Discovering the Jewels' Secret
Page 17
Lajin nodded. “Those must be the walls. The town looks to be a hundred times larger than Desert’s Edge. We’ll be there tomorrow.”
“I don’t think we should enter until Jindera and Corin arrive. He knows about the town. I don’t. Until I ran away, I lived in the desert. Desert’s Edge is the biggest place I’ve ever seen.”
“Won’t we be going to the palace?” Lajin asked.
“We will be. Do thee know where it is?”
“No. We can ask.”
“Who can we trust?” Mara dismounted. “We should wait. In the morning we can see if there’s a place where we can make camp and wait for Corin and thy twin.”
Mara cared for her horse and helped Lajin with their evening meal. Where were the other Holders? Had any arrived in Pala? Somewhere in the town, Tomon plotted with the wizards. He had to be found and stopped.
By mid-morning of the next day, the walls of Pala loomed ahead. Lajin pointed to a grove of sasafra trees. “Let us make our camp there.”
“Once we’re settled, thee can try to reach Jindera.” Mara felt sure four of them entering the city would be safer than two who had no idea of living in such a huge place.
He nodded. “Hopefully we can arrange a meeting.”
Mara rode at his side. “One good thing. Tomon knows as little about Pala as we do.”
“He’s with a wizard. I’m sure the black robes have a safe hiding place.”
“Tomon won’t be content to hide. He frequently left the desert and traveled to Desert’s Edge.” Mara smiled. “We can start our search in the taverns. Tomon likes tragon and women.” She recalled the serving maid he’d beaten. “We’ll ask about places where they don’t care if a man is rough.”
Lajin stared at her. “Do thee think the wizards will allow him that kind of freedom?”
“Allow? Tomon does as he pleases. He’ll convince them he’s the awaited one.”
When they reached the grove Mara slid from her horse. “Lajin, there’s a pump and a watering trough. There’s even a fire circle with a hanging pole for cooking. Let is settle and thee can troll the inner path.”
He helped care for the horses and gathered wood for the fire. He set some snares. “When we enter Pala, shouldn’t we go directly to the palace?”
Mara hung several pans of water from the pole. “We shouldn’t trouble strangers for directions. What if we chance upon a hidden wizard? He might sense the Jewel.” She added ground kaf to one pan and dried meat and vegetables to another. Once they ate, she relaxed with a mug of kaf. “Try Jindera. If we know how soon they’ll be here, we can make plans. Corin knows the town.”
Lajin nodded. “If we are four, maybe we can unite and reach the other Holders.”
“What puzzles me is why we can’t reach Liara and Valmir when we’re so close to Pala.”
“There’s some kind of block. Maybe the walls.” He sat with his back against a tree. A short time later, he laughed. “Found my sister. They’ll reach us some time tomorrow. They’re traveling in Corin’s wagon.”
Mara smiled. “Tomorrow, we’ll break our fast and ride out to meet them.”
* * *
Morning arrived. The day was overcast with dark clouds covering the sun. Lajin saddled his horse and watched Mara stow the last of her things in her pack. She fastened a rope and pulled her pack to settle beside his on a branch of the sasafra tree. “Are thee ready?” he asked,
“Rushing won’t bring them any sooner.” She grasped the steed’s horn and vaulted into the saddle.
“Maybe not but if we hurry, we’ll see them before midday.” He prodded his horse and left the grove. Mara galloped after him.
By mid-morning, he spotted the wagon and raced ahead. When Lajin reached the wagon, Corin halted the ponies. “Good to see you.”
“And you.”
Jindera jumped from the seat. Lajin tossed his reins to Mara and joined his twin. He hugged her. Laughter spilled free and they communicated their pleasure in the reunion on the inner path.
“Aloud,” Mara said. “Using the inner path when the voice works is exhausting.”
Corin chuckled. “Makes my head ache.”
Jindera looked up. “There’s so much I want to tell him.”
“Lajin and I also have news,” Mara said.
