CHAPTER 19

  The exiting family wished "Happy Morning Gift!” upon Rina, and never did she think she could so miss Sebu. The woman and daughter alike in sparkling red with wonderful pink spirals rolling down their arms and in their hair. The man and boy too matched in red suits and ties. Rina had seen enough red in two days to last until the Pillars crumbled. She removed the plates, wiped the table. How long since she’d seen the Tor, seen the sky-blue banners proudly hang from every doorframe and parapet, with the mighty Mesogean roiling out the door beyond.

  She placed the tip into her pocket, carried the plates into the back, dropped them into the sink, thanked Ante that there were not so many customers that morning.

  Behind her someone laughed, and so she returned to the doorframe and glanced around the corner. At the table the little adorable one was tapping his older brother, repeatedly, on the thigh with a thin walking stick. Like all his age, Ran, at first, acted pompous, indifferent. The game was beneath him. Predictably, this seemed only to increase its frequency. Finally, when the older tried to grab the pole from the smaller, the smaller poked him in the heads and dashed away like a skyferret. Soon both were bounding and laughing across the mostly empty room.

  Rina giggled, and returned to work.

  As she cleaned the plates, movement to her right caught her attention. On the wall hung an impeccably polished shield that bore a blue and green coat of arms. I wonder if it’s real. Hard to explain why it'd be tucked in the back, though Kiyo seems to have eccentric taste.

  Polished so thoroughly that it was more a mirror, Rina stared deep into her own eyes. What might her own child look like with them?

  When the dishes were finished, she returned to the main room, hung the sun-worn Closed sign and wondered at her sudden dour mood. Meaningless, biologically-driven longings after progeny.

  "Progeny?” Rina said as she wiped already clean tables. Was she so cold now?

  "Mornin'!” Tek squealed as he dodged past her through the main doors. Ran followed, gulping air, stopped when he saw Rina.

  "Good morning, Ran!”

  "Hi,” the boy blushed, then tore after his brother. Such an awkward age for boys, Rina thought.

  She returned to the kitchen, grabbed the trash bag from the can and stepped with it out into the alley. The can was above the rim of the dumpster before Rina had the well-earned sense that someone was staring at her. She snapped her head around and the girl, fifteen or so with bright yellow eyes, jumped. Very nice, Rina, she chided herself. Very normal and not freakish at all. The girl’s bright blonde hair spiraled in the breeze.

  "I didn’t mean to scare you.”

  "Didn’t. . .” the girl’s face took on almost a defiant aspect, "scare. . .”

  "May I help you?”

  The yellow eyes darted to the Pub and became wide at the sound of Ran’s laugh. "Ran. I was coming to see Ran.” The eyes returned to Rina and in them an unusual anger. Then she turned and ran away.

  His girlfriend? Rina thought. Jealousy. Where the girl had stood a note fell over onto its side. Rina picked it up. Across the sealed envelope, in the most elegant letters Rina had ever seen, was Ran’s name. Rina smiled. Awkward girls as well.

  Rina wandered back into the kitchen and just as the boys once more flew through the door. Tek ducked deftly beneath her arm. Ran did not. He turned to avoid her but ended up on his butt.

  "S-sorry.”

  "Glad I caught you," Rina said, and smiled. I think a friend was looking for you. A pretty young lady.” Rina held out the envelope. "She left this.” It wasn’t a lie in the technical sense, but she could think of no other way to explain why she held the letter at all.

  Ran took it gently.

  "Thanks. Left? For me?” he didn’t so much as glance at the front of the card before tearing it open. Men, she thought. As he read his face whitened, then reddened, and then he stuffed the note into his pocket. He coughed several times before he was able to speak again, or squeak, again. "Thank you."

  "Are you alright?” It had never occurred to Rina that the note might contain bad news. A break-up letter? Do kids do that? I hope I haven’t forfeited a decent room. Her mind went to Doe of the Dawn, wrapped in her jacket, under her bed. If they kick me out, I’ll have to get to it, quickly. Battle-awareness began unwinding the Pub’s floor-plan, the quickest routes. Gam rebuked her. Fight a future battle, always lose.

  "I’m great!”

  Rina’s laugh was a tad frantic. "Ante! I was afraid it was something awful.”

  Ran’s head cocked at the named of Tor-Lord. "What do you believe about Ante? You’re from Sebu, right? Like, really from Sebu?”

  The question caught Rina off guard, she frowned.

  "I’m sorry! It’s just, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. Sorry, please--”

  "No, no! It was just so sudden. Most people aren’t so forthright.”

