Wishing

By Sara Tiger Ryan

The Younger Fates Entire are bored...so they wish for a fun wish to grant...
"Hey, everyone! Our fun wish is here!"
Eager to meet their fun wish client, the Younger Fates trek to the mortal realms to Kissing City, Conyor Ness.
They find their client, KC Jinn, is an elitedaughter with an attitude to make the Dark Fates proud. She wants to be Queen mostly to spite Dassen Yght, who is also running for the rulership of the country.
Despite Wonder and friends find the elitedaughter's brother, Treblen, amusing, herm comes away considering not granting the wish.
After a couple more discouraging visits to KC Jinn, Wonder throws the 'not-so-fun' wish in the fire. Unfortunately, it refuses to burn.
Stuck with the wish, Wonder and friends try to find a way to work the granting without compromising any of their natures. While the 'fun wish' becomes more and more troublesome and unwieldy each mortal minute. Even so, they are keeping the granting limping along until Dassen Yght endears himself to the elder Dark Fates.
Now Wonder and friends have no choice but to grant the wish--or let Conyor Ness go to the Dark Fates and find themselves and their elder sibs unmade.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sara Tiger Ryan
• Release date: Apr 21, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310809521

Sara Tiger Ryan

Sara Tiger Ryan was born in New Hampshire. She now lives in Florida with her 2 cats. Make that minus one charming boy cat, add in a Mama cat who brought me 5 kittens--all of them adorable! Sara started writing novels in 1973 in high school study hall and hasn't stopped (for long) yet. She started out writing fantasy and added mystery. She also writes metaphysical non-fiction. Ryan was active in the small press in the mid 90's, and had her own 'zine, Star Triad.

Book preview

Prologue

The Wishing Fates Entire

The Wishing Fates, one of the Triads that make up the

Turning Fates, also considered one of The Lost Fates.

They see to the wishes of all mortals: human, and creature.

(from Shimary Runesmith’s

Treatise of the Fates Entire)

No one wishes for anything interesting any more.

You could grant a few stupid wishes, Wishmerry answered herm’s eldest sibling, then wished a crocheted, pale-yellow shawl around herm’s shoulders, considered, and wished the color a shade closer to butter.

Ha. Sati, herm’s eldest sibling and Wishing Fate, slid further down on the, currently, lilac-on-lilac-silk-brocade lounging sofa, displacing several betasseled mint and pale melon, satin and lace pillows. Sati draped a plump arm over the high end of the sofa. I wouldn’t have any to give our favorite Wild Fate then.

Wishmerry settled bare feet on their lilac nubbed-silk hassock and nestled more comfortably in the matching overstuffed chair. They’ve gotten lazy, coming to us for wishes now, instead of listening themselves.

A scrap of parchment wafted in from the mortal world and through the sky-blue chiffon, silver-star-spattered curtain hanging over the opening. Sati caught the scrap with practiced deftness, scanned the wish the paper held, then flicked the scrap to herm’s middle sibling.

Wishmerry read the paper and made a face, complaining, A pot of gold, how unoriginal.

It’s either a pot of gold, or Thud Dunderhead or Mindless Hussy to marry them.

Sati, Wishmerry chided with a laugh.

Well?

What else have we gotten lately?

Sati pulled a handful of paper and cloth scraps (some charred as if burning their wish would help) from under the couch cushions and wafted them over. Where’s our youngest sib? Maybe herm has some enthusiasm left.

Wonderbright is sleeping. Wishmerry began sorting the wishes into piles: pots of gold; inappropriate lovers and mates; wishes that, if granted, would make the mortal miserable--

If you’re going to be industrious, here are the rest. Sati wafted a second cloud of wishes into Wishmerry’s lap.

Herm continued sorting: a small pile of the mortals who wanted a carriage or some other large, usually inappropriate, object; a pile for the children who wanted a puppy or some other creature. One from a dog who wanted a decent master. Wishmerry set that one in herm’s pocket to attend to later.

A swirl of light danced through the room.

