“Good idea.” Chuckling, Jaymin unfastened his cloak, which was royal blue velvet embroidered with gold and silver thread and lined with soft white fur, and accepted Erik’s plain black one in exchange. With the hood up, he was covered from the top of his head down to his boots. Surely no one could identify him now.
The three of them headed out of the room with Erik in the lead, carrying Jaymin’s cloak bundled over his arm. Together they strode down the narrow corridor and into the large common room of the inn, where eight or ten people – all locals, from the looks of them – sat talking and laughing over plates of roast pork and mugs of ale. Keeping his back to the room and the hood pulled low over his face, Jaymin waited at the serving counter that separated the dining room from the tiny kitchen. Fishing through his pockets, Sir Edmend pulled out a handful of coins to pay the innkeeper for their brief stay of just over an hour and the meal they had enjoyed earlier. Meanwhile, Erik headed straight for the front door, and Jaymin knew he would be peering up and down the road to make sure there was no danger in sight. What danger there might be in a little village like Keston, Jaymin couldn’t imagine. The Malornians probably didn’t even know the place existed, and wouldn't be likely to care even if they did.
“Potatoes again, is it?” the innkeeper was asking in a low voice as Sir Edmend counted out twelve copper coins into his hand. “Or corn, maybe?”
“It’s corn today,” Sir Edmend confirmed in an equally low voice. “That seems to be going for the best price at the moment.”
“I’m sorry I can’t send you with anything more for them this time,” the innkeeper apologized, “but everything’s tight right now. I’m saving my flour, though – maybe next time you come through I can give you a few extra loaves to take along. I know that won’t go far among so many, but it’s all I can do.”
Sir Edmend smiled. “Every bit helps, Lornsby. And just knowing I can count on you not to say anything is the best help you can give.”
“Well, I don’t know who I’d say it to even if I wanted. We’ve been fortunate to have escaped notice so far, up here in the hills. Not a single Malornian soldier has set foot in our village since the Invasion.”
The lamp on the counter flickered as the front door opened and shut, and Erik was suddenly beside them, his face and voice full of alarm.
“Malornians! Eight of them, galloping up the road!”
Lornsby gasped, and Sir Edmend, his eyes widening with apprehension, stared first at Erik, and then around the room in desperation.
“Where can we hide them? Quick, you’ve got to help!” He seized the innkeeper’s arm. “You wanted to do more? Now’s your chance.”
“What, your sacks of corn? It’s no crime to transport food. If the soldiers ask, tell them you brought it here to sell.”
“No, Lornsby, the boys! We’ve got to get them out of sight.”
“Oh.” The innkeeper floundered for a moment, and now they could all hear the pounding of hooves on the road outside. Conversation in the dining room ceased as customers looked up from their plates and exchanged nervous glances.
Looking panicked, the innkeeper glanced quickly at the hallway leading to the bedrooms, but shook his head. “That’s the first place they’d look, and the windows don’t open wide enough to get out. The back door’s locked, and no time to go get the key.” As the hoofbeats stopped outside the inn, he raised his voice to address the guests at his tables. “Block the windows and doors, everyone! Delay them!”
Chairs scraped and tables emptied as customers rushed to the windows, crowding against them as though they just wanted to see out. Several men leaned against the front door, and one of them turned the bolt.
“Over here,” the innkeeper exclaimed, gesturing to the space behind the counter where he was standing.
The handle on the front door turned, and when it didn’t open, someone pounded on the wood and shouted, “Open up in the name of Prince Korram!”
The men leaning against the door turned to see if everyone was ready. “Delay them!” Lornsby repeated desperately as Jaymin and Erik hurried around to the entrance at the side of the kitchen and ducked down behind the counter. A heavy, booted foot began to kick at the door.
It wasn’t much of a hiding place, Jaymin thought, squeezing between a sack of onions and a large wheel of cheese as Erik scrunched down between the cheese and a box of apples. The space beneath the counter was full of shelves on which were stacked plates and pots and pans, and beside the large oven across from him stood a bin of firewood, with piles of cooking supplies heaped on the floor around the edges of the little room. But there were no convenient cupboards or empty barrels to hide in, and when he looked up he could see Sir Edmend leaning over the counter, his worried face peering down at them.