  "I’ll just go find Tek. Sorry.”

  "Nonsense. Have you finished breakfast? We can talk as we eat. Once I make something more to eat, that is.”

  "I can make you an omelet, and some pancakes! Everyone says I’m really good with those. Kiyo’s been wanting me to work on cooking, and I know Nail hasn’t come down either. I can make sure it doesn’t have any of the what you guys can’t eat. Uh, I mean, I think that’s right.”

  Now Rina cocked her head. "Your family is not what I expected to meet when I came set.” She opened her hands widely, "I’d be delighted. So, you know the Rules?”

  The boy darted around the kitchen, assembling tools and ingredients. He was jubilant, glowing. A really good note.

  He told her of his love of reading, what he liked and didn’t, he’d read many of the stories she'f grown up with. Brothers in Revolt, They Follow Quiet and Fish, even many things she’d never cared for like that traitor’s Second Break and the esoteric, odd They Always Follow, which had given name to the evil shades common to both Sebi and Given. At the mention of Second Break, Rina couldn’t stifle a snort.

  "Not good?” Ran asked innocently. My but he was cute.

  "I’m sure it’s wonderful. Sebi aren’t lovers of the author, however.”

  "Because he mentions Heir?”

  "That didn’t help. We don’t call him That Traitor for nothing.”

  "Right!” Ran flipped a pancake. "He became Ovoni. Forgot about that.”

  Rina shook her head, "You won’t read the Archives but you’ll slog your way through all that other Sebi writing? You are a strange one.”

  "Yeah, I actually talked to another friend about that last night. When I know it’s part of the Text it feels like homework.”

  "I appreciate that. I felt much the same once.”

  "Do you like reading the Archives now?”

  Rina sighed, "I read them faithfully, completely, as my teacher instructed. You’ll not find many Sebi, even in the Tor, who burn for them. They are my inheritance. I’m grateful. Given like to treat them as if they’re just the first stone on the walkway. For us they are the house’s cornerstone. That’s why we call them our Archives. Rules is important, but it’s only part. For us, more like limbs than texts.”

  Ran eyes went wide, "So you’ve actually been to Tor? The Tor!?”

  "I lived there for many, many years, actually, though I was born well south. And she thought, near the Ligan.

  "You know what’s so interesting?”

  She shook her head.

  "Why’s everyone invaded Sebu? In terms of kingdoms, it’s always been relatively small. What’s is the deal? Old Nesgoh, Ovon, Millenids, Rockmen a few times, Olde Honour, Ligan--”

  Rina’s heart jumped.

  "--even the black eyes from Mists.”

  Rina chuckled. "My father called Sebu 'the road.’ Frozen mountains stretching all the way to the north and desert rise of that, the only way around Sebu is the sea. I suppose that’s why so many have of my fellow lapzu eyes have cooled when it comes to the Contract. So many wars. . .”

  Ran was mixing the cheese and folding the first omelets when he looked at her "I can’t believe I never thought about that!” He shook his head pathetically, evidently profoundly disappointed in himself. "There’s so much to learn. Not enough time.”

  Rina laughed until he blushed. "You’re what? Thirteen? You’re already further along than most young Sebi.”

  "The Palace Forest Gold!” Ran exclaimed. "Have you ever seen it? It’s so massive and complex that it used up a literal whole forest to build.”

  Rina shrugged, whispered, "Been to it once, maybe twice.”

  "I can’t even imagine what it must be like to live in a place where history is under any rock. Out here in set the only thing we got is that amphitheater outside the wall.”

  Somewhere above them Tek must have realized Ran was not coming, and so began to shout.

  "I’m in the kitchen with Rina!”

  "Ditched me for a woman? Jerk! Whatever!”

  "Hey!” Sarge shouted from another room, "Stop screaming across the whole shaking house!” Kiyo screamed now, but it was so lathered in rage that Rina could not understand a word.

  "He’s shouldn’t have cursed,” Ran sighed. "Family. By the way, Rina. Do you use QPost all the time when you’re writing your family? They make exceptions for the one message every two weeks deal for immigrants. I'm trying to understand the logistics of cross-world communication. . . for the future.”

  "I have a little brother; I wish I was as close to him as you are to yours. My parents died when I was very young.”

  Ran dropped the plates holding completed omelets and pancakes, but Rina caught both so deftly that not a single item moved. He looked at her with horror. "I’m sorry, Rina.”

  "Everyone has weights. It is the mark of the adult to not be dragged down by them. I’m sure you do as well.”

