Thats because there is no Baron of Dorgin, supplied Locklear. If youd done your research, you would have avoided that gaffe.
How was I supposed to know the lands outside the dwarven enclave are the province of the Duke of the Southern Marches?
Study? suggested Locklear.
Never my strong suit, said Isaac with a wave of his hand.
Well, at least deLacy was too busy with the wedding to toss you out until the next day, said Locklear. We had a good time that night. What have you been doing since?
I spent some time in the east with my family, then returned a few years ago to the west. Since then Ive been doing odd jobs along the border. So, what brings a member of Krondors court so far from home with such unusual company?
Certain doings, some bloody, which unfortunately point to you.
Me? said Isaac. Youre not serious.
Im as serious as a royal torturer, Isaac, and youll have a chance to make a first-hand comparison if you dont answer me truthfully. Ill have Gorath sit on you while I go fetch the local constable. We can have a pleasant talk here, or a very unpleasant one in Krondor.
Locklear had no intention of summoning the local constable and trying to sort out his claim of rank and authority, especially with no royal writs or warrants. But Isaac didnt know that, and Locklear wasnt about to enlighten him.
I have no idea what youre talking about, said Isaac, starting to slowly rise.
Gorath said softly, Reach for that sword behind you and youll have a leg to match the other before your fingers touch the hilt, human.
Damn, said Isaac quietly, sitting back down in the chair.
The ruby, said Locklear.
What ruby? said Isaac.
The one you bought from Kiefer Alescook. The one you paid for with gold heading north to buy Delekhan weapons. The ruby stolen from an important Tsurani magician. The ruby thats the latest in a series of such transactions.
Isaac ran a hand over his face and back through his hair. Locky, its been hard.
Locklears expression turned dark and his voice took on a menacing tone that had Owyn sitting back in surprise. As hard as treason, Isaac? As hard as the jerk at the end of a hangmans rope?
Who said anything about treason, Locky? Isaacs manner turned to pleading. Look, we were boyhood friends before I had my accident. If our positions had been reversed, youd know; youd understand what its like to be a hired sword with a bad leg. Locky, I was nearly starving when this opportunity came along. I was too far in before I discovered who was behind it.
Tell us what you know and Ill do you a favour, said Locklear.
Isaac looked downfallen, and said in a contrite fashion, I was in over my head before I knew who I was dealing with. Alescook is an old acquaintance. I know that from time to time he finds gems and jewellery that has ah, clouded title is a polite way of putting it.
Stolen, said Locklear.
Isaac squirmed. Whatever the cause, the market in the Kingdom is difficult, so those gems find their way south, to Kesh or over the water to Queg or the Free Cities. Im just a middleman, someone who can take a little trip down to the Vale or over to Krondor or Sarth and put something on a ship. Thats all.
The ruby? said Locklear.
Isaac started to rise and hesitated as Gorath leaned forward, hand on the hilt of his sword. Isaac continued rising slowly, then mounted the stairs to the loft above. Locklear motioned with his head to Owyn, who stood up and hurried through a small door in the wall next to the tapestry. He found himself in a tiny kitchen, one dirty enough he would have to be far hungrier than he presently was to consider eating anything prepared there. He ducked through the back door and looked up at a window above, where he saw the head of Isaac disappear back inside. Owyn smiled; Locklears instincts had been correct. The lame ex-fighter might attempt to escape from a first storey window, but he knew he wasnt quick enough to pull off his escape if someone was waiting below.
A moment later, Locklear called for Owyns return and the young magician complied. He entered the room and stopped. The hairs on his arm stood up and he said, Let me see the stone.
Isaac handed it to him and said, Its really not a very valuable item, but I get paid well.
Owyn replied, I dont know anything about stones and their worth, but I know this one is more than it appears to be. He looked at it closely. This ruby has been prepared.
Prepared for what? asked Locklear. Jewellery?
