“I can learn to be ruthless.” I bent to retrieve my switchblade.
He grabbed my arm to stop me. This time I grasped his wrist with my free hand and clamped down on his pressure point. He fell to his knees.
“After all, you taught me well.”
I enjoyed the rest of the trip to Fulgor. Devlen avoided me, and I had a nice chat with Tama regarding my new job. She managed to mask most of her ire about the previous commitments I had negotiated for my messengers. Though she brightened at the prospect of being consulted before any other messengers were delivered. Being consulted was different than being in charge. I wondered how long it would take Gressa to resort to strong-arm methods.
Gressa graciously offered me rooms above her glass shop.
“They’re very nice. I used to live there, but since my appointment to Tama’s staff, I’m living in the Councilor’s Hall.” She introduced me to her glass workers.
A few remembered my “break-in” from before and frowned. Their scowls increased when Gressa announced I had priority on the equipment.
“Assist her when needed. Her work is very important,” she ordered.
The apartment on the second floor contained six rooms—two bedrooms, a kitchen, living area, office and washroom. Glass items decorated shelves and tables, and beautiful stained-glass murals hung on the walls. Tall windows brightened every room.
We opened the windows wide to let in fresh air. I felt the roar from the kilns vibrate the floor. The constant noise wouldn’t bother me. In fact, it reminded me of home.
When the workers finished carrying up my things, she asked, “What do you think?”
“It’s lovely. Did you design the murals?” The swoops and swirls of color mesmerized me. A pattern could only be discerned from a distance.
“Yes. There’s a glass cutter in town that has a light touch with the solder. See how delicate the lines are? It makes all the difference.”
As she prattled on about the inspiration for the designs, I marveled over her friendly act, considering the cold reception I had gotten the last time we met. I lost track of the conversation until she mentioned Ulrick’s name.
“…uses the kiln on occasion. Will it be a problem?” she asked.
“Not at all,” I said.
“I noticed you both…avoided each other during the trip.”
“It’s difficult for me to be near him,” I admitted. “With the whole undercover operation and his ability to completely fool me…” I cast about for an explanation that would please her. “I’m terribly embarrassed by my overreaction to his fake identity. I think it’s best we keep our distance. When he’s here, I’ll just make sure to stay upstairs until he’s done.”
“Good idea. Don’t feel too bad about being duped. It could happen to anyone.” She swept her hand as if brushing dirt away. Matter settled.
After she left, I unpacked a few of my clothes, then planned how I would gather information. Since Gressa let me use her rooms and factory, I doubted I would find any clues here, but not for lack of trying. I searched through her apartment, concentrating on her office. Nothing.
Her office downstairs would be harder to access. The factory employed three shifts of workers, so the four kilns were in constant use. Perhaps I could try during a shift change.
The afternoon sun’s warming rays combined with the heat from the kilns, turning the apartment into an oven. I left for the market, wondering why she hadn’t insulated the ceiling below her quarters.
Before heading toward the market, I walked by the Councilor’s Hall. At this time of day people scurried up and down the entrance’s grand marble stairway. The Councilor’s suite and a number of apartments for her aides resided inside. I guessed the building also contained break rooms for the guards.
Fulgor’s security headquarters was located across the street. From personal experience, I knew a small jail filled the basement. Circling both structures, I noted the number of entrances and windows on the lower levels. A training yard and stable had been built behind the security building. Guards practiced with swords. I leaned against the wooden fence, watching them train.
Eventually one of the men ambled over to me. “Can I help you?”
“Yes. Would I be allowed to train with you?”
He studied me. “That depends on who you are and why.”
“I’m Opal Cowan, a glass magician.” No reason to lie. “I just graduated from the Magician’s Keep and would like to keep my skills sharp in case I’m needed to go on a mission for the Masters.” I could name-drop with the best of them. Janco would be proud.
“Don’t see why not, but I have to check with my supervisor. Wait here.” He hailed another man and they talked.
I counted twenty men and four women in the yard. There would be more guards inside and more out on patrol.
The man returned. “Captain said it shouldn’t be a problem as long as you bring your own weapons.”
“Great. When do you train?”
“We have a two-hour session at dawn and another one in the late afternoon.” He gestured to the men. “If anyone gives you a hard time, just tell them Captain Alden gave you permission.”
“Thanks.” I stayed by the fence until they finished the session. By this time, the sun dipped behind the white dome of the Councilor’s Hall. Finding a hidden vantage point, I spied on the Hall. The evidence I needed would be in either Tama’s or Gressa’s office. And the best time for me to search them would be at night while everyone slept.
It was full dark by the time I finished my stakeout. The market had closed with the sunset. I walked to Gressa’s factory. The apartment’s empty rooms echoed with loneliness, driving the fact that I was on my own to heart.
No support from the Keep. No support from the Council. No Kade. Sleep eluded me. I tossed and turned all night, sweating in the heat.
In the morning, I dressed and joined the factory workers. Though annoyed and grumbling, they vacated a gaffer’s bench and assigned me a reluctant assistant. The unhappy boy looked as if he’d just graduated high school, but he handled the pontil iron with confidence.