  Ran’s mouth pressed together, and Rina felt like it was her turn to apologize. Instead, she put the plates on a tray and hefted it over her shoulder. "These look amazing. More than enough for me, and I’m sure more than enough for Mr. Nail. Don’t mind the dishes. Grab the syrup and follow me.”

  As she exited the kitchen, the boy said, "Hey, I just realized that was amazing! How’d you catch all that? I’ll be right there!”

  After arranging everything neatly she piled food onto Ran’s plate, and then her own, sat, thanked Ante, and began to eat.

  Do mothers endure this noise? Daily? When, during the dark days when she danced with Ligan blades more often than she'd ate, her people had called her "Mother” it had not been because she possessed a kind, patient heart for noise.

  Memory, as always, was a double-edged, as out of the fabric of memory a single thread began to pull, and soon Maim rose out from the past, wrapped, as always, in her famous lapzu armor. Rina remembered the exhaustion in her bones that day sitting before her teacher a filthy, panting, swearing, sweaty, angry little mess.

  "Jeez,” the warrior clucked. "Where's your cheek now? I’m armored and not even breathing hard. Ante’s Patience, you can curse, kid.” She shook her head, sending her brownish-red hair, shaved on a side, longer on the other, jostling. "Addiv,” Maim smiled at the Oldword nickname she’d given Rina, "anger is the idiot-weapon. It’s doesn’t make you stronger, just stupider."

  "Anger?” Rina snarled. "Hate! I hate the Ligan!”

  Maim waved her hand in pithy circles. "Hysterics will drive young men away faster than a coat of wasps. You’ll never find a husband.”

  Young Rina had been as baffled by the comment as adult Rina now was, but Maim and her twin were famous for their non-sequiturs.

  "But you’ll be fine as long as you remember:” Maim then screamed with a clenched fist, "The most wonderful analyses of the Archives by the finest Sebi teachers say that producing children is more dangerous for the woman than war the man! The woman is nature’s warrior against death itself! Conduct yourself like a womanish warrior and not as a sour, mannish sow or else perish alone!”

  Gam, who had been reading his large biblio in the shade of a nearby tree, laughed. "I cannot fathom,” he said as he adjusted his spectacles, "single sister, why you rate yourself qualified to lecture my pupil on the art of romance. How 'stupider’ are you, sister? Rina, come! Time for me to perform my circadian unwinding and cleansing of dear sister’s shallow Archives-understanding from your sweet, pliable brain.”

  "Four-eyes!. Measly bookworm!” Maim’s twin was the only person who ever wrong-footed her. "The Archives say that woman as well as man must conquer the world!”

  Gam's laugh so enraged Maim that she ripped off a pauldron and threw it at him. Rina had laughed too, forgetting, if only for a moment, the weight of her rage.

  The sound of two rumbling voices shook Rina awake, as the Rockman and Sarge walked into the room.

  "Tezm wasn’t the best place to grow up,” the pale blue eye said, "but I learned to be tough there. Saw lots of nasty," here he looked about,". . .uh. . . stuff. . .Stuff I’m glad my boys don’t ever need to see. Tezm still didn’t deserve what First did to 'em.” Even Sarge’s pale and worn pair of work overalls had a thin red ribbon pinned to the breast.

  "Men must learn early what it is to be a man,” Nail said. "I wish I had.” His eyes fixed upon Rina and she conquered the instinct to stare back, instead let her eyes fall sheepishly to her plate. The Rockman was dangerous, about that she had no doubts. He felt genuine, but Rina had been wrong on that score before. Better to play the part.

  They were standing in front of table before Sarge noticed Rina.

  "Oh holy. . .I’m sorry, er, Rina for the, well, the almost bad language. If my wife hears about it, I’ll need more than Gift.”

  Rina smiled. The big blue-eyed northerner had not seemed so friendly the night before when she’d sat, uncomfortably, next to Nail, and listening while he and his wife had a rather loud discussion in the kitchen. Understandably Sarge hadn't too keen on two risers sleeping under the same roof as his kin, and Rina had not been offended in the slightest. Kiyo had "convinced” of his heartlessness ("and on Gift too!"). Rina had not had long to observe the family, but in that time she’d seen only love.

  "Kiyo,” he called, "heading out! Be careful going to Center! You boys be good!”

  Sarge gone, Rina was forced into another uncomfortable silence with the Rockman, who sat to her left taking some food onto his own plate.

  When Rina notices him furtively prodding with his fork she said, "The food isn't breach. Ran made it for us. A mindful boy.”

