Rise of a Merchant Prince

by Raymond E. Feist

  “And his father is very well connected,” said Roo.

  “They’re working with some of the bigger trading concerns in the Western Realm, and if I said anything to anyone they’d claim it false and say I was just trying to hurt their business.”

  Luis shrugged. “It is always this way with the powerful; they can do what the rest of us cannot”

  Roo said, “I’ve half a mind to go pay Tim Jacoby a visit this night.”

  Luis shrugged. “You can always do that, young Roo.” He leaned forward, his deformed hand lying on the table before him, as he pointed with his left forefinger at Roo. “But ask yourself: what good would it do save to get you back to the gallows?”

  “I’ve got to do something.”

  Luis nodded. “Time will bring an opportunity for prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 258

  258

  RAYMOND E. FIEST

  revenge.” He considered. “You said Jacoby and Sons, Duncan. Is there a brother?”

  Duncan said, “Yes. Tim’s the elder. Randolph, the other, is a decent enough man, from what people say, but he’s fiercely loyal to his family.”

  Luis said, “In Rodez, when a man wrongs another man, we fight a duel. But when a family wrongs another family, we wage war. It may be a quiet war, one that lasts for generations, but ultimately one family is destroyed.”

  Roo said, “I’m going to have to struggle to keep this business alive, Luis. Waging war is costly.”

  Luis shrugged. “The war has begun. It may not be stopped until you either win or are defeated, but no one says the next battle must be tonight. Bide your time. Build your strength. Reduce your enemy’s position. When you finally have the opportunity, then seize the moment.” He made a crushing gesture with his good hand. “Often you’ll hear it said that revenge is a dish best served cold. This is a mistake; you must never lose the heat of rage that drives you to revenge.” He studied Roo’s face. “Forgiveness is a virtue in some temples. But if you are not virtuous, then study your enemy.” He tapped his head. “Think.

  Think about what drives him and what his strengths and weaknesses are. Keep the fires within banked, and plot coolly, but when everything is in place, unleash the fire and enjoy the hot flush of revenge.”

  Roo blew air out of his mouth slowly, as if letting his anger escape. “Very well. We wait. But make it known to our men that any rumors concerning Jacoby and Sons should be shared with us.”

  “What’s the next thing?” asked Duncan. “I’ve got a lady to visit . . .” He grinned.

  prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 259

  RISE OF A MERCHANT PRINCE

  259

  Roo smiled. “Helmut kept our books and records.

  I have some sense of it, but I’m no expert. Can either of you keep books?”

  Luis shook his head and Duncan laughed. “I’ve never been one for sums. You know that.”

  “Then we need to hire someone.”

  “Who?” asked Duncan.

  Roo said, “I don’t know. Maybe Jason, over at Barret’s. He was good with figures when we worked together; McKeller had him doing inventories more often than anyone else. He could remember things . .

  . costs and numbers of sacks of coffee and details that I had no clear picture of. I’ll ask him. He’s ambitious. Maybe he’ll work for us.”

  “Can we pay him?” Duncan asked with a laugh.

  Roo said, “We have the contract with the palace.

  I’ll ask de Loungville to make sure we get paid on time, and we’ll get by.”

  “What’s the third thing?” asked Luis.

  Roo’s face underwent a change of expression, from anger and worry to self-consciousness. “I’m getting married.”

  Luis said, “Congratulations.” He held out his hand and Roo gripped it.

  Duncan said, “Karli?”

  “Who else?” said Roo.

  Duncan shrugged. “When?”

  “Next Sixthday. Can you join us?”

  “Certainly,” said Duncan, standing up. “If we’re done?”

  “You can leave,” said Roo, feeling disappointed at his cousin’s lack of enthusiasm.

  After Duncan left, Luis said, “This is a difficult responsibility to assume, Roo.”

  prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 260

  260

  RAYMOND E. FIEST

  “What do you mean?”

  Luis said, “It is not my business. I’m sorry I spoke.”

