Luck in the Shadows (8 page)

“Father and I never came down into this part of town,” Alec said, looking nervously around at the weathered building overhanging the street and the shadowed alleys between.

Seregil shrugged. “People know how to mind their own business here.”

The taverns were coming alive now; the sounds of shouting brawls and snatches of drunken song echoed from all directions. Someone hissed a soft invitation to them from a shadowed doorway as they rode by. After several more turns, they came out at the waterfront.

The palisades extended out into the water on both sides of the town. Within their embrace lay long wharves, warehouses, and
taverns, all built on posts above the slope of the shingle. Looking out over the water, Alec again tried to imagine how big an ocean must be to outstrip this. On either side, the shore seemed to curve away endlessly, the far shore visibly only on the clearest of days.

Seregil hurried them along down the street to a narrow building squeezed in among the wharves. The sign over the open door displayed three intertwined fish, and from inside came the raucous clamor of a tavern crowd. A small knot of loafers had gathered beneath the windows with pipes and mugs.

Dismounting, he handed Alec his harp and pack.

“Mind the part I’ve given you,” he whispered, keeping his voice low. “From here on you’re the apprentice of Aren the Bard. You’ve seen what he’s like; react accordingly. If I’m abrupt with you, or order you about like a servant, don’t be resentful—it’s Aren’s way, not mine. Frankly, I don’t envy your position. Ready?”

Alec nodded.

“Good. Then the act begins.” With that, Seregil stepped back and became Aren.

“Take the horses to the stable around the side,” he ordered, raising his voice for the benefit of the onlookers. “Make certain they’re properly looked after. Then see the tavern keeper about a room. Tell him I’d have the one at the top of the house, overlooking the lake, and don’t let that villain charge you more than a silver mark for it, either! When you’ve taken care of the baggage, bring my harp to the common room. Be quick, now.”

With this, he disappeared into the warmth of the tavern.

“By the Old Sailor, I guess you been told, boy!” laughed one of the loiterers, much to the amusement of his cronies.

Scowling, Alec led the horses around to the stable. In spite of Seregil’s hasty explanation, he wasn’t sure he liked this turn of events. When the horses had been seen to, he gathered up the pack and Seregil’s saddle and hurried into the steamy bustle of the kitchen.

“I’m looking for the tavern keeper,” he said, catching a harried serving girl by the sleeve.

“Taproom,” she snapped, nodding curtly toward a nearby doorway. Leaving the gear by the door, he went on into the taproom and found himself faced with a portly, red-faced giant in a leather apron.

“I need lodgings for my master and myself,” Alec informed him, endeavoring to imitate Aren’s imperious manner.

The taverner scarcely looked up from the tapping of a fresh barrel. “Big room at the top of the stairs. Shouldn’t be no more than three or four to a bed tonight.”

“My master prefers the room at the top,” Alec said.

“Does he indeed? Well, he may have it for three marks a night.”

“I’ll give you one,” Alec countered. “We’ll be here for several nights and I’m certain my master—”

“Your master be damned!” the taverner growled. “That’s my best room, and I couldn’t let the mayor himself nor the whole of the damned Guild Council have it for less than three! Not when there’s all these southern strangers lolling about with more money than brains. I could get five a night from any one of them.”

“Begging your pardon,” Alec chose his words with care, “but I think my master, Aren Windover, and I could bring you in ten times that each night we’re here.”

Satisfied with the set of the tap, the taverner shoved his hands into his belt and glowered down at Alec. “Well! Begging
your
pardon, my young whelp, but just how do you think you could do that?”

Alec held his ground stubbornly; his father’d had a knack for dickering. Thinking back, he asked, “Do you make more profit from your rooms or your ale?”

“From the ale, I suppose.”

“And how much do you charge for that?”

“Five coppers for a flagon, a half silver for a jug. What of it?”

Sensing the man’s growing impatience, Alec quickly came to the point. “What you need, then, is something to attract men to drink. And what attracts drinking men more than a good bard? You may not know Aren Windover, but a good many in town do. You put it about that he’s playing at your tavern and I think you’ll have to send out for more ale. I can probably coax a few soldiers in here, and they’ll bring their friends the next night. You know how fighting men can drink!”

