Harvey’s General store was located much closer to the river bank than Lucky Snips and it often saw a greater range of clientele than Reema’s little tailor shop.
Edan enjoyed the early evening walk down the cobblestone streets. The smell of salt hung in the air and the sun setting slowly behind the buildings in the West created long shadows. There was a slight chill in the air and Edan took a deep steading breath.
The crowd was picking up along the road. Those heading home from work mixed with those setting up for the evening market. Scribe lights on strings stretched across the streets in a zig-zag pattern, their soft twinkle getting ready to compete with the stars that would be out tonight, judging by the clear sky.
Portable stalls were being set up along the sidewalk as the last carts trundled down the road, their wheels creaking. Stall owners called to each other cheerfully, often teasingly.
A burly man wearing a leather apron with thick forearms and more hair on his chin than his head heaved a barrel as large as he was onto a table made of crates. The wood groaned though the man showed no struggle controlling the weight. With practiced ease, the man tapped the barrel and poured out a jug of frothy ale. Cheers sounded out and several people began lining up.
Edan moved to the side, avoiding a group wearing the gray and blacks of the Reforged Sect. They were a tough-looking foursome, each wore a stern look or scowl and they walked with the easy confidence often seen with the powerful. Or the foolish.
It was rare to see Sect members around this side of the river. They preferred to stick to the more civilized ‘Western banks’ or their Islets. Each Sect had its own, except for the Bright Petal Sect and the World Union which were small enough that they shared an Islet furthest from the Academy and located more East than the rest.
Division within division Edan thought to himself as he let the group pass. The faint smell of smoke and metal hung in the air at their passing.
Edan fought back a shiver. He had heard rumors of the Reforge Sect, and few were good.
It was almost fully dark by the time Edan reached the brightly lit exterior of Harvey’s. A large wooden sign bracketed in copper had the words ‘Harvey’s General Goods’ carved into the surface. The storefront was painted egg white with green trim on the windowsills and door frame. The frosted glass windows let the light from within shine out in little orange squares but hid the detail of what lay beyond.
There was a barely perceptible chime as Edan entered. The interior of the store was a mass of shelves and crates with everything imaginable on every surface available. Closest to the door was a shelf laden with metal springs and prongs and what could have been a lid, but just as easily a throwing weapon. A crate rested next to the shelf, wooden handles sticking out. There was a sign leaning against the crate that said:
Lucky Draw!
Grab a handle, and try your luck!
No takebacks. We know which one you picked.
Trust us, we know!
1 Silver Star Per Draw
Further down the aisle was a shelf of bioluminescent jars. The glows were muted in the bright store lights but Edan had spent enough time in the store after hours to know that when the lights turned down those jars would cast a rainbow hue across the whole isle. To this day, he still couldn't figure out what they were.
That was how Harvey’s General Store worked. If you found something you wanted, you were welcome to purchase it. But Harvey wouldn’t tell you what something did if you didn’t already know. He also purchased just about anything you could sell, though the same rules applied.
You could sell him something worth 1 copper token for a silver, or something worth a gold token for a copper. He wouldn’t tell you what you sold, or how much it was worth. If the price was right he'd take it.
Most preferred to go through the Merchant Guild, but in a City as large and as bustling as Stratta, there were always those looking to offload something they hadn’t come by honestly. Something they didn’t want people asking too many questions about.
There was a counter at the back of the store. A slab of polished wood that matched the walls. Sitting in a chair behind the counter was a tall, slim man with bright white hair tied in a long tail down the nape of his neck. Light blue eyes regarded Edan from behind spectacles as he walked down the aisle.
“How are you, Master Mawe?” Harvey called out, his voice strong and smooth despite his age.
“As well as one can hope, on a day such as today, Master Harvey,” Edan said back, doing his best to match the man's solemn tone. "And yourself?"
It earned him a smile as Harvey stood. Harvey held out his hand, grasping Edans wrist. Edan had to look up to match the taller man's gaze, but he didn’t mind. He had been looking up at Harvey ever since he was a kid, now at seventeen years of age, it would have been more uncomfortable if he didn’t.
