Storm Glass (26 page)

  I fed the horses a bucket of grain and checked their water buckets. Satisfied all was well, I slipped through the gate and fumbled with the latch, muttering under my breath over the complex catch.

  Without warning, an arm snaked around my neck. “Cry!” I yelled as the arm locked tight, pressing against my windpipe.

17

RUSALKA’S LOUD SQUEAL
pierced the air. The pressure on my neck eased a bit. I shifted my hips to the left and rammed my right elbow into the man holding me. Then I stomped on his foot. He yelped and released me. I spun and stopped.

  “Ulrick! What are you doing here?”

  He rubbed his stomach, glaring. “Changed my mind.” He huffed. “Thought you might-hey!”

  The tip of Leif’s sword jabbed Ulrick’s arm. “Step away from her,” he ordered. Although he was shorter than Ulrick by a good foot, Leif’s fierce countenance and powerful build made an impression. Ulrick hurried to comply.

  I waved Leif off. “It’s okay. I know him.” Rounding on Ulrick, I demanded, “Why did you attack me?”

  “To prove a point.”

  I waited.

  “You were out here all by yourself. An easy target…or so I thought.” He looked behind me. The others had come outside. Woken by Rusalka’s warning, they clutched stones. “Still, if I had a dagger, I could have stabbed you before you said a word.”

  “Do the horses know him?” Leif asked.

  Quartz did; Ulrick had been at the stables with me many times. “Yes. Why?”

  “He wouldn’t have gotten close to you if he was a stranger. The horses would have warned you.” Leif studied Ulrick. “Didn’t think I could protect Opal?”

  “I didn’t know who was with her. I just thought one more person couldn’t hurt and I wanted to help with ordering the kiln.”

  I introduced him to Leif.

  Ulrick’s surprise turned contemplative. “The Soulfinder’s brother?”

  Leif huffed in annoyance. “Yep, that’s me-The Soulfinder’s Brother. Opal forgot to use my
new
name. I’m sure if he knew I was The Soulfinder’s Brother, he wouldn’t have worried about you. After all, Leif Zaltana isn’t anybody of consequence.” He kept muttering as he returned to the shelter to make breakfast.

  “Is he truly angry at me, or just being sarcastic?” Ulrick asked.

  “Probably both.”

  “Great.”

  “He’ll get over it. It’s hard having a famous sibling, and being judged by others based on that relationship. I grew up being Mara’s Younger Sister. No one knew my name. In fact, when we met in your mother’s factory-”

  Ulrick groaned. “I immediately associated you with Mara. I’m sorry. I should know better-my mother and sister are famous. No matter what the rest of my siblings and I crafted with glass, it was always compared with our mother’s. I’ll apologize to Leif.”

  “Good idea. Now what about your promise never to return to Booruby?”

  “I’m still not visiting my family, but I wanted to help. There’s nothing more to do and Aydan is quite content with his new assistant.”

  I looked around. “How did you get here? Do you have a horse?”

  He ducked his head, and stuttered with guilt and chagrin. “I…uh…borrowed a horse from the Keep’s stables.”

  “Borrowed?”

  “He was one of the extras who hadn’t been claimed by a student. I left a note for Stable Master.”

  “A note!”

  “It was late; I didn’t want to wake him.” The excuse was weak.

  I laughed. “Didn’t want to face him is more like it.”

  “That, too.”

  “So where is he?”

  “I tied him to a bush over that rise.” Ulrick pointed down the road. “I figured you stopped here, but I wanted to check your defenses before bringing him here. I’d better go get him.”

  When Ulrick led the horse over the rise, I almost fainted. The all-black stallion had an unmistakable white moon on his forehead-Moonlight.

  “There’s a reason no one claimed Moonlight,” I said, as Ulrick removed the saddle.

  “Perfect name. He’s quick and intelligent. A Sandseed breed, I believe.” He patted the horse’s neck.

  “Don’t you want to know why?”

  “I’m afraid of the answer.” His flippant response lacked conviction.

