Akatika's Legacy Page 10

  Chapter 10

  The air was smelled of wildflowers and alcohol with a little hint of smoke in the apothecary shop. It was the only benefit to having the Mantiad come into the shop. Once every so often one would come in needing some coin and want to donate sap to the apothecary. As far as Ivy could tell every one of them was arrogant, rude, and whiny. They would come into the shop looking to sell what the equivalent of their blood and acted like the apothecary was wasting their time.

  Mantiad sap was very highly sought after for its restorative properties and highly illegal if you didn’t have the paperwork and seals notarizing it was taken with consent. It was extremely rare in most places in the kingdom. The Mantiad had to live in places that were wet and moderately cool in the summer. Most of their colonies were in forested areas, given to them by the king and protected by his armies.

  “We caught a trespasser trying to take some of our children.” Mxnm explained to Gertrude.

  “That’s horrible.” Gertrude exclaimed.

  “For us or the trespasser?” Mxnm hissed.

  “For your people of course. I know your people have been treated poorly in the past, but I have never wished anything but the best for you.” Gertrude explained.

  “Only because I come and make you rich. If I didn’t you would not like us so much, I think.” Mxnm said.

  Gertrude glared, “That’s not true and you know it.”

  “He got what was coming to him. If you know what I mean.” The Mantiad stated with a smile.

  Ivy knew trespassers were treated very harshly by the Mantiad. But that’s what happens when your race is hunted to near extinction, she supposed. She didn’t think she would be all that friendly to people skulking around town if she knew that her own blood was worth more than she would make over several years.

  She prepared a poultice and waited while Gertrude filled a phial with the sap. Once filled, she handed the tray with the poultice to Gertrude. Gertrude shook her head.

  “You have watched long enough. You apply it. While I go fetch the coin.” Gertrude instructed.

  “Alright.” Ivy said confidently and began to apply the poultice.

  “You had better do it right, child!” Mxnm snarled.

  “Will do, Mexinum.” Ivy said and regretted it right away. She knew that she had pronounced the name wrong, but seriously what kind of person would have a name so unpronounceable. She supposed it was his parents’ fault but still why give someone such a jumble of letters as a name.

  “What did you call me!” Mxnm shouted.

  Ivy began to blush, “I am so, so sorry. I meant no disrespect, sir.”

  “You should be, I don’t come in here to have this child of a Crewad insult me.” He shouted toward Gertrude.

  “I truly am.” Ivy said as she finished wrapping the Maintiad’s arm.

  Gertrude strode back in hurriedly with seven gold crowns, eager to defuse whatever had happened.

  Mxnm snatched the coins out of Gertrude’s hand shoving them into a leather purse. “Teach the Crewad some manners.” Mxnm hissed and stomped out of the shop.

  “Why is he so mean?” Ivy said as tears formed in her eyes.

  Gertrude looked at the door as it slammed shut. “He despises having to come in and sell his sap to us.”

  “He called me such a fowl name. How could someone say such a vile word.” Ivy whimpered holding tears back.

  “His people consider it an embarrassment to rely on anyone outside their own community.” Gertrude explained.

  “Everyone needs to make a living, why does it matter that he comes here?” Ivy stated.

  “Because selling sap is taboo in their culture. He feels abased by having to do it, so he takes it out on those around him. Now why don’t you forget the whole matter and take the rest of the day off.” Gertrude said as she pushed Ivy out of the room.

  Ivy blotted her eyes with her sleeves as she left the room and headed back to the waiting area. Gabby was sitting right in the middle of the area reading that strange book unaware of anything going on around her. Such as, the strikingly handsome man staring at her on the other side of the room, Ivy noted.

  He was older than they were, with a tiny bit of white starting to show in the raven colored hair at his temples. He didn’t have any wrinkles on his face, and was clean-shaven, with a strong jaw that made him look proud. No, not proud, regal Ivy thought with his pale blue eyes.

  He wore a long jacket very similar to what the king’s army wore, only a few differences in the shape of the collar and cuff. The color wasn’t right either, it was a very dark red almost a brown, the army’s colors were blue and black. The collar of this shirt peaked out over the edge of the jacket also a deep red. Pants were neatly pressed with no wrinkles and boots were shined so bright it was like a mirror.

  Ivy thought that was odd, it was muddy outside. It had rained an hour ago and mud was all over the floor in the waiting room. Yet, his boots didn’t seem to have touched the mud at all. She supposed he could have cleaned them when he came in but who would do such a thing when they were going to have to go out into the muddy road again when they left.

  The man stood and walked over to Ivy and began to speak to her. “Ma’am is the apothecary in? I have some rather pressing business I need to conduct with her.”

  “She is, and whom may I say is calling?” Ivy replied. It was odd for him to do this. The custom was people would wait to be called up and they would speak to her privately. In fact, she was so taken aback by his direct manner she forgot how upset she was.

  “Forgive me. I’m Siliras, Siliras Volgan. She’ll know me, we have had dealings in the past.”

