Ben picked up a die. Crude Arabic inscriptions around a central circle. “Are these supposed to be… What language is this?”
“The original Norman tarì were imitations of gold coins minted by Arab rulers,” Tenzin said. “So they had Arabic or Kufic inscriptions.”
“So the original tarì are copies of other coins?”
“In a sense,” Tenzin said. “They were made of gold and the size was convenient. That’s why they became popular for trading. Nobody much cared who struck them as long as their value held.”
“So… we’re making copies of coins that were already copies of other coins?” he asked.
Ruby laughed. “It’s all so delightfully twisted, ain’t it?”
Ben shook his head. “That somehow makes me feel better, but I’m not sure why. Ruby, this work looks amazing. I’m no coin expert, but you’re really talented.”
“Thank you very much, Ben.”
Tenzin was looking at each and every engraving. “I concur. This is excellent work. Oscar has taught you well.”
“Means a lot coming from you,” Ruby said. “Thanks. I have a batch just out of the tumbler if you’d like to see ’em. Haven’t been treated, but they’re softened up.”
Tenzin nodded. “Let’s see.”
Ruby took them to a round metal cylinder turned on an angle. “I’d use a proper tumbler for lapidary, but since we’re going for a mix of wear, we didn’t want anything too even. I mocked up this crude one with a hand turner, and we’ve been using all sorts of textures for grit. Sand. Polishing compound. Even rocks and metal bits. Small batches. Nothing too regular.” She opened the side door and pulled out a coin from the milky liquid within. “Take a look at that then.”
Tenzin held the coin in her palm, feeling the weight, then she flipped it end over end and caught it in the air. She held it up to the light and inspected it, then handed it to Ben and reached for another coin.
“It’s good,” she said. “The weight and wear look perfect. The client hasn’t seen the originals in at least four hundred years, so he’s not going to be crystal clear on what they look like. No photographic evidence exists, so we just have to get close.”
Ruby nodded. “That’s what Oscar said too. Mostly we wanted them to have the right wear.”
“And the patina?”
Ruby tilted her head toward Oscar. “He’s in charge of that. With the copper content of this alloy, I’m thinking liver of sulfur might be involved, but maybe waxes too. Not sure what he has in mind.”
“It will look authentic,” Oscar shouted. “How I make it that way is my business.”
“Fine,” Tenzin shouted back. “And you’re about half-done?” she asked Ruby.
The young vampire nodded. “Give us another week or so.”
Oscar yelled over the roar of the forge as he put another crucible in to heat. “Ruby will bring them to your house on Thursday night.”
Ruby’s face lit up. “Really, Oz? All the way to the main island?”
Oscar grunted. “Just stay out of sight. Tenzin, leave. You’re distracting Ruby from her work.”
“Fine.” Tenzin walked over and punched his shoulder. The stocky man glared at her.
“What was that for?” he shouted.
“Just because you’re a bastard,” Tenzin said. “Don’t bite your woman unless she likes it, Oscar. I have ways of finding out.”
“She likes it.” Oscar’s eyes flicked up to Ben. “What’s this one, anyway?”
“Him?” Tenzin glanced over her shoulder. “He’s my publicist.”
Oscar narrowed his eyes. “Right. Keep him away from Ruby.”
“Ben’s trustworthy. He’s not going to poach your woman, you paranoid ass.”
“She’s an investment.”
Tenzin punched him again. “Such a bastard.”
❂
THURSDAY night, Ruby turned up just after dark in Claudio’s small boat. With her was a battered leather briefcase that must have weighed more than a bit, because the boat rocked when she hoisted it onto the steps.
“Thanks, Claudio!” she said, waving at the young man before he disappeared down the canal. Then Ruby planted her hands on her hips and looked at Ben. “Gelato?”
“Uh…” He set down the book he’d been reading. “I think we have some.”
“I don’t care if you have some here,” she said, grabbing his hand. “I want to go out. See the city. Get a drink. And definitely eat some gelato.”
“Okay.” Ben laughed and let her pull him down the entry hall. “Don’t get off work much, huh?”
“Ugh,” she groaned. “Oscar’s great, right? I don’t mean to whinge on. But he’s really overprotective. Very possessive, you know? I just need to get out a bit. I’m not nine hundred like some people.”
Ben tucked that one away and went to grab the key for the door. “Come on then. I’ll be your trusted escort through the city.”
Ruby winked. “Know every nook and cranny, do you?”
“Not quite, but I’m getting there.”
He glanced up and wondered if he needed to tell Tenzin they were going. Then he spied the heavy briefcase sitting on the stairs.
“Is that…?”