Inharmonic (The Music Maker Series Book 1) Page 7

Sensing it might be a good idea to do so, she disassembled her blowpipe and tucked the three short pieces into her pack. As she did, her hand brushed against a bundle of smooth, green fabric. Her dress. Of all the things she carried with her, this was the most poignant reminder of a life that could have been, but never would be. She walked to the edge of the river and tossed the dress into the water. The flowing material rolled and undulated away from her with the bouncy current, traveling along with the will of the river. Nadja watched until it disappeared. Then, she focused her eyes on the city and shouldered her pack once more, surprised to find it much lighter than it had been.

  As she crossed the bridge spanning the Nostirivin River and leading to one of the three city gates, her heartbeat quickened. Her singular focus on reaching Cantio and her uncle was slowly being overtaken by feelings of anxiousness and uncertainty. Her steps slowed as she approached a gate flanked by a pair of towering stone trumpeters. For a moment, she considered returning to the forest. She had grown comfortable in her protective cocoon of solitude and anonymity over the past week. Entering the city gates was the quickest way to eliminate her chance at both. Her hesitance didn’t last long, however. As safe as she felt in her isolation, Nadja imagined the life of a recluse was probably worse than death. With a deep breath, she entered the city.

  The outer ring was not terribly crowded. It was early afternoon, and many of the city’s residents were at work or school now. As she turned southward, Nadja’s gaze was seized by the buildings which lined the ring road. A strange mixture of practical and whimsical, the homes were unlike any she had seen before. Roofs and window gables rose at steep, sharp angles, as if surprised to see her. Curved wooden accents framed doorways and windowsills, smiling or frowning at her, depending on their mood. While every house was different, the visual flow from house to house was harmonious, as if each told a small part of a much greater story.

  Nadja pried her eyes away from the curiosities around her, lowered her chin, and turned her attention back to finding her uncle. Thanks to her mother she had a name and a profession, which was a good start.

  Apart from being the heart of music and the governmental seat of the country, Cantio was also the most important inland port. Almost all imports and exports were required to pass through Cantio before entering or leaving the country. The wharf lay just outside the east city wall, covering every bit of land between the Kalmari and Nostirivin Rivers. What better place to look for a barge captain?

  As Nadja passed out of the southeastern city gate onto the wharf, she stepped into a different world. Unlike the sleepy neighborhood streets inside the city wall, the wharf was a cacophony of voices and machines, street and animal sounds. What appeared to be thousands of people scurried in all directions, coming in and out of buildings, lifting boxes and freight to and from carts, looking like an anthill which had just been kicked over. Past the maelstrom, she could see ships of various shapes and sizes moored along the banks of both rivers. Most of the ships were smaller than the ones she had seen in Chansey, which made sense. Many of the larger vessels which did well at sea were just too big to make it upriver to Cantio.

  She made her way past the rows of identical buildings which bordered the wall and picked her way through the crowd, wondering where to begin. Giant warehouses loomed overhead, striping the road with shadows. The buildings past the warehouses were smaller, less imposing. Nadja spotted a large sign reading “Cantio Custom House” and turned in that direction.

  The crowd grew denser the closer she got to the custom house. People bumped into one another, and hundreds of conversations melded together to form a thick drone. All at once, one voice rose above the rest.

  “And I never want to see your face again!” came the shrill cry from an open doorway just ahead.

  A man stumbled backwards out of the opening, quickly regaining his balance, but continuing to take a few steps backwards.

  “Aww, come on, sugar,” he replied, straightening his shirt. “She’s just an old friend of mine.”

  Nadja curved wide to avoid the scuffle, but the compact crowd made maneuvering difficult.

  “Old friend?” the woman shouted, tossing a coat out onto the ground in front of the man. “Old friend!?” A boot shot through the air and smacked the man in the chest.

  Nadja couldn’t see the woman in the shadows of the doorway, but whoever she was, she had a good arm.

