A couple of the men chuckled but they all waited quietly for a moment, until Angelica appeared through the kitchen door. She greeted the porters by name and drew their drinks without asking their pleasure; obviously they were regular customers.
Over the next few minutes another dozen or so men entered the inn, all of them workers, either porters like the first group or wagon drivers and teamsters.
Caleb returned and sat down. What have you learned?
Talon glanced at his companion. For a moment he didnt understand the question, as he had been sitting alone, then he realized that Caleb was asking him what he had deduced from his observations. He told him about his guess as to the size of the inn, then added, The stabling yard to the rear must be spacious, because it took our wagon with ease, and we will use only one of the rooms. I assume it can house as many as a dozen horses, perhaps more.
More, said Caleb as a pretty girl entered from the kitchen and brought over a tray of food. Talon, this is Ella.
Talon glanced at the girl, who was slender as a reed, yet he instantly saw the resemblance to Angelica. She was perhaps a few years older than Talon, with blue eyes and very dark hair, made dramatic by a very pale complexion and pinkly rosy cheeks. She wore a plain dress of blue linen and a white apron, but the belt around her waist revealed a pleasing proportion and ample curves despite her being so slender.
Hello, he said.
She smiled and instantly Talon was struck by how pretty she was. She put down the tray and glanced at Caleb with an open warmth and then said, Ill be back if you need anything.
As she hurried back to the kitchen, more workers entered the inn. When she reached the bar, one of the arriving porters called out, Ella!
She paused for a moment and her expression darkened. Hello, Forney, she said, then without another word she walked quickly into the kitchen.
Talon studied the newcomer. He was a young man, perhaps Calebs age, sturdily built with a thick thatch of black hair. His clothing was rough, but relatively clean. He moved to the bar with his companions.
Jacob came into the bar from the kitchen, greeted a few of the regular patrons of the inn and came over to the table. Caleb pushed out a chair for him and the young man sat down. Your horses are bedded and fed. The bay mare was favouring her left front hoof, so I had a look at it. Picked up a small stone. Could be forming an abscess.
Talon had picked out the hooves every night and when resting at noon, so the animal must have picked up the stone along the last leg of the journey.
Jacob continued. Ill keep an eye on it. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. With an evil grin, he said, So, has Forney seen Ella talking to you yet? Caleb didnt look amused. Jacob turned to Talon. My sister has set her cap at our friend here, but young Forney over there is determined to marry her.
Talon was still vague as to the marriage customs of these people, but he was beginning to sense things were nowhere near as formal among the city people as he thought of everyone who wasnt Orosini as they had been at home. Not quite knowing what to say, Talon said nothing.
Caleb glanced over at Forney then said to Jacob, Ive told your sister I like her, but you know as well as I do Im a long way from marriage. He got a distant look, then added softly, If I ever do wed. He gave them a slight smile. Besides, if I read things right, Forney would have his work cut out for him even if Id never set foot in Latagore.
Jacob laughed. He does get on Ellas bad side more than most, for some reason. But then its all of a piece, isnt it? You want what you cant have.
Talon looked puzzled. Jacob noticed and said, Ella wants Caleb here, but cant have him, and Forney wants Ella, and cant have her. Its the same, see?
Talon didnt, entirely, but he nodded as if he did. After a moment, he said, Who is he?
Forney? asked Jacob with a shrug. Hes a good enough sort, but nothing special.
Caleb raised an eyebrow and gave Jacob a sardonic half-smile.
All right, so his father is the wealthiest shipper in the region.
Talon didnt know much about people of wealth, save those who visited Kendricks, so he said, He dresses much like the others.
Thats his fathers doing. The old man wants the son to learn the business from the wagon-hubs up. As I said, hes not a bad sort. Then he added, Nothing like our mysterious travelling man, here. He patted Caleb on the shoulder. Ellas had her cap set at him since she was what? Fifteen?
That was four years ago, Jacob.
Jacob nodded. I keep telling her that if she got to know you, shed change her mind, but you know how sisters are.
