The consistency is malleable, and it will retain its stickiness until it dries in place. Mr. Hale, one of the master tanners that did business at Daybreak Garden, told her. Tori sat at the counter where he usually showed custors examples of his work. She touched the sticky resin that she harvested from the trees at the Rotunda Garden.
Its not as sticky.
Rather than glue, its more like a sticky putty, Mr. Hale told her. I added so minerals to keep it malleable for longer, while still being sticky. It also darkened the color and made it opaque, as you requested. He turned around and took out two pieces of scrap wood a finger thick and about the size of her palm. He took a small bead of the altered resin and pressed it against one broken plank before sandwiching it with the other.
He then picked up the top piece of wood. The second piece stuck to it. Tori pursed her lips and nodded with approval.
Thats not bad, she said. Will it be permanent?
On a smooth surface without any grooves or pores, its strength will weaken as it dries. However, on surfaces that have so grit, it should stay in place. It would need to be forced apart, Mr. Hale told her.
Tori used her pinky nail to take out a small piece from the palm-sized glass jar and rolled it into a little ball. She looked past the middle-aged man and into his booth. She then turned to the booth next to him.
Mr. Wickerham, can I borrow that piece of wood? The scrap piece with the twigs there, Tori asked, motioning to the small pile of broken pieces in a corner of the booth. The thirty-sothing year old woodworker next door followed her line of vision and nodded.
Of course, my lady. Just one piece?
Just one, thank you. Tori gave him a nod and accepted the piece of wood. She then picked up a tiny sliver of a pebble and covered it with the resin putty. She pressed it onto the piece of wood and narrowed her eyes. She could prepare the tracking crystals in the carriage and have them ready to apply to the shipping containers, the wagon, and even on a discrete part of the horses reins if she were fast enough.
What do you think, my lady? Mr. Hale asked. He looked at her face with so trepidation. Tori kept her eyes on the piece of putty holding the tiny pebble in place. The corners of her lips pulled up into a smile and her eyes rose to et his.
Its exactly what I needed for my project! Thank you, Mr. Hale, Tori said. She peeled off the resin putty and put it on top of the small jars lid so she could examine how it felt when it hardened. Mr. Hale had already shown her a piece, but she wanted to try it for herself. How long did you spend on this?
The middle-aged man looked relieved and smiled. Not long at all. Ive worked with all sorts of glues for a while. Do you know you can add wood ash to the resin, as well? It makes a durable glue and firestarter.
That may be sothing I can share with the Sword Association, Tori said. She screwed the cap back on the jar. Im sorry to have to take up so much of your ti to work on this resin glue.
Not at all, my lady. Daybreak Garden belongs to your family. Serving a Guevera when we can is an honor, he replied with a laugh.
Tori tried not to appear suspicious. Still, it mustve cost you at least a days worth of work. Thats a few silver coins.
Mr. Hale shook his head. I only charge by project.
How many projects can you do in a day?
Two or three smaller projects, or I could spend up to multiple days on one.
How much is the average small project? Tori brought her jar of resin putty towards her. The man furrowed his brows and thought for a while.
Oh, Id say custom orders are about 5 silver coins on average. That was actually quite a high daily rate for a craftsn, but then again, people who ca to Daybreak Garden were ready to spend money on quality goods.
So...lets say fifteen silver coins a day. Lets see...I dropped this off at the beginning of the week. Its been two days.... She took out the coin purse in her satchel and plopped it on the wooden counter. Thirty silver coins.
Mr. Hales eyes nearly bulged out. My lady, no! Youre overpaying. I cant accept so much for such a small job.
You convinced . Ten percent discount, so twenty-seven. Without looking up at him, she counted out her coins.
Countess, I cant-
Mr. Hale, my project is worth this much, Tori said as she lifted her head and t his gaze with a firm expression. Let assure you, its an important project and you gave exactly what I needed.
He still appeared uncomfortable with the money, but Tori closed her coin purse and shoved it back into her satchel. He didnt take the money from the counter. My lady, I did have other jobs while working on your glue. It did not take all my ti, nor did I have to pay for any additional supplies. Tori had provided the resin, which was the most important part.
Twenty-silver coins or Im going to tell Papa, Tori said with slightly narrowed eyes. I am not the type of person to take advantage of honest labor.
The craftsn let out a conceding sigh and accepted twenty of the coins. Tori smiled, satisfied, and took back the rest of the coins. She put so copper coins on the neighbors table for the wood. She thanked them again before heading out towards the entrance of Daybreak Garden.
As she walked through the interior of the building, a small voice called out to her.
Auntie! She turned her head and smiled. She stopped and turned around, reaching for the chubby little boy waving his arms at her.
