Page 75 of Tempests of Truth

She chuckled. “More years than you’ve been alive, I’m guessing.” She eyed Phoenix on my shoulder with interest, her gaze dropping to the tell-tale color difference between his legs. “You’re a healer, then? Did you train him yourself? I like what you’ve done with the shoulder of your dress. It’s a convenient way to carry him in a crowd like this. But if you have need of leather gauntlets, you won’t find any better quality than mine. All the palace and Guild falconers buy from me,” she finished proudly.

“I can see their quality just by looking,” I said, eyeing off the two pairs I could see displayed. “But unfortunately I don’t have time for shopping today. Hopefully I can have a closer look next time I’m in the market.”

The woman accepted my words with enough good humor that I resolved to do my best to come back at the earliest opportunity. Now that I was at the Guild, I was hoping to speak to some of the healing affinity’s falconers and get some tips on caring for Phoenix. Quality gloves would no doubt prove helpful.

As I moved down the line of stalls, choosing ones free of customers to approach with my query, I was received with a range of attitudes. But whether gruff, surly, chatty, suspicious, or friendly, every one of them avowed any knowledge of someone with my uncle’s name and a plants affinity. And when I finally found someone who knew an Olan, further questioning established the man in question was barely older than me.

I was about to give up and head back to the palace when a hand pulled softly on my sleeve. I turned to find a small slip of a girl, at least five years younger than me, staring at me with shrewd eyes.

“I heard you asking around the market. You’re looking for your uncle?”

“Yes, do you know him?” I couldn’t help my voice quickening with eagerness. “His name is Olan.”

“And he has a plants seed? Aye, I heard.” The girl hoisted a large, wrapped bundle over her shoulder. “If you’re wondering about trusting me, ask any of them.” She jerked her thumb over her shoulder down the line of stalls and lifted her chin defiantly. “Any of them can tell you. I run errands for anyone who needs it round the market, and I’m known for being the most reliable.”

A younger boy ran past in time to hear her remark, slowing enough to call a heckling challenge in her direction. He didn’t stop completely, however, and was lost in the crowd as the girl pretended not to have heard him.

“So you actually know an Olan of the right age who has a plants affinity?” I asked, eager for a proper answer. “He would be coming up to five decades by now.”

“Aye, I know one. But he don’t live in this neighborhood. Likes to talk about his seed, though.” She sniffed as if something about that behavior was unpleasant.

“Can you take me to him?” I asked, making a split-second decision. I was supposed to be heading back to the palace soon, but I couldn’t let this opportunity slip away. If there was any chance this girl could take me to my uncle, I couldn’t walk away now.

“That depends,” she said.

“On what?” I asked warily.

“On if you can pay. I’m not trying to cheat you,” she added defensively. “Anyone can tell you it’s one coin to take goods or a message across town.” She looked me up and down. “You’re not exactly either, but I’ll apply the same rates.”

“Very well, then.” I smiled at her. “I’ll give payment when we reach this Olan.”

The girl narrowed her eyes before making up her mind and giving a decisive nod. I was almost glad she’d asked for a coin. It made me less wary that she had some nefarious motive.

“Ember,” I called, and the fox appeared out of the crowd.

The girl started, looking uneasily from Ember to Phoenix.

“How many of them creatures do you have following you around?”

I chuckled as I picked Ember up. “Only two. We’re all here now and ready to go.”

The girl turned without another word and led the way out of the square. I followed a few steps behind, keeping half my attention on her and half on the rest of my surroundings. But nothing suspicious appeared, and no one else appeared to be tailing us.

The girl didn’t speak to me other than to give me a disparaging look when I offered to take a turn carrying her bundle. I didn’t make the mistake of offering again, and we remained silent across half the city.

At least it felt like half the city. I had no actual way to measure our progress and would have been well past lost without my guide. If this Olan wasn’t the right one, then I would have to pay the girl another coin to guide me back to the palace. If he was my uncle, I would have to trust in his goodwill to show me the way back.

But as the houses around us grew more and more shabby, I finally spoke.

“Are you sure this is the right area?” I tried not to let the extent of my unease show in my voice.

“Nearly there,” the girl puffed over her shoulder, switching her load to the other side. “And course I’m sure. His youngest attends classes with me in the morning.”

I fell silent at this mention of cousins. I had always assumed they likely existed, but I had never expected to meet them.

“Here we are.” She stopped in front of a tall, narrow building in a long row of buildings. This particular one appeared to be leaning against the one beside it, and I eyed its upper stories with concern.

“Don’t worry,” the girl said with a snort. “You’re lucky. He’s on the bottom.”

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