  “You should be.”

  “Come on, get it over with. You’re dying to tell me-I can see in your eyes. You want revenge for my mock attack.”

  “I’m not
that
vindictive.”

  “Now you’re scaring me.”

  “Good. Because Moonlight was going to be a gift to Commander Ambrose of Ixia. Our relationship with Ixia has improved thanks to Liaison Yelena, and the Sitian Council wanted to make a gesture of goodwill.”

  All color faded from Ulrick’s cheeks. “I’m in…”

  “Deep shit?”

  “Yes.”

  Ulrick failed to follow my suggestion to return the horse as soon as possible. He insisted on accompanying us to Booruby. Leif’s cold shoulder toward Ulrick melted when he apologized. Also, Ulrick’s ability to make travel rations flavorful won him Leif’s good approval.

  After traveling all day, we stopped and made camp along the road.

  “We made such a racket last night,” Leif said, “it’s best we avoid the shelters.”

  Cornstalk stubble lined the harvested field and worked well as kindling. We sat around the campfire and talked about sisters. Ulrick had two, one older and one younger than him. I grew up with two older sisters, and Leif had Yelena, who was kidnapped when she was six years old and returned home five years ago after a fourteen-year absence.

  “She made up for the lost time,” Leif said. “We blew through all those years of sibling rivalry in two seasons.” He laughed. “Probably a good thing she wasn’t with me when I was growing up. I never would have lived to see age twenty. Since she’s been back, I’ve been bait to an amorous necklace snake, kept under house arrest in the Commander’s castle, squeezed through a tunnel too small for me and paralyzed with Curare! And do you know what the kicker is?”

  “She’s still dragging you along on missions and endangering your life?” I guessed.

  “That, too. But
she’s
the one who gets all the attention. I was at the Warper Battle and helped defeat the Daviian Vermin, but does anyone remember that? No! They remember Yelena diving into the fire, sacrificing herself to defeat the Fire Warper.”

  “You have to admit, that was pretty big,” Ulrick said.

  Leif grumbled halfheartedly. “Well, I have a scar.” He showed us a four-inch healed slash along his forearm.

  “We know the significant role you played in the battle,” I said. “Don’t forget you’ve already caught one person’s attention and admiration. And she’s a hard one to impress.”

  “True.” Leif beamed. “Only three more days until I see her again.”

  Ulrick ahhed in understanding as he made the connection. “Mara.”

  I waited for his jealousy or for a longing and wistful look. My sister had not only been gifted with beauty, but she was a sweetheart, too. Kindness, concern for others and intelligence, she had it all.

  His demeanor remained pleasant. “Lucky man. Every guy in Booruby has a crush on her.”

  “Including you?” I asked, unable to stop myself.

  “I was in school with her, but she had no interest in any of us.” He considered. “I probably did have a crush for her back then, but not now.” Ulrick watched me.

  “Good,” Leif said into the lengthening silence. “Cause I’d hate to sic my sister on you. She’s a better fighter than me.”

  We laughed.

  “And I bet she lets you know it, too,” Ulrick said. Then his smile faded. “My younger sister crafts magnificent sculptures from glass. Sitian Councillors were commissioning pieces from Gressa before she was fifteen. She has her own shop in Moon Clan lands now. But it was hard to be proud of her when she flaunted it every chance she got. Especially when my own pieces fell far short of our mother’s expectations.”

  “I understand that feeling. My glass animals looked crude in comparison to my sister Tula’s. She had a finer hand.”

  “But look at you now.” Ulrick gestured. “Tula’s animals might be sought by collectors, and Mara sought for her beauty, but you’re a famous glass magician. Your name is said after Yelena’s when people discuss the Warper Battle, no offense, Leif.”

  “None taken,” Leif said.

  “Opal, your animals provide a service to all of Sitia. You’re important.” Ulrick raked a hand through his hair. “When my younger sister was born, she was the baby of the family. Everyone doted on her and I was ignored unless I managed to annoy one of my siblings or my parents.” His lips formed a rueful smile. “At least I was good at being a pest.”

