“Then you should be able to show me.” Beltur sat down in the wooden armchair. “Raise a full shield. This time, make the order binding around the chaos knots stronger than before.”
“That’s hard.”
“It is. That’s why only very good mages can do it and hold shields like that all the time.”
“Am I a good mage?”
“You’re a very good mage for your age. But that doesn’t count if you run into a nasty mage who’s older and stronger. That’s why we’re working on making you a better mage.”
Beltur watched as she built the shield, noting that her order knots were slightly larger, and certainly her shield was far better than his had been when he’d been close to twice her age. “That’s good. Now … I’m going to hit at it with an order probe. You hold it as long as you can.”
“Yes, Uncle Beltur.”
Beltur’s first probe was light, and made no impression on Taelya. The second was harder, but Taelya’s shield still held. Rather than increase the force of the probe, Beltur just kept hitting with the same force, so that she’d get a sense of what a continual attack was like. He watched her and tried to sense just how much strength she had left.
Abruptly, her shield collapsed.
“I just couldn’t hold it any longer.”
“You did just fine. Take two deep breaths. Now, put your shield back together.”
“Right now?”
“Now. Whatever shield you can put together, but get a shield around yourself.”
The shield wasn’t quite as strong as the first, but it was complete.
“Now … just hold it. I won’t bang on it. I just want you to keep holding it. This kind of practice makes you stronger.”
Surprisingly, Taelya held the shield for almost a quint before it collapsed. Her face was sweaty, and she was breathing heavily.
“That was excellent. We’re done for today. Go tell your mother that you get a treat.”
“I was good, wasn’t I?”
“You were,” Beltur admitted.
As Taelya left the room, Jessyla came in from the kitchen and sat down on the bench. “I was doing what you had her do, except you weren’t beating on my shield. That’s still hard.”
“It has to be hard, or you don’t get better.”
“For her age…”
“She’s very talented. That’s why she’ll need the strongest shields she can develop.”
“Because she’s still a girl?”
Beltur nodded. “You’ll need stronger shields, also.”
“I know.”
“I found out something interesting today.” Beltur offered a rueful smile.
“Interesting in a way I won’t like, I think, from your expression.”
“You know how Jorhan’s been having trouble getting copper?”
“Don’t tell me that he’s not.”
“A factor named Stahlyn showed up yesterday afternoon and offered him ten stones’ worth of copper and one of tin, at a decent price. He had the metals in his wagon.”
“It sounds like Naerkaal and the Council want us out of Axalt.”
“It does look that way. So we cast a dagger, a sabre, and a pair of candelabra today. Jorhan will work on finishing them tomorrow.”
“Does that mean more silvers?”
“Not until they’re sold.”
“But we won’t be here.”
“Jorhan insists I’ll get my share, whatever it takes. He’s been more than fair. He’s given more than he promised all along.”
“But … how will he manage that?”
“Through Ryntaar, or Frankyr, probably, since Ryntaar might be in Elparta by then. The merchants have arrangements with other merchants. He’ll likely send a bill of disbursement to a merchant wherever we end up, and a copy to me, and then I’ll collect it from that merchant.”
“Anywhere in Candar?”
“Well … I don’t know about the Great Forest…” Beltur grinned.
Jessyla shook her head.
Beltur just enjoyed looking at her.
LXXVI
The light snow ended well before dawn on fourday morning, and the workhouse crews had the main streets largely clear by the time that Beltur walked from the stables to the healing house, where Elisa informed him that Herrara wouldn’t be returning until early afternoon.
Hoping that he wouldn’t be faced with some injury that required immediate surgery, Beltur went to work checking on patients.
As he had anticipated, more wound chaos had developed in Boissaen’s shoulder and in places in his arms, but not so much that Beltur couldn’t deal with it. The older serving maid had developed additional yellowish-red chaos around the broken bone in her leg, and Beltur spent almost two quints dealing with that. On the other hand, Klaznyt’s hands were healing better and faster than Beltur could have hoped for.
