Free Deep Roots by Beth Cato

at the mention of my home country.”
    He still looked discomfited. “Sorry. It’s just, Tamarania is my home. I don’t want to leave if I can help it.”
    â€œDid everything go well with attaching the behemoth chimera’s other arm?” Rivka asked.
    He hesitated a moment, then shrugged, as if giving himself permission to talk. “Yes. The arms aren’t the worst part. The legs are, and that’s next. After that is the wings. The physical construction on them is about done.”
    â€œThe next Arena bout is in what, three or four weeks?” asked Tatiana. “That seems awfully close.”
    â€œWe started on this right after Mr. Cody lost the last chimera. The most time-­consuming work is done. We made the living body, the mechanist made the limbs. We then prayed over the metal, infusing it with magic.”
    â€œWhy do the arms first?” asked Rivka.
    â€œIt has to be taught how to manipulate items with hands and fingers. That fine motor work takes longer to develop than learning to walk.”
    Rivka recalled how it had awkwardly waved her farewell. “Don’t you get tired of calling it ‘it’ all the time?”
    â€œYes, you really should name the thing. It’s much tidier,” said Tatiana. “Is it a girl or boy? I couldn’t . . . tell.”
    â€œA behemoth gremlin doesn’t have . . . outward parts. It creates vulnerability.” He flushed more. “Most creatures are female by default, but Mr. Cody wanted this one more male, more aggressive.”
    â€œIt didn’t seem aggressive to me,” said Rivka.
    â€œWell, sure. It’s chained in a circle. Get up close, and it tries to bite. Did you see those teeth? They’re made to tear through metal.”
    Tatiana gave Rivka a direct, appraising look.
    Rivka pressed her hands together, thankful she still had them. “I say we call him Lump, because that’s what he looks like.”
    â€œNot exactly the name of the next victor of the Arena,” said Broderick.
    â€œIs that what it’s all about for you, making this . . . Lump into a winner?” Tatiana wrinkled her nose.
    Broderick’s mouth was a hard line. At midday, his jaw was already fuzzed with hair growth. “I’d rather heal ­people, but the behemoth chimera is Miss Arfetta’s biggest contract right now. I do my job.”
    â€œAnd how often does she leave you here to grind herbs all day, mind the shop while she does real healings?”
    â€œTatiana?” Rivka wasn’t sure why Tatiana was goading him like this, but she didn’t like it.
    His brown eyes turned cold. “I’m learning from Miss Arfetta.”
    â€œCertainly. Learning to use your mortar and pestle.” Tatiana motioned to the work in progress on the table. “What if you could learn more? Really learn?”
    â€œHow? There are only five other master medicians in Tamarania and they already have—­”
    â€œThere will be one visiting here at some point, I imagine. The best of all. She’s the one who befriended that other mecha-­chimera—­”
    â€œTatiana!” snapped Rivka.
    Tatiana ignored her. “See, this medician is marrying my brother, and she has taken over as headmistress of Miss Percival’s school, so you know she’s the best. Since I live here, I know they’ll return eventually.”
    â€œYou’re talking about Miss Octavia Leander,” he said slowly.
    â€œYou’ve heard of her?” asked Rivka.
    â€œI suppose most all medicians have, with what she did during that poison attack during Caskentia’s war last year. She’s good .” He shook his head as if dazed. “But why? What are you wanting?”
    Tatiana scowled; her manipulation was too transparent. “We want to watch you work on the big chimera. Lump.”
    â€œWe want to do more than watch. We want to help,” added