Sea Glass

20

“COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?” I ASKED YELENA, CERTAIN I’D MISSED a vital hint.

She touched my arm. “I tried switching souls. And it didn’t work.”

I gaped at her, failing to grasp her words. “What do you mean tried?”

She steered me to a bench and sat beside me. “You have many supporters, Opal. Leif and Bain volunteered to help me experiment. I moved Leif’s soul to Bain. Both souls stayed in Bain’s body, but when I moved Bain’s soul to Leif, they automatically flipped back.”

Her words bounced in my mind. I refused to grasp them. “There must be another way.”

“I searched Bain’s books, and read everything I found on blood magic, but I didn’t see anything about switching souls. I talked with Zitora at length. Ulrick’s telling the truth.”

“Did you talk with Kade and Janco?”

“Of course. They both believe you, and reported Ulrick’s horrendous behavior. They couldn’t offer any proof, and I can’t find any. And you know how good I am about finding things.” She tried to give me a wry grin, but it resembled a grimace.

I finally understood. She no longer believed me, and neither did Leif and Bain. Pain burned deep in my chest. The same unrelenting torment as grief. I muttered a few words to Yelena, then bolted from the building.

I had no memory of where I went or what I did. Tricky could have caught me and I would have sliced open my wrist for him. I would have welcomed an assassin. I wandered and suffered. Conversations with Ulrick and Devlen replayed over and over and over in my mind. Had I been duped? How could Ulrick know those pressure points? How could he use them? What about my conversation with Ulrick in Ognap?

Darkness came and went. Then a thought surfaced. Strange things had happened with magic. Yelena’s Soulfinding abilities for one. All the history books about Soulfinders had been wrong. Yelena discovered they had been Soulstealers. She trusted herself, and eventually accepted who she was, changing everyone’s negative perception about Soulfinders.

I had been determined to prove Devlen had switched with Ulrick. Just because Yelena didn’t believe me didn’t mean I had to give up. I knew Devlen’s soul resided in Ulrick’s body. When I had drained him of all his magic, I felt his essence through the glass orb. I believed in myself.

To help solidify my resolve, I envisioned myself as a piece of thick sea glass. Worn by the water and sand, I was no longer shiny and new. Innocence and naiveté rubbed off by life, I had broken off from the rest and tumbled in the waves by myself.

I banished all the doubts and the pain of betrayal, replacing it with cold, hard determination.

Standing before Councilor Moon’s door, I imagined sea glass. When I expelled my emotions, I knocked. An aide answered. He fussed about my lack of appointment.

“Tell her I’m here and let her decide if she wants to see me,” I said with authority.

He disappeared through another door. I paced in a modest living area. All the Councilors had offices in the Council building and a residence in the Citadel.

The door swung open and Tama Moon greeted me with a smile. “So good to see you. We were getting worried when no one could find you at the Keep.”

“After the session yesterday, I needed time to think over the Council’s offer.”

“And?”

“I’m going to wait for the counteroffer.”

She laughed. “The Council believes it’s a good idea to have you on the Messenger Committee. In fact, we have ourselves almost convinced it was our idea in the first place.”

“I’m glad.”

“Are you going to stay at the Keep, then?” She kept her tone neutral, but cold calculation filled her eyes.

“No. I decided to go out on my own. Be in control for once.”

“Good for you.”

“Shouldn’t you be trying to talk me out of it? After all, you’re on the Council.”

“In this case, I don’t agree with the Council. As you should be well aware of. I made my opinions clear in Fulgor. Although, at the time, you were feeling rather…charitable toward the Council.”

“Well, the charity is gone. And I like your idea. You had offered to support my business before. Is it still good?”

“I didn’t offer. Gressa made the proposal. And yes, it is still good.”

“Excellent. I would like to set up a workshop in Fulgor, then. Can you let the Council know my decision? Tell them I’m willing to help out whenever they need my special…services. Oh, and ask them to return my diamonds to me. I’m going to need capital.”

She whistled in appreciation. “Considering the Council isn’t going to be happy with you leaving, that’s very bold.”

Bold. I liked it. “I’m being proactive.”

While the boldness still flowed in my blood, I knocked at Zitora’s office. She had ignored me long enough.

“Come in, Opal,” she called through the door.

