Page 39

Story: A Forbidden Alchemy

If only.

“Fancy an earth Charmer, scared of bein’ underground,” muttered Scottie. “Maybe… maybe we got the wrong one?”

“Nah. I tailed her a good long while. She’s the spittin’ image of them posters. Look, she’s burned away her brand, see?”

“I dunno, Otto. Might be all for nothin’ if she can’t—”

“Shut up, Scottie.”

We walked interminably with our heads bowed and our backs hunched. With each passing second, I grew colder. The ceiling dripped constantly, sending rivulets past my collar. The tunnel floor lay beneath an inch of water, and the walls cracked and groaned every so often, a monster awakening as we slunk through its veins.

Scottie and Otto spoke as though they weren’t enclosed on all sides by the earth’s mantle.

I breathed in shallow bursts. I counted. I felt my heart squeeze and release in painful thrums as fear spiked and ebbed. I was plagued with images of who I’d be met with on the other side of this tunnel and what they might do. I reasoned these Craftsmen would not go to all this effort only to torture and kill me. Better the Miners Union than the Artisan government.Just do as they say, I told myself.

I ignored the way the earth crept into my nostrils, past my lips, into my eyes.

“I just don’t like the way she was lookin’ at him,” Otto was saying. He had a Northern drawl, a boyish levity.

“Well, you ain’t a proper pair yet, are you? The girl can look as much as she pleases, at whomever she pleases.”

“Shekissed me, though. Why’s she lookin’ at bloodyHank Shawleyif she’s kissin’ me?”

“Perhaps she got tired of waitin’ on you to grow some hair on your bullocks and knock on her door?”

“I’m tryin’ to time it right.”

“She bloody kissed you, Otto. A month ago. A bigger window I can’t foresee.”

“I’ve got a plan in mind.”

“Yeah? That plan involve Hank between your lady’s legs?”

“Shut up.”

“Take it from me, kid. You don’t want to settle down just yet. The day I married was me last day o’ peace.”

“Ha, you’re startin’ to sound like the boss.”

My ears pricked.

“You could stand to be a little more like him.”

“Yeah? Alone and angry?”

Images of my father swirled to mind, a bloated face and bloodied eyes.

“Nah,” Scottie grunted. “Boss ain’t lonely, he just don’t want a woman. No longer than a night’s worth, anyway.”

Otto chortled. “Can’t blame a fella. He’s got plenty who’re willin’.”

“Like I said, you could stand to be a little more like him.”

Finally, mercifully, the ground seemed to slope upward. The floor became slowly emptied of water. I slipped often, and Scottie’s hands pulled me upright each time.

“Easy, princess.”

I pulled my arm from his grasp. “Get off me.”

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