Grindle shrugged. “It is rumored to come from giant worms or spiders or some other fantastic creatures, rather than from the usual silkworms. I have no idea if any of that is true, but there is this one thing: it’ll wear for years without losing its luster or shape.
No other silk I know of can claim that.”
Again silence fell on the room, then Grindle said,
“You still haven’t said what you wish of me.”
“You’ve already been a great help,” said Roo.
“Truth to tell, I have a wagon but no horses and I was thinking of selling this. I thought perhaps you might suggest a likely buyer and a fair price.”
A calculating looked crossed the merchant’s face.
“I might.” He then nodded once and added, “Yes, I just might”
Duncan covered the silk again, and Grindle called out, “Karli!” The girl appeared a moment later and Helmut GrindIe said, “Daughter, bring me a bottle of that vintage from Oversbruk, what year was it?”
“I know the one, Father.”
Looking from father to daughter, Roo forced a smile. He had two reasons not to smile. The first was the girl wasn’t the maid but the daughter. He sighed inwardly, and turned to smile in her direction. The other reason was the choice of wine. He knew exactly what Grindle was proposing to do: drink one of the very sweet Advarian-style wines that flourished in the cold climates of Grindle’s ancestors. Roo per-
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sonally had had limited experience with sweet wines, and had only drank such on one occasion, a bottle he had stolen from his father’s wagon the last time the rare hand-picked berry wine had been transported into Ravensburg. He had suffered the worst hangover of his young life from drinking ton much, but he knew that right now he wanted nothing more in life than Helmut Grindle’s approval, and he would drink the entire bottle if asked. Then, glancing at the plump and plain girl, he knew he also wanted the girl’s approval as well.
His steady gaze caused the girl to blush as she left the room, and Grindle said, “None of that, you young rogue.”
Roo forced a grin. “Well, it’s hard to ignore a pretty girl.” Grindle erupted in laughter. “I told you once before, Avery, that your biggest fault was in thinking other people were not half as clever as you.”
Roo had the good grace to blush, and when the girl returned with the sweet white wine, he said nothing. When they had hoisted a toast, Duncan offering up some meaningless pledge of good faith and hope for good fortune, Roo said, “Then I guess we’re going to do some business?”
Helmut Grindle’s expression turned from an affable smile to stony coldness as he said, “Perhaps.” He leaned forward. “I can read you like a parchment nailed to the side of a tavern, Roo Avery, so let me set you straight on some things.
“I spent enough time with you and your friend Erik on the road to have a good sense of you. You’re smart, and you’re clever, and those aren’t the same thing; you have a cunning nature but I think you’re willing to learn.” He lowered his voice. “I’m an old prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 192
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man with a homely daughter and no one pays court to her who doesn’t have his eye on my purse.” He halted, and when Roo said nothing in protest, he nodded once and continued. “But I won’t be around forever and when I’m dead I want grandchildren at my bedside shedding tears. If the price of such vanity is finding my son-in-law among those who have an eye on my purse before my daughter, so be it But I’ll pick the best of them. I want a man who will take care of my grandchildren and their mother.” He spoke even softer. “I need someone to take over my trade and to care for my girl. I don’t know if you’re the lad, but you might be.”
Roo looked back into the old man’s eyes and saw in them a will as hard and unyielding as any he had encountered, including Bobby de Loungville’s. He only said, “If I can be.”
“Well then,” answered Grindle, “the cards are on the table, as the gamblers say.”
Duncan looked as if he wasn’t quite sure what he was hearing, but he continued to smile as if this had been but another friendly chat over wine.
“What should I do with the silk?” Grindle asked.
Roo considered, then answered: “I need a start.
Take the silk, and give me horses, refit my wagon, and give me a cargo and a place to take it. Let me prove myself to you.”
Grindle rubbed his chin. “That silk is decent collateral, no doubt” He waved his hand in the air, as if calculating figures in his mind. Then he said, “One more thing before I say yes or no. Who will be looking to find you for loss of that silk?”
Roo glanced at Duncan, who shrugged. Roo had told him of the run-in with Jacoby, and Duncan did-
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n’t seem to think it worth holding back.
Roo said, “I think Tim Jacoby had the silk smuggled in from Kesh. Or he was to receive it from whoever did. In any event, let’s say he’s less than pleased with not having it tonight.”
“Jacoby?” said Grindle. Then he grinned. “His father and I are old enemies. We were boys together, friends once. I hear his son Randolph is a decent enough boy, but Timothy is a different sort; he’s a bad fellow. So I gain no new enemies by supporting you in this.”
“Then we’re in business?” asked Roo.
“Seems we are,” answered Grindle. He poured more wine. “Now, another drink.”
They drank, and after the second glass, Duncan said, “You wouldn’t have another daughter, then, would you? A pretty one, perhaps?”
Roo covered his eyes but was taken aback when Grindle laughed. He uncovered his eyes and was surprised to see Helmut Grindle genuinely amused at the question.
