[Lanen Kaelar 01] - Song in the Silence (10 page)

“The girl will bring yer supper, let her know
if you need aught else,” he grumped, and left.

I leaned towards Jamie. “Do you know, I
don’t think he likes me.”

Jamie grinned.

Our supper arrived moments later, and the same
girl brought it as had fetched me. I smiled at her. “I’m not half so
frightening sitting down, am I, lass?”

She smiled back, and with the confidence of her
age replied, “No, missus, that you’re not. And I hope ye won’t mind, but I
much prefer ye down and quiet to up and singing.”

I had to hit Jamie to get him to stop laughing.

As we ate we spoke of selling the horses. Jamie
told me some of the tricks of the fair, where best to take the horses to be
seen by the wealthiest buyers, what time to catch the people there, how to
drive a hard bargain. “Best leave that to me, for the first few
anyway.”

“Jamie, I may not have travelled much, but
I’ve been bargaining in the village since I was eight!”

“Illara is no village. There are traders
here could sell infant’s clothes to a crane. For the first two, at least, watch
me. Then we’ll split up and do the best we can. Deal?” he asked, holding
out his hand.

I lifted my palm to my face, country fashion, to
spit in it, but he caught my wrist. “The first rule of barter in Illara is
not to spit in your hand. The townsfolk think it a terrible insult.”

“Do they still shake hands?” I asked.
“Aye, but just as they are. Deal?”

“Deal,” I replied, extending my hand. I
noticed that Jamie shook it twice instead of once. Another wrinkle. Another
difference to learn, another culture to be part of. Excitement shivered through
me again. How wondrous, to be in lllara at last, with Corli before me and all
my life beyond.

As if he read my mind, Jamie asked, “Will
you be leaving soon after the fair?”

“I think so,” I replied, confused by
the wildly differing emotions coursing through me. My dreams lay bright before
me in the glow of a fireplace I had never known, but the firelight gleamed as
well on the face of the one person I loved. This was our last night together,
who had never been sundered longer than the month of the fair. And he of all
men would know just how I felt. “I’m going to do it, Jamie. I’m going to
the Dragon Isle, if it can be done. I’ll seek word of a ship down by the river
tomorrow, see if the rivermen know of anyone daring the journey this year. In
any case I will be setting off for Corli as soon as I can. Do you know how long
the journey is? I never thought to ask.”

He looked at me, measuring again, and said
quietly, “It’s the best part of two months to Corli if you set out
overland. The roads weren’t good the last time I took them, and I don’t expect
in these days the old King has done aught about them. I’ve heard no rumour of
strife between the lesser nobles on our travels, which bodes well; they aren’t
generally inclined to start anything loud and unpleasant with winter coming on.
Still, the best and safest roads run by the rivers. If you go that way and ride
easy, it’s three weeks to Kaibar where the rivers meet and a little more again
to Corli after.”

Nearly two months! “Is there no faster way,
Jamie? The year’s getting old. If they’re going at all I might have four or
five weeks at best before they leave. Surely it’s not so far—”

“Trust me. And if it rains it will seem
twice that, and it will rain.” He shook his head, a wry smile on his face.
“It must be inherited, your mother had no more sense than to set out just
before winter either. But there is another way.” He was silent for a
moment. “You could go by riverboat in half the time. You’d have to leave
your mare, though.”

“Leave Shadow?” I asked, but knew the
answer as soon as I said it.

“Or sell her,” replied Jamie. “If
you’re going to take the ship you’d have to sell her in Corli anyway, or find a
boarding stable for her until you get back.”

I hadn’t thought that far ahead. That worried me.

But I couldn’t sell Shadow. She was a last link
with my past; and somehow I couldn’t bear to part with her.

“Jamie—will you take her back with you? She
can carry your pack, and” —Jamie was smiling— “oh, very well. I can’t
bear to think of her here in Illara when she belongs at home. I’ll come and get
her when I get back and I’ll tell you all about my adventures. Deal?” I
put out my hand.

Jamie took it; I shook twice and let go.

