The Merchant and the Menace (30 page)

“Yes, I guess I do. I’m truly sorry,” said Kael.

Hamly shuffled once more and stared toward his
feet.

“Head up, Sergeant Hamly!” called out Manfir from
the back of his warhorse. “No harm was done, and your tidbits were nothing
compared to the floodgate opened by the ‘Master of Spies’.”

Teeg smiled as was his habit, and bowed deeply.
Ader grumbled something about ‘chatty Elves’, and Hamly stood tall in front of
Kael’s mount. Even the ominous presence of Granu let out a low rumbling
chuckle. Manfir nudged the black stallion in front of the old man.

“Did you saddle the extra mount as I requested,
sergeant?” asked Manfir.

“Yes, sir,” replied Hamly.

“Flair. Did you gather your things?” called Manfir
toward the kitchen.

The young man sprang from the doorway. He carried a
small bag of clothes, a sack of tools and a short cudgel. Hamly spun to Manfir.

“What’s happenin’? Where’s the boy off to?” asked
Hamly.

“Aemmon wasn’t the only boy I hand picked for the
Guards, my friend,” smiled Manfir.

The prince tried to hold a straight face but could
not keep a broad grin from spreading there. Hamly looked puzzled.

 “The boy is too young, Manfir. He isn’t eligible.”

 “He’ll be eligible by the end of the season,
sergeant. The king calls upon many to return to duty. Brelg left to join in
consult with my father. I think young Flair would find his call earlier than
his birthday. Besides, I would rather he accompany us now, than journey by
himself in a fortnights time,” replied Manfir.

“But his parents, they haven’t been told,” stated
Hamly.

 “Would you do me that favor?” said Manfir.

Hamly scrutinized Manfir. They stared at one
another for over a minute. Finally, Hamly shook his head.

“If your only doin’ this cause the boy is my
grandson, it’s no good. You’ll just get ‘im killed,” said Hamly.

“You know me better than that, my friend. The Guard
only takes the best. Of course bloodlines play a part. However, Master Flair
possesses what it takes. Now will you tell your daughter for me?”

Hamly pursed his lips then let out a yell and threw
his hands in the air.

“Wahoo! I knew ya had it in ya boy!” said the old
man as he ran over and bear hugged Flair. “I never pushed for ya with any of
‘em, but I hoped they’d notice ya! Well I’ll be. Never thought I’d see the day.
Your dad’s gonna be awful proud! Wish he stood here now. Stay a moment and gimme
that thing.”

Hamly snatched the cudgel from the boy’s hand and
ran into the inn. He was gone a few moments before he returned carrying a wool
blanket. He stopped in front of Flair and threw open the blanket revealing a
cutlass and scabbard. The weapon was obviously cared for over a number of
years.

“Granddad, I can’t take your sword. I’m not ...”
began Flair.

“Oh, go on boy. I don’t use this ‘un much anymore.
All I’m gettin’ good for is runnin’ errands and such. A recruit for the Guard
gets looked upon a lot better if he shows up with a proper sword.”

The old man turned to Manfir.

“Your highness, I’ve shown the boy a thing or two,
but if ya don’t mind, do ya think ya might give him a few tips on the way. I’d
certainly appreciate it.”

“Done,” replied Manfir.

A huge smile beamed back at the prince from the old
man.

“Well, we must be on our way,” interrupted Ader.
“Hamly, with Brelg gone, your son-in-law becomes the commander of the militia
in this area, correct?”

“Yes, sir. He does,” replied Hamly.

“Then you may tell him of your grandson’s good
fortune, but the usual rules apply concerning our movements and whereabouts.
Understood?” said Ader.

“Understood!” said Hamly with a sharp salute and a
wink for his grandson.

The remainder of the group mounted their horses and
Hamly swung the gate wide open. As they passed, the old man saluted once more
and Kael noticed Hamly’s lip quiver as Flair saluted in return.