“Do you need a special mix?” he asked me.
“Not really. What’s in the kilns now?”
“Cobalt, Crystal Fire, Industry Clear and Milk.” He pointed to each kiln in turn.
Most mass-producing factories used Industry Clear to make plates, drinking glasses and bowls. “What’s Crystal Fire?”
“Miss Gressa’s special blend for her fancy bowls.”
“Is it clear?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll take a three-inch slug of Crystal Fire.”
He moved away with an iron.
“Uh…Boy,” I called.
He turned. “My name’s Lee.” His voice sounded resigned as if giving me his name was a commitment.
“Lee, gather it on a blowpipe. Please.”
“Right.” He switched rods and returned with a proper-size glob. The molten glass pulsed with a bright orange glow, beckoning me to play with it.
When I blew magic into the glass, Lee asked, “Do you need me to thumb a bubble for you? Some glassmakers have trouble with it. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“No, thanks. It’s part of my…routine.”
“Oh.”
I finished the robin and put in a jack line to crack it off the pipe. Lee took the pipe over to the annealing ovens. Opening a door, he tapped the pipe. The robin fell onto a shelf in the oven. He closed the door with his hip. I marked the date and time on the oven’s slate so the others would know when this oven had started the cooling process.
“You don’t have to label it, that oven is just for your use. Are you going to make more?” Lee asked.
“At least a dozen today.”
“Let me know when you’re done. We’re supposed to lock the oven’s door so no one can steal your animals.”
Practical, but still an interesting requirement. I returned to the bench and we began again. After a full
day, I crafted fourteen messengers. While Lee cleaned up, I returned to the apartment to change. I hurried through the streets of Fulgor to join the guards for their afternoon training session.
My arrival caused appraising glances and a few welcoming nods, but no one questioned why I was there. I warmed up and practiced defensive moves with my sais. A female guard asked me about my weapon. She held a wooden practice sword, so I invited her to spar with me to observe how the sais blocked and countered.
“They’re nonlethal,” she said in surprise.
“If you hit the skull hard enough, you could cause death. Or if you poke deep enough into the eye, it would reach the brain.”
“No. I meant if I arrested someone, and they resisted, I could use these instead of a sword to subdue them.”
“True, but you could use a billy club, too.”
“But a billy club won’t disarm a criminal if they have a sword. I can only carry a certain amount of weight—I have to make the most out of the weapons I have,” she said.
We discussed various strategies. I taught her a few defensive moves with my sais and she showed me a couple new self-defense techniques.
“Hey, I know you,” a male voice called out.
I glanced up and up. An oversize guard loomed over me. I recognized him as the bully from the jail. Nic.
He squinted with suspicion. “You were with that Ixian who escaped. And I believe you caused trouble in the Councilor’s Hall.”
Everyone in the training yard stopped and focused their attention on us.
I thought fast. “You’re right. Sorry about that. We were undercover for First Magician and we couldn’t tell you.”
“Undercover?” His voice lacked conviction. Hostility emanated from the guards as the tension increased.
“Go ask Councilor Moon if you don’t believe me. I’m here at her invitation.” I met his gaze without fear. My courage amazed me. I liked this new Opal.
“What’s the trouble?” another man asked. He walked through the yard. The guards parted for him. His captain’s insignia glinted in the sunlight—Captain Alden.
Nic explained his concerns.
“Ah, yes. The Councilor has advised me about our new glass magician.” The Captain’s pleasant attitude rippled through the surrounding guards, dispelling the tension. “She is welcome here. Please continue your exercises.”
He stayed next to me as the guards drifted back to their groups. Soon grunts, clangs and curses filled the air.
When Nic moved to leave, Alden gestured to him. “You’ll need to hear this. You, too, Eve,” he said to the woman who had been practicing with me. “Councilor Moon has asked us to keep an eye on Opal.”
Again suspicion creased Nic’s face.
“She’s been the target of an assassination attempt, and the Councilor requested we guard her so any future attempts will be unsuccessful,” Captain Alden said.
“There is no need for her concern,” I said. “It’s been over a season and I haven’t been attacked again.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Alden turned to Nic. “I’m assigning her to your team. Draw up a shift schedule, I want her guarded at all times, starting now.”
I must have had a panicked look on my face, because he placed his hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry. Nic’s team is one of our best.”
“I trust your abilities,” I said. “I’m worried about my privacy.” And about my illicit nighttime plans.
“No need. After our guard ensures no one is hiding in your rooms, he or she will leave, taking a position outside.” Alden nodded with satisfaction before returning to the station.
“Don’t glare at me,” I said to Nic. “I’ve been doing fine on my own. I didn’t ask Councilor Moon for this.” I gave her extra points for intelligence. She now had an excellent reason to keep track of me.
“Considering all the odd orders Moon’s been assigning us, at least this is what we’re supposed to be doing,” Eve said.
Nic’s face relaxed as he conceded. “Sorry.” He jabbed a finger toward the ground. “Stay here until I set up a schedule. Eve, do you want day or night shift?”
