"There's a difference between earning a vest and buying one, Rahlina," Stavin said with a self-deprecating laugh. "All I did was post a thousand crown bond with the Guild. You are earning your credentials the right way."
"You say that so casually," Endar said from the back of the wagon.
Stavin shrugged. "I can't really claim to have earned my vest or that gold, Endar. Most of it was given to me because of the king's favor, but I didn't really do anything to earn it. Not like you do. Killing Adept Sharindis was--horrible. I know it was her wish and the only way to get the amulets cleansed, but it was still the least honorable thing I've ever done."
The storm shook the wagon just then, and rain beat against the roof and walls. "This is a bad one," Rahlina said as she looked up. "If it turns to hail, we'll have to give the animals better cover."
Stavin said, "I can do that," and both Rahlina and Endar stared at him. He smiled and tapped his armor. "Hail can't hurt me through this."
Rahlina's eyebrows lifted, but she didn't say anything. Soon the sound changed, and she looked at Stavin. "Are you sure?"
Stavin just chuckled and put on his helmet, then climbed out onto the seat and down beside the animals. He took the tarp that Rahlina handed him and draped it across the animals' rumps, then arranged saddle-blankets and harness pads to give them a little extra protection. Looking out through the pounding hail, he saw others doing the same thing and hurried over to help.
It took just a few short moments to get all of the animals protected, and he chuckled as he realized that the other warriors had joined in, turning their armored backs to the storm to aid the traders.
There were more wagons than warriors, and Stavin moved on to help the next wagon. He and the driver had finished with the animals and Stavin was headed back to Rahlina's wagon when a huge crack of thunder made him duck down and look up. As soon as Stavin's face was turned toward the sky a hail stone the size of his fist smashed into his mouth.
The next thing Stavin knew he was being carried by Rahlina and Endar. He was functional enough to help get into the wagon; Rahlina shoved him down on her bed, and pulled his helmet off.
Rahlina hissed in shock when she saw Stavin's face. "Oh, Gods Below, Stavin! That looks horrible!"
Stavin was still trying to get his bearings and felt his lips. His fingers came away bloody and he mumbled, "Ah, hells." Once he saw the blood, the pain came to tell him he was really hurt.
Rahlina grabbed a rag and wet it from her flask, then reached out and grabbed a few hailstones from the seat. Wrapping it up, she gave it to Stavin and said, "Hold this on your lips. It'll help with the swelling."
Stavin sank back against the wall of the wagon and held the ice to his pulped lips. The pain was causing him to tear up occasionally, and he had to blink rapidly to clear his vision.
"Are your teeth all right, Stavin?" Rahlina asked, looking at him intently.
Stavin spent a moment testing his teeth with his tongue, then nodded. He wasn't ready to try talking again just yet.
"You were doing fine until you looked up," Endar said as he moved over to Stavin's side.
"That wasn't the smartest thing you've ever done, Stavin," Rahlina added. "If you had a closed helmet you could get away with it, but yours is too open in the front."
Stavin sighed and nodded, still not wanting to speak.
The storm continued for most of the night. Stavin stayed in Rahlina's wagon, dozing in the corner while she and Endar slept in their beds. He was feeling more than a little sorry for himself. He knew it was his own fault that he'd been hurt. That's what I get for looking up at the storm. Still, it wasn't fair. He'd just been startled into looking up. He was silently reciting the litany once again when he finally drifted off into a deep sleep.
Yelling from outside the wagons awoke Stavin sometime later, and he struggled out of the wagon to see what the trouble was. It turned out to be nothing more serious than the traders assessing the damage from storm. He climbed down and went to join Barvil and the rest of the warriors.
"Gods Below, Stave!" Karvik exclaimed as soon as he saw Stavin's face. "What happened? Did you try to kiss Rahlina and get punched?"
Stavin glared at Karvik and made a rude gesture. "I go' hi' in the mouf wif a hail sthone," he lisped.
"What'd you do, look up at the storm?" Marvat asked. When Stavin mutely nodded, he started laughing.
"It'h not funny!" Stavin snapped.
"Yes it is," Marvat and several others countered.
