The Andarian Affair

by Jones, Loren K.

  “Indeed,” the manager said, looking at the wagons. “How large, if you don’t mind my asking?”

  “About a thousand bags of assorted grains and beans,” Stavin replied.

  The man gave Stavin a suspicious look, then said, “That is a huge shipment, Master Stavin.”

  Stavin nodded. “We know. Excuse me, now, I have some other arrangements to make.” Stavin bowed to the manager and the man walked away. Stavin looked around until he spotted a boy of about twelve near the fence and waved him over.

  “You needs som’at, Master Trader?” the boy asked as he looked down at Stavin.

  “Can you be trusted to deliver a message?” Stavin asked.

  “Trusted as trusted can be, Master Trader,” the boy answered with a grin.

  Stavin smiled and almost laughed. “Trusted as two sparks can buy,” he replied. “I need a message delivered to the Zel’Valin Trading House, to Master Trader Dardan Kel’Valin.” He pulled two sparks out and held them up. “One now, one when you return with a signed answer from Master Dardan. Agreed?”

  “I’m yer man, Master Trader,” the boy answered.

  Stavin pulled the slip of parchment he’d written the night before from his vest and handed it and a spark to the boy. “Return with a signed answer, or the second spark stays in my pouch.”

  The boy bobbed a sketchy bow and took off at a dead run. Stavin turned around to find Charvil watching him.

  “What was that all about, Stavin?” Charvil asked as he watched the boy run up the road.

  “I can’t leave the caravan with no other Master here, so I asked the one grain merchant I know to come out here.”

  Charvil shook his head and walked off muttering. Stavin just smiled. His note was simple. It read, Master Trader Dardan, would you do me the honor of visiting my caravan for the purpose of bargaining? The Horse-Thief’s Apprentice. ‘There was a note that he’d added to the bottom as well. I paid the boy. He’s lying.

  It was only three spans later that the boy returned with Master Dardan right behind him. The boy had a sullen look that told Stavin that he’d been right. The boy had tried to get Dardan to pay him as well.

  Stavin smiled and tossed the boy the second spark, then bowed to Master Dardan. “Welcome to House Kel’Aniston’s caravan, Master Trader Dardan.”

  Dardan looked at him closely. “Kethlan’s apprentice, are you?”

  “Close enough, Master Dardan. I’m--”

  “Master Trader Stavin,” Dardan interrupted. “I know. What is it you’re looking to bargain for?”

  Stavin looked over his shoulder and found Charvil just a few steps away. Looking back at Dardan, he said, “A thousand bags of assorted grains and beans.”

  Master Dardan froze for a moment, but just a breath or two. “A thousand, you say? How much of what kinds of grains?”

  Stavin had been given the order before they left Kavinston, and said, “Two hundred bags each of wheat, barley, and rye, with the remaining four hundred of beans.”

  Charvil stepped up to Stavin’s side and said, “We’re here to buy the Kavinston supplies. The Traders in Kahrant’s Pass have annoyed us.”

  Master Dardan’s eyebrows rose. “Kavinston?” He looked at the wagons and a silent whistle pursed his lips. “Very well. Zel’Valin can handle that order. Now, young Master Stavin, let’s see how much you learned from that horse-thief.”

  Stavin and Dardan began bargaining hard, and grew harder by the moment. There was a rhythm to the give and take that Stavin had picked up from listening to Sahren and Kethlan, and had refined under Rahlina’s tutelage. It took six spans to complete the bargaining, and by the end Stavin was a sweat-sodden mess. Dardan was in much better shape.

  It was Charvil who was the most stunned by the outcome. “Thirty gold crowns?” he asked.

  “I almost had you down to a twenty-eight,” Stavin said to Dardan through his panting. He was grinning from ear-to-ear, and Dardan had to laugh at him.

  “No, you didn’t,” Dardan laughed back. “You’re not as good as that horse-thief, but you’re better than most.”

  “Thirty gold crowns?” Charvil asked again.

  “Yes, Sir. Two hundred bags cost five crowns, plus two for shipping.” Stavin shrugged. “Those thieves in Kahrant’s Pass have been robbing us.”

  Master Dardan looked at Stavin and cautiously asked, “How badly have they been cheating you, Master Stavin?”