  Nail grinned, tightened his scarf around his neck. "Has he also charmed you with the depth of his reflections and humility?” He smiled, and Rina again found it difficult to think evil of him. "He did the same to me.”

  The incident in the valley, those mysterious vagrants the Wordhealers called "wailers,” and the massive surge of shine she had felt after fleeing the fight with that thing, all forced her to re-think her strategy. The green shine had not been the cause of her journey set, and she discovered quickly later that day it likely belonged to the narokk city's shiner.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  So little intelligence, so far from home.

  What was clear was that some enemy, and powerful, somewhere nearby had attacked her. Alarmingly, they now knew her, or at least had a better look than she would have liked. Rina had thought about covering her lapzu eyes with shinasshu, but shuddered. Ante has His limits.

  Ran finally popped into the room, greeted Nail. The Rockman’s wide smile further solidified Rina’s confidence. Just as the boy was feet from the table, Tek shot out and fired a rubber band right in between Ran’s eyes. Of course, he dropped the syrup.

  "You could have blinded me!” Ran chased the other up the stairs, their steps echoing like retreating thunder.

  Her attention returned to Nail. Even in eating he seemed in total control. No motion wasted. Everything about his aspect and bearing screamed "leader”, whether it be the strong resolve of his voice to his gentleness with the boys to his desire to aid Kiyo in bringing heavy bags up from the basement.

  "You are true Sebi, Rina?”

  "What do you mean 'true Sebi?’” Her visage changed from a curious glance to one that suggested surprised he would even speak to one as her, though she kept a note of offense, as any true Sebi, meek or no, would.

  He waved a great hand over the food, "You keep the Rules.”

  "Yes.”

  "Even here? In Wordheal?”

  "You keep yours here, yes?”

  Nail shrugged. "I’ve never met a Sebi outside Land of Four. The ones I do know, however, have differing opinions on such things. I once had to preside over such a dispute. I believe they called themselves, what was it, 'Mixers,’ I think.”

  The thought of Sebi needing a Rockman to adjudicate the Rules nearly caused all the food Rina had consumed to reappear. "Mixers are not Sebi,”

  "Yes. That was the position of the other group. 'Binders’.”

  Binders?! Mixers, let alone Binders, with that much influence in the Sebi communities amongst the Rockmen? "Neither is a Clever a Sebi, fyi.” Her feelings were slipping rom the part she was to play. Was he baiting her?

  "I ask only because I have never known anyone from Sebu itself. Though I must say, I do find it odd that there are so many calling themselves Sebi who are not, in fact, Sebi. Seems quite a lot like all these different estates amongst the Given.” With this he gave the slightest, sly grin.

  Rina let her eyes fall onto her plate. Nail must have misread her attempt to bottle her anger as the reaction of a lone Sebess trying and failing to defend her traditions. "I don’t mean to criticize. I’m rusty with small-talk.”

  Rina nodded, grateful for moment. "I can appreciate that.” Still, am I the Mother or not? "Back home," said she, "are six major sects that make up the Scholist, our national council, you may say. Mixers, Clevers, the Serrated, Isols, Binders and Unbound. Each group brings unique understanding of Contract to policy. Mixers deny Kiln, and don’t seek Broker. But these mistakes can hardly be laid at the feet of all Sebi, the vast majority of which still hold the correct, unmixed Rules.”

  Rina raised her head. "I grew up with a man from Raio, from the Fourland, whom we called Lone-Rock. A friend of one of my teachers. Once Rockman, Lone-Rock came across the Break and signed Ante’s Contract. Sebi sans lapzu. He would often speak to me about the great debates and wars of the silver eyes. As most children, I only knew of the long Set Wars, but he told me about many Rockmen conflicts. The United and the Scions. Are you a Uni or a Successor?”

  "All Rockmen are Uni.” Nail said slowly, kindly, with another grin. "Point made." His silver eyes betrayed his calm nature, even in his surety. For Rina, who had fought death-adoring rokkish fanatics her entire life, this was welcome. She relaxed, if slightly.

  "I hope we talk more, Rina. I am ashamed to say that I have underestimated both Given and Sebi, when I thought myself quite knowledgeable of both. But I suppose that’s enough rokkism-talk. At least until the end of breakfast.”

  She halfway raised her glass, when someone at the doorway spat, said in disgust, "Rokkism? Trash, more like.”

  "Pardon me?” Nail said over her shoulder.

