“Call me Fern, Satchel.”
“Yes, m’lady.”
Notwithstanding her furtive trips by the bounty board, Viv really hadn’t spent much time within the actual city of Murk. Apart from the distance, there wasn’t a lot she needed to do there, and the potential of running into Iridia—even given their temporary peace—usually put it out of her mind.
Now, though, she was eager to find out if the gnome brothers were still selling estate furniture.
With theCLOSEDsign posted on the door, she and Fern headed toward the fortress walls. They’d tried to convince Satchel to ride along in his bag, but he’d demurred, saying he preferred to stay back and read.
It occurred to Viv that she’d never really gone anywherewithFern before. Potroast tagged along, trotting by Fern’s side and goggling at everything with his pink tongue out.
“Hang on a second,” said Viv when they reached Sea-Song. “I think Maylee might like to come. You don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not. If you don’t work harder at worshipping that woman, she’s going to escape. Then how am I supposed to get free scones? I’ve got a vested interest.”
It took more than a second, but Viv returned with Maylee alongside.
“If the bakery burns down with Helsa runnin’ things,I’m holdin’ you responsible,” the dwarf groused, but Viv was warmed by the smile underneath it.
The sun reflected off the placid sea in streaks of blinding white, and heat shimmered off the sand. Down on the dry flats of the beach, she could see folk sitting on blankets or under big umbrellas made of sailcloth. Some even braved the waves, swimming and bobbing on the swells like corks.
All three of them were relieved to pass underneath the arch and into the relative cool of the walled city, where the shadows cast pools of refuge.
“First, the most important thing,” said Viv solemnly. She hooked a thumb at the chandler’s shop—the one where she’d first seen Balthus all those days ago.
Grinning at Fern’s quizzical expression, she led them inside, where she purchased a new chimney for the hurricane lamp and asked to have it wrapped to pick up later.
“Well, at least theimportantthing is out of the way,” said Fern dryly. “You and that cracked lamp.”
Next, they visited the gnome brothers’ lot. There was indeed a fresh variety of furniture, ranging in condition from irreparably decrepit to surprisingly sturdy and clean.
Maylee held up an ornate bookend. “Huh. Some kind of seabird?”
“Turn it on its side. Maybe it’s a rabbit,” said Viv.
Fern snorted a laugh and examined the table it had been sitting on.
The dwarf tilted it sideways and shot Viv a suspicious look, at which Viv chuckled. “Tell you later. But maybe hold on to that. Bookstores need bookends, right?”
“What can I help you ladies with?” asked the beardedbrother, while his clean-shaven sibling fussed over a crate of knickknacks.
“Any carpets?” asked Fern, still running a paw over the table.
“Fartoo many,” replied the gnome.
“Acleanone,” said Viv, giving him a meaningful stare.
He looked affronted and motioned Fern over to a stack of rolled rugs and some wider ones draped across the back of a sturdy wooden chair.
Together, they picked through the furnishings, cookware, tools, and oddments. Potroast had to be dissuaded from nibbling the hems of several old dresses piled on an ottoman.
Fern kept coming back to the table.
“What do you have in mind?” asked Viv.
“I’m just thinking about the front of the shop and the new books.”
She didn’t elaborate further, but Viv saw something in her eyes. Somethingalmostlike tentative excitement.
