Idressin looked grimly at the pair in front of him. "Rass had found them first and forced them to show him the ship where Caldar was held. They couldn't describe Rass well, but it was enough."
"So did Rass find him?" Berin asked, and with foreboding Tariska added, "Where are they? Where's Caldar now? And where's Rass?"
"They're both on board a ship that sailed half an hour before dawn. By the time I reached the quayside it was well out in the bay, lining up to catch the ebb-tide through the narrows. It will be far out to sea now."
"Where's the ship going?" queried Berin. "Is it far?"
"Apparently the captain's a man called Dazzak who runs cargo between Razimir and the ports in southern Belugor. That's a long way and the opinion was he wouldn't be back here for at least three months, maybe even more, because he and most of his crew come from down there."
"Can you help them?" This time it was Tariska asking, a little wildly. "You and the Tinker used it before, that double thing. Even Caldar did it once. Can't you just go and help? Or even just go and watch over them?"
"No, I can't. The second body is moved by the forces of a different world: it doesn’t readily answer to the demands of our everyday life. On the Lake there was a very powerful pull being exerted from Caldar's end: otherwise we couldn’t have found him so quickly. I've already searched for any signal coming from Caldar or Rass, and there's nothing. For the moment they're on their own."
"Then let's follow them by sea." The girl was excited by her own idea. "Hire a fast boat and go after them straight away. We know they're going south."
"Calm down, Tikka. The first ebb-tide we could catch with a hired boat would be tomorrow morning; no captain would go out into the reefs off Razimir on the night tide. Besides the sea's a much bigger space than you imagine, there are no roads to follow. They say Dazzak has a fast ship and starting a day behind we might not come on him in months of searching up and down the coast."
Glancing at the girl's stricken face, he continued, "Take heart. At least Rasscu's with him and that makes things a lot more hopeful than they were yesterday. Meanwhile we have to deal with the situation as it is. Even if all goes well and Rass and Caldar return to Razimir on board that ship in three months time, our little group will be missing two important people when the Talisman appears in Karkor."
Tariska's face tightened as she asked the tutor incredulously, "That’s all you’re bothered about? Finding the Talisman? They might be in real danger out there, they might never come back. What does it matter if they're late? As long as they get back safe, who cares how long it takes?"
"They’ll care." He held up a hand to cut off another rush of words from the girl. "Listen, Tikka, none of us came on this journey by chance. For us all the arrival of this Talisman will be one of the most significant events in our whole lives. If we’re not there in time, if we fail to make contact with it, our loss will be bitterer than you can imagine. The whole world will pay if we don’t find it, but so will we, and that includes Rass and Caldar too."
"Then what can we do?"
Idressin smiled at the girl who glared back at him.
"Directly to help them, nothing. The best thing we can do is to continue our journey, go to Karkor. If Rass and Caldar arrive before the Talisman, well and good. If not," he shrugged, "at least some of us will be in Karkor when the event takes place and we'll do what we can. We’ll be no use at all here in Razimir."
The young pair regarded him with troubled faces.
"How are you so sure of when the Talisman is coming?" Berin queried. "You said Master Dzar only gave you a rough idea."
"The Tinker left me a message here, which tells us the actual day or near enough. D'you want to hear it?"
A couple of nods affirmed their interest, if not their enthusiasm. "Well, it was written in a kind of code, so I'll translate it for you. He's found out that the Talisman is due to arrive ‘under the waters of Sisme’, just as Master Dzar said, and it’ll be during the Spring Festival, sometime before the Day of Atonement. It was all in a prophecy in some very old records he found in Karkor University.”
"He's already in Karkor, then?" Berin asked.
"He's been there, Berin, while we were in Dendria. It took him a long time to go through the old documents he came across; now he's gone off again, 'to get help' he said. He warns that things are bad in the capital, soldiers and police everywhere. People are scared and edgy and turning their resentments onto foreigners."
"Did the prophecy say whether we’re going to succeed? I mean, will we get to the Talisman in time?"