I strode into the room. Little had changed since I was here almost a year ago. She sat behind her desk as the late-afternoon sun streamed through the window. I stopped before her desk.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Oh! You want to help me now? It’s too late. I’m going to help myself.”

Her gaze flattened and she pressed her lips into a tight line. “What do you want?”

A small voice in the back of my mind warned me to shut up, but I smashed it with a surge of emotion. “To inform you I’m leaving the Keep. I’m not going to work for the Council. Instead, I’m setting up shop with Gressa in Fulgor.”

She kept her body rigid. “Why are you telling me? I’m not your mentor.”

Cold. “I thought you might be happy, considering you and Tama Moon are friends. I’ll be supporting the Moon economy.”

“You can’t trust Gressa or Councilor Moon.”

“Why not?” I waited, maintaining an expectant expression.

“I can’t tell you—”

“Of course not. Why would you tell poor deluded Opal? The one who embarrassed you in front of the Council.”

“That’s enough. Do you really think the Council will just let you go?”

“Why not? You did.”

She stood, but I held my ground.

“Who do you think you are to question my decisions?” she asked.

“I’m Opal Cowan. I used to be your student until you turned your back on me.”

“I distanced myself for your protection.”

“Easy excuse. Tell me the truth for once. Admit it, you’re mad at me for not telling you everything that happened in Ixia.”

“Leave now, Opal. I have work to do.” She settled back into her chair.

“No. I’m not letting you ignore me. I want answers. If not out of anger, then why else did you support Tama’s claim that Ulrick worked undercover? You know it’s a lie.”

“Because Tama did assign him. I talked to her at length. He hadn’t been hit on the head by his sister. Together they visited Tama.” She drew in a breath. “Opal, do you know how ridiculous you’re being? Yelena confirmed it’s impossible for Ulrick and Devlen to switch souls.”

“That’s sweet. You talked to Tama and Yelena. But you never talked to me. We’ve been through a lot together. Don’t I get the same courtesy?”

“Just drop it, Opal. I realize your pride has been injured, but just admit you’ve been tricked and move on.”

“Guess I’m not worth the effort.” I paused. “Since I’m no longer your student, I can disregard your advice. In that instance, you taught me well.”

“What are you doing?” Yelena demanded as soon as I opened my door.

“Packing,” I said, returning to my living area. A few crates rested on the table, and my saddlebags hung over the back of a chair. Packs stuffed with clothes littered the floor. Bearing in mind that I had lived in the Keep for five years, I didn’t own many things.

“Are you crazy?”

“According to you…Yes!” I sorted through a stack of books, making two piles. One to keep, and the other to donate to the incoming apprentice class.

“The Council—”

“I don’t care what the Council says. They’ll have to arrest me or let me go. I’m prepared for both.”

“Why are you going with Councilor Moon?”

“Why not? She offered to support me. And since the whole Devlen/Ulrick mystery has been solved, I’ve no worries.” I studied Yelena’s expression. “Unless you have something else to tell me?”

Her face remained impassive. “The Council won’t return the diamonds.”

“Too bad.” I wrapped Tula’s fox statue and Helen’s glass Stormdancer in a sheet.

“How are you going to afford to make your messengers? You’ll need equipment and supplies. Perhaps you should go home to Booruby and work in your family’s factory.”

Her suggestion had merit. In a normal situation, I would heed her advice. Nothing about this endeavor was normal. “Gressa offered to let me use her glass equipment and supplies. I will reimburse her when I earn enough money.”

“You’re going to get hurt,” she warned.

I shrugged. Not like I hadn’t been hurt before. “Then I’ll stay on snake alert.”

“Snake alert?”

“When I lived at home, we used to have a snake alert the first cold night of the season. The hot kilns were guaranteed to draw in poisonous fer-de-lance snakes. Armed with machetes, my family would kill as many as possible. It reduced the number of snakes living close to us. We couldn’t get rid of them all, but it helped.” I returned to my packing.

“Isn’t that how your uncle died?” Yelena asked.

“Yep. Uncle Werner went left when he should have gone right. But he was well aware of the danger and made an honest mistake. Much better than being surprised.”

“What about Kade?”

“Smart man. I should have listened to him when he advised me to keep quiet about my new power. Once I set up my shop and stockpile enough messengers, I’m planning to visit him.”

