All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) (32 page)

"Stave, I really can deal with problems like that on my own," Kahndar said, but he was smiling.

Stavin sighed. "I know, Kahn, but I've listened to things like that for years and always kept quiet. It just seemed to be a good opportunity to teach at least one lout a lesson."

Kahndar laughed and slapped his shoulder. "Too true, Stave. Enough of this. The bazaar has more silversmiths to bargain with."

Barvil led them along the corridors of the bazaar, stopping occasionally to look, but seldom seriously considering anything. They had reached the farthest point of the bazaar and had started back when Barvil turned his head and said, "Stavin, look to your left. The glass shop. That's where Shari's crystal came from."

"I'd like to stop there, Sir," Stavin immediately replied and Barvil waved him forward.

The man in the glass shop stood as Stavin entered. "How may I be of service, Lord?" he asked, bowing deeply.

"I would like to see a crystal to make things larger," Stavin said, looking past the man to a shelf that held several such crystals.

The glass merchant brought two crystals out and placed them on a table near Stavin. "Is there something in particular that you are seeking?"

Stavin nodded and used both crystals to examine his fingers. "Do you have any that are stronger or larger?" he asked, putting the crystals down carefully.

"I do, but you must understand that the price increases significantly as the size increases," the merchant said as he turned away. He returned with a crystal lens that was as big as Stavin's head. "This is my largest, and this," he reached over and brought down a very thick lens the size of his hand, "is my strongest."

Stavin lifted the big crystal a finger from the table and carefully set it back down. "That won't do. Please allow me to examine the one you say is the strongest." The man handed Stavin the crystal and he again looked at his fingers. A slow smile crossed his lips. "This is perfect. What are you asking for it?"

"Four gold crowns. It is a good price for a crystal that size," the glass merchant said.

"Two would be a good price. Four is far too much," Stavin replied as he used the lens to look at his armor.

"Two would be a good price for a weaker crystal that size. That crystal took much longer to fashion. Just getting a piece of crystal clear glass that thick with no imperfections took ten days. I could possibly let it go for three gold and five silver crowns."

"I could possibly pay three gold crowns if you have a good, secure case I can put it in," Stavin said, setting the crystal on the table.

The merchant reached under his table and brought out a box that was almost identical to the one Shari kept her crystal in. "I have a cabinet maker make these especially for me. Three gold, you said?"

Stavin pulled out his small pouch and laid three gold crowns on the table. "As agreed. Several years ago, you sold another crystal to a warrior of my people. Did he trade a brooch for it?"

"I remember a very fierce warrior from four or five years ago, but he paid in gold and silver. Why do you ask?" the merchant said as he carefully boxed the crystal.

Stavin smiled and shook his head. "He bought the crystal for a girl who I had the good fortune to marry this spring. His wife gave up her favorite brooch to pay for it, and I had thought to return it to her."

"I am sorry that I cannot help you," the merchant said as he put the other crystals back in their places.

Stavin took his purchase and walked back out into the street. Kahndar saw the box in his hand and grinned. "You got Shari another crystal, didn't you?"

"Of course. That's why Barvil pointed out the shop. If something happened to Shari's crystal, she would be crushed. This one is stronger, even if it's not as large, so she has a spare in case of an accident," Stavin answered.

Barvil smiled and led the way again. Horvan made a quick deal for a bolt of bright blue cloth. Barin bought a lady's hat with a long feather. Barvil bargained for a bolt of red silk. Then it was Kahndar's turn with a silversmith again.

"Ah, warrior, what can I interest you in today?" the silversmith asked.

"A platter. That one, perhaps," Kahndar said, pointing at a large platter on the wall.

"You have a fine, discerning eye, warrior."

"How much?"

"For you, only ten gold crowns," the merchant said with a smile.

"I'm tired," Kahndar said, shaking his head. "I'll pay seven. No more."

"Seven? Warrior, be reasonable. This—"

"I am being reasonable," Kahndar said, interrupting the silversmith. "Take it or I'll walk away. I'm in no mood to haggle right now."

The silversmith gave him and offended look. "That's hardly the way to do business. Very well then, seven gold crowns it is. I must say though, I'm disappointed. Terribly disappointed."

