The Merchant and the Menace (54 page)

“Now that’s more like it,” chortled the first
voice. “Nice job. Should we go and find .....”

“What are you doing?” whispered a voice several
inches from Kael’s ear.

Kael’s eyes popped open and the rest of his body
froze. His heart raced. He shot a glance to his right and saw the heavily
cloaked and hooded figure that pushed by him at the inn’s doorway. Kael
swallowed hard and wondered how he should react. Before he could chance a
decision, the figure’s hand rose and pulled the hood back to reveal the smiling
face of Eidyn.

“I’m following you. Lord Teeg isn’t the only member
of our party capable of disguise,” whispered the Elven Prince. “Who are you
listening too?”

Kael felt his entire body drop an inch toward the
floor. He let out a deep breath, just now realizing he held it in. He rolled
his eyes at the Elven prince in mock anger then smiled.

“Do you remember the two boys we passed on the
outskirts of Quay?” whispered Kael.

Eidyn looked to the ceiling and searched his
memory. He nodded his assent.

“Do you remember the boys that bowed to the captain
in the marketplace?”

Once again Eidyn nodded. However, this time a look
of recognition crossed his face. Kael smiled.

“If I’m right,” began Kael. “Those boys are one and
the same.
We
were followed. I don’t know who they are, or what they’re
doing, but I’m determined to find out.”

Eidyn’s face grew stern. He motioned to the doorway
then tapped his ear. Kael took his meaning and once again reached out for the
sounds from in the room.

“.... and I told her we would grab a bite and return
to the room,” said the voice of Chimbre the thief.

“I could use some shut eye as well. It’s been a
long week,” squeaked Sprig.

“Interesting city don’t you think?” said Chimbre.

“Quite,” returned Sprig. “Such a mass of humanity.
So easy to blend in. Sakes, even I get turned around by the hustle and bustle
of this....”

Kael heard the creak of a door or window shutter in
the room.

“Why hello,” laughed Sprig. “Why didn’t you use the
door? It
is
a bit easier than the window.”

“Where were you?” said Chimbre, a nervous edge
creeping into his tone. “We considered going to...”

He halted abruptly. Kael heard the sound of rushing
movement in the room. The shutter creaked once more and Kael heard a light
thud. That was all he needed. Kael fumbled in his cloak for his dagger. Its
absence shocked him. He didn’t care. He reached for the door’s latch. Eidyn’s
eyes went wide as he saw what Kael was about to do. The Elven prince drew his
own dagger and moved behind the Southlander.

Kael threw the latch up and rushed in. Eidyn
followed in his footsteps and leapt to Kael’s side. The room was empty and the
window shutter slowly creaked back against the wall. Eidyn pointed to the
windowsill. Ten fingertips were visible along the sill for a moment then
disappeared. Once again Kael heard a light thud. The Elf and Southland boy
collided with one another as they tried to circumnavigate the tiny room’s bed
and reach the window. When they untangled, they popped their heads out the
window above the alleyway.

Kael caught a glimpse of three running figures in
the light at the end of the alleyway then they were gone. Eidyn threw a foot
onto the sill and prepared to leap. Kael grabbed the prince’s arm.

“I’m not questioning your abilities, Eidyn,” said
Kael shaking his head. “But you won’t find those three in this maze of a city.”

Eidyn frowned and lowered himself from the ledge.

“There’s still something to be gained here,” said
Kael. “Return to your spot downstairs and I’ll follow shortly.”

Eidyn nodded his assent and flipped the cowl back
over his head. The Elven prince stepped from the room and headed down the
stairs. Kael waited a few moments then followed.

The common room was unchanged. All who were there
earlier remained in their places. Kael approached the barman smiling.

“Innkeeper. Are you sure those boys lodge here?”
asked Kael. “No one answered at the door. When I opened it, I found the room
barren and uninhabited.”

