Rise of a Merchant Prince

by Raymond E. Feist

  Calis’s expression remained calm. “Yes.”

  “You’re talking about waging war against innocents!” said Patrick, his voice taking on an angry tone. “Keshian Dog Soldiers may slaughter women and children in their rampages, but the last man caught at that during a Kingdom war was hanged before the assembled rank and file of the army.”

  Nicholas glanced at Calis, who returned the look, then nodded.

  Duke James said, “Patrick, you’re new here, and you don’t have all the information—”

  “My lord,” interrupted the Prince, “I realize you’ve held high office since Grandfather’s youth and were my father’s chief adviser in Rillanon, but I am now the ruler of the Western Realm. If there is something you think I should know, why have I not been informed?”

  Duke James looked at Prince Nicholas.

  Nicholas sat back, recognizing his nephew’s mood. The new Prince of Krondor was revealing himself to be a young man of some temper, touchy disposition, moods, and not terribly secure in his position, so he tended to magnify every slight, real or imagined.

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  Knight-Marshal William took charge. “Your Highness,” he began, formally emphasizing the young man’s title, “what I think Calis means is that we were all here during these events, which are only dry reports on paper before you.” He paused, then went on, “We’ve seen the damage these creatures can do firsthand.”

  It was Calis who said, “Would you not kill a poisonous snake because it was its nature to be a viper?”

  Patrick looked at Calis. “Say on.”

  Calis said, “You’ve cities within your borders that were once Keshian. But those who live there are Kingdom by birth, though their ancestors were loyal to the Emperor of Great Kesh. To them it makes no difference. They were raised within the Kingdom, they speak the King’s Tongue, and they think, as we all do, that this is their homeland.”

  “What has this to do with the matter under discussion?” asked Prince Patrick

  “It has everything to do with it,” said Calis. He leaned forward, elbows on the table. “You may somehow think that these creatures are born innocent.

  That is not the case. Everything we know about them says they are born hating from the moment they hatch from their eggs. They are created to be the way they are. If we killed every adult and child, and took the eggs, and hatched them in this palace, raising those who were born here, they would come to consciousness hating us and seeking to reclaim this ‘lost goddess’ they so mistakenly believe in. It is their nature to be this way, as it is the nature of a viper to bite and poison. They cannot help it any more than can the viper.”

  Seeing that the Prince’s objections were waver-

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  ing, Calis pressed on. “You may someday forge a treaty with the Brotherhood of the Dark Path, as you call the moredhel. You may see goblins obeying Kingdom law and visiting our town markets in some dimly imagined future. You may see open borders with Great Kesh and free travel between the two nations. But you will never know a moment’s peace in this world so long as a Pantathian draws breath.

  Because it is in his nature to scheme, kill, and do whatever needs to be done to seize the Lifestone in Sethanon and reclaim the ‘lost goddess’

  AlmaLodaka, the Dragon Lord who created him.”

  Patrick was silent a long moment, then said, “But you’re talking of genocide.”

  Calis said, “I’m not leaving for at least six months, Highness. If you conceive of a better plan, I will be here to listen.” He let his voice fall, the low tone making his next sentence that much more urgent. “But forbid me this, and I will go anyway. If not in a Kingdom ship, then in one from Queg or Kesh. If not this year, then the next, or the one after.

  Because if I do not, then sooner or later the serpent priests will gain the Lifestone, and then we shall all perish.”

  Patrick sat motionless for a very long time. At last he said, “Very well. There seems no other course.

  But if any one of you learns anything that changes this matter, I wish to know of it at once.” He stood up and said to William, “See that things stay calm, but begin preparations.”

  The Prince departed. James turned to William.

  “There’s something else going on we need to discuss.”

  William smiled and looked up at the slightly prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 271

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  taller Duke. “What’s going on, Jimmy?”

  James looked at Calis and Nicholas, then at William. “Helmut Grindle was killed last night outside the city gates.”

  William said, “Grindle? He’s Roo Avery’s partner.”

  Nicholas said, “Exactly, and a potential ally. We are going to need the support of merchants like him.”

  William looked at James. “Any suspects?”

  “Our agents are almost certain Frederick Jacoby or one of his sons is behind the death of Grindle, and the Jacobys are presently allied with Jacob Estherbrook. Estherbrook is a very influential man, both here and down in Kesh.” James was silent for a second, then said, “For the time being, let’s hope Mr.

  Avery doesn’t discover too much about who killed his partner.”

  “What if he already knows or has suspicions?”

  asked Calis. “I know Roo Avery. He’s clever, and Grindle may have regained consciousness long enough to identify his killer.”

  “Perhaps, but as long as Mr. Avery doesn’t cause any problems with Jacob Esterbook and his friends, it won’t matter.” He smiled. “We need merchants hard at work making profits for us to tax, not killing one another.”

  William said, “With that in mind, will they coop-erate when it comes time to put that wealth at risk for our benefit?”