Not really, said Caleb. I have a brother, remember?
A strange expression passed over Jacobs face. It was only for a bare instant, but Talon noticed it. Then, forcing lightness into his voice, Jacob said, Magnus is hard to forget. He pushed his chair back noisily and stood up. Well, I have other duties to attend to. If you need anything, just ask.
Well be fine, said Caleb.
Talon waited for a moment for Jacob to leave, then said to Caleb, There are so many things I dont understand about you people.
You people? repeated Caleb.
You and Jacob, and those back at Kendricks. He struggled with the concept. People who are not Orosini.
Caleb glanced around the room. Its better that you forget youre Orosini, at least when youre within hearing range of strangers.
Why?
Someone went to a lot of trouble to see the Orosini dead, Talon. While you, alone, pose no threat to those people, the fact that you witnessed the calculated genocide of an entire nation makes you a potential embarrassment. He raised his voice. Now, back to what you said; you dont understand what?
Talon looked away as if unwilling to meet Calebs gaze. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet and flat. The banter, I think is the word. The joking, but not joking speech.
The teasing.
Yes, thats the word. Lela does it with me sometimes, and there are moments when I dont know if shes serious about what shes saying or not.
Caleb shrugged. That hardly makes you unique among young men, Talon.
Perhaps, but youre older than I am and I thought
Caleb cut him off with a rare laugh. I can be of no help to you, my young friend. He leaned forward and looked into his mug of ale. Some day, perhaps, youll meet the rest of my family and see where I was raised. But even if you never do, you should know that my upbringing was anything but ordinary. He glanced up and smiled. I grew up as a blind man would among the sighted.
What do you mean?
One day Ill explain that, but suffice it to say I was not a happy child. My parents are exceptional people, talented beyond imagining, but they had no means to heal what I saw as a flaw in my nature.
Talon sat back, his expression one of open astonishment. I perceive no flaw in you, Caleb. I judge you to be the best hunter I have known, and my people are renowned for hunting. I have studied enough with Kendrick with the sword to see youre as gifted with the blade as with the bow. Youre plain speaking, yet thoughtful. You have patience and look deeply into things. What is lacking?
Caleb smiled and sat back. Becoming a student of human nature, arent you? Robert will do that to a man, given enough time. Its one of his gifts. What is lacking, he said softly, is magic. My brother is not the only practitioner of magic in my family; rather I am the only one who does not have the gift. I grew up on an island where I was virtually alone in this.
Talon said, So Robert and your brother are both magicians? He kept his voice low.
You didnt know?
I never saw either of them practice, although He paused. The lessons your brother teaches are all about using the mind, more He groped for a concept. Stranger than the lessons in logic which Robert gives me. Magnus shows me how to do things he tapped his head, in here, that I didnt imagine were possible. Yet I have no talent for magic.
You know this for certain? asked Caleb, as if making light of the subject.
Among my people we have very few who are called to be shaman, a magic priest. Each baby is tested, and those who have the talent leave their villages as children to study with the shamans. Among my people, there are a handful, and they Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, Talon said, It doesnt matter. They are all dead. He felt moisture gathering in his eyes and blinked. Its been a while since Ive felt that.
Caleb nodded. It never goes away, completely. But youll discover other things in life. His manner brightened. My point was that while Ive long since recovered from the imagined slights of my birth and upbringing, one thing I was never good at was understanding women. And like you, I was an outsider when I first came to this part of the world, with no bearings to go on. He took a drink of ale then said, On the other hand, learning can be very pleasant at times.
Talon grinned. It can be. Lela is
Caleb finished for him. Lela. Shes a lively lass, Ill grant you that.
How do I
What?
Talon attempted to frame his thoughts. After a long silence, in which the two young men sat looking at one another while the porters engaged in a loud discussion in the background, Talon leaned forward and said, Among the Orosini our mates are selected for us by our parents. I have no parents, and I do not know about Lelas parents
Caleb interrupted. Youre thinking about marriage?