  I rubbed my neck, thinking of his surprise attack. “You’re still good,” I teased.

  He cried out in mock indignation and pushed me gently on the shoulder.

  “Don’t knock the power of a pest,” Leif said. “Persistence and stubbornness can be useful in many situations.”

  “Opal, why didn’t you send me a message? Two guests! What will I feed them?”

  “Mother,” I said, trying to suppress my irritation. We had just arrived from five days on the road and I was saddle sore and tired. “You always have enough food to feed half of Booruby. They don’t need any special meals.”

  My mother fussed about the kitchen, muttering over her supplies. “Go upstairs and move Mara’s things to your room. We can use her room for Leif and this…Ulrick, is it? Cesca’s son?” Mother shot me a questioning glance.

  I nodded.

  “Why doesn’t he stay with his family?”

  “They had a disagreement over his decision to come to the Citadel,” I said.

  “And he’s been working with you at the Magician’s Keep?” Her eyebrows hovered at midforehead.

  I sighed at the unspoken question. “Yes. He’s a
colleague.
We’re building a glass shop for the Keep.”

  “He’s a nice-looking boy from a reputable family.” She scanned my rumpled travel clothes. “Perhaps Mara could lend you one of her pretty dresses for dinner tonight.”

  Ignoring the implication, I climbed the steps to arrange the rooms and stopped in shock at the threshold. Tula’s grief flag was gone. The shelf above her bed was empty. Her glass animals and various treasures gone. I held on to the doorjamb, feeling light-headed. Footsteps sounded behind me, and I swallowed the emotional rock lodged in my throat.

  “I forgot to tell you,” my mother said. “We decided it was time. I saved Tula’s fox for you. I know how much you liked it.” She pointed to my bed stand.

  I picked it up-all that was left of my sister. “It’s been almost five years. Why now?”

  “Both you and Mara are older now. You will be graduating this year. I’m hoping Leif will become a member of our family and perhaps you-”

  “Mother,” I warned.

  “Well, I can hope, can’t I? Besides every time you visit you have a
friend
with you, so we needed a guest room.” She sighed. “It was time to stop clutching the old days and embrace the new. And I’m hoping one day this house will be filled with grandchildren.” She held up a hand. “Don’t ‘mother’ me. I’ll say what I want when I want. Now get moving, I’m sure the boys will want to get washed up before dinner.”

  I replaced the fox on my table. My mother had a point about Tula’s flag and, while we may embrace the new, we won’t ever forget.

  “…Opal decided to try to use a bellows to pump air into the molten glass. She made a huge bubble. It was so thin it cooled too fast and burst. Looked like snow,” Mother said.

  The dinner table erupted with laughter and I wished to disappear. Why couldn’t they pick on Mara or my brother, Ahir? Because their mistakes weren’t as funny and they didn’t try everything they could imagine to put a bubble into glass and produce disastrous results. They just had to blow air into the pipe. Jealous? Who me?

  Ulrick was enjoying himself so I tried to keep my sense of humor. At least my family paid attention to me. It would be worse to sit here while everyone ignored me. I suffered through the stories and didn’t die of embarrassment. When dinner was over, I helped clean up and then escaped outside, needing a moment alone.

  I sucked in the crisp night air. A half-moon hovered in the sky, casting a mist of light. I scanned the grounds around my home. A cat stalked a field mouse behind the glass factory, but otherwise all was quiet.

  I hadn’t told my parents about Sir and Tricky’s abduction. But since the night of the wild dog attack, no other incidents had happened on the road. I felt safe here. The kitchen door opened. Leif and Mara headed toward the factory, hand in hand. I checked on the horses, and pulled a few things I would need from my saddlebags.

  “There you are,” my father said. “Let’s go to my lab and go over your supply list. I told Ulrick to meet us there.”

  He waited while I dug the small orb and a few glass spiders from my bag. I wanted to show them to him.