Chapter 42: Like a baby who had his rattle taken away

    The city had a different feel to it during mid-morning. They were quieter than he had seen before. The children were in school or apprenticed in their future trade. The adults were either working their trade or craft or else caring for their households.

    Arthur received a couple of long looks, but after passing his graduation tests, Freyja had given him a new chip to carry.

    It was a circle of black, polished stone with a hole carved in the middle. It now sat strung on the necklace next to the one Kenzie had given him.

    Arthur found the nearby canal and walked along the path beside it without being stopped. Soon enough, the canal joined the main river. Following the edges against the current, he bypassed shops that grew fancier.

    Finally, Arthur came to the entrance of the hive.

    Well, one of the entrances.

    Eight ground-level entrances ringed around the hive in total. This one, South-East, was impressive. It was an arch of marble cut in blocks of rainbow colors from white on one end shading slowly up the spectrum to green in the middle through yellow and reds and darkening on the other through the purples and a blue so dark it was almost black.

    Several large guards in impressive-looking outfits stood on either side of the large arch. They were the ones who examined and approved all traffic in and out. There was a line each for carts and people on horseback going by in either direction and a line for individuals on foot.

    By the way some of the guards held out hands and murmured to themselves, they must have had a Seeker card. He was glad he had the foresight to deactivate his Trap card.

    Arthur joined the end of the line for the people on foot. He stood out because he was one of the few who was not carrying a pack.

    When he got to the front of the line, the guard frowned down at him.

    “Are you coming to see your parents?”

    In answer, Arthur pulled out the necklace with Kenzie’s chip strung on the end. “I’m here to see my recruiter.”

    The man looked over it carefully.

    “Kenzie and Marteen, eh?” He turned to an assistant who held a thick bundle of papers. “Ah, here she is. Level five, apartment 103.”

    So, Kenzie had been promoted up a level. Was it because she had recruited him?

    The guard continued, “Go straight up there with no dawdling. I’ll send a message on ahead.”

    He nodded to a younger teen, who had a much less decorated uniform. The teen rushed off to a nearby hut. Likely to activate some card anchor advice.

    “No dawdling,” Arthur repeated, nodding once.

    That, of course, was a lie. He intended to meet Kenzie and exchange his card shards, but he intended to take his time about it.

    The guard gestured him in.

    Like the rest of the city, the area inside the hive seemed empty of activity. Most who were visible were workers getting on with their duties.

    By now Arthur had seen the sheer mind-boggling work when a new scourge-eruption was announced somewhere within the kingdom. During those times, the hive became—well, a hive of activity. People and dragons boiled out of the hive through portals the shimmering dark green dragons opened. All support staff inside and outside were on high alert. Card shards flowed into the city, bringing wealth and the promise of new magic.

    And dragons and their riders died. People didn’t talk about that much in the orphanage, but the teachers and staff were sure to prod the kids about interest in the hive after a difficult eruption.

    Arthur wasn’t afraid of the scourgelings. Not much, anyway. And he knew that working with the hive was the best path to more shards and full cards.

    But he was grateful that Legendary eggs were rare. He still had time to grow and develop more skills. He walked on.

    The ground level of the hive was level 1. Arthur briefly glanced around before he found a staircase upward. The commissary held only the most basic of supplies with prices not different than what he would get in the city.

    Arthur’s new morning job working in the Orphanage kitchen would take care of his basics.

    Level 2 had a greater range of supplies for sale, including some new shirts and a quilt that tempted him. But surely the next levels would have a steeper discount.

    The third level was better still, though there was no sign of trash-tier Commons for sale. Those would be on the fourth level.

    Decan caught him, all sweet and pleasant. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I was just helping your little pet find his way through the tunnels. It’s a real maze in here.”

    “Uh-huh.” Kenzie jerked her head to the side.

    To Arthur’s shock, the three walked away. They threw venomous looks at her, but if they had tails, they’d be tucked under their legs.

    Kenzie gave Arthur a quick up and down. “Did he steal anything? Are you okay?”

    He appreciated the pragmatism that made her ask about the shards before his health.

    “No and yes.” He looked at their retreating backs and then at Kenzie. “I thought the hive was safe.”

    “Well, you won’t get mugged by a criminal but you may get a shakedown by some reject nobles with an attitude problem. Come on.” She gestured for him to follow her. Then she turned and strode opposite of where Decan and his group had left.

    Arthur hastened to catch up. Questions tumbled out before he could help himself. “How did you find me? Those were nobles? What did he mean about Marteen? Did you really beat him in a duel? How?”

    She rolled her eyes. “Does he look like he could beat me in a duel?”

    “He used magic on me. I couldn’t move— I was glued to the wall.”

    “He rides an orange.” She tipped her hand back and forth in a so-so gesture. “They don’t go for the destructive/transformative cards like Reds, or the light-based stuff like the yellows. Decan repels people away— like his personality doesn’t do that enough. His dragon is the opposite. Sucks you in.”

    “And you beat that?” He couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. “How?”

    “Same way I found you. Saw a whole lot of emotion coming down this tunnel.”

    “But—“

    Kenzie flicked two fingers in a twisting motion and suddenly Arthur was laughing. Hysterically. It was a little like being tickled in there was no real joy in it, just a bodily reaction as if something had their thumb pressed on a button where everything was funny, but at the same time, nothing was at all because he could not stop. He couldn’t tell if he was screaming or laughing or on the verge of sobbing.

    And just as suddenly, it did.

    Doubled over, Arthur heaved for breath. When he looked up, Kenzie gave him a sympathetic smile.

    “What did you...” he started to say, voice raw. “What...”

    “I’ve collected a few cards that have synergized with mine and Marteen’s,” she said. “It’s not a set but it works for the two of us. That’s why Decan’s pissy. White dragons mess with the mind.”

    He had been warned about white dragons, Arthur remembered. Now he knew why. He licked dry lips. “Can they—can you—?”

    “Read thoughts?” she asked lightly. Too lightly.

    Arthur jerked back in surprise.

    Now her smile had a definite tinge of sadness. As if she had said this many times. “Just emotions. I’m Uncommon, not Rare.”

    He spent a moment wondering if that were true. Could she change his thoughts?

    No. If she could read his thoughts, she would know about his Legendary Rank card. If she could change his mind, surely she’d make him give it up.

    Arthur nodded. “You made Decan cry in the duel.”

    “Like a baby who had his rattle taken away,” she said in satisfaction. Then, unexpectedly, she rested an arm across his shoulders in a big sisterly way. “You’re my recruit, so it’s my job to teach you to defend yourself, too.”

    “Really?”

    “Sure, I owe you.”

    Then she turned him to the right and they came to large double doors. Kenzie pushed them open and then walked into an apartment easily twice the size of her last.

    "So," Kenzie said, perching on the edge of her bed. "Why haven''t you stuck that Trap card back in your heart yet?"