Yes, we do, Wishmerry said, and the youngest Dancing Fate twirled out of the light. Wishmerry handed herm a small handful of wishes and watched Danceri whirl around the room, reading, laughing, and making faces. Elfin-faced, slim because herm never stayed still, the youngest Dancing Fate wore amber shimmer-silk that flickered like golden fire. A long spill of fine, red-gold waves sprayed around herm’s face like a mini sunburst with each twirl.

Oh, good, Danceri said finally, dropped the rest of the handful of wishes in their fireplace and vanished.

Was there really a good wish in there? Sati asked, sitting up slightly.

The paper said: Dance.

Then the mortal is in trouble--or about to dance to the Pale Fates. Or both.

Wishmerry finished sorting the last wishes, then called out, Damot.

The youngest Wild Fate appeared immediately. Sati handed herm a handspan-round-basket of wishes, to which Wishmerry added a handful. Damot plopped down on their ecru and lilac Hyllyn-intricate-design carpet to sort through the basket. A tousle of copper-blond curls fell forward, hiding herm’s merry aquamarine eyes.

Most of these aren’t worth bothering with, Damot complained after a handful of scraps.

I’ve been saying that myself, Sati answered.

Damot looked up, grinned and said, I wish for a box of shalaka bonbons.

You stole that wish, Sati chided with a laugh, even as a small wooden box appeared next to the youngest Wild Fate. Damot, also called Trickery, fished out a plump shalaka candy, then tossed them each one. Where’s Bri?

Sleeping.

You three are going to get fat sitting around eating bonbons all day and night, Damot teased, licked the shalaka off herm’s fingers, and resumed rooting through the basket of wishes.

We already are fat, Sati said, and happy.

Damot waggled a finger at herm. Oh, no, the Wishing Fates are only happy when they are granting wishes.

Wishmerry snorted and poked the pile of wishes for pots of gold with herm's toe. The pile flurried itself into the fireplace and vanished in a puff of flames.

What were those? Damot asked, tucking two wishes in herm’s fringed, amber suede waist pouch.

What about the pile of inappropriate lovers? Sati prompted.

Wishmerry wafted them over to Damot. Just in case you can wreak some havoc with one or two of those.

Damot finished the basket and blew the remaining contents into the fire, then inspected the new pile, sorting them into three piles. Some for us, some for Kijo, some for Sily--

Dammie, you are incorrigible.

Damot bowed without getting up. Thank you, I’ll tell Damaris and Damar you said so, they’ll be relieved; my older sibs despair of me all the time.

A sliver of darkness brushed the edges of the room. I heard my name.

It’s me, Damot answered. There’s a couple wishes for you.

Chay is with me.

I have one for herm, too.

You and Change are both welcome, Sati said. A little darkness might keep the stupidest wishes away for awhile.

The youngest Dark and Sinister Fate appeared, and joined Damot on the hearth rug sorting wishes, giggling over them, and inventing devious ways of granting them.

Wishmerry provided another box of shalaka bonbons for the trio.

A moment later, herm’s youngest sibling entered the room yawning. Oh, good, company!

Come join us, Damot said immediately.

Wonderbright did, had a bonbon, read a few wishes, then complained, These are all stupid wishes.

Just our kind.

Here’s another, Sati said, tossing a freshly arrived wish over. Wonder caught it and turned the leaf over several times.

Damot hooted. Now you’ve done it whether you grant the wish or not.

Wonder stuck herm’s tongue out, then read the wish, ‘I wish my mother would never serve me oatmeal again as long as I live.’ All pricked into a leaf.

The youngest Sinister Fate grimaced. You granted it.

It will give you something to do, Wonder answered, with a giggle, when the boy is older and hungry and wants to take his wish back.

Change made another face, but took the leaf and pocketed it. The four divvied up the wishes they decided deserved to be granted--for good or mischief--then blew the rest into the fire.

Oh, a voice said from nowhere visible.

There’s plenty for you, Sati answered.

Is Wonder here? The youngest Pale Fate faded into the room in a froth of silver air.

Sati tossed herm a forearm-square leather box.

Shadow caught the box and peered inside. What are these?

Wishes for death.

Shadow dropped the box and it vanished. That isn’t why I came. Shadow eyed them a second, then turned to their youngest sibling. Can I talk to you?

