Search for Audric (13 page)

Gunnar hesitated before answering. While he liked Monte a great deal, he did not know whom Monte might end up talking to.

"I have been to most places in the Land of the Nine Kingdoms," he finally answered. "While there are many interesting places to visit, there is a certain amount of danger involved, especially if you are traveling on your own. A lone traveler is often the choice of targets for bandits and others of low moral character."

"Perhaps I can travel with you?" suggested Monte. "Where are you heading?"

"I am a warrior for a merchant," Gunnar answered vaguely. "I will go wherever he decides to go."

"Does this merchant desire another warrior?" Monte asked hopefully. "I am decent with a sword, and I could defend a wagon with my bow rather well. I could even help him with his sales. I do have skills as a merchant."

"He is not looking for any more help," Gunnar shook his head as the serving woman arrived.

Gunnar ordered a pitcher of ale and two mugs, and the woman soon reappeared with them.

"I thought you would be more helpful," Monte said with obvious disappointment.

"You don't want to travel with me," Gunnar stated. "I seem to be a magnet for trouble. I think you would do fine being a warrior with a merchant, but with a different one."

"That is not much help," sighed Monte. "Most of the merchants who travel through Caxon are from Capri, and they always seem to have enough warriors with them. There are never any openings. I suppose I will just have to go off on my own."

"That is not wise," Gunnar said strongly. "That is almost an offer that the bandits cannot refuse. Bide your time and wait for the right opportunity."

The door opened and a hooded man stepped into the room. The stranger caught Gunnar's attention because the day was fair, and there was little need for a head covering.

"Would traveling with you be more dangerous than me traveling alone?" inquired Monte.

"Both are dangerous," Gunnar replied as he watched the stranger cross the room and sit opposite another customer at a table not far away.

"Would you at least recommend to your merchant that he let me ride along with him for protection?" asked Monte. "It will be as if he were getting an extra warrior, but he would not have to pay me for my services."

As the stranger turned to order something from the woman, the torch on the wall highlighted his face. Gunnar inhaled sharply when he recognized the face of Prince Zinan, but Monte did not appear to notice.

"I am disappointed," Monte said. "I know that I had no right to expect that you might allow me to travel with you, but I had not expected such stout rejection. I thought you might at least put in a good word for me."

Monte wore a hat that was quite popular with the hunters of Caroom. It was not a hat that Gunnar considered fashionable, but he grabbed it off Monte's head and placed it on his own. He pulled it down over his eyebrows just before Prince Zinan turned around. The prince's eyes swept over the other patrons in the room, but he saw nothing that alarmed him. Gunnar intended to keep it that way no matter what the cost. He was unwilling to be noticed by the mage in a public place where he could not properly respond to the danger.

"My hat!" scowled Monte. "Are you now trying to make fun of me? Slide out and let me up. I think the time has come for us to part company."

"Be quiet," whispered Gunnar. "Let me wear your hat, and I will speak to my merchant about your traveling with us."

"I don't think so," Monte shook his head. "I think you are toying with me, and I am not so desperate that I have to put up with such behavior. If I must travel the world alone, so be it. I am not afraid of what awaits me. I can probably travel much faster alone in any event. I could probably be in Tarent before you reached Laborg."

The thought of Monte ending up in Borunda greatly disturbed Gunnar. He liked the Caroomite a great deal and did not want to see him gobbled up in the Borundan army.

"Alright," Gunnar said softly, "I will make you a deal. If you sit here and talk softly until I give you leave to do otherwise, I will allow you to travel with us. Is it a deal?"

"Now you are going to let me ride with the merchant?" Monte asked with a mixture of hope and suspicion. "How is it that you can now speak for the merchant who hired you?"

"He respects my judgment," answered Gunnar, his eyes never leaving Prince Zinan. "I will even give you my wages of one silver a day. Will you accept?"

"If you are serious," Monte said cautiously, "I readily accept, but if you are toying with me, I urge you to end it now, as a man of honor would."

"I am serious," replied Gunnar. "I do not mind telling you that my words of caution before were not idle ones. Trouble does have a way of following me. I hope my actions here will not result in your untimely death."

"I am prepared to accept that risk," grinned Monte. "When do we leave?"

Gunnar watched the hooded man rise and exit the room. He sighed with relief that Prince Zinan had not recognized him. Until he had the knowledge of what the Talent was doing with him, he knew that he had to avoid a confrontation with the Borundan prince.

"We leave tomorrow," Gunnar answered as he returned Monte's hat. "Do you know that man?" he added in a whisper as he pointed at the man Prince Zinan had met with.

"I cannot tell by staring at his back," shrugged Monte. "Let me go talk to him."