“Move!” Erik whispered fiercely, not bothering with manners as he gestured frantically to Sir Edmend, whose face disappeared.
There was a splintering crash and the inn door flew open. “Get out of the way!” a rough Malornian voice shouted, and Jaymin heard tables and chairs being bumped into and cries of “Ow!” and “Do you mind?” and “That was my foot you just stepped on!” as customers were shoved aside.
“You, Innkeeper!” bellowed a loud voice, and Lornsby, standing close enough that Jaymin could have touched his feet, nodded courteously.
“Yes? Can I help you, sirs? Perhaps you’d like to buy a drink, or some supper? Or pay for my door that you just broke?”
“Why was your door locked?” demanded the voice.
“I beg your pardon, sirs; please don’t take it personally,” Lornsby apologized. “It’s just that I’ve heard stories of soldiers barging into places and damaging property or stealing things and hurting people. I’m sure none of you would ever do that,” he added hastily, “but I just thought maybe if I locked the door you might find someplace else to go. Not that you aren’t welcome here, of course. It’s just that – well –” He floundered to a stop. “So, ah, what can I do for you, gentlemen?”
“Have there been any strangers in town in the last few hours?” another Malornian demanded, and Jaymin could hear the scowl in his voice.
“Strangers? Well, no, sir, I don’t think so.”
“What do you mean, you don’t think so? In a village this small, surely it would be obvious.” The soldier addressed the room at large. “Any of you! Tell me if there have been strangers around here today. I command you to tell me now!”
Jaymin’s heart sank. Everyone in the room had seen him, even if they didn’t know who he was. Although they had rallied to delay the soldiers when the innkeeper asked them to, how strong were their loyalties really? Surely one of them would give him away if the Malornians threatened them or offered a reward.
“Yes, eight strangers, Mister,” one of the inn’s customers called out jovially.
“You will address me as Sergeant,” the Malornian replied coldly. “What did they look like, and when did you see them?”
“Well, Sergeant, they were all dressed in black and red, and they had big shiny boots that they wrecked a door with,” the man replied, and Jaymin could hear the grin in his voice. “I’m seein’ ’em right now.”
The room erupted into laughter. “Good one, Bennick,” someone called, and there was a clatter of tin mugs as Bennick’s friends raised their cups in a toast to his wit.
“Will you all shut up your drunken racket?” bellowed the sergeant angrily. “We’re here on serious business.”
“Pour them some ale, why don’t you, Lornsby,” someone else suggested. “You can’t do business without a drink, friends. Here, come and sit down with us.”
Lornsby bent and, with shaking hands, fumbled on a shelf for more cups, careful not to look at Jaymin and Erik as he did so. But before he could start filling them, one of the Malornians strode forward and pounded his fist on the counter right above Jaymin’s head.
“Enough of this foolishness! Answer us, man. We know there’s at least one stranger in town right now. Whose cart is tha
t down by the road?”
Jaymin bit his lip. Of course someone who lived locally wouldn’t leave a cart of food outside an inn.
“The cart is mine, sir,” Sir Edmend interrupted calmly, and they could tell from his voice that he was standing at the other side of the room now. “What exactly is the problem?”
“Yours?” They could hear the man turning to face him. “What’s in it, and what are you doing here with it? How long have you been here? Where did you come from?”
“I’m here to sell my cargo, of course,” Sir Edmend replied matter-of-factly. “Why else would I be parked outside an inn with a load of corn? I arrived earlier this evening.”
“You said you hadn’t seen any strangers today,” the officer accused, stepping back toward the counter.
“Ed here isn’t a stranger,” Lornsby explained with perfect composure. “I do business with him all the time. We’re old friends.”
“You, Cart Man,” put in another Malornian suddenly. “Didn’t I see you in Drall a few hours ago? I’m sure I recognize that cart and the horses.”
