Coldmaker(41)

My stomach dropped. Most Nobles never cared to know our names, and it felt safer that way. ‘Yes, sir. But my given name is Micah.’

The boy gave a satisfied nod, eyes shifting back and forth to check if we were alone. ‘Good, because Mama Jana didn’t really give me much of a description.’

An awkward pause sat between us. I cringed on the inside, wondering what might spur Mama Jana to put my name on a High Noble’s lips.

‘Can I call you Spout?’ he asked, sounding almost hopeful. ‘I like Spout. I had it in my head on the way over.’

‘Yes, sir.’

He didn’t seem to be in a rush for an errand, and I was hoping he would hurry up and reveal whatever horrible game he was intending to play. I still had Abb’s story about ‘Obey’ in my mind, and since the dunes, I felt far less patience towards Nobles than before.

‘I’m Camlish by the way. You can call me Cam if you want, though,’ he said. He thrust out an immaculately groomed hand and I grimaced, expecting a strike against my chest. The horrified look in his eyes made me realize this wasn’t his intention. He snatched his hand back, pushing his glasses back up his nose. ‘Are we not supposed to shake hands?’

I’d seen Nobles shaking hands to seal a deal or something like that, but never with a slave. I wasn’t sure if shaking hands violated a Street rule, but I had to assume it was punishable. The Khat wouldn’t want unnecessary contact between a slave and a Noble.

‘I don’t think so, sir,’ I said.

‘Please, no sir. Just Cam is fine.’

I could see him struggling to come up with something to say as he jiggled the mug in his hands. ‘My cousin warned me about drinking Oolong tea. He said the more I’d drink the more I’d need to get out of bed in the morning. Have you ever tried Oolong tea?’

‘No, si— Cam.’

He yawned and then pressed the mug my way. ‘It’s nice. Would you like a sip?’

My eyes nearly fell out of my head at the offer. To my knowledge, no High Noble in the history of Paphos had ever tried to share drinks with a Jadan, so I knew I had to be ready for whatever maliciousness this boy was planning. I would have guessed the drink was poisoned with something to make me vomit had he not been swallowing it himself.

‘That’s not allowed, sir,’ I said. ‘Praise be to the Khat.’

Cam snorted. ‘Praise be to the Khat indeed.’ He looked at me from head to toe. ‘So how do you know Mama Jana?’ he asked, conversationally, as though he actually cared.

This was becoming a very unsettling conversation, one I was keen to end quickly.

‘Is there an errand you need help with, Cam?’ As soon as the words left my lips, I realized I could be beaten for the insolent tone. Before the Draft and Abb’s bucket I’d have never dreamed of talking that way to a High Noble, but the words had slipped out on their own. Yet Cam only gave a satisfied smile, as if he’d been hoping for a reaction.

‘Sure,’ he said, casually, pushing the glasses back up his nose. ‘I guess that would be the proper way to do this.’

‘What’s the errand?’ I asked carefully.

Cam clacked his teeth as he collected his thoughts. ‘Nothing in particular. I planned to go to the Apothecary. Would you like to come with me?’

Heat flushed my face at the question. ‘Jadankind is here to serve Noblekind. I am required by the Khat’s law to help you with any errand.’

Cam looked a bit disappointed. ‘Well, let’s do that then.’

I held out my hand for a token, but he met my palm with a look of curiosity until he unslung his waterskin and held it out to me. ‘Would you like some water? There’s a few Wisps already in it. You can drink it all if you want.’

I swallowed hard. ‘Please,’ I said, confused at whether this High Noble was acting dumb, or simply had the same mental affliction as Old Man Gum. ‘Your House crest.’

‘Ah, of course.’ Cam took the waterskin back, and reached into his pocket to reveal a coin that made this whole situation all the more bizarre.

House Tavor.

The Tavors were the closest family to royalty outside the Pyramid. They weren’t as wealthy as the Erridians, or as well connected as the Drylads, but Lord Tavor was said to be the Khat’s choice for successor should he die without a proper heir.

Cam wasn’t just High Noble.

He was the highest of High Nobles.

Looking at the coin in my palm, I let my body slump further, wondering what Mama Jana had got me involved in. This had the appearance of some cruel test Thoth might arrange, yet Cam seemed strangely … genuine.

Cam smiled warmly. ‘Shall we?’

The door triggered a deep gong that was followed by a series of reedy buzzes that descended in pitch, filling the air with a long seductive ringing, like a wet finger circling glass. I stepped inside the Apothecary.

I followed Cam across the threshold, and my eyes found the small contraption near the door responsible for the sounds. A nearly invisible chain connected the door to the squat box, which was branded with Ancient symbols and forged from a dark wood that looked too thick and healthy to have grown in this world. I ached to see its inner workings.

The shop was painted dark, and the nearest shelves to the door were filled with vials of liquids and jars of powders, arranged by colour. Each ingredient had line after line of indecipherable descriptions. Golden statues were scattered about the place; gilded creatures, extinct since the Great Drought, like cats and gazelles. A stout metal jackal sat sentry in front of a crate of scrolls, each impressively sealed with the Khat’s wax sigil. I saw Dream Webs and Gale-Catchers hanging up near the ceiling, waiting to filter the air.