Rise of a Merchant Prince (6 page)

Erik sighed. “The Prince pardoned us.”

“So you say,” said the corporal. “But I think me and the boys will hurry back to Darkmoor and see what Lord Manfred has to say about this.”

He picked up his sword and signaled to his men to depart. One of them shook his head in disgust at forgoing a hot meal and the other threw Erik and Roo a black look as he helped the one Roo had stunned back to his feet.

That man, still trying to focus his eyes, said, “We're leaving? Did we eat? Is it morning?”

The other said, “Shut up, Bluey. A bit of that cutting rain will sort you out, quick like.”

The soldiers left the inn and Erik turned to the stranger. “Thanks.”

The man shrugged. “If I hadn't read it, the innkeeper or someone else would.”

Erik said, “I'm Erik von Darkmoor.”

The man took his hand. “Duncan Avery.”

Roo's eyes widened. “Cousin Duncan?”

The eyes of the man who had named himself Avery narrowed as he studied Roo. After a long moment he said, “Rupert?”

Suddenly they were laughing, and the man Rupert called cousin gave him a quick hug. “I haven't seen you since you were a tadpole, youngster.” He stepped back and a wry smile graced his features.

Erik glanced back and forth and couldn't see even the most remote resemblance. While Roo was short, wiry, and signally unattractive, Duncan Avery was tall, slender, with broad shoulders, and handsome. Moreover, he dressed like a dandy, save for his sword, which was well used and well cared for. He sported a slender mustache, but otherwise was clean-shaven, and his hair hung to his shoulders, where it was cut evenly and curled under.

Pulling out a chair, Duncan signaled the serving girl to bring his plate and mug over, and sat.

Erik said, “I didn't know you had a cousin, Roo.”

Roo's eyes narrowed. “Of course you did.”

Erik waved away his previous comment. “I mean, I know you have a number of them in Salador and elsewhere in the east, but you've never mentioned this gentleman before.”

Duncan thanked the girl and winked at her, causing her to retire with a giggle as he said, “I'm crushed, Rupert. What does your friend mean, you've never spoken of me?”

Roo sat back, shaking his head. “It's not like we were close, Duncan. I saw you, what? Three times in my life?”

Duncan laughed. “Something like that. Tried my
hand at the teamsters trade when I was a boy,” he said to Erik. “Got as far as riding with Roo's pa from Ravensburg to Malac's Cross, where I quit. Roo was no more than five then.” His face turned somber. “Only time I got to meet his ma.”

“When was the last time we saw each other?” asked Roo. Duncan rubbed his chin. “Can't say I remember, save there was that lovely girl at the fountain: slender waist, ample hips and bosom, accommodating attitude . . . who was she?”

“Gwen,” supplied Roo. “And that must have been four or five years ago.” Roo pointed a fork at Duncan. “You were her first.” Then he grinned. “Many of the local lads owe you some thanks; you imparted a . . . certain enthusiasm in Gwen that we came to appreciate.”

Erik laughed. “I'm not one of them,” he said.

Roo said, “Maybe the only boy in Ravensburg who didn't.”

“How are you related?” Erik asked Duncan.

Duncan said, “My father is cousin to Roo's father, Erik, and neither of those worthy gentlemen has much use for me.” To Roo he said, “How is your pa?”

Roo shrugged. “Been a couple of years, really. We're on our way to Ravensburg now. Where are you headed?”

“I'm for the east, seeking my fortune as usual. I tried my hand doing mercenary duty down in the Vale of Dreams, but the work's too dangerous, the women too dangerous”—both Erik and Roo laughed at that—“and the money scarce. So I'm for the eastern courts, where a man's wits stand him as well as his sword.”

Roo said, “I might have some use for that wit.”

“What's the plan?” asked Duncan, suddenly interested.

“Nothing dodgy. Some honest business, but I think I can use someone who knows his way around polite company.”

Duncan shrugged. “Well, I'll ride with you to Ravensburg and we can talk along the way. Besides, you've got my curiosity piqued.”

“Why?” asked Erik.

“The way you two moved . . . it was a sight. When I last saw Rupert he was a scrawny kid barely able to keep himself upright while he pissed, but now he looked downright lethal when he knocked out that soldier. Where did you learn to handle yourselves that way?”

