Quest (38 page)

'Well, can't stand here all day nattering, can we?' His companion set the spade down. 'Where's the body? I'll help you with it, if you like. Best get it all over with.'

'This way. Oh - I'll have to - to blindfold you, or something.'

'No need.' Herra's voice made them both jump. 'He'll not betray us, will you, friend?' Her arm was stil around Carryn's shoulders, but Davred thought the child looked more in control of herself. 'Will you two fetch Merryan now, please?'

Davred took a deep breath to steady his nerves and led the way across the rubble. To his surprise, he found that there was now a visible doorway opening into the hidden chamber. He went inside and hesitated before reaching for the cloak.

The man pushed past him. 'Here, let me take the head end. I didn't know her. And I'm used to the sight of death.

Where have you lived so sheltered from violence in this day and age?'

Davred flushed.

They carried the body outside and laid it gently in the hole. Herra was already by its side, holding the spade. She held it out to the girl. 'The first three spadesful, Carryn, if you please. You are the only member of her family here.'

The girl swallowed hard, but did as she was told. With trembling hands she dropped some earth into the hole.

Without being prompted, she murmured the ritual phrase over each spadeful.

‘May light shine in your darkness!

May your lives draw ever nearer to wisdom!

May the God bless your next coming!’

At Herra's nod, Davred took the spade from Carryn and cast three more showers of earth on to the still body, repeating the phrases softly, then Herra nodded to the stranger. 'You too, my friend.'

He looked surprised, but did as he was asked, stumbling a little over the words. 'Haven't said that for a while,' he muttered afterwards. 'I'd forgotten how comforting it is.'

Finally, Herra took the spade from him and laid it aside. '
Go gently through the interim darkness, Sister of the God. May our
Brother send you comfort in your griefs and solace in your troubles throughout all your lives
.' A swift gesture and the ground beneath them shook slightly. When they looked at the grave, the earth above it was smooth again, as if it had not been disturbed for years. 'They will not desecrate this ground,' she said grimly.

The man gulped. 'That's a potent spell.'

She sighed. 'I hope so. What are you called, friend? '

'Jonner.' He blinked in surprise. He hadn’t intended to tell these strangers his real name, and couldn’t understand why he’d been so foolhardy.

'Well, then, friend Jonner, I think we must all leave quickly now, because I can sense the approach of evil. Do you know of somewhere safe we could go? Somewhere to talk?'

'I might. If you have the money to buy a few drinks.'

'I have the money for both food and drink. And you seem very hungry.'

Jonner's face brightened. 'I am. This way, then.'

#####

QUEST Shannah Jay 139

They went to the back of Aharri Bel-Ashkaron's house and out through a hole in the fence. 'Pity there was no loot,'

Jonner said, looking back regretfully. 'I'd surely like to buy a seat on one of Savareth's trading wagons. Terrible high prices he's charging these days if you want to get out of the city. But it's not safe travelling the countryside on your own.'

'Perhaps we'll be able to help each other,' suggested Herra. 'We too have plans to travel, and to trade a little, perhaps.'

'Is that so? Well, if you let me come along, I'll certainly earn my way,' Jonner offered at once. 'I always have, ever since I was ten. And this is the first time anyone's caught me off my guard since I turned fifteen.' He squinted at Davred. 'You'd better limp or put your arm in a sling, my squeamish friend, or they'll be hauling you off on one of their work gangs. Here!' He watched Davred for a minute, then pulled a piece of dirty cloth out of his sack. 'You're a rotten limper. Better try a sling.'

He tied up Davred's other arm. 'There! Real pitiful you look now. Good job I didn't wash the blood off that cloth.

Have you three got names, by the way?'

'Call me Shan and him Dylin,' said Herra promptly.

'Well, I suppose those names are as good names as any. What have you picked for her?'

Herra smiled. 'Susra will do.'

'Susra's a nice name too,' he agreed.

Herra led them to a dimly-lit eating house with tables set in little alcoves all round the walls. Only a couple of them were occupied.

Behind the counter sat a fat man with small, pale-blue eyes set deep in folds of heavy flesh. 'So you're back, are you?'

he said sourly to Jonner. 'Got some money this time?'

'My friends have.' Jonner nudged Davred. 'I owe him ten pieces, Dylin.'

Davred thought it best to grumble before handing over the money.