“What? Impossible!” said the barman. “They just ran
through here not more ‘n fifteen minutes ago. Did you knock on the right door?
I said the door at the end...”

“I thought you said you didn’t see them all day?”
questioned Kael sternly. “What’s going on? Are you toying with me?”

The barman fidgeted and bit his upper lip.

“My father encounters quite a few travelers at our
shop,” persisted Kael. “They often inquire after good accommodations. I was
going to reference ‘The Rusty Nail’ due to your helpfulness earlier, but I
question that decision. Perhaps I should spread word in the marketplace that
you tried to cheat some guests out of coin that was rightfully theirs.”

“No! No!” protested the barman. “My apologies. I
host so many guests that I sometimes mix them up! By all means prompt your
father to send anyone he can in my direction. I run an honest establishment.
While you were upstairs I recalled seeing the boys pass. But, if you say
they’re not in, perhaps I saw them departing and not arriving.”

The barman rubbed his sweaty palms on the towel
hanging from his belt.

“Well, that may be,” said Kael softening. “But I
must be about my business today and become reluctant to leave this coin with
you. I see no evidence that these lads are staying here.”

Kael stared at the man as if working out a problem
in his head. He smiled.

“I know of a solution,” began Kael. “Do these boys
owe you for their lodging?”

“It was paid through this evening,” returned the
barman. “But they ran up a small bill from food.”

“I’ll make you a deal. Give me any information you
possess on the boys. Say, for example, the names they registered under. I’ll
canvass the other inns in the area, and if I find them I will return them here
to settle their account before I give them their coin. If I don’t find them,
I’ll use what I owe them to pay you. Either way you’ll be paid and I’ll feel I
fulfilled my father’s request.”

The barman briefly smiled at the prospect then
frowned.

“I’m afraid I can’t provide you with their names,”
said the barman.

“Why not? My bargain is fair,” said Kael.

“They didn’t pay for their rooms. Another paid in
advance and told me to expect their arrival sometime in the evening,” replied
the barman.

“Do you have that persons name?” asked Kael.

“Ah, yes,” said the barman. “He’s an old tinker by
the name of Jasper.”

A gray hooded patron at a table not far from Kael
choked on his ale and spit half of it across the common room.

In the street in front of “The Rusty Nail”, Eidyn
raced to catch up to Kael.

“Hold a moment, Kael!” called Eidyn. “Will you
hold?”

Kael stopped and turned on the Elven prince.

“Just when you think he’s being honest with you,”
spluttered Kael. “More lies! More deception!”

Eidyn held up both hands.

“Now wait a moment, Kael,” exclaimed the prince.
“How has he lied to you?”

“You heard the man. Jasper, or whatever he wants to
call himself, paid for the boys’ room. They shadowed us all along.”

“So, your point?” asked Eidyn.

“My point? My point is ....“ shouted Kael. “Oh I
don’t know! It’s wrong!”

“What’s wrong? The fact that you aren’t informed of
everything?”

Kael clenched his teeth and seethed. His hands hung
at his sides, balled into tight fists.

 “Fine! Yes! You’re right!” exploded Kael. “Why is
everything a puzzle? Why do I feel like I don’t know a thing? Why do Ader,
Teeg, Manfir and even old Hamly feel like they need to teach me things? They give
me scraps and pieces but keep whole volumes hidden in the dark!”

Eidyn smiled and crossed his arms in front of him.
He looked at Kael with mock pity. Kael frowned at the Elven prince.

“Ader isn’t lying to you, Kael,” began Eidyn. “He
merely keeps something from you, and from me, if that’s worth anything. Also,
we’re unsure
what
he keeps from us. Who are these boys? What are they
doing? Before we make accusations, we should find answers.”

Kael’s posture softened as he weighed Eidyn’s
words. The fact that they were in the same position did seem to help. He felt
helpless.
Something
was going on, and he needed to know what.

“Actually, we hold Ader at a bit of a disadvantage,”
smiled Eidyn.

