Ghastly Glass (5 page)

“Nothing.” Roger kept walking. “But if there had been, I could’ve handled it. Jessie doesn’t have to call you every time something happens.”

“I
am
the bailiff. That’s my job.” Chase smiled at me quickly then turned back to scowl at Roger.

“I
was
the bailiff before you showed up,” Roger reminded him. “I’ve had
real
law enforcement training. What’ve you had? A few weeks riding around with Myrtle Beach’s finest? ”

The two men, totally unequally matched, advanced on one another. The Black Dwarf went to hide behind a flower cart being pushed by a comely maiden dressed in what looked like cobwebs.
Hmm, where’d she get that costume?

Putting my costume envy aside, I stepped between the two men and held out my hands. They both walked right into them and pushed toward each other. “Come on, boys. There’s no point in fighting over who gets to see the dead body first.”

Chase’s head jerked up. “Where’s the dead body? ”

“There isn’t one,” I told him. “It’s a figure of speech. The Black Dwarf told us he saw another death. We assumed he meant another dead person. But I guess he just meant they already gave that poor dead guy’s role to someone else. It’s awful, I know.”

Roger laughed. “That’s right. Nothing to see here, Bailiff. Go back to your dungeon and find some tomatoes for the next vegetable justice.”

“Sorry.” I ignored Roger. What was wrong with him anyway? He was usually a pain in the butt. This was worse than usual.

“That’s okay.” Chase glared at Roger one more time. “Are you finished at the glass shop? ”

“Almost. I’ll meet you back at the dungeon.”

I could tell Chase left reluctantly. Roger was already down to Fabulous Funnels. I had to run to catch up with him. There was something going on that wasn’t right, and I knew I wouldn’t be happy until I found out what it was. “That was intense.” I matched his stride since I’m a few inches taller than he is and I have size twelve feet. They make for better balance. “Is something wrong that I should know? ”

He glared at me, never losing his stride. “Why don’t you ask your boyfriend? He’s the one who took my job as bailiff.”

“But that was years ago,” I reminded him. “You can’t still be that angry about it.”

“Yes I can. There’s no reason for me
not
to be angry about it.” He ducked into the Glass Gryphon and I followed.

Henry was sitting at one of the workbenches using a burner to heat a glass rod that he was applying to what looked like the beginning of a dragon. “So you found another dead body? Uncle Roger, I think you should’ve told me how dangerous this place is. I might not have come.”

“Leave then!” Roger started up the stairs that led to his apartment above the shop. “I don’t care.”

I heard the door slam above us and looked at Henry. I didn’t want to encourage him, but I needed to know what was going on. If things were as bad as they seemed, maybe it would be better if I worked as a flower pusher or even a drudge. My time here was short. I wanted it to be educational and fun. Foregoing the educational part, since I couldn’t get an apprenticeship on this short notice, I could at least have fun. Maybe Chase could hire me as some kind of aid to the Bailiff. I could even put people into the stocks for him.

“He’s been like this since I got here.” Henry glanced toward the ceiling. “He doesn’t talk to me. I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

“Maybe you should ask him.”

“Maybe
you
should ask him. I don’t really care.” He looped the hot glass into an elegant tail for the dragon. I didn’t like Henry, but I had to admire his artistic hand.

“But he’s
your
uncle.” I kept watching like I was hypnotized by his movements. The dragon’s body was already formed, but Henry was adding detail. I wondered if I’d be able to do anything like that with the short amount of time I’d have here.

“And I’m watching his shop here and opening a second shop for him near the Pavilion. I think that’s enough for me.”

I couldn’t think of anything else to say. My eyes continued to follow his movements. He had wonderful hands. His timing was perfect, never allowing the hot glass to go anywhere he didn’t want it to go. I could understand why demonstrations like this drew a big crowd.

“Would you like to try it? ” He looked up at me through his safety glasses.

“No. I’d only make a mess of it. I’ve read a lot about it, but I haven’t tried it yet.” I said no but I really meant yes. I’m sure my eyes gave me away.

“Come on. It’s simple once you get the hang of it. Stand right over here by me. I’ll guide you. You’ll be fine.”

