Abruptly, Madelaine stopped and went still.
Jack did a quick step, so as not to run her over, and followed her gaze.
Across the way, a group of tall, silver-skinned beings stood behind a curved, translucent counter. Their eyes—if that’s what they were—glowed faintly, like moonlight trapped under glass.
They weren’t talking or moving much at all.
The crowd gave them space, walking at a distance around the front of their counter as if they didn’t want to breathe the same air.
“Those are the Archivists,” Madelaine said quietly. “Those are the entities we need to get the next clue from.”
“Do you see all the other interesting people here in the market dodging the Archivists and their stall?” Jack asked. That seemed like a big warning sign.
“Yes. However, they have the key to the locker that holds our next item and the clue to the next Paladin Courier adventure.”
“Sounds official, so I guess we have to talk to them. What language do they speak?”
“Honestly, I don’t even know if they speak a language. But the note in the Verdara clue said they understand many languages. Here’s hoping earthling is one of them.”
“Great,” Jack said. “Let’s go ask.”
Madelaine didn’t move. Jack looked at her. She looked tense.
“What?” he asked.
“You have to talk to them, remember? They won’t speak to me.”
He blinked. “Right. I knew that. Why won’tthesebeings talk to you? And will they cut you down or pick a fight with me if you say words out loud that they can hear?”
She smiled. “No. I can speak, but they only deal with men. It’s because they don’t recognize females as intellectual enoughto converse with in a business arena. Apparently, in their world, women have other important purposes.”
“And I’m not going to ask about that either.”
“It’s just their version of a balanced living arrangement. Men conduct business in this market, and women rule their hearth and home. Not at all like Malvoraxis Veil. No one even knows what their women look like. No one’s ever seen one. Here, they just have different responsibilities, is what I’ll say.”
“Uh-huh. Crazy. Still not asking for any clarification on anyone’s responsibilities.” Jack leaned closer to Madelaine, as if he needed to exert his male dominance over her for her safety on this planet. “What else?”
“Here, they can know I’m the Paladin Courier, but I cannot conduct business with them,” Madelaine said. “I don’t think they’ll speak to me, but like I said, I can whisper in your ear.”
“And whatever you whisper to me, you don’t even know if they will understand the words I’m repeating, right?”
“Well, yes. That’s right. I think your best bet is to engage them, ask them in a roundabout way for the key to the locker for the Paladin Courier and see how that works.”
“Do we have to pay for it? Any stone, charm or non-Paladin credit card we need to use?”
Madelaine smiled. “No. This was paid for long ago. Just retrieve the locker key and we’ll go fetch the package.”
“Awesome. Got it.” He nodded once. “Very helpful, very clear, love the mystery and drama.”
“Jack—”
“No, no,” he said, rolling his shoulders like he was about to step into a bar fight instead of an alien information exchange. “I’ve got this.”
Madelaine frowned. “You don’t even know what to say, do you?”
“Sure I do.” He flashed her a grin. “I’m gonna wing it.”
Before she could stop him, Jack let go of her hand and strode straight toward the Archivists.
