Steel and Silver

The next stall had black velvet cloth, with knives laid out, in all shapes, sizes and for all intents and purposes.

Ned stopped. He pointed at a small, black handle.

-That one, he said to the merchant.

Meerka stepped back.

-A knife? Ned, I don't need a knife. I have knives in the kitchen.

-This isn't for cilantro.

He paid the man and took the blade. He walked Meerka to a quiet corner between two tents.

-Hold it.

She took it. It was heavy.

-Press the button.

She pressed it. Snap. The blade shot out. She nearly dropped it.

-Good, Ned said. Now listen. If someone grabs you, you don't wave it around. You don't threaten.

He stepped close to her. He tapped her stomach.

-You stick it in, hard. Then you lift up.

Meerka looked at the blade, then at him. Her face was pale.

-Up?

-Ribs are vertical, Ned said. The blade gets stuck if you go sideways. You go in, you pull up.

He took the knife back, folded it, and slipped it into her new pocket.

-Hopefully, you never use it. But, now you have it, so you can.

They kept walking. Meerka was quiet. She was fidgeting with the knife in her pocket.

They passed a jewelry cart. Silver bangles glittered in the sun. Meerka slowed down. She looked at a thick, engraved bracelet.

-That’s beautiful, she said.

-It’s shiny.

The merchant saw them. He smiled.

-Pure silver, he insisted. For the beautiful lady. Special price today.

Meerka looked at Ned.

-Can I? With my money?

Ned looked at the bangle, then at the merchant. But the merchant just smiled.

-Wait here, Ned said.

He walked to a junk peddler three stalls down. He came back ten seconds later holding a small, dirty horseshoe magnet.

He walked up to the jewelry cart. The merchant’s smile faltered.

Ned didn't say a word. He held the magnet over the bangle. It jumped up and stuck to the magnet. Ned looked at the merchant again.

-You sell steel as silver to my staff? Ned asked.

He reached across the cart, grabbing the merchant by the collar and pulling him halfway over the table. Trays of rings clattered to the ground.

-Ned! Meerka gasped. Please!

Ned ignored her. He stared at the merchant.

-That is fraud. I should call the constable. Or break your wrist.

-No! The merchant squeaked. A mistake! A supplier error! Please, sir!

Ned looked at the display case. He pointed to a small pendant. A single white pearl on a gold chain.

-That one, Ned said.

-The pearl? That is real, that is expensive!

-That’s fine, Ned said. A fine.

He let go of the collar. The merchant, terrified, fumbled for the pendant and handed it over.

Ned took it, tossing the cheap magnet onto the table.

-Let’s go, he said to Meerka.

They walked away. Meerka was trembling, looking down on the ground again.

He stopped and handed her the pearl.

-Here.

-I can't take this, she said. You stole it.

-I took it, Ned said. Now it’s yours.

He put the pearl in her hand and closed her fingers over it.

-The world is full of monsters, Meerka. You have to be bigger. Or move in one’s shadow.