Page 17 of Quarter Labyrinth

“Shop for supplies to help you through the Quarter Labyrinth!”

“One of you will win. Fifty coppers to increase your odds!”

“Magic knives that never miss!”

I steered in that direction. Clark tucked himself into my shadow, eyeing everything with much more skepticism, and keeping his hand at his waist where a blade would be. The sound of the sea faded as a sweet tune wafted between the narrow walkways. Hundreds of competitors walked the paths to buy whatever they thought would help them along the way—or hurt others most.

I’d heard about the magical shops. That was the sole reason I brought my entire savings.

Time to see what thirty-six coppers could buy me.

TEN

“Water is most practical,” Clark began before we reached the first shop. “Then weapons, then food. We buy in that order.”

“Yes, but poisons would be so much more fun.”

“Ren.”

“Fine. Water, weapons, food, then poisons.”

His grunt was drowned out by the first merchant greeting us. He stood behind a small table clad in an orange tablecloth, with tiny vials of all colors. “Good evening! Can I interest you in a lethaldose of nightshade?”

Clark was already grabbing my arm before I could say yes. He pulled me toward the next stall. “We are looking for water,” he said quickly.

The merchant brightened. She batted her violet eyes at us while her long lashes cast a shadow over her small, pointed nose. Rose gold bracelets lined her wrist, making small twinkling noises as she spread her arms wide. “I have water.”

“Brilliant.”

She pointed to a green jug first. “This water will kill whoever drinks it by the third gulp—”

“Drinkingwater. Normal drinking water.” An edge crept into Clark’s voice. “The non-deadly variety.”

Her arms dropped, and her smile sagged. “Oh. You’re one of those types. Okay, I have dull water too. Three coppers per jug, and I can deliver up to three times per season.”

“Deliver?” I asked, inspecting the various jars with various colored lids. After a full day and night of sailing, it took all my restraint not to snatch the closest one and down it. The main thing keeping me at bay was not knowing which was normal water and which was lethal.

“Yes, we deliver while you are in the labyrinth. You can decide how many times you want it delivered, but if you are eliminated, I don’t refund.” She unrolled a scroll with the word ‘contract’ written on the top.

I glanced at the other tables where competitors of all ages were signing their names on the lines, being passed tiny vials of liquid, weapons of all sizes, or bundles wrapped in linen. Each made me wary.

“How will it be delivered?” Clark frowned at the high walls of the labyrinth.

“Let me worry about that. Pay, and I promise you’ll receive it.”

Clark shifted his gaze to me, and I shrugged. “We need water.”

“Let’s shop around for prices, then return.”

“It’ll be four coppers per jug the next time you visit,” she said. Her smile remained innocent, though the violet of her eyes sparked.

Before I could reach for my purse, Clark put a hand on my arm. “We will take our chances.”

He was right. Three stalls down, we found someone selling jugs for two coppers. Slightly smaller, but a better deal. Clark reached into his shirt to free his pouch of coins and slap some down. “Six jugs each, plus one for now.”

The merchant was a plump woman with a face as sweet as a child but as weathered as an old lady, and introduced herself as Varla. Her rosy cheeks dimpled as she smiled at the coins and unrolled her own contract. “And how will those be split for the seasons?”

Clark and I looked to each other. “Seasons?” I asked.

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