‘We only got here today,’ Yanin said. ‘We can look tomorrow.’
Kerri nodded. ‘Tomorrow then. You know, I might just go to bed. I’m exhausted after today. I hadn’t realised we were supposed to help unload all those wagons. My arms are aching.’
‘But it’s still early,’ Yanin said. ‘I got a nice, big tip from one of the merchants, and there’s money for more wine.’
‘We should save it,’ Kerri said.
‘No way,’ said Ravi, lighting a cigarette. ‘This almost feels like civilisation again, and I want to make the most of it.’
‘With your sister’s money? Kerri said.
‘She doesn’t mind,’ Ravi said. ‘Do you, sis?’
Yanin shrugged. ‘It’s our birthday.’
Kerri stood, and yawned. ‘Bed for me. Have a good time, then.’
She kissed Ravi on the forehead and walked away from the table.
‘Night, Kerri,’ he muttered.
‘So,’ Yanin said, ‘do you think she’ll stay?’
Ravi refilled his wine glass and took a sip. ‘I think she will, at least for a few days until she sees if we get decent jobs. If we do, she might stay.’
Yanin raised an eyebrow. ‘Unusually perceptive of you, brother.’
‘I have my moments,’ he said. ‘You were right about Anamindhari, it’s not bad. I could see myself living here for a bit.’
‘Doing what, though? Dana and the other travelling girls said that there are plenty of jobs out on the estates, working in the fields, but I don’t know what we could do here. Bar tend? We might be able to live on that, but we wouldn’t be able to afford much.’
‘I could make us a lot of money,’ he said, ‘if I was allowed to use my skills.’
She shook her head. ‘I’ve thought about that; tried to think of any way we could get you a job as a clay mage, but it’s too risky. We’d have to invent whole new identities for the three of us, and we have no documents or papers. It would look too suspicious.’
Ravi took a pouch from a pocket and withdrew a stick of dreamweed. Yanin frowned at him as he lit it.
‘Where did you get that?’
‘I also got tipped today,’ he grinned. ‘Weed merchant. This is local stuff.’
‘Well, make sure you pass it.’
He took a drag and handed it to her. ‘Of course, sis. It’s our birthday.’
‘Look at you two,’ a voice cried. ‘The birthday pair!’
They glanced over to see a dozen of the travelling labourers walking through the square towards them. More than half consisted of the group of young women that Yanin and Kerri had been spending time with, and there were others that Ravi recognised from the caravan.
Dana came over and gave Yanin a long kiss, while the rest of them laughed and cheered.
‘Wine!’ one of them called over to a waitress as they pulled up chairs and squeezed in by the table where Ravi and Yanin were sitting.
‘Listen,’ said one. ‘We know you’re looking for jobs, and we spoke to our supervisor. She said that she’ll see you tomorrow if you go round to her office.’
‘Great, thanks,’ said Yanin.
‘What kind of jobs?’ said Ravi.
‘Same as us,’ said another. ‘At the Siningowa estate, working in the vineyards.’
‘Out in the fields?’
‘Yeah.’
Ravi groaned. ‘No offence, but we were hoping for something in town.’
‘Oh yeah?’ said Dana. ‘And what work can you do?’
‘Nothing,’ he muttered, glaring at his sister.
‘Then,’ Dana said, ‘no offence, but working in the fields is the best you’re going to get.’
‘I’ll take you up on the offer,’ Yanin said.
Dana smiled and they kissed. Ravi frowned.
‘I don’t remember agreeing this, sister,’ he said.
‘I just decided, brother. I’d rather you and Kerri came with me, but I don’t mind if you try to get jobs here. We can always see each other on our days off, and at the very worst we’ll meet up again at the end of the season.’
Ravi stared at her, not believing what he was hearing.
‘You’d leave me here,’ he said, ‘for her?’
‘Grow up,’ Yanin cried as the table quietened. ‘You’re a big boy, and you’ve get Kerri to look after you, if she stays. And if she doesn’t, then I guess you’ll just have to look after yourself for once. I’ve got you this far and I’m fucking tired of babysitting you all the time. Maybe we need a break apart for a bit.’
