“If I can I will.”
Then Roo had his arms around his friend, hugging him closely. “You’re the only damn brother I ever had, Erik von Darkmoor. I’ll be very angry if I learn you’re dead before you get a chance to see my son.”
Erik awkwardly returned the, hug, then disengaged himself from Roo. “Keep an eye on Greylock.
He was supposed to go, but de Loungville threw a fit at being left behind. . . .“ Erik managed a wry smile.
“It’s going to be an interesting trip. Sure you don’t want to come with us?”
Roo laughed a humorless laugh. “I can do without that sort of ‘interesting.’” He motioned toward the upstairs room. “I have people to take care of.”
“So you do,” said Erik with a smile. “Just see you do a good job or I’ll be back to haunt you.”
“Just come back and you can do what you want,”
said Roo.
Erik nodded, opened the door, and was gone.
Roo stood motionless, feeling an absence more profound than any he had known in his life. He remained there for a while, and when he at last broke out of his reverie, he pulled his cloak off the peg and left for the shop. He forgot to go upstairs and make a fuss over the baby.
Jason signaled to Roo, who moved across the crowded warehouse. Business had been building steadily for the last six months, and now they had prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 304
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twenty-six full-time drivers and a score of apprentices.
“What is it?” asked Roo.
Jason held out a parchment without any seal on it.
The only marking on the outside was Roo’s name.
“This was just delivered. It came by royal post.”
Roo took it and opened it. It said: “A Quegan trader has put in at Sarth. John.”
Roo’s brow furrowed as he considered the importance of the message, then he said, “Tell Duncan we leave at once for Sarth.”
Jason nodded. Duncan came from the small apartment he and Luis still shared in the rear; Jason had taken Roo’s space in the tiny apartment, since Roo was now living with his family. “What is it?” he asked, obviously having been wakened from a nap.
“Remember John Vinci up at Sarth?”
Duncan yawned widely as he nodded. “What of him?”
“He’s sent us a message.”
“What’s it say?” asked Duncan.
“A Quegan trader has put in.”
Duncan looked uncertain a moment; then his face lit up with a smile. “A Quegan trader in Sarth can mean only one thing.” He lowered his voice.
“Contraband.”
Roo held up a finger indicating silence.
“Something requiring discretion.” To Jason he said,
“After I’m gone, send word to Karli, telling her I’ll be gone for a week or so.”
As the newly serviced wagon was fitted, and food and waterskins loaded aboard, Roo speculated on what it was that Vinci wanted to sell him. He kept wondering as they rolled out of the yard into the city prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 305
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and started their way north.
The trip to Sarth had proven uneventful. Roo felt a strange discomfort listening to Duncan rattle on about this barmaid or that game of dice. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he felt as if there was something back in Krondor left unattended, and that vague uneasiness was growing into full-blown worry by the time they reached Sarth.
They arrived at sundown and went straight to the shop of John Vinci. They pulled up in front and Roo jumped down. “Let me talk to him a moment,” he said to Duncan, “then we’ll head for the inn.”
“Very well,” Duncan agreed.
Roo went inside, and Vinci said, “Ah, it’s you. I was just about to close. Would you like to dine with my family?”
Roo said, “Certainly. Now what is this mysterious note you sent me?”
Vinci went to the door and locked it. He motioned for Roo to follow him to the back room. “Two things.
As I said in the note, a Quegan trader arrived here a little over a week ago. The captain was . . . anxious to dispose of an item, and when I saw it I thought of you.”
He took down a large box and opened it. Inside, Roo saw a very elegant-looking set of rubies mounted in a display case, as if for presentation. He had never seen anything like it, but Helmut had mentioned such displays to him, and he didn’t need more than a moment to know what it meant. “Stolen.”
“Well, the trader seemed ready to take whatever I agreed to give him before he returned to Queg.”
Roo thought a moment. “What did you pay for prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 306
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it?”
John looked at Roo askance a moment. “What matter is that to you? What is it worth?”
“Your life, if the Quegan noble who ordered it to present to his mistress finds out you have it,”
answered Roo. “Look, I’m going to have to ship that to the Eastern Realm if I take it off your hands. No noble in the Western Realm is going to give those to his wife, have her wear them to a reception, and encounter some Quegan envoy who recognizes them for what they are.”
John looked uncertain. “How would they know?”
Roo pointed at the stones. “It’s a matched set, John. There are five brilliant matched stones, and a dozen smaller ones, but all are cut in identical fashion. The case is . . .” He took it, closed it, and turned it over. “Look, here.” He pointed to a line of symbols cut into the wood.
“I don’t read Quegan,” said John.
“And I can fly,” said Roo. “Don’t lie to a liar, John. Vinci is no Kingdom name. What is it, short for Vincinti?”
John grinned. “Vincintius. My grandfather was an escaped Quegan slave who kept his master’s sur-name.” He glanced at the mark. “So this was made by commission from Lord Vasarius by Secaus Gracianus, master jeweler. Get a new box.”
