GRANDMOTHER

The workbench was disassembled and ready to put into its bag. Ellen carefully measured the top and made a bag that held slightly more volume, but in an easier to transport shape. Since the top was solid, she wasn’t certain even Grandmother’s tier could make the volume smaller.

Grandmother slid the ceramic workbench top into the bag with little effort. The bottom of the bag was clearly not wide enough for the top, but it filled up like it was filled with sand. The edge of the top was still visible in the bag opening. It held its shape, making the piece look like a bar that narrowed down, and thickened up to a sand bag.

“Can you push it in further?” Ellen asked.

“Sure,” Grandmother said. She grabbed the visible edge and pushed it down toward the bottom of the bag. Ellen was impressed with how far Grandmother’s hand went in. The top edge of the bag went floppy. “Should I tie this off, or do you want to try to put the rest in?”

“Can you tell if there is any room left?” Ellen asked.

“I’d say there is about a third left,” Grandmother responded.

“That should be enough room for at least some of it,” Ellen responded. Grandmother slid the bag over to the pile of parts and started packing them in. The entire pile went in without a hitch. Grandmother closed the opening, and handed the bag to Ellen.

Ellen staggered under the load. Grandmother made it look really light. The bag was enchanted to reduce weight, not remove it. Ellen swore she could feel the bag straining to explode in her hands. She handed it back to Grandmother. “Why don’t you carry it?” she said.

Grandmother laughed at her. She took the bag back. It settled down at her touch, as if it was happy. Grandmother wasn’t certain if this strange overpacking was a result of her being tier six. She was overstuffing bags for decades. She wasn’t certain when they started holding more, but she was pretty certain it was before tier six. She could remember the bags struggling with non-integrated items, like hides and apples back at tier three. Todd at tier four looked shocked at her gathering bag’s struggle with the cougar hide. Grandmother didn’t really notice until she saw Todd’s reaction. It made Grandmother wonder what other kinds of ‘perks’ you could earn.

She remembered how Ian could sense the presence of an integrated weapon without seeing it. He would react to its presence even before an attack began. Irene thought it was a spell at the time, but if it was a spell she’d never found it. Perhaps that was a perk too.

She picked up the bag and started back to the inn to drop it off with the rest of her gear. It was evening, heading into night. The overhead light panels decreased their light by a tick.

“Harry said you want to talk to me,” a rough woman's voice said. Grandmother saw the woman standing by the entrance to the inn, but she didn’t really focus on her. She was wearing hunter’s greens with a beautiful bow slung over her shoulder. She carried a day pack, a water flask and a knife on her belt. “I’m Betty.”

She was second generation. Even in the darkening light Grandmother could see that the green she wore was discolored. Betty was a tier four.

“You must be the hunter,” Grandmother observed.

“Yes,” Betty responded.

“Can I ask why you consider yourself a hunter and not a warrior or a scavenger?” Grandmother asked.

“I don’t like small rooms, I don’t dig in the dirt gathering tubers and I don’t fight other men,” the woman declared. “I hunt in the green. That is what I am, a hunter.”

“I understand,” Grandmother said. “Do you mind if we sit down? My bag is heavy.” Betty waved her consent. Remembering Betty’s statement about small rooms, she went over to one of the inn’s ‘outdoor’ tables and sat. Betty settled down next to her. Grandmother set her bag down at her feet.

“You might not be interested. I am looking for people to help monitor the fast travel room. It would mean leading selkie in and out of the travel system. The room is rather small,” Grandmother explained.

“Why are you offering this to me?” Betty asked.

“You have to be tier four to control the system. You are tier four.”

“But I am not one of you.”

“I don’t understand. You hunt in the green and do business in the square, how are you not one of us?” Grandmother asked.

“I don’t live here,” Betty declared. “I’m not one of your group. I’m not a crafter of any kind. Even that old boar Joe has moved to get away from me. Why would you want my help?”

Grandmother saw it then. The odd square was for this woman as much as it was for Muriel. Joe took on the odd square because of its open sky, because of this woman.

“Oh, no Betty. I think Joe moved for you. Forget about the transportation system. I don’t think that is what you are supposed to do. I think you should go to the new square and help Joe run it.”

“I’ve tried,” the woman said forlornly. “I can take it for an hour or so, but it is just too far to the next green. I am stuck here.”

“Have you talked to Joe?” Grandmother asked.

“No,” Betty said. “What can I say to him?”

“Talk to him, he can take you there through the fast travel system. It takes less than an hour. Let him show you his square. If you don’t like it you can come back here, the trip back is just as fast. You are one of us Betty. I will always welcome you in my square,” Grandmother assured the woman. “Actually I think you should come with us tonight. I will give you your own access to the travel system. Being able to use it without help will be good for you. You can help Joe manage his travel room.”

“I don’t know,” Betty said.

“Bring all your stuff. We may be gone for some time, especially if you decide to go on to Seagrass with us. If you have your belongings stashed in a tree somewhere I don’t want it disappearing on you before we get back.”

