by Dan Oakley
“Yes,” Trella said, frowning. “It was very fortuitous.”
She glanced at me, and I could tell she suspected I’d had something to do with it.
I stayed quiet.
I’d been trying to use my powers of persuasion on the agents, but only one of them had been susceptible, and even then my power hadn’t produced the intended effect. I’d only managed to confuse him and give the man a headache.
My magic could definitely do with a bit of work, but the end result had been good.
After we’d grabbed our meagre belongings and helped ourselves to the stash of international credits the pirate captain had hidden in his bunk, we left the ship via the rear access cargo door. I guessed the ship would eventually be impounded when they realised it had been abandoned.
We left the dock and stepped into a long cylindrical tube. On the cream-coloured walls there were arrows pointing towards customs and the exit.
We began to walk.
I was excited by the idea of seeing Marrachi. This would be my first visit to one of the seven main planets. Although technically, I was on a space station rather than the planet itself, I was still eager to experience the different culture and technologies.
Trella had mentioned specialised mage shops, and books about magic, and I was eager to learn more about being a mage. Of course, first, we had to help Trella’s sister, but after that, I was determined to explore Marrachi.
Chapter 17
The space station was vast. More massive than anything I could have imagined. It took us half an hour to travel along the transport tube to the main docks. We passed no one on our journey. So when we exited the tube and arrived at the docks, it was a shock to see them so busy. The place was full of bustling workers, who were engrossed in their own business and paid no attention to us. It was far busier than market day in Terrano.
Kira appeared as overwhelmed as me. She stuck close to my side as we walked. Trella and Finn marched ahead confidently.
We walked through the customs area, ducking into the no items to declare channel, and thankfully made it through without being stopped. But we weren’t in the clear yet. Before leaving the docks and entering ring seven, we had to insert our doctored ID cards into a scanner attached to a turnstile machine.
Finn had given us all thin strips of cord to tie the cards around our neck, using the small hole in the top of the card. The cord was long enough to insert the card into the turnstiles without having to lean forward.
We were caught up in the crowd as we headed through the turnstile, I grabbed Kira’s hand to make sure we didn’t get separated.
“This place is huge,” I called to Finn.
“Wait until you see the rest of it,” he said.
Trella had been quiet since we’d left the pirate vessel, tapping constantly on her wrist device. Was she trying to map the layout of ring seven? Or was she trying to communicate with her friend?
“Do we need the new IDs? Can’t we just keep these?” I asked, ducking my head and whispering in Trella’s ear.
A flicker of annoyance played over her features. “We need new ones. I did the best job I could on these.” She turned the ID card over in her long fingers. “But the new ones will be professional and minimise risk.”
I didn’t want to ask about the risk involved in us using the hacked cards to enter the space station, not when we were about to have the cards scanned again. Besides, I had a pretty good idea of what would happen if we were discovered using false IDs. It would involve security agents, jail and possibly some violence.
The turnstiles loomed ahead of us. I watched the man ahead of me, push his ID card into the slot. The light beside the slot turned green. Then the metal bar released to let him through. I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the heavily-armed security agent to my left.
I pushed my card into the slot and felt a rush of relief as the light turned green. I walked through, still expecting a voice to call out, but nothing happened. I was through. I smiled at Finn and Trella, who had passed through one of the other turnstiles.
The crowds parted around me as I paused to wait for Kira to come through.
Kira grinned as she pushed through the turnstile. She didn’t need to grab my hand again. She’d gained confidence. She moved ahead to walk beside Finn.
He was very glad to be back on Marrachi and walked with more confidence. His normal blank expression had been replaced by a smile. He beamed as he described the layout of the space station over the general rabble of the crowds around us. “There are ten levels to this space station, each one is 40 x 20 km. One of the levels in the middle is a designated green area, which produces oxygen as well as serving as a recreational area. It’s really quite impressive. You’d probably like it, Tomas. It might remind you of home.”
I felt a rare pang of homesickness for the green hills and dark forests of Terrano.
He turned back to Kira. “You can travel between levels using transport pods. Transport is free. If you want to go between the rings, which encircle the station, you need to take the tube, which is a type of elevator, but a huge one. It can fit five hundred people at a time.”
“And where are we heading for now?” Kira asked, dodging out of the way of a woman carrying a child.
“The atrium. Each ring is connected to the main station via atriums at either end of the space station.” He glanced at Trella. “Where are you meeting your friend?”
She looked up with a guarded expression. “He’ll meet us later. I don’t have a location yet.”
“In that case, we can hang around the atrium for a while and get some refreshments.”
“Is it safe?” I asked.
Finn nodded and spoke in a low voice, “Very safe. It’s not the type of place where pirates or criminals hang out.”
I’d been impressed with the size of the space station so far but stepping out into the atrium took my breath away.
It was startlingly bright and airy. Ahead of us was a huge water feature that looked to be made of marble and gold. A pale sculpture of a curvaceous nude woman stood in the centre. Surrounding the fountain were a variety of different plants.