Roo and Erik exchanged glances. Neither needed to be reminded of the network of spies already established in the Kingdom by the agents of the Emerald Queen. Distant cousin or not, Roo had no illusions about the man's honesty. “Here and there,” said Roo.

“That's some Isalani open-handed fighting, or I'm a cow's newborn,” said Duncan.

“Where'd you see it before?” asked Erik.

“As I said, I just returned from down in the Vale. You see a few Isalani there as well as some other Keshian-born who know the tricks.” He leaned forward, and his voice lowered. “I hear you can crack a man's skull with your hand if you know how to do it.”

Erik said, “That's easy. Just make sure you've got a smith's hammer in the hand when you hit him.”

Duncan stared at Erik a moment, then burst into laughter. “Good one, lad,” he said as he dug into his meal. “I think I'm going to like you.”

They continued to chat as they ate, and after, Erik went to check on the horses. When he returned, the three men retired for the night to the common sleeping area upstairs, so they might get an early start in the morning.

The village seemed at once unchanged and smaller. Roo said, “Nothing's different.” They rode at a walk, having taken the bend at the road that put them within sight of Ravensburg. They had been passing familiar farms for the last hour, both vineyards and fields of oat, wheat, and corn. But in the distance they now at last were in sight of the small buildings at the edge of the town.

Erik remained silent, but Duncan said, “Doesn't look any different to me and it's been years.”

Riding past familiar landmarks, Roo thought that he was wrong. Everything had changed, or at least he had changed and therefore how he saw things had changed. Reaching the Inn of the Pintail, Erik said, “Few things in Ravensburg ever change, but we have,” echoing Roo's thoughts of a few moments before.

Duncan said, “That's always true, I guess.” Erik had taken a liking to the affable man, and Roo was pleased, for he liked his cousin as well, though he barely trusted him; he was an Avery, and Roo knew what that meant. There had been a distant uncle, John, who had made a terrible reputation for himself as a pirate, long before Roo had been born, and more than half those uncles and cousins who had died since Roo's birth had been hanged or killed during a robbery attempt. Still, there were a few Averys who had turned a hand toward honest labor, and Roo
thought that gave him a chance of getting rich without having to resort to murder or robbery.

As they dismounted, a boy ran from the stable and said, “Care for your horses, gentlemen?”

Erik said, “Who are you?”

“Gunther,” said the boy. “I'm the smith's apprentice, sir.” Erik tossed the reins to the boy. “Is your master about?” asked Erik.

“He's taking his midday meal in the kitchen, sir. Should I fetch him for you?”

Erik said, “Never mind, I can find the way.” The boy took the horses and led them away.

Roo said, “Your replacement?”

“So it seems,” said Erik shaking his head. “He can't be more than twelve or so.”

“You were younger when you started helping Tyndal around the forge,” reminded Roo.

Roo followed Erik as he moved to the rear door, the one that led directly into the kitchen. Erik pushed open the door and stepped through.

Freida, Erik's mother, sat at the kitchen table talking to Nathan the smith. She looked up as Erik came through the doorway. Her eyes widened and her color drained away. She half stood; then her eyes rolled up into her head and she swooned, caught by the smith before she fell to the floor.

“Damn me,” said Nathan. “It's you. It really is.”

Erik hurried around the table and took his mother's hand. “Get some water,” he instructed Roo.

Roo got a pitcher and filled it from the pump at the sink and brought a clean kitchen rag, which he wet and placed upon Erik' s mother's brow.

Erik looked across his mother's still form at the man with whom she had been eating and saw the
smith regarding him with amazement in his eyes, which were brimming with tears. “You're alive,” he said. “We didn't know.”

Erik swore. “I'm an idiot.”

Roo took off his travel cloak and sat down, motioning to Duncan to do the same. “Rosalyn!” he shouted. “We need wine!”

Nathan shook his head. “Rosalyn's not here. I'll get us a bottle.” As he stood, he said, “There's a lot to be talked of, it seems.”

A moment later he returned, with Milo the innkeeper a step behind. The innkeeper said, “My Gods! Erik! Roo! You're alive!”

Erik and Roo both exchanged a glance, then Roo said, “Well, it was a secret, wasn't it?”

