Gloria Oliver (17 page)

She watched, fascinated, as Lareen spoke to them and gave each one a small, filled bag. Half bowing in her direction, the three young men promptly disappeared.

Lareen stood there a moment longer and then turned back smiling to face the field of sleeping students.

“All right, everyone, it’s time to get up!” Her voice boomed across the field like thunder.

Yelps and groans followed her command, as everyone was startled out of their sleep. Lareen briskly walked down the front and singled out some of the older classes. “You will go inside, please. Cleaning duty.” Heavier groans echoed through the yard.

Talia wondered what would happen next. She didn’t have long to wait. Members of the kitchen staff, aided by watchers, came down the line and dropped off small cauldrons at each teacher’s station along with a stack of bowls and large wooden spoons.

Everyone served themselves. The porridge was nice and thick and smelled faintly of cinnamon. She could see small pieces of apple floating in it as well. She took her time, savoring it, trying her best not to spill it on her armor.

About the time most of them were through with breakfast, the Administrator’s voice boomed once again across the field. “This now concludes our exercise. Thank you for your participation and patience. You may return to your rooms to clean up, but you will be expected to return to your regular schedule in an hour.” She waved cheerily at them all. “That’s all!”

Talia sighed with relief and heard her sentiments echoed by a number of others. Whatever the wizards accomplished must have done the trick. Now life could return to normal.

“You heard her,” whispered Helyn. “Now run before she has a chance to change her mind.”

Tired as she was, Talia didn’t have to be told twice. Even though she knew the threat was over, from what she learned of late, the Administrator might just take it into her head to make them wear the cumbersome things longer. She held no desire to do that. From the way a number of the other students were taking off for the doors, she could tell they felt the same way as well.

Once she got upstairs, Talia shed her armor and immediately got into her bathtub. The warmth of the water seeped into her body, relaxing her battered muscles. She wished she could wallow in it forever.

With regret though, she forced herself to get out as it started to make her relax too much and her eyes grew heavy. Falling asleep was the worst thing she could do—no matter how tempting it seemed. She got dressed, but not before she gave some of her still aching muscles a nice application of the healing salve she’d gotten from Mandee and Yllin. She then quickly cleaned the worst of the grass and dirt stains off her armor, planning to give it a more thorough cleaning later. As she worked on it, she remembered her conclusions about the jewels so many of the others used to decorate their armor. She decided she would have to pay a visit to Nertak as soon as she got the chance. She wanted to learn more about his options.

Talia was the first to make it to class. Slowly the rest of them dragged themselves in. Helyn then started in on their lessons as if nothing had disturbed their usual routine.

At lunch, the dining hall was filled with the roar of loud conversation, friends getting together to discuss the strange events of the night before.

Word came down from the older students that clean-up duty entailed the carting off of hundreds of large worm bodies. Speculation, gossip, and innuendoes flowed with incredible speed across the room. The lines ranged from mutant worm mating to the beginnings of the end of the world. She listened to it all, mostly amused, yet at times astounded people could come up with such things. But, though she now knew all Kel mentioned to her was true, she found herself not sharing it with the others.

As she ate she tried to figure out why she didn’t tell, why it was she retained the feeling she shouldn’t. All she could really come up with was she’d reduce the effect of Lareen’s strange lessons if she did. Besides, she wasn’t so sure anyone would believe her.

Once everyone got up to go through the garden, things quieted a little, so she decided to take the time to speak to Yllin and Mandee about the one conclusion she did want to share.

“You really think they’re magical?” Mandee asked her after she’d told them of her deductions.

“I do,” Talia answered. “And if we go talk to Nertak we can find out for sure and maybe get some of our own.”

Yllin grimaced, as Talia figured she would, loathe to deal with the old man.

“Just think of the benefits. It’ll make it worth while,” she pressed.

“All right. I guess if we all go together…” Yllin said grudgingly. “Let’s get it over with after dinner.” The other two agreed.