The group quietly road down the main road of town. Manfir
took the lead as the hulking form of Granu strode silently in the rear. It was
early and many of the inhabitants of the small village were in their beds. Kael
laughed to himself. The stable boy, sneaking from his own village with princes
and lords. What would they make of it? Perhaps that’s why they were sneaking,
so no one
would
think of it.

They passed the last structure in town, Daz the
weaver’s shop. His old dog Trig sprang from beneath the porch and barked at the
group as they slid by. A withering look from Granu sent the dog yipping back
under the porch. They moved into the countryside and Manfir increased the pace.
The horses began a light trot.

“We will try to get some distance between us and
the town while the morning air is cool. The horses will need to slow under the
noonday sun,” stated Manfir.

After several minutes at this pace, Kael stole a
glance backward. The town disappeared beneath a ridgeline and Granu fell behind
as well. Manfir never turned to check on the status of the lone footman of the
group.

Nearly an hour later, Manfir reined in the black
stallion and slowed the pace to a walk. Kael was afforded the opportunity to
look around. The boy was never this far to the north of the village before. The
country was relatively the same as that around Kelky, rolling hills broken by
ridgelines gave way to sporadic fields and meadows. The grasses grew high
throughout the region making fine cover. Kael noted how much recent events
changed him. He no longer looked at these rolling grasslands as cattle pasture,
but as battle lands, a place not of beauty, but of danger. His anxiety rose.

“Truly remarkable country,” came a voice to his
left.

Kael turned to find Granu quietly walking beside
him. The Keltaran’s head was almost level to Kael’s.

“You were able to keep up?” said Kael, his eyes
widening.

“I have hiked many leagues through the thin air and
up the steep slopes of the Zorim Mountains. This is but a stroll to a Keltaran,”
stated Granu.

“I saw you falling behind?” questioned Kael.

“Although the leaders of this group choose to leave
issues of security to unseen forces, I desire a more tangible feel for the
situation. Let them believe that I can’t keep up. I will cover our rear,”
smiled Granu.

Kael heard a chuckle from just ahead and realized
that Teeg slid backward in the group and rode just ahead of Kael.

“Our spy master is quite efficient at his job,
don’t you think, young earl?” asked Granu.

“Ah, yes, I guess he is,” nodded Kael. “Please,
don’t give me a title. I’m sure I’ll never get used to it.”

“Responsibility is the most difficult of all the
tasks Avra puts before us, Master Kael,” said Granu. “How we respond to our
Creator’s challenges determines who we are. I exercised no choice in being born
to the house of Grannak. However, how I respond to this challenge is what my
Lord will judge. You too are called upon to face your life, not to hide from
it. How will you respond?”

Before Kael was able to answer, the big man slowed
and allowed the group to distance from him once more. Kael looked up to notice
Teeg moving forward to his space beside Eidyn. The boy rode on left with his
thoughts.

The hours passed as the sun hit its apex and slid
toward the horizon. Fatigue set in as the riders spent long hours holding
themselves in their saddles. They crested a small ridgeline and Kael saw
travelers ahead of them moving north. The travelers were on foot and in no
particular formation. As Kael came closer to the group he saw the distinctive
clothing of farmers and herdsmen. Kael was nearly on top of the group when he
saw Teeg steal a glance over his shoulder to the south. Kael followed the Elf’s
gaze back down the road. Granu was nowhere to be found.

“Our large friend knows well the prejudices of
these country folk,” stated Teeg.

The travelers stepped from the road to let the
riders slowly pass. Manfir reined in when the black stallion stood amongst
them. The men couldn’t possibly recognize the prince, but his bearing and
outfit told them all they needed to know.

“Good day to you, men of Trimble. Wherefore are you
bound?” asked Manfir.

A burly, balding man in herdsmen garb stepped
forward and bowed quickly to Manfir.

“We’re bound for the capital, my lord,” said the
herdsmen. “And you?”

“We’re bound for the capital as well,” said Manfir.
“Aren’t you Nyven the cattleman?”

The broad shouldered man smiled and his eyes
narrowed as he studied Manfir.

 “Yes, I am,” said Nyven. “Have we met, my lord?
Surely I’d remember such a fine gentleman as yourself.”

