It’s stayed warm ever since I found out about Analla and hasn’t bothered to cool down.
I can sell it. I’m certain I can gather at least three hundred and fifty gold coins for it, possibly more. My throat starts to close in on itself. I shake my head, clutching the pendant as I watch the pawn shop broker mill about with a feather duster in hand.
“No.” I march past the shop. Ican’tsell it. It’s all I have left of my mother—of Ember Coast. It’s the only way I’ll know Analla is still alive. It holds so many of my memories, things words canneverexplain.
And pearls are rare now. Ever since Ember Coast broke off from Thelanor, pearls have become harder to find, which has increased their value significantly. Ember Coast was famous for collecting and selling them.
But if you don’t sell it, Analla will die.
I stop again, an exasperated breath falling through my lips as my spectacles slip down my nose. A quiver starts in my bottom lip, but I force it to stop, swallowing my emotions and my pride.
Over my shoulder, I notice the pawn shop broker slipping into his coat. Oh my Orvena. This is my only chance. If I don’t do it now, I won’t have enough time to prepare in the morning.
Damn it. I hate that masked jerk for making me do this. I hate it even more that he might be the only person who’s shown even a smidge of interest in joining my side. All others before flat out declined. I’m not sure where else to look and I’ll never make it to the temple without someone who can handle a weapon. Even with him, failure is probable, but I have to give it a shot. If he backs out, I’ll run back to the shop first thing and get my necklace back.
I twist around and jog toward the shop, gripping the door handle and yanking it open.
The broker raises his head with alarm. “I’m just closing up,” he announces. “Can you return tomorrow?”
“I won’t have time tomorrow,” I respond as I approach the glass counter. Fiddling with my necklace again, I release a shaky breath. “I…um…I have something to sell.”
The man raises a bushy brow, studying my empty hands. “Well? Where is it?”
I reach for the back of my neck and unclasp the necklace, then place it on the counter gently. The tinyclinkon the glass may as well cause a massive crack in my heart.
The broker’s eyes widen as he looks from the necklace to me. “This better not be fake.”
I shake my head. “It’s not.”
He picks it up, eyes me warily, and then brings it to his mouth.
I immediately frown and ask, “What the shadows are you doing?”
“Testing if it’s real or not.”
He slips a protruding canine through the gaps between the gold ribbons so he can scrape the pearl with his tooth. Each scrape makes my heart break even more. I want to snatch it away from his grubby hands and run home. This was a stupid idea anyway. I can find something else at home to sell. Maybe Analla has some jewels or fancy dresses in her room somewhere.
The man pulls the necklace back and licks his teeth. “Huh.”
“What?”
“Grit on my teeth.” He sets it back on the counter. “Must be real.”
“So how much can I get for it?” My voice betrays my sadness.
He studies it once more, eyeballs me, then says, “One hundred coins.”
Is he fuckingkiddingme? That necklace is worthat leastthree hundred and fifty coins. “Do better. Three fifty.”
He gives me a mock chuckle. “Two fifty.”
I scoff. “Three hundredandsixty.”
“You’re being ridiculous,” he sputters.
“Listen. That pearl is from Ember Coast and has been infused with magic. The wearer can designate it to whoever they want to trace, and it’ll tell them if that person is in trouble. It warms to a certain degree so you’re left with no choice but to feel it. There’s a whole process and chant a sorcerer can use to activate it, but I’ll only share that if it’s bought. You won’t find a necklace like thisanywhereelse in the Commons—and if you’re haggling with me like this, I’m sure you’ll be able to sell it to someone a whole lot dumber than I am for double the price I’m asking.”
His smile fades, and he taps the counter with a chubby finger, studying the necklace again, contemplating. Sighing, he shifts on his feet and says, “Three hundred and sixty and that’s final.”
