Glandera
The miners had lit fires in the tunnels and then quenched the rock with cold water. The bright ringing of many chisels on crumbling walls filled the mine. The Crystal Spotter worked with her lips pressed together to extract the gold-bearing pieces of quartz from the basalt. Despite the air shafts, it still stank of cold smoke.
“Glandera? You're supposed to come to the foreman,” a colleague shouted against the noise.
Her lump landed in the minecart before she turned around. He pointed his thumb in the direction of the exit. She just nodded. She carefully packed up her tools and walked back into the blinding daylight.
Foreman Zulkis stared at her torso as she approached. Only when she stood in front of him did he look her in the eye. “Glandera, you're in luck. You can help your mother at the market today.”
Her mouth opened slowly before she shook her head vigorously. “But… then I won't get paid today.”
Zulkis spat on the floor. “I'll still pay you.”
“No, I'm staying. I'll… I'll work longer and harder if that's what you want. I need this work!”
The corners of his mouth lifted into a wry smile and he raised his chin. Slowly, he came closer and whispered, “Maybe you'll pay more attention to me in the future.” He winked. “You'll be working at the market today. But you should get changed first.” His gaze travelled over her body again. “I'll see you again tomorrow.”
“Is something wrong with Grandmother?” Glandera gripped her tools tightly in her hand, turned on her heel and ran home.
The front door flew open. “Grandmother?”
“We're upstairs.”
It was Arno's voice. The tools clattered to the floor and Glandera ran up the stairs. Without knocking, she opened the door to the room. “What happened?”
“What's supposed to have happened?” Uncomprehending, Arno stared at his sister over a book. “I'm reading to her from the Bible, as usual.”
Gladis beamed at her. “Dear, it's good to see you.”
“She's all right?” Glandera stood in the doorway, panting.
“Obviously. What are you doing here? Don't you have to work?”
She pressed her lips together briefly and stepped closer. “The foreman has given me paid leave so that I can help mother at the market.”
Arno nodded appreciatively. “That's generous of him.”
Glandera's nod turned into a shake of her head as she considered it. Yes, that was exactly what made her wonder. Zulkis was not generous but always looking out for his own advantage. She wondered what he was up to. She lovingly stroked her grandmother's wrinkled cheek. “I'll go to mother at the market and help. I'll see you this afternoon.”
“Do that,” agreed Arno. “Can you look after her for a moment? Then I'll make her another peppermint tea.”
“Of course. I'll leave the door to the room open while I change.”
Gladis patted her hand and looked after her as she left.
Wearing a light linen dress and a bright bow in her plait, she went into town because Glandera had learned that dressing nicely attracted more attention.
Already from afar, she could hear unusual noises. People were cheering and clapping their hands. She turned the corner and saw a long rope stretched across the square between the half-timbered houses at a lofty height. A young acrobat was balancing gracefully on it as if she had done nothing else all her life.
Glandera shook herself. She would never venture into such lofty heights.
Another group of artists performed tricks at the end of the alley. The equilibrists were thrown high into the air, turned in a somersault and landed safely on their partner's shoulders with outstretched arms. The crystal spotter looked away. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up at the hazardous feats.
She quickly spotted her mother with the large basket full of balls of wool in between the stalls. She held one of the balls in her right hand to draw attention to the goods. Hardly anyone paid her any heed, as most of the housewives spun their own wool.
Hilde looked at her in disbelief. “Glandera, what are you doing here?”
“Zulkis has released me from work today, so I may help you.”
Her mother smiled. “That's very kind of him. I really need your help today.” She rolled her eyes and pointed at the artists before handing her a ball of yarn.
Glandera weighed it thoughtfully in her hand. “Yes, that it is.” Then she stretched her arm up and shouted: “Finest wool and linen. Finest craftsmanship. Seize the opportunity.”
Glandera
“Buy wool. Best quality.” Glandera breathed a sigh of relief when the artists took a break. So far, no one had paid any attention to her merchandise. She stepped onto the path, in the middle of the stream of visitors, and held it out to the crowd. But the passers-by shook their heads as she walked past them, or they waved her off. Resigned, she lowered her arm. Then she noticed the group of performers starting to move.
Hilde's finger pointed in their direction. “They're not coming here, are they?”