‘Fine,’ Ravi said, standing. ‘Let’s start now.’
He turned and walked away from the table, realising at the same time that he had no money, and had no idea what he would do if Yanin left with Dana and the travelling girls. He almost turned back, but instead he made for the hostelry. Maybe Kerri was still up.
The interior of the hostelry was quiet, with most patrons enjoying the clement evening in the square outside. Ravi went past the bar and up the polished darkwood staircase to their rooms. He felt in his pockets for a key, then remembered that Kerri and Yanin had the two copies that had been given to them. He halted outside their door and knocked.
A voice came from inside the room. ‘Yeah?’
‘It’s me.’
He waited as footsteps padded towards the door.
‘Hi Ravi,’ Kerri said as she opened it. She was wearing a long nightshirt that was patched and worn.
‘Have you been crying?’ he said, walking into their room.
‘No.’
He frowned, and slumped down on a chair by the bed.
‘I didn’t think you’d be back so early,’ she said. ‘I was just about to go to bed.’
‘I wanted to see you,’ he said. ‘Ask if you’ve thought about what you’ll do.’
She sat on the edge of the bed and began brushing her hair.
‘It’s all I’ve been thinking about,’ she said. ‘I miss home, but I’m scared what might happen if I go back and those people who were after you find out. I also haven’t got any money to pay for the trip, so I’d have to work my way home. What else is there - a season labouring in the fields? Or working as a waitress? There’s so much to think about, I don’t know where to start.’
He frowned. ‘I notice you didn’t mention me in your reasoning. Do you not love me any more?’
‘Against all my better judgement, I do,’ she said. ‘Tell me, what do you want?’
‘I want you to stay,’ he said. ‘And I want us to get jobs here, in town. We’ll rent a place; we’ll make it work.’
‘And what about your sister?’
‘She wants to follow her new girlfriend, and work in the fields all summer.’
‘So it would just be the two of us?’
‘Yeah.’
She got into bed and lowered the lamp. ‘I don’t know, Ravi. Let me think about it.’
He sat in the chair in silence watching her.
‘I’m really tired,’ she said. ‘I need to get some sleep.’
‘I’m going for a walk,’ he said.
‘Okay. Good night.’
He went over and kissed her, then turned the lamp off. In the darkness he made his way to the door, and let himself out. He went down the staircase to the bar and glanced around, unsure of what to do next.
An image of Sable appeared in his head.
He hadn’t seen the Holdings woman since he had fallen asleep in her wagon. She hadn’t been around when they had helped unload the stock from the caravan, so maybe her cargo was bound for somewhere else on the trade route. After Anamindhari, the caravan was due to head down the river for the port of Stretton Sands, and then onto Rainsby. She hadn’t mentioned her destination to Ravi, but he reckoned her wagon might be parked in the huge field on the edge of town, where the caravans assembled. He walked out of the hostelry, and turned left through the square, avoiding the table where his sister was sitting with the others.
He lit a cigarette, and followed the
streets west, passing wide avenues lined with large houses and expensive-looking shops. The artificial lake had several canals extending out from it, some reaching as far as the river, and he passed barges tied up for the night as he walked. Where the houses ended, the large caravan field began. It was busy with wagons, gathered in clusters, or lined up in rows. Several campfires had been lit, and the people there were enjoying the evening, celebrating their safe arrival, or preparing for departure in the morning. He located a few wagons he recognised from the journey, and scanned their wheels, looking for red and yellow.
He spotted Sable’s wagon, and smiled. He circled it from a distance, but could see no one around. He approached the rear, and knocked on the hatch. Nothing. He frowned, then heard a noise from within. He knocked again, but there was no response.
Strange, he thought. He had better check everything was alright. He stepped up onto the back rail, and opened the hatch. The inside was lit by a lamp, and he saw Sable, her head bent over a crate. She looked up just as Ravi’s noticed the crate’s contents.
