Tracer

6: The Price of Passage

When they stepped inside, the common room was in a whirl of activity. No less than a dozen maids bustled about cleaning and polishing tables, and floors, dusting chairs, filling lamps with sweet-smelling oil and such. In and out dashed boys and young men carrying bundles. Rugs, tapestries, and ornate glass figures bedecked shelves and walls.

Oscar hurried up to Jymke as he shrugged out of his cloak. A young girl with dust on her nose bobbed a curtsy and took them from both Tracers, hurrying away to see them properly cleansed and rehung, Desmon presumed.

"Vertii, welcome home," Oscar bowed deeply to Jymke and Jylke. "I hope your time was well spent."

"Not nearly so well as yours," Jymke watched the activity around them before adding, "Tell me what you've done."

"We managed to convince those who purchased your family's treasures to return them. You are fully staffed and we've cleaned all the rooms, laying fresh linens. The cook was eager to return to her position here, and a meal is being prepared. All of your prior staff came back once they heard Elmisa was here."

"Suggest me one to take your place."

Oscar stuttered and blinked. He seemed to shrink in on himself, then nodded. "I would suggest Yuri, Vertii. Vertii Jylke brought him on and he has served the last five years as Concierge. He is steadfast and earnest."

Jymke stared hard at the little man until Oscar dropped his gaze. "Were you as steadfast as Yuri, I would have no doubts in keeping you on. It pains me to replace you," Jymke murmured, being as kind as he could be under the circumstances. "You understand the position you placed me in."

Oscar nodded. Swallowing hard and blinking quickly. Desmon saw silent tears slide down his plump cheeks.

"You served Jylke well," Jymke remembered softly. "Perhaps Yuri will keep you on in some capacity. Bring him to me in the morn."

Smiling slightly at the unexpected praise, Oscar nodded and moved aside as Jymke strode to his chair. The fur blanket was freshly aired and brushed, leaving it softer against his skin. He sighed as he sat, folding his hands in his lap.

"Will you summon our guests, Desmon?"

Desmon went down the hall knocking on the heavy wooden doors. As each one opened, he quietly told them to come to the common room to discuss their Passage.

Once he had them gathered, he stood them in the hall.

"Now, understand, the Offering is simple thanks for coming. It has nothing to do with what you'll pay him to take you Across. In this case, that gold you brought might come in handy. I have several things I always bring along, but that's for trade along the way.

"Over half of your Passage will go towards buying our way through other Clan territories, depending on which route Jymke decides is best for us. He makes very little in the way of profit on a Group this size so don't skimp if you can help it."

"We all have to pay a different price?" Jason asked, bewildered.

"You can pool resources and negotiate that way or pay separately," Desmon explained. "That's part of what you'll discuss. Now come on and try to keep your foot out of your mouth, for god's sake."

When they arrived in the common room, a round table had been pulled in front of Jymke's chair. Beside it, a fireplace that had been boarded up crackled with a cheery fire. Around the table sat ornate wooden chairs, inlaid with glass. Jylke and Myron were already seated together, and as they joined them, maids appeared with tall, fluted glasses filled with a white, frothy drink.

A large, dark-skinned woman with a brightly colored kerchief tied around her head appeared and thumped a huge platter on the table. She lifted the cover to reveal an enormous hunk of meat beautifully arranged with vegetables.