The only person who showed up in the welcoming room was a mother with an eight-year-old boy who had an ugly sore filled with pus and chaos. Beltur cleaned the sore and removed the chaos and applied a clean dressing.
Herrara didn’t return until first glass in the afternoon, but the remainder of the day was relatively quiet, with only two more people showing up, one a young man from a workhouse shoveling crew with two broken fingers, whose supervisor hadn’t believed they were broken, the other an older woman with an ulcerated leg.
On fiveday, Beltur worked on more blades and another pair of candelabra, while nothing of note occurred at the healing house on sixday. Before Beltur knew it, he was leaving the healing house at fourth glass on eightday, heading back to the cot before going to Johlana’s for dinner with Jessyla, an invitation that also included Lhadoraak, Tulya, and Taelya.
The five arrived at the side door of the house at half past the glass, where Frankyr met them and ushered them inside and then into the family parlor, where Jorhan and Johlana were talking with Eshult and Halhana.
Ryntaar stood by the sidebar, smiling. “A pale ale for you, Beltur, and mulled wine?” he asked as he looked to Jessyla.
“Please.”
In what seemed moments, everyone was seated with a beverage in hand, including Taelya, who had a small tumbler of pearapple cider.
“Hard to believe that we’ve only got another eightday of winter,” said Jorhan.
“Not that all the snow’s going to melt overnight nine days from now,” said Eshult, with a smile. “We’ll still have snows, just not nearly as often.”
“How long is it usually before the roads are clear enough for safe travel?” asked Lhadoraak.
“Travel now is safe,” replied Eshult. “It’s just cold and takes longer.” He hesitated, then added, “It’s safe within Axalt, and there aren’t many brigands in Certis at any time. The Viscount’s men patrol the main roads. If they catch brigands, I understand most of them are killed trying to escape.”
“Even if they haven’t tried to escape,” added Ryntaar.
“They usually leave traders and merchants alone. That’s why it’s a good idea for most travelers to accompany traders.”
“Do you know of any traders who might be leaving in early spring?” asked Lhadoraak.
Eshult and Ryntaar exchanged questioning glances.
Finally, Eshult said, “Not right at the moment. It’s likely some will start talking about their plans in the next eightday.”
“We’d be interested,” said Beltur.
“So soon?” asked Johlana.
“It’s better that way,” replied Beltur. “That is, given how things stand with the Council.”
“We could use a new Council,” murmured Frankyr.
“It wouldn’t change things much,” said Eshult, “not if my uncle stays on it.”
“If he doesn’t,” said Beltur, “it could be worse.”
Almost everyone in the parlor looked at Beltur as if he’d lost his mind.
“All of you know that I don’t care much for Sarstaan,” Beltur finally said. “But there’s something most of you don’t know. He has his perso
nal healer attend every Council meeting.”
“Is he that ill?” asked Halhana.
“No. She’s a fairly strong black healer. That means she can tell when councilors aren’t telling the truth. The entire Council knows this.”
Eshult’s mouth dropped.
“Think about it,” said Beltur. “He knows if anyone lies in the public meetings. I imagine he’s very good at asking questions in public that would show if a councilor lied in a closed meeting. I also imagine she’s placed where she can overhear what others say to him in his factorage.”
“You’re saying the Council is less deceptive than it might otherwise be?” asked Eshult.
“That’s only my surmise. But it might work the other way as well. If Sarstaan went too far, someone might bring up the matter, and the others might suggest to other traders that he has an unfair advantage in trading.” The more Beltur thought about it, the more confused he got, because he could see so many ways of using that situation, on both sides.
“He never mentioned that, so far as I know,” mused Eshult.
“Not all healers can tell that,” said Jessyla.
“Only the very good ones, I’d guess,” added Beltur.
Eshult offered an amused smile. “I’m seeing another reason why the Council is not so favorably disposed to your remaining in Axalt.”
