by Kay L. Ling
Tyla, Lant, and Ertz exchanged worried glances.
“I can’t imagine they both fell off, but I suppose one of them could have fallen in and the other jumped overboard to help,” Lant said.
“Possibly,” Eneff said. “But the current is slow, and most of the time folks stay in the shallow water along the bank, since that’s safest for anyone who doesn’t swim well. I told them to throw the rope with the float into the water if one of them fell overboard. Doesn’t seem likely they could have drowned.”
“I agree,” Ertz said, “but what else could have happened to them?”
“They’ll probably turn up. It’s only been a couple days. The last Outcasts to disappear were involved in some shady dealings. Ben and Tina Ann seem like decent sorts. Besides, they’ve only been here a week—too little time to get into trouble.”
Tyla gave Lant a speaking glance. Ben and Tina Ann could get into trouble within hours, much less days, but not the kind of trouble Eneff had in mind.
Ertz said, “If they return, or you hear anything about them, please send word to Aberell Fortress. In the meantime, I’ll file a report and have officers search for them.”
The group rode in gloomy silence back to the commercial dock, and once they were in the boat, headed home, Ertz said heavily, “Mag will be sick with worry. She didn’t like the idea of Ben and Tina Ann living in the O.D., but I assured her they could look after themselves.”
Tyla said miserably, “I can’t bear the thought of leaving Aberell City without knowing they’re safe, but Lant and I need to return to Elantoth by the end of the week.”
“If they haven’t returned by then, I’ll ask Finnack to keep you updated through the Pedestal Room.”
Tyla supposed that would have to do, but hopefully Ben and Tina Ann would turn up and it wouldn’t be necessary.
Over the next few days, Commander Finnack’s officers combed the main commercial district as well as the O.D., and no one remembered seeing Ben and Tina Ann despite the fact that their faces weren’t easy to forget.
Ertz was giving lectures at the fortress, so he kept up-to-date on the search. Officers checked periodically with Eneff. The breghlin had not returned.
While Ertz was at the fortress, Mag did her best to entertain Tyla and Lant. She gave them newssheets and pointed out books they might enjoy. Tyla spent a few hours looking at the book of Parnatti sculptures and read Ertz’s books about witnesses. Ertz was lecturing on that subject this week.
Despite his busy schedule, Ertz took Tyla and Lant to a few of Aberell City’s public offices and introduced them to several officials, including the regional head of The Department of Gem Powers who was far less officious than Gem Master Klemmet. Ertz also helped Tyla experiment with her knife and told her to discuss her results with Elias and Jules who were more familiar with gem-power knives.
At the end of the week, when there was still no sign of the breghlin, Tyla and Lant reluctantly decided to leave. If they left tomorrow, they would have an escort home. Two Aberell officers were going to Elantoth Fortress for a few days.
The next morning, as they sat in the annex with Ertz and Mag, waiting for their escort to arrive, Ertz said in an ominous tone, “I have a few important things to say before you leave, and I hope you’ll keep an open mind. At Elantoth, I taught Ahmonellian history and helped you transition to modern society, but I had two self-assigned tasks in addition to that—guard S until she was transferred, and determine who among you was fit for leadership. Raenihel may be a fine clan leader, but as you know, he has no desire to run the fortress, and quite frankly, he does not have what it takes, nor do any of the elders. What Elantoth needs is someone who will stand up to Mierek and do what’s best for your region. That someone is you, Tyla.”
Tyla found herself temporarily at a loss for words. “I don’t mind helping whoever is in charge,” she said at last, “but I came to Elantoth to translate books and do research. I’m not a leader.”
Ertz smiled. “You underestimate yourself. You haven’t begun to discover your talents yet, and you never will if you sit back and do nothing. You have a leader’s heart, Tyla, and that’s what matters most.”
“What makes you think Raenihel and the elders would let me take over?”
“Trust me, as the level of bureaucracy increases—as I assure you it will in coming months—Raenihel and the elders will be glad to turn Elantoth over to a young person, and Raehihel has mentioned more than once that he thinks you would make a good leader.”
“The responsibilities seem overwhelming already,” Lant said, “and if it’s going to get worse, who would want that burden?”
Ertz sighed. “The right leader at Elantoth could do more good than I can say, not only for your region but for all of Ahmonell. The balance of power among the fortress cities has reached a critical juncture, and it seems a fascinating twist of fate that Elantoth rejoined Ahmonell just when it did. As I mentioned before, remarkable coincidences are often providential events. I believe Elantoth’s return to gnome society will prove just such a providential event.”
Tyla felt honored, but it was hard to envision herself in such an important role. Was she really capable? Not long ago, she and her family had moved to the fortress. That had been a big step, but it had been the right choice. Every new challenge would always feel intimidating. If others thought she would make a good leader, she should give the matter serious thought. “I’ll consider it. I wasn’t expecting this—you caught me off guard.”
“That’s all I ask.” Ertz looked at his pocket watch and rose. “The carriage will be here soon. The officers will take you to pick up your cart, and then you can follow them to Elantoth. Before I forget, Mag and I have a gift for you.”