At the evening meal, gossip still ran rampant, the stories even more outlandish than at lunch. As she did only at dinner, Lareen appeared at the head table for supper. She wore her usual eccentric, revealing clothes, which were her trademark, and laughed and joked with the teachers as normal, seeming totally oblivious to the raging buzz around her.

Once the dinner routine was over, Talia, Yllin, Mandee and a couple of others who’d overheard their conversation in the garden drifted together to go to Nertak’s place.

The old man was sitting back in a decrepit chair at the cave’s entrance, busily whittling away at a piece of wood. When he spotted them coming up the walkway, his face broke out into a large grin. “Ah, customers!” He stood up to greet them.

Talia saw Yllin frown from the corner of her eye.

“What can I do for you young ones today?” Nertak asked eagerly.

When none of them spoke up, Talia forced herself to take a step forward and state what they wanted since it was her idea. “We’re interested in seeing the armor options you mentioned to me before.”

The old man’s eyes shone. “Oh? Is that so? You didn’t enjoy your night out in heavy armor last night I take it?”

“Not especially,” Yllin said gruffly. “Not that it’s any business of yours.”

“Yllin!” Mandee stared at her friend, looking truly shocked.

Nertak seemed to take no offense whatsoever at her tone or words. “Come on inside then. I’ll show you what I have.” He led the group through the cave to the counter at the back. “Wait here just one moment.” He disappeared behind the area beyond the counter. Not for the first time, Talia wondered just how truly big the place was.

“Yllin, look, I know he’s a pervert, but could you just behave yourself,
please
?” Mandee hurriedly whispered this to her friend while the old man was out of sight. “He’s likely to raise the prices if you keep being mean to him.”

The dark girl frowned unhappily, but finally nodded.

“Do you think he’d really do it?” This came from Daltan, who was one of the other two of their group who’d decided to come along.

Yllin turned a hard eye on him. “
Yes
.”

None dared ask how it was she knew.

“Here we are.” Nertak returned, carrying with him a covered case. He set the case down on the counter and then took off the black velvet covering hiding the contents from view.

“Talia, you were right.” This came from Lana, their second tagalong.

Before them, nestled in a bed of velvet, were ten rows of different colored gems. All were round, ranging in color from clear to black, and were cut flat at both the top and bottom.

“So, which of these would you prefer?” Nertak asked. Before any of them could reply, he went on.

“Though perhaps you really don’t want them.” He put the cover back over the case. “Some factions of the guild don’t believe in the use of magical comforts for their warriors. They believe such things make them too soft.”

Yllin grabbed the cover and pulled it off roughly. “Why don’t you just tell us what they do? If they do anything other than just look pretty, that is.”

Talia flinched at the other girl’s impatient tone. Mandee sighed deeply beside her. “Yllin…”

The girl grimaced at the reminder and put the black cover back on the counter. “Please…” She said the last through gritted teeth.

“Of course.” Nertak smiled at her as if she’d spoken to him as sweetly as honey. “I’ll warn you though since they’re magical, they are a little expensive. How about I just show you the more popular ones?”

“That’d be great,” Talia said quickly, hoping to forestall Yllin in case she took offense at the suggestion.

With any luck, Yllin wouldn’t get into an even fouler mood than the one she was in already. Talia hadn’t realized how badly her friend didn’t like this man. What had he done?

“Well then, let’s see…” Nertak stared down at the rows of gems, deep in thought. “One of our most popular is this one.” He pointed to a light blue gem. “It allows one to fly.” The five of them glanced at one another, not sure whether or not they should believe him. “It does take a lot of practice, but can be a great consolation if one does poorly in the lottery.” He grinned.

Next he pointed at a row of light amethyst-colored stones. “These are indispensable if riding on our famed Clarence. It makes one immune to being crushed.”

Talia’s eyes grew wide, remembering Kel’s miraculous lack of injuries at some of Clarence’s worst landings. No wonder he’d been all right; he’d taken precautions.

“These diamonds over here have been specially magicked to make armor comfortable. It keeps the wearer cool and dry, as well as making them feel as if they aren’t wearing any armor at all.” The old man smiled. “Indispensable for those long nights spent outside. They’ve been selling very well today for some reason.” His smile turned into a mischievous grin. “These shiny white ones over here, the opals, are also very popular. Though I can’t really explain in detail how they work, they’re supposed to make it easier to use the facilities while in armor, if you get my meaning.” Nertak winked.

