The Runecrafting set Agate had left me with was exquisite, possibly one of a kind, and there was absolutely no way he appreciated its value. How it even came into that fool’s possession was a mystery to me.

Each engraving tool was completely covered in Runes, but I expected most of the design to be decorative. My fingers reverently caressed the length of an engraver as I pulled it from the case, eyes devouring the intricate Runecasting pattern along its side. A sense of awe built in me as I realised the whole thing was functional. Every single Rune was linked and there were many I hadn’t seen before. With my ability, as soon as I used the tool and saw how magic flowed through the Runes, I’d know precisely how to draw each and every one of them...

A squeak of excitement escaped my lips.

…

A squeak of excitement escaped my…?

My head snapped towards the door fast enough for my neck to crack as I checked to make sure no one had witnessed such an embarrassing moment, warmth racing up my cheeks. I blew out a breath as I confirmed I was still safely alone. They’re tools, Si, tools. A relationship would never work out.

Still, the amount of curiosity bubbling inside me was insane. I was tempted to abandon the drudge work of Agate’s list and head straight to the library in search of what each Rune represented. The secret to how those tools worked could be my chance at freedom, instead of sullying my reputation with these black market gems.

I would stick to the bargain for this order, but nothing forced me into anything else and I hadn’t promised to do it all right now. He couldn’t have been serious about completing the stones in two days anyway; it was utterly unrealistic, even by his standards. Surely a slight research detour wouldn’t hurt anyone...

My hand was turning the door handle when I remembered my library visits were being monitored. Specifically, they were being monitored because I acquired knowledge about Runes I didn’t have permission to access...which was exactly the type of information I would be trying to obtain if I went there right now. Dammit Rin! I released the handle with a growl and trudged back to the table.

Maybe I could ask Kixi to borrow some books for me, if I ever saw her again. With our classes, her job in the Guild kitchens, and all the craziness that had followed my disciplinary meeting, we hadn’t seen each other in days even though we shared a room. I missed her positivity, and her cooking. She did always leave meals and snacks out for me at the dorm though, so we still felt somewhat connected. Perhaps the distance was a good thing though. I was scared that if I saw her, I'd end up blurting out everything. I knew she’d want to help, but I didn’t want her getting caught in my mess. She was also terrible at keeping secrets. Rin.

I sighed and picked up the engraver I had abandoned. No library then. Using the tools would give me an idea of if they were anything special anyway. I placed my fingers on the slight indents near the tip, and channelled a trickle of power into the lead Runes now under my thumb and forefinger. My fingers began to vibrate and I almost dropped the tool in surprise, cocking my head to stare more intently at the Rune pattern as I severed the magic. My hand tingled.

Okay, so maybe a relationship isn’t out of the question…

I burst out laughing at the thought, feeling days of tension melting from my body. The possibility of new Runes had me on a high, and there was just something about this quirky place that made me feel at ease. Maybe I could finally take a breath and slow down. I set the engraver on the table, my gaze wandering over the room as I waited for the adrenaline rush to subside. My hands would be useless if they kept shaking this much, so I stretched out fingers, arms, and shoulders as I paced around the small space. As I relaxed I noticed new elements to the room that had been missed when I was distracted by Agate cradling a dead rat. I shook my head at the memory. Seriously, that boy seemed oblivious to the fact that he was always doing something really weird.

The head of the bed drew my attention. A single, thick slab of chocolate brown wood carved into a stampede of forest creatures, limbs and noses stretched over the plump pillows below. There was a sense of urgency to their poises, frozen mid-leap or stride, which contradicted the amount of patience it must have taken to carve the elaborate piece. The work itself seemed one of dedication, not mastery, but the flaws added something to the rawness of the scene that I think would have been missing had the creation been perfect.

“Aren’t you beautiful?” I whispered to a bounding hare as I stroked the long ears flattened back against its skull. “I wonder what you were running from, hmm?”

A clash of discordant notes from the piano below rose up through the floorboards to jar me from my contemplation. It seemed the drunken sailor hadn’t abandoned his woeful attempts at playing Twin Moons.

“If you were fleeing that, then I understand.” I muttered to the hare as another random assortment of piano keys were mashed together.

Argh! Just give up already!

My tranquillity interrupted, I abandoned the bed and stomped back to the desk, trying to block the butchering of the simple melody beneath me. The faster I finished the work, the sooner I could be done with the noise.

Scanning through Agate’s wish list, I began sorting the gemstones he provided, placing them in neat rows according to type. He had way too many emeralds, not enough rubies, and a complete lack of diamonds. Well, I would just start what I could for now. There were still enough to keep me going for quite a while.

Deciding to begin with Heatstones, I drew the Runecrafting kit closer and selected the engraving tool with the Rune I recognised for Ruby. With so many unknown Runes in the casting design on the tool, I was dying to see how well it would etch into the stone, but I forced myself to set out all the other necessary items before giving in to my desires.

There was no vice that I could see, the place in the kit for the handheld clamp was empty, and I refused to lower my standards as far as using candle wax to seal the stones. Luckily, I had planned ahead for incompetence, though admittedly most of my Runecrafting needs were surprisingly well catered for. An acknowledgement that would never pass my lips around Agate. I still couldn’t believe he owned such magnificent tools and wasn’t using them, or selling them to a ridiculously high bidder.

Si…just take the win.

I grinned down at the engraver.

Soon, my precious.

I carried my satchel to the bed, as far from Squeakers as possible, and unbuckled the straps on the top and sides so the whole bag folded open. I then selected the missing items I would need from various pockets, including a handheld clamp, bottle of ruby sealant and stylus, and my own pair of gloves, as the ones in the kit were too large.

Returning to the desk, I settled myself into the seat and selected a ruby. Fitting it into the padded cradle of the clamp, I twisted the bottom until the sides had narrowed enough for it to be held tightly. Leaning forward, I found a stable position for the clamp in my left hand, its base firmly held against the table, before finally picking up the engraving tool. Channelling power through my fingers, the tool began to vibrate, and I allowed myself a moment to get used to the odd sensation. Then I lowered the tip towards the ruby and felt frustration surge through me as Twin Moons was once again ravaged by disharmony.

Calm down, Si.

My hands began to tremble with rage as the same sequence of conflicting notes was repeated. Again. And again. Almost as though he thought he had mastered the first line of the verse. Again.

I tried desperately to ignore it and focus on the shape of the Heat Rune I was about to draw. Again. The vibrations surged in the engraver as my concentration lapsed and I pushed too much magic through the Runes. Again.

The sailor has to die.

I stormed down the stairs, oblivious to everything other than the slow and painful death of Twin Moons. I came up behind the murderer, who was hunched over the keys, and tapped him on the shoulder.

“Your horrendous playing is damaging my inner peace.”

He turned his face to me, murderous expression clear and calm. Wait, and... sober? I reassessed quickly. Same uniform, no parrot, more teeth. Conclusion: I had insulted a different, less inebriated, sailor. A thick arm made of solid muscle lowered over my head from behind and settled across my chest and shoulders. Sober sailor had a friend. A dangerous query sounded from the arm’s owner, voice so deep I felt it rumble in the broad chest pressed against my back.

“Are you forgetting your manners, miss?”

My eyes flicked to the bar, but there was no sign of Rosie. When they flicked back, the sailor had straightened and for the first time I saw the young boy tucked in front of him.

“Daddy, what does ‘howwendus’ mean?”

The man’s eyes narrowed and I felt the arm around me twitch.

Si, you have made a mistake.