The pillars of creation

A hawker pushed in close beside him, disturbing Oba's pleasant thoughts, his imagining of what lay ahead for him.

"Charms, for you, sir? Magic charms. Good luck for sure."

Oba frowned down at the hunched hawker. "What?"

"Special charms with magic. Can't go wrong for a silver penny."

"What do they do?"

"Well, sir, the charms are magic, sure. Wouldn't you like a bit of magic to ease the terrible struggles of life? Make things go your way for a change? Only a silver penny."

Things did go his way, now that his lunatic mother wasn't around to pester him and keep him down. Still, Oba did like to learn new things.

"What will this magic do? What kinds of things?"

"Great things, sir. Great things. Give you strength, it will. Strength, and wisdom. Strength and wisdom beyond any normal mortal man."

Oba grinned. "I already have that."

The man was at a loss for words for only a moment. He looked over each shoulder, making sure no one was close before he leaned in closer, pushing against Oba's side, in order to speak confidentially. He winked up at Oba.

"These magic charms will help win the girls for you, sir."

"Women already can't get enough of me." Oba was losing interest. This magic promised only what he already had. The man might as well say that the charms would give Oba two arms and two legs.

The filthy little man cleared his throat, thick with phlegm, as he leaned close again. "Well, sir, no man can have enough wealth or the most beautiful-"

"I'll give you a copper penny if you can tell me where I can find the sorceress Althea."

The man's breath stank. Oba pushed him back. The hawker lifted a crooked finger. His wiry eyebrows rose as well.

"You, sir, are a wise man, just as you said. I knew I saw something keen about you. You, sir, have ferreted out the one man in this market who can tell you what you need." He thumped his chest. "Me. I can tell you all you need to know on the subject. But, as a man of your wisdom will no doubt realize, such obscure and privileged information will of necessity cost you a great deal more than a copper penny. Yes, sir, a great deal more, and worth it."

Oba frowned. "How much more?"

"A silver mark."

Oba grunted a laugh and started walking away. He had the money, but he didn't appreciate being played for a fool.

"I'll ask around. Decent people can offer such simple help as directions to the sorceress and they will expect nothing more than a tip of my cap.»

The hawker scurried along at Oba's side, eager to renegotiate, speaking hurriedly as he struggled to keep up. Loose ends of his ragged outfit flapped like flags in the breeze as he dodged people dodging Oba.

"Yes, I can see you're a wise man indeed. I'm afraid I'm no match for you, sir. You've bested me-that's the simple truth of it. But there are more knotty matters you don't know about, matters a man of your rare sensitivity should know, things which could very well mean your safety in such a dangerous venture as I think you may be about to undertake, things which not many folks can tell you true."

Oba was sensitive, that much was true. He gazed down at the man shuffling along sideways, like a dog begging for a scrap. "A silver penny, then. That's all I'm offering."

"A silver penny, then," he conceded with a sigh, "for the valuable information you need, sir, which I warrant you will hear nowhere else."

Oba halted, satisfied that the man had caved in to the superior intellect. Hands on his hips, he stared down at the hopeful fellow licking his cracked lips. It was against Oba's nature to part with money so easily, but he had plenty, and something about this intrigued him. He fished around in his pocket, slipping two fingers into the leather purse he kept there, and drew out a silver penny.

He flipped it to the scruffy fellow. "All right, then." As the man caught the coin, Oba caught the hawker's bony wrist. "I will give you the price you ask. But if I don't think you're telling it true, or if I suspect that you're holding back on me, I'll take back the coin, and I'll have to wipe your blood off it before I return it to my pocket."

The man swallowed at the dangerous look on Oba's face. "Sir, I'd not cheat you-especially not once my word is given."

:,You'd best not. So, where is she? How can I find Althea?"

'In a swamp, she lives. But I can tell you how to get in to her, for only-"

"Do you think I'm a stupid oaf!" Oba twisted the wrist. "I've already heard that people go to see this sorceress, that she receives visitors in her swamp, so something more than the way in to her place had better be included in the fair price I've given you."

"Yes!" The hawker gulped in pain. "Of course it is." Oba eased up. Still wincing, the man was quick to go on. "I was going to say that I will tell you the secret way to get to her through her swamp for the generous price you've already paid. Not just the regular way in, which folks know, but the secret way in, as well. Few, if any, know of it. All included in the price. I'd not hold anything back from a fair man like you, sir."