Sea Glass g-2

by Maria V. Snyder

  “Four hours!” My arms ached and sides heaved after just an hour.

  He grinned. “The Commander’s soldiers run for two hours every morning, and practice drills every afternoon. When you’re new, practice time lasts six hours and when you’re an old soul like me, practice lasts about two hours. Keeps the skills sharp.”

  “Old soul.” I laughed. “You’re thirty.”

  He stroked his goatee. White whiskers peppered the black. “It’s not the years, it’s the experience.” He paused. His eyes held a distant gleam as if seeing into his past. “My first practice was a shock. I was a cocky smart aleck—”

  “Was?”

  “Be quiet. I’m telling a story here. I easily bested my fellow trainees, but the trainers unarmed me in record time. And the Weapons Master was impossible to beat. He would just look at me, and my practice sword would fly from my hand.”

  I stifled my dubiousness over Janco’s exaggerations.

  He inspected the blade of his sword. “It irked me. Big-time. I started to practice eight hours a day and learned counterstrikes, attacks and strategies from anyone who would teach me. I trained with every sword we had. Broadswords, rapiers, short swords and sabers. Plus, I learned how to use a knife and unarmed combat.”

  “And?”

  “He kept winning, but each match lasted a little bit longer. Until…”

  He waited for me to prompt him. “Until?”

  “I discovered my rhythm. My footwork was horrible, but one day it clicked and I started letting my instincts guide my actions. You know those little clues an opponent makes before they move?”

  “No. I’m usually too focused on the weapon.”

  “A mistake. Here.” He slid his feet into a fighting stance and pointed his rapier toward me. “Get ready. Now watch my blade.”

  I concentrated on the silver shaft. He lunged. The tip of his blade stopped an inch from my chest before I reacted.

  “Now watch my eyes.”

  I met his light brown gaze. Once again he shot past my defenses.

  “Now watch my hips.”

  A slight hitch of movement alerted me and I stepped back. Countering, I blocked his blade with a clang and deflected it past my body.

  “See?” he asked.

  “Yes! Are there more?”

  “A few. Those clues allowed me to concentrate more on my opponent’s strategy and find their fighting cadence. Beginners are easy because they’ll do the same series of moves over and over, while experts will keep changing it or will lull you into a rhythm and bang! Switch it up.” Appreciation gleamed on his face as he stabbed the air. “It took me well over a year to discover the Weapon Master’s dance. I had been making up rhymes in my mind to help me with my footwork, but for that last match with the Master, I recited them aloud. He hated that! Especially since my rhymes harmonized to his attacks. And anger makes you sloppy.”

  “You beat him?”

  “Yep.” He danced a victory jig.

  “What happened after?”

  He stopped. “I was transferred to the Commander’s guard, where I met Ari.” Huffing in amusement, he continued, “Since I beat the Weapons Master, I arrived with a cocky confidence.” Janco held up a hand before I could comment. “I know, I know. Hard to believe. One match with the big brute knocked the swagger from my step as well as knocking me unconscious.” He rubbed his jaw. “Then there was Valek with his super assassin skills and Maren with her bow staff. I had much more to learn. Endless practice ensued, and now here I am, just a humble average guy.”

  “Your humility is inspiring.”

  He ignored my sarcasm. “I endeavor to be a good role model.”

  “Shame your training didn’t include fighting a big man named Ox armed with a horsewhip.”

  “Those are fighting words.” He launched an attack and I scrambled to counter.

  6

  AFTER THE SUN SET, JANCO AND I PACKED OUR SUPPLIES AND headed for Ognap. We found a small goat path south of the town and entered the city through a side street. About half the size of Fulgor, the town’s business centered on gemstones. Once mined from underneath the mountains, the stones arrived in Ognap to be cleaned, faceted, categorized and polished before being sold or traded for goods.

  Armed guards accompanied the caravans and watched the gemstone factories. Large barracks had been built on the east side of town to house them.

