Dash saw him and led a somewhat off-balance Jimmy over to the table. “Join us!” said Roo cheer-fully.
A plump barmaid came by, and Erik indicated a round of ale for the four of them. Dash said, “No, thanks. He’s had enough.”
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waved away the barmaid.
“What brings you out of the palace, young nobles?” asked Roo.
“We needed a change of air,” said Jimmy, his voice edged in bitterness.
Roo glanced at Erik, and Erik said, “Something sounds amiss.”
Dash leaned over, and in conspiratorial tones said, “A woman.”
Erik laughed, and when Jimmy’s expression darkened, put up his hands in supplication. “I make no jest, young Jimmy. It’s just . . . unexpected.”
Roo nodded. “We would have wagered neither of you would ever be seeking solace in an ale jack because of a woman.”
Jimmy said, “It’s not that simple.”
“It never is,” agreed Roo.
Both brothers knew of Roo’s involvement with Sylvia Esterbrook, the daughter of a Keshian agent who had played Roo like a flute, causing him to cheat on his wife, compromise his own business, and the welfare of the Kingdom. He had been, by all reports, a model husband since then, but they understood his lessons had been hard-learned.
“So who’s the girl?” asked Erik.
“The Duke of Silden’s daughter,” replied Dash.
“Ah,” said Erik, as if he understood. “She’s not interested, or . . . otherwise engaged?”
Dash looked around the room, “The latter, but it’s not widely known.”
Erik apparently understood the context of the remark. He stood up. “I’ve got to return to the castle.” He turned toward Roo and said, “Give my best to Karli. And the children.”
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“And my affections to Kitty,” returned Roo.
After he had left, Roo said, “I should be getting along, too. I’ve got a lot to do in the morning. I’ve got a shipment of wagons bringing grain for Nakor’s temple due in at first light.”
Jimmy said, “I haven’t seen Nakor since Pug stormed out of Patrick’s court. Where is he?”
“He’s smart enough to know when to get out of sight,” answered Roo. “He’s been down at his temple the last couple of days.”
Roo nodded. “I have on more than one occasion felt like sleeping anywhere but at home. I understand. If you need, come by the house. We have room if you don’t mind sleeping under a wagon.” He laughed. “Well, young lords, good night.”
The barmaid came by again and said, “Would you like something before we close for the night, young sirs?”
Dash said, “Thank you, but no. We’ll be on our way.”
Jimmy said, “I’m not going back to the palace.”
“Fine,” said Dash. “But at least let’s walk some, so you can pass out in a more agreeable place.”
Jimmy’s expression brightened. “I know! Let’s go see Nakor!”
For lack of any better suggestion, Dash agreed.
The two brothers left the tavern, and Dash kept one hand on Jimmy’s arm, half-guiding, half-supporting as he stumbled along.
Jimmy groaned. His head pounded and his eyes felt as if they were glued shut. His mouth tasted as if someone had tossed in table scraps a week earlier and left them to ripen.
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“Would you like some water?”
Jimmy forced his eyes open and instantly wished he hadn’t, as the pounding in his head increased in intensity. Hovering over him was a woman’s face, and as his eyes focused, he saw the rest of her swim into shape. He lifted his head and got his right arm under himself and reached out with his left hand.
She placed a water cup in it and he drank.
Suddenly he knew it was a bad idea: his heart began to thunder and his skin flushed, and perspiration began to bead on his brow. He knew he was experiencing the worst hangover of his life, and eventually the water would be necessary, so he forced himself to drain the cup. “Thanks,” he said in a hoarse whisper, handing the cup back.
“Your brother’s in there,” she said, pointing to the office Nakor used as his personal quarters when staying at the temple.
“Do I know you?” croaked Jimmy.
“I don’t think so,” said the young woman, with a faint smile. “I know you, however. You’re the Duke—the old Duke’s grandson, aren’t you?”
Jimmy nodded. “James, son of Duke Arutha, and yes, Lord James was my grandfather. They call me Jimmy.”
“You can call me Aleta.” She studied his face. “A woman?”
He nodded. “I guess.”
Glancing him over, she observed, “Well, you’re not much to look at now, but I’ve seen you in a couple of the taverns I’ve worked, and when you’re not drunk or hung over, you’re not a bad-looking fellow.
I don’t expect you hear ‘no’ very often.”
“It’s not that,” he said, rising slowly. “I just found 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 229
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out she’s marrying someone else.”
“Ah,” said Aleta, as if she understood. “Does she know?”
“What?”
“That you’re killing yourself with ale over her?”
“No. We were friends as children . . .” He squinted at her. “Why am I telling you this?”
She smiled. “Because you need to?”
He took another drink of water. “Thank you. I think I’ll see what my brother is doing.”
He walked on shaky legs through a warehouse bustling with activity. When he was almost to the door of Nakor’s office, the large outer doors to the warehouse swung open and filled it with light.
Jimmy turned to see a wagon being driven up to and then into the entrance, with other wagons behind it.
