“Just before you get to the city, turn off along the sea trail and come to the small gate that leads to the fishing harbor to the north of the city. That’s the gate.
During the day watch. It’s a sergeant named Diggs.
He’s taking Jacoby gold.”
“Are you known to him?”
The driver nodded. “But Jacoby uses a lot of different teamsters to cover his tracks. He sometimes hires sailors or farmers if he thinks he might be caught smuggling.” Roo nodded, remembering the drunken sailor who had run his wagon into Barrett’s front door. “So when you see the gate guard, ask for Diggs by name. Tell him you’ve got netting from Sarth.”
“Netting from Sarth?”
“Anything else and he’ll be on you like lice on a beggar, but if you say, ‘Netting from Sarth,’ he’ll wave you through. Don’t mention Jacoby or say anything else. Just say, ‘Netting from Sarth,’ and you’re in.”
Roo took out another coin and flipped it to the driver, who suddenly seemed far less troubled by this hijacking. Jeffrey said, “You’d better mark me up some so Tim Jacoby doesn’t kill me.”
Roo nodded, and Duncan struck the man hard across the face with the back of his hand. Jeffrey spun around and fell to the ground, and Roo could see a red welt appearing on his cheek. Jeffrey shook his head and stood up. “Better close one of my eyes,”
he said as he tore his own tunic. Duncan glanced at Roo, who nodded again, and this time Duncan doubled up his fist, drew back, and drove it straight into the man’s left eye. He staggered backward and fell prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 315
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hard against the side of Jacoby’s wagon, striking the back of his head. He sat heavily on the ground, and for a moment Roo thought he might lose consciousness, but instead he fell over on his side and started rolling in the dirt. Then, with wobbling knees, he stood up. “One more ought to do it,” he said in hoarse tones.
Roo raised his hand and Duncan held his blow.
“When you’re discharged by Jacoby, come see me about a position.”
Squinting with his good eye, the driver said,
“Who are you?”
“Rupert Avery.”
The man laughed a strangled laugh. “Oh, this is rich. Just the mention of your name makes Tim crap in his trousers. No one knows what it was you done to him, but he’s got some major hate for you, Mr.
Avery.”
Roo said, “The feeling is mutual. He killed my partner.”
Jeffrey said, “Well, I’d heard rumors, but that was all. Now, if we could get this over with, I’ll be along after I lay low a bit, and then I’ll be talking to you about that job.”
Roo nodded and Duncan unleashed a heavy blow, striking Jeffrey hard enough to lift him off his heels.
The man turned in the air as he fell again, this time not rising. Duncan leaned over and looked at the unconscious man. “He knows how to take it, that’s for certain. He’ll live.”
“He’s tough enough,” said Roo. “And even if I don’t hire him, I want to know as much as he does about how the Jacobys operate.”
Duncan said, “Well, we’d better be along before a prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 316
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patrol rides by. Might be difficult to explain all this.”
Roo nodded. Both men mounted up and Roo headed the wagon down the highway.
The return to Krondor went uneventfully. The only tense moment was when they reached the indicated gate and the soldier inquired about their cargo.
Roo asked for Sergeant Diggs by name, and after Roo told him the cargo, the sergeant hesitated a moment before waving them through.
Roo had taken a circuitous route through the city in case they were being followed, and finally reached his own shop. Luis was overseeing the dispatch of four wagons that were to meet with a caravan outside the city and carry goods into the palace. Roo quickly unloaded the goods they had taken from Jacoby’s wagon and opened each box for inspection.
As he had suspected, the items involved were all high-tariff. A couple of small boxes contained what appeared to be drugs.
Duncan said, “I’m no expert, but I think those are Dream and Joy. I’m not a user, but I’ve caught a whiff of them in some of the places I’ve visited.”
Dream was a drug that induced hallucinations and Joy caused euphoria. Both were dangerous, illegal, and highly profitable. “What do you think boxes like that would be worth?” asked Roo.
Duncan replied, “As I said, I’m no expert, but I think our friend Jeffrey may end up floating in the harbor for letting us boost it from Jacoby. Maybe ten thousand gold. I don’t know. I don’t even know who you’d sell it to.”
Roo calculated. “Find out, will you. Start with that girl over at the Inn of the Broken Shield, prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 317
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Katherine. She’s a former Mocker and would know if there’s an apothecary in the city who would be a dis-creet buyer.” The other boxes contained some jewelry, probably stolen, as the rubies were.
After Duncan departed, Roo called Jason over from his work desk. “How much gold can we get our hands on in a hurry?”
Jason said, “You want an exact figure or rough?”
“Rough for now.”
“Thirteen, fourteen thousand gold, plus whatever you can raise selling this stuff.”
Roo rubbed his chin as he thought. Prudence dictated he sell the jewelry as far from Queg as possible, lest he run the risk of finding some angry Quegan lord’s hired assassin in his bedchamber one night.
Luis came into the room from seeing the wagons leave for the caravanserai, and Roo asked, “Has Erik left yet?”
“Saw him last night at the inn. Why?”
