Page 9 of Forsaken Secrets

The moment I'd been dreading …

I grimaced and slid my pack of climbing gear across the counter. "How much could I get for these?"

Her eyes widened. "I thought you'd be fine after the last Season? The shop seemed to be bustling! Unless — did she raise the rates on you again?"

My fists tightened on the straps of the bag, but she continued before I could respond. "Of course she did. What am I saying?" She clucked her tongue and grabbed the bag. "Well, how much do you need to last until the gown payments come in?"

"We won't take your charity, Mrs. Harlsted. You know that. I'd like to sell these for now, then perhaps come back to buy them once we have the money? If they haven't sold, that is."

Her eyes were sad, but she nodded as she searched through the pack. She may fight it, but we'd done this enough times now that she knew the drill.

The climbing axe was the last item out, and she spun it a few times, testing the weight. The freshly oiled handle gleamed in the lyphos light.

My heart ached, but I pushed the pain deeper.

This was just temporary.

Finally, she looked back up, eyes tight. "How are you going to join the Guild without it? You've dreamt of it for so long, and you'll finally be old enough to test!"

"I'm not."

Her gasp made me grimace. This was almost harder than the actual selling of the items.

"What would your uncle say?" She asked, eyebrows raised. "You know how hard he worked to get you set up."

Her words were like an arrow to my chest. "I — I just can't do it this year. Maybe once the debt is paid. They're pushing hard, though, and I can't leave Aunt Grace to train or even to hunt anymore. They need me at the house."

She froze. "I'm so sorry. That was uncalled for. I know you wouldn't do this if you didn't have to. He'd be proud of you, dear. Please don't listen to me."

Chewing on her lip, she grabbed out a piece of paper and started writing out amounts, then looked up at me, her brown eyes serious. "Why don't you just bring us more relics? We have contacts and could pass them through …"

I put my hand out to stop her. "Absolutely not. You can't put yourself in danger like that again. Even last time was too much. Besides, I found all the relics I could." My eyes slipped to the job board again, and I desperately wished I were lying. But it was true. "I've risked discovery enough times already, and you know we couldn't afford the fine."

She tsked, but let it go. "Well, let me ask Mr. Harlsted about the axe. You know he's the expert in these things."

"Ahhh." A low voice sounded from the back, as though he'd been listening for her to request him the entire time. He probably had, the old troublemaker. "That's right, beautiful wife of mine. Let me hear it again! An expert, you say?" He finished on a chuckle, and Mrs. Harlsted rolled her eyes before slipping through the door.

They had one of those relationships that everyone dreamed of and few got.

A rhythmic drumming brought me out of my thoughts, and I looked down to see my fingers beating a staccato pattern on the glass of the display case. I pulled my hand back quickly and stuck both hands in my pockets to keep them still.

"I can hear you fidgeting, kiddo." Mr. Harlsted poked his head out of the back, mustache waxed into points and hair slicked back, as always. "A Reaper dropped off another shipment, so there are a few new books in the back. Go take a look at them while I make you an offer." He waggled his eyebrows, and I smiled back, relief unknotting my muscles as I turned away.

"Thanks, Mr. Harlsted."

"Sure thing. Just promise not to give my nephew too much trouble, okay?"

I grimaced at the reminder, but nodded, then ducked my head and walked away. Hopefully, the young lordling wasn't too much of a pain in my side.

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