Weather Control

Chapter 11

We ate lunch in silence, which was unusual for Sunshine.

He made the point that we should actually go around the city so he would have a sense of where he was. I agreed, and the matter was settled.

That's how we ended up walking very slowly to every part of the area. As we walked, I pointed out different shops and homes.

"That where the king's sister's husband's family lives," I said pointing out an extravagant, two story building.

"Do they need a place that big?" Sunshine asked.

I shrugged. "Probably not."

A few blocks down from there was the carpenter's shop.

"Let's go inside," Sunshine said. He was almost jumping in excitement. I followed him into the store.

I hated this place. The last time I was here, it ended poorly. With threats.

Sunshine was acting like he was a child on a holiday.

The place was filled with tables and chairs, but at the back there were some intricate carvings- work of the owner's son- and they were as beautiful as I remembered.

After many minutes of Sunshine's gawking, I finally said, "Are you a wood worker or something else related to this?"

He nodded absently and moved to the small carvings.

"They're just so amazing," he said.

The carpenter came to where we were standing. He caught my eye and stiffened.

"Miss Jackson," he ground out.

"Mr. White." I acknowledged him with great effort.

His name was ironic. His skin tone was like the people from the west desert: dark, dark, and even more dark. He eyed me with contempt, but he was more angry than anything else.

"Follow me," Mr. White finally said. He was not talking to Sunshine, but rather myself.

We went to the back room.

"Go and entertain the customers, Paul," Mr. White told his son. Paul complied, set down a half-done carving, and went to the main room.

The back room itself had lots of wood, hammers, nails, and other things that would appear to be useful in this line of business.

"Pay me." Mr. White put it very simply. There was no excuse this time. I had brought Jace's dagger, now tucked in my boot, but a hammer to the head was just as good as any knife. That hammer may not be attacking Mr. White, though.

I stole some things from Mr. White when I was thirteen, but, then again, I stole somethings from almost everyone in this city at some point. He expected reparation, and I expected to never see him again. I was stupid to come with Sunshine in here hoping Mr. White would have forgotten.

I wanted to turn away and run, but something in his anger stopped me. If I ran, I wold never be allowed to get with in a kilometer of his shop.

I sighed and dropped a fistful of coins into his hands, and then another fistful. I didn't want to give away the money, but it felt almost right to make up for myself and what I did. I hadn't expected to come here at all, but I wasn't exactly sad I did.

I was surprised though that Sunshine hadn't realized I was lifting coins from almost everyone's purse. I ended up find all but one of my four pocked filled. Now that I had run into Mr. White, I still had two full pockets. I was glad for the distraction of so many people on the streets that day.

Sunshine was in deep discussion with Paul, and I pulled him away from his conversation.

"We're going," I said.

He was slightly angry, partly worried, but mostly happy. Good for him. He didn't protest when I set out on an alarmingly fast pace away from the shop. Although I was at peace with Mr. White, he clearly still hated me.

"Thorne." Sunshine called to me after a little bit.

I spun around fast enough that my braid slapped my cheek. I needed to put distance between me and that wretched shop, but Sunshine had fallen behind too far. With his false leg, he wasn't exactly a fast walker.

I waited for him, but I was impatient. If Mr. White recognized me, who else would? The guards or even the king, if they did, I'd be dead. Dead and stone cold. I hated the cold.

As I walked, the feeling of fear ebbed. Intense anger took its place. It wasn't directed at Sunshine, who was now walking next to me, or even at Mr. White. I was angry with myself. I had run away. I was a coward. How many times had I promised myself to be brave?

It had been over a year since I had told Kim and Jace cowards made for good thieves. It felt like a lifetime ago. it made sense though. Thieves were always running, staying hidden, and only doing any real work at night. And I was an excellent thief.

"Where are we going?" Sunshine asked, very worried.

I understood where his concern was coming from. My breaths were coming in short gasps. I felt tired and worried and angry and everything else all at once. I might've been swaying, but I couldn't tell.

""I'm just tired," I gasped. "Just tired" At the time, I didn't realize I had not answered his question.

"Let's go back to your home." Sunshine grabbed my arm and half carried me before I found my feet.

I tried to pry his hand from my arm, but it was no use. Bustling people gave a quick glance at my situation, but made no move to help me. So he still led me home with a hand gripping me.

When we got to the tavern, I could smell the lovely scent of dinner: Soups, meat, and fresh bread.

Matt and Drew came to the front at the sound of the door opening.

"Thorne's tired," Drew said as Matt's concern grew.

"What's wrong?"

I answer Matt with one word. "Tired."

"Thorne doesn't work right when she's tired," Drew told Matt.

I was feeling more like myself, but Sunshine would not let me go upstairs alone. I chose to climb into Gust's bed. It was never made, and I didn't mind messing it up further. I didn't dare touch Drew's bed though. It was perfectly made every morning with sheets tucked in and the pillow put precisely in the middle. He might very well want to kill me if I ever messed it up.

I shooed Sunshine away. He didn't need to be watching me sleep or anything like that. "Wake me up at dinner time," I told him before he left. He simply waved goodbye.

Within minutes, I was asleep.