“I normally conduct our business,” came the reply
from Ader.

Nyven stepped forward and inspected the old man.

“Ho! If it isn’t wily, old Jasper. How fare you?”
asked Nyven glancing back to Manfir. “And by gum tis Rin. I didn’t recognize
you outside your tinker’s garb. Times must be good for you, by the look of the
mounts you ride. They must be worth a king’s ransom!”

“They are, my friend. They are. You have always
possessed a keen eye for animal flesh. How go your herds in the fields around
Trimble?” answered Ader.

“Quite well. I added fifteen head to my count this
season. It forced a good deal of work on me. I was prepared for it, but now
comes this business,” said the cattleman as he pointed a thumb over his
shoulder to the north.

“Are the militia of Trimble called north?” asked
Manfir.

“Yes.” replied Nyven. “I sent a runner to the king
to explain my situation. Every year the Guard commandeers more and more of my
stock. I don’t mind supporting the troops, but how can I produce if all of my
men are called up? Who’ll tend the herds?”

“Macin called the whole militia forward?” asked
Teeg.

Nyven hesitated and inspected Teeg. The cattleman
noted the Elf’s mount, clothing and confident stare. He nodded his head and
proceeded.

“Yes indeed, Lord Elf. My runner returned and
informed me two thirds of the men should march north. Not only are my herds
poorly tended, but Trimble is poorly defended even if she is in the heart of
the country,” said Nyven. “I left good men behind, but it worries me.”

“Why didn’t you stay?” mumbled Kael.

“What’s that laddie?” asked Nyven.

Kael turned red and glanced about.

“I said, why didn’t you stay? Your herds are
obviously important and must be tended,” said Kael. “Who better to care for
them than their owner?”

“The king, in his infinite wisdom, demanded
two-thirds of my men. No less,“ frowned Nyven. “A man doesn’t send another to
face danger in his stead. I wouldn’t send these fine boys in harms way unless I
was willing to go there myself.”

Kael turned a brighter red and stared at the
ground. He needed to learn a lot about soldiering and honor. Prince Eidyn
looked to Manfir after the disparaging remark concerning King Macin. The
prince’s countenance remained stony.

“I might ask if you’re called as well, good man
Rin, but the company you keep leads me to think otherwise,” said Nyven waving a
hand toward the Elves and the two young men.

“I was called, in a manner of speaking, Nyven my
friend,” smiled Manfir. “I accompany these honored representatives from the
Elven people in hopes that King Macin will accept their aid in these troubled
times. I must also attend to duties of my own, for the sad truth is, even the
aid of the Elves may not save
my father’s
kingdom in its hour of need.
All able bodied men, prince or pauper must arm themselves.”

“That’s for certain,” rambled Nyven looking to Teeg
and Eidyn. “The support of the Grey Elves is a blessing in these times. The
stories we hear from the North concerning the trouble in your father’s
king.....”

The big man stopped and swung his head back toward
Manfir. The Zodrian prince turned the black stallion and headed up the road.

“His father’s what?” asked Nyven in confusion.

Ader sighed and a knowing look passed between him
and Teeg.

“Come, Tarader,” said the old man as the huge gray
turned and followed Manfir’s stallion.

“Tarader?” mumbled Nyven as his eyes went wide and
his jaw dropped.

Teeg slid down from his mount and with a slight bow
approached Nyven and his men.

“Good day, gentlemen. I am Lord Teeg, emissary of
his majesty King Leinor of Luxlor ....” began the Grey Elf Lord.

Kael turned to Flair and the pair chuckled as they
turned their horses and passed by the stunned cattlemen. As Kael proceeded
north, he listened to Teeg’s fading and formal voice.

“... Prince Manfir just gave you a delicate bit of
information, and one that you should keep to yourselves. His whereabouts and
that of Lord Ader, and I assure you Lord Ader is real, are a tightly held
secret. Now, I’m quite certain of the loyalties of every man here. Jilk, you
and Trawney lived in the Trimble area for years. You perform admirably as both
herdsmen and militiamen. ..”