“And I see two people standing around doing nothing,” Aydan said. “Ulrick, add coal to the kiln. Opal, gather me a slug.”

We hastened to obey. When the glassmaker had finished his work for the day, he wrote a list of all his suppliers. “Don’t forget you promised to find me a helper.”

Since a trip to Booruby was required for us to finish our project, I planned to talk to Mara about coming to the Citadel. In the meantime, Ulrick and I agreed to help Aydan in the mornings. The glassmaker would find a temporary assistant for the rest of the day.

“Don’t you have classes?” Ulrick asked as we left Aydan’s shop and headed toward the market.

“Not anymore.” A brief pang touched my heart, but when I considered working with Ulrick all day, the empty feeling filled with…What? Happiness? A sense of purpose? Excitement? Perhaps a bit of all three.

Located in the center of the Citadel, the large open market contained a variety of goods and services for sale. Unlike my hometown of Booruby, where stores were scattered throughout the city, the market had representatives from every business within the Citadel.

Even Aydan had a stand he shared with five other merchants. One day a week, it was his turn to sell his glasswares at the stand and take orders from customers. It made shopping easy. The biggest problem was the sheer size of the market. Certain vendors were hard to find in the bustle of shoppers.

Ulrick and I cut down a small alley and entered the market. He paused as the roar of voices and spicy smells crashed into us. But he adapted fast.

Pulling Aydan’s list from my hands, he scanned the paper. “Bricks and large equipment will have to wait until the trip to Booruby. For now, we should tackle the smaller items. Let’s find the blacksmith and order the irons, pipes and the hardware for the gaffer’s bench. Then we’ll talk to a woodworker about building the bench and cracking-off box.” He glanced around the crowded market. “It might take us a while to find anyone.”

“We should hire a member of the Helper’s Guild,” I said. Seeing his confusion, I explained how Yelena had inadvertently started the guild by paying a young beggar boy to help her navigate the market. “He expanded on the idea. With his friends and family’s help, they were soon earning a living by providing services from haggling with vendors to carrying and delivering packages.”

“We don’t need to waste the money. With a little extra work, we can do it ourselves.”

“You risk being cheated or hiring an unskilled craftsman. The Helper’s Guild knows all the best merchants.”

“I’m sure they do. I wonder what percentage they get paid by the best merchants. Twenty percent of the amount of business they bring in?”

Ulrick’s cynicism surprised me. I never would have thought the guild would be dishonest. And why not? Just as there were deceitful merchants, there could be corrupt guild members. Zitora warned me to be careful and not get cheated.

“You’re too nice, Opal. One day, someone is going to take advantage of you. Best to let me handle all the negotiations with suppliers. Come on.”

He strode into the heart of the market, but I didn’t follow him. Letting Ulrick make the decisions and be responsible for the outcome was an easy way to dodge my responsibility. But Zitora assigned me with this task. If I could escape from a group of rogues, I could handle ordering equipment for a glass studio. I grew up in a glass factory. I knew every inch, every procedure and every tool. The same could be said of Ulrick. A tinge of doubt touched my mind. I suppressed it with sudden—foolish?—determination.

I hovered on the edge of the market, creasing my forehead with uncertainty. As expected, a young girl appeared by my side.

“Lovely Lady, can I help you?” she asked.

Fresh faced with hopeful kindness radiating from her brown eyes, it was hard to believe this ten-year-old member of the Helper’s Guild could be capable of deceiving me. But the possibility stained my thoughts.

“I want to hire Fisk,” I said.

She shook her head. “He is very busy. Clients hire him weeks in advance. I’ve been working here for years. I can get you the best prices. Fisk trained me himself.”

Her adult words contrasted with her youthful appearance. Keeping a smile from reaching my lips, I assured her that I wasn’t worried about her skills. In fact, it was hard for me not to hire her on the spot. I collected my resolve and pushed past my reluctance. “My friend, Liaison Yelena Zaltana, told me to hire him.”

“Lovely Yelena is your friend?” She peered at me with suspicion. “What is your name?”

When I told her, she instructed me to wait and disappeared into the crowd.

Shoppers ebbed and flowed. Ulrick returned, looking for me. A scowl etched on his face.

“Why didn’t you follow me?” he demanded.

My voice locked for an instant, and I wondered if his ire was from concern or annoyance. I reached for the list clutched in Ulrick’s fist. Tugging at the paper, I met his gaze. “You’re helping me with this project. I’m hiring a guild member. Wait.” I held up a hand. “You’re right to be cautious, so I’m insuring we get the best and most trusted member.”

Ulrick released the paper, but his scowl deepened. “You shouldn’t be alone.”

“The market is filled with people.”

“Doesn’t matter. In fact, it’s easier to disappear in a crowd.”

The girl returned with a young man.