Olly Briggs

Olly hated eavesdropping. The idea of someone listening to his personal conversations made him feel icky, therefore there was nothing more repulsive than getting involved in someone else’s business. It could only bring trouble. He knew this from working in his uncle’s games room, Hijinks. Olly’s rule was to keep his head down and mind his own business, and as long as he followed it he always stayed out of trouble. This was important because Uncle Eli’s businesses weren’t always totally above ground, so he knew better than to get involved in something he had no business in. His uncle preferred to keep him out of the less-than-legal aspects, it was an unspoken understanding between the two of them. So every night he kept his head down and kept working. Not all of it was legal work per se, but he figured if he didn’t ask questions he could maintain deniability.

The fact that Tarry Bennett (in disguise of course), the elected leader of Occaigh, capital city of Flexibilis, and mayor-of-mayors of all towns and cities under Flexibilis, had visited Hijinks was certainly intriguing, but it wasn’t entirely earth-shattering. There was the odd occasion when Tarry came down from high to do business with his uncle, so he tried to just put it out of his mind.

Therefore it was truly regrettable, and entirely unavoidable, that when Olly walked past his uncle’s office while in search of a broom to clean up the constellation of broken glass upstairs, he overheard something that forced him to break his own rule.

“Come on Tarry… It’s what his parents would have wanted,” he heard his uncle wheedling Tarry from behind the just slightly ajar door.

He froze, ears pricked. He knew he should turn around and go back to work. He knew he should forget about it and pretend he didn’t know who his uncle was talking about.

And yet.

He crept closer to the door, avoiding the creaky floorboards. He knew his uncle used them as a security measure to know if potentially unwanted company was eavesdropping on him, but Olly had them memorized. He waited for the response with bated breath.

He heard a heavy sigh. “Eli… You know what kind of position this puts me in, don’t you?”

“Sure do, but I need this. He needs this,” he heard Uncle Eli respond, sounding somewhat grave.

His mind was screaming at him to turn around, and that he could always ask his uncle about it later, but his feet were firmly planted in place. Uncle Eli was never serious. About anything. He usually presented a youthful and easy-going demeanor. If he weren’t the only parental figure Olly had in his life he would have considered him to be more of a friend than a guardian.

There was a groan of wood as if someone had slumped backward into their chair.

“You’ve read the news, yes? This is unusually disadvantageous of you. I’m dealing with a shit storm, the Guildmasters are at each other’s throats and mine. I can’t imagine you having worse timing. Before I say yes, I have to ask, why specifically now?”

“Would my answer change your decision?” Olly could hear the return of a coy smile to his uncle’s voice.

“Ah… Well… No. I do owe you a favour, though I’m surprised you would choose something so foolhardy and outlandish. But you do realize this is akin to throwing it away? My sphere of influence only extends so far,” Tarry explained nervously.

“You do your thing, I’ll worry about the rest. So is that a yes?”

“It’s… Well, yes, of course. I suppose I don’t have a choice. But again, why now?”

“Let’s just call it a hunch, I think the timing could work. And don’t worry, we won’t publicly advertise your endorsement,” Uncle Eli responded smoothly, “Or we’ll call it outreach, it can be a feel-good story for you in the next election cycle.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing with whatever you’ve got up your sleeve. I have never in all my years as mayor ever seen them turn on each other like this, it will surely bleed into selection day.”

“I’ve never given you any reason to doubt me before, Tarry. Trust me, I won’t do anything to compromise our relationship. Besides, I have no doubt you’ll come out on top.”

“It’s not me I’m worried about Eli, it’s him. Surely you know what you’re putting the poor boy up to? The Guilds may never be what they once were. If he’s successful it won’t be like bygone days. Conductors won’t be as revered as they used to be, certainly not after this.”

“I didn’t want him to be a Conductor anyway. Too flashy, too visible,” Eli said noncommittally, and this seemed to shock Tarry as much as it did Olly.

“Not a Conductor… Then what…?”

“A Cartographer.”

“A… Cartographer… Good lord, are you sure?” Tarry asked incredulously. “Has he ever expressed interest in being a Cartographer? You know as well as I do how stuffy and pretentious their type is, Olly just… isn’t that. Their selection criteria are the highest of the Guilds, without a lot of dedication and, let's be honest, pedigree, there just isn’t a chance.”

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“He’s interested, he just doesn’t know it yet. Once he gets a bit of training and understands the career a bit better he’ll see how perfect it would be for him. They need fresh blood, he’s a smart kid. He can handle it, I have faith in him,” Eli said nonchalantly.

“I don’t think blind faith is enough, unfortunately. But I wish you luck in this scheme, whatever it is. My advisors have little faith in most things these days, let alone the Guilds coming out of this unscathed.”