  She turned to find a pale blue-eye, long of face and twitchy, yet confident, entering the Pub as if he owned it in a fine scarlet suit. A cane, clearly for decoration, clicked as he walked. He looked around the room, surveying as if for trap or hunter. Coward, if confident. Such men bring death in tight places when their confidence is stripped and shown to be hollow talk. Apparently satisfied, he approached the table with his hands behind his back, glowered down at Rina. For Nail not even a glance.

  "I suppose they’re not here. Hmmm. For the best I. I was hoping to give that woman quite a talking to for the way I was treated yesterday. The quality of the. . .er. . .well. . .those fools are letting into this place decreases with each passing day. I'll waste no more time here.”

  Nail stood so swiftly the much smaller man nearly fell backwards into another table. "I do not know you,” he said, "but you’ve nothing to do with the fine people who have sheltered me this past night, and I will not stand for your insults and attempts to intimidate a lady in my presence. I’ll ask you to leave now.”

  Through fear, the man rankled. Pride made the stupid more so. "S-scarf! Who do you think you are? Scarf! Scarf, trash. The Mags, my family have been Wordhealers since founding! You'll hardly find a building in this section lack our name, scarf. Invader!

  Further I am assistant to Word Urba! I take no lip from a cave-shepherd, clinging to scarfs as the ancient Broken to their abominable images.”

  Nail smiled, looked at Rina, said "Worba?”

  She didn’t smile, but put her eyes onto the plate. "Never heard of her.”

  "Oh. Cuter and cuter by the moment," said this Mag. "You’ll know him before long!” he shook the cane at them. "Dare you to spread your nonsense in my home? On Gift? What about you, Sebi? Can't talk woman? Irrational fantasies, about my loving and generous Rokk. Y make Him a genocidal maniac! You murder Ligan and dared blame him for your cruelty? Your silly little nation. You half-dead husks! Look at me, woman!”

  She didn't need this sort of heat. Rina needed to stand, to leave, but the man's directed his rage to her, as all bullies and weak men do to what they deem the easiest available target. What might he do if she did.

  "Enough,” Nail took a step closer.

  But the Given was not finished, and his eyes darted about the room, he sweated and trembled now. Unable to strike but unable to cease. Rina had seen this sort of madness many times. When a man thinks on one too many poor decisions, boxed in like prey: most dangerous. "I see the murder in your eyes Rockman!” In fact, Nail stood comfortably, feet away, a table between them. "You think I don’t know why you wear that contemptible scarf? Come! Come and kill me, barbarian! Scarf!” He stretched his arms out and screamed, "Kill me. I'm only Vox, one man, but one man may light a blaze. A cleansing! Show the people of this city your way, prehistoric beast! I only pray it will set off another Set War and we finally end EVERY ONE OF YOU! I KNOW WHAT I'LL DO WHEN THE CHOP FALLS! I'LL CURSE YOU!”

  Above, Rina heard much shuffling, soon heard Ran tearing down the back stairs, out the back door, screaming, "Kiyo! Kiyo!”

  "I know what I’d do.”

  Mag, who had been so very absorbed in his drama, yelped, turned so fast he fell onto his backside. Standing behind him in the doorway, leaning against it, was the tall chestnut-haired green-eye Rina had seen the night before. The one seeking a room. In the long fingers of her right hand held an apple, and it already missed several great bites. The woman advanced like death, slowly but with more contempt. She too a much larger bite than necessary, and threw the remainder down on the fallen man’s head. He mewled as it splattered all over him.

  She chewed, swallowed, said, "If you were jawin' at me like that. I know what I'd do. Cram that apple so far up your ass you’d piss cider for a decade.”

  Rina placed a hand over her mouth. A rebel smile. Nail did too.

  The woman seemed to appreciate their reaction, but stifled her own smile.

  "MORNING GIFT!” someone screamed from the door.

  "Oh,” fallen man moaned as he looked. "Rokk it can’t be.”

  It was the man Nod, who she had also met the night before. He stood, arms high, as if triumphant, but when whatever he wanted did not come, he dropped these, slouched into the room.

  "Given,” Nail was the first to attempt warning.

  "Y'know it's hard to maintain this level of positivity? And it's early! A guy could use a pick-me-up once in a while? Courtesy laugh? Heard of it?” He came around the table between them.

  "Dude,” said the tall woman. "watch--”

  "--I try to lighten the mood and I’m met with callous rudeness. Not regular rudeness either but callous, worse, silence. Stone cold as maw silence, I mean, sure I was hoping it was the kids that were in. The little man seems to get a real kick out me--”

  He still had not seen the downed man, who cowered behind the table, no words left to him. It was Rina’s turn. "Mr. Nod, there is--”

  "--just Nod thanks, but if I was a sensitive man and easily offended--" Nod slipped on the cane, said, "Ah,” as he overcorrected by leaning back and fell straight down onto Mag's midsection. The man made a screeching, windy sound through grinding teeth as the two became a mess of elbows, which caught Mag on the lip a few times, and curses. Nod repeatedly tried to stand only to have his foot or arm slip again on Vox’s face or gut.