He crossed the room and came back with a clay pot that held a small cyrilla plant. The green-and-yellow striped pod plucked at his beard and tried to burrow into it. “Stop that,” he said, chuckling. The pod turned toward Tyla and Lant. “It’s too young to know many words,” Ertz said, handing the pot to Tyla, “but it will learn quickly.” He took a pouch from his pocket and handed it to Lant. “This is the gem that gives off light to encourage plant growth.”
“Thank you,” Tyla said in a tone tinged with sadness, remembering how much Ben and Tina Ann had enjoyed the playful vines.
Mag and Ertz walked Tyla and Lant out to the road to wait for the carriage. It arrived a few minutes later—a glossy black carriage pulled by erum. The door bore an elaborately stylized ‘A’ within the image of a faceted opalescent gem, reminding her of the carriage that had brought the delegation from Mierek. How frightened she had been of the woodspirits that day. And the three gnome gem masters had seemed so intimidating. When the delegation had gone, leaving Ertz behind, she hadn’t been happy about it. Now, it was hard to believe she had ever disliked him.
Tyla and Lant climbed into the carriage, and as it drove away, she looked back and heard Ertz’s voice in her head, “I arranged a side trip as a parting gift. Wave to S as you go by.”
Their driver, Officer Higgart, a middle-age gnome with reddish hair that reminded her a bit of Kaff, said brightly, “Ertz asked us to take you past The Emanicus, so we’re going there first.”
Lant said, “What a nice surprise! I was just saying to Tyla the other day it would be a shame to leave without seeing it.”
They drove on a road that ran parallel to the river, and after a few minutes Higgart slowed the carriage. “That’s it just ahead.”
There were three buildings behind a wall. The closest to the road must be the confinement. It was an ugly stone building with bars on the windows. The second building was plain but not grim. The building down by the river was very grand, with covered porches on both ends and many windows. This was the back of the building, so it must look even more impressive from the river.
A cart was parked along the edge of the road. As the carriage drew nearer, Tyla saw the occupants more clearly—a male and two female woodspirits.
“More sightseers,
” Higgart said with a laugh as he drove by.
A high-pitched bell began to ring and Tyla looked around. Was it coming from outside or from within the carriage? It sounded so close!
“The confinement is the building by the road.” Higgart said. “The gem masters live in that fancy building down by the river. There’s a place to turn around up ahead. We’ll come back and sit for a few minutes like those woodspirits are doing.”
“Where’s the bell?” she asked.
“Bell?” Higgart repeated.
“Don’t you hear a bell ringing?”
“No,” he said, and the other officer, Othir, cocked his head, listening.
“I don’t hear anything,” Lant said.
“You’re kidding. It’s really loud. It sounds like it’s in the carriage.”
Lant looked worried. “Do you feel all right?”
“Yes I—” She paused. She felt quite warm, but mostly on her right side. How very odd. And then it dawned on her, and she reached down and touched her sheathed knife. The leather was hot! She drew the knife, and the blade began to glow, but not in its usual way. It looked like a flickering flame in the metal.
“What have you got there?” Othir breathed.
“It’s a special knife, made by someone in our clan before the Great Upheaval,” Lant answered for Tyla when she didn’t reply.
She was too distracted to talk. The bell had stopped ringing, and since no one else had heard it, it must have been in her head, like Ertz’s voice as they were leaving.
As Higgart continued up the road, the blade went dark. He turned the carriage around, and as he drew up behind the Emanicus, the blade lit with the same flickering flame as before.
“It’s never behaved this way,” Lant said, looking fascinated. “What do you make of it, Tyla?”
She shook her head as Higgart stopped the carriage. He turned to look at the knife. “If it’s some kind of gem-power knife, I’d say it’s reacting to the wards here, which are bound to be extraordinarily powerful.”
“That makes sense,” Tyla said, finding her voice. And it might explain the cold, panicky feeling in the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t used to wards, and she had never used the knife near one.
“If we weren’t on our way to Elantoth, we could take you to the Aberell City Confinement and you could try it there,” Othir said. “There must be similar wards on the floor where they keep inmates with gem powers.”
“That would be an interesting experiment,” Lant said.
“We’ll be coming back, I’m sure, and I’ll try it then,” Tyla said.
The woodspirits were still parked along the road, and they looked deep in conversation. They were probably Sheamathan sympathizers.
Tyla’s group spent a few minutes in contemplative silence, looking at the grounds and the confinement building, and then Higgart said, “Ready to go?”
“I suppose so,” Tyla said, unaccountably reluctant to leave.
As they drove away, the blade went dark and she sheathed the knife. Maybe it was reacting to Emanicus wards as Higgart had suggested, but deep down, she didn’t think so.
She had an uncomfortable feeling it was trying to tell her something.
She only wished she knew what.
END
The story continues in Myths and Mentors. Join Tyla and the others in further adventures. Also, if you haven’t read the Gem Powers Series, it contains characters you met in Wards and Wonders and provides the backstory to this new series.