Why not?

Let’s all go, Damot said, catching the arms of all the young Fates. The five of them vanished.

I suppose they’re up to something, Sati said lazily.

With Shadowpromise who knows. Maybe tomorrow.

It’s been a string of tomorrows and--

Wonder popped back in giggling. We thought of something! Herm paused, then chortled and said, I wish for a fun wish for us to grant!

Speak for yourself, Wishmerry said . . . a bit too late.

Giggling still, Wonder vanished again.

I hope it really is, Sati said, then wished hermself another box of shalaka bonbons, a light-hearted romance, and settled back to read.

WonderBright

Chapter 0

Waiting

Wonder sat on the hearth rug--thick, silver-gray keiler fur today--sorting through the latest basket of wishes from the mortal realms.

Herm had expected to find their fun wish two baskets ago. Was it herm’s wishing or granting not working? Herm drew out a promising-looking wish, one written on a shirt tail . . . shirt from the desired man.

Wonder sighed and set the shirt aside. A wish penciled on dark brown bark making the words difficult to see, never mind read. Lots of wishes on scraps of paper and cloth. A-- Wow, someone sent a whole box full of wishes.

I noticed, Sati answered looking up from herm’s embroidery.

What are you making?

I thought I’d try embroidering my latest wish.

Your wish or for someone?

For an older woman who wants her family to come visit for the summer.

Wonder disentangled from the basket and sorted piles of wishes to see what the embroidery on the maybe shawl looked like. Flowers and vines and fruit. A sun. Stick people.

It’s a suggesting wish to her family, not a make-them-go wish; I don’t want them grumpy when they get there.

Why did you make them sticks, though?

So they wouldn’t have faces. Because I’m too lazy to do full round people. No good wishes yet?

I didn’t look in the box yet. Wonder returned to the rug and basket of wishes. The box overflowed with the same wish over and over: ‘I wish I was thin’. Wonder muttered under herm’s breath.

My thought exactly, Wishmerry said, coming into the room with a sapphire blue platter of steaming spiral rolls. Anyone hungry?

Even if I wasn’t, Sati said.

Wonder sprang up to get a cinnamon spiral roll, tumbling the box of wishes into a granting.

Wonder, Wishmerry scolded, even while letting herm have herm’s choice of spiral rolls.

Flushing guiltily, herm returned to the pile of fluttering wishes to see just how many had turned over--meaning he had inadvertently granted. But first, herm attended to the spiral roll. Only seven turned over.

You’d better check to see if the girl really is as fat as she thinks, then, Sati said, chose a spiral roll, and set the embroidered wish aside.

What’s that? Wishmerry asked. Wonder didn’t listen to Sati’s answer, herm cautiously lifted the star-spangled veil covering from their portal to the mortal world and hunted the box-of-wishes girl. Herm found her sitting on a sway-bottom sofa in a stiffly appointed parlor.

Wow! he appreciated, then said, I don’t think even all twenty-five wishes would be too many.

Wishmerry came to look over herm’s shoulder. Now that is plumpness. I wonder why she’s wishing to be thin.

Maybe because she’s breaking the sofa.

Wishmerry laughed and tweaked Wonder’s ear. Then she ought to just wish for a sturdier sofa.

I call to the Wild Fates

for nothing the same--

(a Conyor Ness rhyme)

Three more baskets of wishes and that many Fatedays later, Wonder pushed all the current wishes aside. None of these look like our fun wish either.

Next time you could wish for your fun wish to glow as it comes in, Wishmerry teased.

Wonder fished around in the basket of wishes, found a smooth, plump-feeling one, pulled it out, yipped and threw the dead frog back through the veil. Did you even look at these before you put them in here? herm complained to Sati.

You said you wanted first dibs.

Not on dead frog wishes.

Sati looked up from herm’s latest manuscript and blinked at herm. Someone wished for a dead frog?

No, someone sent a wish in a dead frog.

Ugh. I hope you didn’t grant it.

I threw it back. Herm tipped the basket over on the floor. I wish for a stick. A stick appeared in herm’s hand and Wonder poked cautiously at the pile of wishes. Thankfully. Sati!

