Kevin nodded. “I forgot about that.”
“So if I get there late afternoon and get a room, I can wait for them in the tavern. Then go with them up to their room, bring them here, let you talk, take them back, pick up my stuff, and come home.”
“Won’t the innkeeper wonder where you went?” Chris asked.
Rigel shook his head. “Not if I tell him I plan to be on my way at first light.”
“Sounds good,” Kevin said. “And you’ll be able to recognize them? You’ve only met them once.”
Rigel smiled. “I’ll recognize them. When do you want me to go?”
“He said he’d be there next Wednesday.”
“I’ll plan to go around three. That will give me time to walk to town and get settled.”
“Good. If anything happens and I have to be away, Chris will have the key.”
“Anything else?” Rigel asked.
Kevin shook his head. “Thank you.”
~~~~
Shortly before three Wednesday afternoon, Rigel walked into the main office with an overnight bag in his hands. “Am I still going to Travers?” he asked Chris as he set the bag down beside Chris’s desk.
Chris nodded and took the Key to Terah off his chain and handed it to Rigel. “Here, and good luck.”
Rigel fastened the key onto his chain. “Thank you. If you want this meeting to be secret, it’ll need to be around ten tonight.”
Chris nodded. “That’s what we were thinking.”
“Anything else before I go?”
Chris pulled some money out of his pocket. “I almost forgot. Cryslyn said this should be enough for a room, dinner, and scog while you wait for them, but if you spend more, let us know and we’ll pay you back.”
Rigel glanced at the money Chris handed him. “This is more than enough. I’ll bring the change back.” Then he picked up his bag. “Can you show me where I’m going?”
~~~~
Half an hour later, Rigel walked up to the desk of the inn in Travers. When he asked for a room, the innkeeper asked, “How long?”
“One night, and I’d like to pay now. I plan to be on my way by first light.”
The innkeeper frowned. “We don’t serve breakfast that early.”
“That’s all right.” Rigel handed the innkeeper the money for one night. “You serve dinner, don’t you?”
“Starting in an hour.” The innkeeper handed Rigel a key. “Upstairs, second door on the left.”
Rigel headed up the steps to his room. Once inside, he stretched out on the bed for a minute and then sat back up. Hard as a rock. Good thing he didn’t have to sleep there. Then he stashed his overnight bag under the bed and went out to kill an hour wandering around town.
A little over an hour later, Rigel sat down at a table near the back corner of the tavern. There were only two other people in there and they weren’t the ones he was looking for. When the server asked what she could get him, he said scog to start, but he’d want dinner later. Then he settled in to wait.
Two hours later, when it was starting to get dark, Kitridge and Zara walked into the crowded tavern. Rigel stood up and, when Kitridge spotted him, waved them over. Then they ordered dinner.
While they ate, they chatted about the weather, the countryside, and the town of Travers. Then, after they were done, Rigel said, “I’m ready to head upstairs. I need to be on the road by daybreak.”
Kitridge nodded. “We’ll be heading up soon, too. If you’ll join us for another scog, we’ll go up with you.”
Rigel waved the server over. “More scog, please. And would you total my bill?”
“Aren’t you staying at the inn?” she asked. “We can put it on your room bill.”
Rigel shook his head. “I’d rather pay now if you don’t mind.”
“Same here,” Kitridge said, pointing to himself and Zara.
A few minutes later, the server brought their bills along with another pitcher of scog. After they finished their drinks, they headed upstairs. Rigel paused at his door, but didn’t unlock it. Kitridge nodded and unlocked the one across the hall.
Once they were in Kitridge’s room with the door shut, Rigel said, “You want to talk to Myron, right?”
“If we can,” Kitridge said.
Rigel showed them the key and then held his arms out.
When they got to the office, the pages were gone and the curtains were drawn but voices were coming from Kevin’s office.
Rigel knocked on the open door. “Kitridge and Zara are here, sir.”
“Thank you. Would you show them in?”
After Kitridge and Zara sat down, Kevin motioned for Rigel to join them. Then he leaned back in his chair. “You wanted to see me?”
