What is Hidden (3 page)

Her stall was made of pale bamboo from the north, large enough to comfortably fit maybe ten men inside at once, and three sided with the opening facing the stone street between the canal and the other stall. Covered with a green cloth roof, the stall displayed her family’s coat of arms—three plum blossoms inside of a circle—on a flag outside. She’d also painted the walls with
elaborate designs, and her skill with a brush was obvious.

When we spotted her, Iniga was chatting with a well-dressed man with gray in his hair and purple in his mask—a nobleman. She laughed at something he said, tossing her sleek black hair over her shoulder. She was still young enough to wear her long hair down and wasn’t afraid of using it to her advantage.

Unlike me, though, she genuinely liked mixing flirting with business. Her smile didn’t look forced, and she touched the man’s arm as she spoke emphatically.

“Now what is all this talk about glass masks I’ve been hearing?” I heard the man ask as Aiden and I approached. “My daughter speaks of nothing else these days. Is it really true?”

Iniga grinned. “You know that foreigner from Saran? The one that was introduced in court last month? He’s an amazing thrower and has been teaching me all these new tricks, and I think we’ve been putting them to good use. Come and see,” she said as she ducked into her stall.

The man followed eagerly, and Aiden and I slipped in behind him, sharing an excited look. Hachi, bored with all the talking, ran off to bark at pigeons that fluttered around the canal’s edge.

Inside, Iniga carefully lifted a mask from two pegs on the wall and placed it on a piece of velvet on the wooden counter. Then she announced, “This is what all the talk is about.”

“Would you look at that,” the man breathed, and I sucked in a breath as well once I got a good look at it.

The mask was pure, clear glass and looked like it was carved out of ice. Even as it sat on the velvet, it looked as if it would melt or shatter by the slightest touch.

“Now, this isn’t a finished mask,” Iniga was quick to explain. “Obviously we’ll add colors to make it opaque or affix some kind of backing so the skin won’t be bare. For now we’re working on the form and shape of it, and looking to see what interest there is.”

“I’m interested,” I whispered to Aiden, who chuckled.

“I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding buyers,” the man said, his eyes wide. “My girl is sixteen and tells me that this new mask is what all the court is talking about.”

“I’m honored.” Iniga curtsied, smiling widely with a touch of blush in her flawless dark skin. “You’ll have to meet Joch—he’s the one responsible for the craze.”

“I will indeed. Are you taking requests for the balls?”

“Unfortunately, we’ve already received more requests than we can handle,” she said, her shoulders drooping. “Their majesties have been curious, as well as generous.”

The man sighed. “I understand. I hope you’ll think of me when the next season starts and you have an opening?” He slipped a silver coin into her palm as he kissed her hand in farewell.

She smiled. “I will do what I can,
signore
.”

As he departed through the stall opening, Iniga cheerfully greeted us. “I assume you’re here to learn about these masks as well?”

“Of course! Look at it!” I gushed. “How did you manage to make such a thing?”

She laughed. “I can’t go telling you all my secrets.”

Aiden and I laughed in return. “As if you could ever keep a secret. How long did it take before the whole island knew you had a new glass master to learn from?”

She blushed. “It’s not my fault. I was excited. And it
wasn’t really a secret—everyone would have found out eventually.”

“I’m just teasing. Even if you did teach me your magic with glass, I wouldn’t be able to do anything with the knowledge.”

“Ah, I remember all too well,” she said with a sparkle in her eye. “How is your hand?”

“Just fine, thank you very much,” I snipped and glared at Aiden, who was laughing at me again.

“Any chance we’ll get to meet this mysterious foreigner?” I asked as Aiden sobered up.

“I’ve met him, actually,” he said. “Not a talkative fellow.”

“He’s just serious about his work,” Iniga said. “He’s also still adjusting to living here, I think. He seems a bit overwhelmed with court life.”

“That’s understandable,” Aiden said. “I’ve had enough fittings this past month to last me a lifetime.”

A trickle of jealousy ran through me. Both Aiden and Iniga were out in court, and I was not. They never seemed to mind the difference in stations between us, but times like this reminded me of my standing. I was just an artisan, even if I was a good one. Aiden was a nobleman’s son. Iniga was a nobleman’s daughter and a gifted artisan—possibly the best on the island—even though she was only a year older than me.

And she was observant too. She glanced nervously at Aiden as she noticed my silence. “Evie,” she said suddenly, “I have just the thing for you. I know you’re a lost cause when it comes to glass, but I have a few palace masks you might want to look at.”

“Oh?”

“Yes, they were given to me to try to repair or take to pieces if there was no saving them. I don’t have to return them for several days. Maybe you’d like to take a look at them?”

She knew I wouldn’t be able to resist. “Of course! What’s wrong with them?”

“Some maids were clumsy and spilled wine on the silk. I needed to either cover the stains or replace the fabric, and it looks like it’ll be the latter. Actually,” she said, brightening, “would you like to try your hand at that? I’ll pay you for your work, of course.”

“You know I’d do it for free for you.” I couldn’t help but smile. “And don’t pay me at all if you just have to do the work all over again.”

She waved that comment aside and assured me that I’d be fine. “They’re just serving masks, nothing too fancy. Come with me, and I’ll go get them right now. Aiden, do you mind watching my stall?”

“Not at all. I’d like to look at what else you’ve got in here anyway.” He’d drifted off to study a mask that looked like it was carved entirely out of mahogany and painted with a glossy finish of some sort.

“And keep an eye on Hachi. Make sure he doesn’t fall in the canal,” I said, scanning the crowd for my dog. He was still by the water’s edge, his tail wagging as he jumped around. He seemed to have attracted the affection of a small boy, who was cheering and clapping at him as his nurse haggled over a fine tunic.

