by Kay L. Ling
The group went by shop after shop that displayed expensive goods. Ben said, “If me an’ Tina Ann ever live here, we be goin’ to Outcast shops, so I rather see those.”
Tyla was curious about the Outcast District herself.
They returned to the parking area and Pentar said, “Now we’ll take a boat to the museum.”
He had mentioned during breakfast that the museum had tools and equipment dating back hundreds of years, which appealed to Ben but not Tina Ann.
“Does we all have to go?” Tina Ann asked. “Me, I’d rather stay here.”
“Wish we could see the Outcast shops,” Ben said wistfully.
Ben and Tina Ann had come here so they could tell their fellow breghlin what Aberell City was like. They really should see the Outcast District, but the group had limited time, and turning the breghlin loose on their own would be pure folly.
“Could we visit the Outcast District briefly after the museum?” Tyla asked.
Arenia gave Tyla a withering look. “Why would we want to go there?”
Pentar said, “I’d like to accommodate Ben and Tina Ann, but we’re on a tight schedule.”
“After what they did last night, they’re lucky to go anywhere,” Arenia said.
“This may be their only chance to see it,” Tyla persisted.
Pentar said, “I’d hate for you to miss the museum, but if you’re willing to go with them, there’s a boat at these docks that will take you there.”
“Don’t even think about it,” Arenia hissed.
“I’d rather have you as our guide, Pentar, but if you think it’s safe, I’ll take them.”
“You should be fine,” he said.
“Tyla!” Arenia cried.
Tyla said to Imeria, “I hate to ask, but I wonder if you would lend me your cloak so I won’t be so noticeable.”
Imeria hesitated, then took off the cloak and handed it to Tyla. “I suppose you need it more than I do.”
“Thank you. I’ll be careful of it.”
Tyla couldn’t help but smile at Ben and Tina Ann’s excited expressions. This outing had better be worth Arenia’s displeasure, and possibility Lant’s, since Arenia was sure to tell him. Tyla put on Imeria’s cloak, and Pentar took them down to the docks where three boats waited for passengers. Two boats were semi-enclosed and already had passengers aboard. The other was a narrow, open boat with no passengers, and the gnome sitting on the dock beside it had a lump on his forehead and a few on his hands, so he must be an Outcast.
Pentar talked to the Outcast and paid the fare, then wrapped a few intaglio gems in a small cloth and handed it to Tyla. “Here are the IGs for your return trip.”
“Thank you,” she said, tucking it into her cloak pocket.
“It’s eleven now. Meet us back here in a couple hours.”
Tyla and the breghlin climbed into the boat, and the boatman untied it from the dock and pushed off with a long pole.
Tyla pulled up her hood, retreating inside it, suddenly self-conscious. She had no visible deformities, but the boatman probably assumed all three of them were Outcasts. That made her uncomfortable, but she had wanted to blend in, hadn’t she?
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the passing scenery. Ben and Tina Ann sat close, looking at the expensive shops along the waterfront. Sunlight glinted off the water, and birds circled overhead, looking for fish.
A boat came toward them, and as it passed, several gnomes looked at them with disapproving frowns.
Soon the Outcast District came in view. Docks separated the main commercial zone from the commercial zone in the Outcast District. Gnomes were carrying crates from two large boats and loading them onto carts.
The buildings within the Outcast District were all made of corrustone. None had windows facing the river, but they all had a window in the roof to let in light and air. Beyond was a residential area composed of dreary, one-level corrustone homes, much like the shops, except they had steeper roofs and a few windows.
The boatman maneuvered the boat to a dock and called gruffly, “Wait for me to tie ‘er up.” Once he had secured the boat, he held it steady for them. “All right. Watch your step getting out.”
Tyla could feel his eyes on her as she and the breghlin walked up the dock. The breghlin were whispering like excited youngones. She hoped the shops had clocks since she didn’t have a pocket watch, and she must keep an eye on the time.