Without thinking of the consequences, I did as he suggested and moved to stand between his parted legs and the workbench. He put one arm down so I could position myself in such a way that his arms were around me with the burner and the glass in front of us.

“Here, you hold this.” He handed me the glass rod he was using to detail the dragon. “I’ll hold the dragon and we’ll manipulate the glass together. See that crest I’m starting on his head? That’s where we’ll work, building it up.”

The heat from the burner was intense, like standing beside a small campfire. I couldn’t move back since I was already practically in Henry’s lap. I was afraid to look at the burner or the glass without safety goggles. In all, it was a bad position to be in. And then I managed to burn myself as he guided my hand. I yelped and dropped the rod, which, of course, shattered all over the floor.

“Look out!” he called too late as I tried to catch the glass rod.

“I’m sorry.” Turning fast, I accidentally pushed his other hand and the beautiful dragon ended up on the floor, too. I was ready to cry. I had destroyed the dragon and burned myself in less than five seconds. Imagine if I’d had a whole day.

“It’s okay.” Henry turned off the burner and removed his goggles. He put his arms around me. I was already in a vulnerable position. Being Henry, he made the most of it. We went from him patting my back to kissing me and nuzzling my neck in less time than it took for me to kill the dragon.

“Now that’s
hot
!” he said with an evil glitter in his eyes.

The shop door opened, and I prayed it was some unsuspecting visitor who would only imagine what had gone on in the last few minutes. But I’d left my lucky shamrock at home, so it was Chase. “I thought maybe you’d be ready to go. I was making my rounds, so I stopped by,” he said.

Henry made a big deal about moving his legs so I could get out from behind the workbench. Honestly, if there hadn’t been glass all over the floor, I would’ve climbed
under
the bench rather than go through that elaborate charade. I couldn’t say it wasn’t what it looked like, especially not in front of Henry, who seemed intent on ruining my love life. I thought I should save the long version of the explanation for when Chase and I were alone. Maybe it wouldn’t make any sense, but at least I wouldn’t be pleading my case in front of Henry. It wouldn’t take much more for me to hate this man.

Chase didn’t say anything as he walked out the door. Henry waved and grinned as I closed the door to the shop behind me. What had I gotten myself into this time? Roger was a surly ass, and his nephew was a pain in that same general area. How was I going to learn anything about glassmaking with the two of them?

The Village was closing down around us as Chase and I cut across the King’s Highway toward the dungeon. Already there were signs that things were changing over for Halloween. A few shops were decorated with black bunting. It made them look like they were in mourning. Jack-o’-lanterns were glowing in the twilight.

A group of vampires (once the king’s acrobats) walked past us with a nod at Chase. A few fairies had already donned their wraith costumes. There was no flitting, thank goodness, although they were a little pitiful in their gray shrouds. I could almost feel sorry for them and forget all their evil tricks—and their flirting with Chase.

That thought brought me back to the man at my side. He was walking right next to me but hadn’t looked at me since we left the Glass Gryphon. I tried being cute and sassy, nudging him with my hip and winking when he looked my way. “So I hope you managed to turn off the banshee today.”

“Yeah.”

“Great! I’m looking forward to tonight.”

“Jessie—”

“Chase, he means nothing to me.”

“That makes me feel
so
much better.” He kicked an empty popcorn container instead of picking it up and putting it in the trash. He was
really
in a foul mood.

“That’s not exactly what I mean.”

“So he
does
mean something to you? ” He stopped walking and confronted me right outside the Mother Goose Pavilion. The old goose keeper was finishing off one of her tales for the last group of children that evening. Although it was only around six P.M., it was getting dark. That felt a little weird to me since I usually spend my time here in the summer, when it doesn’t get dark until nine.

I was thinking of the past summer when Chase and I had finally gotten together after years of just being friends. It was so much more than any summer fling I’d ever had at the Village. I hated to see that look of betrayal in his beautiful dark eyes.

