"I'd like for you to give this to Ashlord in the morning and wait for his reply."
As Eldwin took it, Robby looked at him, noticing for the first time his muscular build, his thick strong hands, and his stocky body, and for a moment Eldwin's small size was neither here nor there in Robby's mind. Robby saw him not as a pixie, or as a servant, or even an Elder of his people, but only as a man.
"What is your trade, Eldwin?"
"I have always been a woodworker, sir, after me father before me an' his before him."
"A carpenter?"
"I have done plenty of that, yes. But all manner of things do I make an' carve. Tools an' handles, furniture, doors, beds an' posts, an' even toys. I made the simple table ye work at, those shelves behind ye an' in many of the rooms here."
"You do good work," Robby said running his hand across the smooth finish of the tabletop. "How do you cut your boards? And smooth them so? Do you have a mill?"
"A mill? Goodness no, sir. They are hand sawn, with saws made by our smithies. An' once the boards are cured, we smooth them using stones. I have an auger that I use for the peg holes, an' various tools for cuttin' mortises an' tenons. That's how we put together the cot, there."
"Quick work, too, I might say. And quite inviting," Robby said.
"Strong, but not so comfortable as what ye may be used to."
"The rocky ground is what I've been used to of late, with roots jabbing in awkward places!"
"Surely," Eldwin hesitated. "I know little of ye or the purpose of yer journey. The Elders, decidin' to allow ye here to do this, required an oath of all not to ask questions about such things. They do not wish to become involved in the outside world. Before we are ready."
Robby nodded. "I understand and surmised as much. Well, ready or not, you are involved, since I am here and of the outside world. Perhaps, before I leave, and if I'm allowed, I might tell you some of why we pass this way. But these days are a time for your people to watch your borders with vigilance and caution. The world closes in, and even my coming here may have brought danger. I do not mean to alarm you, only to put it before you. I will do what I can here, but then I must go, and go quickly. As I said, I might tell you more, but not without the consent of my companions."
With assurances from Robby that he would be fine staying by himself, Eldwin let Robby dismiss him, promising again to take the message to Ashlord at first light and then return. Robby worked for some while longer on the ledgers, and he was pleased with his progress. Closing the last blurry page, he walked the passages, having another look at the various storerooms, and putting out lamps as he went, until he arrived again in the chamber of the Great Treasure. He looked for a long while at the fabulous display of ancient articles. For the first time, he imagined Tulith Attis as it once may have been, a place of beauty and riches, surrounded by a little town of happy traders and craftsmen, secure in the watchful shadow of Lord Heneil's fortress and in the company of his many fine soldiers. The treasure he looked at was surely only a hint of the wealth and marvels that must have once been commonplace there.
At last he turned to go, but stopped a few steps away. He went back to the gates and carefully placed his right hand on the thick steel band that sealed the latch bars. He touched it only for a moment, and withdrew his hand quickly. With a satisfied expression, he left and walked back through the Foyer and on through the opening of the cave. A cool wind blew down from the cliffs above, trees bent and rattled in the little wood, and bright stars winked in and out between the branches. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he noticed a huddled figure, bundled in a blanket and leaning against a tree about twenty yards away down the path. Smiling, he went back inside. Realizing he would have a more comfortable night than his guards, he took full advantage of the cot.
• • •
The wind was hot and dry, and Robby tasted the endless expanse of dust and sand on his lips. Squinting, he turned, shifting his stance on the sand at the top of a high dune, and looked all around. He thought he saw a glint, but it was gone in a wink, and the faraway spot where he thought he saw it was blurred by the restless heat, shimmering like water, and blending into the distant, rimless sky. Nothing could he distinguish in any direction but sand and sky. She was nowhere to be seen. He remembered her words: "We will not see each other again until after Tulith Morgair."