“Do you frequent the taverns at night?” Eve asked me.
“No. I’m a morning person.”
“Day shift,” she said to Nic.
He strode away. I met Eve’s gaze.
“I don’t like the night shift unless there’s some excitement,” she explained.
“You won’t get much more action during the day.”
“I can always hope.” She laughed. “I think I should demonstrate a few more self-defense moves for you. Just in case.”
My life lapsed into a routine. Creating messengers in the morning, training with the guards in the afternoon and walking around Fulgor in the evenings. My “protectors” wore civilian clothes. After a few days, I met them all and noted their habits. I started a friendship with Eve, hoping to obtain information from her.
One afternoon about a week into my routine, I asked Eve, “You mentioned odd requests from the Councilor before. What did you mean?” We had been sparring and had stopped to catch our breath.
“She’s been…overly cautious since Akako’s campaign against her was exposed. A lot of her requests are probably due to worry about being usurped. She dismissed her entire staff, and hired all new security officers after her sister was…”
“Caught?”
She looked uneasy.
“Don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
“Akako wasn’t apprehended by us. In fact, the Councilor exiled her. We haven’t seen her since.”
“Exiled where?” I asked.
“No idea. All the Councilor would tell us was Akako was in a secured location and won’t be bothering anyone. We think Councilor Moon is keeping her whereabouts a secret so no one can try to rescue Akako.”
“That fits with being cautious. After all, Akako had supporters. I’m sure a few of them escaped.”
Eve gave me another queasy grimace. “That’s the other odd thing. None of Akako’s supporters were arrested.”
“But…That doesn’t fit. Where did they go?”
“Captain Alden believes Councilor Moon’s new security staff handled the cleanup.”
“Cleanup—as in execution?”
“Yes.”
“Remind me not to get on Councilor Moon’s bad side.”
“It set the whole force on edge,” Eve said.
“I noticed the tension before, when I…stopped by on my way to Ognap. Even the townspeople seemed apprehensive.”
“Except for the Councilor, it’s a whole new administration, with new protocols and requirements. Plus, they’re very suspicious. When a local baker wanted to purchase a larger building, they questioned him for hours before granting him permission. Then they supervised the renovations. That caused quite a bit of anxiety.”
“They aren’t as worried now,” I said.
“People adapted. And we’re hoping the new staff will relax with time.”
Gressa supervised the first shipment of glass messengers to the Citadel. She had kept track of each piece throughout the week. Another month’s worth of messengers would finish the debt.
I sat in Councilor Moon’s office with Gressa and the accountant. The man held a thick wad of parchment.
“I’m already getting orders,” the man said. “The Council doesn’t need all the glass messengers at once. We can send a monthly payment until Opal’s debt is paid.”
“No. I want to pay them back before we start selling them to others,” I said.
“What about these orders?” He shook the wad.
“Here,” I said. “I’ll take them.”
He glanced at Tama in alarm.
“Don’t waste your time with paperwork, Opal,” Tama said. “You’re the talent. Let Fenton deal with the hassle of shipping details and time schedules.”
Ah. The first reasonable request. If I balked, she would be suspicious, and giving in too fast would also be viewed with warin
ess. “I’d like to approve who receives the messengers. We don’t want them getting into the wrong hands.”
“I assure you that won’t happen,” Gressa said. “There are a limited number of people who can afford them and who have a magician on staff. The Council won’t let their relay-station magicians moonlight. I’m sure once the word is out, graduating magicians won’t apply for government positions and will seek employment in the private sector.” Her tight smile failed to reach her eyes. “Opal would be considered a trendsetter.”
“I’d still like to see the list,” I said.
“Fine,” Tama said. “When you’re done with the Council’s order, Fenton will go over the list with you.”
Dismissed, Fenton and I left. He hurried away as soon as we crossed the outer door. I used the opportunity of unescorted freedom to explore the Councilor’s Hall. Eve had been banned from accompanying me into the Hall. Security insisted I would be safe within these walls. By her expression, I had known the slight was another one of those odd developments.
The vast lobby occupied the ground level under the dome, which hung ten stories above. Next to this open area was the core of the building. A grand staircase connected all the floors. The landings on each level had a magnificent view of the lobby.
A large kitchen and a variety of utility rooms filled the rest of the ground floor. I remembered the kitchen door Devlen and I had escaped through. It led to an empty alley and would be perfect for nighttime use.
Tama’s and Gressa’s well-guarded offices spanned the entire first floor. I had seen the third-floor offices when Yelena and Master Jewelrose had been assigned to protect Councilor Moon. My explorations therefore started with the second floor.
As I wove my way up to the tenth level, I found nothing but offices, conference rooms, washrooms and a few “guest” rooms like the one I had been locked in. Workers scurried and labored at desks. No one paid me any real attention until I reached the top floor.
Two guards stood on the landing, protecting Tama’s and Gressa’s suites. They broadcast their displeasure. I apologized, asked for directions and returned to the ground floor. When I left the Hall, security checked my name off a list, which meant I couldn’t hide in the building until everyone left for the night.
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