"No, prophecies don't tend to be as clear as that. The prophet knew that a great event is going to take place, the appearance of the Talisman. It's being inserted into our world from outside, as if two worlds are going to touch at this point. After that the laws of our own world take over and things become more complicated. Fanning out from that one unique moment are a myriad of possible futures, which multiply and become more uncertain at every step. For the Guardian to encounter the Talisman, many things will have to happen, some of them in our hands and some not."
At that moment, as if at a signal, the Empress entered from the passage-way, followed by two waiters bearing a rich selection of food.
"Put it down over there, Kromzi. Thank you. I've had a nice big meal brought up for you all from the restaurant. A'Delzir told me the bad news this morning, and I find that a good meal's not a bad way to face a tough day. You may think you're not hungry, but just try it. Come on, I'll join you."
She was right, of course, as youthful appetites gradually reasserted themselves. During the meal the tutor questioned her closely on all that she could tell them about Karkor and the situation at the Emperor's court.
At one point she startled the young pair when she mentioned the Talisman, saying, "I still think you're mad to go to Karkor to search for this Talisman, especially when some of you are missing."
Catching Berin's surprised expression, she explained, "Yes, he's told me what you're trying to do. I wouldn't worry too much about the secret getting out, no one's going to believe a word of it. In a way the whole Ajeddak religion’s based on the Talisman legend; the Ajeddak Stone's just supposed to be an updated version of it. But the original Talisman itself, it's just a symbol to most people, something from so long ago not even the priests bother about it any more. I’ve got used to A’Delzir’s mad ideas by now, but how can you two can be so committed to something that sounds like pure moonshine?”
She stared at them as they hesitated, "D'you mean you've let yourselves be dragged halfway across the world, into all kinds of danger, and you don’t even believe this Talisman stuff yourselves?"
"I didn't say I didn't believe it," Tariska replied, her doubts clear in her voice.
When she stopped, Berin went on, "It's just that we're not sure. We trust Idressin and the Tinker, but it's so big . . ." he groped for words, "I don't see how we're ever going to be sure until the whole thing actually happens."
The Empress gave Idressin a searching look. "I hope you'll protect your innocents. This kind of trust isn’t easy to repay."
The tutor sighed. "Everyone persists in looking at this the wrong way round. The whole affair is their business, not mine. Look, I have an idea. We three are going off now to see S’Bissi about our journey to the capital. Why don't we all have dinner in the restaurant tonight? We've skulked around long enough. Let's try the best the Glasshouse has to offer."
The Empress eyed him with something approaching disdain. "I said you were mad to go to Karkor. To proclaim your presence here openly and then go is not madness, it's suicide. They know you're here of course, but a public appearance among Razimir's high society will get them really agitated. D’you know the meaning of all those fancy flowers people are wearing on their lapels? Purple to declare support for the Emperor, yellow for Malefor and the FMP, blue for the moderates. The city’s a beehive, waiting to be kicked over. What are you up to, A'Delzir? Don't tell me you actually are trying to
rally support after all?"
"No, Henba, it's alright, I won't do anything to upset the spies and I don't think anyone else is going to recognize me. Let's just have a meal to remember before we depart. I'll leave the arrangements up to you."
By now disdain had turned to suspicion. "Why do I have a funny feeling you're not telling us everything? Alright. Two hours after sunset. I'll come up and collect you."
S’Bissi had taken up residence at the house of a business associate near the Street of the Diamond Merchants. It was an even more exclusive part of town than the quarter where the Silk merchants lived, and the utmost luxury was exactly what the plump trader revelled in. He was reclining on a huge heap of cushions, holding a conversation with his host, when G'Shenni showed in his three visitors. There was no question that he was genuinely glad to see them as he bounced to his feet, his round face filled with an instantaneous huge smile. Not so the graver, more formal diamond merchant who owned this sumptuous house; he was cool with Berin and Tariska and seemed frozen into immobility when he came face to face with Idressin.