Now what have I done.

There’s someone’s hand in here.

Mortals sure are getting grim with their wishes lately. Did you touch it?

Ick. No. He stared at the hand. The fingers had curled around the message written (in blood) on the palm so he couldn’t read the wish. Not that, probably, herm wanted to. Should I call Shadow?

Call Sily, herm will appreciate it.

Ick. Herm called the youngest Dark Fate anyway.

Sily arrived in a shiver of icy cold complaining, Don’t you ever think I’m busy?

We have a wish that is obviously for you or one of your kin, Sati said, and Wonder poked the hand towards his friend with herm’s wish-stick.

Sily snatched the hand up. Wow! This is great! Maybe even Mal will want to do this one hermself! Sily vanished humming a morbid ballad about a mortal girl who had drowned herself over her two-timing lover.

Wonder stared after herm’s friend a second, then returned to the pile of wishes even more cautiously, and unearthed a shoe sole. Herm hesitated before poking at it with the wish-stick. When the shoe flopped over, empty, Wonder loosed a breath of relief.

It’s a dancer’s shoe, Wishmerry said from herm’s favorite chair, as a new flurry of wishes wafted through their curtain.

Sati caught the wishes in herm’s latest, empty, shalaka fudge box. Here’s a load of ‘I-wish-I-hadn’t-married Thud Blunders and Mindless Hussies, Sati said. One for you, Merry, a whole list of a wish. One for me--written in a Miss Nellie . . . which I shall read first. Sati set herm’s embroidery aside and read the title of the Miss Nellie book: ‘Miss Nellie Does The Fates Entire.’ Sati hmphed. Not that I noticed.

You ought to really hate it or laugh till you can’t breathe, Wishmerry said of the novel. Toss my wish over here before you start.

The book isn’t my fun wish? Wonder just had to ask.

Sati laughed. No, little sib, it’s far too racy for you.

Wonder pouted a few seconds, watched Wishmerry read the list-wish out of the corner of herm’s eyes, and, for Wishmerry’s roll of eyes, didn’t ask to see the wish.

Dark Fates, Wishmerry complained. it’s a whole list of attributes she wants in a male to love her. Ha! But no where does she specify human. What fun! And there is only one creature I know that will cover the unconditional love.

After a few seconds of silence, Wonder just had to ask, What?

You can come watch. Wishmerry paused, then chortled. Oh, good, she specifies big and husky. Herm’s middle sib folded the wish with intent, then bounced up and vanished.

I call to the Wishing Fates

for luck and for gain.

(a Conyor Ness rhyme)

Chapter 1

The Fun Wish

A seemingly endless stream of mortal days later, Wonder, when herm came out into their main room from herm’s nap, found a round-topped trunk full of wishes sitting on the hearth rug. Is the trunk part of a wish?

The bottom part holds a wish for Shad, Sati answered from where herm lounged on a red and black striped satin Sri couch, with one end curved high like a built in pillow and one end low. A thick, silky black fur throw covered Sati’s feet. The top part holds our new wishes. Sati turned the page of herm’s Miss Nellie novel and made a face.

It’s been forever.

It’s been a mortal fortnight, Sati corrected. Lift the veil and see how Merry is doing with herm’s big, husky lover wish.

Obediently Wonder pulled the veil to the mortal realms aside. The image blurred, then focused on herm’s middle sib walking with a high-browed, golden maned, elegant-snouted, chest-high dog with a forearm-long enormously plumed tail.

Oh.

Sati laughed. Perfect. Herm found everything the girl asked for, including the golden blond mane of hair.

It’s as big as a pony.

So luckily Merry isn’t bringing it here.

The dog pranced a bit, galloped off, and returned. Wishmerry laughed and tussled with the dog over the stick it had brought back. The dog bounced, ran away, ran back, bounced some more. Wishmerry threw the stick and the dog bounded after it barking happily.

It’s awful bouncy.

It’s a puppy.

You mean it’s going to get bigger?

Sati laughed. That’s usually what puppy means.