  James looked at his old friend. “You take care of the war, Willy, and I’ll see it’s paid for. The merchants of the Kingdom will come to heel once we make it clear they’re going to lose everything if they don’t help us.” He glanced around the room. “I now prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 272

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  have the Mockers where I want them; I have the throne where I want it; and soon I’ll have the wealth of the Kingdom to use as I need. And if I must bleed our people white to finance this war, I will.

  Remember, I am the only one in this room who was at Sethanon.”

  No one else needed to hear any further explanation. Nicholas’s, William’s, and Calis’s fathers had been at Sethanon, and they had heard in detail over the years what had happened when the Pantathians had tried to seize the Lifestone for the first time, but James had been there.

  William said, “I’m due in court soon, too. If you’ll excuse me, I’d like to see to some other matters before that James?”

  The Duke nodded. After William had left, James said to Calis, “Who are you taking with you on this suicide mission?”

  Calis knew whom he spoke of. “Bobby, Greylock, and Erik. Of the two junior sergeants, he’s the smarter one.”

  “Then leave him here,” said James. “If you’re going to kill off one of them, leave the smarter one alive to serve me here if you fail. Take Jadow with you instead.”

  Calis nodded. “Done.”

  “And leave Bobby here.”

  Calis said, “He’ll never stand for it”

  “Order him.”

  “He’ll disobey.”

  James said, “You serve a unique function here, my friend, but as much as I need the Eagle to return unharmed, I need your vicious Dog of Krondor.” He glanced out the window. “I need a sergeant now more prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 273

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  than I need a General”—he glanced at Calis—“or a Captain.”

  Calis smiled slightly. “He’s g
oing to make your life living hell.”

  James returned the smile. “What else is new? It’s not as if I have any choice.”

  “Very well,” said Calis. “I’ll leave Bobby and Erik here and take Jadow and Greylock.”

  The three were starting toward the door when James said, “What about Nakor?”

  Calis said, “He’d go back if I asked, I’m almost certain, but I think he’ll serve us better down in Stardock. Those magicians are far too full of themselves, and he’s just the man to sort them out and remind them they’re living on a Kingdom island in the middle of that lake of theirs.”

  “Very well, but you’re going to face some powerful magic, by everything you’ve said. What do you plan?”

  Calis seemed almost embarrassed when he answered, “Miranda has agreed to come along.”

  James studied Calis, then laughed. “For all your years, you do at times remind me of my son.”

  Calis had the good grace to smile. “Speaking of whom, when is Arutha due?”

  “Any time now,” answered James. “I think I may send him down to Stardock to run things a while.”

  His smile turned rueful. “And my grandsons are coming with him.”

  Calis nodded. “Jimmy and Dash must be men now.”

  “So they think,” said James. Turning to Nicholas, he said, “You have no idea what you’ve missed by never getting married.”

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  Nicholas said, “I’m not too old now. Amos married my grandmother when he was nearly seventy.”

  “Well, you’ll miss the joy of children if you wait that long,” answered James as he moved toward the door. Then he made a sour face. “As I think of Jimmy and Dash, you might not.”

  As they left the conference hall, James turned to Calis and said, “Like others before me, I’m not all that pleased that this magical lady friend of yours has so many secrets, but as she’s proven a worthy ally over the years, I’ll say nothing more than ‘Be careful.’”

  Calis nodded, lost in his own thoughts as James and Nicholas returned to speaking of families and children.

  Roo looked around and Erik laughed. “You look as if you’re ready to run.”

  In low tones, Roo said, “Truth to tell, I’ve felt that way since the minute I proposed.”

  Erik tried to look understanding, but he couldn’t hide his amusement Roo said, “You wait. One of these days you’ll propose to that whore—”

  “Wait a minute,” began Erik, his good humor vanishing.

  “Wait, wait,” said Roo. “I’m sorry. I’m just not sure this is such a good idea.”

  Looking around the temple, where Karli and Roo were about to be married, Erik whispered, “It’s a little late for that.”

  Karli was entering the temple from a side door, as brides were required to do by the followers of Sung the White. At her side was Katherine, the girl de Loungville had captured and turned to the Prince’s prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 275

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  service. Karli had no friends to speak of, and it wouldn’t have been proper for Mary, the maid, to serve as her companion. So Erik, as Roo’s companion, had asked the serving girl to substitute. To his surprise, the girl had said she would.

  “Well, here we go,” said Roo, and he turned to march down the center aisle, Erik at his side.

  The only witnesses were Luis and some of the other workers from the office, and Jadow and those soldiers who had served with Roo in Calis’s company. They watched as the priest, obviously bored by the fifth or sixth such ceremony of the day, hurried through the rites.

  Roo vowed to care for Karli and be true to her, and she the same, and suddenly the priest was saying that the White Goddess was pleased and they could now leave. Erik gave the priest the votive offering required for such a ceremony, and the wedding party was ushered outside by harried-looking acolytes.