"I am charmed to make the acquaintance of so famous a citizen," the tutor said seriously, then continued with a twinkle in his eye, "It's heartening to see that a man who bears such heavy responsibilities can still retain his boyish vigour and sense of fun."
Then taking the dumbstruck man by the elbow he steered him down the room for a moment of private conversation, which quite transformed the grey-haired merchant's manner into one of almost ingratiating friendship.
"What on earth did you do to old Flint Ferrikin?" S’Bissi asked with obvious curiosity, when the older man had left. "I've never seen him so cordial with anyone whom he wasn't about to swindle out of a fortune."
Idressin laughed. "I had occasion to search the Glasshouse two nights ago. I was careful about it, but I also had to be quick and I interrupted one or two prominent citizens who were 'relaxing' on the third floor in most unusual ways. Your host was one of them, and he’s not going to forget in a hurry that I came face to face with him at one of his wildest moments."
The tutor shook his head in mock amazement before continuing. "I would never have believed it. I'll have more respect for dry-looking diamond merchants in future. And no," he held up an admonishing finger at the young pair, who watched him round-eyed, "I'm not going to tell you about it. I promised the gentleman that his secret was safe with me."
"I've always thought that the third floor could be the most profitable part of your little enterprise," S’Bissi commented. "I'm sure it does very well in cash terms, but the potential for follow-on profits is quite mouth-watering."
"Blackmail is no part of our purpose," the tutor said piously. "We'd lose our most valuable customers overnight."
"Yes, the Tinker always said that the first floor was for display, the second for profit, and the third for information. Information! What a waste! Don't forget I'm in the market if you ever think of selling the place. Anyway if you didn't come here to put pressure on old Flint, it must have been for some other reason. How can I help?"
Quickly Idressin sketched in what had happened since their arrival in Razimir, including the Empress' contacts with the Imperial agents.
"Never trusted that lady," was the trader's comment. "Much too bright for a woman. Positively gouged me on a deal for silks last time I was here, and then had the cheek to send me a complimentary bottle of Glasshouse Red, 33 vintage."
"I trust it was good."
"You know 33. It was excellent. That made it worse. But joking apart, Idressin, I hope it was alright allowing Tariska to stay there. I'm not sure I could have stopped her anyway; this little lady's all steel and fire when she's crossed. You never see it, because she's like butter when you're around."
Tariska smiled sweetly at the little merchant, who gave her a disturbed look before continuing. "I feel bad about it now that I hear what's been happening. The Empress has put you in real danger."
"Not really," the tutor replied. "The Imperial authorities appear to have been making enquiries about me for some time and I must admit their intelligence team are more efficient than I remember. They must have known I was alive and connected to the Glasshouse before they ever spoke to Henba. I think their main use for her is for up-to-date stuff, any contact with the FMP, my movements towards Karkor, what name I'm using, what I look like now, that sort of thing."
"And will she give it to them?"
"Well, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we?"
S’Bissi shook his head in frustration at this new example of the tutor's lack of practicality, when there were such simple ways of settling the problem. After that the talk moved on to their journey to Karkor. The tutor refused to travel with S’Bissi's wagons any further. They would be moving deeper into danger every day once they left Razimir and he had no intention of letting the merchant get involved.
" You can be more use to us as an innocent trader, so it's time we separated altogether. If anyone asks, we’re here today to settle our differences over your cowardly betrayal in For Dendak. I’ve come to slit your throat, so you’ve offered me this high-class female slave in recompense and I’ve accepted. There, can’t do business quicker than that, can you? By the way Tikka’s told me it was Nexi who actually tipped off the authorities in For Dendak. She says our treacherous friend disappeared on the way here.” Idressin let the implied question hang in the air.
The merchant’s eyes stared back at him unwinking. “G’Shenni says Nexi was overcome by a guilty conscience. Terminally. We Trinta are a sensitive people.” He dismissed the matter with a wave of one jewelled hand. “Now, I appreciate your concern for me, my friend. Why don’t you take the same care over your own safety? If you're careful about your disguises, they’ll never know you’re coming. I know a man who's an absolute artist at changing people's appearance. Would you …."
