Page 66 of Legacy of Glass
“I think I might already have achieved that.” Julius’s smile turned warmer, making her chest tighten, and she quickly took one of the sticks of meat and resumed walking.
She led him to one of her favorite spots in the market—a glassblower’s stall. She had never been able to afford any of the wares, but she loved to look at the fantastical products that could only be made in Sovar.
Glancing across the rows of slippers, heat-resistant flexible gloves, shatter-proof pieces of armor that were stronger than steel, and all manner of more frippery baubles, she looked in vain for a mirror.
In the past, she had only ever gazed at the glass creations, not wanting to pester the stallholder with questions when she wasn’t a true customer. But with Julius at her side, she was emboldened to engage with the man.
“Do you have any mirrors?” she asked, unable to remember any lessons on Sovaran mirrors in school, only Auldanan ones.
The stallholder, who had perked up at the appearance of the royal visitors, looked crestfallen. “I’m afraid not, my lady. Sovaran glassblowers can only make standard mirrors. The Sovar Legacy doesn’t help us at all—I guess it leaves that to the Auldana Legacy.”
Olivia tried not to look disappointed. “Do any of the stalls here carry Auldanan mirrors, then?”
The stallholder’s brows rose. “Is Your Ladyship after an enchanted mirror?”
Olivia quickly shook her head. “I was merely curious. I’ve heard stories about their various powers, and I was hoping to see for myself.”
“Aye,” the stallholder agreed, seeming to accept her explanation. “The stories are certainly fantastical. It’s enough to make you wonder if they’ve been exaggerated.” He looked at his own wares and huffed a laugh. “But then who would imagine armor made from glass? I’m sure it sounds just as fantastical to other kingdoms as the stories of the mirrors are to us.”
“Then you’ve never seen an Auldanan mirror for yourself?” Olivia asked.
“More’s the pity,” the man said. “I reckon I could fetch a pretty penny for one. But those Auldanans don’t like selling ‘em outside their own kingdom. If you don’t mind my saying so,” he added as he suddenly remembered his audience.
“It isn’t forbidden,” Julius added. “Not like it is in the case of those Oakdenian weapons that they infuse with their sleeping herbs or with our own glass armor.” He rapped a knuckle on a breastplate in front of him. “But they refuse to sell their mirrors to regular merchant trains, so we only have a few that were sold to us by roving merchants.”
The stall keeper nodded. “It doesn’t help that we’re so far from Auldana, either. The roving merchants rarely have mirrors left by the time they reach us.” He leaned out of his stall and pointed at another one further down the row. “You could try asking there. Those two are Halburan, so you’re in luck that they’re here today. They don’t spend much time in Sovar, as you can imagine. But it’s possible they might have a mirror—for such illustrious customers as yourselves.”
Olivia thanked him and moved quickly in the direction he had pointed, curious to meet a Halburan, even if they didn’t have any mirrors. She had never met someone from the eastern kingdom of Halbury.
“Welcome! Welcome!” the man and woman called when they approached the indicated stall.
There was nothing in their appearance to mark them as foreigners, but their stall was full of unfamiliar wares. Olivia could see no sign of any mirrors, but she examined the displayed items curiously. They all appeared to be woven from straw, but she could only guess at their special properties.
The male stallholder looked from the two of them to their guards and smiled broadly.
“Surely I don’t have the pleasure of addressing His Royal Highness, Prince Julius and his lovely Lady Olivia?”
Julius smiled and confirmed their identities, making both the man and woman bob into a series of enthusiastic bows.
“A great honor. A great honor,” they repeated over the top of one another.
“I’m Snuffelslidefoot,” the man said.
“And I’m Handelboatlobe,” the woman echoed, her smile broadening at the startled look on Olivia’s face. “We’re siblings, and our parents are highly traditional. Believe in keeping up the old ways, they do—especially when it comes to proper Halburan names.”
Olivia giggled and then immediately felt guilty, but the woman didn’t seem offended.
“I’m impressed you’ve traveled all the way here,” Olivia said, wishing it wasn’t rude to ask what price their Legacy extracted while they were in Sovar.
“We never could stay in one place,” the man said. “Which means we’re a great trial to our traditional parents.”
The woman smiled and winked. “Although they do like the presents we bring back. There’s nothing like Sovaran glass for making bargains in Halbury.”
“I don’t suppose you have any Auldanan mirrors?” Julius asked, and they both looked disappointed, shaking their heads.
“Everything we have comes from Halbury, Your Highness. But we can keep our eye out for one for future visits, if you’re interested.”
Julius hesitated, glancing at Olivia. “By all means, I would be most curious to see anything you could find. And naturally I would pay more for a special commission.”