  “I’m sure you kiss all of your old friends that way, you rat!” the woman screeched. The other boot flashed through the air, this time with a precise trajectory. The door slammed, and the man ducked just in time to avoid getting hit.

  At least, Nadja thought he did. He must have. Because the next thing she knew, she was lying on her back with a terrible headache, squinting up into a pair of chocolaty-brown eyes.

  Chapter 8

  “Hey, are you all right?”

  The man slipped his arm under her shoulders and helped her sit up. Nadja reached up and touched her forehead.

  “You’re probably going to have a pretty nice bump there,” he said, brushing a lock of sandy blond hair back from his eyes. “Sorry about that. That one was meant for me.”

  “No,” said Nadja. “I mean, yeah, I’m fine.”

  “Think you can stand?” he asked.

  “I think so.”

  The man helped Nadja to her feet and grabbed her pack.

  “I can carry that,” said Nadja, reaching for it.

  “Nope,” the man replied. “You just took a boot to the face for me. The least I can do is carry your pack. Where are you headed?”

  “The custom house.”

  “The custom house it is,” he said. They began walking slowly in that direction. The man glanced at Nadja every few steps. “You know,” he said, “you should get some ice for that.”

  “I’ll be fine,” said Nadja.

  “If you say so.”

  They walked along for a few moments in silence. Nadja noticed how the crowd seemed to part for them as they passed. No doubt it was due to the man’s size. He was taller than most other people and looked as solid as a boulder.

  “I’m sorry about your lady friend back there,” said Nadja, breaking the silence.

  The man chuckled. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Tessa likes a good row every now and then. She likes the fighting almost as much as she likes the making up.”

  “Oh.”

  “But what about you?” asked the man, scratching at the day’s growth of whiskers which darkened his cheeks and chin. “I haven’t seen you around the wharf before. You don’t look like you’re much for heavy lifting, and you don’t have the look of a sailor. Or the smell for that matter. And as for other . . . ah . . . professions, I wouldn’t put you there either. So, what’s your business here?”

  At first, Nadja was taken aback by his direct questioning. However, his comment about her smell made her glad she had sneaked in a bath and changed into her last set of clean clothes the night before. And, his apparent familiarity with the wharf made her think he might be able to help her.

  “I’m looking for someone. Tau Machinal. He’s a barge captain.”

  The man’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “Tau Machinal?” he said.

  “Yes.”

  “Well then, you, sugar, are in luck. Most everyone around here knows who that is, and I happen to know him better than most.” The man turned down a side road leading away from the custom house and towards the docks.

  “How do you know him?” asked Nadja.

  “I work security for him. Everything shipped in or out of Amrantir has to come through Cantio. That’s a lot of valuable cargo. It’s my job to make sure none of it goes missing before it gets where its needs to go.”

  Nadja cut her eyes towards him, again noticing how he towered over the rest of the crowd. “You must be good at your job,” she offered.

  He smiled down at her, and Nadja could see why he would have lady troubles. Too many ladies bring trouble. “That I am, sugar. That I am.”
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br />   After a few moments, they stepped up onto the small porch of a rather unimposing wooden building. A faded sign posted to the left of the door read “Montgomery & Co. Shipping.” The door creaked on its hinges as the man opened it.

  Following him inside, Nadja found herself in a small room which held a few uncomfortable-looking chairs and a long desk stretching almost the entire width of the room. Behind it sat an elderly, dour-looking man.

  “Hey Branson, I need to see Tau,” said Nadja’s guide, leaning casually across the desk.

  “Is he expecting you?” The old man’s gravelly voice sounded as if he hadn’t used it in so long spider webs had formed in his throat. His eyes narrowed suspiciously at Nadja.

  “No, but this young lady needs to speak with him.”

  “Regarding?”

  Both men turned and looked expectantly at Nadja.

  Clearing her throat, she replied, “A personal matter.”

  The old man assessed Nadja in silence. His eyes narrowed even further, if that was possible. So much so, Nadja wonder if he had fallen asleep. Then, he turned abruptly and disappeared through a blue door to the right of the desk.

