Hard Bound, page 3
Fiona nodded and finished getting dressed. It was a consideration she hadn’t thought of, more used to slipping through shadows than trying to blend in with others. “There, do I do you justice?”
Gaili furrowed her brow, golden skin crinkled around her eyes. “Of course, Fiona. I’m just assisting you. There’s no need to make me happy.”
“You have the oddest view of yourself. Don’t think we’ve finished our conversation from earlier. It’s most appropriate that this be the start of our trial run working together.” Fiona tied her scarf around her hair to act as a veil. While it wasn’t entirely fashionable with Gaili’s loan, she couldn’t leave it behind. It was like a third hand to her at this point. Its rough cotton and smooth silk patches pooled over her hair and across her shoulders. Its secrets were held safely in its various unfathomably deep pockets. She always wondered which page the pockets all went to but so far had been unsuccessful in mapping them. But to a page she was sure, having been told as much when gifted. It was one of a kind, given to her by her father, the only authority figure she had ever really trusted, and though she didn’t understand all of its depths, she cherished it nonetheless.
Gaili nodded her approval (which shocked Fiona to a small degree) and the pair went downstairs, Fiona moving slowly as she reacquainted herself with all the clothing layers.
Elinor was staring out the hazy window. She glanced at the two. “You are able to be prepared on the fly, I must say. I am impressed.”
“One should always have what they need to fit the situation in my line of work,” said Fiona. “Of course, having a faekin partner doesn’t hurt for this particular case either.”
Elinor raised an eyebrow at Gaili, assessing her. Fiona noticed her eyes grow bright, but Gaili’s sigh drew her attention.
Gaili began wringing her hands again, but Fiona grabbed one and tugged her toward the door. “We’ll need to catch the closest carriage. If we’re going to get back before this evening, we should go now.” Fiona tossed open the office door, and they strode out into the brightly lit landing and down the cobblestone street. Fiona was relieved to see her friendly but somewhat gossipy neighbor Mistress Didia Humbledraft wasn’t outdoors today. The better to not see her in this getup and tease her.
Quite a few people already stood at the carriage stand. It was a full ride in the large open-air carriage as they all piled in. While the body of the wooden carriage could accommodate all types in the Book, it was still a squeeze when you crammed five or six people in it. Elinor chose to ride with the driver for a bit until there was more space inside.
Once past the market district, its enticing sounds and smells surrounding the carriage as they stopped and let people off, Elinor rejoined them, and Fiona began to interview her in earnest: “What exactly has your sister been charged with?”
“Theft and improper entry. From what I’ve been able to gather on my own, they said she snuck into a locked room that she wasn’t supposed to enter. She would never do that.”
“And inside this room was paperwork she supposedly took? Was the paperwork recovered?”
She shook her head. “No. I asked a few of the people she works with, but they were vague. I gathered they were told not to talk about it.”
“How did they determine it was your sister—Orsa, I mean—who may have done it?” Gaili ventured softly from across the carriage.
“They said they found something of hers inside the locked room. I can’t find out what. No one will talk to me about it.”
Fiona pursed her lips and said nothing. It all sounded like bureaucracy for the sake of moving right along. Although there was something that confused her. “If they’ve arrested your sister, are they questioning her or trying to source where the paperwork has gone?”
“She hasn’t talked to anyone beyond the first day, as far as I know. And even I can’t afford a solicitor who could go up against the Seven. If we don’t find evidence that it couldn’t have been her, then I don’t know what we’ll do. At best she’ll be cast out of the region. At worst she’ll be jailed for years. She won’t survive that.”
Gaili tutted, shaking her head. “None of the other six regions will take cast-outs. It’ll be either the icy mountainous Wilds or the nymphs’ isle for her.”
Elinor said nothing but thrust her chin up, angrily staring out into the passing city.