  “I’ll tell her.” Ivy said as she started toward the back. She paused, “Gabby, I need to tell Gertrude this gentleman is here to see her, and then I can leave.”

  A few moments later Ivy came back into the room and spoke to Siliras again. “Gertrude will be out shortly.”

  He nodded and smiled as he sat back down acknowledging he heard her. Gabby stood up at the same time and came to meet Ivy. “Are you alright?” she asked. “You seemed upset before.”

  “Yes, well I am now. The last person was somewhat bullish to me before I came out here.” Ivy sighed and asked, “Did you speak with that Siliras man at all before I came out?”

  “Not really, I was trying to figure out this book. He asked me where I came across it and I told him I got it from a traveling merchant last harvest and was trying to figure out what it was. I figured he was trying to start some small talk or flirt and didn’t want either, so I stared at the book again.” Gabby explained as they began to walk to the door.

  “I don’t think that was it at all Gabby. He was staring at the book as if he was trying to get its attention and not yours. I think he was genuinely interested in the book and not you.”

  “You really think so?” Gabby asked.

  “I’ve seen the look before and it was the same look Lafe gives you, only he was definitely looking at the book.” Ivy teased.

  “I’ll have to be more careful with it then, I wouldn’t want the same thing to happen to Lafe when he sees it. Gabby quipped. “And I don’t want anyone finding out we went to the monastery and got it there.”

  “But in all seriousness Gabby, Siliras is a mage. Gertrude told me when I went back to fetch her. She helps him with potions, magics and the like.” Ivy sounded excited and looked giddy.

  They continued for a few blocks with only their soggy footfalls making noise. The silence abrupted ended with a flurry of words flowing from Ivy. “Think about it, a real live mage, here in our town and visiting our apothecary. I’ve always wanted to meet one.”

  “Why?” Gabby asked.

  “My family, of course, why else?” Ivy explained.

  Ivy stopped in front of the carpenter’s shop they were passing. The gentle tapping of nails and pegs being put into wood sounded faintly in the background. The smell of the fresh cut wood momentarily overpowered the smell of the mud-sludge mixture th
ey stood in. Ivy didn’t like to think of what was causing the other smells with the mud that came right after the first good rain and the cut wood smell helped with that.

  “You know I’m part Kerolian. My father never talks about what it was like living with our people because of what happened when he married my ma. I know Kerolians have mages, lots of them. I wonder what it would be like to do the things they can do.” Ivy said longingly.

  “It would be amazing, wouldn’t it? Imagine lighting a candle in the morning without having to get out of bed.” Gabby mused.

  “Or fly, I hear some of them can fly.” Ivy added.

  “What are you two doing here?” The warm familiar voice of Lafe called from in the carpenter’s shop.

  Gabby and Ivy spun and looked into the alley beside the shop to see Lafe leading an empty wagon from the alleyway. He looked exhausted as if he hadn’t slept in days. He also smelled as if he hadn’t washed in days, not even the smell of the cut lumber could cover the smell of him. Ivy hated strong pungent smells, its why she avoided most cheeses, but unwashed bodies had to be the worst. She smiled anyway; the confused look Lafe gave her in return must have meant her crinkled nose made it look like she was sneering at him.

  “Uh, hello…” Lafe said, unsure of the look Ivy was giving him.

  “Hello Lafe, you look like you have been sleeping out of doors.” Ivy replied.

  “Nope, I was up all day yesterday, then all night and all day today.” Lafe offered.

  “Ivy is too kind to tell you this, my little woodchuck, you smell of horse and need to wash.” Gabby interjected.

  “It’s good to see you as well Gabby. If you must protest, know that I smell this way for you. It’s to make sure all the other maidens are kept far away.” Lafe quipped. “Remember the rare tree we found. I spent the day cutting it down and the night hauling it back. I finished getting the tally and payment from selling the lumber. The yard couldn’t give me a fair price for it until the owner got in. Stacy's eyes got so wide that they about fell out. It was worth much more than I thought, and he had to get a bank note.”

  “So, you're handsome and rich now? I truly am the luckiest girl in town.” Gabby beamed.

  “Pretty much. I am heading over to the land warden’s office right now. We will be part of the Third Caste when we make our covenant.” Lafe couldn’t keep the excitement out of his voice as he spoke. He had achieved his goal; he could provide the life that Gabby deserved after their marriage and he was rich. They would never want for anything.

  “Lafe…” Ivy said clearing her throat. “You should wash before going to one of the Lord Clint’s representatives. They’re likely to turn you away smelling and looking like you do.”

  Lafe attempted to hug Gabby as he walked away but she stopped him seeing the look in his eyes. The look on his face didn’t say I love you and want to hug you, but more of; I hope you smell like I do for not defending me. So, he smiled and walked away with his mules and cart in tow.

  “If I were magical, POOF! His smell would be gone.” Gabby teased.