  A few minutes later, he emerged.

  “You may go in,” he croaked.

  “Thank you, Branson,” said the younger man, clapping the older one on the shoulder as they passed.

  Nadja heard the old man grumble under his breath.

  The office they entered stood in stark contrast to the barren and utilitarian front room. Rich, dark mahogany accented the walls and thick green drapes hung from the windows. The furniture was ornately carved from the same wood which covered the walls, and the stuffed seat coverings were practically bursting. Nadja’s footsteps silenced the moment they met the plush rug which covered most of the floor. In front of the window, opposite the door through which they had entered, stood a large mahogany desk, behind which sat a rather imposing figure.

  The man appeared to be in his early forties with wavy, shoulder-length black hair and brown eyes. His tanned skin spoke of hours spent in the sun, and his mouth was framed by a thick black mustache and closely-cropped beard. His heavy, black eyebrows and sharp features gave him a stern countenance, but Nadja thought she detected something familiar in it.

  “Wheedler,” the dark man spoke, nodding at Nadja’s companion. His voice was low and calm, but possessed a command which demanded attention. “I thought you were bringing a shipment down from Wailing Gap today.”

  “We made it in ahead of schedule. The load is on its way to Chansey as we speak,” replied Wheedler. “Good to see you made it back in one piece.”

  “I always do. To what do I owe this visit?”

  “Well, I was taking care of some business after we settled everything up at the dock, and I happened to run into this young lady who said she was looking for you.” Wheedler raised an eyebrow and gave the man, whom Nadja assumed to be Tau, a slightly comical smile.

  “Really? And what business brings you here?” asked the dark man, looking at Nadja for the first time since she had entered the room.

  Nadja shrank back from his gaze, her stomach churning with nervous anticipation. “Are you Tau Machinal?” she asked.

  “I am.”

  Unsure of what to say next, Nadja retrieved her pack from Wheedler and removed the letter her mother had written. She didn’t care to share her story with anyone who didn’t need to know, but Wheedler didn’t seem interested in going anywhere else. She handed the letter to Tau and stood in silence as he broke the seal and began to read.

  The minutes passed like hours as Tau’s eyes moved back and forth across the letter once, twice, and then a third time. The churning in Nadja’s stomach grew worse when he finally lowered the letter and pinned her with his gaze. He scrutinized her in silence for a few moments. She felt as if his eyes could see right into her soul, and perhaps they could. She squirmed, shifting back and forth on her feet, fighting the urge to turn and flee. After what seemed like an eternity, his eyes snapped to Wheedler and his face relaxed somewhat.

  “Wheedler, I have a shipment of minerals coming in from the Waste tonight. I’d like you and Brooks to accompany it down to Chansey first thing in the morning. It’s for one of our more valued clients, and I need my best on this one.”

  “Yessir,” replied Wheedler.

  “Thank you. That will be all.”

  Wheedler looked disappointed at the dismissal, but didn’t argue.

  “Thank you for your help,” said Nadja, as he headed out the door.

  “Any time, sugar.” He smiled and closed the door behind him.

  Nadja turned back to face Tau.

  “Hello, Niece,” he said.

  “Hello, Uncle,” was all she could think of to reply.

  Tau rose from his seat and crossed over to a small, low table next to the window. “Would you care for some tea?” he asked.

  Not at all what she had been expecting, Nadja simply nodded her head in reply.

  “If you were hoping for something stronger, I’m afraid you’ll have to look elsewhere. I have never cared for alcohol.”

  Tau hefted an elaborate silver teapot and filled two matching teacups. He handed one to Nadja and motioned for her to sit. She obeyed, taking the tea from him and eyeing the cup and saucer. They were dainty, yet masculine, but didn’t seem to match with the man who now sat across from her. Lifting the cup to her lips, she sipped. The tea had a floral flavor with a slightly bitter, though not unpleasant, finish. As the warm liquid slid down her throat, her muscles relaxed. She took a deep breath and savored the taste on her tongue. After two weeks of nothing but water to drink, the tea was a welcome change.