She could start over in another page, like Gaili, but it wouldn’t be easy, especially if she wasn’t a turner. And from what little Fiona knew of the Wilds and the nymphs’ isle, Dew, neither were survivable alone. Dew was a far-off island of steam that most faekin never stepped foot on in their lives. The ruling nymphs, different than their continent cousins, were hostile to outsiders, and as such the island was not under the Order of Seven’s purview. It was unimaginable.
The carriage slowed to a stop and the three disembarked.
Elinor gathered her skirt around her. “This is where I should leave you so that we’re not connected.” She nervously glanced at Fiona. “You’ll be able to find me at 226 Clove Lane, near the travel corridor, at any time. I’m staying with a friend here for now.”
An exclusive place to be. Whoever her lofty friend was had to be taking her back and forth across pages. Fiona nodded. “I’ll see what we can find.” She bit back a suggestion to brace for ill news. Her face must’ve betrayed her though, for Elinor nodded with a grim look before turning to leave.
Fiona watched for a moment, ache seeping in. She never had siblings. The relationship with her parents had been a tug between a warm father and a cold mother. She could barely imagine what having a sister must be like. But she knew what it felt like to be powerless for those you love.
“I hope we can help her,” Gaili whispered, breaking Fiona’s thoughts.
Fiona shivered and tucked her arms into her chest. “Yes, me too.”
They walked toward the tall stone wall; vines splayed upon it as if built into the mortar. Verdant banners trimmed in shimmering copper flew above the wall, lording over the majesty of faekin architecture. Three high arches of bramble and twisted branches gave an uncanny if magical feel to the district entrance, vaulting the walkways but blocking the bright blue sky. The gray cobblestone streets narrowed, blocking off the ability for carriages to stroll through them. This made the darkened streets more intimate and secluded with dots of lit lanterns nestled between buildings and overgrown trees throwing amber light around. It was a spectacular area designed to delight the faekin page turners who were stuck on Spine. A piece of home.
“Perhaps you should let the guard know who you are?” Gaili said as they walked toward the opening.
“No, it would be best if you do the talking,” Fiona countered. “Just the basics of sightseeing and whatnot. Like you take skimmers to the Court on occasion.”
Gaili nodded nervously but had no time to reply as a guard at the middle arch hailed them. The fairy, wings of dandelion and silk fluttering toward them, addressed herself to Gaili, her voice deep and somewhat gruff. “What business have you in the Arches today?”
“Providing passage to a young woman who is engaged to have dinner in the Court,” Gaili replied. Her voice was a little high, but Fiona thought she had spoken quite well, unprepared as she had been.
The fairy flew around examining Gaili and Fiona. Her hands and arms had the same sort of swirls of cream tattoos as other faekin. Though she was a third of Fiona’s height, she stayed above them both, an advantage Fiona could hardly deny her. She came back to Gaili quickly. “I haven’t seen you around before.”
Gaili clasped her hands together. “No, I, er…don’t go home often.”
“So you don’t do this often?” The fairy flew down to investigate Gaili’s uncovered tattoo hands. “You’re in trade.” She narrowed her eyes.
“Y-yes,” Gaili stammered out, “but I’m doing guide work on the side. Crafting doesn’t pay the bills too regularly.”
Her statement rang too true to Fiona’s ears, and she bit back a frown. It was unfortunate there were so many crafters piled in the artisan district. It made it hard for anyone to get good visibility, no matter how great their work was.
“Do you agree to be responsible should she get into trouble within the district?”
“Yes, of course,” Gaili said, starting to wring her hands again.
The fairy flew quite close to the faun. “Do you have proof?”
Thoroughly irritated by the faekin’s use of power to intimidate Gaili, Fiona piped in, “I will not have myself nor my guide lowered to such standards. Providing proof of my manners? Unimaginable. You would do well to watch yourself and those you question.”
The fairy fluttered back, looking her up and down appraisingly.
Fiona arched an eyebrow, doing her best to appear fashionable and formidable like the nobles she’d always hidden from growing up.