The owner of the eating house examined the coins carefully and put them in his pocket.

'We'd like one of your booths, friend, a nice quiet one,' said Herra.

'Five pieces for drinks and you can sit there all day.' The money vanished with astonishing speed.

'And we're all hungry. What do you recommend?'

'Stew. It's all there is. And lucky to get that. Not many supplies getting through.' He pointed to Carryn. 'She can't sit with you. New law. Women not to eat in public places.'

'She's not a woman; she's only a child.'

'Well . . . maybe for five more pieces I could grow a bit short-sighted. But she'd better keep quiet and behave modestly. Keep her out of sight at the back of the booth.'

A voice called to him from the kitchen and Harrol yel ed back that he'd got some new customers to settle first. 'Go and sit down. I'll bring your stew when it's ready.'

'He's frightened,' whispered Jonner, when they were sitting in the booth. 'I bet no one's ever seen Fat Harrol worry about the law before. Go on at this rate and a man won't be able to get himself a woman at all unless he goes into a shrine.'

'Yes,' said Herra thoughtfully. 'Yes, indeed.'

QUEST Shannah Jay 140

The stew was good and no one left any of it. Another four pieces bought them a large tart, though the fruit in it was preserved, not fresh. Jonner ate more than anyone, then sighed and loosened his belt. 'That was good! Now, what were you wanting to discuss - er - Shan?'

'First we need some information,' said Herra. 'This child has a father, who may still be alive. His name is Aharri Bel-Ashkaron and he . . . '

'Shhh! Not so loud!' Jonner looked round anxiously, but the other customers were all engrossed in their own affairs.

'The man you're interested in is definitely still alive. I didn't tell you before, but he's the reason I was there in the Street of Bellflowers. There's a reward out for information about his wife and daughter. I was trying to earn it . . . but it was you who found her, so it's for you to claim.'

Carryn's face lit up. 'My father's still alive?'

'Quiet, lass! And keep your eyes down, even when you speak to us, or you'll betray us.'

She obediently lowered her eyes, but not before Davred had seen the tears in them. 'But he is alive?' she pleaded in a whisper. 'He is, isn't he?'

'So I'm told,' said Jonner. 'Mind, I haven't seen him myself. Fat Harrol's the one who suggested I earn the reward.'

'Is that man to be trusted?' asked Davred.

'As long as he's well paid.'

'But he could betray us afterwards for more money.'

'Not him. He gets a good extra income from arranging such things. He'll accept a commission from anyone, including Those of the bleedin' Serpent, but once he's accepted it, he'll not betray anything. But I suppose he's sticking to the new regulations now, because if those devils close this place down, he'll lose everything. Not that he couldn't afford to retire if he wanted to, but he's got a great passion for money, has Harrol.'

'We don't need that reward money,' said Herra. 'You can earn it by dealing with this for us. We just want to see Aharri. Try to arrange a meeting with him, will you?'

Jonner sucked air through his teeth thoughtfully. 'It'll cost you. Fat Harrol does nothing for love, not even for his family.'

'We'll pay whatever it takes.'

Jonner still hesitated. 'My health would be improved by a bit of travel,' he said pointedly.

Herra grinned. 'I thought that was already agreed. Aharri's the one who can get us a wagon, then we'll need a driver who knows how to trade.'

Jonner smiled. 'I'm not a bad driver, but I’m a better trader. I'll get you top prices for your goods.'

'We have no goods till we've seen Aharri. Go and arrange it.'

Within minutes Jonner was back. He just had time to hiss at Carryn not to be afraid, but to go where she was told, before Harrol came over to the table.

'My wife's cleared a space in the kitchen now. The girl can go and sit there. It makes me feel uncomfortable to see a woman flaunting herself in a public place like she is.'

'You should have had the place ready, then,' Herra flung at him. 'You surely don't think I wanted her sitting at table with her betters! But make sure she's looked after. She's a virtuous girl and I'm saving her maidenhead for the Serpent's altar. You, girl, off you go!'

'I'll look after her as if I were her own father,' promised Harrol. He lowered his voice. 'She'll be with him in two hours. He's left word to send her to him straight away. I'l let him know about you at the same time.'

Herra nodded.

Carryn followed Harrol from the room, not daring even to thank those who’d rescued her. This time she kept her
QUEST Shannah Jay 141

eyes lowered and her clothing drawn tightly around her.