“I don’t know,” Betty said again.

“Think about how surprised Joe will be when you show up at his new square,” Grandmother said. She rose to her feet picking up her heavy bag. “I’ll meet you here at midnight,” she said to the woman before heading off into the inn. She didn’t know if Betty would show up or not. She really hoped the woman did. At the door to the inn, Grandmother paused and turned to give Betty one last glimpse. There was an angry stubborn look on Betty’s face. That didn’t bode well. Grandmother suddenly remembered what she said to Todd about Kai. “Life isn’t always about wisdom,” she called back to Betty, “sometimes it is about taking a chance.”

A little after midnight Grandmother came down the inn stairs fully loaded for travel. The workbench bag was strapped to her pack. She thought it managed to suck its gut in just a little more when she pulled the straps tight. She smiled at it and called it a good bag. She was a little grateful she was still in her room at the time and there were no witnesses. She chuckled a little to herself as entered the common room.

Todd was waiting by the service bar. His spear was in his hand and his pack at his feet. He fell in with Grandmother as she passed him. It was obvious he was wondering what amused her.

A nervous looking figure was waiting in the courtyard next to the inn’s outside tables. Betty was carrying a beat up leather bag that was really too small for all one’s possessions. Grandmother wondered how long it would take for Ellen to get her hands on it.

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“Hi Betty,” Todd said from beside Grandmother. Absolute proof from Grandmother’s point of view that Betty was one of them. “Are you going to help us with the transportation system?” he asked.

“Betty is relocating to OpenSky, where she will assist Joe,” Grandmother announced, before Betty could respond.

“OpenSky, did Joe finally name his square?” Todd asked.

“Yep,” Grandmother responded. “Let’s get going, I don’t want to be late.” She set one hand on Betty’s arm and nudged her forward. Betty fell into step beside Grandmother.

Grandmother walked over to the square’s crystal where she laid a hand against it. The crystal flooded with a violet so dark it was nearly black. Todd touched the crystal next, turning it a dark red. Grandmother looked at Betty, who shrugged her shoulders and touched the crystal. It was flooded again with dark red.

Grandmother smiled and led Betty to the back door. The corridor was packed with people. Grandmother already forgot how many people they were taking through. She turned to the hunter.

“Why don’t you wait here Betty, where it isn’t so crowded,” Grandmother commented. “Todd and I will head on up and see if we can’t get this line moving.” Betty nodded her head in agreement.

“Make way,” Todd called as he began pushing his way past the waiting crowd. Grandmother followed after him. As she stepped past the last person in the line she saw it was the butcher. The butcher turned and caught sight of Betty.

“Hey, Betty,” the butcher greeted the hunter. “I didn’t realize you were going on this trip.”

“It was a last minute decision,” Betty replied.

“Have you gotten any more of those spotted songbirds?” the butcher asked.

Grandmother didn’t wait to hear the response. She stepped into the transportation room, and started sending people to the south gallery.

“Where is Betty?” Grandmother asked, after the butcher stepped through.

“Betty?” Harry asked. He was helping speed the line by bringing people in from the hallway. “Did she find you? I told her you wanted to talk to her, but she wouldn’t come with me to the inn.”

“I talked to her. She is going to move to OpenSky and help Joe. Check down the hall in the square. She doesn’t care for tight spaces much.”

“I’ve noticed that,” Harry responded. “When we came south looking for a new place, she was already here in the green. Joe ran into her hunting. She told us about the potential square. We would probably have found it eventually, but her directions made the trip easier.” Joe went out into the hall and headed down to the square. Grandmother leaned out to see if he found anyone.

“Your turn,” Harry said to Betty.

“I am not sure about this,” there was a vulnerability in her tone that she didn’t let Grandmother see. Harry must be a friend.

“It is a quick trip. Grandmother will take care of you. She has never let me down,” Harry told Betty.

“She says it will take me to Joe. That his new place was made for me?” Betty questioned.

“I didn’t think of it, but you know she is right. It really bothered me with all that openness, but you will love it,” Harry responded. Grandmother ducked back into the departure room. She didn’t think she was supposed to overhear that conversation. Minutes later Harry was guiding Betty into the room.

“Don’t worry about the darkness,” Harry was saying to her as he led/dragged her in. “Right this way.”

“Just step over here,” Grandmother said. She turned the woman around to face the glowing portal. “Now just take a couple steps forward. I will be right behind you.” Grandmother gave Betty a gentle push. The woman stepped through. The light went out.

Grandmother picked up her own pack and swung it on. She ran her fingers across the map interface selecting the southern gallery. The portal lit back up again.

“Take care of Betty,” Harry said. “Something bad happened to her. I don’t think it was Control that was responsible. Whatever happened to her was all human done.”

“I’ll keep an eye on her. I hope having a way to travel without having to face the halls will help her feel less trapped. I’ll send her on to Joe. Make sure he knows she is coming,” Grandmother replied.