Roo said, “I’ll tell you when I get back.” He hurried out of the office, running after Duncan.
Roo glanced around the room and saw that Erik was nowhere in sight. He and Duncan crossed to where the girl Katherine worked, and Roo said, “Has Erik left yet?”
The girl shrugged. “Saw him here last night.
Why?”
“I need to talk to him.” To Duncan he said, “See if she can help us, and I’m off to the palace. I’ll come back here when I’m done.”
“Good,” said Duncan, slapping his hand on the bar and winking at the girl. “I’ve a throat full of road prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 318
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dust and haven’t seen a pretty face in weeks.”
Katherine threw him a withering look, but said,
“What’ll you have to drink?”
“Ale, my lovely,” said Duncan as Roo hurried out of the inn.
It took a few minutes to convince the gate guard to send for Erik. The guard didn’t realize whom he was speaking to, as Roo always showed up on a wagon early in the morning, not on foot late in the day.
Erik arrived ten minutes later and said, “What is it?”
“I need to talk to you a minute.”
Erik waved him through the gate and they walked to where they were out of earshot of the other soldiers. “How much gold do you have?” asked Roo.
Erik blinked. “Gold? Why?”
“I need a loan.”
Erik laughed. “For what?”
“I’ve got this information,” Roo said. “I don’t have a lot of time. I need twenty thousand gold pieces. I have maybe fourteen, and can raise another three or four. I just thought I’d see if you wanted to get in on this investment.”
Erik considered. “Well, it’s not like I’m going to need a lot of gold where I’m going.”
Roo blinked as realization came to him that he and Erik had already bidden each other good-bye.
“When do you leave?”
Erik said, “We sail day after tomorrow, but that’s not to be shared with anyone.”
Roo said, “I’m sorry, Erik.
I wasn’t thinking. You have a great deal on your mind and a lot to do.”
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“Things are pretty much under control, actually.”
He stared at Roo a moment. “Important?”
“Very,” said Roo. “I haven’t even been home yet.”
“Well, come along.”
He led Roo through the palace to the office of the Chancellor. Duke James’s secretary said, “Sir?”
“It occurs to me that I haven’t drawn my pay in a while. Could you tell me how much I have on accounts?”
The secretary said, “A moment, sir.” He opened up a larger leather-bound ledger and consulted it.
The inner door opened and Lord James exited his private office suite. “Von Darkmoor,” he said with a nod, then he caught sight of Roo. “Avery? What brings you here? Thinking of enlisting again?”
Roo smiled, despite finding no humor in the remark. But the man was Duke of Krondor, after all.
“My lord,” he said in greeting. “No, I was asking my friend for a loan for a business investment.”
James stopped, and his eyes narrowed. “You’re seeking investors?”
“Yes,” answered Roo.
The old Duke studied Roo’s face a moment, then waved him to follow. “Come in, both of you.”
Once inside, James signaled to Erik to close the door and, when they were alone, sat down. Looking at Roo, he said, “What’s the scam?”
Roo blinked. “It’s no scam, m’lord. I’ve come into some information which may give me a position that will bring great profit.”
James sat back in his chair. “Care to share that information with me?”
“With all due respect, no, m’lord.”
Duke James laughed. “You’re direct enough. Let prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:37 AM Page 320
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me rephrase this: tell me.”
Roo looked first at James, then at Erik, and finally said, “Very well, but only if you promise not to interfere with my investments, m’lord.”
Erik looked scandalized at Roo’s affront to the Duke’s dignity, but the Duke only looked amused. “I make no promises, young Rupert, but trust me when I say that the kinds of sums of money you’re thinking about interest me very little. My concerns have more to do with the safety and well-being of the realm.”
“Well then,” said Roo, “it’s about the wheat crop in the Free Cities.”
“What about them?” asked James, now keenly interested.
“Locusts.”
James sat, blinked, and then broke into laughter.
“And where did you get this tidbit?”
Roo explained about the chain of news, without going into detail about what brought a Quegan trader to Sarth, and when he was finished, James said,
“So what do you propose to do, buy up all the wheat in the West, then hold the Free Cities’ trading representatives hostage?”
Roo blushed. “Not quite. I mean to underwrite as many grain ships as I can. I mean to form a syndicate. That takes time, and I need to find someone at Barret’ s who can vouch for me, and time is moving quickly.”
“How much gold is young von Darkmoor owed by the Kingdom?”
“He has nearly a thousand gold sovereigns in back pay coming, my lord.”
James rubbed his chin. “Pay him a thousand, prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:38 AM Page 321
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and”—he narrowed his gaze—“advance him another two thousand against what we’re going to be paying him over the next year.”
If the secretary was curious why, he said nothing, only bowing slightly and closing the door. Before it was completely shut, Duke James said, “And send for my grandson Dash.”
“Yes, my lord,” came the reply as the door shut.
The Duke stood and said, “My two grandsons have come from the court in Rillanon to serve with me. Their parents are still in the capital, as my son must tidy up a few things before joining us.” He circled around his desk and said, “James, the eldest, has a strong appetite for the army, like his Great-Uncle William.” James smiled. “But Dashel is . . . well, let’s say I’m looking for the proper undertaking to engage his . . . unusual talents.”