Kael furrowed his brow and looked at the Elf.

“How so?”

“His three companions are sure to report that you
discovered them, but will assure Ader the secrecy of their connection is
intact. But we know otherwise. The first thing Lord Teeg taught me,” said
Eidyn, mimicking Teeg to perfection. “Knowledge is power. Guard it with your
life and spend it frugally, for there is only so much to go around.”

Kael smiled and slapped Eidyn on the back.

“I’ll do just that my friend. I’ll do just that!”

As Kael walked back to the castle with Eidyn, he
wondered what he might say to Ader about the missing dagger. He grew accustomed
to its weight. Its presence provided peace of mind. He wasn’t sure he would
ever use it properly, but at least he might make an attacker think twice before
advancing on him.

Eidyn walked along, lost in contemplation. Kael
felt ashamed. He was so caught up in his own emotion, he didn’t take the time
to think about Eidyn. The young prince obviously struggled with this
information as well. Was Manfir aware of the boys? If so, why didn’t Ader share
their presence with Eidyn? What about Teeg? Did the Master of Spies know, yet
keep his own prince in the dark? Kael recognized the delicateness of the
situation.

They fought their way through the teaming city. It
was getting late, and the marketplaces and shops were closing. Workmen and servants
headed home for the day. Each street held double the number of people as the
street before it. Kael tried to squeeze past a slow moving ox cart. He jammed
his hands into his vest pockets to make his frame smaller. In the right pocket,
he felt a small scrap of parchment. He stepped past the ox cart and unrolled
the tightly wound scrap. He read as Eidyn slipped past the cart and noticed the
confused expression on Kael’s face.

“What is it?” asked Eidyn.

“I’ve found another teacher,” said Kael as he
finished reading the paper and handed it to Eidyn.

Eidyn read the parchment aloud.

“A bit of advice. When you are trailing someone, be
doubly aware of those who might be trailing you.”

Eidyn turned and gave a questioning look to Kael.
The Southlander just shrugged his shoulders. Kael wondered whose hand placed
the note in his pocket. However, he was sure of one thing, that very hand now
held the Needle of Ader.

In the morning, the king and queen called the
travelers before them. Kael entered the meeting chamber and sumptuous smells
greeted him. A large circular table stood in the chamber filled with trays of
succulent food from the area. Corad and Lucyn rose as the group entered.

“Our meeting yesterday was somewhat forced,” said
Corad. “The situation required a ... 
harsh
approach. Now that we come
to terms, Lucyn and I desire to host you in a more suitable manner. Please,
step forward and be seated.”

The group bowed and moved toward the table.

“Ader, please sit here by me,” said Corad as he
pulled a chair out for the Guide. “I damaged our relationship these many years.
I regret my actions and hope to make amends.”

Ader nodded in Corad’s direction and accepted the
chair. Lucyn smiled at Manfir as he tried to take a place opposite her.

 “For just a moment you may let your guard down,
Manfir, son of Macin. You battle no Ulrog at this moment. Imagine that you are
thirteen years old again and we are entertaining guests. You ate at this table
so often it should be easy,” began the queen. “Come. Sit beside me and be a
stranger no longer.”

 Manfir hesitated for a moment. His stern
expression finally relaxed and he smiled.

“I do not deserve such a place of honor. I’m not
the best of nephews,” replied Manfir.

“I do not give it as a place of honor, but as a
place of love. Love overlooks transgression and accepts unconditionally,” said
Lucyn and she extended her arms.

Manfir stepped forward and embraced her. After a
moment all stood at their places silently waiting for Lucyn to sit. Flair
glanced nervously at Eidyn for clues on appropriate behavior. Lucyn looked
across the table at the imposing figure of Granu. His granite jaw was set. His
face was impassive.

“Before we sit,” began the queen lightheartedly. “I
must say well met Granu, son of Grannak.”