Stavin glared at them but soon their laughter awoke his sense of the ridiculous. I suppose I'd be laughing, too, if it was Kar who'd done something that stupid.
"The morning meal is ready," one of the traders said as he passed them, and everyone turned toward Endar and the morning meal.
The warriors all filed over to get something to eat, and Endar gave Stavin a sympathetic grin as he filled his bowl. "There's a packet of willow bark at the end if you need it, Stavin," he said, nodding to the table that held the kettle of kava.
Stavin nodded his thanks and collected his mug and the packet, then went to sit and eat. He dumped the powder in his kava, then let it set while he ate a bowl of oat porridge. He washed it down with the kava, gagging a little at the bitter combination.
"Harness up!" Rahlina shouted, and the traders who were finished eating began guiding the mules into position. Stavin took his bowl to the wash tub and cleaned it out, then went to saddle his horse. She, at least, seemed to have some sympathy for him and lipped his hair when he put her halter on.
Stavin chose to ride beside the lead wagon rather than on the seat with Rahlina so he could keep his helmet on. They had only been traveling for about half the day before they reached the next town. It was small, barely a village at all, and Rahlina shook her head when Stavin looked at her.
The caravan continued north east, but now the road turned in a more northerly direction. They could see the lights of a town ahead of them when the sun had set, and Rahlina kept them moving. It took about four spans to reach the town, and the traders parked their wagons and saw to their teams in near total darkness. The cloud cover was still blocking the moons.
Stavin slept fitfully that night. He kept rolling over and bumping his lips on his arms. He'd wake up with tears in his eyes, wipe them away and settle back in place. It was on one of those occasions that he looked out and saw that the sky was beginning to brighten in the east.
Karvik was on guard duty, so he grabbed his plate armor and put on what he could, then swung his chest and back plates over his shoulders and went looking for the night watch.
Rolas was the first guard he saw and walked over to join him. "Help me strap in, please," he said as he matched pace with Rolas.
"You're up early," Rolas commented as he started buckling Stavin's armor. "Did you drink too much kava last night?"
"No. I keep bumping my lips and waking myself up," Stavin answered. Rolas laughed and slapped his shoulder, then continued on his rounds.
Stavin walked over to where Endar was already starting the morning meal and sat down, watching the fire. He didn't have long to wait before something else distracted him. A voice came from the direction of the town.
"Ho, there! What's this? When did you arrive?" a man asked as he walked into the caravan.
Stavin walked over to face him and bowed slightly. "We arrived last night. Who are you, good Sir?"
"I'm Garvin Bel'Bandan. Who are you?"
Stavin bowed and said, "Master Trader Stavin Kel'Aniston, Friend of Evandia."
The man's eyes widened. "Friend Stavin? The one who recently saved the king?" he asked. When Stavin nodded he stepped back a pace and bowed very deeply. "We are honored, Friend Stavin. What is your desire?"
"We'd like to set up and trade for the day," Stavin said, nodding toward the slowly awakening caravan.
The man smiled broadly. "That would be marvelous. We seldom get caravans this large. Most just pass us by."
Stavin nodded and the ma
n walked back to the town gates at a rapid pace. Stavin saw Rahlina come out of her wagon and walked over to join her. "A man just came out to see who we were. I told him we're staying to trade."
Rahlina looked at him, then at the town. "It's a small place."
"He said they seldom get large caravans here. That should make up for some of it. Besides," he continued softly, "I want to see if there's a Healer here. My lips are killing me."
Rahlina chuckled and nodded. "Very well."
The traders had hardly gotten their booths setup when the first customers arrived. The crowd started as a trickle, but soon turned into a torrent as what was probably half the population of the town came out to browse the wagons. Stavin spotted Garvin and walked over to him.
"Your pardon, Sir, but is there a Healer in this town?" he asked.
Garvin and another man turned toward him, and they both bowed deeply. "I'm Aldar Bel'Cooper, Friend Stavin, Mayor of Korvan's Corner. We have a Journeyman Healer in town. What is your need?"
Stavin brought his hand up and touched his lips. "I got hit by a hailstone."