Chapter 17
Robby Gets To Work
Day 96
149 Days Remaining
Sheila awoke from a restless sleep and sat up from her bedroll. The sky above the treetops was blue with morning, though the sun had not yet cracked over the eastern mountains. The air was cool, and she shivered, pulling her blanket around and over her shoulders. Noticing the odor of pipe tobacco, she turned and saw Ashlord sitting on a log at the other side of their camp, turning over a piece of paper and reading it silently. Ullin sat on the ground beside him, leaning comfortably against the log and smoking his long-stemmed pipe. Standing before them was the child-sized Eldwin, and behind him were stacked several small bundles. Ibin and Billy, oddly enough, were already awake and sitting on their bedrolls as Sheila now did, silently watching Eldwin and Ashlord. The Eldwin wore a blank look on his face, but from her vantage she could see his eyes wander time and again to the sword-hilt upon which Ullin's hand absently rested. Whether Eldwin was nervous or just prudent, she could not tell.
"Very well," Ashlord said, handing the note to Ullin. "We have your assurance that Robby is safe and that no harm or treachery has befallen him?"
"On me honor, I swear. When I left him last night, he was in good health, safe, an' I promise that we have played no trick upon him, nor will we."
"Then take this message to him: Say that I will do as he asks. Remind him also that time presses upon us and beg him to conclude his task as quickly as he may. Say, too, that should he need us, we will be ready to aid him in any way we can. Will you do that?"
"Yes. Just as ye say."
"Then I thank you for the food that you brought for us, hoping that you did not bring too much. I beg you now, return to do your master's bidding."
Eldwin bowed and then disappeared, and Ashlord turned to the others.
"Well!" he said, seeing their expectant faces. "We may be here for a while yet. Robby is doing the best he can, but there are problems and developments that are, well, interesting."
He went on to tell them the gist of the note and of Robby's peculiar request, that they tell stories to each other, that Ibin sing some songs, and that they be ready to depart at a moment's notice.
• • •
All through the day, Robby and his crew of helpers kept busy counting, examining, making notes, and tallying sums. He found it hard to resist doing those things himself; after all, in his family's shop he had never had anyone to order about or any reason before now to think of how best to direct one person's work in coordination with another's. He quickly learned the differences between the boys, though they were all capable and eager to do whatever was required. Seltin was the most work-conscious and always seemed to be thinking ahead to the next thing. Timbo and Jimbo seemed of a kind, both talkative and somewhat happy-go-lucky; they reminded Robby of Billy. Limbo and Nimbo were quiet, steady, and strong, rarely speaking unless prompted, and though they seemed to move slowly, they accomplished all that was asked of them. Millithorpe's nervous way was natural to him, and though the little man was too concerned with the opinion of others, Robby found him easy to work with. Eldwin was more of a mystery. Strong, quiet, like Nimbo and Limbo, but strangely world-wise and articulate, especially for one who could neither read nor write. Very businesslike, but at moments quite personable, Eldwin was definitely different from the others, and he seemed concerned with both the details and the broad lay of things. Robby thought Eldwin was sensitive, in an odd way, even more so than Millithorpe, but Eldwin's face rarely betrayed emotion. At first Robby took it for resentment, on Eldwin's part, of being forced into Robby's service. Eventually, he realized that it was no
t hard feelings that tempered Eldwin's behavior. No, something else preoccupied him. Perhaps the meeting of the Elders, due to convene in the evening, was on his mind. But something was bothering Eldwin, and Robby resolved to find out what it was, if ever he could.
After rushing to the sundries room to check the quality of salt kegs, and then hurrying off to help Seltin move a few oil jars, Robby had barely returned to the desk in the Foyer when Limbo showed up with a handful of small brass items from the weapons room.
"What am I to call these things?" he asked. Robby took one and turned it over in his hand, a flattened cup-like item with gold along its rim and a little ball where the stem of the "cup" should be.
"Oh, these go on the ends of leather scabbards," he said. "I don't know what they are called. Let's call them 'scabbard ends.' "
"There's a whole box of them."
"Just count them up, like everything else."
When Limbo turned to go, Jimbo stepped up.
"And what about these things?" He held up several long curved bands of heavy hammered metal, linked together with iron rings. Robby recognized them from the soldiers at Tulith Attis who did battle with the wolves.
