Hitching a ride in the back of a cart wasn't the most comfortable. The wagon bounded on the rocky and muddy spring road, but that didn't prevent Mand from falling asleep. Between unsuccessfully flying a dragon and today's bridge building, it had been a long and tiring twenty four hours.
Val watched her older sister slumber, curled up under a blanket that Val had retrieved for her from her backpack.
"You wouldn't be so tired if you just let us take a break from time to time, " she murmured to herself.
"It certainly takes a lot out of her doesn't it?" said Terry, who had brought his horse along side the cart. "I don't recall my son ever getting this worn out. Then again, " he added, "he's not building bridges is he?"
"She only discovered she had the gift two years ago, " said Val. "And she hasn't had any proper schooling on it. I suppose you're getting a tutor for your son?"
Terry nodded, "The son of one my of assistants. He's quite good at repairing small nicks and scratches in pots and pans. And who taught you?"
Val appeared uncomfortable as she searched for the words. "I was uhh....pretty much self-taught," she said, leaving the words hanging in the air.
"You know, you two could make a lot of money in my employ, " he said, changing the topic. "Your sister's skill could be very useful for my salvage work, and it wouldn't hurt to have a second tutor."
Val shook her head and sighed, looking back to her sleeping sister. "I'm sure we could. But, " she added "I'm sure Mand would turn you down. She prefers that we stay mobile."
Terry reached into his cloak and removed a small piece of paper and handed it to Val. Val studied it for a moment, trying to make out the words in the feeble light from the starlit sky. "What does it say?" Val asked finally giving up.
"It's my contact information. If you two ever decide to settle down, look me up."
With that, Terry rode further up the column to bark orders to some of his men. Val tucked the paper into her book and lay down next to her sister, gazing at the stars as they passed by.
"Maybe one day," she said to herself.
**
Cain's Point had only been a village up until the end of the war. Settled in a sleepy little cove, the residents had worked the sea like their parents and grand-parents before them. The village had been on the verge of dying, as many young people had been emigrating to larger towns and cities to work in the factories, and later, to serve in the war.
Many sons and daughters of those original townsfolk had either not returned from the fighting, or were caught in the firebombings that had wiped out the larger centers. However, a handful had survived and eventually returned to the village, many with spouses and children in tow.
It wasn't long after that when more refugees came. The larger centers had either been burned, or were picked clean by bandits and gangs after the government had either abandoned them. Many small towns and villages that once existed on the maps ceased to be. The refugees came to places like Cain's Point, and offered to help in whatever way they could in exchange for food and shelter.
The people of Cain's Point showed the refugees how to bait hooks, repair twine, build boats, and be self sufficient. The village grew into a town, and eventually trade ships began frequenting the cove, loading aboard salted cod and coming back with goods from all over what was left of civilization.
With the influx of goods, soon after came new shops and businesses. Cain's Point began to attract merchants from other towns, and as soon as the ice broke up in the cove, and the roads dried from the spring thaw, merchants and travelers would begin to frequent the town. Innkeepers and shopkeepers would watch the ice in the harbor in anticipation, waiting for these travelers and their fat purses to come into town.
It was outside one of these inns that Mand and Val said goodbye to Terry. "Are you sure you want me to leave you here?" asked the merchant. "This place doesn't look very... open."
The building was indeed dark. Unlike many of the other lodging establishments that were bustling with activity all hours of the day AND night, "The Right Rudder Inn" was very quiet. There was no music, nobody hanging around the front of the building engaged in gossip, and not even the glow of a fire or candlelight could be seen through any of the windows.
Mand smiled at Terry, "Yes this is quite fine. Again thank you so much for the lift."
Terry frowned, looked to the buildings, and then looked back at the girls and shrugged. "You both seem to have a good head on your shoulders, so I'll just assume that you know what you are doing. But please find me at the "Heads and Tails Inn" on Brookworth if you need any help."
Terry and his procession of carts continued on down the road, just before turning a corner, he stopped his horse and turned around, looking directly at Val, "I hope fate brings us together again someday. Take care and stay safe ladies!" he said. He then rounded the corner and disappeared from sight.
"Why was he looking at you?" Mand asked as they watched the carts disappear around the corner.
"I dunno," Val shrugged, "I guess I'm the better looking one." she said with a grin.
Mand sighed and rolled her eyes, wrapping an arm around her sister, "Come on, " she said guiding them towards the door of the building. They climbed a small ramp that lead to the entrance and rapped on the door.
Silence. The girls waited.
"I guess we are a little late," Val said, crossing her arms and leaning against the side of the building.
"A little?" Mand said. "I literally had to build a bridge so we could get here." Val pulled a small watch from her pocket and studied the face for a moment. "It is well after midnight, no doubt they are gone to bed."
Val pushed herself off the side of the building and walked over to the door, she bent down at the keyhole, one eye closed, the other gazing through the small opening. "Can't see any movement inside." Val looked up to her sister, "Want me to open it?"
Mand nodded, and turned to keep a lookout on the street. The girls knew they would be welcomed inside the Inn, but a passing guard on patrol might get the wrong idea if they were spotted fiddling with a lock on a barren street late at night.
Val pressed her fingertips on the keyhole and closed her eyes. "Clever," she said bemused reaching out with her mind to "see" the components that made up the lock. "Claire is getting better at this."
Val studied the image in her mind for a few moments, admiring the complexity of the locking mechanism. The admiration flashed to concern. The lock was almost too complex, the inn didn't need something this fancy.
"Key, " she said, reaching her hand back to Mand, who placed a small wrought-iron key in her hand.
Val ran her hand over the length of the key, adding and removing features to make it fit the lock she saw in her mind. She brought the key to the keyhole and inserted it, the lock opened with a satisfying*snick*.
Val twisted the handle and stepped into the darkness inside, Mand followed close behind, turning to shut the door quietly behind them.
The moment the door closed, a large hand clamped down over one of Mand's arms.
"Don't move!"