.”
“So we’ve seen,” said Arenia pointedly.
Pentar just laughed. “Does he do the same thing there—appear from nowhere and frighten you half to death?”
“Yes,” Tyla admitted, “and we hate it.”
“He doesn’t come here often—as far as we know,” Pentar added with a chuckle. “Word passes like wildfire whenever there’s a Gem Master Ertz sighting. But what’s the use? By the time you’ve seen him it’s too late. He’s seen whatever you’ve done wrong.”
“Sneaky gnome spy,” Tina Ann muttered, predictably.
Pentar laughed again. “I’ve heard he does it to make the point that you should be careful what you say and do around others. If you spend enough time with him, you instinctively become cautious.”
“I don’t understand why we need to be cautious,” Arenia said. “Who are we supposed to be afraid of?”
“Afraid isn’t the right word, but even beneficial gem powers can be misused. In a society ruled by gnomes with gem powers, abuse of powers is always a concern. I’m not trying to frighten you, but you need to understand these things. You’ll be dealing with a constant influx of government officials and inspectors. You may not agree with everything they say. At times, you’ll have to hide your thoughts and appear to be compliant. We at Aberell often disagree with Mierek. So do Ominem and Waymare, but Mierek and Pantirek have the most influence in the Joint High Council, and Mierek is forever drafting new laws and regulations that the rest of us are expected to follow.”
“Maybe you should give important positions to gnomes without gem powers,” Tyla said.
“Gnomes with powers are so entrenched in the political system they would never allow it.” He sighed heavily. “Gem masters are superior leaders if they use their powers in the public interest.”
