Smokescreen | Scroll Stories

The shop was at the outskirts of the bazaar, tucked behind an outcropping of rocks. Even so, the haze had drawn a half dozen complaints.

It was no wonder. The wagon was surrounded by small burners, the incense sticks streaming with blue curls of smoke. Even under the open sky, the air was heavy with the smell of resin and cedar.

Khepri glanced at the shopkeeper, a Fae with bamboo-green eyes and a tail that kept twitching like a worm on a string. The Fae kept jerking his gaze from Khepri to the Gaolor that loomed over them both.

A cloud of incense. A nervous shopkeeper. It was a telling combination.

Khepri turned to the Fae. “You’re new at this.”

“Oh,” The Fae’s neck went ramrod straight, and he stared directly into Khepri’s eyes. “Yes. Yes officer, that’s right. I’ve only been in the textile trade for a few months now. They’re sourced straight from the Emberglow Hearth.”

Khepri glanced at the fabrics draped around the wagon. They were flimsy. The colors would fade if they were kept in direct sunlight like this, and they were already saturated with the smell of smoke.

“You don’t have much of an inventory.”

”Ah. Well. Like I said, I’m just getting started. I got a loan from my auntie, and—“

”Officer Milt?” Khepri said.

The Gaoler behind him grunted.

”Search the wagon.”

Milt, with one enormous paw, tipped the entire wagon, sending several crates tumbling onto the ground.

The Fae jumped into the air and began flapping around Milt’s head as she began inspecting the wagon for more inventory.

“Oh no. My auntie’s investment. You can’t do this!”

“Yes we can,” Khepri snapped. “By the authority of the Lady of Light herself. You will land this instant.”

The Fae obeyed, his crests pressed flat against the side of his neck.

There was a delicious crack as Milt used one long claw to splinter open a crate.

The Fae seemed to be telescoping into himself, crumpling his head and tail into unnatural angles. “I know I don’t know my trade as well as I ought, but surely it’s not a crime to--”

”Sir,” Milt said, “I think you should see this.”

Khepri joined her. He leaned over the crate and inhaled the smell that the incense could no longer hide. It was acrid, stinging his nostrils as he breathed it in. Magic.

And there they were. The scrolls were crisp and white, nestled side by side, as neat as pins.

He picked one up, turning it over in his claws. He could see the faint outline of runes that veined under the thin scrolling paper. The wax seal was stamped with the clear profile of a Pearlcatcher.

Milt growled. “Transformation scrolls.”

”Yes,” Khepri looked at the Fae who had frozen mid-twitch. “We do not permit these vulgar transformations within our Flight. According to the Laws of Light, we must burn them.”

The Fae didn’t move.

”Burn them,” Khepri repeated. “All of them.”

After a pause, he added, “You’re entire inventory.”

The Fae was still frozen, staring at Khepri with shock. Milt shifted impatiently.

Khepri glanced over his shoulder. The outcropping of stone hid them well enough. He turned back to the Fae, sighed, and held out his paw.

At last, the Fae snapped into action. He dove into his wagon and returned with a pouch that he spilled into Khepri’s palm.

The facets of the gemstones glittered between Khepri’s claws. There was even a garnet so rich in color that it was nearly purple. He exchanged a glance with Milt.

Khepri tipped the gems back into the pouch. ”As representatives of the Lady of Light, we understand that starting a new business can be difficult.”

“Do you?” The Fae said faintly.

“We do.” Khepri kept sorting through the scrolls. "Plenty of new shopkeepers make mistakes.”

“A mistake,” the Fae repeated. “An honest mistake”

Khepri kept examining the scrolls. Wing scrolls. Hide scrolls. All genuine, and as fine as he’d ever seen. He glanced up at the Fae who had not relaxed. How did such an inexperienced smuggler get a hold of such premium inventory? “It would be unkind of us to deprive you of your stock when you are so new to your trade. I’m sure you will get it sorted out. I’m sure our wise goddess would understand.”

“Yes. Um. Thank you so much. Can you go now?”

Khepri picked up another scroll, inspecting the seal. The wax had not been stamped.

Khepri held the scroll up to the sunlight. It was a trick to decipher the overlapping runes through the roll of paper, but he knew his business. His eyes widened as he made out the pattern.

He shook his head, trying to clear his head of the incense that still hung heavy around them.

“Sir?” Milt asked.

Khepri held up the scroll again, carefully inspecting the runes. He had not been mistaken. “Imperial.” He said.

The Fae jumped straight up, flapping furiously, but Milt brought her paw down on the little dragon’s tail.

“I’m putting the gems back,” Khepri murmured to Milt. She growled softly and kept her eyes fixed on the shaking Fae.

“Am I going to go to trial?” He squeaked.