Kitridge nodded. “Mikos and Devron have a covered wagon, and from what we’ve been able to find out, they don’t plan to settle down any time soon. They go from town to town, buying kitchen stuff from blacksmiths, cloth from local weavers, trinkets, toys, local produce, herbs, anything and everything, and sell it along the way to farmers and in towns. Then they buy more stuff and move on, buying and selling as they go.”
“I’ve heard of people doing that,” Kevin said. “Back where I was raised, we called them traveling salesmen.”
“And they do travel. Each and every day. Sometimes they set up camp, sometimes they barter for a night in town, either at the inn, with a local family, or at the livery stable,” Kitridge continued. “And their route’s jumbled all over the place. It’s like they wake up in the morning, look around, and pick a direction. There’s no way to figure out where they’re going next. So what do you want us to do? We can keep following them, but that’s all we can do, follow them.”
Kevin hesitated. “How far behind them are you?”
“About two weeks. Since we don’t know where they’re going, we end up covering more ground than they do.”
“Do you want to give up? I know it’s been a while since you’ve been home.”
“No, we’re fine,” Zara said. “Actually, it’s been fun, but you’re paying us to track them, and we’ve been at it for six months and we’re not much closer to finding them now than we were then.”
“Yes, you are. You know the general area they’re in and what they’re doing. If you don’t mind, I’d like you to stay with it,” Kevin said. “Maybe they’ll settle down into a predictable route once they’re comfortable with what they’re doing.”
“If you’re sure,” Kitridge said. “Like Zara said, we’ve had a lot of fun along the way. We’ll be glad to keep going if you want us to, but we wanted you to know we don’t see them stopping any time soon.”
Kevin nodded. “I appreciate it, but I’m hoping you’ll catch up to them sooner or later.” After a moment, he asked, “You haven’t told anyone why you’re looking for them, have you?”
Kitridge shook his head. “We’ve used lots of reasons, depending on who we’re talking to. When we asked about them in Travers, we said it was because we’d heard about some of the stuff they were selling and were interested in taking a look if they were still around.”
“Good. Is there anything you need? Any supplies?”
Kitridge looked at Zara. She shook her head and said, “We have everything we need, but thank you for asking.”
Kevin nodded. “Then I guess if there’s nothing else, Rigel can take you back.”
As Rigel stood up, Kitridge and Zara joined him, one on each side.
“Wait a minute.” Chris pulled a letter out of his pocket and handed it to Zara. “Sister Agnes asked me to give you this when we saw you. She’s really enjoyed the letters you’ve written. She said as soon as she reads one, she starts looking forward to the next, that they’re like a ray of sunshine on a dreary day.”
A light blush spread over Zara’s face. “Thank you for telling me that. I was afraid we were imposing on her. I’ll try to write a little more often.”
Chris smiled. “She’d like that.”
Rigel held out his arms. “Re
ady?” Rigel asked. When Zara and Kitridge both nodded, he turned the key and took them back to their room at the inn in Travers. Once they were steady, he said, “I’m going to pick up my stuff and leave now. If you need anything or want to talk to anyone, let us know and one of us will come.”
Kitridge smiled. “Thank you. See you, hopefully before long.”
Chapter 56
Another Arrival
After lunch Sunday, Chris left for Montock’s house in Grainger to pick up Trystan. When he got there, Trystan’s parents as well as Montock and his wife were there to see the young man off. After affectionate goodbyes, Chris picked up Trystan’s bag, put his hand on Trystan’s shoulder, and turned the key.
Elin felt that getting Trystan settled was her responsibility since he would be working with her, so she was waiting when he and Chris got back. She helped him to a chair and handed him a glass of water. “Take a sip of this and breathe. You’ll feel better in a minute.”
After Trystan was steadier, Chris said, “Trystan, this is Elin. You’ll be working with her in the governor’s office.”
“Yes, sir.” Trystan turned to Elin. “Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
Elin started laughing. “No one says yes sir to Chris, and absolutely no one calls me ma’am. I’m not old enough. Save that for Joan.”
