They had been holding a discussion in the Watch Commanders office since Roo had arrived, and until Lord James had mentioned refreshments and the mess, Roo hadnt given much thought to the fact he and Duncan had not broken their fast. De Loungville motioned for Roo and Duncan to follow him.
Outside the office, as they moved down the hall, Roo asked, Sergeant, whats going on? I had almost no hope Id ever see my money again, but I want that bastard Sam Tannersons guts on a stick for what hes done.
Robert grinned back over his shoulder. Youre still a vicious little rodent, arent you, Avery? I admire that in a man.
As they moved through the castle, Robert said, Its not so simple as mustering the watch, going out, hauling in this Tannerson, and hanging him.
No witnesses, offered Duncan.
Right. And theres the issue of why there were these killings.
Why were there? asked Roo. Destroying my wine would have been clear enough warning.
Robert motioned for them to pass through a door into the soldiers mess as he said, Well, thats what the Duke and the Knight-Marshal are asking themselves this very minute, Im betting.
Roo saw Erik and Jadow standing at one end of the mess while a bunch of soldiers in grey tunics and trousers sat eating. He waved and Erik came over. Sergeant? he asked, to see if there were orders.
Tell Jadow to keep an eye on those recruits, and join us.
Erik did as he was ordered, and when he was seated with the others, castle serving boys hurried over with food and ale. Robert dug in and said, I think were going to have a bit of fun tonight.
Roo said, Fun?
Well, if I can judge the Duke, said de Loungville, I think hes going to come to the conclusion that theres been just a little too much killing going on of late, and its time to do something about it.
Do what? asked Duncan. The Mockers have been in control of parts of this city since since before I was born, I know that much.
Robert said, True, but then, theres never been a Duke of Krondor like Lord James, thats also a fact. He smiled and bit into a cold joint of mutton. Speaking around the mouthful, he said, Better stoke up your fires, lads. I think were going to have a long night ahead of us.
Roo asked, Us?
Robert said, Youll want to come along, Avery. Its your gold were trying to recover, isnt it? Besides, what else have you got to do thats better?
Roo sighed. Right now, nothing.
Well give you a bunk for the afternoon so you can get your beauty rest, said de Loungville. I think were going to be up most of the night.
Roo shrugged. If theres a slim chance to get my gold back, Ill take it. Its about what I started with, so Ill be even not counting my time. He looked at Erik. That bit of gold you gave me was part of it, too.
Erik shrugged. You dont invest thinking any ventures a sure thing. I knew that.
Ill get it back for you somehow, Roo promised. He turned his attention to the men at the far end of the hall. Those your new band of desperate men, Sergeant?
De Loungville smiled. Not desperate enough, but then we havent really gotten started with them. Right now were just weeding out those who dont have what it takes, right, Erik?
Right, Sergeant, Erik agreed. But Im still not quite sure what the three of us are supposed to be doing.
Well figure it out, said Robert in a noncommittal tone. With luck, Trenchards Revenge should be coming into port any day now, and maybe some more of our boys will be aboard.
Duncan raised an eyebrow in question, but no one volunteered any details to him.
Roo said, Wheres the Captain?
Robert shrugged. He took off with Nakor, for Stardock. He should be back in a few more weeks.
I wonder what hes up to, mused Roo.
Robert de Loungvilles expression changed to one that Roo knew well, and Roo instantly regretted his words. Everyone at the table, save Duncan, was privy to secrets known only to a few, and such lapses would put Roo into more trouble than he wished should he again speak out of turn.
Erik glanced at Roo and years of friendship communicated all Roo needed to see to understand that Erik also wished Roo to remain silent.
Roo cleared his throat. I think I could use that nap if were going out tonight.
Robert nodded and Erik smiled, and Duncan seemed not to notice any of the exchange, and table talk turned to the mundane.
Calis looked over the rail and said, See that?
Nakor squinted against the late afternoon sun. Keshian patrol.
Calis and his companions were on a river boat, hugging the coast of the Sea of Dreams, a few miles away from Port Shamata. Calis said, Theyre quite a long way on the wrong side of the border if we can see them from here.
