SCATTERED MEMORIES
August 29/30
It was late when they got back to the palace, but sprites still bustled through the narrow halls. Electrum didn’t want to talk to anyone. He excused himself as he elbowed past couples and deftly dodged out of the way of those still busy with their duties. After several offended huffs, he finally escaped into his room.
The moon hung in the sky like a bright glowstone. Light trickled through the branches casting an eerie glow on the floor. After hanging the flask in the window, he eased into the hammock. With a sigh he pulled up his blanket. The familiar babble of voices and laughter passing in the hall was soothing.
Memories flowed through his head like a story on a long scroll. They mixed with thoughts of the Salamander and the apartment in the Gold Realm. My last night in this room, he thought. My last night in the Silver Realm.
Gradually the noises in the hall ceased as everyone went to bed. Electrum’s breathing became more regular. Hours later heavy footsteps passing his door woke him. They continued a short way and stopped. Rising up on one elbow he heard low voices. They quickly faded, leaving him feeling alone and detached from his surroundings. The room filled him with nostalgia. It was time to leave.
He unhooked the hammock and rolled it with the blanket into a tight ball and stuffed it into Amber’s bag. On top he lay the instruction scroll that he had borrowed from the library and Gilder’s scroll from the Gold Realm.
He took down the flask from the window. The dust swirled around inside as if stirred by an unfelt breeze. He pulled the cord over his head and slipped the flask under his shirt.
Dust sparkled on his hat when he picked it up. A lifetime of memories and an empty room. With a flick of his hand the dust swirled off the hat into the air. It settled like morning frost on a sandy beach and slipped into the cracks on the floor. Whoever occupied this room after him would be haunted by his thoughts.
He tossed the bag over his shoulder. When he shrugged, it settled snugly between his wings. For a moment he stared at the crumpled gray robe. It hung on the branch like a wilted flower. All the hours of wearing it flashed through his mind. The scornful looks he received from the guards. The hot, uncomfortable hours spent in the king’s room. Admiration from the pollywogs and glances of respect from the palace sprites as he passed through the halls.
He took it down. With an air of ceremony he folded it into a tight roll and tucked it under his arm. He stepped out into the empty hall. Faint voices came from the library. Probably Simon and Gilder. He decided to stop and say goodbye.
As he neared the door, the voice became harsh. He slowed his steps. It wasn’t Simon’s voice. It was Tanner.
“Not that Captain Sterling actually believes there is any truth to the old fables,” Tanner said. “It is nonsense to think a plant could change a silver sprite to gold. A plant that doesn’t even exist. Foolishness.”
There was a soft chuckling and some low murmured words.
The floor creaked as someone moved across the room. “Still, it doesn’t hurt to be cautious. You have taken precautions? Nothing can go wrong?”
The other person mumbled assent.
“Good. Sterling can be most generous to those who are loyal, but he is a powerful opponent to those who betray the realm. We will see you at Eclipse Night. Be sure you play your part well.”
Electrum fled up the hall and rounded the corner. Someone was coming. He squeezed into a dark alcove and crushed the robe against his chest.
The pack pressed against his wings. Tanner’s large form came around the corner. Electrum could have reached out and tugged on his cloak.
He waited several minutes after Tanner had passed before he stepped out from the alcove. He made little noise as he passed like a shadow through the halls. Soon he was standing on the top platform taking deep breaths of the cool night air.
Moonlight glinted on the Ship Growers Pond in the distance. He couldn’t see it, but he knew his tree was just beyond that.
Stepping off the platform he spread his wings. Darkness and the cool night air closed around him. Warmth from the flask spread over him as if he had swallowed warm dandelion tea.
Silently he flew over the harbor. Ships tied to the docks bobbed gently in the calm water. Leftover smells from the day’s market made him wish he had brought something for a late dinner.
He circled and landed on the dock next to a long line of carts. With a smile he saw what he was looking for. At the end of the row sat the rag bin. Gently he placed the robe inside among the other rags.
Quickly he rose into the air and headed for the Ship Growers Pond. Shapes loomed out of the darkness and several times he swerved at the last minute to avoid hitting a tree. He’d forgotten how tricky it was to fly at night.
Following the pine smell, he squinted and tried to pick out the top of the ridge. Suddenly his tree came into view, a darker outline against a dark sky. He landed on the platform.
There was just enough moonlight to see the outline of furniture. Weariness settled over him like a heavy garment. He felt old and tired as he made his way to the sleeping room and dropped his travel bag on the floor.
The warmth faded as he hung the flask from a branch where it would be shielded from the morning sun. Shivering, he pulled out the hammock and hung it on built in hooks.