Istvan! Tori kissed his cheeks with a sloppy sound as he giggled and clung on to her. Are you following your dad to work today?
Istvan nodded. Mommy went to the doctor, so I ca with Dad!
Tori furrowed her brows. She carried him back into Armandos store. Is everything all right with Istvans Mom? she asked. Armando was putting up a few new bags on display.
Yes, my mother-in-law went to take her to the doctor. Shes recently been unable to stand the sll of so of her favorite food, so-
She might be pregnant? Toris eyes brightened. Ooh, Istvan! You could be a big brother.
The little boys eyes went wide. Big brother.... He began to tremble. I need to tell Fifi!
Tori laughed and put him on the floor. She reached for her comcry. Call Fiona de Guevera. She looked at Istvan with an affectionate smile as she waited for her niece to answer. Are you going to share the good news?
Shes going to be jealous!
Tori froze for a mont and her eyes crinkled up. Fionas voice spoke up from the comcry. Hi, Auntie Tori!
Fifi! Its ! Istvan grabbed hold of Toris hand and Tori let him have the comcry. Guess what! He ran off into a corner to brag excitedly on the comcry with his little buddy.
You think shes pregnant? Armando approached Tori carefully. He seed hopeful, but didnt seem to want to get his hopes up. Youre sure?
Well, sensitive sll and nausea is a common, but not definite symptom of pregnancy, particularly early on, Tori said. But, you wont know until-
Armando! A womans voice cried out from the entrance and an excited Csilla seed to fly in. Were going to have a baby!
Tori was all but forgotten as the couple embraced and Armando started crying. Istvan was nodding at the comcry, as if Fiona could see him.
Mommy just said she was going to have a baby! Im not lying! Istvan said.
Oh, then you have to help take care of her. Sotis it will be difficult for her to move or get things, so you can get them for her. When her belly gets big, you can talk to the baby. I talk to my cousin all the ti and tell her stories, Fiona said, almost proud, as if she was the more senior of the two.
Tori furrowed her brows. From her talks with Idunn, there was a sort of pregnancy test available, but no one really knew the sex of the child until the child was born. There were always folk thods of guessing, but they werent anywhere near dependable. Then again, maybe Fiona just hoped for a little girl cousin.
Tori, are you done? Piers question faded as he narrowed his eyes and took in the sight of Armando crying against his wifes shoulder while Istvan and Fiona talked loudly. Piers looked at Tori in silence.
Csilla just found out she was pregnant, Tori said. Piers nodded once.
I will wait outside. He turned around, rubbing his ears. It took Tori another few minutes to get her comcry back and leave, but not before promising Istvan to visit again.
Piers carriage was just outside the entrance to Daybreak Garden and several knights were around. Tori walked out and climbed in without hesitation. She touched the silencing crystal installed in the carriage and Piers tilted his head from the seat across from her.
Did you get what you wanted?
Her lips pulled into a grin. A sticky resin putty that will adhere to wood well and opaque enough to hide the tracking crystals, Tori said. She took out the jar. The sample on the lid has a small pebble.
Piers looked at it, but didnt reach out to touch it. Will that be enough?
Yes, Tori said, looking at the glass jar. This is enough to hide at least nine tracking crystals.
Are the crystals ready? Piers asked.
Tori nodded once more. I sent one out with Sir Dassler and Sir Wagner tracked him. Its a bit difficult to follow unless theyre in sight in an urban area, as the tracking tablet only shows the direction in relation where the tablet is, so you have to figure out how to go in that general direction through the various streets, but in rural areas where there are only one or two main roads, it should be easier.
The team following the tracking crystals will maintain a quarter days distance, Piers said. I dont want to risk losing the target.
Each tracking crystal is programd to register to one tracking tablet, and they are numbered, Tori said. Ill try to get at least three in barrels and one on the wagon itself. If I have ti and opportunity, Ill tag more shipping barrels. Henrik showed how they look like, so I have an idea of where to put them. How many people will be tracking?
Twenty. It will allow for the team to be separated if needed. There is another team monitoring them from here, Piers replied.
Tori chuckled. This is going to be such a waste of ti if nothing cos from this.
What does your intuition tell you?
Tori lowered her eyes and played with the glass jar in her hands. She didnt feel excited or hopeful, or even nervous now that her plan was going to be put into action in a few days, but there was a sort of weight on her shoulders. She couldnt really describe it as dread or anxiety, either.
Sothing is going to happen, she said in a asured tone. And...it will require action beyond what I am capable of providing.
Piers lowered his eyes and settled on her hands and the glass jar. His lips tightened into a line for a mont. Whatever you cannot provide, he told her in a soft, but firm voice. I will provide for you.
Reviews
All reviews (0)