  Roo asked, “What’s on your mind?”

  Luis said nothing for a moment, then said, “You seem to like the girl. But . . . are you marrying her because you feel someone must take care of her and you’re the only one?”

  Roo started to deny it, then found he couldn’t. “I don’t know. I like her, and a wife . . . well, a wife is a wife, right? I need a wife, and some children.”

  “Why?”

  Roo looked completely confused. “I . . . well, I just do. I mean, I plan on being a man of some importance in the city, and I need a wife and children.”

  Luis studied the young man awhile. “As you say.

  I will return to the office and mention to the men there will be a wedding on Sixthday.”

  Roo said, “I’ll tell Erik and Jadow tomorrow.

  Maybe the Captain will come if he’s still in the city.”

  Luis nodded. As he passed behind Roo’s chair, he stopped and put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “I wish you happiness, my friend. I really do.”

  “Thank you,” said Roo as Luis left.

  A moment later, Karli entered the room. “I heard them leave.”

  Roo nodded. “I told them we were getting married on Sixthday.”

  Karli sat down in the chair Duncan had occupied.

  “Are you certain?”

  Roo forced a smile. “Of course I am,” he said, patting her hand, but inside he felt like nothing more prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 261

  RISE OF A MERCHANT PRINCE

  261

  than leaving this house and running for all he was worth. “Of course I am,” he repeated.

  He glanced out a curtained window as if he could see through the fabric, and in his mind’s eye he saw the pale face of Helmut as he lay on his deathbed.

  His skin was bone-white, the same color as the large bolt of silk Roo had stolen, and in his heart Roo knew that there was a thread leading from that bolt to Helmut and that Karli’s father’s death lay at his feet. Patting the girl’s hand, Roo knew that even if he hated the girl, he would marry her to make up for the wrong he had caused.

  Calis pushed himself back from the table, stood up, and moved to a window. Staring out at the marshalling yard below, he said, “I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this.”

  Prince Nicholas sat back in his chair, glanced at his nephew, then to Knight-Marshal William, who nodded agreement. “It’s a desperate gamble,” said William.

  Patrick, who sat at the head of the council table, said, “Uncle, you’ve seen this personally. You’ve traveled to that distant land more than once.” He glanced around the room. “I’m prepared to admit that some of my reluctance comes from not having .

  . . first-hand experience, I should say, with these Pantathians.”

  Nicholas said, “I’ve seen what they can do, Patrick, and I scarcely believe what we’re told.” He waved at a pile of papers on the table before them.

  Dispatches had arrived by fast courier, as a relay of ships wended their way between Krondor, the Far Coast, the Sunset Islands, and the distant continent prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 262

  262

  RAYMOND E. FIEST

  of Novindus. The reports that had arrived the morning before had been sent from Novindus less than a month after Greylock and Luis had departed. And the news was not good.

  Duke James, who sat beside Knight-Marshal William, said, “We know that our guesses were overly optimistic. Destroying the shipyards at Maharta and the City of the Serpent River didn’t buy us as many years as we
thought.”

  “Ten years,” said Calis. “I remember thinking it would take them ten years to rebuild and refit and launch a fleet big enough to carry that host across the ocean.”

  Patrick said, “What do you judge now, Captain?”

  Calis sighed, the first outward display of emotion any in the room had seen from him since his return from Stardock. “Four more, ‘maybe five.”

  Nicholas said, “We didn’t count on an enemy who was willing to turn every resource at hand to rebuilding those yards and starting that fleet.”

  “We didn’t count on an enemy who doesn’t care if her population dies to the last man,” said William.

  He pushed himself away from the table and stood, as if he, too, could no longer sit still. “We’re preparing to defend, and we’re making it obvious enough the Pantathians may think we’re done taking the fight across the ocean to them.”

  He came to stand next to Calis. “But we have one advantage they are unaware of; they don’t know we know where their home is.”

