In the farthest corner of the workshop, there was a large stone pot that Hala used for dyeing cloth. In the pot, there was a tin bucket, standing upside down.
Under the bucket, apparently, sat the etheric lamp.
“It’s just a magic lamp”, said Nua, her gaze directed at the floor.
Ursan was sitting on a rickety stool he used for work. Hala just plopped on the bench with a sigh. Her eyebags were more pronounced than usual, and her hair was in disarray.
“There’s a story going in the Bottoms”, she said, “About a scrap collector who found a glowing rod and thought this was a magic lamp, too. He used it like one. His children played with it. Within weeks, they all died a horrible death. They couldn’t keep food in and kept bleeding from everywhere. Their skin was covered in sores. The children died first because they were the smallest, and he had to watch.”
Oh.
Oooh.
Nua knew this story. She’d never think that the lamp, which only came to life when touched, could be associated with it. No wonder Hala was that alarmed. After all, she did not know what it was. So, this whole time, since Temen found the lamp (was it because he noticed her using it at night?), Auntie was out of her senses, thinking that everyone at home was destined for a certain, gruesome death.
Right now, Nua needed to be honest. But how could she even start to explain, when she has already wrapped the truth in so many lies and omissions?
“But,” she started, “I know for a fact this is a magic lamp because I’ve seen the explorer using it.”
There was a moment of silence.
“The dead explorer, Nua?” Hala’s tone was full of suspicion. “Is that the truth you’re saying?”
“I didn’t tell you everything”, she muttered. “I did not know how to tell you. One was dead. Another was alive and very angry. He took me with him, saying I’ll be his guide to the Southern Temple.”
“Nobody goes to the Southern Temple.”
“I said so, too. He said, guide. What he really meant was that I was to go first and fall into traps so he doesn’t. He… he fell into a trap meant for me. A machine killed him.”
Nua winced. An uninvited scene played out in her memory.
Hala frowned.
“This does not sound believable.”
“That’s why I didn’t know how to tell you!” now she was trembling. “I escaped. I found a place…” she hesitated, not sure if, and how, to confess about Anki. She has already lied – again - about the lamp because it was the king who told her what it was. The spirit was hanging over her head, his expression unreadable. “There were other machines. A ghost was there – an ancient ghost in the machine - and he told me to sit in one of them. When I did, it got out of the Temple. Drilled a hole in the ceiling and made a huge explosion. It is still there, right now. And that’s why I have trouble. Because people are there, too. From the upper city.” Nua took a deep breath. “And… And they’re looking for me. Or the person that was inside, but they know how to find out that was me.”
Hala’s shoulders dropped.
“So you went there again.”
“I was worried! I saw them going into the scrapyard. I had to see.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
“So, let’s sum it up.”, Auntie sighed. “The lamp won’t kill us. But there’s someone from the upper city looking for you, because you saw something that you shouldn’t, and he might kill you instead.”
Nua nodded.
“He is a killer type. If he finds our house but does not find me…”
Hala sighed again, then approached and enveloped Nua’s petite body in a soft, all-encompassing hug. The girl sobbed, then the tears started flowing freely, making her sun-scorched eyes itch.
“For the last few weeks, you’ve worked so hard. Don’t think I didn’t notice. I thought the warehouse might be too much for you, but you kept getting up every day before sunrise. Was it just a sense of guilt, or a real need, I don’t care. I know you think of the family. I know you meant no harm.”
Right now, an immense sense of guilt nestled in Nua’s stomach. Yes, the whole thing with gaining power, and working in the warehouse so she could train sorcery was, in the first place, about helping Hala. But it turned out to be much too exciting, and she got caught in the moment. If she did not leave traces of ether everywhere, the hunter would not have a trail to follow.
Auntie let go.
“I will have to call on favors. Uncle Zabar’s aged, but his boys are still around.”
Ursan gave Hala an anxious look.
“Auntie. Zabar’s boys are killers, too.”
“I was dealing with them before you were even born”, she waved his concerns away. “He still owes me. Now“ - she got up. ”Nua, it will be hard for you, but you need to disappear for a month or so. I have a cousin in Dilbat, and I’m going to write her a letter. Don’t lose it, and for the River God’s sake, ask her to write back.”
She hugged her again.
“And gods help us, please, please, do come back home.”
Hala went to the second floor. Ursan kept glancing at his sister with a frown. Nua blew her nose in her fingers, then wiped them on her shirt with a defiant look.
“I’ll take the lamp with me. I’ll bury it somewhere in an outhouse.”
“You’ve changed”, Ursan said. “I can’t put a finger on it, but there’s something different about you. The way you talk, thinking about consequences…”
“I messed up for real this time”, she answered. Her voice trembled a little. “Maybe I need to grow up.”
“Maybe that’s it”, he shook his head. “Auntie’s too good for you.”
“She’d do the same for you. Keep her healthy, will you?”
Ursan reached out in an awkward hug.
“You know I will.”
***
The house was still empty save for the three of them, and the ailing Galene. Apparently, Hala ordered children to play outside, out of concern for the lamp and its imagined noxious properties. Nua thought it would be a good moment to start packing. Then, she shrugged, thinking there was nothing to pack anyway. She looked behind the amphora in her corner, and she cried again when she found the eight coppers. Not even Temen stole them.
“Hey.”
She turned around. That wasn’t Anki, but Ursan. He was holding a leather sack.
“I thought you might need it.”, he said. “There are some clothes inside. No shoes, I’m afraid.”
“No worries. I’m not used to them anyway.”
He hobbled back to the workshop. Nua kept looking at him with a sad smile.
“You’re a good brother, Ursan. I’m sorry I couldn’t be a better sister. Find you a girl, or something. You need a good one, that would cook for both of us, and help Hala, too”, she whispered.
“I am truly moved. You do not find such loyalty at the court.”, Anki boomed.
Nua gave him a glare.
“That’s all because of you, you know.”
“It would be great if you remembered it was me who found the way out from the Temple”, said the king. “We could not predict what followed. Anyway, let’s be optimistic. The traces you left will dissipate in a few days, and you’ll be able to return safely. Also, a month at your cousin’s, in a rural area, could be helpful for your training.”
“Seriously? Now you’re talking about training? Anyway, I’m not going there.”
“Why?”
“Do you need to ask? I’ll be drawing danger to Hala’s cousin.” Nua looked in the sack Ursan gave her. A fresh shirt, pants and a plaid green shawl for the sun. “I’ll get a job in a caravan. I worked with the merchants already.”
“Isn’t this, Nua, because traveling in a caravan seems to be endlessly more exciting than staying at your cousin’s house? ”Anki’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
“That was uncalled for, and you don’t have a say in the matter.” Nua snapped. “Caravans have mercenaries, and mercenaries can scare off killers with etheric animals. Or at least I hope so.”
“How do you know they will take you in?”
“Anki. What gives? Why are you being such an asshole? You could help, or at least not bother.”
There was a moment of silence.
“I… I am sorry, Nua. I’ve acted out of line. I guess… I think I am envious.”
“Of me?!”
“Heavens forbid. Of what you have here. A family.”
There was some more silence.
“And I’m going away from them, because of you.”
“I’m sorry.”
Nua changed her clothes, mulling on thoughts.
“Thanks for saying that, at least”, she paused. “So… a caravan. They… travel through a desert, I suppose. Have you ever been in a desert, Anki? Do you think I will need any shoes?”