  Finally, the bald man pushed himself up and away with his foot buried in the other’s crotch, stood with arms out for balance.

  "Well,” he said, and straightened his blue jacket, "whatever.” He looked at the table, at the food. "OOOOOOO!” and he rand past the woman almost as tall as to slide into a free chair, cooing happily as he filled a plate then a mouth with pancakes. "How are they not fat?! Fritz! Didn’t see you leave the shelter this morning. Come on! These people's food'll make you fat! Like the fattest fat guy who ever lived anywhere on the fat world!"

  Fritz shrugged. "No money.”

  "I got a free meal here the other day. I owe them anyway. It’s on me.” The sheer amount of food in his mouth rendered all else unintelligible. The tall woman seemed reluctant, but in the end sat.

  Rina looked from Mag to the table and back several times before sitting.

  Nail too, sat.

  "Um,” Nod said, "Fritz-Nail, Nail-Fritz, Rina-Fritz, Fritz-Rina. Everybody’s friends now!”

  Odd man, Rina thought. Fritz nodded. Rina smiled. I like her.

  "Outrage,” Mag shuddered as he stood slowly on trembling legs and cane.

  "Ran made these,” Nail said. "I know you are friends.”

  This odd Nod nearly choked on orange juice as he laughed."Raaaaaaaaaan! Love him. Good Rokk, you’re the only one not enjoying this deliciousness, Vox. You seem to have a real maw of time making friends. Ever thought of trying to not be such a huge shaker all the time. . .to everyone you meet?”

  Mag spasmed. "Rokkawful belt! I know what they’re saying. Pilgrim? You? Rokk help the unfortunate Given if you’re truly Wayfarer.”

  "Unfortunate Given?” Nod repeated. "That even mean?”

  "Are you? Deny that you’ve been telling everyone! Deny it!"

  Fritz ate a forkful of omelet. "I can throw this dude out right now."

  "You’re hiding how much you like it, Fritz. Like you're too cool for it.”

  "Am not,” said the woman, though she was already onto the pancake.

  Mag slammed a hand onto the table. "Are you?!”

  Nod looked at Mag, "What?”

  "PilgrimshakingWayfareryoushakingfool!” Mag’s rage made it a single word.

  "Ah, yes. That. Yes, yes. I am.” He held out a hand. "Pilgrim. Nice to meet you. It's a better name than Nod, I admit, but Nod's close to my heart so I use it at times.”

  "You are a liar,” Mag spat, knocked the hand away.

  The man apparently called Pilgrim sat his fork down, studied his enemy. "Vox, you’ve got a real attitude problem. At first, I had no idea why, so, I resolved to find out. I’m like that. I resolve and then I do. In that order, usually. Very cerebral. Humble too. So damn humble. So, I stepped back and I asked myself, 'Hey, me, Pilgrim, the Wayfarer,’” Pilgrim let the word hang, "'Pilgrim,’ I says, 'why is Vox such an ass?’ Couldn’t crack it, smart as I am. Then, just outside here, right before I walked it, it hit me: you’re stupid. Never been outside of this city. Is it your fault?” He thought. "Well, yeah, yeah it is. 'More unfortunate Given?’” Pilgrim shook his head. "Is a Given who knows his throat will be slit at the mere mention of Heir’s name but still lauds it 'unfortunate’? I’ve known them, all across Nameless. Who’s 'unfortunate?'”

  Then an odd thing happened. At first Rina thought it a trick of the light but it remained for a moment. The bald man’s eyes became oddly void, as if actively suppressing something but sucking in all around them. They locked with Mag’s, and Mag blinked, looked down.

  "As for being a fool,” Pilgrim popped more food into his mouth, gestured to Nail. "I ain't pickin' fights with dudes three times my size. Moron.”

  "T-threatening me? How dare you!”

  "Oh,” sighed Pilgrim. "Lost him already.”

  "I’d have this scarf in the Watch's hands if he does anything. You too! I know people!”

  "Cool story,” said Fritz. "Explain it like that to the nurse through a shattered jaw while they try to teach you to shit out your nose cause your ass’s been caved in.” Pilgrim exploded laughter.

  "Oh, I knew I was gonna like you, Fritz.”