Nakor shrugged. Kingdom, Kesh, always fighting over this area. Good farmland, rich trade routes, but no one ever gets crops in and no one drives caravans through the Vale of Dreams because of the border raiders. So it lingers, like an old man too sick to live but not ready to die. He looked at his companion. Tell the garrison commander at Shamata and hell send a patrol out to chase the Keshians south! he added with a grin.
Calis shook his head. Im sure someone will eventually mention it to him. He smiled a wry smile. I dont think I need say anything to him. If I do, he might feel the need to impress the Prince of Krondors special envoy by starting a war for my amusement.
Caliss eyes stayed fixed on the horizon long after the Keshian patrol vanished from view. Poor Shamata was visible in the distance to the southeast, but they wouldnt be there for another hour, given the light wind of midday.
What do you see out there, Calis? asked Nakor, his voice hinting at concern. Youve been moody since we got back.
Calis didnt need to explain many things to Nakor, who probably understood more about the Pantathian serpent priests and their evil magic than any man living. He had certainly seen some of the worst manifestations of it. But Calis knew that right now Nakor wasnt speaking of anything that had to do with Caliss concerns over the distant threat to the Kingdom. It was a more personal issue that weighed on Caliss mind.
Just thinking of someone.
Nakor grinned, and looked over his shoulder at Sho Pi, the former monk of Dala, who at Nakors insistence now slept upon a bale of cotton. Who is she?
Youve heard me speak of her. Miranda.
Miranda? asked Nakor. Heard of her from several men. A woman of mystery by all reports.
Calis nodded. She is a strange woman.
But attractive, added Nakor, also by all reports.
That too. Theres so much I dont know about her, yet I trust her.
And you miss her.
Calis shrugged. My nature is not common
Unique, supplied Nakor.
and issues of companionship are confusing to me, finished Calis.
Understandable, said Nakor. Ive been married twice. First when I was young to you know to whom.
Calis nodded. The woman Nakor knew as Jorna had evolved into the Lady Clovis, an agent of the Pantathians they had faced more than twenty years previously the first time Nakor and Calis had ventured south to Novindus. Now she was the Emerald Queen, the living embodiment of Alma-Lodaka, the Valheru who had created the Pantathians, and the figurehead of the army building across the sea that would someday invade the Kingdom.
Calis nodded. The woman Nakor knew as Jorna had evolved into the Lady Clovis, an agent of the Pantathians they had faced more than twenty years previously the first time Nakor and Calis had ventured south to Novindus. Now she was the Emerald Queen, the living embodiment of Alma-Lodaka, the Valheru who had created the Pantathians, and the figurehead of the army building across the sea that would someday invade the Kingdom.
The second woman was nice. Her name was Sharmia. She got old and died. I still get confused when dealing with women I find attractive, and Im six times your age. Nakor shrugged. If you must fall in love, Calis, fall in love with someone who will live a long time.
Im not sure what love is, Nakor, said Calis with an even more rueful smile. My parents are something unique in history and theres no small magic in their marriage.
Nakor nodded. Caliss father, Tomas, had been a human child, transformed by ancient magic into something not quite human, not quite Dragon Lord as humans called the Valheru and that ancient heritage had been part of what had drawn Caliss mother, Aglaranna, the Elf Queen in Elvandar, into a union with Tomas.
Calis continued. While Ive had my share of dalliances no woman has held my attention
Until Miranda, finished Nakor. Calis nodded. Nakor said, Perhaps its the mystery. Or the fact that shes not around very much. Nakor pointed to Calis. Have you and she
Calis laughed. Of course. Thats not a small reason I feel drawn toward her.
Nakor winced. I wonder if there is any man alive who doesnt think hes in love between the sheets at least once.
What do you mean? asked Calis.
Nakor said, I forget that while youre past fifty years of age, youre still considered young by your maternal races standards.
A child, said Calis. Still learning how to conduct myself as a proper eledhel should. He used the name his mothers people used for themselves, the race humans called elves.
Nakor shook his head. Sometimes I think those priests who take vows of chastity understand what a drain it is to be constantly thinking about who youre going to bed with.
My mothers people are not a bit like that, said Calis. They feel something grow between one of them and their destined mate and at some point they just know.
Calis again looked out at the shore as the boat began to head in toward the inlet that led to Port Shamata. I think thats why Im drawn to my human heritage, Nakor. The stately progress of the seasons in Elvandar has a sameness that I find only slightly reassuring. The chaos that is human society it sings to me more than the magic glades of my home.
