The Patron Stone by Don McEnery

Author:Don McEnery [McEnery, Don]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-07-31T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12 – Exile

Anise tossed and turned most of the night; Garrett managed to sleep soundly. When morning came, Garrett opened his eyes to see Anise sitting up adding sticks to the fire. “Were you cold?” he asked.

“No,” Anise replied. “I just didn't sleep well. Those flickering reflections from the fire on the windows kept tricking me into thinking there was a light outside. This isn't a safe area of town.”

“You can try to get some rest now,” Garrett offered. “I’ll stand watch. We can take turns tonight.”

“Let's get the bed frame to town,” Anise replied. “Exhausted as I am, my stomach is rumbling and the hunger would keep me awake.”

Garrett moved the headboard away from the wall. He grabbed both the head and foot boards at one end with the wood behind him. “I’ll take the front end, you get the rear.”

Anise picked up the other ends. She stood between the pieces facing Garrett. They rustled and adjusted their grips.

“Ready?” Garrett asked.

“Lead the way,” Anise said.

A few blocks toward town they saw people walking in and out of an old warehouse. They neared the warehouse and heard a voice behind them. “That’s a nice piece for the exchange.”

After a brief silence, Garrett replied with a simple, “thank you."

“What're you hoping to get for that?” the voice asked.

“Depends on who's asking,” Anise replied. “You thinking of making us an offer?”

Garrett set the bed ends down and turned around. Anise kept the pieces steady and turned her head. The man who approached them wore a knee-length overcoat. He had a scar on his chin and a patch over his left eye.

“I watch the exchange,” he said. “Sometimes I see wares of interest.”

“Does this interest you?” Anise prodded.

The man stroked his chin. His right hand stroked his left arm up and down. His eyes darted back and forth. His face scrunched in all different directions.

“Are you unwell?” Garrett asked.

“Pondering the price I could get for this,” he replied.

“Price you could get?” Garrett questioned.

“I have a cart,” the man began. “Items of interest to me are ones that will fetch more coin in town than this exchange house. I may be able to offer you more than they do, I just need to consider resale value, transportation cost, and of course a little something for me.”

“So, you suppose you could haul this to town and get a better price than here?” Anise asked.

“Who in the Old Quarter will pay much for this?” the man asked. “In town, there are merchants, craftsmen, traders, soldiers of rank, factory owners, all manner of people with affluence and coin. Once, those people lived here too; those days are long past.”

Garrett scratched his chin. “What are you prepared to offer?”

“Three tin chits,” the man answered quickly.

“Think you could manage a fourth?” Anise asked with a kind smile. “We'd have liked a whole bronze Guinea.”

The man’s mouth and eyes scrunched briefly. “Alright,” he said with a nod. “Four tin chits, I’ll even give it to you as two chits and ten copper pennies so you’re able to haggle.

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