“Why is that?” asked Halhana. “Because more and more that they want hidden might be revealed?”
“That’s one reason. I’m sure I could think of others if I tried.”
“We’ve heard enough of all that … and about the Council,” said Johlana, turning toward Beltur. “Do you all know where you’re going?”
“Our plan is to go to Montgren, Vergren at first. A number of people suggested it’s more favorable to mages and healers, and there is one trader who said to get in touch with him if we do go there.”
“That fellow Vaenturl, right?” asked Jorhan. “He seemed pretty solid. Did wonder what he was trading, though. Seemed like he had one of everything.”
Beltur hadn’t noticed that, but then, he’d had a few other matters on his mind at the time. “He even told us how to find him.”
“That’s good,” said Eshult. “Vergren’s not a large city, not like Elparta or Fenard or Jellico, but it’s not small, either.”
“He was honest,” added Jessyla.
“You could do worse than honest.” Jorhan looked to Lhadoraak. “You haven’t said much. What do you think?”
“We’ll do better together. I hope we can find someplace that suits us…” The blond mage grinned. “And isn’t too cold.”
“Herrara will be sad to see both of you go,” said Johlana. “She came by and told me so.”
“She’ll be sad to see you go?” groused Jorhan. “Not so much as I will.”
“Don’t complain too much,” said Johlana, “or I’ll send you after them.”
Beltur wasn’t sure, but he thought he sensed a little something more than good-natured joking behind Johlana’s words, but he couldn’t tell what that might have been.
Jorhan mock-glared at his sister. “The only way you’ll get me out of Axalt is to drag me all the way.”
“Don’t tempt me,” replied Johlana with mock sweetness.
“Women…” said Lhadoraak, breaking off his words as Tulya looked at him.
“Sometimes … we really should listen to women,” said Eshult, adding quickly, “The right women, that is.”
“I am glad you said those last words,” said Halhana.
“I’m learning,” replied Eshult. “Growing up, I didn’t have the advantage of a sister close to my age.”
“Advantage?” asked Frankyr.
“It is, Brother dear,” rejoined Halhana. “By the way, I heard that Lyseana has visited the factorage several times in the last eightday.” A knowing smile followed her words.
“Lyseana?” asked Ryntaar. “Trader Lyandyr’s daughter?”
“She just came to offer her condolences,” replied Frankyr.
“Three times?” Halhana raised her eyebrows.
Frankyr flushed.
Chuckles and smiles filled the parlor.
“On that happy note,” said Johlana, “it’s time for dinner.” She rose from her chair.
As Beltur stood, he had the feeling that both the dinner and the conversation would be enjoyable.
They were.
LXXVII
The first thing Beltur noticed when he left the stable on his walk to south town on oneday morning was that not only was the sky a deep clear green-blue, but he could feel actual warmth radiating from the white sun. A sign of spring approaching or just a momentary burst of warmth?
When he reached the smithy, he loaded more coal into the forge and worked with the bellows for a time to get the fire ready for the melt. Once Jorhan had poured the bronze into the mold for another sabre, and Beltur had eased the order/chaos mesh-like net into the hot metal, he turned to Jorhan.
“We’re going to need two more horses, possibly three, and if we’re to leave Axalt by early spring, I need to find them. After we finish here today, I was thinking I’d stop by the factorage and ask Ryntaar if he has any ideas about who might have some mounts for sale.”
“I can help with one of those. I’d be happy to let you have my second horse, the mare I bought to come to Axalt. It’s no favor to her to have her mostly in the stable, and I’m not going to need more than one horse. Barrynt was paying for her feed, and that will be a bit less for the family to handle. She’s gentle enough for anyone, even little Taelya.”
“Are you sure? You paid good silvers for her.”
“Tell you what. I’ll deduct what she cost me from what I owe you. Fair’s fair. Besides, you need another horse, and I don’t.”