“I just met the man, Chase,” I said, trying to reason with him. “How could he mean anything to me? He’s good-looking and he’s got great hands, I’ll give him that much. But what else does he have? He’s opening a shop at the beach for Roger. So what? ”

“I hope that was supposed to make me feel better. Can’t you see what’s happening? Henry knows we’re together and he wants to split us up. He doesn’t care about you. Hell, he probably doesn’t even think you’re attractive!”

That kind of pushed a few bad buttons for me. “We’re just not communicating. We both know what Henry is. I know I could’ve handled the situation better. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Or not thinking,” he muttered.

“Excuse me? Are you the same Chase Manhattan I saw kissing Princess Isabel after the joust last summer? You knew I was standing there and you let her lip-lock you. I thought I was going to have to get something to pry her off your face.”

“You knew why that happened.”

“And I forgave you.” I lifted my head and looked him right in the eye. “Now you have to forgive me.”

“There’s nothing to forgive.” He started walking again. “Like you said, we both know what Henry’s all about. Just try to stay away from him while you’re here.”

I kept up easily with his rapid strides. Being tall isn’t good for much, but I can walk faster than most men. “That’s fine. But you have to say the words.”

“What words? ”

“What words indeed, Sir Bailiff?” Da Vinci, one of our Village artists, dropped into our conversation as we were walking by him. “A picture is worth many words, my friend. Perhaps I could assist you by drawing the picture in your heart for your lovely lady.”

The short, old guy (at least I think he’s really old—either that or he’s always in character) smiled at me and held his pen at the ready to create a picture of what Chase wanted to say. His robes were still gray and white. I wondered what he’d be wearing tomorrow. He was a member of the Artist Guild, which prided itself on its division from the Craft Guild I belonged to. Artists, it seemed, did not want their work confused with crafts, although I have a hard time defining the difference.

“I don’t think the lady would like to see the picture in my heart right now, Sam. Maybe later.” Chase nodded to him then kept walking.

“Methinks Sir Bailiff is in a foul mood, good lady. Perhaps a glass of ale might be helpful. One never knows the trouble another has until one has sat down with him over ale.”

I didn’t know what to say to that philosophy. I smiled, nodded, and ran after Chase. There are all kinds here in the Village. The monks at the bakery based their philosophy on bread. The pirates that sailed Mirror Lake set their sails by the rites of pillage. I guessed Da Vinci was into ale.

“Wait, Chase!” I had almost caught up with him when Lonnie came out from behind the tree swing, near one of the old huts, and stopped to chat.
Great!
Just what I needed.

“Hey, Chase. I’ve been looking for you everywhere, man. I heard something went on by the Hawk Stage today. I hope it wasn’t anything bad.” Lonnie’s beady little eyes lit up with hope as he shifted an enormous keg. It was hard for me to believe that little guy could carry something so heavy.

“No, nothing really happened. Thanks for stopping by. Where are you taking that keg? ”

“I’m just taking it over to the Pleasant Pheasant for a party. If you need me for something, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“No, that’s okay. Enjoy yourself. We’re done for the day.” Chase walked up to the dungeon door and opened it. Immediately, the banshee began to wail.

“Oh, yeah.” Lonnie laughed. “I noticed that was broken this afternoon, so I fixed it for you. Nice, huh? ”

Chase put his head against the door. I knew exactly how he felt. It had been a bad day.

“Look, I’m going to get my stuff,” I told him quietly. Lonnie still stood there, taking it all in. Tomorrow the Black Dwarf would be announcing it all over the Village. “It’s been that kind of day. I’ll be right back, and then we’ll have some dinner and talk. Okay? ”

“That sounds good.” Chase took my hand. “I’ll walk over there with you.”

“I’ll be fine. Maybe you can silence the banshee again. Let’s eat at the Pleasant Pheasant, huh? I hear they have a full keg tonight.”

He laughed. “All right. Hurry back.”

As I started to walk away, Chase yelled out, “I forgive you.”

It made me feel better. There were always going to be complications with a man like Chase. Maybe even with a woman like me. Being here made me philosophic. The Village might not be real as far as existing in the past, but it gave me a sense of all those lives that went on before mine. It’s what I love best about history—that feeling of connection with those people who have lived and died for generations before me.