They drank the bottle dry and spoke of many things, but mostly Helmut Grindle and Rupert Avery made plans, discussing various trading strategies and cargoes, which routes to take, and after a while neither man noticed that Duncan had fallen asleep in his chair or that Karli Grindle had come down, removed the bottle of wine, replaced the low, guttering candle, and retired, leaving the two men to talk late into the night.
Roo said, “Look alert.”
Duncan nodded. “See them.”
They were driving a wagon along the coast road, prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 194
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just south of the town of Sarth, the next safe harbor north of the city of Krondor. The wagon had been restored to Roo’s satisfaction and the horses were fine animals, and Grindle assured him that his share of the profits from the silk would prove ample for his participation in this undertaking.
A band of armed men gathered near the roadside, holding some sort of discussion. As the wagon approached, one of the armed men called it to the attention of the rest, so that by the time Roo and Duncan were upon the group, the men were arrayed across the road, with one in front holding up his hand.
“Who disputes my right to pass on the King’s Highway?” demanded Roo.
“No man,” said the leader, “but these are difficult days and we need to ask if you’ve seen armed men riding past to the south.”
“None,” said Duncan.
“Who are they?” asked Roo.
“Bandits, and they hit us late last night. A full score of them, or more,” said a man nearby.
The leader threw the man a black look over his shoulder, then said to Roo, “Bandits. Late last night they robbed a couple of merchants, ransacking their stores, then robbed the two inns in the town.”
Roo glanced at Duncan, who looked amused. It was nearly midafternoon, and there was a small ale cask nearby, so Roo was pretty convinced these “soldiers” had been debating the best course of action since dawn.
“You’re the town militia?” asked Roo.
The leader puffed up
a bit. “Yes, we are! In service to the Duke of Krondor, but freemen protecting prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 195
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our own.”
“Well then,” said Roo, as he urged his horses forward, “you had better get right after them.”
The man who was doing the talking said, “Well, that’s the problem, then, isn’t it? We don’t know where they went. So we’re not too sure which is the best way to take out after them.”
“North,” said Roo.
“That’s what I said!” The man who had presumed to talk before was speaking again.
“Why north?” demanded the leader of Roo.
“Because we’ve been on the road since leaving Krondor. If raiders had hit you, then fled south, they would have passed us on their way. None came by us this morning, so it’s safe to assume they’re heading north up toward Hawk’s Hollow or Questor’s View.”
Roo was no student of geography, but he knew enough about trade routes to know that once past the northeast branch road that led up the eastern edge of the Calastius Mountains, there was no easy route across them south of Sarth.
One of the more drunken soldiers said, “Why not west or east?”
Roo shook his head. To the leader he said,
“Sergeant?” The man nodded. “Sergeant, if they were heading west, they would have been in boats, not on horseback, and to the east lies what?”
“Only the road to the Abbey of Sarth and more mountains.”
Roo said, “They’ve gone north. And odds are they’re bound for Ylith, for where else would they fence what they’ve stolen here?”
That was enough for the leader, who said, “Men, we ride!” The deputation of town militia moved in prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 196
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something like haste, though some of the defenders of Sarth were having difficulty moving in a straight line.
Roo continued up the road, and watched as the little squad headed for various locations around the town, to get their mounts.
“Think they’ll find the bandits?” asked Duncan.
“Only if they are very unfortunate,” said Roo.
“Where’s the Prince’s army?” asked Duncan.
Roo said, “Off on the Prince’s business, I should think.” Sarth lay within the boundaries of the Principality of Krondor, which meant it had no local earl, baron, or duke to answer to, and to provide protection. Krondorian soldiers would ride a regular patrol from the boundary between the Principality and the Duchy of Yabon to the north to the City of Krondor itself. But for local problems, a militia, watch, or town constable would have primary responsibility to keep the peace until such a patrol arrived, or answered a request for help.
Roo and Duncan had been pleased with the beginning of the journey. Roo had tendered his resignation from Barret’s, and had been surprised to hear something akin to regret from McKeller. He promised Jason that should fate take a kind turn, he might find him a position that matched his wit someday.
Helmut Grindle had been straightforward enough about bringing Roo into the business. He had spoken several times of matching the boy, as Grindle called Roo, with his daughter, Karli. A couple of passing references had caused the girl to blush when she was in earshot, but Grindle had at no time bothered to ask his daughter what she thought of the matter.
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Roo had joked with Erik about marrying Helmut Grindle’s ugly daughter, and now that the reality was before him, he wondered at his quips. The girl wasn’t ugly, just not very attractive, but then neither was Roo, so he didn’t think much about that. He knew that if he were to become rich enough he could afford pretty mistresses, and that his primary obligation to Grindle would be to keep his daughter fat with child and ensure that the old man’s grandchildren were well fed and provided for. Roo also knew that if he could build upon what Grindle already had in his possession, he stood to inherit—or, rather, Karli stood to inherit, which would be the same thing—quite a tidy sum, and that with that to work with, why, there was no limit to his future.
