Maya arrived in the doorway to the living room to be greeted by Valar thrusting a mug into her hands. The kind woman’s cheeks lifted, forcing a squint as she smiled. She looked Maya up and down, kept the smile, and nodded slowly. Maya grinned, and swished the dress in response. Piv was still reading, in a way. He was flipping backwards and forwards between pages, as Maya perched on what was now very much her chair.
“Anything else?” Maya enquired before cradling her mug in both hands and slurping her tea. Piv looked up to see Maya’s raised eyebrows peering out over the drink. As she lowered the cup, and he could take in her new outfit, he too grinned wide.
“That’s perfect, you’ll get away with being around town with less hassle now.” He glanced down at the book, and his smile faded. “Not really, it was shot anyway. Vala- sorry. Spanner, said to keep hold of it though. Maybe keep it in your bag?”
“Can do, but I can’t read it.”
“More just for safe keeping.”
“Sure thing. So what’s the plan today?”
Spanner slumped into her chair and placed her mug on the table.
“Fluff fa-, sorry. Piv, is going to the Markson’s to pay for your lovely new outfit. I’ve got another job over in the village, you’ll be coming with me.”
Maya flashed a panicked glance at Piv, who was happily nodding along with the suggestion, before Spanner continued.
“Don’t worry, I did a job for a hierarch last year, got paid with a gold pass. So, I can take a guest on the shuttle with me, and no queuing! We’re travelling in style!”
Maya’s confused expression made it quickly clear that the length of the journey was not the issue and Spanner joined her in confusion. Piv chuckled, and put down the mug he had been nursing.
“Amethyst Village is on the opposite side of Nurba, maybe four or five hours walk. Spanner thought you were worried about that. I am guessing you were just worried about going out in general?”
“Maybe, a little. It’s okay though. I’d see you back here later?”
“Of course. I am not so lucky though.” Piv offered a mock glare at Spanner, “So I shall have to walk to Moen, it’ll take-“ Spanner waved her hands and shook her head
“Actually, Fur-butt. That is- where you are mistaken. I’ve got me an old bronze pass, its not the most comfortable of journeys, but it’ll save you time. Just don’t lose it.”
“Oh, of course. If that’s alright with you? What’s the closest stop to the Markson’s?”
“They’re right near Southwest Five. I know spoke first is usually better, but Troust get’s quite lively, so I’d go ring first if I were you.”
Piv smirked, seeing Maya’s continued confusion. “The shuttle system works by water mill and huge gears that power eight rings under the city. The central ring is number one, the outer ring is number eight. On these rings are carriages of sorts. There are platforms, stops, to board the carriages and travel quickly around the rings. There are also what get referred as spokes. These all go in straight lines from the centre outwards. North, Northeast, East, and so on. Usually its quicker to take the inner most ring on the journey. So if your destination is more central, you go spoke first, then you have a shorter ring journey. If your destination is further out, you go ring first, then spoke after. Apparently, I should ignore that wisdom for this journey, as the change over could be busy, and mean a long wait in Troust. Bronze passes are the lowest priority. Make sense?”
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Maya grimaced, “Maybe, sort of. Sounds a bit like the tube. I hate the tube.”
Spanner piped up, “Don’t worry, we’re travelling gold, we even get seats!”
“Lucky us, I guess.”
Piv giggled, “Right, I’m going to get this out of the way, so I’ll be off. I’ll see you both back here this evening?” With that, Piv rose from his cushion and offered the book to Maya. A quick stretch, two nods, and a wave later, and he was gone.
“Just me and you then kid. Go grab your bag, you’re gonna need it.”
Maya held back the questions and did as she was told. When she came downstairs, Spanner was already waiting by the door. “Let’s go!”
The pair stepped out onto the street and into the cold, misty air. Noticing Maya shiver at the change, Spanner reached back into the house and pulled a light grey cardigan from the hooks just inside the door. She threw it at Maya, and locked the door, then started walking. Maya skipped to catch up, struggling to get her arms into the cardigan.
“Our stops about a five minute walk, then we’ll take Southeast to Central, switch to Northwest, then Ring Eight. It’ll still take a while, but it’s a lot quicker than walking across Nurba. So, you’re gonna be a hazemaker?”
The bluntness of the question was a stark contrast to Piv’s tendencies towards secrecy, especially so out in the open. Maya looked around at passersby. “Erm- I don’t know really. I guess, if they got me here, they can get me home?”
“Seems fair.”
“But, I don’t how to make them, so I guess I have to learn that first.”
“Seems fair too. Here’s the deal kid, I don’t really know a lot about this sort of stuff, but I think might know someone who does. They’re an alchemist in the village, not the same as a hazemaker, mostly medicines and stuff, but close. Hazemakers need it in their blood like, but anyone can learn to be an alchemist. Figure if anyone knows how we can get you learning, they will.”
Maya paused for second. “Do you trust them?”
“Ain’t got no choice. Can’t go around not trusting people, you’ll explode. Constantly second guessing peoples intentions? No thanks. I believe what I see, good and bad. Most people are picky with they believe. They believe the bad and don’t believe the good. I get it, it’s like survival, but seems miserable to me. And if I end up being wrong, so it is.”
“Seems fair.”
Spanner nodded once, then gestured along the street. Up ahead, was huge white stone archway with steps leading down under the road. It had a large script carved into the massive keystone, and even in short few seconds of their approach, at least fifty people walked under it. As the duo headed down the steps, the smells of iron and grease and people intensified. Added to that was the noise. Echoing around under the city were sounds of screeching, grinding, and shouting.
“It is like the tube.”
“I’ll take your word for it kid. This way, we can skip that queue. Come on quick it’s just pulled in.”
Spanner grabbed Maya’s hand and started to jog through the crowd. It was an odd experience, as the people almost parted for them. As they approached the platform, an attendant stepped up to block their way. Spanner pulled out a dirty golden ring on a chain and waved at the man, who quickly stepped aside, apologetic. Spanner led Maya through another gate onto a much less crowded section of the platform and made a beeline for the carriage.
The large metal carriage hung from a chain overhead and swayed slightly as they stepped inside. Rows of red cushioned benches filled the carriage, and Spanner gestured for Maya to take a seat.
“We’ll be on our way in a second. Get comfortable, we’ll be here a while.” As she spoke, Spanner’s faced dropped. Maya followed her eye line and saw two more people in long black coats approaching the carriage. The first was a tall and broad man. Though not quite as tall or broad as Spanner, his presence seemed much more menacing. His well shaped beard made his face look pointy and sharp, and his shoes clicked on the ground as he walked. The woman he was with, was much slimmer, but as tall as the man, and equally as pointy. She glided across the platform, not a sound in her steps, like a ghost.
Maya immediately understood Spanner’s hesitation, even if she didn’t know who these people were. As she stared, Maya felt a prod from Spanner who rushed a whisper. “Don’t stare, and bow your head if they look at you. Stay quiet, they’re justice hierarchs.”
The two hierarchs entered the carriage, giving little more than a glance and carrying on their conversation. Maya overheard them discussing their displeasure at having to use the shuttle and was all but ready to ignore them completely, when the word ‘Fylguard’ was uttered by the man. She tuned her ears to their chat.
“Yes, I spoke the Principal the other day. Apparently Ashta’s sending thirty more to help with the shortage of-“ The man paused, and when Maya instinctively looked round to see why he had stopped, he was staring straight at her.