“Opal, you know what I meant.” Her frustration had grown to a dangerous level. “He won’t approve.”

“I don’t need his approval. Do you seek Valek’s consent every time you embark on a mission?”

Her chagrined expression answered for her. After a few more attempts to change my mind, she left. I sagged with relief. If I could endure Yelena’s lecture, then Mara’s should be easier.

Wrong again. Mara sliced into me. I was being selfish. Chop. I was being greedy. Chop. I was being stupid. Chop.

“Mara, stop,” I said. “If I stay here, I’ll be miserable.”

She inhaled a breath as if to reply, but released it in one long sigh. “You need to do this?”

“Yes.”

“Will it make you happy?”

“I’m not sure happy is the right word.”

She considered. “Will it help you return to my carefree, trusting sister? You remember the one? Before her trip to Ixia with Ulrick?”

My response lodged in the back of my throat. “Don’t you mean Devlen?”

Her hands pressed together as misery twisted her face. “Didn’t Yelena talk to you about her experiment?”

Obviously Leif had told Mara. I wondered how many more knew. “She told me.”

“You don’t believe her?”

“Nope.”

“But she’s the Soulfinder, she’d know.”

“Maybe.”

Mara stepped back as if my lack of trust was contagious. “Do you think she’s lying to you?”

“No. I think she gave up too soon.”

“Opal, she cares about you. Why wouldn’t she put her full effort into helping you?” Outrage and disbelief warred in Mara. She rubbed her forearms in agitation.

“Don’t know. Don’t care. I’m no longer relying on her. This trip should put this whole nasty business to rest.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“Then I’ve been duped. I’ll concede the point and get on with my life despite being the world’s biggest idiot.”

“Opal, you’re not…” Another huff escaped her lips. “I hate to agree with you, but you do need to take this trip. Just remember, you have me, Ahir, Mother and Father all willing to support you no matter what. You will message us if you need us. You will be very careful.”

“Yes, sir.”

“…since I’m not going to be employed here, I’ll pay the Keep for Quartz, the saddle, tack and my weapons with glass messengers,” I said to Bain Bloodgood. “I already talked to the Stable Master and the Weapons Master to determine an amount. And I met with the head of the Messenger Committee, Councilor Featherstone, about providing them with new messengers as long as they provide me with details regarding their use.” I continued to babble at him. “If you need my other services, let me know and I’ll return to help.”

Bain remained quiet. He sat behind his messy desk in his administration office. He fiddled with a piece of parchment, letting it slide between his fingers over and over.

“I’ll make sure the shipments are well guarded,” I said into the horrible silence.

Finally, Bain let the parchment fall onto the top of a pile. He focused a troubled gaze on me. “You realize Gressa is ambitious. She will desire control of who receives your messengers?”

“Yes.”

“Then why, child, have you agreed to work with her?”

The endearment grated on my nerves. My childhood was over. All illusions and dreams were worn away, exposing the ugly reality.

“No matter what she desires, I don’t plan to give her control. This is just a temporary arrangement until I become solvent.”

“Plans can change,” Bain said. Sadness hung on him like one of his robes. “You surprised the Council into agreeing to this…arrangement. Once they reconvene in the cooling season, be prepared for them to enact a law or make a counteroffer to bring you back here.”

“They would actually try a legal route and not threaten me?” I tapped my chest as if shocked by the notion.

He ignored my sarcasm. “Try, yes. But will use other…methods to get what they want.”

“Ahh…That’s more like it. I was beginning to worry my views of the Council had been wrong.”

Bain stood without warning. He leaned forward, bringing his face close to mine. “You are playing with dangerous people. The Council can be an ally for you to use if your arrangement with Gressa fails to work. But they won’t support you if you make them your enemy.”

I sorted through my encounters with the Council. “Since they haven’t ever supported me, I think I’m okay without them.” I waved bye and left his office before he could reply.

Bain’s comment about allies reminded me of Vasko Cloud Mist’s offer. I found Pazia outside her room, loading a wagon.

“I didn’t realize how much stuff I bought this past year. I filled all the extra space with junk,” Pazia said.

I helped her carry a few crates from her quarters.

“Did you have a chance to consider my father’s offer?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She stopped pushing a stubborn box. “Well?”

I explained my intentions. Barreling over her arguments before she could voice them, I said, “However, if the arrangement doesn’t go well with them, I’d like to come to Ognap and work with you and your father. Do you think he’d be agreeable?”

