Songreaver by Andrew Hunter Page B

was just a
mistake, and you’ll get back whatever money you paid for him.” He
pulled the writ of recovery from his satchel and handed it to the
tailor.
    “Ah,” Marigold said, his face gloomy, “I knew
this deal was too good.”
    “What do you mean?” Marla asked.
    He smiled at her. “It’s just that, for a long
time I was thinking about getting someone to help me with the
fitting. I had an old wooden mannequin that I brought with me from
my homeland, but… I thought something like this might help me work
faster.”
    “Where are you from?” Garrett asked.
    “Muldenia,” he answered.
    Garrett looked at Marla. She looked
puzzled.
    “Pardon me, but isn’t that part of the
Chadirian Empire?” she asked.
    Defiance flashed in Marigold’s eyes.
“Muldenia is Muldenia!” he said, then his face softened, “but, yes,
you are right… please don’t hold that against us.”
    Marla tilted her head slightly. “Muldenia was
conquered by the Chadiri nearly a century ago,” she said, “When did
you leave?”
    Marigold looked at the floor. “Six years
ago,” he said, “they passed an… edict . They said that all… true Chadiri should show their devotion in every aspect of
their lives… even the way they dressed. They outlawed every color
but red and black.”
    “They outlawed colors?” Garrett scoffed.
    Marigold nodded, his eyes brimming with
tears. “They passed around this chart to all of the town’s tailors
and dye merchants, which shade of red was acceptable and which was
not. It was insane!”
    Garrett laughed. “Yeah, they really like
red!”
    Caleb gave them a pleading groan.
    “Have they ever done anything like this
before?” Marla asked.
    Mister Marigold shook his head. “Not in all
my days, nor my father’s days, nor his father’s. If you bow to the
altar of Malleatus and praise his name on the holy days, who cares
what color you wear the rest of the year? At least that’s the way
it used to be, now...” He wiped a tear from his cheek with the
corner of his ruffled sleeve. “I couldn’t live in a world with only
one color. You understand?”
    Garrett gave him a sympathetic smile, and
Marla patted him on the shoulder.
    Caleb moaned loudly. Garrett couldn’t be
certain, but he thought the zombie was rolling his eyes.
    Marigold turned, sniffling slightly. “He was
such a good helper… such good balance,” he said.
    “You think so?” Garrett asked, “I was telling
my Uncle the same thing. It really seems like he’s more… human than
the other zombies.”
    “Ah, so you made this zombie?” Marigold
said.
    Garrett nodded, smiling proudly.
    “Very fine work!” Marigold said, “Perhaps I
might purchase Paulio here from you, in the proper fashion?”
    “ Paulio? ” Garrett asked.
    “Oh, pardon me,” Marigold said, “Just the
name I had given… Caleb here.”
    Caleb made a noise that might have been a
whimper. The measuring tape slipped from his slumping
shoulders.
    “Oh… sorry,” Garrett said, “Caleb really
isn’t for sale… he’s my friend.”
    Mister Marigold nodded. “I understand,” he
said, “Though, if it is ever possible, I would be interested in
commissioning another such fine zombie from you… if that is
possible.”
    “Oh… yeah,” Garrett said, “My Uncle makes
zombies all the time. He should be back in a few days, and I can
give you his address.”
    Marigold smiled and shook his head. “No,” he
said, “I want you to do it. A master always recognizes the work of
another master!” He clapped his hand on Garrett’s arm.
    Garrett blushed. He nodded. “Yes sir, I’d be
glad to,” he said. He thought for a moment. “Um, I’m not sure
exactly when I could though. I’d need a body, and my ghoul friend
is out of town right now.”
    Marigold burst into laughter, then, seeing
Garrett’s blank expression, cleared his throat and begged pardon.
He looked, sadly at Caleb, still draped in bits of blue silk laced
with chalk lines. “I wish I could have