Free Second Guard by J. D. Vaughn

disappeared in their plain brown clothes.
    As they neared the center, the wares became more and more expensive, and the trio slowed their pace, unable to resist a look at the rare and delicate items on display. Rows of Far World perfumes
in crystal bottles, stacks of dainty porcelain plates rimmed with gold, shelves of stoppered bottles of yellow and orange spices, and hundreds of other exotic items lay beautifully arranged in
stall after stall. Even the booths themselves were works of art, constructed of sturdy tree trunks carved in intricate designs and covered with bright woven fabrics to protect their owners from the
elements. These wealthy vendors had no need to call people over to their displays, for the crowds flocked to their exquisite wares like bluejackets to crumbs.
    When they finally reached the bell tower, Tali scanned the surrounding plaza and spied her sister tucked under a small shade tree. She fought the urge to run into Nel’s arms. Still, her
pace quickened until she skidded on the loose pebbles around the tower, nearly taking a tumble. Nel had spotted them by then, and she rose to brush the dust off her long yellow skirt. Tali skipped
forward, and Nel, who obviously did not care what anyone else thought, flung her arms around Tali’s neck and pecked her on both cheeks. Tali blushed and smiled in surprise. It was not their
custom to be so open with affection.
    “Zarif and Chey, this is my sister, Nel,” Tali said, making sure she mouthed the words so Nel could understand them.
    Zarif and Chey both offered their left palms to Tali’s sister, and she placed her palm on top of each in turn. Nel smiled broadly at the boys, then made a series of movements with her
hands to Tali.
    Tali began to sign words back to her, then paused to address the confused boys, who stood awkwardly at her side. “I never did tell you, did I…Nel can’t hear. She and I have
been speaking with finger words since we were four.”
    Zarif and Chey both turned to look at Nel, as if looking for some visible sign of her deafness. Nel made a hand sign to Tali, and Tali laughed.
    “What did she say?” Chey asked.
    “She reprimanded me for not warning you. And then she called me a rude word better left unspoken.”
    Chey laughed. “I would like to learn the hand sign for such a word.”
    Nel grinned at him and repeated the hand motion slowly.
    Chey raised his eyebrows and turned to Tali. “How did she know what I said? I thought she couldn’t hear.”
    “If I’m not mistaken,” Zarif said, before Tali could answer, “Nel understands the words on people’s mouths. Am I correct?” he asked Nel, clearly enunciating
his words as Tali had.
    Nel nodded at Zarif with another smile, but her expression became more serious as she signed words to Tali.
    Tali’s own smile faded. “Zarif and Chey, would you mind giving me a moment alone with my sister?”
    “Not at all.” Zarif took Chey, whose brow had furrowed at the girls’ sudden change in demeanor, by the arm. “We’ll go buy some sugarbread and lemonsong.”
    Chey murmured in agreement, though he seemed reluctant to leave. Tali gave him a reassuring nod, then turned back to Nel as the boys wandered over to a street vendor. Nel beckoned to the corner
on the other side of the street, where Tali saw Paulo leaning in the shade, arms crossed over his broad chest and a frown on his face. He didn’t seem eager to join them, but finally strolled
over at Nel’s insistent summons.
    “Paulo, how nice to see you,” Tali greeted him as he approached, wondering why the young man whose family she had helped from the fire had suddenly become standoffish.
    Paulo nodded in response but his face remained hard.
    Nel bit her lip and turned back to Tali, making a series of hand signs.
    Tali turned back to Paulo. “My sister says you wish to tell me something.”
    Paulo scowled. “I don’t
wish
to tell you anything. This was her idea, and a bad one.”
    Tali saw a flash of hurt