CHAPTER 43
Adrianna liked the rapier right off. It felt alive and molded to her hand.
“Yes. That is one of my best weapons. You have a good eye!” The merchant’s nose twitched at the promise of a sale and he worked hard on his pitch. “Made from the finest Silvarian steel, that one is. They fold and re-heat the metal over and over until it becomes hard, but still flexible enough to withstand a broadsword blow.”
“Do you guarantee that?” asked Balthus.
The merchant hesitated for only a moment. “Oh, yes!”
“It’s easy to guarantee something the owner won’t live through if it fails,” said Balthus. He turned to Adrianna. “It’s lighter than the sword you use now. It would make you that much quicker.”
He squeezed her shoulder, then eyed the merchant warily. “How much?”
“Such a weapon, brought all the way across the desert from Silvar, I could only let go for six golds,” he said, touching his palms together.
“Six golds!” roared Balthus. With a quick flash of steel he drew his sword. The merchant stepped back with a gasp. Balthus took the rapier from Adrianna and balanced the point on an anvil and the pommel on a table. After a quick glance at the merchant, he sent his hand-and-a-half sword in a whistling arc onto the flat of the blade. The merchant cried out as the clang filled the air. The rapier bounced up then landed on the floor. Balthus sheathed his sword and retrieved the rapier. Grunting after he checked the spine for straightness, he inspected the entire sword very closely. He nodded and handed it to Adrianna.
“One gold is all it’s worth, and at that, I’m being generous.”
“One gold!” cried the merchant. “Do you intend to rob me, then? You can see it is worth at least five! Even at that price my children will go hungry.”
“Five?” yelled back Balthus. “Does that include your children to carry it for us? It can only be worth two – with that sheath,” he said, pointing to an ebony sheath lying on a table.
“My best sheath?” exclaimed the merchant. “You must be mad. That would drive the price up to four gold and ten silver.”
Adrianna laid the sword next to the sheath. She touched her right thumb to her right ring finger in a hand signal and waited for Balthus to notice. Her gesture told him ‘want.’ She waited until he acknowledged her signal with a thumb hooked in his belt.
“Balthus,” she said, “forget the sword. There are many other merchants in town.” She walked out the shop’s door and smiled when she was out of sight. She could hear the merchant’s voice rise in pitch at the thought of losing the sale.
She would need to have the hilt re-wrapped. The shiny leather now covering it would grow slippery in a sweaty or bloody hand. She would have it changed over to suede or possibly voraskin. Silver voraskin would make it look sensational in its black, silver-tipped sheath.
Balthus and the merchant joined her. Balthus handed her the sword in the ebony sheath. Both men were smiling. It must have been a fair trade. “Fair” meaning both of them thought they had outsmarted the other. Balthus nodded to the merchant, took Adrianna’s arm and they walked down the bustling central promenade.
The Merchants’ Fair was held in Freetown every spring. Merchants and craftsmen took advantage of Freetown’s “anything goes” attitude and tax-exempt status to showcase new wares and test new ideas on the market. The town was always crowded during the Fair and made for a high energy level that Balthus reveled in – for a while, anyway. The smells of exotic foods and the sound of hawkers extolling the virtues of their products followed them as they strolled down the bustling street.
Balthus gestured to the tents and the people. “I love shopping at the Merchants’ Fair.”
“You love besting the merchants,” she said. “Thank you for the sword, by the way. It’s beautifully balanced and light as a feather.”
“I’m glad you found it.”
“I thought that was an awful price though. You didn’t pay too much, did you?” she asked.
“No,” he said with a grin. “Let me see it a moment. I’d like to be sure of something.” She handed it over and he whipped it from its sheath so quickly, passersby lunged for cover and the people in front scurried from their path. This all went unnoticed by Balthus as he examined the sword.
“Ha, ha!” he exclaimed. “I was right. Look closely at the way the basket guard has been attached to the blade.” He handed the sword back. “It was not originally made for this sword. Then look at the maker’s mark you can barely see under the left corner of the basket. This sword wasn’t made in Silvar.” He laughed again. “It’s a Javan master’s sword. Someone added the guard later. That sword is worth five times what I paid for it. That fool of a merchant doesn’t know his own wares.”
“Did you mention it after the sale?” she asked.
“Naaah,” said Balthus, shaking his head. “The way the merchant was smiling he’d made a good profit, that’s for sure. If I told him the truth, instead of feeling like he bested me, he would feel cheated. Let him feel he has won. It’s a cheap enough price for that feeling.”
He glanced at the sword. “Besides, we will have to have the handle re-wrapped. Only a dandy who used a sword for an ornament would put shiny leather on a handle. Suede would be good.”
“I was thinking of silver voraskin.”
“Silver voraskin! Are you trying to beggar me, woman?” He laughed, and pulled her close for an instant. “Besides, we have to save our money. I’m feeling mighty hungry.”
“So it’s the Arms for dinner then, I take it?” she asked.
“Yes, the last few days have been pleasant, and it’s been nice to sample other fares, but I still like the Arms’ food best by far.”