“That’s right,” Sir Edmend replied, still calm and unconcerned. “I bought the corn in the marketplace there and brought it here to sell.”
“He came from Drall today,” one of the soldiers murmured significantly. “You didn’t happen to bring any passengers along with you from Drall, did you? Two young boys?”
“As a matter of fact, I did,” Sir Edmend responded, and from under the counter, Jaymin stared at Erik in horror. What was he saying? Was he going to give them away?
“They heard I was coming to Keston, and they asked me for a ride. I have no idea who they were, but they paid me up front in gold, and I’ve got to make a living, after all.”
“Wait a moment.” The Malornian sounded confused. “They paid you in gold? They were rich boys?”
“Well, that was the strange thing.” Sir Edmend’s voice grew thoughtful. “They were dirty and ragged, as though they lived on the street, but one of them had a pocketful of gold coins. And they acted a little oddly, come to think of it. The one boy kept giving the other orders, and the other one obeyed everything he said. It was funny to see someone who looked like a beggar acting that way. But I suppose you just never know with children these days, do you? Maybe it’s something they learn in school.”
The Malornians drew apart and Jaymin could hear them whispering together. He strained his ears, but could only make out bits and pieces.
“… must be him, all right …”
“… with him from the palace …”
“… would have used it before now …”
“… saving it for …”
“I see what’s going on,” Sir Edmend interrupted in the tone of one who has come to a sudden realization. “They’re thieves, aren’t they? The money was stolen – stolen from Malornians. That’s why you’re after them, isn’t it? Was it one of you they robbed? Well, I promise you, I had no idea, or I would never have let them ride with me. I don’t make it a practice to help criminals, I assure you. Here, you can have your gold back. I’m an honest trader; I don’t want any trouble.” There was the clink of coins, and Jaymin was relieved that Sir Edmend apparently really did have some gold with him to back up his story.
“So where are these boys now?” one of the soldiers demanded. “Where did you take them? And I hope for your sake that you really are honest, because if we find out you’re lying, you’ll lose a lot more than a few gold coins.”
“Why, I brought them here, of course. We were all hungry, so we came here for an early supper as soon as we arrived. Ask anyone in the village; I’m sure dozens of people saw us drive up.”
There had indeed been a number of villagers about earlier as their cart had approached the inn. It was wise of Sir Edmend to mix some truth into his story, Jaymin thought, especially when it came to things that could easily be confirmed by witnesses.
“Is that true, Innkeeper?” barked one of the soldiers.
“It certainly is,” Lornsby assured him. “They paid me in gold too, and I served them my best roast pork and potatoes.”
“Prove it, then. Show us your gold,” ordered another soldier.
Lornsby hesitated, and Jaymin’s heart sank as he realized the man must not have any. What would he do now?
“I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t. I haven’t got it anymore,” the innkeeper responded finally.
“Why not?”
“I used it to help pay for the corn my friend Ed here sold me,” Lornsby explained reasonably.
“Let’s see it, then,” the Malornian demanded of Sir Edmend, who also hesitated.
He doesn’t have any more gold, thought Jaymin anxiously. Now what?
“I gave it to the sergeant already, sir.”
“You gave him the gold they paid you. Now hand over the gold they paid the innkeeper.”
“It was all together, sir. I thought that if they had stolen it, I had better return it all at once.”
There was a pause, and Jaymin imagined the soldiers staring doubtfully at Sir Edmend and Lornsby, trying to decide whether to believe them or not.
“Can anyone else confirm their story?” one of the soldiers called out, suspicion in his voice. “Surely some of you must have been in here at the time. Did any of you see these boys?”
“Oh, yes,” came a chorus of agreement, although actually there had been only two or three people in the room when Jaymin and Erik had had their supper.
“They were here, sure enough.”
“Had a good appetite, they did, too.”
“Sat over at that table by the wall.”
“Paid old Lornsby in gold, just like he said.”
“All right, all right,” the soldier cut them off. “So where are these boys now?”
“They left right after they finished eating,” Sir Edmend replied quickly. “They said they had to meet someone outside.”