“Aye, used to be one m’self,” the tavern keeper nodded, looking Alec up and down. “Come to think of it, I believe I have heard of this Windover chap. He’s the one drew such a crowd
over at the Stag and Branch last year. Perhaps I could let you have the room for two and a half.”

“I can pay in advance,” Alec assured him. Then carried away with the success of his own invention, he added for good measure, “Master Windover is to play for the mayor, you see.”

“The mayor, eh?” the tavern keeper grunted in surprise. “Why didn’t you say so! Playing at the mayor’s, and the Fishes as well? All right, then. Go and tell your master that the room is his for two marks.”

“Well—” Alec mused stubbornly.

“Damn you, do you want my blood? One and a half, then, but I’ve got to make a profit, don’t you see?”

“Done,” Alec conceded. “But that does include candles and supper, right? And the bed linens had better be fresh! Master Windover is very particular about his bed linens.”

“You do want my blood,” the landlord growled. “Yes, yes, he’ll get his dinner and he’ll get his cursed bed linens. But by the Old Sailor, he better be all you say or the fishermen will have the pair of you for bait.”

Alec paid out two nights in advance for good faith, then toiled upstairs balancing their gear and a candlestick.

Passing the common sleeping room on the second floor, he climbed a steeper stairway to the attic. A short, windowless corridor led to a door at the far end.

Tucked in the peak of a gable, the room Seregil had specified was small, with sloping walls on either side. The narrow bed and washstand nearly filled the cramped space. Alec found a cheap tallow candle in a cracked dish on the stand and lit it from his own, then pushed back the shutters of the window over the bed. The back of the tavern stood out over the water on pilings. Looking out, Alec found a sheer drop down to the water below.

A thick crescent moon cast a glittering trail across the lake’s black surface. It was pleasant up here at the top of the house, quiet and warm. It occurred to Alec that he could probably count on one hand the times he had ever been alone inside a proper house, and never in a room so high. After pausing a moment to savor the new sensation, he sighed and headed back down the stairs.

Looking out over the noisy commotion of the tavern, he spotted Seregil talking with the host and was struck once more by the difference between “Aren” and Seregil; their movements, their
stance, the set of their mouth, all as distinct as if they really were two separate men.

Seregil glanced up just then and motioned impatiently for him to come. Dodging past servers with flagons and wooden trenchers, Alec made his way through the crowd.

“Of course, we have only just arrived in town,” Seregil was saying, “but I shall present myself to your most honored mayor tomorrow.” Coughing delicately into his fist, he added, “I seem to have taken sore in the throat today, but I’m certain a night’s rest will repair my voice. In the meantime, I am certain that you will be pleased with my apprentice’s abilities.”

The landlord darkened noticeably at this, and Alec gave Seregil a startled glance, which he pointedly ignored.

“You mustn’t fear,” Seregil went on airily. “This lad is constantly surprising me with his rapid progress. Tonight you shall have a demonstration of his talents.”

“We shall see, Master Windover,” the taverner growled doubtfully. “Your boy claims he’ll be good for business, so the sooner you start, the better.”

Though he made a sort of bow to Seregil, Alec was certain he caught a glint of malevolent humor in the man’s eye as he left.

“You’ve been busy,” Seregil remarked dryly as he checked the tuning of his harp. The crowd shifted restlessly around them, anticipating entertainment.

“There’s nothing wrong with your voice!” Alec whispered in alarm.

“There are a few things I need to do tonight that don’t allow me to be the center of attention for the whole evening. You’ll be fine, don’t worry. I understand you beat our landlord down to one and a half for the room. I didn’t think you’d bring the old robber down below two. I
am
curious, however, as to how you propose to bring in Plenimarans.”

“I don’t know,” Alec admitted, “it just seemed like a good thing to tell him at the time.”

“Well, hopefully we’ll be on our way before we have to keep too many of your promises. But in case we’re not, a word of caution—stay clear of the soldiers, especially if you’re out alone. These are Plenimaran marines, and there’s not much most of them aren’t capable of, if you take my meaning.”

“I don’t think I do,” said Alec, puzzled by Seregil’s tone.

“Then try this. They have a saying among them: ‘When whores are few, a boy will do.’ Got that?”

