The Foundling

Chapter 8: More Lies

"How much for a basket of them tubers?" asked the voice.

The light brown uniform of a peacekeeper greeted Mavrek when he looked up. He just barely managed to stop himself from recoiling in alarm.

"Twe-twenty nis," he croaked out, mouth dry.

The officer's broad smile faltered a little. "That's expensive," he said reaching for his hip where a string holding precious few coins was fastened.

Mavrek avoided looking at the officer's face and tried to focus on controlling his breathing.

"All I've got now is 7," he paused, rummaging in a pant pocket, "No wait, here's 2 more." He held them out hopefully.

"That's fine," said Mavrek weakly.

"Hey, you alright?" the officer cocked his head, "You're not sick?"

"No I'm fine."

"If you say so," he responded skeptically.

Mavrek grabbed a basket from the back of the wagon, knocking over a stack of empty ones in the process. He handed it to the young officer.

A small sharp yelp arose from the wagon-box.

"Eh? What was that?" he exclaimed turning to Mavrek. He rested the basket of tubers on the seat and walked around to the side. Mavrek said nothing. He closed his eye. This was it.

From the neighboring stall Nessa's eye narrowed.

The peacekeeper lifted the overcoat to reveal Ta-lei half buried beneath the empty baskets. Two light-brown eyes stared at the officer reproachfully.

He started, nostrils wrinkling--gods it stunk--and dropped the coat back onto the tiny creature. A muffled protest followed.

"Stars! What the-?" he turned to Mavrek, "Where'd you find it?"

Mavrek swallowed and shamefully repeated the same lie he'd told Nessa and her brother.

"Oh, ok."

Nessa balked. Mavrek's face was pale and drawn, he was clearly hiding something. How someone could be such an abysmal liar was beyond her but this idiot peacekeeper wasn't even the least bit suspicious.

"Don't you think it looks like that thing they described in the search order?" questioned Nessa approaching with hands on hips. Neb rolled his eye.

"It's not-" began Mavrek.

The officer gingerly lifted the coat again. "Maybe a little," he scratched his ear, "its small enough, and the eyes match."

Ta-lei sucked his fingers and babbled something unintelligible.

"I think this fella's right," he waved a hand towards Mavrek, "Its definitely an animal."

Ta-lei pulled himself up on the side of the wagon. He stood for a moment on shaky legs then fell back down.

"Besides the guy we're looking for is described as being abnormally strong and fast. This creature can barely stand."

Nessa said nothing. Neb prodded his sister, "See, told you so." She scowled.

The officer retrieved his basket of tubers, "I'd best be gettin on." He waved and disappeared back into the crowd.

Mavrek remained on edge throughout the afternoon. As it got later fewer and fewer people remained in the market. The old woman at the fruit juice stand across from him sat dozing in the late afternoon sun. Occasionally someone would come and help themselves, leaving payment in the wooden box that sat on her lap.

All around him, vendors began packing up as well. Mavrek was glad when Nessa and Neb followed suit, taking their tent down, and loading their crates and trays into a large wheel barrow. He was certain that Nessa had been watching him closely all afternoon despite the peacekeeper's assurances. Neb wasn't much better, though he'd been staring mostly at Ta-lei's hiding spot in the back of the wagon.

The little creature had been quiet for some time now. Too quiet. Mavrek found him sleeping again. Beside him was a sizeable pile of tubers, to Mavrek's disgust and dismay, all of them were covered in saliva. The little gremlin had been sucking on them! Mavrek couldn't even begin to come up with a sensible explanation. It was clear from before Ta-lei didn't care for them. None of the tubers had been eaten, and because he lacked teeth, the skin hadn't even been broken. So then why? What was the point?

He couldn't in good conscience sell these ones, but he washed them off, Mavrek hated wasting food. After being cooked they would be perfectly fine to eat, if he didn't tell He-ne or his brother-in-law. Mavrek sighed and draped the shawl over Ta-lei. He returned to the wagon seat to wait, the afternoon was quickly turning into evening. The setting sun cast a warm glow over everything.

Mavrek began scanning the dwindling crowds. He was somewhat surprised that He-ne had not returned yet. He hoped she had not gotten lost.