“Indeed. If they do their display here, nobody will pay any attention to us.” Glandera looked around with slumped shoulders. “We have to change places. Where they were is free now. Let's go there.”
A few minutes later, they were standing between other market stalls. The cloth merchant was to their right, a woodturner to their left. Together, the women advertised the handcrafted goods and the first prospective customers came to Hilde.
Droplets of sweat formed on Glandera's forehead as she listened to the sales talk with half an ear. Slowly, her gaze swept across the crowded square. The sun was burning down on her pale skin and there wasn't even a gentle breeze. She wasn't used to these temperatures as it was cool underground. She shielded her eyes from the light with her hand as her attention was drawn to the table opposite her. Without diverting her gaze, she put her ball of wool back in the basket and strolled over to the merchant. She squealed with delight. Precious gemstones from all over the world were offered on the table. Colours that Glandera had never seen before shone in the sunshine. In their original crystalline form, they rested in the mother rock. Others had been cut into gemstones to be set in necklaces, pendants and rings. She couldn't get enough of them.
Next to her stood a customer wearing a hat and holding up a necklace with a red pendant. He looked at it intently. The merchant placed more beautiful pieces of jewellery on the counter. “My carbuncles come from the Far East. Their quality impresses with their unique colour. See for yourself.”
Interested, his customer picked up one of the treasures and scrutinised it closely. He tilted his head to the side thoughtfully, shook his head and put it back down. Then he took the next one to look at it more closely.
Glandera's gaze wandered over the table and absorbed the uniquely bright colours. It was impossible for her to describe their beauty in words. She fervently wished that one day she could call some gemstones her own.
“Excuse me, Miss?”
Glandera turned around in surprise.
The fine gentleman in the hat looked at her kindly. “I would like to give my wife one of these pieces of jewellery, but I'm not sure which one she would like. Would you be so kind as to help me choose?”
“I don't know...” She looked at the stranger with wide eyes.
“I would just be interested in your opinion. Would you favour this one or that one?” He held up his selection.
Glandera looked at the beautifully set gemstones and her insecurity instantly vanished. Her fingers were drawn to the pendant. She carefully placed the piece of jewellery in her open hand. It pulsated. Her heart warmed, as if she was loved and cared for. Then she held the stone up to the sunlight and looked at its ruby red colour. “A beautiful pendant.” She dreamily put it back again.
She then picked up the second jewel. The gemstone radiated a different energy. She felt courage and confidence that she could advise the fine gentleman well. “It's not a ruby.” The words flitted across her lips before she thought. She held it with her fingertips and turned it in the sunlight. “It's a spinel and is often confused with a ruby because of its colour. Both are known as carbuncles.”
The dealer's jaw dropped.
Smiling, the customer nodded and pointed to the third necklace. “And what do you think of the last pendant? I was thinking about taking this one.”
Glandera confidently put the gem back on the cushion and waved it away. “I wouldn't advise it, it's just coloured glass.” She picked up the first piece of jewellery again like a precious treasure. “If you love your wife, give her this necklace.”
“Thank you very much, young miss.” He discreetly pressed a silver into her hand as he took the jewellery from her.
Glandera looked at the coin with wide eyes. “I... I can't...”
“Yes, you can.” He gently closed the fingers of her hand. “You have done me an invaluable service with your advice.” Then he turned to the dealer. “I'll take this one.”
“A great choice.” The seller nodded and looked for a cloth to wrap the precious merchandise in.
Glandera stared at the silver in disbelief – that was almost a week's wages! Struggling for words, she turned to her mother. With red cheeks, Hilde was rummaging in the basket with a customer and hadn't noticed the whole conversation. Glandera's mouth was dry with excitement. How boldly she had advised this man! She thanked him, dropped the coin into her purse and made her way to the fountain.
The cool water on her face felt good. After she had also cooled her neck and arms, she leaned against the edge of the fountain and stared into the water. How did she even know how to recognise these stones and what they were called?
“The crystals are beautiful, aren't they?”
A deep voice tore Glandera out of her fascination. Startled, she straightened up. A tall man with brown hair and a neat, short beard suddenly stood a few meters away from her and looked at her confidingly. With his broad shoulders, he looked like a noble rock. Her gaze slid over his clothes in a matter of seconds. Even without the marks on the robe, she recognised him. Her mouth went dry as dust.