Roo said, “Because that gem cutter will know these rubies like he knows his own children, he has certainly let it be known they are gone. If they show up anywhere west of Darkmoor, he will know within a month who has them, and who they were purchased from. The hunt will be on. The only way you’re going to keep your throat intact will be to stop pulling my prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 307
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finger and tell me what you paid.”
John didn’t look convinced. “Ten thousand sovereigns.”
Roo laughed. “Try again.”
John said, “Very well, five thousand.”
Roo said, “I’m sorry. I can’t hear you. What was it you said?”
John said, “I paid a thousand gold sovereigns.”
“Where did you get a thousand sovereigns?”
asked Roo.
“Some I had saved, and the rest in trade. He needed to refit.”
“On his way to Kesh or the Free Cities, was he?”
said Roo.
“In something of a hurry,” said John. “He stole the box or had it stolen before he realized how difficult it would be to dispose of the booty.” He shrugged. “His loss; our gain.”
Roo nodded. “Here’s what I’ll do. You can have either two thousand sovereigns gold, now, or I’ll give you . . . a third of what I can fetch in the East, but you’ll have to wait.”
John considered only a moment. “I’ll take the gold now.” Roo said, “I thought you would.”
Reaching into his tunic, he pulled out a heavy purse.
“I can give you a hundred now, and a letter of account. The gold is in Krondor.”
“That’s not ‘gold now,’ Roo.”
Roo shook his head. “All right, make it twenty-one hundred: a hundred now, and two thousand on a letter.”
“Done. I’m heading to Krondor next month and I’ll present the letter then.”
&nb
sp; “Take it to my office and I’ll see you’re paid. Or prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 308
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you can have a line of credit.”
“What, so you can have the merchants jack up the prices for a kickback and get your price discounted?”
Roo laughed. “John, why don’t you work for me?”
John said, “What do you mean?”
“Let me buy this miserable shop of yours and close it up. Bring your family down to Krondor and run a shop for me. I’ll pay you more than you’ll ever make here. Your talents are wasted in Sarth.”
John said, “Krondor? Never thought much of living in a city. Let me think on it.”
“You do that,” said Roo. “I’m heading for the inn.
I’ll come by your home later for supper. I have my cousin with me.”
“Bring him along,” said John. “And we can talk of that other matter I mentioned.”
“Good,” said Roo, letting himself out of the store.
He felt good. It might take a couple of months, but those rubies would fetch him at least five thousand sovereigns’ profit.
As he climbed into the wagon, Duncan said,
“That took you long enough.”
Taking the reins, Roo grinned. “It was worth it.”
* * *
John’s family was crowded into a small house a short distance behind his shop, separated from the shop by a small garden in which John’s wife grew vegetables. Roo and Duncan were admitted by John, who was now puffing on a long pipe. He offered them a mug each of a fair ale while Annie, his wife, prepared dinner in the kitchen, aided by several chil-
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dren. Roo found the noise nerve-racking as the younger three children half played, half scuffled underfoot while John sat ignoring them.
“Don’t you find this a little much?” asked Roo.
“What?” said John.
“The noise.”
John laughed. “You get used to it. You obviously don’t have children.”
Roo blushed. “Actually, I do have . . . a baby.”
John shook his head. “Then get used to it.”
Duncan said, “Very nice ale.”
John said, “It’s nothing special, but I do enjoy a mug between closing the shop and supper.”
“What’s this other matter you mentioned?” asked Roo.
“While he was talking, the Quegan trader whom I did business with mentioned something I thought you might find interesting.”
“What is it?”
“If you can turn this to a profit, what’s my cut?”
Roo glanced at Duncan. “It depends, John.
Information is sometimes very useful to one person and worthless to another.”
“I know about those trading consortiums down in Krondor and you’re the sort of man to be involved with them.”
Roo laughed. “Not yet, but I do know my way around the trading floor at Barret’s. if there’s something you know that I can trade for gold at Barret’s, I’ll give you two percent of what I make.”
John considered. “More. Take the two thousand gold sovereigns you owe me and invest it with your own gold.” He leaned forward. “Make me a partner.”
Roo said, “Done, for this one transaction.”
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“Here’s what I know,” began John. “The Quegan captain I talked to said that a friend of his had sailed a cargo to Margrave’s Port. While he was there, rumors were spreading through the city that there was some sort of pest infesting the wheat fields outside the city.” He dropped his voice as if fearing somehow to be overheard in his own house.
“Grasshoppers.”
Roo looked confused. “So? There are grasshoppers everywhere.”
John said, “Not like these. If the farmer is mentioning grasshoppers, what they’re talking about is a lot worse: locusts.”
Roo sat back, stunned. “If this is true . . . ” He calculated. “If that news hasn’t reached Krondor yet
. . .” He jumped to his feet. “Duncan, we’re leaving now. John, I will invest the gold I owe you. For if this rumor turns out to be false, I’ll be ton poor to pay you what I owe you, anyway. But if it’s true . . . we’ll both be rich men.”