He laughed. “You’ll do fine, my girl. Keep
your wits this sharp and none can stand against you.” He drained his
tankard and stood up, yawning. “I’m off. We’ve an early start tomorrow.
Mind you come well before dawn to help us groom the horses for the sale.”
I nodded. He leaned over and kissed my brow. “Good night to you then,
Lanen Kaelar.”

I grinned up at him. “Good night, you old
bandit.”

“Less of the old,” he said, miming a
blow to my head. I ducked obediently under it as he went out the door.

I sat quietly and finished my drink, staring into
the tire. I never heard a thing until a voice behind me said, “Good even,
lady. I see your companion has left, as has mine. I hate to drink alone. Might
I join you?”

That voice.

It was the most thrilling sound in the world.
That voice belonged to the man of my dreams—of any woman’s dreams—light and in
the middle range, so musical it might have been singing the words, but with a
slight drawl that spoke promise of slow nights of pleasure. I could not have
ignored it to save my soul.

I turned in a daze. Before me stood a tall thin man
with fair golden-red hair, eyes the green of spring grass and a nose like a
fine hawk. He was fair enough to look at, but nothing could possibly match that
voice.

“Of course,” I answered, trying to keep
my own voice steady. “Please—” I gestured the chair across from mine.

He sat down beside me, his movements graceful as
a cat.

“I thank you, lady. Let me refresh your
drink.” He gestured to the innkeeper. “Are you here for the
fair?” he asked, and smiled.

“Y—yes, yes, I’ve brought horses. To sell.
Tomorrow.” I stammered. I had been wrong. There was something that could
match that voice, and it was his smile. It changed his nice enough face to one
of startling beauty and appeal. I was smitten like the greenest girl. I closed
my eyes and tried to get my thoughts together. “My friend and I sell
Hadron’s horses tomorrow,” I said, managing not to sound like a village
idiot. But I couldn’t keep my eyes closed, not with that face so close.

“Hadron’s horses? Ah, my luck is still with
me. I am seeking a mare for… light riding. Have yon any suggestions?”

I gathered my thoughts this time before I spoke.

“There’s a little chestnut with a lovely
smooth pace. She’s really a lady’s mare, though, not strong enough for
you.”

He smiled again. “Ah, but she would be for a
lady. Now,” he said, leaning on his elbow, his face so close to mine we
were almost touching. “What sort of a bargain might I strike with
you?”

I nearly fainted. It was all I could do not to
lean over—such a little way!—and kiss him then and there. His voice transformed
all his words into purest seduction, no matter their real import. My heart was
pounding. I forced myself to look away from those laughing grass-green eyes.

It was hard to deny him anything, even my own
glance, but somehow that made it easier to think.

“I’m sorry, sir, but you will have to come
to the fair like all the others. Though I will let you know which is the mare
I’m thinking of.” I turned back to him. He was sitting upright again in
his chair, removed to a safe distance (thank the Lady!). Though if the
opportunity arose again I didn’t think I would have the strength to resist.

It struck me suddenly, despite the thrill of the
encounter, that I was feeling and thinking things that had never occurred to me
before—at least, not so swiftly. It frightened me. I stood, heart pounding.

“Your pardon, sir, but I have been awake
since well before dawn and must rise earlier still in the morning. I hope to
see you tomorrow at the fair.”

“Then I shall bid you good night, lady, for
I will certainly see you tomorrow,” he said, his voice a gentle purr. He
took my hand in his and kissed it.

I felt that kiss shoot along my nerves like raw
lightning. I gasped with the power of it. He smiled that glorious smile at me,
his eyes alight with good humour and laughter. It took all my strength to pull
away and hurry up the stair; I felt his eyes follow me all the way.

For the first time since I left Hadronsstead, I
did not dream of Dragons.

The horse grounds were busy when I arrived, an
hour before dawn. I found Jamie and the lads already at work and, muttering a
subdued “Good morning,” took up a curry comb and got to it. By the
time we finished the sun was well up and there were a good few folk about. Ours
were not the only beasts for sale, of course, but once people heard these were
Hadron’s horses they crowded round, asking us all questions, admiring the
horses, watching as the hands took each one for a walk and a little warm-up,
showing them off to best advantage. The horses gleamed in the morning light,
and the grounds were crowded with buyers and sellers. Jamie left me inside the
ring and clambered up on a tall stump near a grassy spot that he had picked as
a good place to gather buyers. He winked at me and began crying aloud,
“Hadron’s horses! Hadron’s horses! Now or never, my lords and ladies! Come
and buy! Come and buy! Hadron’s horses!”

