by B. K. Parent
Chapter Sixty-Three
At the crack of dawn, I borrowed a large woven carrying basket from Mistress Jalcones, went out to my cart where we stored the goods overnight that we had had out for sale, and packed up all of the Princess’ knitting. Taking it back to the homewagon, I unpacked it, and the Princess, who had finally stopped calling herself stupid and a dunderbrain, began to sort through the sweaters, caps, and other knitted items, looking to see if anything else was of her distinctive designs rather than those of the south country. It was a good thing we looked, for there were several more items.
As she began to unravel the knitting, I asked her how the Captain would have known the design on the knitted hat was hers. In addition to that question, I asked how many others would know her designs. Was she some kind of famous knitter, and had we put her life in more jeopardy by having her do a craft she was well known for?
“No, not famous at all as a knitter,” the Princess said, with a self-deprecating laugh. “In truth, very few at the royal court would even know I knit, for they would be much too self-absorbed to notice. I have given away a few of my caps and sweaters to some of the staff as small tokens of thanks. The Captain might have served in the royal household at one time, seen something I knitted, and remembered the design. She would probably be a knitter herself to have done so.”
“We can only hope. It would look odd if I stopped selling your knitted goods and went back to selling herbs and medicinal plants, so I will put your goods out again when I open the booth this morning. I see you have already sorted out and are unraveling those of your designs. What a pity, for they are beautiful. Can I help?”
“Thank you, no. I can do it, but you can keep me company. Do you have something to work on?” the Princess asked.
I did a mental head slap, for I had forgotten that I had several more whimsies yet to carve to fill the Captain’s order. As I began to carve, sitting on the back steps, another thought struck me. I leaned into the homewagon and asked the princess a question.
“I don’t recall selling anything in your design, but I might have been away or dealing with another customer, and Shyla might have. Do you remember if all you made in your designs are in that bunch there? Oh, and have you given any away to anyone since you have been traveling with me?”
“Yes and no. Yes, I have all that I have made for sale here, and no, I have not given any to anyone.”
I found some relief in that answer, but it only decreased the worry a small amount. So very much could go wrong from moment to moment, and we could be discovered. If folks who were loyal to the Crown discovered us, maybe the Princess could talk her way out of it by telling them she just wanted to move amongst her folk and get to know them before she took up the full time duties of the Crown. That sounded good, but would anyone believe her? If the wrong folks found us, well, that was too terrible to think of. I finished carving the whimsies the Captain ordered and made one just for her. A cross between an owl and a rabbit. That would be a creature that was both wise and fast; an owbit or a rabowl.
The rest of the morning was uneventful. Just an ordinary day at a fair, with the exception of the increased numbers of royal guards and peacekeepers. I also noticed a number of folks who were stopping at the booth and did not quite ring true, and I wondered what that was all about. We had seen similar at other fairs, and I was still not sure why some folk needed to pretend to be that which they were not, like the false forester. Were they spies for the Regent, or were they folks who had their own reasons for deception? It was hard to concentrate and tiring to have to be on alert all of the time. I hoped my outward countenance did not belie my inner turmoil.
Just as the noon bells rang, the Captain showed up as promised. “Do you have my order?” she asked.
“Yes, Captain, and I put in an extra one for you. My special thanks to the twins,” I said with a smile.
“I thank you for the whimsies. I am afraid I need to return the puzzle box I purchased yesterday.”
“Was there something wrong with it? Do you need help with it?” I began and then remembered what the Captain had said the day before. “Ah, um, do you want your coins back, or do you want to trade for another one?”
“I would trade for one that is less challenging. I find I don’t have as much free time as I had expected, and while I like a challenge, I do not need more frustration in my life right now.”
Having anticipated that the Captain would be returning the puzzle box, I had selected a few from my cart this morning to have ready, ones that I thought were as beautiful and as well-crafted as the one she had purchased. I put two of them out, and the Captain chose one of them and went on her way. I had actually made a profit on the exchange, for she had not tried to bargain a lower price for the less complex puzzle box. For safekeeping, I tucked the puzzle box she had returned into my day satchel because I did not want to mistakenly sell it to someone else before I had a chance to check it out. I suspected the Captain might not have been as over-challenged as she professed and might have left something in the puzzle box.
While it had been a good day at the fair, I was glad when the closing horn sounded, and I could close up for the day. The town was not off limits this day, but I did not feel like wandering into town, being more satisfied to stick close to my friends, plus I did not feel it was wise to be very far away from the Princess. Being anxious all day takes its toll, so shortly after dinner, I excused myself and retired to my homewagon. The Princess also made her excuses and retired with me. Once inside the homewagon, I placed my day sack on the table and removed the puzzle box.
The Princess sat on the other side and said, “You suspect that the Captain might have left something in the puzzle box, don’t you?”
“Yes,” I replied, even as my hands were working the pattern to open the puzzle box.