They started down the first street they came to and were so busy looking at window displays that a cart nearly ran them over. The driver shouted at them, and they leapt onto the walkway, which was barely wide enough for two abreast.
There was no comparison between the shops they had seen earlier today and these. Here, most shops sold second-hand goods such as patched but serviceable clothing, old tools, mended pottery, threadbare rugs, and battered furniture.
They came to a shop that sold meat and produce. Outside on the walkway sat a rickety table with rotting fruit, apparently the shopkeeper’s final effort to sell it before throwing it away. The breghlin eyed the fruit longingly as they passed.
Someone was burning trash. The air smelled like smoke and manure, and the odor got stronger as they continued down the street. Tyla wrinkled her nose.
A number of Outcasts were out walking, mostly males dressed in dirty tunics and pants. Some wore hooded cloaks. Their faces showed bumps and deformities, but nothing as severe as the breghlin’s. Females wore lightweight fabric over their heads and shoulders, as if to keep off the sun, but probably to conceal their witnesses. None of the Outcasts paid any attention to Tyla and the breghlin, and Tyla was glad she had borrowed Imeria’s cloak.
“It ern’t so bad here,” Ben said in a low tone.
Tyla found the area depressing, but the breghlin had different standards. Outside Elantoth, clans lived in crudely built communal dwellings that were no more than a roof held up by wooden supports, with boards covering the lower half to form partial walls. There were no shops where you could buy food or ready-made goods. Compared to that, she supposed the Outcast District looked pretty good, but living here would expose them to undesirable influences.
“What do you think of it, Tina Ann? Do you like it here?”
“It give me a strange, nervous feelin’,” Tina Ann said in a tense whisper.
They turned down another street, and Tyla spotted a news shop. The door was open, and she could see newssheets on the counter, and shelves of books. As they came closer, she saw the Aberell City News in the front window and gasped at the headline. “There’s a story about Kaff!” She looked around self-consciously and lowered her voice. “Amulet Gnome Transferred to Aberell City Confinement.”
“He jus’ got here. That be almos’ as fast as kitchen gossip!” Tina Ann said. “What else do it say?”
“An Amulet gnome is charged with kidnapping the notorious woodspirit, Sheamathan, to learn dark gem powers and spells. After a period of confinement at Elantoth Fortress, the accused, Kaff Bartium-Anen, was transferred yesterday to the Aberell City Confinement’s high security cellblock for gnomes with gem powers. A date for his trial has not been set. Woodspirit publisher, Kitana Windan, has been granted an interview with the accused, in accordance with Article 17 of the Gnome-Woodspirit Cooperation Act. In related news, gnomes and woodspirits are debating where to hold Sheamathan prior to her trial, but no immediate resolution is expected.”
“What do interview mean?” Ben asked.
“It means someone will ask Kaff questions, and he will tell them his story. Come on. We’d better go before the shopkeeper tells us to buy the newssheet.”
Further up the street, there was a gem shop. “I doubt they have anything but common gems. Do you want to go in?”
“Sure,” Ben said.
The window display had silver bracelets with inset gems. They walked inside and found a small poorly-lit shop with one showcase in the back, presided over by a male Outcast. He had a large lump near his jawline, a few bumps across his forehea
d, and his left eye was partially swollen shut. Tyla shuddered and nearly lost her nerve, but Tina Ann tugged her toward the counter.
“Wellmet,” the shopkeeper said in a raspy voice. He eyed them with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. “Haven’t seen you three around.”
“We’re visiting,” Tyla said, glad that the hood hid most of her face.
The shopkeeper frowned. “Visiting?”
That had been the wrong thing to say.
After studying Ben and Tina Ann a moment, a shrewd look came into his eyes. “You’re some of those Amulet gnomes—breghlin—aren’t you? I read about your kind in the newssheets.”
Before Tyla could decide what to say, Ben nodded, looking pleased by the notoriety.
The shopkeeper’s face spread in a slow smile. “What can I do for you today?”