  Roo and Karli were escorted to a carnage hired for the occasion, while the others made their way on foot or horseback to the Grindle house. As the carriage made its way through the streets, Roo turned to see Karli with eyes downcast, staring at her hands.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Roo. “Aren’t you happy?”

  Karl looked at him and her gaze struck him like a blow. Suddenly he knew there was anger and resentment behind the girl’s bland façade. But her voice was calm and her tone almost apologetic as she asked, “Are you?”

  Roo forced a smile. “Of course, my love. Why wouldn’t I be?”

  Karli looked out the window. “You looked posi-

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  tively terrified walking down the aisle.”

  Roo tried to make light of it. “It’s the normal reaction.” When she turned to look at him, he quickly added, “So I’ve been told. It’s the ceremony and the ... rest.”

  They traveled in silence as they made their way slowly through the city. Roo studied the passing cityscape, watching the changing buildings, the throng of citizens, traders, and travelers, as they moved through Krondor at a stately pace until they reached the Grindle house. Erik and the others were waiting as the carriage pulled up.

  As Roo’s companion, Erik opened the door, and Katherine moved to help Karli from the carriage.

  The girl might be a stranger, but she took her part of bride’s companion seriously.

  Inside, the cook had prepared a tremendous repast, and the best wine from the cellar had been uncorked. Roo awkwardly let Karli move through the entrance before him, despite the tradition that said a husband should lead his wife through the door. It was, after all, her home. When she was inside, she said, “I’ll see to the kitchen.”

  Roo put a restraining hand upon her. “Let Mary.

  You will never serve again in this house.”

  Karl studied his face a moment, then a faint smile appeared on her lips. Roo turned and said, “Mary!”

  The maid appeared and Roo said, “You may begin serving.”

  The guests fell to, and the food was both delicious and bountiful. After a more than satisfying meal, Erik stood. He looked around the room and saw Katherine smiling at his awkward stance. He loudly cleared his throat, and when conversation did-

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  n’t diminish, he said, “Listen!”

  He had raised his voice louder than he had wished and the room fell silent, then erupted in laughter. Blushing furiously, Erik held up his hand.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, grinning at his own embarrassment “It’s my duty as the groom’s companion to offer a toast to the newlywed couple.” He glanced at Luis.

  “Or so I have been informed.”

  Luis nodded with a courtly smile and a wave of his hand. Erik said, “I’m not one for words, but I do know this: Roo is my friend, more like a brother to me than any man living, and I only wish his happiness.” Then he looked at Karli and said, “I hope that you love him as I do and that he loves you as you deserve.” He raised his goblet of wine and said, “To the newlywed couple. May they live to an old age and never regret a moment of their lives together.

  May they know happiness every day of their lives.”

  The company drank the toast and cheered, then Roo stood and said, “Thank you.” He turned, to Karli. “I know this has been a difficult time,” he said, referring to her father’s murder, “but my earnest desire is to make the bad times fade into memory and to fill your days with happiness.”

  Karli smiled and blushed and Roo held her hand awkwardly. The dinner progressed and Roo was filled with good cheer and too much wine. He noticed that Erik spent a great deal of time talking to the girl Katherine, and that Karli kept her own counsel most of the day.

  Soon the guests began to excuse themselves, and after night fell, Roo and Karli were bid
ding good evening to Erik, who was the last to leave. When the door closed, Roo turned to his wife and found her prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 278

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  staring at him, an expression impossible to read on her face.

  “What is it?” he asked, suddenly sobering with a stab of fear. Something about her manner caused him to feel the need to draw a weapon.

  She came into his arms and put her head on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

  Roo’s head swam and he felt his knees wobble, but he forced himself to be alert enough to ask,

  “What are you talking about?”

  Over the sound of sobbing, he heard Karli say, “I wanted this to be a happy day.”

  Roo said, “And it isn’t?”

  Karli didn’t speak. Tears were her only answer.

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  11

  Travel

  Jason pointed.

  The pile of ledgers and journals before the former waiter from Barret’s was daunting. “Well, I’ve been through them all,” he said as he pushed his chair back from the writing desk now established in the corner of the workshop.

  Carpenters had built a set of shelves for Jason, as well as a low railing around his work area, so he could see anyone coming into the warehouse, despite some privacy. Roo had informed the youth that he would be responsible for the smooth operation of the freight business if he, Duncan, and Luis were all absent from the premises at the same time.

  Duncan looked bored, as he usually did when it came to matters of business, unless it was getting paid, and Luis was his usual taciturn self. Roo said,

  “And?”

  Jason said, “Well, you’re in better shape than you thought, if you can get some of those who owed Helmut money to pay up.” He held out a parchment upon which he had been working for days and said,

  “I’ve compiled a list and the amounts owed.”

  279

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