“The Arms it is then. I can’t have the man who bought me this beautiful sword going hungry.” She tugged him in the direction of the King’s Arms.
Adrianna idly stroked the hilt of her new sword as they walked stride for stride through the crowded streets. Ahead, a skinny beggar sitting cross-legged on the cobblestones arose and headed directly toward them. Her hand tightened on the hilt just as Balthus touched her forearm. She eased her grip.
“Alms, good Sir, alms.” The raggedly dressed, hunchbacked man shoved a begging bowl at Balthus, hitting him in the chest.
“Of course, my good man.” Balthus fumbled in his pouch, head bent. “What’s up, Pondo?” he asked in a lowered voice.
“There’s been a man asking for you, Balthus. A hard-looking man, all dressed in black, long blond hair, blue eyes,” he whispered back. “He’s in the Arms right now.”
Balthus straightened and dropped a silver into the cup. “Here you go, my good man. Peace be to you.” Balthus winked and the beggar bowed and left.
“So, Blackie’s in town, hey?” Balthus said to Adrianna. “What do you think, Love? Do we want to see him, or disappear? He has something ugly for us to do, I just know it.”
She nodded. “Possibly, but I think you are tiring of the Fair after three days. And we can always yell ‘No,’ as you always say.”
Balthus nodded. “Aye, let’s hear him out.”
They arrived at the Arms and entered the nearly empty tavern area.
Balthus spied Dieya sitting at the corner table, his back to the wall. “The dog is in my seat,” growled Balthus.
“Your name’s not carved on the chair,” said Adrianna. “Don’t worry,” she patted his arm, “I’ll watch your back.”
He nodded and they joined Dieya at the table.
Dieya stood and shook their hands. “Good to see you two so soon,” he said, smiling. “Having a good time at the Fair?”
“Aye, we are, but what about you? Someone must have died for you to be in this good a mood,” said Balthus. Adrianna slid onto the bench next to Dieya and Balthus took the seat across the table from them.
“It has been an interesting few days,” said Dieya.<
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“Interesting – that word could be used to describe fun or fear,” said Balthus. “Will you join us for dinner? The fare at the Arms is second to none.”
“Thank you for the offer, but I’ve come to ask a favor, then I must go.”
“Really Dieya, you must eat more,” said Adrianna, poking his ribs as Balthus signaled for wine. The serving maid placed a pitcher and three goblets on a tray and headed their way. Adrianna recognized her as the one she had the encounter with their first day in town. As the maid approached, Adrianna wrapped her arm through Dieya’s and stared at her. The maid set down the tray, then gaped from Adrianna to Balthus to Dieya. Finally, she shook her head and left.
Dieya looked perplexed. “What – ”
“Pay them no mind,” said Balthus, holding up a hand. “Adrianna’s just pulling the wings off flies, is all. Now, good Dieya, ask your favor so we can give you a hearty ‘No.’”
Dieya had opened his mouth to speak and closed it with a clop. Shaking his head, he smiled, then leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Here’s my favor. I need you to escort three friends of mine from Luse Head Rock in Ardendale Valley to Brightmoor Castle. They are new to the area and are not able to travel there on their own.”
Dieya reached for his wine and took an extended drink.
Adrianna glanced at Balthus and he raised an eyebrow. She knew Dieya was covering something with his sudden interest in his wine and saw that Balthus knew it too.
Adrianna watched a small smile play on Balthus’ lips. Balthus was probably thinking that, in time, he could uncover the secret Dieya held back. Balthus stared at Adrianna and she nodded once.
“Luse Head Rock to Brightmoor Castle, eh?” Balthus said, stroking his beard. “A two-to-three week journey. That will put us but several days travel from Jarvus City and the King.” He took a long drink of wine, then nodded. “Looks like that would fit very nicely into our plans. I’ve a mind to tell King Justin a few things about how to run his kingdom.”
“Good. It’s settled, then,” said Dieya. Relief swept over his face. “You will need supplies for the trip.” He pulled out a heavy purse and dropped it on the table. “My friends are ill-equipped for this journey and need everything, from luses to clothing. They have nothing of their own of worth. Purchase everything as if they were only wearing socks.”
“Only socks? I hope they are all women,” said Balthus with a side glance at Adrianna. She arched an eyebrow at his remark.
“Actually, one is a woman,” said Dieya. “She is about Adrianna’s size, one man is my size and the other is shorter and heavier. They will need weapons also. Swords, dirks, chainmail, helms, whatever you think they might need for a journey. If the road looks dangerous, hire guards. I want my friends make the journey in good health. Their names are Janelle, Bo and Rory. Rory is the shorter of the three. They are Sargum Pilgrims.”
Different sounding names, thought Adrianna, even for Sargum Pilgrims.
Dieya stood to leave.
“Dieya, you can’t leave so soon,” she said. “You just got here.”
“Yes, man, think of your body,” said Balthus, banging his fist on the table. “It must be fueled!”
Dieya closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. “You two are corrupting me.” He sighed. “I haven’t paid this much attention to food for decades.”
“Then we have a lot of catching up to do,” said Balthus as he rose and led them to the dining room.