‘Holy shit,’ he said. ‘Crossbows?’
‘Get in here and close the hatch,’ Sable said. ‘Quickly.’
He jumped up into the wagon, shutting the hatch door behind him as Sable placed the lid onto the opened crate.
‘Shit,’ she said. ‘You weren’t supposed to see that.’
A pulse of fear raced through Ravi. Sable had a knife strapped to her thigh, and she was looking at him with narrow eyes. A military background, she had said.
‘Sit,’ she ordered, and Ravi perched onto the edge of a crate. ‘I need to think.’
She looked angry, he thought. What had he done? She sat down on the crate she had opened, staring at him. She picked up a bottle of wine and took a swig.
‘I know a secret of yours,’ she said.
‘What?’ he said, frozen to the spot.
‘When you were drunk,’ she said, ‘you might have told me more than you’d intended. I know you’re a clay mage. I also know that you don’t want anyone finding out.’
He nodded.
‘Then it seems like we have the makings of a deal,’ she went on. ‘You say nothing about what you saw here, and I’ll keep quiet about you being a mage.’
‘Is it that simple?’ he said.
‘It’s as simple as we want it to be.’
‘Are you a bandit?’
She laughed.
‘But you’re smuggling weapons,’ he blurted out.
‘I am.’
She passed him the bottle and he took a drink.
‘I see you’re confused,’ she said. ‘You’re wondering if you should report me to the town authorities, in case I’m in league with criminals.’
‘Aren’t you?’
She shook her head. ‘Can I trust you, Ravi?’
He swallowed. If he said no, would she kill him?
‘Relax,’ she said. ‘I’m not a criminal, though I did lie to you earlier. I don’t work for a merchant. I work for the empire.’
‘You’re an imperial agent?’
‘I’m going to tell you a few things,’ she said, ‘to put your mind at rest. You don’t need to report me to anyone, it would just delay my mission. I’m not going downriver to Stretton Sands. In the morning I’m turning south and heading for the Grey Mountains.’ She paused to light a weedstick.
‘South?’ he said. ‘But there’s nothing down there except a few farms, and then the mountains, and then…’
‘Rahain?’ she said.
‘Yeah. I suppose.’
‘That’s where I’m going.’
‘You’re taking weapons to the enemies of the empire?’ he said. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘I’m taking these weapons to the enemies of Rahain,’ she said, her hand waving at the piles of crates in the back of the wagon.
‘You mean,’ he said, ‘that there’s more than one crate of crossbows?’
She laughed. ‘Yes. And not just crossbows. Bolts, helmets, leather armour, swords, chain mail. This wagon’s carrying a little arsenal. On the other side of the mountains is a small outpost of resistance to the Rahain. The empire’s worried that the republic might attack it soon, so they sent me to bring them some military supplies, to help reinforce their defences.’ She gazed at him. ‘Tell me, have you found a job yet?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘Why?’
She passed him the weedstick.
‘What do you think would give you the greater satisfaction,’ she said, ‘working in the fields all summer, or serving the empire?’
‘What?’
‘The outpost,’ she said, ‘they could really use the skills of a clay mage, Ravi. With you, we could strengthen their defences considerably. I could escort you there, and bring you back at the end of the summer. You would have proven your loyalty to the empire, and acted honourably, as a patriotic citizen.’
He frowned. It sounded dangerous.
‘I don’t think I’m cut out for that sort of thing,’ he said. ‘And there’s Kerri and Yanin to think about.’
‘If they’re trustworthy,’ she said, ‘then they could come along, if that’s what it will take to get your agreement. I’d rather they didn’t, to be perfectly honest. I can guard one person, but three? I wouldn’t be able to guarantee their safety.’
He groaned inwardly. The thought of working in vineyards for the season was beginning to look more appealing every second.
‘Thanks,’ he said, ‘but I’ll have to decline. I’m not built for the kind of work you do.’
‘Oh,’ she said, ‘I think you could be brave if you had to be.’