  Stavin shook his head. “There’s a difference in size between Evandian, Kavadian, and Farindian crowns, but I’d say they’ve been charging at least double what the shipment was worth. Maybe triple.”

  Charvil growled, “Bel’Serva is a dead man.”

  Master Dardan looked at Charvil, then at Stavin and shook his head. “I’ll give orders for the warehouse to separate your shipment, Master Stavin. We’ll be ready by morning.” He bowed, then turned away and walked off with a jaunty lift to his step.

  “He beat me,” Stavin sighed. “He got a good deal for his House, but we got a good deal as well. Not as good as Kethlan could have gotten, but still a good deal.”

  Charvil was still shaking his head as he muttered, “I can’t believe we were so blind.”

  Stavin decided to keep his mouth shut.

  Chapter 34

  THE CARAVAN HAD SETTLED DOWN FOR the evening when a visitor arrived asking for Stavin. He immediately went to find out who it was and smiled as he bowed to Lord Ahlic. “Lord Zel’Vandar, it’s a pleasure to see you again. How may I be of service?” Stavin asked with another bow.

  Lord Ahlic bowed slightly before he spoke. “Master Stavin, it’s my understanding that you’re purchasing the Kavinston supplies.”

  “We are, Lord Zel’Vandar.”

  The lord was silent for a moment, then shook his head. “It was our understanding that you bought from Kahrant’s Pass.”

  “We did, Lord Zel’Vandar,” Stavin replied with a bow, “but recent discoveries led the Elders’ Council to rethink that policy.” Stavin’s mouth twisted into a bitter frown. “Master Trader Bel’Serva has been double-charging us. We never suspected until--” He shook his head. “We’re through with them.”

  Lord Ahlic nodded. “We would like you to take a message back to your Elders’ Council, if you would.” At Stavin’s bow he continued. “Please tell your Council that the Aravad Trader’s Council welcomes this extra trade, and would like it to continue. If possible, we would like to have a face-to-face meeting with representatives of your Council next spring or summer.” He smiled as he looked behind Stavin.

  Stavin turned and saw Charvil and Darak right behind him. “I will convey your message, Lord Zel’Vandar,” he said as he turned back to the lord.

  “Very well, Master Stavin. There is one other thing that I’d appreciate your cooperation with.”

  Stavin bowed. “If I can, Lord Zel’Vandar.”

  The lord smiled tightly. “Next year, if you will, spread it around a little. You’ve all but bought out Zel’Valin. Rahndahl is crowing like a spring rooster about clearing his warehouse so early in the season.”

  Stavin smiled and bowed. “I will try, Lord Zel’Vandar. It’s just that Master Dardan is the only grain merchant I know.”

  “Because of that shipment Kethlan arranged for you?” he asked. When Stavin nodded, he smiled and let his eyes fall. “That old scoundrel.”

  “Ward Stavin,” a guardsman said, and Stavin spun in place to face him with a furious expression on his face. “Your pardon, Master Stavin. You’re needed at the--cook wagon.”

  “Very well,” Stavin said, then turned back to Lord Zel’Vandar. “I beg your pardon, Lord Zel’Vandar, but it seems I can’t be left alone for a moment.”

  Lord Zel’Vandar almost laughed. “Such is the life of a Master Trader, young man. Go take care of your business.” With that he turned and walked away while Stavin rounded on the guard.

  “Are you daft?” he whispered. “No one calls me Ward Stavin here.”

  “Ward Stavin, H
er Highness wants you at her wagon,” the man said again, but he said it softly.

  Stavin took a deep breath through his nose to calm himself, and then went to the cook wagon. When he got there, he found the princess sitting by the fire. “Yes, Your Highness?” he asked, but he didn’t bow. No one did. That had been part of Charvil’s orders as well.

  “Stavin, is there any way you’ll let me get away from this caravan for a little while?” Princess Marina asked.

  “It’s not my decision, Your Highness,” he replied softly. “This is a dangerous city.”

  “Warmaster?” she asked, looking past Stavin to where Charvil was standing.

  Charvil considered her request for a moment, then nodded. “After we load up in the morning we’ll leave Stavin and a team of guards with the wagons and I’ll lead you to the market district. What are you looking for, Your Highness?”

  Princess Marina sighed and shook her head as she looked at the fire. “Nothing in particular. I just want to get out.” She smiled and shook her head. “I’ve never been to Aravad before. As a matter of fact, I’ve never even been to Kavadia before.”