Duncan was out of his seat, looking confused, as Annie stuck her head through the kitchen door.
“Supper’s ready.”
“Aren’t we going to eat?” said Duncan.
Roo saluted John’s wife. “Regrets, Annie. We must fly.” He half pushed Duncan out of the door as Duncan complained. “I don’t follow. What’s going on?”
“I’ll explain it to you on our way south. We’ll eat while we drive.”
Duncan made an aggravated sound as they hurried to the inn, where they would need to tack up a tired team of horses and get started on the hurried trip home.
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Duncan said, “I see something ahead.”
Roo, who had been dozing a bit while his cousin took a turn driving the team, was instantly alert. It was an uneventful trip despite their hurrying to the horses’ limits. Usually between Sarth and Krondor this was the case, but even though they were still inside the well-patrolled Principality, outlaws and the occasional goblin raid were not unheard of.
As they moved up the road, another wagon could be seen. It was pulled over to the side of the road and the driver was waving. Roo pulled up and the driver said, “Can you help me?”
“What’s the problem?” asked Roo.
“I’ve got a busted hub.” He pointed to the rear wheel, looking nervous. “And my master will be furious if this cargo is late.”
Roo took a second look at the wagon. “Who’s your master?”
“I’m a teamster for Jacoby and Sons,” answered the driver. Roo laughed. “I know your master. Yes, he’ll be upset if you’re delayed. What cargo?”
At that the driver looked very uncomfortable.
“Just some trade goods ... from Sarth.”
Roo glanced at Duncan, who nodded and jumped down. “My friend,” said Duncan, “we’re in a position to be of service.” He slowly drew his sword and pointed at the wagon. “First we’re going to unload your cargo and put it in our wagon, which, as you can see, is presently empty. Then we will replace our very tired horses with your rested and fresh animals.”
The driver looked as if he was going to bolt, but Roo had come around the other side of his horses and stood between the driver and freedom. The timid prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 312
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man said, “Please don’t hurt me.”
Duncan smiled. “My friend, that is the last thing we wish to do. Now, why don’t you get started on unloading while my companion inspects your bill of lading.”
The man’s eyes grew wide as he headed for the back of the wagon. Unfastening the last tie-down, he said, “The paperwork is . . . coming by messenger . .
. later.”
Roo laughed. “And the guard at the city gate who Tim Jacoby has paid off will believe that nonsense, I’m certain.”
The driver nodded and sighed. “You know the routine, obviously.” He lifted a large box out of the wagon and carried it over to Roo’s wagon. Duncan lowered the tailgate, and the man shoved the box in, pushing it deep into the wagon. “You realize you’re going to get me killed?”
“I doubt it,” said Roo. “you’ve got a busted wheel, and when you reach Krondor, you’ll have a wonderful tale to tell of the brave fight you put up against overwhelming odds.”
Duncan chimed in: “Your bravery is undoubted, and you risked your life against six bandits—no, seven bandits for your master’s cargo. Why, I’d buy you a drink in any inn in Krondor to hea
r that story again.”
“What’s the cargo?” asked Roo.
“Might as well tell you,” said the driver as he carried the second box over to Roo’s wagon. “Quegan luxuries. My master sent me up to Sarth to meet with a Quegan captain who made an unscheduled stop there. The Royal Customs house was closed, because the customs officer in Sarth is dead.”
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“When did that happen?” asked Roo, suddenly very interested.
“Over a year ago.” The driver laughed bitterly.
“For whatever reason, new Prince in the city, or some other thing, there’s been no replacement up there since. Makes it easy to pick up goods there and bring them down to the city. As you said, if you know the right city gate and which guard sergeant to talk to, getting into the city with any cargo is an easy task.”
Roo said, “Would you be willing to mention the time and gate?”
“What’s in it for me?” asked the driver, and suddenly Roo was laughing.
“Your loyalty to the Jacobys is unmatched.”
The driver shrugged, then jumped into the wagon to grab the last box. “Do you know Tim?”
Roo nodded. “Well enough.”
“Then you know he’s a swine. His father, Frederick, when he was in charge, well, he’s a tough old boot, but he was mostly fair. If you did something well, there was a little extra in it for you.
Randolph’s a decent enough fellow.
“But Tim,” said the driver, carrying the box over to Roo’s wagon, “now there’s a piece of work. He’s the sort that if you do a perfect job, why, that’s what he’s paying you for, but if you make the tiniest mistake, you’re as likely to get a knife between your ribs as a pat on the back. He has these two bashers who are with him all the time. He’s a rough customer.”
Roo glanced at Duncan. “At least he thinks he is.”
He asked the driver, “What’s your name?”
“Jeffrey,” answered the driver.
“Well, Jeffrey,” said Roo, “you’ve been very help-ful.” He reached into his purse and pulled out a gold prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 314
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coin. “The gate and time?”
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