The Son of Thunder

Chapter Thirty-Four

"Pelts?" Liman said. "So soon?"

Magpie bulked at Liman. His bald head was shiny and he leaned on the ledge of his booth. He displayed pelts, dresses and leggings from the stall window.

"I need dresses."

"Dresses?" he said, standing straight up. "Plural? Multiple? You have done very well with one all these seasons and you tell me you need dresses? I just altered your only one. Really, what a humor you have this morn, Magpie."

"Please don't assault me with your voice," she said. "I have been ordered to by the Son of Thunder himself." She bowed deeply as if Lightening were there.

"What in the world for? He's not taking you as his bride?"

"No." Her distaste was such that she had to compose herself before continuing. "As a matter of interest, I am now a Thundonian citizen." She had forgotten to announce it to her family again. "You are the first person I have told."

Liman darted from behind the counter, lifted her off the ground and spun her. He was four springs her senior. When Magpie had first offered him pelts for sale, it had not occurred to her that he was so young. None of the established merchants would talk to her. She was too proud to pretend they were her father's pelts and sexism made the older merchants too proud to admit she was an expert artisan. Now she wondered that Liman hadn't chased after her as others had.

"Oh, Magpie," he said. "Do not offend me with your nonsense."

Liman pulled her back into his stall and unraveled a bolt of fabric. "You look well in black. If you will commission it, I shall make a dress suited to you in this."

She nodded to him, touching the textile. Eighty dira would buy her at least five dresses. She considered buying all black dresses. She was a Thundonian, after all. But variety was more important to her. She selected a crimson dress, then a royal blue one. "I like the emerald too."

"You will have an entire wardrobe," he said.

Magpie mused at him. She liked that he objected to her in gowns too. "I will have occasions now."

"Occasions?" Liman folded his arms. "The way you talk. Are you sure your mother hasn't bullied you?"

The reputation of her family was a constant curse.

He wrapped up the garments and handed her the package. "I will have the commissioned gown for you one phase today."

Magpie lifted the parcel by the string. "Oh, Liman, I gave Canary some money."

"You must have been in an excellent mood."

She pressed her hand to her cheek to check for warmth. She didn't mean to be embarrassed. "She will come later to buy a gown. You mustn't tell her how much I've purchased."

"Why not?"

Magpie didn't want to explain to Liman. He was her friend, but theirs was a professional bond, not an intimate one. "She will misunderstand, think that I rejoiced at buying gowns, imagine my relation to Lightening one that it's not. Please don't tell her."

"You're sure he has no intentions toward you?"

Magpie glanced at the Thundonians surrounding them. They were fixated on their own errands. "You must swear to tell no one."

"You have my word as a merchant and Thundonian."

Joy stole over her and bubbled up from her loins. To share this camaraderie with Liman. To be a Thundonian finally. She was so elated, she couldn't speak. Liman hugged her again, then told her he wouldn't relent.