  “It seems you find yourself in an unfortunate situation,” he began.

  “That’s an understatement,” replied Nadja, taking another sip of her tea.

  “Mmm.” Tau resumed his seat behind the desk. “Nadja, I have read your mother’s letter, and I know why she sent you here. But I want to hear, in your own words, what brought you to my doorstep.”

  Nadja sighed and closed her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was go back to the beginning and relive the whole thing over again. But, her uncle was her only hope for staying safe. So, she took a deep breath and told him everything. Kizzy. Baulo. Her scream. Her blackout. And, the dead man.

  When Nadja finished her story, she was afraid to meet his gaze. They sat in silence once again. When she finally looked up, she didn’t see the disgust or judgement she had expected to find. Instead, it was something more like pity. No sooner had she looked at him than his expression once more went blank, and he finished his tea.

  “Who else have you spoken with since you arrived in Cantio?”

  “No one, except Wheedler.”

  “And what did you tell him?”

  “Nothing. Just that I was looking for you, and that it was a personal matter.”

  “Did you tell him your name?”

  “No.”

  Tau’s shoulders relaxed a bit. “Good,” he said, rising and walking to the small table to replace his cup. “When I left the Wanderers, I made a clean break. I no longer go by my family name as you do. No one in Cantio knows I was once a part of the tribe, and I have worked very hard to keep it that way.” He turned to look out the window.

  “Why did you leave?” asked Nadja.

  Tau said nothing, but continued to stare out the window for a few moments. “I go by Machinal, and as my niece, now so do you. Nadja Filamen no longer exists. Nadja Machinal is your future. You, like me, are an immigrant from Grenyan.” He turned to face her. “As for the reason you are here, well, I will need a little time to think on that. You may stay with me for now, but that is not a permanent solution. We need to find a way for you to become invisible, at least for the time being. If the Elders believe you have merely run away, as your mother tells them, then tradition suggests they will only search for a few months. If, however, they discover you are responsible for Baulo’s death, it could be much, much longer
. If you choose to stay here, you must do exactly as I say. These are my terms. Do you agree?”

  Nadja sat in thought. She wasn’t sure what she was expecting her uncle to do once she found him. Wave his hand and make everything magically disappear? That was silly. Perhaps she thought she would live with him and keep out of sight. But what kind of life would that be? She had already separated herself from her past, but he was asking her to erase it altogether and replace it with an entirely fictitious one. Did she have any other choice?

  “Take it or leave it!” a high-pitched voice screeched from behind her.

  Nadja jumped up and whirled around to face the door, her teacup clanging as it bounced across the floor. At first, she saw no one. Then, as she looked closer, she could make out a small gray form at eye level. It was about a foot and a half tall and covered in feathers.

  “Don’t rush her,” said Tau, walking over and removing the bird from its perch. “My apologies,” he said to Nadja. “He likes to chime in at the most inappropriate times. Nadja, this is Monty. Monty, Nadja.”

  The absurdity of the situation was not lost on Nadja, but her uncle acted as if introducing people to his parrot was the most natural thing in the world.

  “Um, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Monty,” she said.

  Tau coughed and passed his hand in front of his mouth as his shoulders shook. Monty tilted his head to the side, and his pupils expanded and contracted as he studied her.

  “May I touch him?” Nadja asked, her hand already approaching the bird.

  “He doesn’t respond well to strangers,” Tau was saying as Monty first dodged Nadja’s hand, then moved his head to brush underneath her fingertips.

  “Hmm,” Tau finished.

  Nadja smiled as she ran her fingers across Monty’s head and down his soft neck. “Where did you get him?”

  “I inherited him along with the shipping company.”

  “You own this company?” Nadja gaped. “But mother said you were a barge captain.”

  “I was, for a time. I still captain runs to and from Chansey a few times a year. A handful which require extra attention. But usually I leave the safety and security of my shipments in the capable hands of my guards, one of whom just escorted you to my office.” Tau nodded towards the door through which Wheedler had exited.