The floor was soft and cushioned. That would take some getting used to, but what surprised me most was the blue sky...
I blinked at a fluffy white cloud. “How is that possible?” I whispered in wonder.
“It’s known as an optical sensory illusion. They use different weather in different locations. Sometimes the forecast changes day by day, but it’s always sunny in the atrium.”
I could have sworn I heard bird song above the hubbub of people talking. But there were none to be seen.
After we walked past the fountain, I saw another water feature, styled like a waterfall. It looked incredibly realistic, with grey rocks and white bubbling water tumbling forward down into a deep pool.
I knew I was on a space station, but my senses told me otherwise. With the sky above me and the sound of gurgling water and birds tweeting, it felt like we were on a planet. Even the air smelled fresh and green.
As we walked further into the atrium, I gawked at the different shops and stalls.
People sat at round tables, which were scattered around the atrium, chatting, laughing and having fun. Some were drinking wine, some beer and others sipped coffee.
My mouth watered at the thought of the dark roasted drink.
“Let’s take a seat and keep a low profile,” Trella said, looking around warily.
Finn beamed again. “Good idea. There’s a free table over there. I’ll get us some coffee.”
As Finn walked to one of the food and drink stalls, we made our way to the free table and I slid into one of the moulded chairs. “This place is impressive.”
Trella nodded but didn’t respond. She tapped on her wrist device.
I chatted to Kira, talking about the shops and places we wanted to visit. Of course, we would have to wait until we’d located Trella’s sister before we enjoyed any downtime, but after our isolat
ion on the planet Tor, it was thrilling to be on Marrachi.
Trella didn’t take part in the conversation. When she started tapping out a message, I asked, “Are you asking your friend where we should meet?”
Trella looked up guiltily and covered her wrist device using her hand, and then slid her arm under the table.
I frowned. “What’s wrong? You can confide in us. You don’t have to do everything yourself.”
Trella shrugged. “It’s not important.” She gazed around the atrium and sighed. “Sorry. You’ll like it here. The mage shops and book stores are amazing. You should check them out.”
I nodded. “I will do. I’d love to see some of the works you’ve told me about, especially the books about runes.”
“Try Morcellino’s Comprehensive Guide to Runes first. That covers the basics well.”
Finn arrived carrying a tray containing four steaming mugs of coffee.
We all thanked him and took one.
He grinned and jostled a pouch containing his share of the pirate’s credits. “It’s the first time any of them bought me a drink. I wonder how they are getting on cramped in that cell together.”
“We left them water. I’m sure they’ll be discovered in a day or two,” Trella said, closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of her coffee.
“That’s if they don’t kill each other before then,” I said.
“No great loss if they do.” Kira took a sip of her coffee and then pulled a face. “It’s very bitter.”
“Here,” Finn said, pushing across some cream and sugar. “Some people find it better with those added.”
Kira poured a hefty measure of cream into her mug, plus three spoonfuls of sugar and then sipped it happily.
I preferred mine as it came, enjoying the bitter bite of the hot liquid.
Finn blew over the top of his cup, took a sip and sighed with pleasure. “Oh I have missed Marrachi coffee. It’s the best in the Kingdoms. You know, my family would welcome you all. Once I tell them how you helped me, they would gladly give you a place to stay.”
I smiled, and Trella said, “Thank you, Finn, but we’ll be fine.”
She focused on her wrist device again.
Finn turned to Kira. “I’d love you to meet my family at some point.”
“I’d like to meet them too one day,” Kira said, resting her chin on her hand. “But right now, my friends need me.”
Finn nodded thoughtfully. “I suppose Tomas and Trella are your family now.”
Kira smiled warmly. “Yes, they are.”
We finished our coffee and sat watching other patrons meet and greet each other. Boisterous children raced around the tables, laughing as their parents met up with their friends for food and drink. Cloaks and bags were casually flung over chairs, and no weapons were visible on everyday folk. It felt like a safe place. Marrachi could be somewhere I’d enjoy staying for a while.
When Trella’s wrist device beeped with an incoming message, she sat up straight and pushed her mug away. She stared at the small screen for a moment before saying, “We’re meeting him on ring nine. A place called The Traveller’s Inn. Do you know it?”
Finn shook his head and looked concerned. “No, but most of the places on ring nine aren’t really somewhere I’d choose to visit. It’s a rough area.”
Trella didn’t look worried at all. “We need somewhere like that. We can hardly do it here.” She gestured around at the bustling crowds in the brightly lit atrium.
Reluctantly Finn showed us the way to the tube, and we stepped into the huge elevator. Though the size was impressive, I couldn’t imagine five hundred people crammed into what appeared to be a metal box. Thankfully there were less than fifty with us for this journey.
We stood at the edge of the elevator and leaned against the wall.
“Don’t you want to get back to your family now, Finn?” I asked the young mage.
“Yes, but I want to make sure you’re okay first. Once you have your items, I’ll go and see my family.”
“I appreciate it. Thanks for everything you’ve done for us.”
Finn looked shyly down at his shoes. “I didn’t really do much.”