The door to the office opened behind Jimmy, and Nakor came rushing out. “Roo!” he shouted as he passed Jimmy. “You’re here with the food!”
Dash followed and stopped next to his brother.
“Are you alive?”
“Barely,” croaked Jimmy. “What happened?”
“You attempted to drown yourself in ale. You failed.”
“I know, but how did we get here?”
“Father sent me after you and told me to get you drunk and in the arms of a tavern wench.”
“Seems you succeeded with half the order.”
“Well, there were a couple of ladies willing to accommodate, but you seemed in no mood.”
“I’m a mess,” said Jimmy. “I don’t really know how I feel about all this.”
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in who we wed. With Father being Duke of Krondor, it’s too important we wed for the good of the state.”
“I know, but I feel so . . .”
“What?”
Jimmy sighed. “I don’t know.”
“It isn’t about Francie, you know,” said Dash.
“No?”
“No,” said Dash. “If she’s the Queen there’s nothing to keep the two of you apart; the Gods know the court is well practiced in looking the other way. No, it’s something else. It’s about you and what you really want.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t think I do, really, but it’s about you.” He looked at the wagon. “I still half expect to see Jason on one of those wagons,” Dash said reflectively.
Jason had been an employee of Rupert’s Bitter Sea Company when Dash had served there, and had been fee
ding information to Rupert’s rival, Jacob Esterbrook, because of his misguided love for Jacob’s daughter. He had died in the war.
As the first wagon entered the warehouse, Jimmy said, “Tell me, who’s that girl?”
“Which one?” Dash asked.
“That one over there, who gave me water. She said her name was Aleta.”
“Then you know more of her than I,” said Dash.
“Why don’t you ask Nakor.”
“There’s something odd about her. Nice, but odd.”
Dash said, “There’s Luis!” He hurried past Jimmy to the second wagon, where Luis de Savona sat next to a woman Dash didn’t recognize. Luis jumped down, and Dash said, “Luis! It’s good to see 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 231
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you again.”
Luis shook hands with Dash and said, “It’s good to see you again, young Mr. Jamison. I was grieved to learn of your grandparents’ death.” Luis had spent the winter in Salador, overseeing Roo’s holdings in the East while Roo had worked in Darkmoor.
Dash said, “I appreciate that.” He then noticed the woman as she climbed down off the wagon. “Mrs.
Avery?” he said in wonder.
Karli Avery had been a plain-looking, pale and plump woman. The woman who was stepping before him was slender, tanned, and while still not pretty, had an alive, expressive face that commanded attention. “Dash!” she said, taking his hands and kissing his cheek. “How are you?”
“I’m just fine, Mrs. Avery, but you . . . you look so different!”
She laughed. “There’s been a great deal of work and not much food all winter. Loading and unloading wagons, learning to drive them, caring for the children. Spending days in the sun; it all changes a person.”
“Quite so,” observed Dash. Jimmy approached, and Dash said, “You remember my brother, don’t you?”
Both said hello to Jimmy, and Dash said, “What of the children, and Mrs. Jacoby?”
“All back in Salador, under Helen’s care,” said Karli, “only it’s no longer Mrs. Jacoby. She’s Mrs. de Savona now.”
Dash laughed and playfully struck Luis in the arm. “You got married!”
Roo walked over with Nakor at his side. “He most certainly did.”
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Nakor congratulated his old companion, and said,
“I hope you’re at last happy.”
Luis smiled. “As happy as I’m likely to be, you odd little man.”
“That will have to do,” said Nakor. To Roo he said, “Did you get my grain and my statue maker?”
Roo said, “I haven’t found the sculptor yet, but here’s your grain.”
“Did the wagon makers prove useful?” asked Nakor as he began inspecting the contents of the two wagons. Other wagons were arriving outside.
Roo said, “Very. I’m of a mind to be early into Krondor; there may be a very large number of skilled artisans and craftsmen among the invaders. If I can recruit them . . .”
Jimmy and Dash exchanged glances. Jimmy asked, “How do you know they’ll be free to work, considering there’s a war going on?”
Roo laughed. “I’m not without my sources, and I knew Patrick was going to cut a deal with Duko about an hour after you did.”
“Sources?”
“Your father,” said Roo, laughing. “He’s not quite as evil-minded as your grandfather, but your father is no slouch when it comes to making sure he has all his resources ready. Besides, I’m the largest single debt-holder on the Royal Treasury, so he has to keep me apprised of what’s going on.”
Jimmy said, “Well, then, I expect you’ll recover your losses before you’re through.”
Nakor said, “If he doesn’t get himself killed first.”
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can bet. From now on I’m a conservative family man, a businessman who will stay home and look after his holdings.”
From nearby another voice said, “After we take care of a little job.”
All eyes turned to see Erik von Darkmoor standing nearby. “I came looking for all of you; how con-venient I find all of you together.” To Dash and Jimmy, he said, “Report to your father, now, gentlemen.”