Nakor shrugged. Whos to say what is right? You are unlike any other, but like every other man or woman born on this world, no matter what your heritage at birth, ultimately you must decide who you are to be. When youre finished with this childhood of yours, you may decide its time to live for a while with your mothers people. Just remember this much from an old man who really isnt very good at learning things from other people: every person you encounter, whom you interact with, is there to teach you something. Sometimes it may be years before you realize what each had to show you. He shrugged and turned his attention to the scene before him.
As the boat headed in to the reed-lined shore, smaller boats could be seen wending their way along the coast, fowlers hunting ducks and other water birds and fishermen dragging their nets. The riverboat moved quietly along, and Nakor and Calis were silent for the remainder of the voyage.
Sho Pi awoke as the sounds of the town grew in volume, and by the time the boat rested at the docks, he was standing beside his master and Calis. As he was the Princes envoy, Calis had the right of rank in departing, but he moved away from the gangway and allowed the other passengers to depart first.
When they at last left the boat, Calis studied the shoreline and the town of Port Shamata. The city of Shamata was separated from the port by almost eighty miles of farmland and orchards. Originally a garrison to defend the southern border of the Kingdom against Great Kesh, Shamata had turned into the Kingdoms largest city in the south. A squad of soldiers waited for Calis on the docks, and instead of heading down toward the city of Shamata, they would follow the shore of the Sea of Dreams until they reached the river that flowed down from the Great Star Lake. They would follow the river to the lake and then to Stardock town, which sat on the south shore of the lake, opposite the magicians community on Stardock island.
Along the docks the usual assortment of beggars, confidence men, workmen, and hawkers moved, for the arrival of a boat from the coast meant opportunities, legal and otherwise. Nakor grinned as he said to Sho Pi, Watch your purse.
I dont have one, Master.
Nakor had finally despaired of ever getting the young man to stop calling him master, so he just ignored it now.
Calis laughed and said, Its an expression.
They left the boat and were greeted at the foot of the gangway by a sergeant in the tabard of the garrison of Shamata. Like the border barons of the north, the garrison commander at Shamata answered directly to the Crown, so there was little court formality observed in the Vale of Dreams. Pleased to be free of any need to pay a social call on local nobles, Calis accepted the mans salute and said, Your name?
Sergeant Aziz, mlord.
My rank is captain, said Calis. We need three horses and an escort to the Great Star Lake.
The pigeons arrived days ago, Captain, answered the sergeant. We have a subgarrison here at the port, with ample horses and enough troops to provide for your needs. My Captain sends an invitation to dine with him this evening, Captain.
Calis glanced at the sky. I think not. We can ride at least four hours and my mission is urgent. Send your Captain my regrets at the same time you send for mounts and provisions. Casting around, he pointed to a disreputable-looking inn across the street from the docks. Youll find us there.
At once, said the sergeant, and he gave orders to a soldier nearby, who saluted and spurred his mount away.
It should be no longer than an hour, Captain. Your escort, horses, and provisions should be here quickly.
Good, said Calis, motioning for Sho Pi and Nakor to follow him into the dockside inn.
A genial setting, the inn was neither the worst any of them had seen nor the best. It was what one would expect from an inn located so close to the docks: fitting for a leisurely wait, but not somewhere one would choose to frequent if better accommodations were available or affordable. Calis ordered a round of ale and they waited for the return of their escort.
Halfway through their second drink, Nakors attention was diverted by a sound from without. An inarticulate cry and a series of monkeylike hootings followed quickly by the sounds of a crowd laughing and jeering. He rose and looked through the closest window. I cant see anything. Lets go outside.
Lets not, said Calis, but Nakor had already vanished through the doorway. Sho Pi shrugged and followed his master out of the inn.
Calis stood and followed, deciding it was better to see what trouble Nakor could find before he got too deep into it.
Outside, a crowd had gathered around a man who hunkered down on his haunches as he gnawed on a mutton bone. He was easily the filthiest man Calis had ever seen. It looked and smelled as if the man hadnt bathed in years. Spending time in the fields made one indifferent to the level of fastidiousness required in the Princes court, but even among common dockworkers and poor travelers, this man was a walking cesspool.