Kira put her hand on his arm. “You did. We couldn’t have gotten out of that mess without you.”
As soon as I saw The Traveller’s Inn, I knew what Finn meant when he said it wasn’t somewhere he’d choose to visit. It reminded me of the gambling den in my old village. The location was a definite contrast to the atrium. The atrium was decorated in warm whites and creams and brightly lit. Here, the lighting was dim, mostly coming from bright pink, glowing signs. Discarded paper scattered the walk way, another contrast to the pristine atrium.
The characters walking these streets weren’t friendly and boisterous, but quiet and sly. On the lookout for pickpockets, I lay my hand over the bulge in my uniform, containing my share of the credits we’d stolen from the pirates.
We stepped inside the bar, and music and the sound of a hundred voices washed over me. I think someone was singing, but it sounded more like out of tune screaming to my ears.
Trella scanned the area but didn’t see the man she was expecting to meet, so we made our way to a table.
A woman wearing a low-cut top and skintight trousers that hugged her hips, made a beeline for our table almost immediately. “What can I get you?”
“We’ll have beer, please,” Trella said, barely looking up at the waitress. Her eyes were fixed on the door.
After the waitress left, I took a good look around the grim bar. The surface of the table was sticky and the heavens only knew what crunched beneath my feet on the floor. I could see why it was the perfect place to get our fake IDs. It wasn’t as though any law-abiding citizens would frequent a place like this under their own volition, and it was likely there was no security recording equipment in sight.
The waitress delivered four beers, which were mostly froth rather than liquid. None of the other customer’s drinks looked like ours. I guessed the bar staff thought we wouldn’t dare complain. They were right.
I took a sip. The beer tasted as bad as it looked.
I pushed it away from me in disgust.
Kira sniffed the top of her glass, then decided not to partake. A wise decision in my opinion.
We sat there awkwardly, well aware that we stood out amongst the mostly male Marrachi crowd.
About twenty minutes after we arrived, Trella straightened in her chair, turning round quickly.
It seemed she’d spotted the person she was going to meet. She got up from the table and held up a hand when I went to get up and join her. “No, I’ll talk to him alone. You stay here.”
She made her way to the bar and stood beside a shadowy figure wearing a dark grey cloak.
It annoyed me that he stood at an angle where I couldn’t get a good look at his face.
“I really think I should go over there,” I said, beginning to stand.
Finn put a hand out to stop me. “It’s best not to get involved, Tomas. The type of people who frequent this bar, are not the sort of people you want to get to know.”
“But what if Trella is in trouble?”
“She looks like she’s perfectly capable of handling herself to me,” Finn said.
He was right, of course. Trella looked confident as she leaned against the bar, talking animatedly to the man wearing the hooded cloak.
What sort of person kept their hood up when they were inside?
Someone with something to hide.
They talked for ages, but Trella didn’t bring the man to our table.
“What’s taking them so long?” Kira grumbled. “Why doesn’t he just give her the IDs so we can get out of here?” She looked around uncomfortably at the clientele surrounding us.
A large red-headed man at the bar turned to look at us and grunted something that I couldn’t make out.
“Look away, Tomas,” Finn muttered. “We don’t want a confrontation.”
Reluctantly I did as
he suggested.
Eventually Trella rejoined us. Her cheeks were flushed, and she spoke with breathless excitement. “Right, it’s all done.”
She pressed a new ID card into my palm. “Tomas Barrito, you’re from Terrano.” She smiled. “No lies there, so that should make it easy to remember. You’re the son of a merchant.”
She turned to Kira and handed her a card. “Kira VonDane. You’re from Kavius.”
Finally, she turned to Finn. “And you can apply for a genuine replacement ID card in your real name when you get back to your family.”
Finn nodded. “Yes.”
“Great,” I said. “Now we should get out of here.” I couldn’t wait to get out of the bar. The man beside the bar was still glaring ominously at me.
“This is where we go our separate ways,” Trella said quietly.
Her words were so unexpected that at first I just gaped at her.
As she got up to leave, I reached out to grab her arm. “You can’t go alone!”
“Of course, I can,” she said, brushing away my hand. “I’m better off on my own.”
“We can help you find your sister,” I said in an urgent, low voice.
“I don’t need your help.”
“Trella, I’m worried about you…”
“I know that, Tomas, but I can’t have you messing things up. I have enough to worry about as it is.”
“But I could help.”
“You’d be a hindrance, not a help.”
“I see.” Her words stung, and I couldn’t think of a more appropriate reply.
The rejection felt like a punch to the gut. After everything we’d been through, she was just going to walk away.
She had a point, sometimes my magic could be more of a liability than a help, but I wasn’t as useless as she was making out.
I sat frozen to the spot as Trella walked away from us without looking back.
Chapter 18
Immediately after Trella’s abrupt departure, we remained sitting at the same table in silence. None of us really knew what to say.
Eventually, Kira ran her finger along the condensation forming on the side of her beer glass and said, “You know, she only said all that because she wants to protect us.”
