Page 66 of Requiem of Silence

“He is indeed. Zigs is me best companion. Now, I do some tinkering myself. I reckon that’s where me granddaughter got the idea of it, and it’s how I got me name. Allow me to introduce meself. I’m the Tinker.” He sketched an elegant bow at odds with his more humble appearance.

“Your name is the Tinker?” Zeli asked, agape. She was both astonished that that was a name and at the fact she had understood so much of what he’d said. He spoke both slowly and clearly,but it was more than that and she wondered at what exactly the metal ear did, and how it was accomplished.

“Why yes, that’s what they call me.” He winked, chuckling.

Lanar returned then with a curious glance at the Tinker. “Passage on an airship will cost us dearly. All the prices have been raised on account of the popularity of the Rumpus.”

“Yer all going to the Rumpus?” the Tinker asked, voice swelling. “’ Tis highway robbery what they’re charging folk for the trip this close to the event. Yer both Lagrimari?” He motioned to Zeli and Lanar.

“Why?” Lanar asked, narrowing his eyes at the same time that Zeli answered, “Yes.”

Lanar gave her a speaking glare, effectively communicating that she should be more circumspect around strangers. Then again, he was a stranger, too.

The Tinker hooted and slapped his thigh. Ziggy, now held in one arm, yelped. “I never met a real-life Lagrimari before. Boy have I got some questions for ye. How ’bout this? I haven’t been to a Rumpus in an age. I’ll give ye all a ride up, free of charge, and ye can tell me all about life under a madman.”

Zeli blinked. The offer was unexpected and not entirely welcome. She had no desire to talk about the True Father. Evidently Lanar agreed. “That will not be necessary,” he answered coldly.

With a deft movement of his arm, he shepherded both Zeli and Varten away from the grinning man.

“I’ll be at platform eighty-nine if ye change yer minds,” the Tinker called out amiably. Ziggy punctuated the message with a metallic bark that sounded both cheerful and sad.

“He was quite a character,” Varten said, motioning toward the older man’s retreating form.

Lanar was able to speak volumes without saying a word. A raised brow and haughty expression left no doubt as to what he thought about the Tinker. “Airship rates are all around ninety Dahlinean shings per person, one way.”

“That’s a lot?” Zeli asked.

“About one-hundred and fifty Elsiran pieces.”

Varten whistled.

“Do you have the funds to cover such?” Lanar asked. “I do not.”

But Varten nodded and fished out his wallet. “I can get your ticket. I’ll have to visit the bank afterward though.”

Zeli looked back and forth between them, a question forming in her mind. Varten caught her eye and lifted a shoulder. “I told him who I really am.” Her gaze shifted to Lanar.

“And I promised not to refer to him asYour Graceduring the journey.” The man didn’t smile, he never seemed to, but there was humor in his voice at least. “I deeply appreciate this and will pay you back as soon as possible.”

Varten brushed this off. “It’s not really my money anyway.”

She could tell by Varten’s expression that he hadn’t told Lanar their real reason for going to the Rumpus. They’d promised not to tell anyone.

The inside of the air station was just as congested and noisy as the outside. They pushed their way through the masses to reach the currency exchanger. Varten handed over his stack of crisp bills and received a fistful of strange coins in return.

This Yalyish money wasn’t made of any metal she recognized, it was multicolored and shifted shades when the light hit it in certain ways. As they walked away, she gasped in delight while Varten held up a coin and tilted it this way and that, making the colors dance. “Incredible,” she said on a breath. This city wasn’t all bad.

Lanar, who was studying the airship schedule posted on thefar wall, looked over his shoulder at them and pursed his lips. “Best put that away.”

But it was too late.

A hand reached up to grab Varten’s arm. Someone shoved Zeli out of the way, while a boy about her age punched Varten in the stomach. Another—or maybe the same one who’d punched him, she couldn’t be certain—snatched the coin from his hand.

Enraged, Zeli righted herself and ran forward, landing a fist on the back of one of the attackers. This one pinned Varten in a bear hug, while his companion grabbed the wallet from Varten’s pocket as he struggled and cursed.

It all happened so fast. Almost too fast to believe. One minute they were surrounded by thieves, Zeli couldn’t even tell how many there were, the next minute it was just the crowd again, everyone rushing to and fro. Passing them by without a second look.

She shook, unable to even gather her breath to shout—though what good would it do now? Varten was doubled over, holding his stomach, and then Lanar was there, scanning the crowd with hard eyes and a grim expression.

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