He showed them a gem for helping the wearer move silently and another which gave the wearer greater strength. One gave the wearer the ability to blend with his surroundings, while another one let him run faster. Talia felt a little dizzy as she listened to the possibilities. Was there nothing these gems couldn’t help them with?

“Okay, how much are they then?” Yllin cut Nertak off, her eyes narrowed as she stared at the gems, an unhappy look on her face as if she’d just eaten something sour.

“Well, I did warn you they’d be expensive.” The old man’s voice grew low. “They’re five a piece.”

All of them grimaced.

“However,” Nertak quickly added, “I could give you a discount … If you would agree to model something for me. Then they’d only be three gems a piece.”

“Why
you
!”

Mandee stepped forward and covered Yllin’s mouth before her friend could say any more. She staunchly dragged her back toward one of the aisles, signaling with her head for the others to come, too.

When Mandee finally let go of Yllin and freed her mouth, her friend cursed at her with a number of expletives. Lana’s face turned red at some of the more colorful terms Yllin used.

Mandee only raised a brow under the barrage, looking unusually serious. “And you say I don’t know how to behave.”

Yllin stopped cursing, and suddenly looked embarrassed as she glanced at the rest of them and their open mouths. “It’s just that it’s so easy to see what the pervert is after. He’s taking advantage of his position. He’s such a letch!”

“But it is a good discount,” Mandee countered. “And there’s five of us. It’s not as if he can try to pull anything.”

“You’re not actually serious, are you?” Yllin stared at her friend as if she’d just grown wings.

“She’s right, though.” Talia felt nervous about where they were going with this, but it still made sense no matter how embarrassing it might be—anything to avoid a night the same as the last one.

“But, but he’s—” Yllin stuttered, her face turning a deep red.

“I’ll do it. It’s a good discount.” Lana’s voice was barely audible.

Daltan stood in the back, his cheeks crimson and his eyes on the floor.

“So, do we do this or not?” Mandee asked. “It might just be fun, you know.” Her eyes sparkled.

“Mandee!” Yllin stared at her as though not believing her ears.

“I’m in, too.” Talia still didn’t feel much better about the whole thing, but if they all went into it together…

“I’m in.” Daltan still wouldn’t look at any of them.

“So, Yllin, what do you say?” Mandee grinned at her. “It is a big discount.”

The somber girl studied each of them, swallowed hard and then finally nodded.

As a group, they returned to the counter where Nertak patiently waited for them.

“We’ll do it.” Mandee stated for them.

At her proclamation, Nertak grinned and pulled four wrapped packages out from behind the counter.

He gave one to each of the four girls. “There’s a place over there where you can put these on.” He pointed off to a small curtained area to the right. He glanced over at Daltan. “This offer though doesn’t extend to you. While we wait for them, you and I can discuss how you can earn your discount.”

Something about the old man’s grin turned nasty.

As the rest of them headed off to the curtained area, Talia was suddenly loath to leave Daltan alone. She went on after a moment, wondering fervently about what the old man held in mind for the shy, dark-haired boy.

Once behind the curtains, the girls all opened their packages. Yllin snorted in disgust at what they found.

Each of them held a long, silken shift in a bright color. Talia’s was deep red.

She held up the garment by the thin shoulder straps and gawked at it in disbelief. This looked like something Lareen would wear!

“I’m not doing it.” Yllin threw her shift down in disgust. “I’m not changing for him.”

Mandee held her own forest green shift up against her body. “They are a little brazen.” Her tone didn’t necessarily indicate she actually thought this to be a bad thing.

Lana stared at her, her face crimson. “Are we really going to wear these?”

Talia frowned, not too enthused herself though the shift really was pretty. The material felt cool and slick, much better than the usual cotton shifts she slept in. Her eyes lit up as she got an idea. “You know, he didn’t say how we were to model these.”