The brothers didn’t hesitate, and started for the door. As Jimmy passed the young woman who gave him water, he said, “Thanks again.”
She nodded and smiled and said nothing.
Erik turned to Nakor. “Can you reach Brother Dominic?”
Nakor nodded. “He’s due back from Rillanon, soon. He’s supposed to be bringing me word as to the Temple of Ishap’s willingness to support our efforts here. I suspect he is either in Salador or on the road from Salador to here.”
“I’ll send a patrol eastward, looking for him. If he somehow gets here before they find him, please let Duke Arutha know.”
Nakor nodded, “Why, if I may ask?”
“You can ask,” said Erik. “I can’t answer. You’ll have to ask Duke Arutha.”
Nakor said, “I might.”
To Roo, Erik said, “I need to speak with you.” He glanced at Luis and Karli, saying, “Excuse me, please.”
He led Roo to a distant corner of the warehouse-turned-temple, and when they were alone, he said,
“Who do you have still working for you in Sarth?”
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Roo asked, “What makes you think I have anyone working for me in Sarth?”
Erik said, “Roo, it’s me you’re talking to. Now, who do you have still working for you in Sarth?”
Roo said, “John Vinci. He acts as an independent trader, he specializes in bringing in contraband from Queg. That’s why it’s not widely known he works for me.”
“Good. We need to visit with him.”
“What?” said Roo. “We? Visit?”
Erik said, “We need to see how things are in Sarth before we turn northward. We need to come back with a detailed report before Owen takes the army and moves to crush Nordan in Sarth. We’ve sent scouts around the area, and most of them have come back, but we can’t tell how strong the deployment is inside the town. We need to get inside and look around.”
Roo looked his boyhood friend in the eye, and said, “When you say ‘we,’ you’re speaking of the Kingdom army, right?”
“No, I mean you and I need to get in there and scout.”
Roo said, “No!”
“You must,” said Erik. “You’re the only man we know who has a plausible enough story that can get us into Sarth without getting our throats cut.”
“What story?”
“You’re a well-known Kingdom merchant who has openly traded with Queg and the Free Cities.
You’re reputed to put a profit above everything else.
If you were to sneak into Sarth—especially with your friend Vinci ready to corroborate your story—even if we get apprehended, you’ll be convincing in 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 235
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your role as the greedy merchant anxious to set up trade before his competition does.”
“We?”
“I’m going, too,” said Erik.
Roo still looked unconvinced. “So you’ll be standing beside me on the gibbet again? Only this time there won’t be any Bobby de Longville to haul us to our feet and explain we’re being reprieved to serve the crown.
“No, thank you. I’ve done my service and been pardoned for my crimes.”
“You want to see any of the money the crown owes you, ever again?”
“It’s my most ardent hope.”
“Then I’d consider this, Roo.”
He glanced
around. “This isn’t the place to talk.
Come to the castle tonight and seek me out in my quarters. I’ll explain more then.”
Roo said, “For the sake of our friendship, I will, but I’m not going on any more stone-headed missions, Erik.”
The smuggler’s boat sailed silently up the coast, hugging as close inshore as possible, without shoaling out on the reefs which dotted the shoreline between Krondor and Ylith.
Roo and Erik had ridden to within a half-day’s walk of the coast, just beyond a checkpoint Duko had established, and escort riders had taken the horses back to Owen Greylock’s forward position. An unofficial channel of communication was already in operation, and even though few outside of the Prince’s immediate circle knew of the coming change in loyalties on Duke Duko’s part, there were 52893_~1.QXD 8/30/2002 10:02 AM Page 236
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rumors of change in the wind.
Most of them planted by Duke Arutha’s agents.
The current one being carefully fostered was that the Kingdom couldn’t mount an offensive this year against the invaders in the North, due in the main to Kesh’s threatening presence on their southern flank.
Additionally, it was rumored, the Prince would be leaving soon for the East, to get married in the royal palace at Rillanon, leaving the command in the West to Owen Greylock, with express orders to hold where they were, defend where necessary, but to seek no offensive.
Roo had been astonished by the scope of the deception. He had been told by Erik that Arutha’s agents were already in Krondor, quietly undertaking the transfer of power, with as little fanfare as possible. It was Erik’s passionate hope that by the time the Armies of the West were ready to redeploy, not only would the enemy be taken by surprise, but they would have been lulled into a state of complacency.
A crewman whispered, “We’re nearly there. Get ready.”
Roo said, “Are you sure this is necessary?”
“Absolutely,” said Erik.
The Captain ordered sail lowered and a small boat was put over the side. Neither Erik nor Roo were sailors, but Erik felt competent enough to row a boat into a quiet fishing village without calling too much attention to themselves.
The boat was lowered and Erik and Roo shim-mied down ropes to get into the skiff, and by the time Erik had the oars in the oarlocks, the smuggler had his sails up and was putting out toward deeper water.
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