Lajin released his twin. “By the time we reach our camp, we’ll be ready for a midday meal. We can relate our adventures then and make plans.”
Corin nodded. “Now that’s an idea I like.”
Lajin helped his sister onto the wagon seat. He mounted his steed and led the way to the grove. While he and Corin saw to the animals, Mara and Jindera cleaned the coneys that had been snared. Corin added nuts and the cheese he liked to the meal. With flatbread and greens, the meal was complete. They sat around the fire and served themselves.
“We heard how you stopped Beder,” Jindera said.
“So you went to the village.” Lajin lifted his mug.
Corin nodded. “And bought the remainder of your parents’ share of the products. With Auden as the gardener and a three years’ exclusive, we’ll make a fortune.”
“Why are you worried about making money?” Lajin asked.
Jindera laughed. “I like being a peddler. What Corin brought will pay his guild for the ponies and wagon leaving us with enough coins to restock the cart. Once the Jewels are destroyed, we can travel as we please.”
“With the Guild’s blessing?” Mara asked.
“Why not?” Corin reached for flatbread and the cheese. “With my debt paid, I’ll be a voting member of the Peddlers’ Guild. Since Jindera and I don’t want to charge for healing, we need a way to earn our living. Being a peddler is perfect.”
“Will I have to buy into the Guild?” Jindera asked.
“I don’t know.” Corin cocked his head. “Never saw any women peddlers, though some of the men have their wives with them.”
Lajin leaned forward. He understood Corin and Jindera’s thoughts about not wanting to charge for helping people. That seemed wrong unless a person had no way to support himself. What could he and Mara do? They had a knack for helping plants grow. How much of her talent came from the Jewel and how much was her own?
Mara added kaf to her mug. “Could we come with you? We could help those whose gardens are failing.”
Lajin laughed. “Exactly my thoughts.”
“We need someone who is skilled with animals like Reena and Andalor,” Jindera said.
Corin finished his bread and cheese. “Do we know if everyone’s talents are inbred or come from the Jewels?”
“I have no idea.” Lajin reached for some of the nuts. “We need to decide what to do next.”
“Tomon is in Pala,” Mara said. “Do we search for him or do we take our threads to the palace?”
Jindera frowned. “We traced him for a tenday after we found our thread. Then he vanished. How can you be sure he came here?”
Mara rose. “I’m sure.” She told her friends about her encounter with the serving maid at an inn. “Though we didn’t see him, the description she gave convinced me it was him and she said the wizard mentioned Pala.”
“Makes sense to me,” Corin said. “He needs a place to hide and Pala has many.”
‘How will we find him?” Jindera asked.
“Set a watch after we hear of him in some tavern.” Mara cleared away the remains of their meal.
Corin nodded. “He has something we might need.”
“What?” Lajin asked.
“At the house where we found the dead and dying members of the Inner Circle, a woman said Tomon had taken something called a mold.”
Lajin frowned. “What could this mold make?”
“I don’t know,” Jindera said. “The woman said it was ancient and had been taken from the wizards.”
Mara walked to the pump. “So what are our plans?”
Corin rose. “We leave for Pala and find an inn. Tomorrow I’ll go to the Guild House and buy free.”
�
��Then we search,” Lajin said.
* * *
After they doused the fire, Jindera helped Corin harness the ponies to the wagon. Mara and Lajin saddled their horses and stored their packs in the wagon. They left the grove and rode toward the gates of Pala.
Jindera’s stomach felt as though a hundred flitters danced there. The plan to find Tomon and what he’d carried away from the Inner Circle had been set in motion. Would they be fortunate and find him quickly, or would the search take days? Though Mara and Lajin believed Tomon was in the town, they had no proof. When they found him, would they also find the hidden wizards and be able to destroy most of the remaining evil men?
The town gates were open and unguarded. “That’s odd,” Corin said. “Always were a pair of men asking questions of everyone who entered and holding out their hands for a bribe.”