I had to laugh. I had no idea anyone could shout
that loud, let alone Jamie. And it worked wonderfully. I decided I had missed
more than my childhood longing for travel by not being allowed on one of these
trips before; Hadron’s was a name to conjure with here. There was a large crowd
around us in no time.

“The first to go will be this bay mare, my
lords and ladies,” said Jamie, only a touch softer than before, to the
crowd that had gathered. He gestured, and one of our lads started walking the
mare around the ring while Jamie described her and made the most of her good
points. He finished with “She’s four years old, the best of Hadron’s
breeding stock, with a sweet mouth and a cheery way about her, and she’ll run
with a light load well into tomorrow. Now, what am I bid for Hadron’s bay
mare?”

There was a chorus of voices, and in the end the
mare went for twice what I knew she was worth. The next was much the same, and
the crowd had grown even larger. “Change of plan, my girl,” Jamie
said to me quietly. “We’ll make our fortune today. I’ve never seen folk
more eager for Hadron’s stock.” His eyes twinkled. “Perhaps they
heard that Hadron had died, and there is no son to carry on his work.” I
was appalled, and Jamie laughed. “I never said there was no daughter or
sister’s son. Ifs all part of the game, my girl. Now I’ll do the next few,
until my voice gives out, then you take over. Mind you let them bid till
they’re tired and goad them on when they flag. We’ll do well today.” In
his chapman’s voice he cried loudly, “Have a good look and choose your
favorite. Shame to take second best, my lords and ladies! Hadron’s stock, the
finest in all of Ilsa, in all the Four Kingdoms of Kolmar! Choose your
favorite, my lords and ladies!”

I watched in awe as the next two went for the
same kind of sum the first two had. Amazed at Hadron’s riches? Amazed now that
he was not more wealthy, the prices were incredible. When the fourth went,
Jamie called me to him. “I’m getting hoarse,” he said, getting a
laugh from those closest. “Your go. Do me proud.” He sat down and
left me to it.

If the crowd had thinned, I couldn’t tell the
difference. I slood gathering my thoughts, looking out over the people who
watched the handsome grey gelding in the ring, and after a short while I found
myself scanning the intent faces for a particular one, hawk-nosed, fair-haired…
and that’s enough of that, Lanen my girl, I thought. I cleared my throat and
stepped up onto the stump.” Very well, my lords and ladies,” I cried,
as loudly as I could. It was harder than I thought to make that much noise.
“Next is this lovely grey gelding. Four years old, broken to harness and
saddle, what am I bid?”

In deference to the change of auctioneer, someone
shouted a ridiculously low figure and the others laughed.

Right.

“That’ll get you his left foreleg, sir,
what’ll you bid for the rest of him?” The laugh was louder this time—the
one who had spoken joined in—and the real bidding started.

After half an hour my voice was starting to go.
Jamie and I took it in turns, until by the time we were down to the last it was
my go, and Jamie’s purse was full near to bursting. Most astonishing of all, it
now held not only a river of silver, but several gold coins as well. Gold, the
rarest and most precious of metals, and I had held one. It seemed unreal.

Jamie grinned at me. “I’m off to put this
somewhere safe. You sell this last little lass and collect the fee, and I’ll be
back before you can count it.”

The last to go was the little chestnut mare I had
told the fair-haired man about. I had saved her for him. I scanned the
remaining faces. Many had left, but when I glanced over them he was nowhere in
sight. I gestured to the lad who was walking her sedately around the ring, and
he brought her to a stand , still. “This is the last, my lords and
ladies,” I said. I tried to speak loudly, but my voice was almost gone. I
described her qualities as best I could, finishing with “She’s three and
a, half years old, strong and willing, the prettiest lady’s mare you’d wish to
find. The lightest touch will send her where you want to go, and kindness is
her best spur. Now, what am I bid?”