“One of you must have seen where they went,” exclaimed another Malornian. “We’ll pay three of these gold coins here to anyone who can tell us.”
The silence couldn’t have lasted more than four or five seconds, but to Jaymin, it was an eternity. He and Erik stared at each other, and he knew they were both thinking the same thing. This is the end. One of the customers would tell the soldiers they were right there in the room. Erik would leap from hiding and attack; and Sir Edmend would pull out his sword if he was wearing it beneath his cloak, though more likely it was hidden back in the cart. Jaymin would try to run for the door, but with eight soldiers and at least that many villagers in between, there was no way he would make it. Erik and Sir Edmend might take out three or four or even five of the enemy before they were killed, but then Jaymin would be seized. If he were lucky, they would tie him up and drag him to Almar or wherever Prince Korram was at the moment, claim the reward money, and then Korram would kill him. If he were unlucky, the soldiers would kill him here and now and just take back his body.
“I saw them, Sergeant,” called someone from the other end of the room.
Grimly, Erik shifted position, ready to vault over the counter and spring into action.
Jaymin had a sudden thought. He should just stand up and give himself up without a fight. Of course he would be killed just the same, but then at least his two friends wouldn’t have to die needlessly. He drew a deep breath, and Erik shot him a sharp glance. I’ll have to be quick, Jaymin thought, or he’ll stop me before I can do it.
“I was heading over here to the inn for supper myself,” the man explained from the dining room, “when I saw someone over by the big rocks at the other end of the village.”
Jaymin let out his breath and relaxed again. Maybe no one was about to die after all.
“He had three horses with him,” the man continued, “and he was standing there like he was waiting for someone. Then I saw two boys walking toward him from this direction. When they reached him, they all got on the horses and rode away into the hills.”
At this, a mur
mur arose among the soldiers. Erik used the noise cover to lean forward and whisper, “You’d better not have been thinking what I think you were thinking.”
“Hush,” Jaymin whispered back, avoiding meeting his eyes.
“An accomplice,” exclaimed one of the soldiers excitedly. “I knew it!”
“One of his father’s old servants, maybe,” suggested another. “I told you we’d regret not getting all of them.”
“How long ago was this, and exactly which way did they go?” demanded a third. “Down that road toward the forest?”
“No, sir, I told you, they headed for the hills. The hills in the opposite direction. Nobody in their right mind goes into that forest at nightfall, sir. Trust me; I’ve lived by it all my life. There’s dangerous things in there, even in the daytime. No, they went northwest into the hills, about half an hour ago. That’s all I know.”
“All right, men, let’s go,” barked the sergeant. “Sounds like they aren’t far ahead, and it’s a good clear night for a search. The two thousand gold pieces are as good as ours. You, and you, wait out there to guard the road just in case. The rest of you, follow me.”
There was a rush of footsteps crossing the room, and the broken door was jerked aside with a bang. A moment later they heard hoof beats and the cries of men urging their horses to a rapid gallop. As the sounds faded in the distance, a sullen Malornian voice – outside the inn now, and growing further away as it spoke – could be heard grumbling, “Why us? It’s not fair. I want my share of the reward money too.”
Then someone pushed the door shut, and the voice was cut off.
For a moment there was silence in the inn. Lornsby, still standing just inches from the boys, asked quietly, “Are they really gone? Someone check the windows.”
“They’re gone,” one of the customers replied after a moment. “The two that stayed have headed down to the road.”
Lornsby heaved a huge sigh and mopped his forehead with a dish towel. “That was close.”
He knelt behind the counter so that he was face to face with Jaymin and Erik. “Two thousand gold pieces, eh? You’re worth a lot to them.” He looked closely at Jaymin first, then his gaze flickered briefly to Erik before returning to Jaymin and lingering on him. “I was going to say that since I saved your life, I think you should tell me why they’re after you; but on second thought, you’d better not.” He paused. “I think I can probably guess, anyway. Let me just say that it’s an honor to help you.”
Prince of Alasia (Annals of Alasia Book 1) Page 14