It struck me that Da had been the one to teach me how to make the puzzle boxes, once he had discovered my love of woodcraft. He was also the one who had encouraged me to make and begin to stockpile them. I began to wonder about that. Was this slipping of messages and items by way of puzzle boxes something he had done in that part of his life that I was only beginning to suspect? I was distracted from that line of thought when I heard the distinctive click which signaled I had opened the puzzle box.
I was not surprised to find several pieces of paper folded quite small inside the puzzle box. What did surprise me was the fact that there was no note, just two maps. One of the maps was obviously of the capitol, and I put that one aside for the moment. The other was a little harder to figure out. I spread it out on the table and was turning it this way and that when the Princess reached out and stopped the movement.
“I think I know what this map is of,” she stated. “Give it a quarter turn for me, will you, so I can be sure.” I did as she asked. Kiaya studied the map a moment longer and then said, “How very clever your Captain is.”
“Clever? Clever how?”
“This is a map of the land about a day’s ride south of the capitol which encompasses a number of estates belonging to wealthy merchants, some of the nobility, and a large amount of forest and parkland belonging to the Crown. See this spot here the Captain seems to have marked?”
I had to look closely, for I had not spotted the mark the Princess was referring to.
“The small woods indicated here is an ancient one and also a very protected one. Like the royal road, this woods is open to anyone. As you know, all are supposed to be able to travel the royal road without being harassed or harmed. This woods carries the same type of royal edict of protection. It is supposed to be a sanctuary for any who would choose to stay within its boundaries. I think the Captain marked it as a possible place for us to stay between this fair and the fair at the capitol. The Regent might not think to look for us so close, and certainly it would not occur to him that I, who has been raised in the capitol and the confines and luxuries o
f the palace, would camp out.”
We talked a bit further about the woods indicated on the map, and the advantages and disadvantages of going there, and then I showed her the other map. The Princess looked at it for a long, long time, and then I saw a slow smile form on her face.
“Ah, yes, the Captain is clever, very clever. I will remember her when it comes time for me to take charge of the royal guards,” the Princess said, and proceeded to tell me the significance of the second map.
The next morning I had time to think about what needed to happen next, and I was somewhat distracted, which is not a good state to be in when working with sharp tools. By noon however, I had a plan in mind and needed to gather my friends together, so we could decide what to do. Since the search of the campgrounds, I noticed that there were fewer royal guards in the lanes of the fair. I also noticed that there were fewer of those who seemed not to ring true to what they were purporting to be. Maybe the searchers had convinced themselves that whatever they were looking for was not here. I suspect they had been trying to find the missing Princess. I also noticed that not much was being said about the Princess among those of us who were selling at the fair. If she did not show up at the next fair, and the Regent did not respond to where she was soon, the rumors would rise again, and certainly not in a positive light for her. I worried about how she was feeling, since she was certainly aware of how the common folk were not at all enamored with her.
The opportunity to talk with Master Clarisse, Beezle, Oscar, Bertram, and the Jalcones came that evening. An impromptu gathering of song, music, and storytelling was being formed at the far end of our camping area, and most everyone had drifted there, called by the laughter and music. I had passed the word quietly, asking my friends to hang back with Kiaya and me for just a few minutes. Carz sat at my feet, but I could feel his attitude of alertness, as if he were on guard against anyone hearing our conversation. Beezle had discreetly circled our campsites, giving an outward show of checking tent lines, but in reality, checking shadowy areas where someone could lurk and listen in on us.
Once everything was checked to his satisfaction, he sat down, and I began. “A certain Captain of the royal guards has stopped by my booth for the last few days, and her visits have been quite enlightening,” I told the group. “I have reason to trust her, and you will just have to trust me on this. Kiaya concurs. She has suggested that Kiaya and I skip the next fair and has offered a solution as to where we might stay. We think it is a good one. Also,” I said before anyone else had a chance to speak, “she suggested strongly that we need to urge folks loyal to the Crown to be present at the fair at the capitol.”
Upon my statement, most everyone started talking at once in very hushed but emphatic tones. The gist of the talk was the question of whether it was wise to go, and if it were wise to go, then was it wise to go alone? Finally Master Clarisse held up her hand and commanded attention.
“We need to be practical. We can’t all go with Nissa and Kiaya, for it would draw too much attention. Wait,” Master Clarisse said when others would have interrupted her. “It would look odd for the Jalcones to change their route to take a week off and go back on their word to deliver what they have arranged to deliver. And Beezle, you know that you need to get back to your uncle with what we know. I, too, can travel out to spread the word as can Evan. I am concerned about you two traveling off alone. Look what happened the last time.”
Bertram cleared his throat and gained our attention. “I would suggest that Oscar and I and our families accompany them. A group of rover families camping together and not at a fair would not be at all unusual, especially just before the fair at the capitol. The fair at the capitol is not only the main and biggest fair of the summer, but is also an important one for gaining recognition of your skill at your craft. Master crafters from all over the land are judges, not just the Princess, and to win a nod from them, especially for non-guild members, is not only a great honor but can increase your reputation, and in turn, your ability to earn coin. If anyone were to observe us, we would be just a group of very hardworking rovers preparing for the capitol fair, putting last minute touches on our entries.”