Nathan said, “Are you hunted?”

Roo burst out laughing. “No, Master Smith. We are free men, by the King's own hand. And prosperous ones, as well.” He jingled his purse significantly.

Nathan pulled the cork of the wine bottle he carried and poured a round of drinks while Freida regained consciousness. She blinked and said, “Erik?”

“Here, Mother.”

She threw her arms around his neck and started to cry. “We were told you were tried and convicted.”

“We were,” said Erik softly. “But we gained our pardon and were set free.”

“Why did you not send word?” she asked, a slight note of reproach in her voice. She touched his face as if uncertain of his substance.

“We couldn't,” said Erik. “We were in the Prince's service and”—he glanced around the room—“we were not permitted to let anyone know. But that's all
in the past.”

She shook her head slightly in amazement. She touched his cheek, then kissed it. Resting her head on his shoulder she said, “My prayers are answered.”

Nathan said, “She prayed, lad.” He wiped away a tear. “We all prayed for you.”

Roo saw that Erik's own emotions were starting to rise, but Erik forced them down, never having been one to show his feelings openly. Roo took a deep breath, suddenly feeling self-conscious over the moisture gathering in his own eyes.

Erik asked, “What of you? How are you?”

Freida sat back and took Nathan's hand. “There have been changes.”

Erik glanced from his mother to the smith. “You two?”

Nathan smiled, “We wed last summer.” Then his expression darkened. “You've no objections, I take it?”

Erik let out a whoop and leaned across the table and seized his stepfather in a bear hug, nearly knocking the wine over; only Roo's quick reflexes saved it. “Objections! You're the best man I know, Nathan, and if I could have named my father, it would have been you.” Sitting back he looked at his mother with an unashamed tear rolling down his cheek, then he took her in another bear hug and said, “I am so happy for you, Mother.”

Freida blushed like a bride. “He came to me and was so sweet when you fled. He saw to my hurt every day, Erik.” She touched Nathan's cheek with more tenderness than Erik could ever remembering her showing anyone, including himself. “He made me care again.”

Slapping his hand on the table, Erik said, “We celebrate!” To Milo he said, “I want your best bottle and a meal tonight to embarrass the Empress of Kesh!”

“Done!” said Milo, his own eyes glistening with emotion. “And I'll only charge you cost.”

Roo laughed. “You haven't changed, Master Innkeeper.”

“Where's Rosalyn?” said Erik.

Milo and Nathan exchanged glances and Nathan said, “She's with her family, Erik.”

Erik glanced around, not understanding. “Family? You're her father—”

Roo reached over and took his friend's arm. “She's with her husband, Erik.” He looked at Milo. “Is that what Nathan's saying, Milo?”

Milo nodded. “Aye, and I'm a grandfather, too.”

Erik sat back. His emotions were in turmoil. “She's had a baby?”

Milo looked at Erik. “That's a fact.”

Erik said, “Who's the father?”

Milo glanced around the room and said, “She married young Rudolph, the baker's apprentice; you know him?” Erik nodded. “He's now a journeyman and will set up his own ovens soon. She's living with his family, over by the square.”

Erik rose. “I know the house. I want to see her.”

Freida said, “Go slowly, son. She also thinks you're dead.”

Leaning over to kiss his mother again, he said, “I know. I'll try not to scare her to death. I want her to come tonight.” Then he added, “With Rudolph.”

Roo said, “I'll go with you.”

Freida squeezed his hand. “Don't be long, else I'll
think this all a dream.”

Erik laughed. “Hardly. Roo's cousin Duncan will charm you with tales wondrous and improbable.”

The cousins smiled. Nathan looked at the handsome Duncan and said, “He'll not be charming her too much, I'm thinking.”

Erik laughed. “We'll be back soon.”

Roo and Erik hurried from the kitchen, through the empty common room of the inn, and out the front door. They hastened down the street that led to the town's square and hardly noticed those few townspeople who stopped to stare in open amazement at the familiar figures of Rupert Avery and Erik von Darkmoor hurrying along. One man dropped a crock of wine as his eyes widened at the sight of the reputedly dead men striding past. One or two others tried to say something, but Roo and Erik were away before they could give voice to the greeting.