A Note From the Author
Thank you so much for reading Wards and Wonders! If you enjoyed it, I hope you will spread the word by posting an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads. You don’t need to write anything lengthy or profound. Even a simple statement like, “I enjoyed this book and I think you will too,” will encourage readers to pick up Wards and Wonders.
If you haven’t read the Gem Powers Series, it contains characters you just met in Wards and Wonders and provides the backstory to this new series.
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Acknowledgments
My sister, Marie Clapsaddle, my biggest fan, provided invaluable feedback.
* * *
Lowell Ling, my wonderful husband, asked for more of the gnomes’ adventures and kept me motivated.
About the Author
Kay L. Ling began writing fiction at an early age. In grade school, her stories evidenced a sense of wonder and love of adventure. In one, mythical creatures lived and traveled inside a rainbow, and in another, a bored sixth-grader turned her teacher into a maroon sofa and then teleported herself to London. As she grew up, Kay never lost her ability to imagine strange and wondrous peoples and places, and now she would like to share her unique fantasy adventures with others.
www.kaylling.com
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Myths and Mentors
“No one knows what became of Ben and Tina Ann?”
“We haven’t heard anything yet,” Tyla told her sister. She felt guilty for leaving Aberell City without finding her friends, but others were searching for them, and there was nothing more she and Lant could do.
The library was quiet at this hour of the morning. Arenia closed the book she had been reading. “Knowing Tina Ann, she dragged Ben into some crazy adventure and they’re in trouble.”
Tyla hated to admit it, but that could very well be true. Tina Ann’s love of “sneakin’ and spyin,’” relatively harmless at Elantoth Fortress, was dangerous in the Outcast District. “After we got home last night, I made a quick dinner for Lant and Eemie and fell asleep. Did Raenihel meet with the officers from Aberell City?”
“I think so, but you can ask him yourself. Here he comes.”
Tyla turned. Raenihel looked more tired and careworn than he had a couple weeks ago. Gem Master Ertz’s words echoed in her mind. As bureaucracy increased at Elantoth, Raenihel and the elders would want a younger gnome to take over.
“There you are,” Raenihel said, sinking into a chair across from Tyla and Arenia. “I’m sorry to hear about Ben and Tina Ann. I just went down to the kitchen to tell the staff, but they already knew. Wally and Grace must have told them after the meeting last night.”
“How was the meeting? Tyla asked.
He hesitated before answering. “Good, but we have new problems. According to Higgart and Othir, Outcasts see breghlin as a potential market for stolen goods and shady gem services.”
“Really? Breghlin don’t have any IGs,” Arenia said.
Raenihel nodded. “That was my first thought. But they will before long. Some have been hired for mining and construction jobs, and others are learning trades.”
Tyla hadn’t thought about this, but it made sense. Outcasts currently had no choice but to trade among themselves. The breghlin, who were shunned themselves, wouldn’t mind doing business with them.
“I came to see you about a more immediate problem,” Raenihel said. “A lot has happened since you left, Tyla. I wish Gem Master Ertz were here to advise us.”
That sounded ominous. Tyla waited for him to explain.
“Officials know S had a horde of rare gems, and as Ertz pointed out, the gems you showed Frinkk and Klemmet couldn’t be her entire collection. Mierek officials have started questioning what became of her rare gems, especially the Dark ones.”
“I don’t see why they care about the Dark gems. They’re not going to use them,” Tyla said.
“They’re valuable.”
“And dangerous.”
“Yes, and that’s why they want to know where they are—or so they claim. They say Dark gems shouldn’t be left about for the wrong folks to find.”
Tyla gave a scornful la
ugh.
“They’ll probably sell them as collectibles,” Arenia said. “When the peddler came, Franklin bartered one of S’s black gowns for an entire cartload of goods. Imagine how much S’s gems would bring.”
Having visited a gem shop in Aberell City, Tyla could indeed imagine. “If they sold them, I bet Amulet clans wouldn’t get a single ominem.”
“I don’t know about that,” Raenihel said. “They might use the proceeds to fund improvements and public services here, but the fact remains, there are enough Dark gems loose in the world. I’d rather leave S’s hidden—especially now with the Focal Gem missing. I still find that whole situation troubling. Before the artifact gems disappeared, someone claiming to be from Mierek came looking for them, but Mierek insists they didn’t send anyone. Gem Master Frinkk says he doesn’t believe the gems were really stolen.”
That made no sense. “Why would Morodin and Vegmir lie about it?”
The lines around Raenihel’s mouth tightened. “No one will ask them to hand over gems that are already gone.”
“Amulet gnomes aren’t sneaks and liars,” Tyla said, offended.
“No. But we said ourselves the story doesn’t make sense. If the gnomes who came looking for the gems were really thieves pretending to be officials, one would assume they were Outcasts, but they had no visible witnesses.” Raenihel sighed heavily. “Unfortunately, all this talk about missing gems has gotten Mierek thinking about S’s gem horde again. If they discover we gave her gems to Elias, we’ll be in trouble and so will he.”