“We’re interested in seeing your gems,” Tyla said, looking at the gem trays inside the showcase.
The shopkeeper took out a tray, and she saw the red gem symbol on the underside of his wrist. It was hard to get used to gnomes who looked like breghlin having powers. In his youth, this gnome must have been a good person. He had touched the activator gem on the ceremonial staff, and it hadn’t rejected him.
The shopkeeper rattled off familiar gem names, then put that tray away and took out another with gems Tyla had never heard of.
“Do any of these have dark powers?”
He looked offended. “I don’t stock Dark gems.”
“Is it illegal to own them? In the Amulet, some of them are common, but we don’t use them.”
His expression softened, but his eyes remained wary. “You can get a license to own Dark gems, but they have to be registered with the Department of Gem Powers. Their use is regulated.”
“That’s right. I did hear something about needing permission to use Dark gems.”
“The terms of the Mitigating Circumstances Clause must be met, and no more than two instances per year are permitted.”
“Well, we weren’t looking to buy any. I was just curious.”
He leaned on the counter and looked her in the eye. Tyla’s hooded cloak suddenly felt very warm.
“If you happened to come across any rare gems in the Amulet, I might be a buyer. I collect some when they come my way.”
“I-I’ll keep that in mind . . . next time we come.”
He gave her an oily smile. “I’m discreet. I never say where I get my gems. I’d make it worth your while.”
“I might know where there’s a color change simbioryte. Are you familiar with those?”
His smile broadened. “Of course, of course. Very rare and quite valuable.”
“How much would you pay for one?”
“Well now, that would depend on the size and quality.”
“Average quality and about the size of that gem.” She pointed to one in the tray.”
“That’s large for a simbioryte. You’re looking at a minimum of twenty-five miereks—maybe closer to thirty-five.”
“I see,” she said, trying to look impressed by this figure, which was a tenth of the other shop’s price. “Maybe we’ll be back in a few months.” Tina Ann was nudging her, probably hinting for them to leave. “We should be going now.”
The breghlin started for the door and she hurried after them. It hadn’t been wise to mention the simbioryte, but she had been curious what he’d say.
When they were a little way down the street, Tyla said, “He offered me a fraction of the simbioryte’s value. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised since this is the Outcast District. It’s a wonder he can afford any rare gems, even at the lower price.”
“Don’t trust nothin’ he tell you,” Tina Ann said emphatically. “There be Dark gems in his shop. Lots of ‘em. ‘Xactly where, I dunno.”
“What?” Tyla looked back at the store. How could he afford them? More importantly, who were his buyers? Outcasts were desperately poor and couldn’t afford them, and decent gnomes wouldn’t want them. Woodspirits? According to Pentar, woodspirits without gem powers bought gems, but she found it hard to believe they would deal with Outcasts. The woodspirits she had met looked down on regular gnomes.
It was quite mysterious.
Chapter 12
Ben and Tina Ann wanted to see as much as possible before heading back to the docks, so they kept going, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.
A few doors down, a male came out of a shop, pulled the hood of his black cape over his head, and glanced furtively in both directions before heading toward them with downcast eyes. Tyla tried not to stare, but she couldn’t help noticing his cape and pants were made of a fine fabric, and his shoes looked new. It was obvious he didn’t belong in the Outcast District, and judging by his behavior, he was keenly aware of it.
She paused, pretending to look at a window display, and studied his reflection as he passed.
Ben whispered a moment later, “That be a guilty-lookin’ gnome.”
Tina Ann said, “Come on. Let’s see what shop he come out of.”
The shop’s grimy front window read, GEM SERVICES in bold letters, and below, in smaller print, Confidentiality Guaranteed.
Tyla could barely see into the dimly lit shop, but she could make out a couple desks and some wooden storage cabinets. A gnome sat at one of the desks, reading a newssheet.
“What do it be?” Tina Ann demanded in a furtive whisper.
“The window says Gem Services. I think that means they use their gem powers to do things for Nopes or for gnomes who can’t afford the gems.”