Trystan frowned. “Joan?”
Elin looked at Chris. “You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”
Chris grinned. “Saved all of that for you.”
Elin rolled her eyes with an expertise only a teenage girl can manage. “Come on, Trystan. Let’s get you settled. Then I’ll show you around and tell you what you’ve gotten yourself into.”
~~~~
A week later, while Kevin and Chris were having a midmorning snack in Kevin’s office, Petri knocked on the door and asked if he and Elin could see them for a minute.
“Sure, grab a pastry.” Chris tilted his head towards the plate on Kevin’s desk.
Elin picked one up as Petri said, “No, thank you.
After they sat down, Petri said, “We probably shouldn’t say anything, it’s none of our business, but have you considered bringing Trystan in here as a page? Isak told me he’s leaving at the end of the year.”
“You know I’ll help out when I can,” Elin said, “but I don’t have much spare time.”
“And you both think Trystan would be good?” Chris asked.
Petri nodded. “I’ve spent some time with him this week, and I think he’d work out fine.”
“He hasn’t had a problem with anything I’ve asked him to do,” Elin said. “And he’s careful with what he does. He doesn’t just do it to get it done. He takes the time to do it right. At least he has so far.”
Chris looked at Kevin and raised an eyebrow.
“It’s up to you,” Kevin said.
Chris looked back at Petri and nodded. “I’ll see if he’s interested.”
After Elin and Petri left, Chris asked, “Should I check with his parents and see if they have any problem with him being a page?”
“They’re looking at this as an apprenticeship, aren’t they?”
Chris nodded.
“Then I say no, let it be his decision.”
“Okay. I’ll see him after lunch, and if he wants to be a page, he can start tomorrow.”
~~~~
Tuesday morning, Kevin shook hands with a very nervous Trystan when Petri introduced them.
“Welcome to the madhouse,” Kevin said with a grin. “Glad you decided to join us.”
Trystan froze for a moment and then managed to stumble through, “Thank you, sir.”
“Relax. You’ll do fine. Petri will help you,” Kevin said as he poured himself a cup of coffee. “I’ll be in my office if you need me. Chris will be along in a minute.”
After Kevin went in his office and shut the door, Petri said, “I was scared of him at first, too. Most people are. But you’ll get over it. Now, back to these letters…”
Chapter 57
Gildan's On the Move
On a Friday morning towards the end of October, Gildan packed up and headed out of Cedar Grove. Maisie had been quite friendly and accommodating until she realized he wasn’t taking her with him. Fortunately for him, she didn’t come to that conclusion until she saw him carry his bag out of the house and tie it on his saddle. And that’s when the trouble started. That woman had quite a temper. He felt lucky to get out of town in one piece.
The first day he’d been in town, Maisie had offered to let him live at her place if he’d help out around the house. She’d had a few things that needed fixing, but it hadn’t taken him long to figure out she’d invited him to stay so she could convince him she’d be the perfect wife. She’d never come right out and said so, but it had been obvious she was looking for a husband. He’d almost felt guilty for leading her on, but staying with her had made his job so much easier he hadn’t want to give it up, so he’d let her think whatever she wanted to.
Maisie hadn’t moved to Cedar Grove until a few years ago, but she’d visited all of her life, and she’d known Dara since they were girls. Maisie loved to gossip, and Dara and Dayed were two of her favorite topics.
Maisie said that although Dara frequently had guests over for meals, no one ever spent the night, not even family. Dara’s family still lived in town but she seldom saw them, and Dayed’s brothers and sisters were scattered all over the place. She’d never seen any sign of either family visiting them, but someone told her Dara had canceled some dinner plans last winter because they had to go to Milhaven for the weekend.
From what Maisie had observed, she’d come to the conclusion Dayed was a bit of a recluse. Dara had confided in her that he spent most of his time in his workshop, sometimes even sleeping out there.