With a flutter of wings, the fairy moved aside. “Enjoy the Arches.” Her tone suggested quite the opposite.
Fiona waited a beat until Gaili had walked through before following her, ignoring the fairy. She hadn’t expected this many questions just for entering the district. While the Court had always been heavy handed, this was a bit much. “Well, it’s good you dressed me. I suppose otherwise that would’ve taken even longer.”
“I didn’t realize it would seem odd, but I guess it’s rare that tradespeople act as guides.”
“And that. How did she know you worked in trade? There’s not a dirt mark on you. I would have said so before we left.”
Gaili wiggled her fingers. “My hands of course. Don’t you know how to read faekin marks?”
“Well, no, I’ve never needed to. I thought they were mostly for denoting…er, social achievements or the like?” Fiona frowned. She hadn’t had to think too hard about it. Besides Mac, she hadn’t been close to any faekin before. And Mac didn’t like to talk about her tattoos.
“They’re more than that. Some are for excellence in a field of study, but they are also social markings. Depending on the patterns and placement, you could learn a lot about a faekin.”
“And your tattoos show you’re in trade?”
Gaili nodded and pointed to her knuckles. “This placement does, yes. And these particular swirls tell which region I’m from.”
“Isn’t that a bit…much? I mean if you have it on your hand, then anyone could pigeonhole you into a place.”
“It’s more for the important faekin than us. Most faekin you will ever meet only have these types of tattoos.”
Fiona pursed her lips. “But then if most faekin have tattoos like yours, what are the others?”
“The Seven or academy leaders have them on their face as well. To show their importance.”
“Ah, much like my page uses glittering gold and how close they are allowed to stand by the Queen. The higher the mark, the higher the prestige.”
“Exactly. Of course, they can be changed, but not often and only by a Copper tattooist.”
Fiona linked her arm through Gaili’s. “See, this is exactly why I needed you here.”
The faun kept walking, barely acknowledging Fiona’s statement, but a shy smile crossed Gaili’s face. They ambled through the narrow, twisting streets. Seldom did they pass another person, faekin or other, but when they did, they inclined their head in cordiality, walking as close as they were. Trailing vines of colorful flowers connected building to building, making the Arches feel like strolling through the Queen’s premier garden.
They reached their destination, a sizeable square with wooden benches on the outer border. Here there were no arches and most of the branches had been kept back to give it a clear space. The sky was still light enough that Fiona knew she hadn’t lost too much time trying to get through to their pagemark. A large verdant banner hung from the center of the square. It was stamped with the Court of Copper insignia: an outline of a noble person with high-necked collars and copper crown upon their head. Beneath the insignia was an inked decree:
From Arch to Arch, from Spine to Copper
From dawn till dusk, in and out
Whether rain or shine, we’ll welcome you
As long as you respect what we do
Seek not to spy or steal what our city holds
and we shall not confine you in places yet untold
Signed—the Order of Seven, Keepers of the Court
Dragomir L. of Orchard, Bardo P. of Lucent, Dorin S. of Glade, Cascade of Hearth, Sofia G. of Grove, Olea of Thicket, Clara T. of Garden
Fiona rolled her eyes at the unnecessary pomp of it all. She started to make a witty remark to Gaili but noticed the faun’s eyes were staring wide at the banner. “Dear, what’s wrong?”
“Clara. She’s my—that was my professor.”
“She’s one of the Seven?” Fiona asked. She had assumed Clara would be miles and miles away from where they were going. Gaili wasn’t from the city of arches, Calistino. “Are you sure that’s her?”
Gaili didn’t respond, but she took a step back.
Fiona stopped her. “It’s alright, dear. I promised to protect you. We won’t even see her this late in the day, I’m sure.”
Gaili nodded slowly but still took another step back. “I don’t know… I mean. When did she become one of the Seven? The appointments—it’s not even time.”