Kahndar took the platter and walked back out to the street. "I'm ready for something to eat. Shall we head back?"

"That was fast, Kahn. What did you do, threaten to cut his throat?" Horvan asked with a laugh.

"No," Kahndar answered with a grimace. "I told him the maximum price I was willing to pay and told him to take it or no sale. He took it, but he wasn't happy."

"Haggling's half the fun, Kahn," Barvil said, slapping Kahndar's shoulder. "It's the closest thing to combat that they ever get to experience. It's a game of skill for them. You should watch Sahren sometime. She amazes me." Barvil led them back to the caravansary and joined them stowing their purchases in the wagon, then led them to eat.

K
ARVIK MET
S
TAVIN AS THEY EXCHANGED
places at watch change. "I saw you bought something else. What was it this time?" Karvik asked.

"Another crystal for Shari. Your dad bought some red silk."

Karvik grinned. "Mom loves silk, especially red. See you after mid night," Karvik said as he headed toward the cook's fire.

Stavin started looking for more varied items after Kethlan made a comment late one day. "Ah, Stavin, word around the caravan is that you've hardly bought anything. You are a wealthy man, my friend. Indulge yourself."

"Oh, I have been, Kethlan," Stavin answered with a grin. "If it hadn't been for Zigamarad I wouldn't have spent much, but those books were expensive."

"That's not what I meant, Stavin. I meant that you only bought those books and a few other things. Maybe you spent more, but your friends are spreading it around better. Have you bought gifts for your parents? Brothers and sisters? I'll tell you what I've seen in other years: No matter how small the item, it'll matter most that you thought of them and spent a few sparks on them. Well, in your case, a few crowns."

Stavin took Kethlan's advice to heart and started buying small things for his family and friends. Some not-so-small items were included as well. Before they passed into the highlands again Stavin purchased twenty bolts of the light cloth that was used for clothing in the hot lands in a rainbow of colors. When he was asked why, he'd simply answer with a big chipmunk grin and say, "You'll see."

The road they were on once again started up into the hills and Barvil took a moment one evening to gather his men. "We've been lucky since Hardavad, but it can't last. The population is getting thinner, so I expect the bandits to get thicker. Keep your minds on that and not on what you'll buy at the next town." He looked directly at Karvik and Stavin when he said that and nodded at the looks of chagrin that crossed their faces.

Barvil's warning was well-timed because two days later a group of bandits attacked. Ten men ran out of the forest to the right of the road, straight for the lead wagon. Stavin joined the driver of the number two wagon shouting the warning, then attacked.

Stavin rode straight into the men, planning to ride through and scatter them, but two of the men turned toward him and threw a rough sack over Tru's head, blinding her and forcing her to stop. The man to his right died with the point for Stavin's Dragon's Tongue through his helmet and head while the man to the left struck at Stavin's leg with a small ax. The ax slid harmlessly off of Stavin's armor, but bit deeply into the back of Tru's leg, causing her to collapse onto him.

Stavin rolled clear as Tru fell, then took a moment to stab the trapped man through the heart before attacking the rest of the bandits from the rear. Two men had climbed up on to Sahren's wagon, trying to throw her off and got their legs cut out from under them as Stavin passed. Shouts from the other side of the caravan attested to the fact that this wasn't the only attack.

Barin reached the front of the caravan moments after Stavin did and was attacking his second man while his first opponent bled out from a cut throat. Two more men were turning to attack Stavin when Horvan reached the scene. He vaulted from his horse and crashed bodily into the back of one man and left his knife in the man's back as he engaged the other with his sword.

Stavin and Barin each took one of the last two men. Stavin used his Dragon's Tongue to take the sword away from his opponent, sword hand and all, then drove a point into the man's throat. Barin took just a moment longer before he powered through his opponent's guard and took off the man's head.

Kahndar had seen that he wasn't needed and crossed over to the left side of the caravan, only to return moments later. "The fight is done over there as well. Any injuries?"

"Tru!"
Stavin shouted and hurried back to where the animal had fallen. She was still alive, but couldn't get up.

"Don't let her suffer, Stave," Kahndar said in a gentle tone.