  Torches blazed along the main boulevard as loud groups of citizens hustled between pubs under the watchful gaze of the town’s security force. Shops and market stands buzzed with commerce. By the hum in the air, I guessed the evening’s activities had just begun. Miners arrived for a few days’ rest, bringing stories of rich veins and huge stones. They spent their wages, then returned to work.

  Janco and I avoided the more popular areas and checked into the Tourmaline Inn. The innkeeper, Carleen, rented us two single rooms—all she had left—and served us a wonderful beef stew and sweet berry pie. The explanation for the inn’s name hung around her neck. A beautiful heart-shaped pink tourmaline rested on her broad chest.

  She stroked the stone often, especially when speaking of her late husband.

  “Pink.” Janco spat in disgust when she left to help another customer. “I think I’m going to be sick.”

  The common room’s decorations tended toward fluffy pink and soft. Hearts crafted from wood, stone and glass lined the shelves, and bright paintings of flowers hung on the walls.

  I stifled a chuckle when Janco entered his room. His polite smile strained to hide his dismay at the mountain of pillows heaped on his bed.

  “One of my favorite rooms,” Carleen said. “It has a wonderful view of the mountains.” Her fingertips brushed her pendant. She wrinkled her petite nose when she glanced at Janco. “There’s a bathhouse across the street—you need to make use of it before retiring for the evening.”

  Carleen ignored his reaction and unlocked the next door for me. “It has my best mattress, sweetie.” It was identical to Janco’s. “Make sure you go along with your friend to the bathhouse.” She waggled her fingers in farewell, and hustled back downstairs.

  Janco leaned on the threshold of my door with his face creased in annoyance. “Did she just—”

  “Yes.”

  “But I don’t—”

  “Yes. You do. We both stink.”

  “Well, I’m not—”

  “Yes. You are.”

  He huffed. “You won’t let—”

  “No. No complaining. Let’s go.” I grabbed a clean shirt and pants from my saddlebags.

  “Well, she could have handled it better,” he grumped.

  “No. She couldn’t.”

  He settled into a sulky silence as we visited the bathhouse.

  Janco might not’ve appreciated the inn’s excessive pillows, but after so many nights spent on the hard ground, I luxuriated in the bed, sleeping well past dawn. I snuggled deeper into the mattress until someone knocked on the door. Covering my ears failed to block the insistent rapping.

  “Come on, Opal! We’re burning daylight,” Janco called through the wood.

  I yelled for him to go away and the noise stopped. A moment of peace before the door swung open.

  “Holy snow cats, did you sleep with all those pillows?” Janco asked.

  Despite my cries of protest, he pulled them away and swept the blankets back. “Let’s go.”

  With the utmost reluctance, I followed Janco outside. We walked from inn to inn, asking if anyone had seen Ulrick or the two Warpers that Devlen spoke of. No one recognized the descriptions. We tried the pubs and taverns next and then the stables. Nothing.

  “What’s next?” Janco asked.

  “The barracks. The Warpers could have gotten jobs guarding the gemstone caravans or even be working in the mines.”

  “They could. And Devlen could have lied and there is no one here to find.”

  I agreed. “Or they could have left. We need to make sure either way.”

  Janco rub
bed his scar. “Asking questions won’t work in the barracks. Guards for hire are usually ex-soldiers. They tend to stick together and protect each other. I’ll wait until dark and do a little reconnaissance.”

  “And I can visit the pubs again and see if they show up.”

  “What if we don’t find them?”

  Good question. “We should check the mines, but they’re off-limits and the security is impossible to breach.”

  “Nothing is impossible,” Janco said. He practically drooled with gleeful anticipation.

  “The Cloud Mist Clan has been mining precious stones for ages. Thieves and their own workers have been trying to steal them for ages. They have a complicated network of security. You can’t just go in there and have a look around.”

  “Ah! A challenge.”

  Nothing I said dimmed his enthusiasm. In fact, it had the opposite effect. I hoped we found the Warpers before then.

  After dinner, I suffered through Janco’s lecture on safety.

  “Make sure you have your spiders with you,” he said.