“I will,” he said.

Grandmother stepped into the portal.

Betty was in the gallery, her back against the wall. Her eyes were looking up at the high ceiling above. Although stressed, she didn’t seem panicked. Grandmother wondered if she was still under the influence of the travel drugs. Somewhere in the back of her mind she knew this was going to be the tricky part, but Grandmother didn’t know how to give someone access to the system without the use of this inscription. It was a problem since inscriptions always changed eventually. A quick glance showed that this one was still holding firm, but Grandmother knew it wouldn’t last forever.

Her group, Kai and the master craftsmen were wandering all over the gallery. Companion was stretched out on the round rock at the base of the inscription, looking very close to being asleep. Todd stepped out of the transportation room behind her.

“How do you want to do this?” Todd asked.

“Let's start with Betty here,” Grandmother responded. “I’ll share the decrypted inscription with each of them. You can take them into the departure room and show them how to send someone on. Get Alex over here to show how to use someone else’s map and not their own.” Grandmother had a thought. “How is Harry getting the selkie to navigate their map?”

“There is a ‘return to origin’ option. Me-So-Ray told each selkie how to do it before he sent them. Harry’s been watching. He told me how they do it.”

“I’d like to see that, when you have a chance,” Grandmother commented. Todd just smiled at her.

“Should I send them on to Seagrass or back to Home?” Todd asked.

“No, just show them how it works. We’ll then have them wait in the gallery. We will all go on to Seagrass together after. Except maybe Betty. She may want to go to OpenSky. If she wants to go there, go ahead and send her. I’ll pay you back.”

They worked their way through the group. Grandmother made each of them touch the crystal in the rest, before she decrypted the inscription and sent them in to Todd. She was surprised when Betty came back out of the departure room, since it was an indication that she decided to go on with them to Seagrass.

“I am not certain what Ray-Do-So is going to think of this,” Todd observed. As they got ready for the final hop to Seagrass.

“Alex, I hate to do this to you, but Companion will be tied up with Enchanter and you are our only other selkie speaker. I need you to follow the crafters around and try to smooth things over,” Grandmother told Alex.

“Sure,” Alex responded. “It sounds like fun.” Grandmother couldn’t imagine that being fun, but Alex did like meeting people.

“Ok everyone,” Grandmother called. “I am going to send people on to Seagrass. This is the last time I’m going to pay for the trip so make sure you touch the crystal while you are there.”

“What about going Home? Do we have to pay for that?” one of the craftsmen called.

“Oh no, I’ll send you back this evening. The selkie would never forgive me if I left you all there,” Grandmother countered. “Everyone meet at the travel room at first dark and I will pay for your trip home.” Grandmother didn’t mention to them that as owner of the Home crystal the trip was actually free for her. It wouldn’t be free for them, so that was the money they were saving. Todd went through first, followed by everyone under tier four. Grandmother made the tier four’s help guide them through. Finally all the crafters went through. Betty and Grandmother were last.

“Are you sure you want to go to Seagrass?” Grandmother confirmed. “I can send you on to OpenSky if you like.”

“No, I came this far. I want to see the ocean square,” Betty assured Grandmother. Satisfied, Grandmother activated the transport. Betty walked through under her own power.

Grandmother found Ray-Do-So and Companion waiting for them in the square. The Elder was shifting on her flipper-feet and rubbing her flipper-hands together.

“Who are all these?” Ray-Do-So demanded.

"Do you not recognize them from your trip to my square?” Grandmother asked. “These are my shopkeepers and crafters that are tier four. I don’t have a dedicated transportation room keeper. I hope to share the duty among them until a keeper can be found.” Companion translated her response for the selkie square elder.

“There are a great many of them,” Ray-Do-So said nervously.

“I sent Alex along to help them negotiate prices with your shopkeepers,” Grandmother commented.

“Alex?” the elder said with some alarm. “Do they drink beer too?”

“Darkness, I forgot to warn them about the beer,” Grandmother said. “Don’t translate that,” she said to Companion with some alarm.

“Alex knows very well how dangerous it can be. I’m sure he will say something,” Todd offered.

“Where did Kai go?” Grandmother asked, suddenly remembering her other newbie.

“Kai went with Ellen, to help carry her purchases,” Companion fluted. The selkie elder was looking annoyed as Companions words made it clear they were having a conversation that was not being translated for her. Grandmother thought Kai should be safe with Ellen. Really at tier two he was the one most in danger. The tier fours would probably live without intervention. Probably.

“Ok, translate this,” Grandmother said to Companion. “I may have failed to warn the new visitors of the strength of your beer. I would be grateful if your innkeeper could keep an eye on them.”

“So they do drink beer. I will warn the innkeeper,” the selkie elder responded. She looked thoughtful for a moment. “The brewer will be happy. She has a new one she wants Todd and Alex to taste.”