  Calis smiled a half-smile, lacking any humor. “I don’t think they care.” He moved past William and stood opposite Nicholas, but addressed his remarks to Prince Patrick. “Highness, I am not certain this prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 263

  RISE OF A MERCHANT PRINCE

  263

  mission will win us anything.”

  Patrick asked, “You think this wins us nothing?”

  William said, “Our presumption is they will not expect this, slipping in behind them and destroying their nest.”

  Calis held up a finger, like a schoolmaster,

  “That’s the word: presumption. ” He turned to look at William. “Everything we have ever seen from these creatures tells us they think like no others. They die as willingly as they kill, if we slaughter them to the last child when they’re seizing the Lifestone, they will not care. They believe they will return as demigods in the service of their ‘Lady,’ and death holds no fear for them.”

  Turning back toward Patrick, he said, “I will go, Patrick. I will go and kill for you and, if I must, die.

  But even if I get in and get back out, those left alive, will come after us. I think we will never understand these creatures.”

  “Do you have a better idea?” asked Nicholas.

  William put his hand on Calis’s shoulder. “Old friend, our only other choice is to wait. If they come anyway, what have we lost by undertaking this raid?”

  Calis’s voice was neutral. “Just the lives of more good men.”

  William said, “It’s what soldiers do, Captain.”

  “It doesn’t mean I have to like it,” he answered.

  Despite the differences in rank, the two men were old friends and William showed no irritation at his friend’s tone or lack of deference. In this private council rank was put aside, and everyone had proven his worth to the Crown and his reliability many times before. Despite his youth, barely twenty-five years of age, Patrick had served three years on the northern prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 264

  264

  RAYMOND E. FIEST

  border, fighting goblins and dark elves. Calis was roughly the same age as William, though William looked to be in his late fifties while Calis looked barely older than Prince Patrick.

  “What if it doesn’t work?” asked Calis.

  It was James who answered. “Then it doesn’t work.”

  Calis studied the old man and laughed ruefully.

  Glancing at his old friend, he said, “I remember when you used to ask questions like that, Nicky.”

  Nicholas said, “None of us is as young as he once was, Calis.”

  Patrick said, “When will you go?”

  Calis said, “We’re still months away from being ready. I’ve got only four men I can count on besides those of us here in this room: De Loungville, Greylock, Erik, and Jadow. All have seen what’s down there and know the risks. There are a couple of other veterans from the last two campaigns, but those four are leaders, though Erik and Jadow don’t know it yet. But the rest are men who just follow orders.

  Fine for soldiers, not enough for leaders.”

  Patrick said, “How are you going to proceed?”

  Calis smiled. “Come at them from behind.” He crossed to a large map on the wall, one redrawn many times over the last twenty years as new information came from the continent on the other side of the world. “We’ll sail from the Sunset Islands, as usual, but here”—he pointed to a seemingly empty place on the map four hundred miles south of the long island chain—“is an uncharted bit of land with a lovely harbor. We’ll meet there and transfer to another ship.”

  “Another ship?” asked Patrick.

  prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 265

  RISE OF A MERCHANT PRINCE

  265

  Nicholas answered. “By now our enemy has an inventory of every ship in the Western Navy. They can probably identify the outline on the horizon of each one from their rigging. And I have no doubt they know which of our ‘trading ships’ are really royal warships in disguise.”

  “What have you got down there?” asked Patrick

  “A new ship?”

  “No, a very old one,” said Calis. “We’re going to go as Brijaners.”

  “Brijaners? Keshian raiders?” said William with a half-smile.

  Nicholas said, “We have one of their dragon ships. The navy of Roldem captured one during a raid two years ago.” Roldem was a small island kingdom to the east of the Kingdom of the Isles that was a longtime ally. “The King of Roldem has agreed to

  ‘lend’ it to us. It was quietly sailed around lower Kesh.” Nicholas smiled. “A couple of times, according to reports, other Brijaner dragon boats sailed within hailing distance. The Roldem captain waved and smiled and kept right on going, no questions asked or answered.”