“Y-yes,” Glandera stammered and turned to Hilde. “Excuse me, I have to help my mother.”
“Wait, please!” The archmage took a step towards her. He looked longingly at the braid dangling down her back. “I have a few questions.”
Glandera peered hesitantly over her shoulder. Her knees went weak, and she was freezing despite the unspeakable heat. She wanted to run away, but another force told her not to. Finally, she turned around.
“Miss Berger, do you know who I am?”
She cringed. How does he know my name? “You are a High Master of the earth,” she babbled on. “And I apologize for bumping into you and soiling your clothes. I can wash them if you need me to and…”
He halted her speech with a raised index finger. “I am Magister Ordinarius Ferron de la Peña de los Enamorados.” The corners of his mouth twitched in amusement and he lowered his voice. “And I don't need a laundress.”
“No?” The crystal spotter wiped her damp hands on her dress and avoided his gaze.
“I accept your apology. I realise that it was unintentional. Nevertheless, it was a fortuitous act of providence.”
It's not a fortuitous act of providence if I lose my work. Her heart was pounding in her throat. “What do you want to know?” The moment she looked up, the colour of his eyes changed from grey to dark brown.
“If you might give me some of your time?” He slowly came closer as he continued, “I'd like to get to know you, look at different gemstones with you and talk about them.”
“I'm completely uneducated. I couldn't tell you anything interesting,” she rebuffed him.
“Do you doubt my judgement?” he objected with a smile.
“Please, forgive me.” She flinched and turned bright red. “I don't have time. I work at the mine during the day and afterwards my family needs me.”
He put his index finger to his lips and nodded thoughtfully. “I'll let you take a leave of absence as I did today.”
She held her breath. That's why Zulkis released me from work! She looked at him shyly with wide eyes. “Erudite Magister, I'm afraid of losing my work.”
“You know who owns the mines?”
“You, erudite Magister?”
“That's correct. I manage them for the Academy.” Slowly, he walked around her and stood between the gem dealer and her. “I don't want to take up much of your time. We're going to elaborate on the origin of some crystals and see where they were grown.”
Her gaze fell past him to the table with the colourful gemstones. She was magically drawn to them. Nevertheless, Glandera crossed her arms in front of her chest. “Is that an order?”
He took a sharp breath and turned his head to the side. Then he slumped his shoulders. “No. I'm not going to force anyone to make an excursion with me.” When he looked at her again, the gleam in his eyes had disappeared. “Until next time, Glandera Berger.”
She bowed her head reverently, as was appropriate. “Erudite Magister.”
In the afternoon at the fourth hour, Hilde took the almost empty wool basket with bright red cheeks, and they set off for home. Glandera trotted along beside her with her head bowed. She hadn't been able to forget her encounter with the archmage all day. She was glad that he hadn't taken her along for his experiments. As her mother hadn't noticed anything, she decided to keep it to herself.
Glandera opened the front door and they entered. She was immediately accosted by the aroma of bread, still warm from the oven, and her stomach responded with a growl. Unlike usually, there was a large basket of fresh fruit and vegetables on the table. A crusty loaf of potato bread lay next to it.
Hilde stepped behind her and raised her eyebrows. “How did it get here?”
“Oh.” Glandera discovered a card with the Academy's emblem – the octahedron. She quickly hid it behind her back. “I'll go and change quickly.”
“Do that.” Hilde smelled a juicy onion and mumbled: “Who could this be from?”
The wooden steps creaked as Glandera hurried up the stairs. She gave the door to the room a kick and winced after it banged shut louder than she intended. She opened the envelope with her finger and held her breath before unfolding the card. The earth symbol had been drawn in ink on the inside. Her stomach tingled. How did the archmage know how urgently they needed the food? Her feelings were torn. If she carried it back, she would have to explain it to her mother.
The floorboards creaked as she walked around, grumbling loudly. Determined to return the gift, she pulled the door open then halted. The smell of onions cooking in butter filled the house.
She carefully peered into the living room, where her mother was standing at the stove, singing. The sight warmed her heart and she abandoned her plans. Instead, they would go to bed with a full stomach for once.