“Is the lack good or bad?” Jindera asked.
“Don’t know.” He turned the wagon into the first street that crossed the entrance avenue.
As they rode past buildings, Jindera noticed many touched the wall. “Where are we going?”
“To an inn my mentor used.” He pointed to a sign. “The Seven Jewels. Seems like an omen.” He grinned. “Food’s good and rooms are clean.” He pulled the wagon into the wide yard beside the sprawling structure. “Stay with the wagon. I’ll see to rooms.”
Jindera held the reins and turned to her twin. “He’ll arrange for rooms.”
Lajin dismounted. “Be good to sleep in a bed.”
Corin strode from the inn. “We have a suite.”
Mara frowned. “Are you sure we should stay here? Shouldn’t we go straight to the palace? I’m sure Liara and Valmir are waiting for our arrival.”
“Until we locate Tomon and the hidden wizards, we need to keep apart and remain silent about who we are.” Corin waved to the stable hand.
Jindera stepped from the wagon. Finding the hidden wizards was as important to Corin as locating Tomon was to Mara. The wizards had murdered his mother and left her Chosen an orphan who’d had to become a thief to survive.
Corin guided the ponies forward and parked the wagon against the wall beside the stable. He unharnessed the animals and gave them into the care of the stable hand.
Lajin walked to the wagon. “What you said makes sense.”
Mara frowned. “But Liara and Valmir could help us find Tomon and the hidden wizards.”
“Perhaps,” Corin said. “Or we could endanger her. After I pay my debt to the Peddlers’ Guild we can discuss this again.’
When the ponies and horses had been cared for, Jindera and Corin selected the wares he would take to the Guild House. Along with the sheep silk yarn and cloth, they chose a selection of herbs, spices and medicinals.
Mara and Lajin watched Corin lock the cart. “Aren’t you worried about thieves?” Mara asked.
“No one would dare rob a peddler’s wagon. The guild is powerful and would punish the village or town by halting trade. That’s why I choose them. Much of what is sold in the large markets is supplied by the peddlers.”
Lajin’s eyes widened. “And they’re that powerful? How did they gain their influence?”
“I don’t know.” Corin hefted his pack. “Time for the baths, a good meal and set our plans for tomorrow.”
“Why don’t you go to the Guild House now?” Mara asked.
“Business is conducted from early morning through the afternoon. I would arrive too late today. After we break our fast tomorrow will be a good time. We need caution when we walk through town.”
“Because of thieves?” Jindera asked.
“Or hidden wizards?” Lajin added.
“Both,” Corin said. “While the wagons are untouchable, peddlers strolling the streets without armsmen are fair game.”
After settling in their suite, they departed for the baths. They spent the evening sharing stories of their travels and in making plans for finding Tomon and the hidden wizards.
In the morning, Jindera wondered why Corin lingered in the inn’s common room while drinking a third mug of kaf. An edginess kept her on the edge of her chair. By the time he reached for his pack, she was ready to scream. “Are we finally leaving?” she asked.
“Yes.” He grinned and handed her the second pack. “Thee and I will walk in front with Mara and Lajin behind.” He turned to their friends. “Follow as closely as you can. Keep your hands on your knives and look for anyone trying to crowd or collide with us.”
Jindera swallowed. How much danger was there? With the value of what she and Corin carried, she was glad Mara and her twin had joined them. Corin’s tales of his days as a thief made her wary, yet the sights were intriguing.
As they walked, she studied her surroundings and tried to memorize their route. They passed taverns, inns and shops where prepared food was sold. The upper levels of the shops had rooms where people lived. The sweet scent of pastries mingled with the pungent aromas of spices and cooking meat. She wrinkled her nose at the odor of fresh slaughtered animals. When they arrived in the market square, she gasped and turned to Mara. “Have you ever seen so many things for sale?”
“Never. The aromas are over-powering. The people and the noise are hard to bear.”
Corin turned. “What’s wrong with that?”
“There are too many things to see and want,” Mara said.