“You’ll be ready for high society soon, with those manners.” Harvey teased gently. “Though I have a feeling high society would not be ready for you.”
Edan laughed at the thought. He may be going to the Academy in the hopes of getting a Sect Sponsorship, but the thought of mingling with them still sounded like a joke.
“I imagine you are here for payment?”
“Yup,” Edan nodded before looking off to the side where a door stood. “Want to wait till we’re out back?”
“No need. The hour draws late and the customers few. I may close up for the night.” Harvey’s blue eyes seemed to glow as he looked out across his store. The lights dimmed and shutters closed over the windows. There was a solid thunk as the locks were thrown closed on the front door. “There. Privacy can once more be had here. Now please, tell me what you learnt.”
“No Cassie?” Edan asked, looking around.
A small smile played across the corners of Harvey’s lips as he watched the boy, a young man really, try to hide his hope.
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“She mentioned something about friends and the night market.”
“Oh, ok…yeah! So last night. I followed that crew like you asked. The ones that got off the barge by the Warefair dock. They picked up something from a man who was waiting there and then left. They weren’t wearing any badges but moved like they were Sect.”
Harvey leaned forward, his fingers steepling together as he regarded Edan across the counter.
“Please explain.”
Edan shrugged. “It’s hard to explain. It’s like…a pack? They all follow the leader and it's always really obvious who's in charge, it's the one in front.” Edan laughed self-consciously. “I'm not explaining it very well, but you know what I mean.”
Harvey nodded.
“I do. A strict power structure is common in all Sects. Perhaps it is from their martial paths where might makes right. Guild groups tend to lean more towards experience than raw power. Knowledge of Profession.” Harvey smiled at Edan. “It’s good you notice these things, even if you can’t explain them. I’m proud of you.”
Edan ducked his head in embarrassment. Harvey always took the time to teach him and was always quick to praise him. It was a stark contrast to a teacher like Mrs. Cinnaburn.
“So they traveled down the Rutters Lane. Kept to themselves as far as I could see. I kept my distance, like I promised, and they didn’t notice me. I was just another loitering kid.”
“Did they enter any stores? Stop at any one place for longer than the rest? Anything at all?”
“Nah, they kept to the roads, and themselves. Didn’t stop and didn’t talk to anyone. They switched over to the Wilding Road and followed that out of town. Well almost out to town. There’s an old ruin right at the fringe. I think it used to be an old tower or something but a beast wave must have taken it out. They went into the ruin. I watched for a while but they didn’t come out.”
“Grain silos.” Harvey corrected. “Same shape, so it’s an easy mistake. You didn’t try to get a closer look?”
Edan shook his head. “There’s a lot of open space between where I was hiding and the…silo? Didn’t seem worth the risk.”
Harvey let out a low chuckle, nodding in approval.
“Reema has taught you well, and I’m glad to see Sanik’s reckless nature hasn’t rubbed off on you.”
“Got into a fight in school today.”
“Hasn’t completely rubbed off on you.” Harvey corrected himself quickly.
They shared a laugh before Harvey turned his hand over. He was holding five Silver Star Tokens.
“As promised, your payment. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I’m sure the late nights don’t make classes any easier.”
Edan shrugged, scooping his payment up and adding the coins to his pocket.
“I don’t mind. I could use the money, and Mum and Dad don’t let me go on jobs with them, so at least this way I get to practice some of what they teach.” Edan prepared to leave. “Speaking of parents, I better head off. Mum’s making a family dinner. Do you want to come? I know she won't mind.”
Harvey waved him off, the sound of the lock on the door turning accompanied the movement.
“Your mother has invited Cassie and I, to your birthday next week. I’m sure I’ll have more than my fill of her food then.”
“Alrighty. If there’s no other jobs?” Edan asked hopefully.
“Come back in a few days, Master Mawe, and I’m sure I’ll have something for you then.”
“Then by your leave Master Harvey,” Edan swept what he hoped was an elegant bow “I shall bid you a fond farewell.”