Aldar and Garvin shared a look, then Garvin hurried away. "He'll be back soon, Friend Stavin."
Stavin nodded and looked back toward the caravan. Trade was brisk, and he couldn't help but smile. Then he winced, because the smile stretched his sore lips. Garvin returned with another man in tow, and they both bowed deeply.
"Friend Stavin, this is Journeyman Healer Torvan Fel'Carain," he said with a bow.
Stavin gave the Healer a deep nod. "Can you heal my lips?"
"I will do all that is within my power, Friend Stavin," Torvan replied with a very deep bow. He stepped closer and placed his hands on both of Stavin's cheeks. He closed his eyes and started muttering, and soon Stavin could feel his lips tingling. In a few moments the Healer stepped back and gave Stavin a critical look. "How is that, Friend Stavin?"
Stavin smiled, then ran his lips through a series of movements from yawning to frowning. "No pain. What do I owe you?"
"One gold--"
"Tor! He's a Friend of Evandia!" Mayor Bel'Cooper snapped.
Stavin laughed and said, "It's all right. I'll pay."
"It's unseemly," Garvin snarled. "We all owe you for the service you've done the kingdom."
"It's all right. Really. Healers have a living to make, just as traders do," Stavin said, looking back and forth between the men. He was pulling his pouch out at the same time and handed over one gold crown. "It's worth it to me to be able to eat without hurting myself."
All three men bowed deeply to Stavin, then turned away. Stavin watched them for a moment, then walked over to Rahlina's wagon. She looked over at him, then grinned. "I see your lips are back to normal."
Stavin nodded as he continued to walk through the caravan. Barvil saw him and nodded in satisfaction, but didn't say anything. Trade continued to be brisk until after mid day. Then the crowd seemed to vanish as quickly as it had appeared.
Stavin walked over to Rahlina's wagon and smiled when she looked at him. "Not bad for such a small village," he commented.
"Very good for such a small village," Rahlina agreed, "but I doubt we'll see much more." She looked up at the sky and sighed. "I asked one of the gaffers what the weather was going to be like. He thinks we've got another bad storm coming soon. I think we should see to the animals and stay the night here, then move on in the morning."
Stavin nodded and began passing the word to the traders and warriors.
Chapter 25
SHARI AND KARLIN SPENT THEIR FIRST days together with Karlit and Marinis in almost constant attendance. To absolutely no ones surprise, so were Sahrena and Nahrana.
Shari also had the company of her best friend, Sorandis. Sora was nursing Noral while Shari nursed Karlin, and together with their mothers they spent the days talking and making plans. Karlit and Charvil were conspicuously absent.
"Mom," Sharindis said, looking at Nahrana, "how did all of you know Karlin was a boy when Healer Kel'Kadus didn't. Or at least he wouldn’t say?"
"The most telling thing," Marinis said, "was how sick you were. There were other signs as well. Things you learn with experience. We've all seen it and been through it."
Sorandis added, "Healers are also afraid of being wrong. It erodes people's faith in them when it might be important. So they stay noncommital on things like if it is a boy or girl. It's not as if it really matters. Babies are lovable, boy or girl."
Shari nodded as she moved Karlin away from her breast. "So true."
Sahrena sat forward and asked, "Can I hold him?" in what Sharindis thought was the most timid tone she'd ever heard from her godmother.
Shari smiled as she said, "Of course," and handed Karlin over.
"Oh, Little One, you are so precious." She looked at the rest of the women and smiled. "This is what makes the aches and pains of getting older worth the trouble. This," she looked down into Karlin's face, "is what life is all about."
Marinis asked, "When is Dorvina due?"
Sahrena shook her head. "Almost four moons. The boys will be home by then. "Darak will see his daughter born."
"I wish Stavi had been here.” Sharindis murmured. “So you're sure it's a girl?" she asked, and the mothers all said, "Yes," softly. She looked toward Sorandis and said, "I guess we'll learn."
Nahrana chuckled and said, "In time, Shari. In time."