"Those are armor pieces that go around the chest. These are all tangled. See? Like this. They overlap. Called banded armor, I think. I am no expert at such things, though there is one in my party who is. Anyway, there should be matching pieces that go underneath, down around the waist and others that go up over the shoulders."
"Yes. I think I saw some that might be those."
After he left, Seltin appeared with a question about how to measure a quantity of nails, "by the nail, or by the keg?"
"No. Sort the nails by size. Then weigh the total amount of each size. Weigh out one pound of each size and give a count of how many nails are in a pound. On your sheet of paper, draw a line showing the exact length of each size of nail and beside it put the count of a pound-weight and then the total weight of all of that size, like this."
That sort of instruction went on and on, with Robby jumping in wherever needed, making snap decisions here and there, and scratching his head over what some of the items were that they found in the many storerooms, boxes, kegs, sacks, and shelves. Eldwin, unable to use writing, kept himself busy by moving things for the others, and by sorting and stacking. Hour ran into hour, and yet they hardly noticed the passing of time, so busy they were.
They had not yet heard back from the Elders, but, except for the things in the Treasure Room, all of the rest of the inventory was nearing completion. Robby looked over the progress of the books with satisfaction. It was during a mid-afternoon lull, when Robby had time to sit at the table and catch up with some of the sums, that he looked over Millithorpe's part of the work with the ledgers.
"Fine work, Millithorpe. Very good. We should be finished with this part of our inventory by day's end, and it will be up to me to do my figuring as to the value of things."
"Thank you, sir. That means the world to me, oh yes, it does! I'm so glad that you like my work. You are very kind to say so."
"I do, indeed."
"You see, all I needed was to be shown the proper way of things, that's all. And you have been so kind, so patient."
"I take it Herbert is somewhat demanding?"
"He can be," Millithorpe nodded. "And especially for one who doesn't know numbers worth a twit. If you pardon me saying so."
Robby chuckled. "Well, he seems to have held your people together all these years."
"It might seem so. But more's to the credit of our folk and less to him. He hasn't had a good idea since he came up with the notion of the Toll Road. And even that was suggested by someone else, it is said. But he is harmless for all his bluster, I suppose. Though he knows how to make a person feel puny and low with his sharp words and harsh tone of voice. He certainly doesn't have your way with folk. But then, I suppose you have long been a great leader among your people and have seen much of the world and all manner of wiles. This work must seem so low and menial to you."
Robby's eyebrows shot up with surprise. His smile faded as a cloud crossed his brow, and he sat down beside Millithorpe and picked up a quill to ink.
"I am no leader, Millithorpe. Mayhaps someday I will be. Certainly there are those who have placed that hope in me. As for the work? If the work is honorable, it is so for peasant or king, and neither may be the worse for doing it."
For a long thoughtful moment, Millithorpe watched Robby do sums, then he resumed his own work.
Indeed, by nightfall the boys finished providing Robby with lists and counts and also other notes about the things he had asked them to do. He thanked them, and assured them that he would no longer need their services.
"I know you have been taken away from other people who need you, and I'll not delay you from them any longer," he said. "For my part, with Millithorpe and Eldwin's help, I will make the best of your efforts, and do my work as well as I can. Eldwin tells me that, if you are needed again, I may be sure to call for you."
The boys bowed and shook Robby's hand and departed, joking and laughing.
"Another day's done!" Robby said, repeating a phrase his father often used when closing shop. "I thank the both of you, again, for your help. I suppose the Elders must be gathering for the meeting."
"Yes. And Eldwin and I should go and attend," Millithorpe said to Robby, nodding at Eldwin.
"I would not for the world keep you away from it much longer, as I need your two votes."
"Ye shall have them, sir," said Eldwin. "An' by mornin', if all goes well, I may give ye the news."
"I have another request of you, before you go, Eldwin. But Millithorpe, I know you wish to depart. Thank you again, and please come again tomorrow, if you can."
"Thank you. I will."
"Eldwin, I have a couple of things I'd like to ask you about," Robby said, pouring water into a cup and offering it to Eldwin before taking another for himself.