When their host came back, he was carrying another jug of ale. 'There it is, then,' he said loudly, adding quietly as he refilled their beakers, 'About those lodgings you were looking for. Try Ridge Lane, the last building before the temple.'

'You mean Temple House?' asked Herra.

'It's changed its name to Ridge House now. Not very popular at the moment, the word "temple". Not good for trade, either, being so near to that place. People are frightened to get too close to that invisible wall in case something reaches out of it and grabs them. So you should be able to get rooms cheaply and not be disturbed. I'll send any messages on to you there.'

'Thank you, friend. Have a drink with us?'

'I never drink with customers. Business is business.' He walked away saying loudly, 'Got a party of regulars coming in soon. Have to see that the wife gets everything ready for them. Fussy people, those Initiates of the Inner Shrine. But they do like my wife's cooking.'

As quickly as they could without looking suspicious, they drained their mugs and left. They were not the only ones to leave.

The newly-named Ridge House wasn’t far away. It had thrived in the old days on the trade of those from outside Tenebrak who came to consult the Healers at the temple, but Herra had never been inside it. The sick had always been brought inside the temple for healing. One corner of the inn was within a stone's throw of the stasis line. Jonner shuddered at the sight of the motionless bodies and led the way quickly past them into the guesthouse. 'Poor sods!' he said. 'Dunno what's caught hold of them, but it fair makes your blood run cold to see them standing there.'

'They'll come to no harm,' said Davred without thinking.

Jonner shot him a startled glance, but said nothing. Inside the guesthouse they took one of the group chambers, preferring to stay together for safety's sake. Besides, Herra said with a chuckle, she was far too old to worry about modesty.

As soon as the chamber lad had left them alone, Davred turned to Herra. 'The others wil be worried.'

'Yes.'

'I could - Katia and I, we can sometimes sense each other's feelings. In Deep Meditation I might get through to her.'

Herra stared at him. 'So soon?'

'What do you mean, so soon?'

'It’s been known before, this closeness, but not usually until people have lived together for many years.' It would have developed between Parin and me, she thought, if it had been allowed the time, but she didn’t burden Davred with her own sadness.

Jonner looked from one to the other, baffled by this cryptic talk. When they made no attempt to explain, he left them to it and lay down on one of the narrow beds.

Davred stared at Herra. 'That verges on telepathy. Is it common? I thought Katia and I were unusual.'

'What do you mean by "telepathy"? It's not one of our words.'

'I don't know your word for it. I mean transmission of thoughts, the ability to read another person's mind.'

'Mindlinking,' she said automatically. 'It's one of the things we've been striving to foster among our people, one of the reasons we favour certain bloodlines. Those whose minds are linked cannot fight one another because misunderstandings are impossible.'

'You do have telepathy, then!'

'Sometimes. It's one of the more recent Gifts, not well known yet, and the training to foster it is still being developed. But we're wasting time talking. Try to communicate with Katia while I heal Jonner's cheek.'

QUEST Shannah Jay 142

Jonner sat up. 'Heal! Did you say heal?'

'Why do you doubt your own hearing?'

'But that means that you're a S- ' He broke off and gulped, before adding, 'I thought you were a
man
!'

'Yes. I'm a Healer and a Sister. Do you wish my services, or not? If we leave that cheek as it is, you'll be badly scarred. But it's your choice, of course. If you don't trust me, just say so.'

'Well . . . all right, then. But I don't know what to do. I've never needed . . . '

* * *

When Davred and Herra started talking about telepathy, Soo felt obliged to inform Robler.

'It's not possible,' he scoffed, storming into the com-room. 'Telepathy has been proved impossible time and time again. And besides, a race that had telepathy couldn't be so primitive. It's got to be an advanced function. That's been proved too. As a race, even we aren't ready for it yet.'

'Shhh! Let's watch.' Soo turned up the magnification on Davred and slid the image of the room at the guesthouse to one side of the com-room. She watched in fascination as Davred went into Deep Meditation, seeing the lines of worry smooth themselves from his face as if by magic, and an expression of utter peace take their place. An echo of a smile, a very tender smile, flitted across his face, but, to Soo's intense frustration, they couldn’t tell what was happening. The only thing his life monitor readings showed was a slowing down of body processes and slightly increased mental activity.