Olly moved ever so slightly, just enough to peer through the crack of the door, obscured by shadows. He could see his uncle leaning back in his chair, staring at the ceiling with hands folded across his lap. The loud pattern of his suit clashed with Tarry’s more somber navy blue.

“Well, I’ll take their word for it,” Eli stated matter-of-factly, placing a cigarette on his lips and reaching for his polished silver lighter, “I always put stock in their vast and infinite knowledge.”

“There’s no ruffling you, is there?”

Eli took a drag and slowly exhaled. “I’ve been advising you a lot longer than those buffoons you call counsel. I guess you have to keep them around for show though.” He offered his box of cigarettes to Tarry who shook his head.

“Sometimes I think you should be in charge, you’d be better suited for it,” Tarry said, sounding bemused, as he got up to take his leave.

“We both know I’m better down here. So I’ll see your endorsement on his application to join the Cartographer’s Guild?”

“Of course, you have my word. Please wish him the best of luck, I hope this is what he wants. Can I take the discrete route through the back door, just in case there was anyone following me that I missed?”

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Safe travels,” Eli said as he hit a switch, triggering a wall panel that opened into a dark, hidden hallway. Tarry disappeared into it moments later and Eli closed it behind him, facing toward the now-closed panel.

Olly’s heart was beating out of his chest, he turned quietly to flee before his uncle could turn back around and detect him.

“Leaving so soon?” Uncle Eli called.

Fuck. He grimaced and turned shamefully to face his uncle.

Eli hadn’t even turned around. He always knew. How did the bastard always know?

Olly entered the office, mentally cursing himself. His uncle turned to face him finally. He never quite could pull off serious, there was always a shadow of humour dancing behind his eyes, but he did appear to be giving it his best attempt with a furrowed brow.

“Sit,” Eli ordered, but not harshly.

Olly obliged and took a seat, folding his hands in front of him and staring at them.

“How much did you hear?” Eli asked nonchalantly, pulling another cigarette out of his pouch and lighting it.

“What would my parents have wanted?” Olly responded with the question that had been burning in his mind.

Eli cocked his head, appearing thoughtful as he pondered the question. He took a long drag and exhaled behind his shoulder before responding. “A better life no doubt. Do you think they wanted this?” He gestured around him.

Olly deflated slightly; his uncle had just been cajoling the mayor, he hadn’t been speaking sincerely. And Olly wouldn’t know, he hadn’t known them. The idea of learning something about them was what drew him into eavesdropping in the first place. All he knew was living with Uncle Eli and working in the games room.

Eli stubbed his cigarette into a nearby ashtray. “They wouldn’t have, in case that wasn’t obvious. And I think you could do better. Tarry owed me a favour so I decided to cash it in. It’s a lot to take in, I know. But I do believe you’ll thank me one day. Becoming a Cartographer is a huge honour, you’d be well taken care of.”

Olly was confused. Uncle Eli never struck Olly as someone who valued the academic prestige a Cartographer demanded, nor had he ever indicated any prior desire to have Olly become one. Furthermore, for his uncle to go out on a limb and get a recommendation from the mayor to support this initiative with zero preparation was nothing short of unusual. Sure, he attended classes regularly with the other kids in the borough, but he had never been marked as someone destined for higher education. He assumed he’d finish his senior classes at eighteen and begin full-time work with his uncle.

“I don’t understand, why do you want me to become a Cartographer?” Olly questioned suspiciously.

Eli shrugged. “Is it wrong of me to want to invest in your future?”

“What are you playing at?” Olly asked suspiciously.

“Nothing! I just think you’d be well suited for it.” Eli threw his hands up, innocently.

“I think you’re lying, something is up and if you’re going to gamble with my future I’d like to know about it,” Olly challenged, pressing the matter.

“Think whatever you’d like, the fact is that this is a grand opportunity for you, and if you don’t get on board quickly you’re going to see it evaporate before your eyes.”

“What about the aptitude test? Selection day is only a few months away. I’m not exactly their type, as Tarry pointed out. If I don’t get in, then what?”

“I believe in you, you’ll find a way to succeed. You always do.”

“That seems a little like a threat,” Olly said suspiciously.

Eli sighed, putting his palms face down on the table patiently. “Look. I know you like it here, I just feel like there’s more for you out there. You can do better than wasting away in a games room in the sixteenth borough.”

His candor stunned Olly. He had never spoken disparagingly of his life here, or Hijinks.

“But what if I fail?” Olly insisted after a moment.

“Then you’re always welcome back here.” His uncle’s usual boyish mirth, though muted reappeared for a moment. “But I won’t accept anything less than your best shot. Do not waste this opportunity or the strings I’ve pulled.”