Talon blinked as if surprised to hear it put that way, but at last he nodded. I dont know what to do.
Caleb said softly, Talk to Robert.
Talon nodded.
Caleb then said, But I must warn you, I dont think its going to happen, even should Lela be willing, which I dont think she is.
But she loves me! Talon said, just loud enough to cause two of the porters to turn and regard him. With a laugh and a rude remark, they returned to their own conversation.
As I said, I am no expert on women, Talon. But this you must know. You are not the first lad to warm Lelas bed.
I knew that, said Talon.
Caleb sat back as if considering his words. After a moment, he said, What passes between a man and a woman is their own business. But I will tell you this. You know men who have been in Lelas arms.
Talon blinked, as if he hadnt considered this. Gibbs? Caleb nodded. Lars? Again Caleb nodded.
Talon said, But Lars is with Meggie.
Now, but they fall out as often as not; Meggie is no ones idea of a summer festival. She has qualities, but she can be a difficult woman.
But thats not right, said Talon.
Talon, its not a question of right or wrong. Its the way it is. Among your people, your mates are selected and you can go through life knowing only one woman, but here He sighed. Its different.
Talon appeared distressed.
Caleb said, You should know that I have been with Lela.
Talon looked shocked. You!
Last Midsummer, on the day Pasko and Robert found you, she and I drank too much ale and ended up spending the night together. And she has done the same with a few handsome travellers, as well.
Talon looked as if his world was falling in on him. Is she what is that word?
What word?
A woman who lies with men for money.
A whore, supplied Caleb. No, my young friend, she is not. But she is a healthy girl who likes men, and shes from a land where people dont think twice about lying with one another for amusement.
Talon felt an empty pit form in his stomach. Its not right, he muttered.
Caleb said, Go and wash your hands. He waved towards the door into the kitchen. The food will be here in a moment. Just remember that in most things, right or wrong depends on where youre standing at the moment. My fathers people would have thought having your lifes mate picked out for you by your parents to be well, barbaric. As Talons expression started to darken, Caleb added, No offence intended, but Im pointing out that things look the way they do because that is how you were taught as a child. And the rest of the world is vastly different to what a child can imagine. Now, go and wash.
Talon stood up and made his way past the bar and into the kitchen. There he discovered familiar sights. Angelica and Ella were working alongside two others: a man who must be Jacobs father, given their resemblance, and another man, who was obviously the cook. Talon found a bucket and soap and had a wash. When he looked up, he found that Ella was giving him a sidelong glance of appraisal.
He ventured a tentative smile and wiped his hands upon a cloth hung next to the bucket. Although she had affection for Caleb, she seemed to be looking at him in a disquieting way. He left the kitchen and returned to where Caleb was waiting. He sat down and looked at the man he had considered to be a friend; yet he had been with the woman Talon loved! How was he supposed to feel now?
Finally, Talon let out a long sigh and said, I will never understand women.
Caleb laughed and said, Welcome to the brotherhood, my friend.
Early the next day, Caleb started his rounds of the city. Five or six times a year, Kendrick had specific goods shipped out to the steading, including wheat flour, rice, sugar and honey, and seasonal items. But twice a year a special list was prepared and someone had to go into the city to purchase those particular items. Often it was Kendrick himself, but this time Caleb had elected to go.
After the third shop had been visited, Talon was beginning to understand why. Caleb seemed to possess a knack for negotiations. He could sense when a merchant was ready to accept a lower price, or when he was at his limit. As they walked down the street to the next shop, Talon asked, How do you know?
How do I know what?
When to stop arguing over the price?
Caleb dodged aside as a small band of urchins came racing down the street towards them, followed a moment later by an angry merchant. There are things to watch for. Its the same when you gamble or if youre trying to see if a man is lying.
What things?
Caleb said, Many things, but lets start with the more obvious ones. The expression. The spice trader, this morning, for example, was pleased to see a customer. His face mirrored genuine delight at our arrival.