Dreamscape: Saving Alex by Kirstin Pulioff

accusations.
Whatever kindness she had shown had disappeared.
    “Of course,” I said, fumbling for the wooden box
and dropping the money on the counter. “I don’t expect charity.”
    Her eyes widened, and she slid the gold into a
pouch in her apron as if it would disappear. “Right over here,” she said,
glancing behind me out the window before leading me to the corner filled with
gowns.
    “Thank you,” I murmured, already losing myself in
the soft velvets. I didn’t notice her leave, but heard the clinking at the
counter as she counted her gold.
    I caressed the rich fabrics, appreciating the
embroidery along the bodices. Auntie Quinn, no matter what I thought about her,
certainly had a talent for tailoring and draping. Getting lost in the fabric
was easy. The smooth finishes of the dresses brushed against me, and I wanted
to throw one on. My fingers lingered before I lowered my hand and let go of
that thought. I didn’t have a ball to go to anymore. In fact, even as I
shopped, draping the lavish gowns over my arms and watching my reflection
change, I knew this wouldn’t work.
    I scanned the rest of the room, reluctantly leaving
opulence for practicality. Unless I found a quicker way home, I knew what
journey lay ahead. Auntie Quinn’s eyes narrowed in on me.
    I hurried around the store, looking at every
table. The shop was bigger than I had thought. Tables wound around the room,
creating niches and corners for clothes and accessories. Auntie Quinn sold it
all, from men’s tunics and hose to traveling attire, peasant smocks, work
aprons, and gorgeous gowns. When my eyes tired of fabric, they found sparkling
jewels, bags, and hats. I grabbed a leather travel bag from the edge of a table
and continued my search.
    At last, I found it. In the back corner, partially
hidden beneath the wool coats, the costume came together. Something in my mind
clicked, and as I grabbed the green cloth, I knew my fate had been sealed.
    The leggings fit snugly, and when I tucked my
white shirt beneath the dark green tunic and looked at my reflection, my
lingering doubts subsided. The costume was a literal translation. I looked like
the hero. I finished the look with a pair of leather boots and stuffed a woolen
cloak, pointy hat, the papers, and my empty money box into the travel bag.
    The bells above the door jingled, and I felt a
burst of air. Auntie Quinn stood in the shadows, clutching the gold to her chest.
She nodded at the men blocking the door and then looked at me.
    “Auntie Quinn?” I
asked, watching my only escape disappear behind a pair of towering guards.
    “Nothing personal,
my dear, but I knew you weren’t who you
said the moment you walked in. Money’s money, and if I can get yours and
theirs, eh, I can clean up the mess later.” She smiled as the gold coins
clattered together. “Boys, just watch the jewelry. And make sure King Berkos
hears of my loyalty.”
    They smiled as she
retreated into the back storerooms. We were alone. My heart sunk when one of
them slid the locking mechanism on the door and it clicked into place.
    I grabbed a dagger
from a display case on one of the tables and held it up, wishing it didn’t
shake. Cupping it with my other hand steadied
it, but too late. The men had seen it, and their laughter decimated what little
bravery I had. They unsheathed their swords. I finally knew a sound that was worse than nails on a chalkboard—the
steely grate of certain death.
    The floorboards
creaked under their weight. I threw the bag over my shoulder and grabbed a
couple bottles of perfume before I pushed the table over, jumping to the side
as the remaining bottles shattered. The momentary commotion worked to my
advantage. I catapulted over the table and landed beyond the slick ground. One
of the men dove for me, narrowly missing my legs, and slid across the oily
puddle. The other approached more cautiously, tip-toeing around the fallen
items, cracking his knuckles. Each pop sounded like a small