Chapter 26
THE CARAVAN HEADED OUT EARLY THE next morning, and Rahlina headed them on the more northerly of the roads that left Korvan's Corner. She had asked what towns lay along each of the roads, and chose the one that led back to Kolovad.
The caravan had been on the road for two days before trouble found them. Stavin was riding on the wagon with Rahlina, listening to yet another dissertation about the duties of a Master Trader, when a man burst out of the bushes in front of the wagon and raised a crossbow, then shot point-blank into Stavin's chest.
Stavin was, as always, in armor, but the power of the bolt overbalanced him and drove him backwards off the seat into the wagon. He shook off the shock of the attack and stuffed his helmet on while Barvil's horn called everyone to the defense of the caravan.
Another man attacked Barvil while the man who had shot Stavin ran toward them and jumped up onto the wagon's step, trying to get to Rahlina. He died with one of Stavin's knives in his throat, and Stavin shouldered his body out of the way as he jumped down to fight with his Dragon's Tongue in his hands.
Other bandits were fighting with the rest of the warriors, and Stavin immediately ran to join the fight. A swordsman confronted Stavin and he struck, but this man knew how to counter the Dragon's Tongue. Stavin found himself in a real fight for the first time in ages, and had to duck under his opponent's sword in desperation. He finally saw an opening and struck, driving the blade of his Dragon's Tongue through the man's breast plate and heart, then kicked the dying man off of his weapon to attack another.
Stavin charged into the battle, looking for another fight, and soon got one. Another swordsman had just beaten Farval to his knees, but turned on Stavin as soon as he saw him, leaving Farval down, but alive.
Stavin again found himself facing a superior opponent, and it was only the impervious nature of his armor that saved him from receiving a sword thrust through the chest. Stavin swept the legs out from under the swordsman before the man recovered from having his thrust stopped. A quick stab with his Dragon's Tongue ended the man's life.
Stavin had hardly withdrawn his blade from the man's chest when a blow to the back drove him forward a few steps. He turned as he fell to his knees and struck upward with his Dragon's Tongue, coming in under the guard of a fourth man. The man grunted as the blade stabbed into his gut, but instead of backing away, he grabbed the shaft of the Dragon's Tongue and pulled Stavin closer, swinging his sword in an overhand blow that crashed down on Stavin's shoulder. The blade was stopped by Stavin's armor, but the force of the blow drove him to his hands and knees. Before the man could strik
e again, Stavin drove his water steel knife into the back of his knee, dropping him to the ground on his back. Stavin struck with his knife again, this time shoving the blade into the man's throat.
Stavin surged to his feet while the man choked on his knife and yanked his Dragon's Tongue out to face another opponent, but the battle was done.
Barvil was stalking around with his bloodied sword still in his hand. Stavin hurried over to see what was happening. As soon as Barvil saw him, he said, "Kar went down. So did Marvat, Rolas, and Aldric."
Stavin was shocked, and immediately went to find Karvik. He found him with a pair of the traders easing his armor off. Two crossbow bolts had struck him in the chest, and there was a spatter of blood at his lips. Stavin knelt and looked at him. "Kar?"
Karvik gasped, "Came out of nowhere. Didn't even see them until it was too late."
"Hold on, Kar! I'm getting the Heal All." Stavin jumped up and ran, but Barvil was already on his way back with the jar of ointment.
Barvil knelt beside Karvik and looked him in the eye. "We can't pull them out, Kar. We have to push them through." Karvik nodded and grimaced in pain. Barvil looked at Stavin, then used his small eating knife to strip the fletching from the short arrows, then coated them with Heal-All. Barvil and Stavin each prepared to push the arrows through, and on Barvil's count they shoved as hard as they could. Karvik screamed once, then fainted. Barvil pulled the arrows the rest of the way through his son's back, then he and Stavin pushed more Heal All into the wounds.
"Bandage him carefully, Stavin. Get him into a wagon, and keep him sitting up."
"Yes, Sir," Stavin answered, then looked at the traders. They lifted Karvik and got him into their wagon, propping him up behind the seat. Once Karvik was seen to, Stavin went looking for Barvil again.
Traders and Traitors (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 2) Page 22