“And too many people.” Lajin moved closer to keep from ramming into a man carrying a bolt of cloth. He pushed away a boy who tried to grab Jindera’s pack.
“Good move,” Corin said. “You should see the animal market. Shouts, brays, squeals, whinnies and noise beyond belief.”
Jindera pointed to a wall that rose beyond the shops lining one side of the square. “Is that the palace?”
He shook his head. “Behind the wall are the five Guild Houses. Grounds for each are a street wide. Notice the different shades of the stones. The Peddlers’ Guild House is beyond the dark gray. They say that years ago, there were more guilds.”
“What happened to the others?” Lajin asked.
Corin shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Where is the palace?” Jindera asked.
Corin pointed. “See the square tower?”
“Yes.”
“That’s part of the palace.”
Mara and Lajin turned to stare. “When will we go there?” Mara asked.
“Once we finish what we must do.” Corin led the way past the shops into the street where the roads rose. He approached the gate of the darkest section. “The benches are new.” He knocked.
A spy hole opened. “Who comes?”
“Journeyman Corin and three friends.”
“Your business?”
“To see the Guildmaster and give him a report on my first journeyman travels.”
The gate opened. “Just you. Your friends can wait on the benches outside the gate.”
“I thought they would enjoy seeing the gardens. Two of them know a lot about plants.”
“New rule. A short time ago, there was a riot not far from here and the gate was breeched. Guildmaster says no one enters except members and those applying to become peddlers.”
Jindera handed Corin her pack. She touched his hand. “Inner path.” He nodded. She sat on a bench with her twin and Mara. Jindera folded her hands in her lap. If Corin found trouble, how could she help him?
* * *
Corin followed a servant through the garden. He recalled the first time he’d come to the Guild House with enough coins to enroll as a student. The garden had awed him. In the poor section of town where he’d lived, weeds were more common than shrubs and flowers. No trees had shaded the streets either. The beauty of the colorful blossoms had astonished him. Today, he compared the formal garden plots to the ones of the Garden where he’d met Jindera. Here, all was ordered and perfect as though no flower dared be taller than another of the same kind and no bush or tree lacked perfect symmetry.
Just as he and the servant reached the porch, the
door flew open. A man rushed out. He knocked against the servant who fell to his knees.
With a gasp of surprise, Corin ducked into the shadows. His hands clenched to hold in his anger. He would never forget that face. Though the man had aged, he was one of the wizards who had beaten Corin’s mother to death. He nearly forgot his mission and turned to follow the man who was dressed in dark clothes rather than a robe. Corin halted and sought Jindera on the inner path.
Corin, what?
The man leaving. See which direction he takes.
Why?
He’s a wizard.
Will do.
The servant touched Corin’s arm. “Sorry. He came bursting out. Are you all right?”
“He never touched me. Who is he?”
“Don’t know his name. Comes every week to see the Guildmaster. Probably brings information and gets paid. Master has a number of informants.” The servant opened the door. “Don’t pay to be too curious about that one. Someone I know was and he’s not to be found.”
A shudder rolled through Corin’s body. That someone was surely dead. He followed the servant into the house. So the Guildmaster had dealings with the wizards. What exactly were they? Was the Guildmaster an enemy?
The servant ushered Corin into a room where the head of the Peddlers’ Guild sat behind a long table that served as a desk. He offered Corin kaf and a chair. With a wave, he dismissed the servant. “Journeyman Corin, you’ve returned early. Was your journey profitable?”
“Very much so. I obtained two exclusives. One for a new product and the other for a variety of known ones. I can pay for the ponies and wagon and for my entrance as a full member,”
The man’s eyes narrowed. “Let me be the judge of what you have. Present these exclusives and I’ll make a judgment.”
“First, let me pay for my entrance. He placed ten gold coins on the table. Though they’d been his share of the wizards’ treasury, he had no problem using them to make his journey seem extremely profitable. “The fee plus the Guild’s quarter share of my profits.”