Before anyone could object, Oscar chimed in. “We know the risks to both ourselves and our families if something should go very wrong. We know our children could be harmed. We have weighed that possibility against not being involved and doing nothing. We could just go on to the next fair, or just drive off into the interior and hope for the best. Not be involved. That would not be right. We were taught to do what is right, and that is what we have tried to teach our children. If we slink off now, we would betray what we believe in. We will accompany Nissa and Kiaya.”
I have to admit I was both touched and relieved by Bertram’s and Oscar’s decisions. When I had first started out on my journey from home, I had not been concerned about traveling alone, but after our misadventure after leaving the Günnary, I was more wary. In addition, what Bertram had suggested made a great deal of sense.
With a plan settled, Bertram and Oscar excused themselves, saying they needed to get to the festivities at the other end of the campground so they could make sure their children were behaving. Their children rarely misbehaved, so I suspected they just wanted to join in and find some relief from the seriousness of our discussion in the music and laughter we could hear drifting our way on the wind. Evan went with them, and I suspected his motive was more to check out if there were any treats available than to appreciate the music. The Jalcones accompanied Evan. I was surprised that Beezle had not leapt up, gathered a wooden whistle from his pack, and wandered that way.
“We need to have some type of plan to meet once we get to the capitol. We can’t trust that we will be assigned places that will be near each other. This is what I suggest,” Master Clarisse said, and went on to make her suggestion.
We agreed that her idea made sense. With our conversation finished, all of us began to stand, when I saw Carz come to attention and turn towards the back of my homewagon. I could hear his low warning rumble. I placed my hand on his neck and could feel the tension radiating throughout his body.
“Steady now,” I whispered softly to him.
His alert had all of us standing at the ready, looking towards my homewagon as a tall man dressed in workingman’s clothing slowly walked out of the shadows, hands out in front of him in a gesture of goodwill. A soft floppy wide-brimmed hat cast a shadow on his face, making it difficult to distinguish his features.
The man looked up and said quietly, “Is one of you Nissa?”
The light from the fire was enough light to allow me to see his face more clearly, and I realized that the man facing us was the young man from the Inn of the Three Hares.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Master Rollag eased himself gingerly onto the bench. With a stifled groan, he leaned back to brace his back on the wall behind him and faced the door of the tavern. Lady Celik sat beside him, equally alert but in much less pain, he was sure. This was not the first time he had wondered to himself when he had gotten so soft or old. Riding steadily day after day was not something he was used to anymore, that was for sure. He would not have minded the aches and pains had they been successful, but so far, any sign or word of Seeker Eshana had eluded them. They had landed in this tavern in the back of beyond, following the latest hint of a rumor that the elusive Seeker Eshana might be in the area.
The tavern itself was rough timbered and not well ventilated, so that the room swam in a smoky haze from the huge fireplace. The smell of old grease, burnt meat, and unwashed bodies added to Master Rollag’s discomfort, as did his concern over Lady Celik’s safety, which was fairly foolish on his part, for Lady Celik was well able to take care of herself. Probably better in a close quarter fight than he was. He just hoped that neither of them would have to test his theory. Master Rollag shook himself sternly for his thoughts. Just because the clientele of the tavern were as r
ough-hewn as the timbers above them did not necessarily make them smarmy curs and brigands. At least he hoped not. Nonetheless, it did not do to let one’s guard down in a strange place, especially when the local patrons of the tavern seemed to be quaffing large mugs of the local brew at an alarming rate, and the noise level was getting louder and louder.
Just as Master Rollag was about to suggest to Lady Celik that it might be time to pay up and depart, several of the locals stood up and began to walk their way, mentioning in rather slurred but loud voices that Lady Celik appeared to be a comely wench, if a bit long in the tooth, and maybe she would be joining them. Master Rollag mentally groaned and prepared to fight his way out of the tavern. He could see Lady Celik shift her stance also. The two locals were almost to Master Rollag and Lady Celik when the door slammed open, and a huge cloaked figure entered the room.
Once Thorval had set and bound up Johan’s arm, he went about checking Johan’s boat for supplies. He was pleased to note that Johan had stocked up on staples prior to venturing into the worst part of the docks. He would need to ask him what he had been doing there, once Johan recovered from his faint from having his arm set. Thorval moved quickly up the ladder to the main deck and checked out the rest of the boat. The fishing nets were secure, and everything on deck was shipshape. Lines neatly coiled, sails furled tightly, and everything battened down. It had been a very long time since Thorval had sailed anything this big, and he hoped he could handle it. It was past time to get away from the port of Marinel and on with his mission. Hopefully none of the troubles that were following him, or for that matter Johan, knew he was on the Mowenna. His success was going to depend on luck and a fair wind.
Thorval went to the bow of the boat, pulled up the anchor, and then set about hoisting the mainsail. Settling himself on the bench at the stern of the boat, he grabbed the lines and the rudder and set about getting himself safely out of Marinel harbor, without hitting anyone and without attracting undue attention. Once on the open sea he would need to stay alert and make sure if anyone were following him that he could out run them.