Beltur couldn’t argue with what Jorhan said. “Thank you.”
“Once you’ve got that sabre set,” said Jorhan, “I thought we’d do a pair of candelabra. After they’re done, you can go talk to Ryntaar. He’ll know someone.”
The sabre seemed to take longer than Beltur had anticipated, but that had to have been in his imagination, because he finished setting the order/chaos net in each candelabrum only a quint or so after third glass. After that, he left the smithy.
The sun was still shining out of a clear sky, and Beltur could see traces of moisture at the foot of the snow piled back from the stone edges of the road. Maybe spring will actually come.
As he neared the factorage, Beltur looked up, taking in the signboard. He still wondered about the reason for the name, but realized he’d never actually asked Barrynt. Once inside, since he didn’t see Ryntaar immediately, he walked toward the back of the building.
Ryntaar looked slightly surprised as Beltur walked toward him. “Ser … is anything wrong?”
“I hope not.” Beltur smiled. “I just wanted your thoughts on something. We’re going to have to be leaving in a few eightdays, and we’ll need some more horses, for Lhadoraak and his family. Jorhan’s selling me one of his horses, the mare. He says that one horse is enough for him … and that way you’ll have to buy less grain and fodder.”
“Uncle Jorhan worries about being a burden.” Ryntaar shook his head. “I can see that he might not want to worry about another horse, but the fodder wouldn’t have been a problem.”
“I know that,” replied Beltur, “but it does make matters a little easier for us. I was wondering if you know anyone who deals in horses who’s trustworthy or who might have another two or three mounts for sale.”
“I can certainly ask around and let you know.”
“I’d appreciate that. There’s one other thing. We’re planning on heading out to Corumtal, then going through Rytel on the way to Vergren. Would you know any factors or merchants in those places who might also be trustworthy?”
“Let me think about that. I can also check the bills of disbursement to see the houses with whom Father dealt most often.”
“I don’t know that we’d even call on them,
but it can’t hurt to know names.”
“I can see that, ser.” Ryntaar paused. “I could also give you a letter of disbursement for a small amount … in case of unforeseen circumstances. That might help, even if you don’t need to use it.”
“You’re very kind. Let me think about that.”
“I’ll let you know what I find out about the horses.”
“Thank you.”
When Beltur reached the cot, because it was still before fourth glass, Jessyla hadn’t yet arrived, but Lhadoraak and Taelya were in the front room, where Lhadoraak was working with Taelya on her letters, using a small slate and a piece of chalk.
The blond mage looked up. “Do you have a moment after I finish this bit with Taelya?”
“I do.” Beltur suspected he knew what Lhadoraak had in mind, since they had not talked about their departure from Axalt after returning from Johlana’s the night before.
“I’ll fix some bread and cheese for Taelya in the kitchen,” added Tulya, from the doorway to the kitchen.
“Is there anything else, Mother?” asked Taelya, not quite plaintively.
“Not until dinner. You don’t have to have bread and cheese, but that’s all there is.”
“Then I’d like the bread and cheese, please.”
Once Taelya was settled in the kitchen, the three adults settled around the hearth, heaped with coals on the kitchen side for the stew that Tulya was fixing for supper.
“You had something in mind,” prompted Beltur, smiling easily.
“You know very well,” replied Lhadoraak, with a smile far more rueful than that of Beltur. “Just how are we going to manage this travel?”
“We’ll accompany suitable merchants, or go by ourselves, if necessary, as soon as it’s practicable.”
“We’re not equipped, not really … I mean Tulya, Taelya, and I…”
“I know that. Jorhan’s selling me one of his horses, the mare. She’s gentle enough for Taelya. He only bought her to come to Axalt. Ryntaar’s looking for three more horses for us. That’s a mount apiece, plus a second packhorse, or a spare mount. Taelya’s light enough that the mare can carry extra, most likely fodder and grain for the time it takes to get to Corumtal.”
“Beltur … we can’t afford horses.”
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