  "I am assistant to Word--"

  Rina interrupted him, "Word Urba.”

  Mag waved her off, "Threaten me? Imposture. Scoundrel. Think you can hurt me, in my city?”

  Pilgrim sighed again. "Your city? Fine, I’ll bite. You want to know what’s been buggin’ me lately, Rina? This city keeps asking the wrong questions. Don’t despair, Rina. I can tell you what the right question is.” He smiled like a child, "Pay careful attention.” Then Pilgrim pulled Vox’s face to his, turned it, and into his ear screamed, "WHAT’S THE NAME OF THE FOOL WHO TIED MY SHOES TOGETHER!”

  Mag’s eyes crossed, clutching his ear he reeled, tried to find his feet, and fell, again, onto his rear. Rina was astonished to find his shoe laces actually tied.

  Twiisting, now in a full panic, embarrassed, Mag stood and fell all the way to the door until he finally tore the shoes off and sprinted from the Pub.

  Fritz fell into a deep laughter along with Pilgrim, and the table shook with it. Rina did not allow herself to lose control, but a broad smile crept across her face.

  "The Laughing Rokk will see to him. ’All He does is just,’ as the Archives say.” Pilgrim said.

  "Our Archives,” Rina said.

  "Ours too.”

  "Debatable.”

  "I have my Text if you’d like to check.”

  Fritz rubbed her temples, her laughs finally emptying. "'Text blah, Archives blah. Shoulda kept that dude around to wail on.”

  "You aren’t Given?” Rina asked.

  "Given? Oh, yeah. Of course.”

  "She’s new,” Pilgrim winked.

  "To the city,” Fritz clarified. "I come from set. Near Wanhope.”

  "How did you do that?” Nail’s deep voice sliced into the conversation like an invader. He stared at Pilgrim

  "The shoes-laces?”

  "Yes.”

  Pilgrim wiped his mouth, "Nunya.”

  Shocked, how had she missed it?, Rina risked ripping a bit of shine from her grinding planetary plates, and let it flow across the table. Had it not been for her superb control, this would have revealed her instantly to any shiner. It returned, carrying nothing with it.

  Pilgrim’s eyes drifted to the kitchen. "Wooooooow,” he whispered. "That ain't gonna be good.”

  Kiyo erupted into the room, and in her eyes gleamed righteousness.

  "Kill!” The small woman reached over, took hold of a broom leaning against the wall and smashed it against the ground. The plastic housing the bristles exploded. "KILL!” She stabbed the newly forged staff forward, charged out of the Pub. "Vox! Coward! I told you to stay out! Scare my kids?!”

  After a silence, Fritz looked at everyone, "So we know who that was, yeah?”

  "Yes.” Rina stood, ready to fly after her temporary boss when Tek stampeded into the room and skidded to a stop.

  "Why do I have to go?” he whined back into the kitchen.

  "Can't breathe. . . because. . .heart’s exploding. . .”

  Tek growled, rushed after his mother.

  Pilgrim drank more juice, said, "I love this place.”

  Fritz shudder. "Motherly rage. . .”

  Ran stumbled into the room, pale and gasping, braced himself against the closest chair with his other hand jabbed into his side.

  Rina stood, "You o?”

  "Good." He moved closer to the table, trying to hide the gasps. "Gotta. . .work out. . . more. . .probably. But. . .I’ll. . .oh Rokk.”

  "Foolish young man,” she pulled closer a chair. Sit!”

  Pilgrim winked, "Motherly rage.”

  Did Rina actually blush?

  Ran raised his head, evidentially registering for the first time that there were others in the room. Across the four he looked, and then he hacked loudly. "Juice!” He nearly knocked over the carton, but Rina caught it and poured the glass. Once he sat, so did she.

  "’Sup?” Pilgrim said with a small wave. "This must be sooo embarrassing, right?”

  "P-Pilgrim.” Ran seemed eager for any reason to not look at Fritz.

  Fritz appeared to understand and, though having been so far quite sharp, smiled sweetly. "I saw you last night, Ran. Nice to meet you.”

  Slowly, as if his neck were a rusted gate that jolted and creaked, he turned. "Juice. Mean, uh, Fritz right?” Every other word was squeak. "Fritz? Maybe in a book? Yeah. Yeah. probably in a book cause I,,,I uh. . . So yeah. . .Yeah.”

  Even Nail, though still staring at Pilgrim, cringed.

  Ran looked back to Pilgrim then and his face changed, as if suddenly remembering. "I’m actually really happy to see you today, Mr. Pilgrim. I have a question.”