“Oh.” Alec felt his face go hot.

“Anyway, consider yourself warned. Now I think it’s time for you to prove yourself, my bardling.”

Seregil rose and cleared his throat before Alec could make further objections.

“Good people,” he announced, gesturing for their attention. “I am Aren Windover, a humble bard, and this lad is my apprentice. While journeying to reach your fair town, I fear I have contracted a temporary inflammation of the throat. Nonetheless, I pray you will allow us to offer you entertainment.”

He resumed his seat amid enthusiastic cheering and pounding of mugs. Favorite ballads were called for, and more ale.

Alec’s mouth went dry as a roomful of expectant faces turned his way. He’d sometimes been a member of such gatherings, but never the focus of one.

Seregil passed him a mug of ale with a mischievous wink.

“Don’t worry about this lot,” he whispered, “they’ve got full bellies and half-empty jugs.”

Alec took a long swallow and managed a weak grin in return.

Seregil knew the extent of Alec’s repertoire and chose requests accordingly, striking up first with “Far Across the Water Lies My Love.”

Alec’s voice, though hardly of bardic quality, was good enough for this audience. He sang all the fishermen’s songs he knew, and made a passable job of several of the story ballads Seregil had taught him on the Downs. This, together with Seregil’s excellent playing, soon endeared them to the crowd. When his voice began to weaken Seregil pulled out a tin whistle and struck up a dance tune for variety.

More customers appeared as word spread, pushing in and calling for ale and songs. Among the newcomers were half a dozen men in brigandine leather armor and brimmed helmets. Heavy swords were slung from their belts. Alec didn’t need Seregil to point these out as the marines he’d been warned against. They looked like rough customers.

Alec sang for over an hour before Seregil stopped to beg leave for a small rest.

“Stay and mind the harp,” he told Alec, thrusting the instrument into the boy’s hands. “And see that you get some water to
wet your throat with. Ale’s good for the spirit but bad for the voice. You’re doing splendidly!”

“But where are—”

“I’ll be back soon.”

Alec watched as Seregil made his way toward the far corner of the room where a tall, broad-shouldered man sat by himself. The fellow’s face was shadowed by a deep hood, but by his worn leather cuirass and the long sword at his belt Alec guessed he made his living as a caravan guard. Seregil exchanged greetings with the stranger and was invited to join him on the bench. They were soon deep in conversation.

Having clearly been dismissed for the moment, Alec let his gaze wander over the rest of the crowd and discovered a drysian sitting near the door. Distinguished by her plain robe and the bronze serpent lemniscate pendant she wore on a leather thong around her neck, she was already surrounded by a small crowd of people seeking healing. They stood quietly, watching with a mixture of hope and awe as she examined an infant lying on her lap. Curious as ever, Alec headed over to join them.

The dark braid that fell over her shoulder as she leaned forward was well streaked with grey, her weathered face set in stern lines, but her hands were steady and gentle as she examined the baby. She ran her hands over the little body, then lifted the child and put her ear to its chest and belly. Grasping the staff that leaned against the bench at her side, she spoke a few soft words over the child, then handed it back to its mother.

“Boil one of these in a cup of clear water each morning,” she instructed, counting out six dried leaves from a pouch at her belt. “Add a little honey and some milk. Cool it and give it to her through the day. When the last leaf is gone, the child will be well. On that day place three copper marks on the altar at Dalna’s Temple and give thanks. You will give me one mark now and the Maker’s Mercy be with you.”

She then went on to deal with the others, sometimes dispensing herbs or charms, sometimes merely praying over the sufferer. Several fishermen ventured near when she had finished with the children, and finally a wealthy merchant couple who timidly presented their young daughter. After the usual examination, the drysian gave the mother a bunch of herbs and charged her to give a silver offering rather than copper, as she had all the
others. Without a word, the husband paid her the money and the family left.

Alec was about to turn away when the drysian looked straight at him and asked, “Why do you suppose I charged them more?”

“I—I don’t know,” Alec stammered.

“Because they could afford to pay more,” she stated, and startled him further by giving him a knowing wink. “Perhaps I could be of some service to your master. You’re lodging here tonight?”