No, as a matrix of some kind for magic. I dont know much about this sort of thing. He put the stone down. Truth to tell, I dont know much about any sort of thing magical, which is why I left Stardock. The only magic Ive learned so far was from a field magician named Patrus, a sour old character. But my father objected and last I heard Patrus headed north He shook himself out of his reverie. It doesnt matter, but what he told me is that some magic is harmonic and can be focused by gems. Or stored in them. He claimed once that magic itself might exist in gem form under the right conditions. For example, you can rig a trap with certain gems, so that whoever steps into a given area is imprisoned.
Can you tell what this was used for?
No, said Owyn with a shake to his head. It may be something that will be used in the future.
So you think it important? asked Gorath.
I can now see why the Tsurani magician was so angry about its disappearance.
Locklear picked up the stone and tossed it in the air a couple of times while he was thinking. After a moment he put away the stone and turned to Isaac. Tell us what else you know.
Isaac looked defeated and said, Very well. The stones come through the rift on an irregular basis. Sometimes a bunch, sometimes a single one like this one. Money comes to me in Krondor by various means; never the same twice. Theres a new gang in Krondor, run by someone calling himself the Crawler, and hes causing the Mockers fits.
Mockers? asked Gorath.
Thieves, said Locklear. Ill explain it later. Go on, he said, looking at Isaac.
Someone in Krondor is paying for gems. The Tsurani bring them in and hand them over to the moredhel. They run them over to Alescook and I go get them and bring them to Krondor. Its a fairly simple arrangement.
But someones running this. Who and where?
Isaac sighed. Theres a village south of Sarth. Called Yellow Mule. Know it?
Villages like that dont put up signs, but if its on the Kings Highway, Ive ridden through it.
Its not. About twenty miles south of Sarth theres a fork in the road, and if you go inland, youre heading toward an old trail up into the mountains. About five miles along that road is where youll find Yellow Mule. Its why the moredhel are using it. No one travels through there, and its easy for his kin he indicated Gorath with a jerk of his chin to get there without being seen.
Theres an old smuggler turned farmer named Cedric Rowe now living there. He knows nothing of loyalty to anyone, or anything but gold. He rents out his barn to a Dark Brother named Nago.
Nago! said Gorath. If we take him, then we have an opportunity to escape his minions. Without him, they are blind and we can get to Krondor.
Nago! said Gorath. If we take him, then we have an opportunity to escape his minions. Without him, they are blind and we can get to Krondor.
Maybe, said Locklear. But certainly, if we leave him there, the closer we get to Krondor, the easier it is for his agents to find us.
Why? asked Owyn.
Hes tightening the noose, lad, said Isaac. Less land for his men to cover.
Locklear said, Now Quegans make sense. This Rowe has probably been dealing with Quegan pirates all his life and just sent word to someone in Sarth. First ship outbound to Queg passes word and within a month hes got as many sea-hardened bully-boys as he needs. And if Nago is throwing gold around, there are more Quegans along the roads to Krondor than a beggar has lice.
And Quegans arent likely to run to the Kings soldiers if something goes sour; worst they do is skulk back to the nearest port and find a ship heading out. Little chance of being betrayed by someone going cold in the feet, added Isaac.
What else? asked Locklear.
Nothing, said Isaac. He stood up and took a cloak off the peg. As soon as I pen a note to my cousin, Im bound for Kesh. Ive just set Nagos assassin on my trail, but he doesnt know it yet. Each hour I steal before he does, I stand a better chance of reaching Kesh.
I said Id do you a favour, Isaac, and I will. Ill let you run for Kesh, for old times sake and for keeping up your end of the bargain, but only if you tell us everything.
What makes you think theres anything else?
Locklear pulled his sword suddenly and had the point at Isaacs throat. Because I know you. You always hold something back, just in case you need an edge. Im guessing this little bit of theatre is to give you a chance to be out of town before us, just in case you can find one of Nagos agents and get him set on us before they figure out youve sold them out. Something like that.
Isaac grinned. Locky! Why I wouldnt
Locklear pressed forward with the sword point and Isaac stopped talking so suddenly he almost swallowed his own tongue. All of it, demanded Locklear in a menacing whisper.
Slowly Isaac raised his hand and gently pushed aside the sword point. Theres a lockchest
What? asked Locklear.
Gorath said, A chest in which to lock valuables. My people make them to transport items of importance.
Go on, said Locklear.