  “There are good reasons for that, Your Highness,” one of the maids said. “They say the difference between a bandit and an Aravadian Trader is that the Trader will smile when he puts the knife to your throat.”

  “Close,” Charvil agreed with a laugh, “but the truth is that Aravad is nearly as civilized as Twin Bridges.”

  “How can you say that?” one of the Guardswomen asked.

  Charvil shrugged. “I’ve never been attacked in Aravad. Oh, the thieves are here, but they’re not so bold as to attack an armed warrior. The power in Aravad is the Trading Houses, and they want peace and security. It’s good for business. Consequently, they thoroughly discourage thieves in their midst.”

  Dahvin cleared his throat and spoke to Charvil. “Warmaster, I have to insist that everyone around Princess Marina be fully armed.”

  “Oh, I agree, Lieutenant. No sense in letting our guard down and tempting someone. But I don’t expect any trouble.” He grinned at Dahvin. “Not with all of us walking around armed to the teeth.”

  * * *

  The first place Stavin led them to in the morning was the Gold Merchants’ Chapter House. Charvil was on Kavinston’s access list, and withdrew the necessary thirty crowns. Stavin withdrew twenty crowns of his own. Then they went to the Zel’Valin Trading House.

  A well-dressed man was waiting with Master Dardan, and it wasn’t hard for Stavin to guess who it was. He walked up and bowed automatically, then spoke to Dardan. “Master Dardan, we are ready to load at your convenience.”

  Master Dardan smiled and returned Stavin’s bow. “Master Stavin, allow me to introduce the head of our House, Lord Rahndahl Zel’Valin.”

  Stavin bowed deeply. “Lord Zel’Valin, I am pleased to meet you.”

  “Not half as pleased as I am to meet you, young Master Stavin,” the lord said with a very definite touch of humor in his voice. “You’ve nearly emptied our warehouse in one purchase.”

  Charvil stepped up beside Stavin and bowed. “Lord Zel’Valin, I have your payment.”

  Lord Rahndahl and Dardan both looked closely at the four stars on Charvil’s shoulder. Then Lord Rahndahl carefully pushed Stavin’s cloak aside to see his shoulder. Looking back at Charvil, he said, “Introduce yourself, if you will.”

  Charvil bowed. “I am Warmaster Charvil Kel’Horval.”

  “An Elder of Kavinston,” Lord Rahndahl said in a soft tone.

  “Until last season. Warmaster Kel’Carin took my place when he surpassed my count.” He smiled crookedly. “Until we get home, that is.”

  “It is my understanding that the Traders in Kahrant’s Pass have finally been caught cheating you,” Lord Rahndahl said. “That is fortunate for us. Is this all the supplies you will be needing?”

  Charvil nodded, but Stavin shook his head and said, “When the wagons from Kavinston arrive we’ll need to load up some more, but it will be mostly sausages and cheeses, as well as a good supply of spices.”

  “Stavin?” Charvil asked, looking at him sideways.

  “There’s no sense in taking them home empty, Sir.”

  Charvil shook his head. “We only have authorization to buy the normal allotment for the town, Stavin.”

  “Yes, Sir. But I have my own funds to buy the rest with. I have extra--family--to feed this year.”

  Charvil considered that statement carefully for a moment. “You do indeed, Stavin. Very well, do as you wish.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Barvil warned me you’d do something like this, but I didn’t believe him.”

  * * *

  The wagons were loaded before mid day, and all of them returned to the caravansary to await the arrival of the wagons from Kavinston. Stavin joined Dennil, Keval, and Wallin on watch while Charvil led Princess Marina, her maids, and everyone else from the caravan to the Aravad Market. Stavin watched them go with a feeling of almost indescribable envy, then sighed and began marching his route.

  It was nearly sundown when a shout drew his attention, but it wasn’t Charvil. Eleven men on horseback rode into the caravansary and straight toward them. It wasn’t until they got close that Stavin recognized Karvik.

  “Stave! Stave, you’re never going to believe it!” Karvik was shouting as he broke ranks and rode forward. He brought his horse to a stop beside Stavin and dismounted. Then he turned and showed Stavin the two stars on his shoulder. “Fifty-three, Stave!” he shouted.

  Stavin slapped him on the stars. He managed to say, “Congratulations, Kar,” through his grin.