‘Yeah, but I don’t want to be in any situation where I’d have to find that out.’ He stood. ‘Look, I’d better be going. I’ll be missed.’
‘Really?’ she said. ‘Then what were you doing here? You came to see me, I assume? Does Kerri know where you are?’
He hesitated.
Sable smiled at him and opened another bottle of wine, pouring two glasses. His desire for her battled with his urge to flee. He sat.
‘This doesn’t mean I’m going into Rahain with you,’ he said, picking up the glass.
‘Is there nothing I can do to persuade you?’ she said.
His blood surged as he gazed into her eyes. He yearned for her, wanted nothing but to take her in his arms and kiss her, touch her, feel her body pressed against his. He shook his head, trying to control himself.
‘Sorry,’ he said, his voice a low mutter. ‘I can’t go to Rahain.’
She sighed. ‘Alright, then name your price. How much money do you want?’
‘Money?’ he said.
‘Yes. How much do you want? The empire’s pockets are deep.’
‘How much could you offer?’
‘No,’ she said. ‘That’s not how it works. Name your price.’
He stared at her. ‘Two hundred thousand?’
‘Deal,’ she said.
‘Wait,’ he said. ‘Do you mean you’ll actually give me two hundred thousand in gold if I go with you?’
‘I can give you twenty thousand before we leave,’ she said, ‘but the rest will have to wait until we get back. I’m not a walking bank, but I have the authority to make promises that will be kept.’
‘I’ll need more.’
Her eyes narrowed.
‘Not money,’ he said.
‘What, then?’
‘I want help getting my family out of Arakhanah. Can you do that?’
She nodded. ‘Something like that is difficult for me to be certain about, but I promise that I’ll do my best. When we return, I’ll speak to my imperial contacts. If anything can be done, it will. Is that good enough?’
‘And Yanin and Kerri can come?’
She sighed again. ‘Yes, if they must, but you’re not to say anything about where we’re going, or why, until we’ve left Anamindhari. I can’t risk word getting out. There might well be spies from Rahain here in town who would love to know what I’m doing.’
>
‘Then why did you tell me?’
‘Because getting a clay mage to accompany me is worth the risk.’
And because she could kill him if he refused, Ravi thought.
‘To show that I trust you,’ she said, ‘if you agree, then you’re free to go back to wherever you’re staying tonight. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning from the western road. I’ll expect to see you there.’
‘And the twenty thousand?’
‘I’ll have it with me.’
‘Can I have some now?’
‘Does that mean you agree?’
‘Fuck it, okay.’
He shook with nerves as he watched her open a small chest and remove a heavy pouch.
‘This is worth a thousand,’ she said.
He put his hand out for it.
‘Wait,’ she said. ‘I’m not stupid. I know there’s a chance that once I’ve given you this money you’ll run off, and not be at the western gate in the morning.’
He said nothing.
‘If you’re considering that course of action,’ she went on, ‘then you should know two things. Firstly, I’m very good at my job, and secondly, I never forget.’
She placed the pouch onto his outstretched palm and he smiled.
‘Good night,’ she said, ‘and I’ll see you at dawn, with or without your sister and your girlfriend.’
He stood, and edged to the back of the wagon.
‘Oh,’ she said, ‘and happy birthday.’
‘Thanks,’ he said.
He opened the hatch and jumped to the ground. He hurried away from the caravans and wagons, and was halfway to the hostelry before he realised that he had never told Sable it was his birthday.
‘We need to speak, sis,’ he whispered in Yanin’s ear. She was still sitting round the table with the seasonal workers, though they were all much drunker than they had been when he had last seen them. He had waited until Dana had slipped off to the bathroom before approaching.
‘Here to apologise, are you?’ she slurred.
‘If it’ll make you happy, yes. But you need to listen. I’ve just been offered a job.’
‘Oh yeah? Good for you. Doing what? Washing dishes? Cleaning toilets?’
‘We need to talk alone.’
She groaned. ‘I’m too drunk to move. Just tell me now.’
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