Somehow Sterling knew about their plan and was working to stop them. But who was the other sprite – or pookah – in the library? Who would be helping Sterling?
He would have to figure it out tomorrow. He crawled in the hammock and wrapped his blanket around him. What he needed now was rest.
Warm sunlight and the scent of pine woke him from pleasant dreams. He stretched. The tree looked even nicer in the daylight. It would be a great place to retire. Waking every morning to the faint sound of the ship growers working in the valley below. Eating breakfast with the sun reflecting off the harbor in the distance.
He shook off his blanket and the appealing thoughts. This was his last day in the Silver Realm. No time for daydreaming. There was plenty to get done.
He needed equipment for tonight; gloves, bowls, jars, a spoon. All could be found at the harbor. But first breakfast. He emptied his bag of all but the scrolls, grabbed his hat, and set out.
The air was beautiful for flying. The sun had been up for several hours and the morning fog had burned away. The harbor was empty. All but a few of the ships were still docked. No running shipments today. They would be taking paying passengers to the Tween World this evening for the eclipse.
He landed and pushed his way through the crowd. Calls from vendors mingled with the sweet and pungent smells from their carts.
“Hot pastries!”
“Fresh mushrooms! Steamed or raw!”
“Trinkets from the Tween World.”
“Glowstone bracelets.”
“Buttons and ribbons.”
He stepped around a cart and a gleam of light hit his face. With eyes squeezed to a slit, he caught the flash of sunlight on metal. Sterling was walking toward him but his attention was focused behind at Tanner.
Electrum ducked around a booth and headed up a narrow aisle away from the carts and shops. Soon he was in the pavilion district where structures of various sizes filled the space in no apparent order. Some had walls, but most were just poles holding up a roof covering of canvas, interlaced branches, or solid wood.
He scanned the structures to get his bearings and spotted the perfect place to avoid Sterling’s discovery. Tucked in a corner away from the others stood an open structure. The pollywog hangout. Its weathered poles supported a thick, moss-covered roof. Tiny silver and gold banners fluttered from the ceiling, stirring memories.
Carvings covered the poles where pollywogs had left their initials and sometimes their artwork to mark their passage. His own initials were mixed somewhere in the jumble on one of the back poles.
He paused under the swinging signboard that read The Pollywogger’s Pastries. Neither Sterling nor Tanner w
ould set foot inside.
Heat and aroma from the fire pit in the back drew him inside. He picked out several pastries and a hot tea and headed for an old, heavy table on the side. Initials once pitted its surface. Now most of them were barely visible, worn down by the passing of many hands across its surface.
He slid onto the bench. Taking his time, he ate the hot roll. It tasted just as he remembered. Opening the silver library scroll, he began to read as he nibbled on a second roll.
He had just gotten to the part about unenchanting Trevor when a shadow fell over the page. His shoulder muscles tightened.
He looked up and smiled with relief. “Silverthorn. What a pleasure to see you.”
“Well, that’s good news. I thought you might be avoiding me. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Your room is vacant as if you were never there.”
“I left some memories behind.”
Silverthorn gave him a half smile and sat down. “Sterling has been asking about you.”
“Has he? He is a curious fellow. After tonight he will have all his answers, and I don’t suppose he will like them.”
Silverthorn leaned over the table and looked at the scroll. “Did we miss anything? Are you expecting any problems?”
“Just double checking everything.”
“Do you have everything you need?”
“Almost. I’ll pick up some equipment before I leave the market. Did you send everything ahead that you think you’ll need? There’s no second chances you know.”
“Everything I need is in that chest I sent.”
“Only one chest? You’re taking this idea of becoming a commoner rather seriously.”
Silverthorn laughed. “It will be more than enough.”
“Okay. I hope you know what you’re doing. Does Gilder have the box of gold dust from Amber?”
Silverthorn nodded. “He’s flying over with us tonight. Where are we meeting?”
“Top platform of the palace. Be there before sundown. But be careful and don’t let anyone follow you. I overheard Tanner talking to someone last evening. He knows we’re planning something, and that means Sterling knows. Whomever he was talking to has a plan to stop us.”
Silverthorn’s jaw tightened. “I’ll be careful. This has to work.” He started to leave then turned back. “If anything does go wrong tonight and I don’t make it to the Gold Realm, the chest and everything in it is yours.”
Electrum grimaced. “Thanks. At least I’ll have something to remember you by.” Then he smiled. “Stop worrying. Go find Gilder. Stay out of sight and out of trouble. I wouldn’t be going through with this if I didn’t believe it would work.”
He watched Silverthorn stride out of the shop. He would have made a strong king. With a sigh he turned back to the scroll.