Darkness had arrived in full force when Edan stepped out of Harvey’s General Goods. The lamp posts, with their large scribed stones, cast golden halos of light between the inky darkness. Overhead stars twinkled and Edan turned towards the moon.
Imposed in front of it, the orb of pale light acting as a background, floated a gigantic castle on top of a broken island of jagged rocks. Edan could make out the silhouette of the castle towers against the brilliance of the moon. So large was the building, and so close to the moon, that all of Terra lay in its shadow, the nights darker than they had been before integration.
Or at least that's what history lessons had taught Edan.
As Edan walked through the festive streets, the cheering crowds and happy laughter did more to banish the heavy night than the overhead lights. Not wasting time, Edan hurried home.
He used the side entrance. It was a short gate, set into the side of the building's fence, that led to the backyard.
The workshop's backdoor opened silently as he turned the lock, slipping his key back into his pocket. The room lay in darkness, the only illumination coming from the light cast down the stairs from above. Stepping gingerly, Edan navigated his way through the mess, nearly tripping when he stepped on something round that rolled out from beneath his feet.
The stairs creaked under his steps and the murmurs from above cut off abruptly. Edan was about to call out when Saniks face popped into view, looking down at him.
“Just me,” Edan said anyway, giving his adoptive father a wave.
“Phew,” Sanik sighed theatrically. “Thought we were getting robbed.”
Then he roared with laughter before retreating back into the living room. Edan took the last couple of stairs, shaking his head at Sanik's joke.
“Honey, you do realize you’re the only one who finds that joke funny?” Reema called from the kitchen.
“It’s funny!” Sanik insisted. “Robbers being robbed. Ha!”
“Ignore your father,” Reema said to Edan as she turned back to the stove. A pot bubbled merrily on the heat, the smell of meat and herbs filling the living room and setting Edan's stomach rumbling. “He’s meant to be setting the table.”
“How was Harvey, son?”
Edan moved past Sanik as he settled spoons next to the table mats.
“He’s alright,” Edan answered Sanik, though Reema nodded as well at the update. “He mentioned coming around for my birthday next week.”
“And Cassie?” Reema asked with a small smile. “Give these a wash, would you?”
Letting the cold spray of the tap blast against the lettuce, Edan tried to hide his blush. Reema picked up on it instantly and her smile turned knowing. Sanik, for his part, let out a quiet chuckle.
Lucky for Edan, dinner didn’t take much longer to prepare, sparing him from further teasing. Sanik had finished setting the table before giving his wife a kiss on her brow and waiting for praise. Reema had rolled her eyes and thanked him for his hard work.
Dinner wasn’t a fancy affair. It was a thick, meaty stew, rich with herbs and spices. Reema had pulled a loaf of bread out of the oven and each of them got a thick piece to mop up the stew with. The lettuce had been tossed with a few tomatoes and dressing for a simple salad that helped cut the heat from the meat.
The small family didn’t discuss much while they ate, instead, they consumed their food in comfortable silence. Occasionally one of them would mention something about the day or make a quick comment, but nothing of real importance was discussed.
Reema pushed her plate away first and watched Sanik and Edan continue to eat. Her husband was trying to steal a chunk of meat from Edan’s bowl while the smaller boy was trying to defend it.
“Mum, Dad’s trying to steal my food!” Edan taddled, tired of defending his food and ready to bring in the big boss.
“Snitch!” Sanik hissed before turning to his wife with a, hopefully, charming smile.
Reema just smiled, her brown eyes warm as she regarded the two people who made up her world.
She still remembered when Tyrian had first come to them to look after his son. Edan had been six years old.
The bell over the door had chimed and Tyrian had ducked into the store, Edan on his shoulders, his father's hair grasped in his little fists for handholds.
Reema remembered the tears, and the anger, and the fear. The late nights as the little boy cried himself to sleep missing his parents.
For eleven years she and Sanik had looked after Edan. Eleven years that had watched him grow.
He was theirs and she was proud of how far he had come.