  Ivy looked off into the distance and they started walking again sloshing through the mud. Dodging puddles and weaving through the mid-day foot traffic. They finished the walk back to Ivy’s house in companionable silence. Once in the sitting room, the conversation started again.

  “I think I’m going to talk with my father about mages and the like.” Ivy said.

  Gabby looked down at the book in her lap, “You think that is the best idea? We want to keep the book secret and we may have to tell him about this.”

  “I know but he is very proud of his family. I’ll ask him about our genealogy.” Ivy’s face shown with a rare smug smile. “I’ll tell him Gertrude has me looking into diseases that are passed down in families.”

  “What do you mean passed down? How can a person pass down a disease, it's not like a favorite dress or silverware?” Gabby said with a truly puzzled look.

  “Gertrude says that things like fathers having weak constitutions or faltering hearts can be given to their sons, or mother’s that loose babies can be given to their daughters. The Mantiad pass down memories, Gertrude explained to me. I don’t really understand it and she can’t explain it very well. She just tells me; when you're as old as I am, you’ll see patterns too.”

  “You know your father best, tell me everything after you ask. I want to talk with you about something else though.” It was an abrupt transition, but Gabby had an import question and plans to go over.

  As if they had summoned him Sinvear Faeryda walked into the room. Ivy’s father was an intimidating figure with harsh angular features. Even standing as straight as she could, Gabby could only ever hope to have her head reach the center of his chest. This was a testament to his race, every one of them was tall and slender. Kerolian had a reputation to be nimble and Sinvear was a perfect specimen of tall lean muscle.

  His angular features always seemed to make him look like he could see through you. Perhaps it was his golden eyes, they weren’t uncommon for his people but with so few in Gibron they were rare here. It made them mesmerizing when you were on his good side and menacing when you were on his bad side.

  “Hello, Father.” Ivy beamed.

  “Hello, my little forest gem.” Sinvear responded smiling at the two of them. His voice was rich and deep, similar to the echo of thunder in the distance. “What are the two of you up to today?”

  “Gertrude let me off early to spend some time with Gabby.” Ivy answered.

  Sinvear looked puzzled; “Why is that? I thought she wanted you as a serious apprentice.”

  “Father, I am a serious apprentice, it’s just a Mantiad came in to sell sap and raged at me for mispronouncing his name. She felt I had endured enough today that’s all.” Ivy explained.

  “You don’t look any worse for wear. Couldn’t have been that bad.” He replied and turned his gaze to Gabby.

  Gabby felt uncomfortable whenever he looked at her. It was strange knowing that he was Ivy’s father and yet looked almost the same age as she did. To be honest it was almost impossible to guess his age. His dark golden hair lacked any white whatsoever, which was in contrast to Ivy’s mother which was mostly white with some stands of dark brown still holding out. Side by side he looked more like Ivy’s brother than a man forty years her senior, and certainly not her father.

  “She was horribly shaken up by it, nearly in a fit sir, but when she found out that there was a mage in visiting Gertrude she forgot about the whole ordeal.” Gabby admitted.

  Sinvear looked genuinely surprised by the statement. Either he didn’t know the delicate nature of his ‘forest gem’ or a mage being in town was new to him. Mages weren’t uncommon by any means, in other places. Gibron however never had anything remotely as interesting as a mage, not even an initiate heading off to one of the colleges. As the sub-commander of the guard, he usually knew everything of note in the town, so it was strange to see him so taken aback.

  “A mage you say, tell me what he looked like?” Sinvear quarried.

  Ivy tilted her head to the side for a moment and gave a detailed description, including everything he had been wearing and the way mud failed to cling to his boots or clothes. Her father had drilled into her the importance of being able to recall exact details no matter how seemingly insignificant they were.

  Sinvear stood there, his eyes shifting from side to side as if he were looking for something. He tilted his head the same way that Ivy did and looked right at Gabby. What Gabby was holding was what caught his eye. “Is that the book you were holding Gabby?”

  “Uh, yes sir.” Gabby said trying futilely to hide the cover of the book in her small hand.

  Sinvear held out his hand and moved across the room to position himself in front of Gabby “May I see it?”

  Gabby sighed and held out the book to Sinvear. “Here, I don’t know why everyone is so interested in it. It’s some old book that I found at a traveling peddler’s cart a few turnings ago. There aren�
�t many words in the confounded thing to read mostly drawings and lines.” Gabby explained.

  “Do you know what this is? Did the mage tell you anything about it or why he was staring at it?” Sinvear questioned.

  “No, I thought he was trying to make conversation or trying to flirt with me.” Gabby answered hastily. She was uncomfortable talking about the true origins of the book and this man’s job was to find out information that was hidden. His eyes were full of intensity and tone made the questions more of an interrogation than mere curiosity.

  Sinvear opened the volume and began to look through it. “I’ve seen these types of books before, but not one this old or detailed.” He noted while flipping through the pages. A few moments later he handed the book back. “This is a Tomus Arcanum or section of mysterious knowledge in the common. Mages create them and use them to study and prepare their magic.”