  “Janco, I—”

  “Stay in well-lit areas, and, if you see the Warpers, don’t confront them. Just follow them and we’ll talk to them together. If you run into trouble, go to the town’s guards. Better to be arrested than killed. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  He remained stern.

  “What? I agreed.”

  “Next time try it without the sarcasm.”

  We left the inn together. Wearing all black, Janco melted into the shadows. I continued along the main street. Torches blazed and groups of people strolled. Even at this hour merchants called prices and the rapid exchange of haggling filled the air.

  Scanning faces, I wandered in the busy downtown area. I stopped to peruse one seller’s glasswares, looking for Ulrick’s unique style. He would need money to support himself. None of the vases popped with his magic. However, I found a beautiful statue of a Sandseed horse. A red heart nestled within its clear glass chest.

  I held the horse in my hand. A faint throbbing pulsed through my fingertips as if the heart beat inside. The cause of the vibration could be from magic or from my imagination.

  “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” the merchant asked.

  “Yes. Do you know how the artist managed to keep the red glass’s shape?” The first gather of molten glass could be shaped and colored, but, when another layer of glass is gathered around the shape, the heat would melt the shape, leaving the color behind.

  “It isn’t glass. It’s a ruby.”

  That could explain the pulse. When I touched diamonds, they would either flash hot or cold and a vision of where they were mined filled my head. Perhaps rubies vibrated.

  The merchant continued, “And not just any ordinary ruby. It’s a Vasko ruby. The best of the best. Each stone comes with an authenticity seal from Vasko Cloud Mist himself!”

  Perhaps only Vasko rubies throbbed. I thought of Pazia. Her family owned the Vasko mine. I would have to ask her if I could touch one.

  “The horse is eight golds, but, for you, I’ll sell it for six.”

  I shook my head. Too expensive for me. I only had one gold and a few silvers left in my pocket. “Do you have any more?”

  “A few.” The merchant bent under his table and brought out a swan, a dog and a cat. All with ruby hearts. All crafted by the same hand.

  I examined the dog and felt its pulse. “Vasko rubies?”

  “Of course. And since you seem so enchanted, I’ll sell you the dog for five golds.”

  “Do you know who made these?”

  A furtive expression settled on the merchant’s face. “No.”

  “I don’t want to bypass your business. I can’t afford any of them. I’m a glassmaker.” I pulled a few of my spiders from my pocket and showed him them. “I just wanted to see if I know the artist.”

  He scrutinized the spiders with reluctance. “I don’t know his name or know if he is the artist. I buy the statues and the seals from him, then resell them. I’ll give you one silver for each of your spiders. They’re very lifelike.”

  “They’re not for sale.” I returned them to my pocket. So far, they broke open only for me, but there could be another magician with my skills. “Does the man come every day?”

  “No. Every couple of days or so he stops by with a new batch.”

  “When’s the last time he came?”

  The merchant eyed me with suspicion. “Why is it so important?”

  I downplayed my interest. “He could be a friend of mine. I haven’t seen him in years and it’s probably not him. He’s a tall, muscular man with long black hair. His eyes are hard to forget. They’re diamond-shaped with thick eyelashes. He also has a scar on his throat.” I pointed to my neck below my left ear.

  The merchant shrugged. “The guy looks like a Sandseed warrior to me.” He huffed in amusement. “Don’t know about his eyes. He’ll probably be by in the next couple of days. Do you want me to tell him you’re here?”

  I thought fast. A Sandseed warrior could be one of the Warpers. “No. It’s not him. My friend’s from the Greenblade Clan. Thanks for your time.” I hurried away.

  Sticking to my plan, I searched the pubs and taverns for Ulrick and the Warpers. The unsanctioned Daviian Clan had been members of the Sandseed Clan before forming their own group. Called Vermin by the Sandseeds, the Daviians used blood magic to create powerful Warpers and they tried to take control of the Sitian Council.

  The Council believed the Vermin and Warpers had been exterminated, but a few had escaped.