“Perhaps we can find that out as well,” Fiona said, not sure exactly what the faun was thinking, but her face said she was working on some sort of process. She grabbed her hand and tried to focus on anything other than the turn of the page. She didn’t want to rush Gaili or accidentally take over the turn so instead focused on the banner, memorizing the names.
Gaili clung tightly to her bookmark, a copper coin, remnant of the page’s past. The sky opened up and the decorated arches folded away from them, as if a reader was turning to the next page. On the other side was almost the same scene that they were in. Instead of the blue-tinted sky of Spine, a twinkling copper one hung overhead, bright like a freshly polished bracelet. Its rose-gold hue draped like a backdrop behind a large open square edged by tall, crowded oak trees. Warm air wafted toward them with hints of a sweet lilac and honey scent. Faekin of all types traveled in the wooded paths on the other side of the trees, and in the distance Fiona could make out a fluttering banner that matched the grassy color of the one with the poem. Music played throughout this idyllic courtyard, and there was chattering and laughter among the hot air that enveloped them like a woolen cloak.
Fiona glanced at Gaili and gave her hand a squeeze, willing her to take the first step forward. The faun did so tentatively with Fiona following behind her. The page shifted to accommodate them, and the briefest sound of the wind from Spine fluttered behind them as the page turned back, as if a reader decided to review the previous page.
Firmly in the Court of Copper now, Fiona let go of Galli’s hand and looked around. She hadn’t been here in some time. Everything seemed to have changed. Or perhaps since she wasn’t a student or a child any longer, things just looked different.
Leaves swirled in the heated breeze cascading across her dress and fluttered down to her boots. They covered the courtyard. The faraway metallic smell of water from the canals was stronger now that she was fully in the page. A troupe of well-dressed centaurs made their way forward through the tree-shaded path, not stopping to see the new arrivals.
“Do we not need to announce ourselves anymore?” Fiona said, glancing about for a booth of some sort like there was when the Travel Guild administered a pagemark.
“It’s a bit more covert than that in Calistino. Since this city is a main entryway for skimmers and guides, those watching blend in with the pagemarks. If you looked like you didn’t belong or you had come across alone, you’d meet someone interested in that fact soon enough.” Gaili glanced around at the trees and strode off down the path away from the courtyard. “The real questions begin when you’re leaving the page.”
Fiona frowned and began walking behind her. The leaves crunched under her feet, mixing with the melody that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. She cast her sight about looking for a creature hidden in plain sight but found nothing. In wonderment at how someone could conceal themselves so well, she quickened her steps to catch up with Gaili, who seemed springier, if possible, on this side.
“I’d like to start by visiting the Seven’s offices first,” Fiona said, picking up her skirts to avoid a sudden mud puddle. “It might prove useful to think of other places we could make inquiries with our few hours here as well.” There was no response. Fiona walked a bit closer, nudging her with her shoulder.
“Oh, sorry.”
“Are you alright?”
“Just thinking about… It doesn’t matter, never mind. I’m sorry. What did you say?”
Fiona thought it best not to delve into the professor right now and instead give Gaili something to do. “Tell me, how do we get to see the Seven’s offices?”
“There are tours of the Pavilion since it’s such a prominent area and skimmers pass through here often. We should be able to catch one.”
“Excellent. We can ask questions of the assembly staff who Orsa may have known.”
Gaili nodded, distracted again. Fiona followed her through the dirt paths that let out through a high wooden arch to the water’s edge. Calistino was well known for its port arches decorated with crawling vines and carved by well-known artists of the page’s past. The arches denoted the few ports that could be accessed from neighboring cities, keeping it a bustling coastal city for trade and ships. Deep copper water brushed its northern edge, making it easy to navigate to, and canals like wriggling fingers poked into the city, giving ample avenues for traveling throughout it on boat. The walking paths were for everyday use, but it wouldn’t be rare to find someone who used both in the common course of their day. It was a good city to keep as a prominent pagemark for the Court of Copper, and those who cared to track such things knew it.