“What kinda things?” Ben asked.
“I don’t know.” Tyla tried to think of possibilities based on her own limited skills. She could translate runes with a cyanistone, project emotions like happiness or confidence, and she could heal minor injuries. There were probably lots of marketable powers, but why the need for confidentiality?
Tina Ann said darkly, “Whatever that gnome be buyin’, it weren’t nuthin’ good. I knows that guilty look.”
Tyla tried not to smile.
“Might want an invisible gnome ter steal somethin’,” Tina Ann suggested.
“Or mebbe he wants ter give an enemy sores, make him blind, or turn him into a rat,” Ben said, barely pausing to think.
S had used similar punishments on the breghlin. No wonder such things came to mind. Tyla hoped the well-dressed gnome hadn’t been buying dark powers. But why else would he come to a gem services shop in the Outcast District? Paying for dark powers might give him witnesses, but not as fast as using the dark powers himself, and for that matter, he might be a Nope.
“Look! More woodspirits!” Tina Ann said, grabbing Tyla’s arm.
A male and two females had come out of a shop and stood talking, probably deciding where to go next. One female had a book under her arm. The male held a large satchel. They looked young, but that impression was mostly based on their hair and clothing. They wore robes in bright colors with contrasting black trim, and their waist-length hair was unbound. The female woodspirits Tyla had seen in the fashionable shopping area had their hair in a braid, and had been wearing ankle-length dresses.
The breghlin ran to see what kind of shop the woodspirits had come from.
“Well?” Tina Ann asked Tyla. “What do this sign say?”
“Used goods, best prices.”
Tina Ann pressed her nose against the glass. “Goods?” she huffed. “Looks like stuff gnomes throwed out.”
Rows of tables sagged under the weight of rusty tools, dented tin ware, old pottery, battered books, and other castoffs.
“What would woodspirits want from a store like this?” Tyla asked, mystified.
“Dunno. Let’s see where they go next,” Tina Ann said.
“Better hurry,” Ben said. “They be walkin’ fast.”
Tyla gave an inward groan, but this was the breghlin’s outing, and if they wanted to spy on woodspirits, she would humor them. “All right. Let’s go.”
The woodspirits were to
o busy talking to notice the trio behind them, and even if they had, they probably wouldn’t have thought anything of it. When they turned left two streets later, Tyla knew where they were going. Just ahead, a sign read, Heggert Park.
The park held a curious assortment of large, ornamental objects in various states of deterioration. Someone had planted flowerbeds around these sorry-looking objects and installed benches nearby. Tyla suspected this “art” had once graced prominent buildings in Aberell City’s main commercial district, and rather than throw them out, someone had moved them here. There was a gnome-size stone urn with a crack through it, a stone flower with two petals broken off, and a big metal bird with a missing a leg. Someone had replaced the leg with a metal rod so the bird wouldn’t fall over. Rounding out the collection in this part of the park was a full-size replica of an erum made of some kind of gray metal. It had a number of dents and a missing ear.
Further back, there was a vine-covered arbor with a collection of statues that all had heads or arms broken off. Benches inside the arbor offered different viewing angles, and that’s where the woodspirits were heading.
The woodspirits examined the statues, then chose a bench and sat. The male took some paper from his satchel and began to sketch.
Tyla whispered in disbelief, “Who wants a picture of broken statues?” She and the breghlin watched from a distance.
“Woodspirits be a strange lot,” Ben whispered.
After a few minutes, Tyla led the breghlin away to get a better look at the shops across the street. There was a business that washed and mended clothing. Next door was Five City News, and two male Outcasts were going inside.
Tina Ann was more interested in the woodspirits. “There be more benches in the arbor. We can sit an’ spy on them woodspirits.”
Tyla was about to protest, but changed her mind. This was a public park, and the breghlin could sit wherever they liked. They could spy on the woodspirits while she went to the news shop. A place called Five City News must have newssheets from the other fortress cities, and it would be interesting to see the headlines.
