Chapter 42: Fifth Circle, True

Reads: 89

When I return to Bocut - up the strong side of the cut - I walk by the runestone where the peddler gives me that first lesson in wearing the hood. I’ve still never worn it to guard against goblins, though it protects me from sprites when I sat with Aunty.

At the guard house, I ask for the headman and they send me to his lodgings.

“Bessil,” he says, looking up from his symbols - the numbers he uses to tell the future - how many people can be fed, how many babes can be taken from the peasants.

“Sir,” I say, offering my sandals to him.

“Ah, good,” he says. “I’ll see that your mother gets her fee back. You’ve discharged your duty to Elais?”

“He traded my carting to Lianth, the Bone Merchant,” I say. “I said good-bye to him just now at the Path. He says he has no business in Bocut this time.”

“We’ve had two bone merchants through here since the cold dark,” the Headman says. He seems happy for the company. Perhaps the work of numbers is grim. “We lost four folk from the cut and three more overseers. Earth be kind.”

“Earth be kind,” I say. “Is my mother alright?”

“Oh, yes, yes. She’s with the Belkers now. You should see the fine westcot she made for Marina Belker. Beautiful cloth from the Raft. Well, Eldemere paisleys are nice enough, but this - Well, you’ll see it. Do you plan to carry again? Or cart? These look like they need a new sole, but I can have a pair for you for four shells.”

“I want to be apprenticed,” I say. “Have a craft. My father-”

“Yes, yes, great bone carver, your father. Wellig has an apprentice. All the tradesmen have apprentices, right now, but perhaps your mother has something in mind.”

“I should go,” I say, not liking this, not at all. “Which family did you say my mother joined?” I ask. It goes straight out of my head.

“Belker,” he says. He reminds me where they live and I thank him. “You’re a lucky fellow,” he says, clapping me on the arm. “How many boys can say they’ve walked all the way around the world?”

“Sir,” I say. “Can I be measured to reach the fifth circle?”

He looks at me, tilting his head to the side and touching his beard. “Are you sure, lad?” he asks. “You might still need your mother to vouch for you, unless you have four shells of your own.”

“I want to know, sir,” I say. “If you can.”

The headman grabs two men who are walking by on whatever business they have and leads the four of us to the courtyard.

“Jacan,” says the first man. “And I can be a true witness.”

“Fornan,” the second man says. “I can be a true witness.”

“And your name?” the headman asks.

I say my name - but I’m not sure what house name to give, for mother is a Belker, now. I say just, “Of Bocut.”

The headman waves his hand at the ground and I lay down, with my butt on the marked point. I stretch my arms and legs out in their four directions. The headman has me move my arms up and spreads my legs out.

“Jacan, as a true witness, is this man fifth circle?”

“Yes,” he says.

“Fornan, as a true witness, is this man fifth circle?”

“He is.”

“Up with you, young man. You are fifth circle, true.”

The Belkers welcome me and give me dinner. I can’t remember the meal, save that it’s fish - and very fishy tasting - and porridge. I’ve eaten mostly bread this whole time around the skerry. Mother is out, doing a fitting.

I tell my stories about carting around the world - the people of Lake Town, the People of the Square. I spare them the sprites, for that is not polite conversation.

When mother comes back, I go with her to her nook - a little room on the ground floor of the Belker house.

I embrace her and she returns the hug.

“Bessil,” she says. “Elais traded you away. Word comes back,” she says. “I worked hard to get you that placement. At least tell me this other merchant -”

“Lianth, the Bone Merchant,” I say.

“Tell me that he is satisfied with your labor.”

“He was happy with me, Mother,” I say. I almost say that Lianth even gave me a shell as a gift, but I remain silent.

“Well, good, then. You’ll find another spot, soon. You’ve returned your sandals? I can expect my shells back?”

I nod. “But Mother,” I say. “I want to be apprenticed. Father was a bone carver. I can learn. I can read a little.”

She shakes her head. Mother’s face is narrow and her mouth bunches up. I don’t remember her smiling from joy, but she often smiles when talking to people.

“I knew your father growing up,” she says. “He knew his symbols just from looking at them. Apprenticed for less than half the regular time. You don’t have his skills, boy. Better for you to find something good for you.”

“I - I don’t want to be a hauler-” I say. “I want-”

“I want, I want,” she mocks. “I have done everything for you. I paid for your sandals. I made those harvest dolls for the peddler for free.” When I look at her blankly, she says, “To get him to take you. He wanted someone sixth circle. I bought the whole measure of cloth from him - four cloth ulls. More than I could afford. I’ve done everything for you.”

“But I’m your son,” I say.

She slaps me across the face.

“When my daughter died, they put you on my tit. An unused knife goes to rust. I raised you. I did everything for you. I did everything for you. I even got you your first job, you ungrateful brat. Get out of this house.”

The Belker house is large, but not so large that any failed to hear. I walked out past the Belker family and their household. Several said goodbye to me and I repeated, “Happy in the light.”

Submitted: November 20, 2023

Fantasy sprite goblins bones