His mother pooh-poohed that.“Well, I’m sure you’ll keep him on track.Anyway, you know he doesn’t care a toss for college.”
“He likes his classes about poetry and books… and art.”Dorrimin added that last one thoughtfully.“And the lectures from scholars visiting the city.But you’re right, he doesn’t give a—he doesn’t care about college.”Dorrimin could not saytossand then imagine Tommick tossing off, not with his mother right there.“It’s what the mountaintoppers do, though, isn’t it?To prepare them for work and parties.Like Guild training, but for politics and such things.”Dorrimin abruptly realized that with Tommick’s older siblings working for the business, and his younger sibling still too young to do much, the Fortunes might intend Tommick to go into politics.The position of City Magistrate was more or less filled by people from different topper families taking turns serving out the terms.The Council of the City of Eladia was much the same, despite the elections.Both were like the Guild Assembly, really, except Guild members mostly weren’t toppers.
Being involved in politics meant Tommick would spend more time up top, at meetings and parties and fancy gatherings, and less time spent whiling away his afternoons with Dorrimin or at pubs.
“He might go into politics.”Dorrimin’s chest was hollow.“Or they might send him overseas to help with the importing and exporting side of things.”
“They might,” his mother agreed, “unless they had good reason not to.Or he might become like a lot of other middle children of rich families and do nothing.Or he could strike out on his own.”
Dorrimin sucked in a breath.“And go where?”
“Anywhere.Although I suspect Tommick likes the city too much to want to leave it.”
“His friends,” Dorrimin agreed sadly over the sound of his mother’s sigh.“He’s never even had a job.He’d struggle.”
“Possibly,” his mother agreed again.“But he could have help if he wanted to try.You wouldn’t help him?”
“Of course I would.”Dorrimin sent her an irritated glare.“But he wouldn’t ask.And he has his college friends who are also toppers.One of them would probably give him a job.”
“As I keep saying, there are Guild apprentices who take courses at the college too.You could, if you wanted.Once we hire someone and they’re trained, you’ll have more time.”
“I know what I need to know,” Dorrimin insisted, as he usually did.But he did glance to the main counter and the doodles around his receipt notations.
“Dorri dear, that is not how innovations happen.You should keep your mind open.You’re a gifted chemist, but you would be more creative if you saw more of the world, or at least more of the city.You need to get out more.”
Outwas loud.Often chaotic.Dorrimin didn’t care for it.
But.“Do you think it’s quieter up near the top?”
His mother took a moment to think about it.
“The ride up was windier, as I recall.I used to put on my best and go with your father to their pubs.Not their restaurants.Those are far too pricy with how picky he is about food.But they built sections of wall to channel the winds away toward the mills to the west or out to the east over the farmlands.Their rows of big houses are quite sturdy, with solid walls.Inside those houses, they probably don’t hear much of anything of the rest of the city.”
The farmlands started on the inside of the Second Wall and continued beyond, all the way to the Third Wall, which Dorrimin had never seen.The walls had been built ages ago to allow the city to defend itself from the monsters roving the greater countryside, but none of those had been near the city for a long time.
He’d never even been to the Second Wall, and only seen the First, the innermost wall at the base of the mountain, as a child.He’d never really thought about it.
“Is it quieter outside the walls?”
His mother shrugged.“Never been.”Most in the city hadn’t, for why would they need to?Although farmers and traders traveled back and forth all the time.“But you could do that too, if you like.Go wander a bit.Maybe meet some of the farmers who grow our herbs and the plants we break down into components.Or the mineral miners.Your father could take you the next time he goes.He probably should anyway.It’s not necessary to visit and befriend them, but he likes to keep things amicable.”
Dorrimin’s father, like Dorrimin, preferred not to be interrupted from his work, but he still took the time once or twice a year to travel down and bring his suppliers gifts from the shop.Both to acknowledge the quality of their work and to keep them happy, in case another Guild tried to start an incident.Dorrimin didn’t understand scheming but it was something some people did.Guilds as well as the heads of particular workshops generally tried to avoid conflicts by sticking to the rules about competition and traditions, but conflicts did happen.
The Alsarinaz Apothecary was a part of the Chemists Guild, with license to make and sell common household goods.But there was some overlap with the Chemists Guild members who made medical potions and elixirs, like hair tonics for scalp conditions.And, though they were in a separate Guild, the Cooks Guild, which included bakers as well as confectioners, also made some oils and herbals mixes of their own.Conflicts usually occurred when someone pushed farther out into another Guild’s territory from one of the overlap areas, or usurped it altogether.Decades ago, the Perfumers had accused the Chemists Guild of such a thing and there was still some bad blood about it.
Dorrimin’s family could make scents to add to their products, but not to sell on their own.Though for most scents they needed, they simply paid Perfumers to make them and thus peace was maintained.At least, for their side of the Guild.The Medicals might be doing anything.
Someday, all of that would become Dorrimin’s business, and he wasn’t sure he was the right one to handle things like that.Though Ollis would have been no help even had she been inclined to chemistry.She could be blunter than Dorrimin.Meanwhile, Dorrimin was thoughtful but not friendly.
“You know who would help keep the frowns off your face, maybe smooth the way when you struggle to understand a social situation?”his mother suggested, startling him by correctly reading his expression.He could tell from her tone she was going to say Tommick.
“Am I that unpleasant?”Dorrimin glanced out the window again but the pub Tommick had gone to was not on this level, or so he had said.
“Intimidating, dear.Just a little.Regulars know not to take it personally, but….”
“Part of being a successful head of a workshop and a Master in a Guild is knowing how to make nice and be political.”Dorrimin sighed heavily.“Not just hiding in the basement to make potions,” he added, glum about it.
“And you need more fresh air and sunshine.”Her settled tone was alarming, and Dorrimin realized why when his mother went on.“Weather permitting, you and Tommick should go on a little trip to see more of the city and surrounding lands.I’ll ask Tommick about it when I see him again.”