"I will answer as best as I may."
"What do you think the chances are that my companions would be allowed to come here?"
"Here? To Nowhere? To the Hoard?"
"Yes."
"Oh, sir, I don't think that would be allowed. Herbert has made his decree that they should stay where they are an' that we should have little to do with them, except to see to their meals each day."
"I know. This is how it is: I believe we have some things you may find valuable that we would be willing to part with, in exchange for things that your folk may provide. Also, while I know a great deal about some things, I may not value some other items, such as weapons, as greatly as they should be. But there is one in our party, Ullin is his name, who is an experienced soldier."
"Yes, I know the one ye mean."
"He will know better than I the value of the weapons, beyond their material. Also, the others have knowledge of things that may be useful to your people, things that can be told to your scribes and copied for your collections. If it could be agreed that they be brought here, I would feel better for their safety, and they would surely provide what knowledge they may. Ullin, too, will be able to help me with putting a value on the weapons. Without him, I'm afraid my values will be low."
"Still, I don't think Herbert would agree."
"The decision would not be made by the Elders?"
"Herbert may be a pompous sort, but he's not without wile. Long ago, he saw to it that the Toll Road would be his charge an' all that happens upon it in the way of gatherin' tolls an' fees his responsibility. He only agreed to let ye come because it makes him look good in the eyes of others. But it was his decision as captain of the road, since it was as a result of the road that ye offered this bargain. Since yer companions remain there, it would be Herbert's say to allow them to come. He would only do so if he was made to think it was to his gain. He is elected, ye know, an' every once in a while he is reminded of that. Not that we would ever choose anyone else since he handles the Toll Road well an' that's about it; he'd be a nuisa
nce if he did not have that."
"How would it look for him if the Hoard was valued at very little?"
"He would be mocked for makin' such a bargain with ye, an' for bringin' shame upon us by dint of our failure to grow the fortune properly as we are charged by the curse to do."
"Then let him know, if you may find a way, that the weapons may in fact be the most valuable things that you have collected, but that I, being one who has very seldom reckoned the value of such things, might deem them nearly worthless. Let Herbert know that I rely upon the advice of my companions, as they hold special knowledge of many matters, and that only with their aid may I make a reckoning that does not insult the efforts of your people. Do you think that will convince him?"
"It might, indeed."
"Good. Please tell him in the best way you know how. I know you must soon go to meet with the Elders and have your part in the voting, but there is something else I would like to ask you about. Frankly, I am a bit reluctant, though, to bring it up."
"Whatever it is, I will try to answer truthfully."
"Yes, I'm sure of that. It is perhaps a small thing, but you have seemed, well, somewhat perturbed. At first, I thought you were angry at me, and wondered what it was that I may have done. I eventually realized that it was not anger, but must be some sort of problem you are turning over in your head. You rarely smile, even when the others laugh. You do everything I ask without reluctance, and with care to do things right, but you have little enthusiasm. Is there something wrong? Would you tell me what is on your mind?"
Eldwin looked earnestly at Robby and, seeing his sincerity, sighed, put his hands into his pockets, and nodded.
"Yes," he said, "though I fear I might not have the proper words."
As Robby sat, Eldwin shrugged and gestured to the opening of the cave, trying to gather his thoughts.
"Outside," he said. "It is a big world outside." Turning back to Robby, he continued, "I worry that we are not ready. The curses laid on us have, in a way, been our protection. By bein' unable to leave, we have been forced to be good stewards of this land we occupy, an' it continues to provide for us. By bein' made small, our needs are small. We require far less than big people, like we once were, like yerself an' yer friends. By bein' able to pop quickly from place to place, we were given the power to protect ourselves without takin' up arms. True, our name an' our honor have been forever sullied, so that we are called pixies an' imps an' all manner of other names, an' we are shunned, now, by all that we would otherwise have as friends. But we never had much of a name in the wide world, anyway, truly a small people, I suppose. As for honor? What do we know of such things? We who aided murderers, we who put our hands to thievery!"
The Nature of a Curse (Volume 2 of the Year of the Red Door) Page 45