Stavin knelt beside his horse's head and caressed her nose one last time. "I'm sorry, Tru," he whispered, then drove his Dragon's Tongue deep into her brain. He stood and walked away from his friends, not wanting them to see him cry. He was ashamed that the death of his horse was affecting him more deeply than the deaths of Cordon and Ivalin had.

Barvil's shout brought everyone back to the caravan. "Is anyone hurt?" he asked, looking at each man in turn.

"No, Sir, but Stavin lost his horse," Kahndar answered.

Barvil looked at the bodies and asked, "What's the count?"

"Two for me, Sir," Horvan answered.

Barin grinned widely and said, "Three this time."

Everyone looked at Stavin and Kahndar said,
"Five?"

"I was closest. Besides, they killed Tru!" he almost shouted.

Barvil looked at him and shook his head. "Well, I guess we won't have to take turns driving the wagon for a while. Too bad we didn't keep Cordon or Ivalin's mounts, but it didn't seem to be worth the expense at the time. Only six on the other side. Search your dead and get the bodies off the road."

Stavin searched his kills and ended up with three swords, two axes, five knives of various sizes, one silver crown and eighty-four sparks. Then he had to strip his saddle and gear off his horse and load them into the wagon.

Chandar offered him a sympathetic grin as he climbed up to take the reins. "At least you got to fight," he said as he mounted his horse. "I had to just sit here and watch."

Stavin looked at him and said, "You are an incredibly annoying person, Chandar Kel'Varin."

Chandar looked at him for a moment and said, "Thank you," before riding forward.

Barvil waited until after the evening meal before asking for the attention of warriors and traders alike. "My friends, tonight is special for many reasons. During the attack today Davel Kel'Borvan brought his total number of kills up to seventeen. Lavin Kel'Farin brought his total number of kills to thirteen. Horvan Kel'Erins brought his total number of kills to fifteen. Barin Kel'Kandis brought his total to sixteen and earned his third red stripe. Congratulations Senior Sergeant Kel'Kandis. Karvik Kel'Carin brought his total to nineteen. But Stavin Kel'Aniston has surpassed them all. On this, his first expedition to the lowlands, Stavin has made twenty-five kills and earned his fifth red stripe. To my knowledge, no one in the history of Kavinston has ever achieved even four red stripes on his first expedition, but Stavin has. Even if he never draws blood again, Stavin's achievement will live on in the stories of generations to come. Congratulations, Sergeant Major Kel'Aniston."

Stavin smiled as his friends congratulated him, but inside he was crying. Tru was dead.

T
HE CARAVAN CONTINUED ON THE ROAD
and reached the city of Northridge the next day. Northridge and its sister city of Southridge sat at the ends of the last major bridge that they were going to cross in Evandia. Between the two cities was the Zel'Yavin River Gorge. While the gorge was only two dragon-lengths across, it was nearly ten deep, and the Zel'Yavin was as wild a river as any of them had ever seen.

Sahren stopped for the day in Northridge and set up to trade. Stavin took advantage of the stop to see if he could replace his mount, but he was disappointed.

"Sir," Stavin said as he walked up to Barvil, "none of the horse merchants have a decent battle-trained horse for sale. They all seem to think we'll have to wait ‘til we are in Coravia before I'll be able to find one."

Barvil nodded and patted Stavin's shoulder. "They would be the ones who would know, Stavin. Even if you found one, it wouldn't be trained our way. You'd likely be fighting it all the way back to the valley."

"And so ends my first expedition, driving a wagon," Stavin said as he collapsed in a sulk.

"Five red stripes and you want to sulk?" Barvil asked with an amazed laugh. "I'll remind you that Kahndar didn't earn his first red stripe until we were attacked in Twin Bridges, and this is his fifth expedition." Barvil shook his head as Stavin looked up at him. "You've acquired status that not even Charvil can match for a first season, and riches none of us could ever dream of matching. Not only that, but we still have a third of the season ahead of us and part of that will be Kavadia. I've never been to Kavadia that I didn't get attacked at least twice. Don't count yourself done until we reach the valley."

Stavin tried to look a little less glum and said, "Yes, Sir."