Gildan had learned everything he needed to know within the first forty-eight hours, but he’d stayed the full month since Rolan had been so insistent on it. He’d already faked one report and he didn’t want to chance faking another, but he came to regret that decision when Maisie realized he was leaving and wasn’t taking her with him. She was quick to remind him that since they’d lived under the same roof for a month, she had grounds to claim they were married. But if she did that, she’d also have to admit he’d left her, something he didn’t much think she’d be willing to do.
As he rode through town, he kept his fingers crossed and his eyes forward. He half expected someone to come charging after him, demanding that he go back to Maisie.
It took a couple of days of steady riding for him to stop listening for the sound of horse hooves behind him. By Sunday evening he’d relaxed enough to get a room in an inn, but even then he didn’t use his real name.
As he settled in for the night, he swore he’d never take that big a chance again, not for any amount of money. If a woman was willing to share his bed from now on, she’d have to share it in neutral territory. It might not be as comfortable, but it would be a lot safer. And with that thought in mind, he gave himself up to sleep.
~~~~
Shortly after lunch Monday, Chris walked into Kevin’s office with a stack of messages and plopped them down on his desk. “Guess everyone was bored this weekend and decided to write to you. There are a couple you might be interested in though.” He picked up the top two and handed them to Kevin. One was from Rhianna, by way of Duane, and the other was from Dayed.
Kevin put the one from Rhianna in his pocket to read later. Then he opened the one from Dayed. He laughed as he took out his key. “I’ll say one thing for my uncles. They don’t waste words.”
Chris frowned.
“He wants to see me.”
“What about?”
Kevin gave a little chuckle. “Probably something to do with Gildan, but he didn’t say. Back in a few minutes.”
A few moments later Kevin joined Dayed at one of the work benches in the back of the shop. “You wanted to see me?”
“Do you have the measurements for your bed?”
&n
bsp; Kevin dug a slip of paper out of his pocket and handed it to Dayed.
Dayed looked at it and frowned. “Has Rhianna gained a lot of weight?”
Kevin laughed and shook his head. “No, I just wanted to be sure it would be big enough. Nikki likes to sleep on the bed, too.”
“And Rhianna will be all right with that?”
“To be honest, sometimes I think the only reason she hangs around me is so she can spend time with Nikki, and vice versa.”
“If she lets your dog in the bedroom, you’re a lucky man, but if she lets the dog on the bed, count your blessings and never let her go.”
Kevin laughed again. “So, what’s going on?”
“Gildan’s gone. He packed up and rode off Friday morning.” Kevin nodded, but before he could say anything, Dayed added, “And if you run into him any time soon, hit him for me, hard. I owe him a good one for the miserable weekend he put me through.”
“Why? How?”
“The woman he was staying with, Maisie, got here early Friday morning in a full blown temper and didn’t leave until after lunch yesterday. But it was her own fault. That man made no secret of the fact he wasn’t staying. He said so sitting at the table in my dining room the first time she met him. He told all three of us he was a rambler, that he traveled light, and he’d only be around here for a few weeks. But she convinced herself he was going to take her with him when he left, and when he didn’t, she carried on something fierce.” Dayed shook his head. “She was screaming and yelling all day Friday. The tears started Saturday morning before breakfast and went on until well after dinner. I didn’t know there was that much water in a human being. She must have dried herself out.” Dayed shook his head again. “I kept Jasyn out here all weekend. We even ate and slept out here.”
“I’m sorry, Dayed.”
“It’s not your fault, but you might want to avoid Dara for a while.”
“I hate to say so, but I’ve been avoiding your wife for a year now.”
Dayed laughed. “I know, but you might want to avoid her even more now. Maisie claims Gildan’s her husband because she let him sleep in her house for a month, and Dara’s not discouraging that idea. They wanted me to go after him, drag him back, and make him, as they put it, ‘do his duty’ as her husband. I told them the only person I had any authority over was four years old. I told Maisie if she wanted to pursue it, she’d have to see the minister and ask him to intervene, but I also pointed out that all he could do was talk to the man, that it’s not a crime to leave. Needless to say, they didn’t like my answer. Then Dara told Maisie she’d talk to you and make you go after him.”
The Rambling Spy Page 58