Iniga took me by the wrist and led the way into the palace. The guards at the gate didn’t even give her a second glance. They already knew her mask and her business well
enough, and her presence was enough to let me through as well. This part of the palace was the servants and artisans’ work quarters anyway, and guards were posted along the hallways and at the entrances to workrooms. If we’d gone by the main gate or even the gate that led to nobles’ housing, we probably would have been stopped or questioned.

Other maids and servants were milling around us. I had to nearly jog to keep up with Iniga’s quick pace. I had never been inside the palace before, and I felt like Iniga might be up to something.

She greeted a handful of maids gossiping outside her workroom and waved at the guard, who nodded in return.

“Here we are,” she announced, pushing the heavy door open for me.

Her workroom was clean, though clearly well used. Large containers and bags were everywhere, though I didn’t know what was in them. Two large furnaces were also there with piles of coal and stacks of wood nearby. I spied several long wooden tools that I knew were used for throwing glass to make bowls and vases. Some tools I didn’t recognize.

“Are those used to make the glass masks?” I asked, pointing them out as Iniga looked for the soiled server masks.

“Hmm? Sort of. We’re still trying out a few different methods. Maybe if you’re good, I’ll let you watch next time,” she teased.

“Aren’t those supposed to be trade secrets?” I asked wryly.

She giggled. “Oops. You’re probably right. Promise not to tell anyone?”

“Of course.” I rolled my eyes.

“Here you go.” She handed me a small satchel, and I peeked inside. Two masks were inside, and I could see the bright crimson stain on the silver silk of one immediately.

“You weren’t kidding,” I said. “Any tips before I work myself to the bone for you?”

Laughing, she shook her head. “I’m sure you’ll figure something out.”

As we started to leave, I noticed that there was only one stool in the room, near the furnaces. “Do you work in here alone? What about that foreigner?”

“I usually have the place to myself. Isn’t that nice? Although it can be lonely sometimes, so I’ll occasionally get a few others in here to keep me company and do odd jobs. But, yes, Joch has his own workroom as well. He doesn’t like distractions when he works.”

“Do you work in there or here when he teaches you?”

“He used to come in here, but he’s been too busy lately. We’ve both been working on our own projects and will talk over dinner.” She glanced at me sidelong. “You know, you’re awfully curious about this guy. He’s good looking, if you were wondering. Excellent shoulders.”

“Iniga!” I blushed horribly, glad the heat usually stayed high in my cheeks and didn’t spread to my neck or chest where she could see.

She sighed dramatically. “It’s a shame I’m already betrothed. There are far too many handsome men in this place, let me tell you. Anytime you find yourself looking for a new beau, let me know, and I’ll point you in the right direction.”

“You—you’re being ridiculous,” I stammered. “Let’s go. We shouldn’t leave Aiden for so long.”

“Ah,” she said knowingly. “Yes, we mustn’t keep Aiden waiting.” She winked at me.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

“Why not? I certainly wouldn’t fault you if Aiden’s your choice of beau.”

“I don’t have a beau. End of discussion.”

She pouted but let it pass as we went out to the hallway. She probably would have continued to hound me about it, but those maids were still hanging around. They weren’t gossiping so much as staring at a young man walking away from us. He walked with his shoulders back, proud, and he had shaggy jet-black hair cut just above his ears.

“Speak of the devil and he appears,” Iniga remarked as giggles and whispers broke out among the cluster of girls. “That was Joch. You can see how popular he is. If you ever change your mind”—she nudged my shoulder, and I gave her a warning look—“you’ll have a bit of competition.”

“Let’s just go, Signorina Matchmaker.”

Thanks to Iniga’s words, I had trouble meeting Aiden’s eyes for the rest of the night without my face growing warm. To further my embarrassment, he’d even stayed for supper with father and me (with minimal ribbing about my cooking) and then bid me farewell, though not without an extra cautionary warning to keep an eye out. After rolling my eyes at him, I told him I would keep Hachi outside for the night so he could keep watch.

Our dog had only two charges—my father and I—but he was a dear part of my little family. My mother had been of fisherfolk stock and couldn’t bear to be stranded ashore for so long. I was so young when she’d left us for the sea that I couldn’t remember her anymore. Which was fine
by me. You can’t miss what you don’t remember. I knew Father missed her, though. He threw his heart into his work and nothing else for a long time after she left. He’d pull himself together for brief periods, making sure I was fed and cared for. We were well enough off that I’d even attended school until I was twelve. Then I convinced him to take me as an apprentice by reminding him that even if she were gone, I was still here, and if he didn’t take me on, I would have to find someone else who could. He was better after that, almost as if nothing was ever wrong, but I still caught him staring out to sea from time to time.

I quickly got ready for bed and let my mind wander as I tried to fall asleep. It had been a good day, and I fell into bed with a satisfied smile on my lips. All my days with Aiden tended to be good ones.

If I’d known what was coming next, I might have relished that feeling of contentment just a bit more.

T
hat night, I woke to
the sound of Hachi whining from the small yard behind our store. He normally slept through the night, so it was unusual for him to make any noise. Then he started outright barking. And I smelled smoke.

I threw off my covers and pulled on my boots under my nightdress. I scrambled to move as quickly as I could in my newly awakened grogginess, still clumsy with sleep. I reached for my mask blindly, strapped it on, and rolled out of bed.

While calling for my father to see if he was simply working through the night and I was in a panic over nothing, I noticed light streaming in from under the door at the bottom of the stairs that led to the workroom of the shop. He didn’t respond as I pushed the door open, and my jaw dropped at what I saw.

The entire workroom was in chaos: materials strewn every which way, beads and ribbons littering the floor, shards of glass glittering between the floorboards. But above it all was the overbearing heat of the flames that were beginning to engulf everything.