Wonder returned to the trunk of wishes, started to plunge herm’s hand in, stopped and wished for a stick instead. Herm picked up the trunk and Sati said, Don’t tip that over, I don’t want a dead bird in the middle of the floor.

Wonder set the trunk down with a thunk. Dead bird?

A little girl’s pet bird died, she sent it to Dee.

And you put all the wishes on top of it?

Most of ours are in the top tray. Lift that out. Only a few fell in on the bird.

Wonder lifted the top tray out of the trunk. There’s a whole pile in the bottom.

Call Shad, herm won’t mind getting the wishes out for you. Sati stood.

Where are you going?

Once in a long while, I go into the mortal realms to grant a wish. There.

Is it a fun wish?

No, it’s a boring wish for a very old man. Sati blew herm a kiss, then vanished. After a second, Wonder called Shad.

Shad made a face to see the dead bird. The bird is already in Skyland. We don’t take bodies. But Shadow pulled the bird body out of the trunk for herm . . . and sailed it back into the mortal realm.

You didn’t throw it back to the little girl, did you? Wonder asked worriedly, thinking how upset the little girl would be to find her dead pet bird back on her pillow.

No, I threw it at someone who deserves a dead bird landing on their head. Shadow sat cross-legged next to him. Did our fun wish come in yet?

Not unless it’s in here.

They both sorted through the trunk of wishes.

Oh-oh, Shadow said midway.

What?

Someone is wishing their mother dead and she’s already on Kee’s list for next week. You’ll probably get a whole barrel of wishes that say: I wish I hadn’t wished that.

These are all worse than ever. Wonder pushed the pile of wishes toward the fire. I wish all the boring wishes would burn up leaving only the fun and exciting wishes. A puff of flame answered, leaving a lone grimy, scrap of butcher paper. Wonder picked it up eagerly and read the words, I wish I could come Home. He carefully didn’t turn the paper over as he handed it to Shad, who folded the paper once.

Are you going to grant it?

It’s from a little girl whose drunk parents are beating her every day. I’m going to ask Kee if I can get her early.

That wasn’t any kind of fun wish.

A dark, chill slither of a question brushed the air.

There weren’t any wishes for you this time, Wonder answered.

Sily, long, straight black hair bound back with black ribbons, appeared between them and the hearth anyway. Shad, come see what we found.

Wonder snapped herm’s head up. A fun wish?

No, something for Shad.

Shad didn’t move.

A thing you’ll like, Sily said a bit grumpily holding herm’s hand down promptingly. After a few minutes, Shad allowed Sily to pull herm to herm’s feet and they both vanished.

A breath later, Sati returned looking satisfied and settled back on herm’s red and black striped lounging couch.

Wonder fell back into a pile of freshly wished pillows and said, I wish you’d hurry up with my fun wish!

Thunk! A scroll weighted with four dangles of beads and coins fell into Wonder’s lap.

Sati?

Not I, little sib.

Cautiously Wonder unrolled the scroll, read, and whooped. It’s here!

Let’s see.

Wonder held the wish a second before getting reluctantly to herm’s feet and bringing the wish to herm’s eldest sibling. Sati tousled herm’s hair before taking the wish, scanning the scroll and making faces.

Don’t you think it’s my fun wish? Wonder had to ask, when Sati rolled herm’s eyes and stifled a laugh.

If you think it’s your fun wish, it’s your fun wish. Sati handed the scroll back.

Wonder played with the dangle of beads and coins a second then made hermself ask, You don’t want it?

No, little bit, I don’t want it. And Merry is still busy with herm’s husky, handsome love wish. It’s all yours. Sati started to go back to reading, Wonder took a quick step back, ready to whirl around happily. Sati set herm’s book back down.

Wonder froze. Do you want it after all?

Sati smiled slightly. No, love, the wish is all yours. With a little advice. Look at the situation before you grant the wish, and, at the risk of a major sulk: make sure it’s a wish you’re able to grant before you commit to it.

Wonder half-turned away. Why did you make faces?

Sati laughed. Because of the name for one; for herm’s attitude, for two.

Wonder reread the wish. The person sounds . . .

Arrogant, spoiled, difficult, bratty, brash. Never mind the affront of putting coins on the wish as if herm could buy our favor.