  "Mr?” Pilgrim frowned. "Blech. You watched me nose-dive into trash, dude.”

  "I have that meeting today. The one we talked about. I was wondering if you’d be willing to go with me? Just to maybe ask some questions? You seem to know so much more about the Text than I do.”

  "Nope.”

  Ran was visibly stunned. "But, I don’t even know what to ask.”

  "So?”

  "What do you mean, 'so?’”

  "What can I do about that?”

  "You told me you. . ..” Ran seemed close to pleading.

  "Ah, that. It’s amazing what we remember when we try. For instance, I can’t remember if I said that before or after I asked you, many, many times to not scream my name all over town? Speaking of which.”

  Rina felt Ran’s leg bump hers, and she nearly dropped her fork, stifled a cry.

  "Ow!” Ran pulled his leg up. "Why?”

  Pilgrim waited a beat, said, "No one knows where they’re going until they know where they begin. Finding the right questions are part of learning where you begin. Rina?”

  But Rina had frozen, and knew she should answer, but her awareness was locked onto her gauge. Rising panic she tamped down just in time. "Just daydreaming.” That was the shine! The shiner’s in Wordheal! Close! An excuse. She must get away. Must look. Very, very close. Trembled, the grinding crusts of her gauge had trembled at it!

  Thankfully, Kiyo reappeared through the door. "Kill later!” she said with Tek dragging her back into the Pub.

  He held one shoe.

  "Vox dropped 'em when he saw Kiyo!” he told Ran. "Never been prouder! Wow,” he’d seen Fritz. "You are very attractive, ma’am.”

  Ran’s face morphed into a rolling wave of unhealthy colors.

  Fritz’s green eyes widened, "Thanks,” she laughed. "Not so bad yourself.”

  "Ha!" said the boy. S’ok. I know your messing with me, but I won’t be a kid forever!” And he winked. "Between you and Rina we should ban every other woman from the place. Not fair.”

  Ran shook with embarrassment.

  "Come on you two,” Kiyo reentered the room wearing a coat and carrying a bag. "I don’t care what I look like. I have to get out of here before I hunt that shaker down.”

  "Heh,” Tek said, "Kiyo cursed.”

  "Now!”

  The boys stood in line.

  It was Nail's turn to say, "Mother."

  "Nod, you going to Morning Gift?” Kiyo asked. "We’d be more than happy to have the company.”

  "Absolutely! Ate more of your food by the way. I’ll pay for this lady too. You’re going the Freedom Canton? I’ve been meaning to see Ferapa speak.” Pilgrim stood. "And please, call me Pilgrim.”

  "Pilgrim? Sitor was right?”

  "Sitor?”

  "Ferapa’s assistant,” Tek squealed. "We saw him walking away from the pub on our way back in. He said you’re Wayfarer, Nod!”

  "Another Word’s assistant, eh? You want to come Fritz?”

  The green-eye shook her head. "No thanks. Still reeling from the trip.”

  "You could benefit from it, though.”

  "Maybe next time,” Fritz smiled through gritted teeth.

  "C’mon little man,” Pilgrim said to Tek. "To the elevated!”

  "I’m faster!” Tek called following him.

  "Thank you for the food Mrs. . .uh Kiyo.” Fritz said. "I’d pay, but Pil. . .”

  "Morning Gift, honey. I’ll not make you pay for breakfast. You all take care. Rina don’t worry about cleaning all this up. I’ll have anger to work off.” With that Kiyo ducked out the front leaving Ran alone to adjust his coat.

  "Ran,” said Nail.

  "Yeah?”

  "Do you know this man well?”

  "What man? Oh, Pilgrim? No, I just reallymet him last night. Why?”

  "I am wary of people with many names,” Nail replied.

  Fritz coughed, stood to leave. "Nice to meet you both."

  To Ran, Nail said. "Just watch out.”

  "O. . .k. . .?” And he too, was gone.

  Rina wouldn't leave the dishes. Maim would have been furious. Though they get a sub-par wash. Nail, stroking his chin, thinking deeply. "Boys are foolish when they are young, eh?"

  "Only when they’re young. Never after. Ever.” He smiled.

  "I may have missed many opportunities to be friends with Rockmen.”

  "Not this one.”

  She entered the back and dropped the dishes onto the counter, looked into the shiny shield across the way again.

  "That’s what it is.” She said softly. "The eyes.” Compelling eyes had Pilgrim. She began to wash everything as quickly as she could. "Happiness. Anger. Something else. Ante with him.” She looked once more into the shield. "Or end him.”