Roo had talked with Duncan about several plans he had, but Duncan’s interest in business was cursory, beginning and ending with when he would be paid and how much, and where the nearest whore or willing barmaid might be found. Traveling with Duncan had been an education for Roo, and he found himself more likely to spend the night with a tavern wench than alone because of Duncan’s influence, but he was constantly amazed at how focused Duncan could become on wooing an innkeeper’s pretty daughter. The man had a passion for women that far exceeded Roo’s normal young male appetite.
Duncan, on the other hand, had absolutely none of Roo’s passion for riches. He had traveled, fought, loved, drunk, and ate, and his dreams were not shared. But while easy money appealed to him, hard-earned money was something that would never come his way.
Roo drove through the south end of Sarth, and prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 198
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when he saw a store with a broken-in door, he pulled over. “Keep an eye on things,” he said to Duncan as he jumped down from the buckboard.
He entered the establishment and saw at once it had been totally ransacked. “Good day,” he said to the merchant, who looked at him with an expression halfway between irritation and hopelessness.
“Good day, sir,” said the merchant “As you can see, I am unable to conduct business in my usual manner.”
Roo studied the merchant, a middle-aged man with an expanding middle. “So I’ve heard. I’m a trader, by name Rupert Avery,” he said, sticking out his hand. “I’m on my way to Ylith, but perhaps I may be of some service.”
The merchant shook in a distracted manner and said, “I’m John Vinci. What do you mean?”
“I am a trader, as I said, and I am able perhaps to provide some goods that you may need to replace your pillaged stores.”
The man’s manner changed instantly, and he regarded Roo with a studied expression, as if suddenly he had wagered every coin he owned on the outcome of a bet. “What sort of goods?”
“Only the finest, and I am embarked upon a journey to Ylith, and was planning on purchasing goods to return to Krondor, but I may be able to add a leg, as it were, providing you can, in turn, trade with me those goods I was seeking to purchase in Ylith.”
The man said, “What manner of goods?”
“Goods easily transported in small quantity, but of high enough quality to ensure me a profit”
The merchant studied Roo a moment, then nodded. “I understand. You trade in high-priced baubles prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 199
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for the nobility.”
“Something like that”
“Well, I need little in the way of finery, but I could certainly use a dozen bolts of sturdy linen, some needles of steel, and other goods required by the townspeople.”
Roo nodded. “I can take a list with me to Ylith and return within two weeks. What have you to offer?”
The merchant shrugged. “I had a small cache of gold, but those bastards found it quickly.”
Roo smiled. The merchant had most certainly left a small strongbox of gold poorly hidden to let the raiders think they had captured his only treasure, but almost as certainly had another, richer, deposit of coins nearby. “Some items of worth?”
The merchant shrugged. “A few articles, perhaps, but nothing that might be called unique.”
“Unique is for the very rare client,” said Roo. He rubbed his chin and said, “Just something that might wait a long time to find a buyer here, but that might find a quick home in Krondor.”
The merchant stood motionless for a moment, then said, “Come with me.”
He led Roo through the back of the store and out across a small courtyard and into his h
ome. A pale woman worked in the kitchen while two small children fought over possession of a toy. The man said,
“Wait here,” without bothering to introduce his wife to Roo, and went up a narrow flight of stairs. He returned a few moments later and held out a leather-covered box.
Roo took the box and opened it Inside was a single piece of jewelry, an emerald necklace, closer to a prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 200
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full choker, of matched stones. It was set with cut diamonds, tiny but brilliant, and the goldwork was fine. Roo had no idea of its real worth, but calculated it was probably of fine enough quality to warrant a second look from even the most jaded dealer in gems.
“What do you want for it?”
“I was keeping this as a hedge against a disaster,”
said the merchant, “and this qualifies as one, I guess.” He shrugged. “I need to restock, and quickly.
My business will be nonexistent if I can’t provide goods to the townspeople.”
Roo was silent for a minute, then said, “Here’s what I’ll do. Give me a list of what you need, and we’ll go over it together. If we can agree upon a price, then I’ll bring back the goods from Ylith, within two weeks, perhaps as quickly as ten days, and then you’ll be back in business.”
The man frowned. “There’s a Quegan trader due in less than a week.”
“And what assurance have you he’ll have any of the goods you need?” said Roo instantly. “What good would it do you if he’s a slaver?”
The man shook his head. “None, but then again, we don’t see a lot of slavers in these parts.” Slavery was banned in the Kingdom, save in the case of condemned criminals, and the importation of slaves from Kesh or Queg was illegal.
“You know what I mean,” said Roo. “For a small premium, I can bring you exactly what you need.”
The man hesitated, and Roo said, “The children will continue to eat”
The merchant said, “Very well. Go to the inn at the end of the street and find a room. I’ll meet you prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 201
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for supper and we’ll go over the list together.”
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