  “Where’s everyone else?”

  Stavin grimaced. “At the market,” he replied in a sullen tone. “I had to stay with the caravan.”

  The rest of the warriors had dismounted as well and Warleader Sixth Tarvan Kel’Jesta walked up to Stavin. “Where’s your leader?”

  “Charvil led everyone else to the market, Warleader Kel’Jesta,” Stavin replied.

  “The Warmaster?” Tarvan asked. “What’s he doing here?”

  “Trying to keep Stavin out of trouble,” Wallin said as he walked up. “You’re supposed to be walking, Stavin, not talking.”

  Stavin grimaced and smiled. He said, “Later,” as he hurried away.

  Wallin shook his head and said, “The kid’s amazing. Our horses are in that paddock,” he said, pointing to the side of the caravansary. “Drop your gear and see to your horses. Charvil and the rest should be back soon.” He walked off behind Stavin while Tarvan gave his orders.

  “You heard him. Let’s settle in.” He grabbed his gear and took it to the center of the caravan, then led his horse to the paddock and turned it loose.

  It wasn’t long before Charvil led the princess’ party back to the caravan. “Tarvan!” he shouted and all of the warriors rose to their feet and froze there as the seventeen assorted women of the group filed by, talking about their purchases and comparing notes.

  Tarvan looked at Charvil and said, “Warmaster?”

  “It’s a long story, Tarvan. Be very polite to the tall blonde. All of you be very, very polite.”

  Karvik looked at the woman and said, “Oh, he didn’t,” as he remembered Stavin’s description from two years before.

  The Warmaster smacked Karvik’s shoulder. “Quietly, Karvik. Yes, he did. More precisely, her father did. There’s serious unrest in Evandia now that they’re at war with Andaria. She’ll be staying in the Royal Suite of the fortress.”

  Karvik whistled. “No wonder he was grinning so much. Warmaster, look!” he said excitedly and turned his shoulder toward Charvil.

  Charvil nodded when he saw Karvik’s twin stars. “I see you had an active season as well. Settle in, men. One of the maids has been cooking for us, and she’s very talented.”

  All of the warriors sat down, and soon Dahvin led the guardsmen and women over to the fire. Charvil waved them forward and ran through the introductions. “We should be picking up a few m
ore groups of our men before we head north on the last leg of our journey.”

  Tarvan sent his junior quad out to relieve the watch and everyone waited for Stavin and the others to arrive. When they did, Karvik stood up and looked at Stavin.

  “What did you do this time?” he asked in a tone that made everyone laugh.

  Stavin smiled sourly and shrugged his cloak aside, revealing his shoulder. “Not much.”

  There was a general silence, then Karvik shouted, “Gods Below! What am I going to have to do to get ahead of you?”

  “That will take quite an effort, young warrior,” Princess Marina said as she walked up. “Ward Stavin was deeply involved in ending the plot against my father.”

  “Ward Stavin?” Karvik asked, looking at Stavin carefully.

  Stavin blushed and stammered, so it was Marina who answered. “Stavin had killed seventeen men in single combat and my father wanted him to stop. Since he couldn’t honorably order Stavin to refuse challenges, he made him a Ward of the Evandian Crown. That way it was treason for anyone to challenge him.”

  “And,” Dahvin prompted.

  Princess Marina gave Dahvin a very intense look. “And made Stavin my little brother in the process.”

  Karvik looked at his friend and the blood drained from his face as he said, “Stave, that makes you a--”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Stavin interrupted. “I wasn’t born to a Chosen clan, so it just means that Her Highness can tease me like my sisters do. Except she’s a lot nicer about it.”

  Dahvin was still looking at her and said, “So far, Stavin. She’s still getting used to it.”

  “And who are you, Sir?” Karvik asked in a respectful tone as he bowed.

  “Kar, I told you about Lieutenant Dahvin Zel’Fordal,” Stavin said, bowing slightly to Dahvin. “He’s one of the princess’ cousins.”

  Tarvan interrupted as he faced the Warmaster. “What’s all this, Sir?” he asked, waving around at the wagons.

  Charvil said, “The fall supplies. Stavin got the spring supplies for less than half what we paid last year, and these for less than a third. We’re buying from here from now on.” Charvil’s expression took on a deadly cast. “Trader Bel’Serva is in for hard times when we catch him.”