Wonder tapped the gold coins making them chime. I thought they were just for decoration. Gold coins, violet and amber beads, bells. Because herm’s name is Jinn?

That, yes, because, even if you are not acquainted with the Jinn Family, I am.

He read the signature, KC Jinn, then address, Whimsy Corners, Conyor Ness.

While you’re there, check and see how my statue is working.

You already know KC? herm asked disappointedly.

No, the statue is in the town square, and the last time I was there was a few hundred years ago.

All right. Wonder read the wish again, whirled around. and took a breath.

Sati warned again, Look first.

All right. But first-first, herm had a promise to keep. Hey, everyone, guess what! Our fun wish finally came!

Chapter 2

The Trek

Spale year of 1183

Season of All the Fates Entire 1

Younger Fates Entire 1

Teasing Moon (full), SkittersDelightday

Whimsy Corners, Conyor Ness

First, Wonder brought his four friends (Shad had been gathering souls, but Dani had come in herm’s stead) to check Sati’s statue, so he wouldn’t have to remember later. Herm landed them directly into wet.

Sily vanished, Dammie yelped and laughed, Dani danced around the rim of the fountain chortling. Wonder put up an umbrella of magic, letting the water in the fountain splash down around herm, and inspected herm’s eldest sibling’s work and magic. Chay stayed half in the Bright Realm and stood out in the square letting the few passing mortals walk through herm.

I think the magic is dimming, Chay said.

It is not. Why do you say that?

Because no one looks happy out here.

Sati said herm made it to keep time stable here.

Then maybe it’s working too well.

Ch-ay.

It looks to me as if it’s holding the weather in place.

Weather? Wonder glanced at Chay again. Chay pointed up. Wonder glanced that way but all herm could see was fountain water pouring down and splashing on herm’s shield.

Rain, glorious, rain! Dammie sang, and joined Chay out in the square, whirling around and among the mortals. A little girl saw herm and clapped her hands. Dammie blew the child a kiss and kept twirling. Wonder patted the statue, left the fountain and found hermself no less wet.

You mean its making a big fountain in the sky? he asked Chay.

Chay laughed. No, silly, it’s rain coming down from the clouds.

Wonder looked up and received a splat of water in the eye. Why? Should we wait till it stops?

Why? Dammie pulled herm further out into the rain and through a puddle. When Wonder complained, Dammie laughed, No, it’s fun. Here, splash. After several rounds of coaxing, with Chay joining in, the three of them splashed their way, puddle to puddle, giggling and singing Dammie’s rain song, toward the feel of the scroll’s writer.

Oh, look, it’s the dog who wished for a kind master.

The dog bounded up and Wonder scratched behind its ears until its new owner called it back.

A streamer of sun broke through the cloud and caught them in a pool of light. People began streaming out of doorways and from under booth awnings. A group in motley claimed the nearest street corner and began a skit that made no sense to Wonder. On the next street corner, a girl danced with knives--which seemed awfully dangerous. Dani joined her for several rounds--not that she noticed.

When they turned that corner, Wonder found hermself staring at a building made of a mish-mash of materials and painted a whole rainbow of gaudy colors. What is that place?

Chay pointed. The sign says it’s the Jinn Crier.

Crier seemed an odd name, but Wonder made no comment. It wasn’t his Jinn anyway. Dani gave herm’s arm an impatient tug and Wonder left the sight of the amazing building and continued down the now crowded street.

The next building that caught herm’s attention kept changing color. Wonder stared until he saw the magic behind the change.

Now that is ostentatious, Chay said, and Wonder turned his attention to where the youngest Sinister Fate pointed. A matron essayed towards them. Bouncing on bosom enough for two, her big-as-a-fist pendant flashed several eye-hurting colors and flares of magic-made sparks.

That is gaudy, Dammie corrected. Raggie, come see.

The youngest Gaudy Fate arrived a breath later, admired the pendant, and joined them on their walk.

Two streets later, they encountered a craggy-faced man with the ugliest vest Wonder had ever seen. Herm considered wishing the vest nicer--until herm realized the vest was made of tiny pillows containing weak warding spells, and supposed the vest was for protection rather than style.