  On my way back to the Tourmaline Inn, I stopped at various stands and looked for more heart-beating statues. A few merchants carried the glass animals. The general impression of the seller remained the same. A Sandseed warrior.

  A pink sparkle flashed at me a block before the inn—another stand full of jewelry, and pink tourmalines dominated the display.

  “Pretty, aren’t they?” the merchant asked. “Three golds for any item. It’s the best price in town.” She held up a ring with a heart-shaped stone. In fact, multiple items contained heart-shaped tourmalines.

  I glanced down the street. Carleen would have to walk this way to the market. “You know your customers.”

  She smiled. “The inn lady loves her pinkies. It matches her personality and gives her joy when she wears it. Each person has a certain gemstone that…calls to them. When they wear their special stone, they’re empowered!” She thrust her fists into the air as if drawing strength from the sky.

  Intrigued, I asked, “How do you know which one is for them?”

  “Give me your hand.”

  Dubious, I held it out. She sandwiched it between her warm palms. Her smooth skin contrasted with my roughened and burn-scarred fingers. A ripple of heat traveled up my arm. She closed her eyes. The temperature inside me intensified. A red-hot finger pierced my heart. I gasped and yanked my hand back.

  She studied my face with amazement. “My goodness, you have a conflicted heart. It’s covered with storm clouds. But don’t you worry.” She patted my arm. “There was a flash of clarity and I saw your true stone.” She rummaged around her table. “I only have one, but I can get more.” Picking up a small pendant, she handed it to me.

  The rich bluish-green color of the stone sparked with an iridescence. “What is it?”

  “An opal.”

  I stared at her in shock. “But I thought opals were black.”

  “Some are, but they’re other colors, too. Try it on.” She threaded a silver chain through the loop of the pendant.

  “Oh no. I can’t afford—”

  “Not to buy it. Wear it and you’ll find the man of your heart.” She linked it around my neck. “Perfect. And I’ll sell it to you for two golds.”

  “I don’t—”

  “I’ll include the chain.”

  “I’m sorry, but I really can’t—”

  “Sold,” a familiar voice next to me said. He dropped two gold coins
into the merchant’s palm. “After all, it already worked. You were looking for the man of your heart, and now you’ve found him.”

  7

  MY AUTOMATIC REACTION WAS TO GRAB THE HILTS OF MY SAIS. I hadn’t seen Devlen’s face since he attacked me at the Thunder Valley market two seasons ago. But the big smile reminded me that Ulrick and not Devlen’s soul resided within the body.

  “How did you know I was here?” I asked.

  “Word moves like lightning in these small towns.” He hooked an arm around my shoulders and propelled me down the street. “One of the merchants sent me a warning that someone was asking about me. Or, rather, the new me.” He squeezed me close. “I knew you would figure it out! Devlen claimed he would fool everyone, but I warned him he couldn’t trick you.”

  Guilt flared. Caught off guard, I felt unbalanced. Our reunion was not how I had envisioned it. I thought I would have to rescue him.

  “What’s been going on? Tell me everything,” he said.

  I stopped and searched his face. “Did something else happen to you when you switched bodies with Devlen? You seem…”

  “Happy?”

  “I was going to say different, but happy works. You never were the overjoyous type.” He had been moody, sullen, protective and jealous, which made the times he had been in a good mood stand out. “Why are you happy? Do you have any idea what Devlen did in your body? What he did to me? If you consented to the trade, you’re just as guilty as he is.”

  He sobered. “Let’s find a quiet corner to talk.”

  He led me to a pub called the Emerald Eyes. Ulrick nodded to the owner and strode to a back table. I had been in here earlier and the owner claimed he hadn’t seen anyone matching Ulrick’s description.

  After we sat, the man glided over to us carrying two mugs of ale.

  “I see you found your friend,” the proprietor said, setting a mug before me.

  “No thanks to you.”

  The owner was unaffected by my comment. “Rick is my best customer. You’re a stranger. Dinner?”

  “Yes,” Ulrick said.

  “No,” I said. When the owner left, I raised an eyebrow. “Rick?”