He put his hand on Roo’s shoulder. “Do you think you could use a clever lad in this soon-to-be-booming enterprise you’re building, Mr. Avery?”
Roo wanted to hire a noble’s grandchild as much as he wanted a boil on his backside, but sensing the way this conversation was heading, he said, “My lord, I would be more than happy to have a bright and talented lad join my concern . . . as an apprentice, you understand. I can’t show favoritism because he’s of high station.”
James laughed at that. “Rupert, if you had any idea of my history—never mind. I think you’ll find the boy a quick study, and he’s getting a bit underfoot around here.”
A knock came from the door and James said,
“Come in.” The door opened and a young man stepped through. Roo glanced back and forth prince.qxd 9/4/02 10:38 AM Page 322
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between the Duke and his grandson. The resemblance was striking. They were of equal height, though the boy might be a finger’s width taller. Save for the age, they could have been brothers, not grandfather and grandson. But where the Duke had a beard, the lad was clean-shaven, and where the Duke had nearly white hair, the youth had curly brown locks.
“How would you like to try your hand at commerce?” asked the Duke.
“What do you have up your sleeve, Grandfather?”
responded the youngster.
“Something that will keep you out of the gambling halls and taverns, Dash. Meet your new employer, Mr. Avery.”
Roo nodded. The young man seemed wryly amused at the news that he was now an employee of Avery and Sons, but he merely nodded. “Sir” was all he said.
“Now, go with Mr. Avery, and when you get to Barret’s, ask to see Jerome Masterson. Introduce yourselves and say this, that I would count it a great personal favor if he could facilitate whatever Mr.
Avery needs done to establish his little syndicate.”
To Roo he said, “Good luck, and I hope you don’t go broke too quickly.” To Erik he said, “I hope you can find a day when you can enjoy all this immense wealth Rupert is going to put aside for you until you return.”
Erik nodded, “I’ll say yea to that, sir.”
To Dash the Duke said, “Come by and visit us from time to time, you rogue.”
The young man said, “That means you’re throwing me out of the palace again?”
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James laughed. “Something like that. You’re Mr.
Avery’s apprentice until he fires you, so you’ll be living wherever he puts you.”
Roo thought of the already cramped quarters shared by Luis, Duncan, and Jason, but said nothing.
The three men left the Duke’s office, and Roo found he could hardly breathe, he was so excited by the prospects of the coming opportunity.
He barely heard Erik’s good-bye as he left the city gate, the grandson of the most powerful noble in the Kingdom at his side, his new apprentice.
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Gamble
Roo cleared his throat.
The door waiter turned and Roo winced as he saw it was Kurt. His old nemesis narrowed his gaze and said, “What do you want?”
“I would like to speak with Jerome Masterson,”
said Roo evenly, ignoring Kurt’s lack of civility.
Kurt raised one eyebrow but said nothing. He turned and whispered something to another waiter, a new boy unknown to Roo, who nodded and hurried off. “Wait here,” said Kurt, walking away.
“Surly bugger, isn
’t he?” said Dash.
“You don’t know the half of it,” said Roo.
The second waiter and Kurt returned a few minutes later, and Kurt said, “Mr. Masterson regrets that his schedule at this time doesn’t present an opportunity to speak with you. Perhaps some other time.”
Roo’s temper began to flare. “Let me guess, Kurt.
You neglected to specify who was asking to see him.” Roo pushed through the swinging railing and Kurt backed away a step.
“Don’t make me send for the City Watch, Avery!”
warned Kurt.
324
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Kurt motioned for the young waiter to come closer, and with some hesitancy, he did. “What did you say to Mr. Masterson?”
The boy glanced at Kurt, then Roo. “I told him what Kurt said to tell him: a former waiter wished a word with him.”
“That’s what I thought,” said Roo. He instructed the boy, “Return and say to Mr. Masterson that Rupert Avery of Avery and Son and the grandson of the Duke of Krondor would appreciate a moment of his time.”
At mention of the Duke, Dash made a theatrical half-bow, with a wicked grin, and Kurt’s face drained of color. He glanced at the now totally confused waiter and said, “Do it!”
Two men returned with the waiter a few moments later. To Rupert’s surprise and pleasure, one of them was Sebastian Lender. “Young Avery,” said Lender, holding out his hand. They shook.
“Gentlemen, may I present Dashel, grandson of the Duke of Krondor and the newest member of my company.”
“And may I present Jerome Masterson,” said Lender, referring to the stocky man at his side.
Masterson wore a shortcut black beard shot with grey, and his hair was cut straight at his collar. His clothing was finely made but of plain design, and he wore a minimum of jewelry.
“Please, come with me,” said Masterson, leading them into the main room of the coffee house.
As they left a gaping Kurt behind, Roo turned and said, “My cousin Duncan will be along sometime soon. Please show him to our table the moment he arrives.”
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The order for coffee was put in as they settled around a large table in the corner, and Masterson said, “Your grandfather and I are old friends, Dash.
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