The craggy-faced man veered through the next doorway. A second later, he backed out (nearly on top of herm and herm’s friends), followed by a man dressed neatly in forest green and burnt orange.

Yes, we can protect people from their imagination, but you wouldn’t like it, the neatly dressed man said.

The ugly-vested man puffed up. It is not my imagination, Warrior Mage.

Especially someone who is going to bad-mouth us as we do. Get lost, Tanner.

When I turn up dead, then you’ll be sorry.

Not much.

The craggy-faced man stalked away muttering. At the first touch of wish-magic, Wonder blocked his ears. Giggling, Chay and Dammie pulled herm down the street.

Luckily you didn’t listen, Chay said, giggling still. It isn’t a wish you could have granted.

Why not? he sulked.

All three of his friends laughed, then Dammie said, For one, it wasn’t a wish anatomically possible for a mortal to achieve.

Wonder glanced between herm’s friends, but none of them volunteered to explain, only giggled more. A moment later, Sily rejoined them, also giggling.

Their next road stopped. Just stopped. In front of the ugliest building Wonder had ever seen--all gray, lumpy stone with slits for windows. He stared a moment, then backed away, and Chay touched them all to the next street over. They landed in front of a theater that promised a performance of Carius’s Cairyn’s play: ‘Ae Kashil’ that evening at dusk.

That sounds like fun, Wonder said. Herm had watched a few of the Dragon Lord’s plays through the veil--in Sri Posh when the plays were new though, not in this time.

There’s one I like, Raggie said, pointing. The building went up five stories, bridged over a building below it, then came down on the other side in stilts. Staring at the building, Wonder stumbled over a mortal crouched on the sidewalk painting a scene of . . . the Wild Fates.

Hmph, Dammie commented. That doesn’t look anything like me. Dammie scuffed the face off the woman’s painting.

Hey, she objected. Watch where you’re stepping! Then she looked up and blinked, scanned the area and hunched her shoulders high.

They giggled as they continued on: past a school for wizards, a clothier’s shop full of so many colors of cloth that Wonder had trouble seeing the outfits displayed, and an Emporium of Knowledge.

Herm peered inside. A young woman sat at a desk reading something to a old man who looked exceedingly grumpy. At the end, the old man stood, handed the woman a coin and grumped his way towards the door.

I said I could tell you what you wanted to know, the woman called after him, I didn’t say you’d like it.

I already knew all that blather.

Well, so now you know you know everything there is to know, she answered pertly.

The old man slammed the shop door closed behind him. Wonder yelped and transported down the street to his still walking friends.

There’s a museum, Chay said, pointing, let’s go in.

Why?

It’ll be fun.

They all went, poking through odd documents, tools, and seeing ancient paintings of old nobility, and the founders of the country: A Lyy (the first family), a Winche, a Gatther, a Jinn. Wonder pointed to the Jinn.

Hedwraith Jinn, Dammie read. I think Damot knew him. Dammie led them back outside and through another, smaller market.

Half way through, a group of giant pillows covered in leather that the seller hawked as chairs caught their attention. Wonder tested one out, sank crunchily into the pillow-chair, and wondered if Sati might like one. The chair seemed outrageously comfortable to herm. But Sati might not like the crunchy noise every time herm moved.

What do you suppose it’s stuffed with? herm asked, holding his hand up. Chay helped herm from the chair, poked the cushion with herm’s toe several times, then suggested, Mirage pods.

Not really, Sily said. That’s the stuff Ni says makes mortals stupid.

Maybe herm had better not get Sati a pillow-chair after all.

What do you think? a bearded man said from just past the chair booth.

We ought to drown the lot of them.

If you two are going to talk politics, I’m leaving.

We’re going to grouse about Jinns.

That I can help do.

That didn’t sound good. But it reminded herm of what herm was supposed to be doing. Wonder veered towards the feel of herm’s client. Herm’s friends followed, and they all poked through goods for sale in the booths or giggled about them, running through the little park they passed and splashing puddles on walking matrons or dandies trying to impress the strolling, giggling ladies and