Theres a lockchest outside of town. Go five miles down the road toward Questors View. To the right side of the road youll see a lightning-struck tree. Beyond that is a small clump of brush. Look there and youll see the chest. I am to leave the ruby there tonight, and when I return tomorrow, my gold is supposed to be waiting for me.
So you never see your contact from Krondor?
Never. That was part of Nagos instructions to me.
Youve seen this moredhel? asked Locklear.
Met him, said Isaac. At Yellow Mule. Hes a big one, like your friend here, not slight like some of them can be. Nasty moods and no humour. Odd fire in his eyes if you know what I mean.
Locklear said, I can imagine. What can you tell us about his company?
He only keeps a couple of soldiers around him Ive never seen more than three at any time because it might be noticed. And there are enough Quegans coming through there that if he needs swords he can get them in a hurry. But hes a magic-user, Locky, a right nasty witch and if you cross him he can fry you as soon as look at you.
Locklear glanced at Gorath who gave a slight nod of agreement to what was being said. Locklear said, Very well, Isaac, heres what youre doing. Get something to write with.
Isaac glanced around the room and saw an old scrap of faded leather sitting in a corner. He crossed to the small fireplace and fished out some charcoal. He said, What do I write?
Write this: Ruby taken by Princes man. Three you seek are on the way to Eggly. I am undone and must flee. Then sign your name.
Isaac signed, looking pale as he put down those words. This marks me, Locky.
You were marked the moment you took gold to turn your hand against your king. You deserve to be hanged, and eventually you will be unless you change your ways, but it will be for another crime, not for this.
Unless Nagos agents find you first, added Gorath.
That was all Isaac needed. What do I do with this?
Put it in the chest where you are to leave the ruby, then I suggest you start running. If you dont put that note there, and I get to Krondor, Ill hire assassins even if they have to travel to the farthest reaches of Kesh to find you. You can cut your hair and colour it, grow a beard, and wear furs like a Brijainer, but you cant hide that leg, Isaac. Now get out of here.
Isaac didnt hesitate. He grabbed his sword, his cloak and the note and hurried out the back door.
How could you spare that traitor? asked Gorath.
Dead he is of little use to us, and alive he may direct our foes to another path. Locklear looked at Gorath. And isnt it a little odd youre showing contempt for a traitor?
The look Gorath returned could only be called murderous. I am no traitor. Im trying to save my people, human. He offered no further embellishment, but turned and said, We must be away. That one cannot be trusted and may attempt to bargain for his life.
Locklear said, I know, but either way he plants the note, or he is found and tells them what he knows, which isnt much. They were trying to kill us before we got the ruby. They cant make us any more dead for having it.
I think I have a way for us to avoid detection for a while and perhaps reach Nago unseen, Gorath said.
How? asked Locklear.
I know the way they reach this village of Yellow Mule. If we take the ridge road toward the town you call Eggly, leaving as we told in the note, theres a trail a days quick run south of here that leads into the higher ridges. It is, I believe, the same trail that empties out near Rowes farm.
How could you know that? asked Locklear, suddenly suspicious.
Goraths patience appeared near its end, but he managed to reply evenly. Because I lived in these mountains as a child, before you humans came to plague us. Before this land became infested with your kind, my people lived here. Ive fished along these rivers and hunted in these mountains. His voice lowered and he said, I may have built my campfire on the spot you humans have built this house. Now, let us go. Its no long journey for a moredhel, but you humans tire easily, and besides, your wounds will slow you even more.
And yours wont? asked Owyn.
Not so that you would notice, replied the dark elf, turning to the door without waiting for a response and leaving the building.
Locklear and Owyn hurried after and found Gorath waiting. We need to buy food. Have we enough gold?
For food, yes, said Locklear. For horses, no.
They headed to an inn at the east end of town, and Locklear arranged for travel rations, food bound in parchment heavily coated with beeswax, mostly dried or heavily salted to prevent spoilage. While they waited Locklear asked what conditions were like on the road to Eggly, pointedly being loud enough that a few suspicious-looking men hanging about the commons early in the day could overhear. Should anyone ask about them, he was certain this would only reinforce the false information in Isaacs note.