  William laughed. “The arrogant swine couldn’t imagine someone sailing in their waters who wasn’t one of them.”

  Calis said, “I’m hoping we get the same reaction.”

  “What?” asked Patrick.

  “I’m not sailing west to get to Novindus. I’m sailing east under the Horn of Kesh, then across what is now known as the Green Sea, to a small village near the city of Ispar.” He pointed at the map as he spoke.

  “We’ll be sailing in from their west. I hope if they’re looking for our ships, they’re looking in the other prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 266

  266

  RAYMOND E. FIEST

  direction. We have always sailed out of the City of the Serpent River. If we’re intercepted, we’re Brijaner traders who were blown off course and are working our way around their landmass.”

  Patrick said, “Do you think they will accept that?” Calis shrugged. “It’s happened before, I’ve been told. There’s a fast-running current that moves eastward down near the ice floes, and if you catch it south of Kesh you can ride it across the Green Sea to a great mass of ice that points like a finger right at Port Grief. We won’t be the first party of Keshian sea raiders to show up there, but they won’t have been so common that locals will notice any differences.”

  Patrick said, “Then what?”

  Calis said, “We buy some horses, change clothing, and sneak out of the city one night, and head north.” He pointed to the south end of the mountain range that ran down to the sea west of Ispar. “I can find the entrance we used to get out of those caverns on our last journey, without too much trouble.”

  No one doubted him. His tracking skills were considered legendary. Calis’s heritage was unique and in no small measure supernatural.

  Patrick said, “Very well. What then?”

  Calis shrugged. “The destruction of the Pantathians.”

  Patrick’s eyes widened. “How many men were you planning on taking?”

  “Ten squads. Sixty men.”

  “You plan on destroying a nation of these creatures, magic users from every report I’ve studied, with sixty men?”

  Calis said, “I
never said it would be easy.”

  Patrick looked at Nicholas. “Uncle?”

  prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 267

  RISE OF A MERCHANT PRINCE

  267

  Nicholas said, “I learned twenty years ago that if Calis says a thing can be done, it can be done.”

  Looking at Calis, he asked, “What is your thinking?”

  “My thinking,” said Calis, “is that the bulk of their forces will be with the armies of the Emerald Queen.” He made a sweeping motion with his hand on the map between the city of Maharta and the City of the Serpent River. “We’ve never seen them in numbers. The squad I saw in the caverns was no more than twenty in one place, and that was the single largest concentration we’ve encountered. We’ve judged them by their ability to visit evil on us, but never have we questioned their strength of numbers.”

  He let a distasteful expression cross his face. “When I caught sight of one of their crèches it was poorly guarded. A half-dozen adults, a dozen or more infants, and a score of eggs. I saw nothing of their females.”

  Patrick said, “What does all this mean?”

  Calis said, “Pug and Nakor both hold that these creatures aren’t natural.” He returned to the table and sat. “They claim that these were created by an ancient Dragon Lord, AlmaLodaka.” Calis let his eyes drop a moment, and William and Nicholas both understood that this strange man, half-elf by birth, was revealing lore to non-elves that no full elf would volunteer. His half-human nature felt no such prohi-bition, and he knew that he served a greater good by being frank in all matters concerning the Serpent Men, but that still didn’t make it any easier for his elven half to accept. Those things were not taught; they were inbred. “If this is so, that may explain a low birth rate. Or perhaps they have never had a large population. They may even have some queens, as prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 268

  268

  RAYMOND E. FIEST

  insects do, or there may be a special holding area for females. We don’t know. But if there is a crèche, the females can’t be far away.”

  Patrick said, “I’m still unclear on one thing. If the majority of fighting men and magicians are with the army of the Emerald Queen, what do we gain by raiding those birthing caverns . . .?” His words trailed off as his eyes widened. “You’re going to slaughter the young?” he asked, almost gasping in shock.