“He’s used to getting his way, so he doesn’t deal well with rejection. He’ll probably sweeten the deal and try to tempt you to work with us. I think as long as he can buy messengers from you there won’t be any hard feelings.”

“Think?”

She shrugged. “My father is difficult to read. If he feels a certain deed is a personal slight, he’ll be very upset and vindictive. If he sees the action as just business, he’s fine. The difficult part is knowing which way he’ll go. He’s not consistent and I haven’t figured out a pattern.”

Vasko’s counteroffer arrived late in the day. I finished packing and saying goodbye. Councilor Moon’s retinue would leave tomorrow at first light. Composing a note to Kade, I planned to send it overland—a cowardly deed. By the time he responded, I would be in Fulgor. Too late to change anything.

One of Vasko’s associates knocked on my door. I debated arming myself with my sais, but decided to hide my switchblade in my pocket instead.

When I opened the door, he handed me a sheet of parchment. The expression on his wide face remained impassive as he said, “I’ll wait here for your reply.”

I scanned the document. Pazia was right. Vasko had sweetened the deal so much my teeth ached. “I need time to think it over.”

The man didn’t move.

“I’ll need to sleep on it. I’ll send—”

“I’ll wait here.”

“Fine.” I closed the door.

Carrying the deal over to the lantern on the table, I read the offer. Straightforward and with no fine print, it listed all the items he would provide for me. Glass factory, workers, supplies and sales force remained the same, but he added a house for me and a stable for Quartz to live in, a generous salary and two of his finest rubies each year. All in exchange for glass messengers.

Every aspect of the business would be taken care of. My job would be to produce them. He even left a space for me to write in a yearly total of messengers. I could write ten or a hundred. My choice.

The room tilted and spun. I groped for a chair, feeling light-headed. Resting my forehead on my arms, I sucked in deep breaths.

The downside of the contract would be not having a say in who bought them, and not being able to give a few away for free, bringing me back to where I started. The Messenger Committee had decided who they sent messengers to and how they were used. Working for Vasko, I would be in the same situation except I would have a house, money and rubies.

Though tempting, I couldn’t relinquish control of my messengers. They were all I had. On unsteady legs, I shuffled to the door. I handed the man—who hadn’t moved an inch—the parchment. “Please tell Vasko I decided not to sign the agreement, but I might change my mind in the future.”

He left without saying a word.

I thought saying goodbye to Mara had been difficult, but it resembled a party compared to this morning. Joining Councilor Moon’s caravan just after dawn, I focused on the transfer of my crates and bags into one of Tama’s wagons. When I saw my possessions nestled in with hers, I felt queasy.

My stomach continued to sour as we left the Citadel through the east gate. The trip to Fulgor would take six days, two days longer because of the slower pace of the wagons.

Tama appeared to enjoy the ride despite the rising heat and humidity. She led the caravan along with two guardsmen. She smiled and called out instructions with a light tone. Her white horse shone in the sunlight, almost matching Tama’s hair. Gressa rode in a carriage behind Tama. I suspected the cushioned coach was meant for the Councilor, although Gressa had no qualms about making it her own.

I hung back with the wagons. Aides and servants perched on boxes or sat next to the drivers. Five guards on horseback completed the group.

We traveled through Featherstone lands. Rolling green hills and bushy trees dominated the landscape. Wildflowers bloomed in the fields. We passed a few areas where the trees had been chopped down. The Featherstone Clan members used wood to earn a living. Carpenters built houses, furniture and wagons. Woodworkers carved bowls and artwork.

The first night on the road, we stopped at the Azure Inn in a small village called Bluejay’s Eggs. All the towns in the Featherstone Clan’s lands were named for an aspect of birds. Owl’s Hill, Robin’s Nest and Cardinal’s Tree were three of many examples.

Tama secured lodging for us. I would share a room with two other women. As long as I had a bed to myself, I didn’t mind. Having no desire to make small talk with strangers, I returned to my room after dinner, planning to enjoy a few moments alone.

I groaned when someone knocked. Hoping it was a staff member, I palmed my switchblade and asked who was at the door. A mumbled reply about supplies for the washroom. I cracked open the door. Devlen stood in the hallway holding a stack of towels.