"No, we'll go as we are." The tutor smiled round at the circle of surprised faces. "They know very well that we're here and that we'll be leaving soon for Karkor. Let's make it easy for them to start with, so that we don't have to worry about road blocks and spies and all the rest. If we ride out openly on the main road, they'll simply let us through. The fly is entering the web and heading straight for the spider. Then somewhere beyond Sostenaar, we'll disguise ourselves and disappear with only a hundred miles or so to cover to the capital."
"Well, if you're not going to travel with me, is there anything at all that I can do for you?" the merchant asked plaintively.
"Indeed there is, my friend. Buy two good horses, first-generation Fenkur crossbreeds if you can get them, and arrange for them to be kept at the Town and Country Stables for the next four months in the name of Foxin Gar at the Glasshouse."
"You still think Rasscu and Caldar might catch you up, eh? Well, they've a better chance on Fenkur breeds, I'll grant you that. It's extravagant though. Cost plenty."
"I'm sure you'll find a good use for our wagon," the tutor said airily. "And don't worry about the Tinker's share of the profits you've already made on this trip; he's bound to collect it with interest in Karkor. And …."
"Enough. Enough." The merchant raised his jewelled hands in mock defeat. "I should know better than to engage in bartering with the bandit who taught that vixen in the Glasshouse all she knows . The caravan departs for Sostenaar in three days from the campground on the Fourth Hill. The Fenkur horses will be in the stables before I leave. Now, some tea?"
The diamond merchant lived only half an hour's walk from the Glasshouse and by dark the little group were recrossing the grandly lit causeway with the glittering building resplendent on the hill above them. A cold wind off the bay made them hurry into the warmth of the basement. The restaurant looked almost full already as they passed, though the second floor was quiet. Once in their apartment the tutor left them, saying he would be back in good time before dinner.
"This meal's to cheer us up, isn’t it?" Tariska said heavily when they were alone. "When Idressin explains it, going to Karkor s
ounds right. We can’t do any good waiting here, but I can't bear leaving not knowing where they are. Are they're hurt? Will they ever …. no, I won’t say it.”
She gave Berin a quick glance before looking back at the floor.
“I've been awful to Caldar the whole time. You were country lads who'd got involved in something you didn't understand. But I was different, I was the clever cosmopolitan girl who’d seen something of the world and knew where she was going. That's why I was so scornful to the Tinker; I wasn't going to be persuaded along with a bunch of bumpkins. I didn't even bother to listen properly.”
Berin started to interrupt, then subsided as she went on.
“Living with you all for so long, I couldn't help but see that the Tinker and Idressin were not like anyone I'd ever met before. That was alright, they were old, they’d had plenty of time to become wiser than me. But to accept you two and Rasscu as my equals, to admit that in many ways I was the most useless person on the journey, was beyond me.
For some reason I never minded quite so much with you and Rass; but Caldar, I just had to believe myself superior to Caldar. In fact I just told myself it was so and behaved accordingly. It's strange. The only time I was nice to him was when I was actually some use, when we found those kids in the sand-storm. And now that he's gone, I realise that all that doesn't really matter, it’s just…"
She faltered to a stop, almost as if she needed time herself to absorb her own words. Berin had listened gravely. He had never heard Tariska speak so openly before and had known better than to interrupt.
Now he said quietly, "I miss him too, Tikka. All my life Caldar's been like a younger brother to me. I can’t quite believe he’s in danger somewhere far away without me.” He paused. “Razimir’s changed things for all of us. Till now it was easy to hide behind the idea that there were four of us, maybe I wouldn't be called on to do anything too difficult. Like you, I've felt useless too, but with any luck I wasn’t going to be in the front line. That's all changed. If Idressin needs help, he's only got us to rely on, and what we do may affect Caldar's future too. And Rasscu's. I've got a feeling that we'll both have to play a serious part in what’s coming, whether we want to or not."
The Tears of Sisme Page 53