"No," objected Gunnar. "Let us go outside. Try to get a look at the man's face as we leave, but do not speak to him."

Monte nodded and they both slid off the bench and exited the building. Gunnar's eyes immediately scanned the street looking for any sign of Prince Zinan, while Monte glanced back while closing the door to gaze upon the customer's face.

"I know him," Monte said softly after he had closed the door.

"Be silent and come with me," ordered Gunnar. "We must talk in private, and you should meet your new master."

Gunnar led Monte through the marketplace to the Rose and Thorn. They entered the common room and saw Horst sitting alone at a table. He appeared bored out of his mind and was instantly pleased to see Gunnar arrive. When he realized that Gunnar had someone with him, he became very cautious. Gunnar and Monte did not sit down at the table, and Horst rose with a questioning gaze at the newcomer.

"We will talk in the room," Gunnar said softly. "Monte will be riding with us."

Horst nodded and relaxed somewhat, but his hand never strayed far from the hilt of his sword as he led the way up the stairs and into the room. Kerzi was sitting on the bed making strokes in a journal he looked up with surprise as the three men entered the room.

"This is Monte," introduced Gunnar. "He is the best archer I have ever laid eyes on. I promised that he could travel with us. Monte, your new boss is Kerzi, and my partner is Horst."

"Is this wise, Gunnar?" asked Kerzi. "You yourself have stressed the danger you bring to our travels."

"I did try to talk Monte out of it," shrugged Gunnar, "but he is determined. At least with us he may have a chance to survive for a while. There is another development that worries me, and I need to discuss it with Monte. Bear with me. Monte, who was that man?"

"He is a delivery man," answered Monte. "His name is Asgar."

"What does he deliver and to whom?" asked Gunnar.

"He will deliver to anyone," answered Monte, "but mostly he runs provisions up to the palace. When the army purchases supplies from my father, we usually send them up with him. Why are you asking these questions about him? Do you know him?"

"I do not know him," answered Gunnar, "but I do know the man he met with while we were talking. Unless I am missing the mark, Asgar is working for the Borundan government."

"Are you sure?" asked Horst.

"I am positive," nodded Gunnar. "I know the Borundan that he met with. He is the same man who organized the attack on me in Capri."

The four men in the room at the Rose and Thorn Inn sat silently staring at one another. Neither Kerzi nor Monte knew who Gunnar was talking about, but Horst knew that his friend had just seen Prince Zinan of Borunda. The implications of the dark prince's presence in Caxon were disturbing.

"Monte," Horst broke the silence, "I need a guide through the streets of Caxon. Can you take me to the tavern where you and Gunnar were drinking?"

"What do you have in mind?" Gunnar asked with suspicion.

"Worry not, my friend," smiled Horst. "I am not going to bring dishonor to my family on the streets of Caxon. I want to find out the purpose of the Borundan's visit to Caroom. I can do so without setting off any alarms. Besides, I need to get to know our new fellow traveler, and Kerzi has something to discuss with you. It is just a reasonable use of time for all of us."

"I will guide you," offered Monte. "If Asgar is not still there, I know the circles in which he travels."

Horst nodded and stripped off his sheath and placed his scimitar on the bed. There were several parcels wrapped in paper on the bed, and Horst picked one up and unwrapped it. Gunnar's eyebrows rose as the paper was unwrapped to reveal another scimitar and a pair of cross-wrapped sheaths. Horst slipped the two sheaths over his head and shoved the two scimitars into them.

"I see that you have made good use of your wages in the marketplace," Gunnar nodded in appreciation at the crossed scimitars.

"I could not resist," grinned Horst. "Let us go, Monte."

"Be careful," Gunnar called after the two men as they left the room.

"You attract people to your side as an uncouth man gathers lovers," Kerzi said softly. "Is it wise to be bringing Monte into our group?"

"Probably not," sighed Gunnar, "but he was bound and determined to leave Caroom on his own if I refused. He is a good man, Kerzi. I can feel it, and you know what would happen to him alone on the road."

"Aye," nodded the merchant, "but is he aware of what may befall him with our group?"

"I did my best to dissuade him," answered Gunnar. "I figured he would be safer with us at least until we reach Kyland. Perhaps he will find something or someone that interests him there."

"Then we shall be four," Kerzi shrugged in acceptance. "I picked up something for you in the marketplace. It is a small token of appreciation for your service in guarding my wares and me. Open it."

Gunnar's gaze fell to the two extremely long paper-wrapped packages on the bed and frowned. "I see nothing small before me," he said. "Which one do I open?"

"Either," smiled Kerzi. "They are one and the same."

Gunnar reached for the closest package and was surprised by its weight. Once the package was in his hands, he could feel the shape of the object and his eyes narrowed in disbelief.

"Stop fondling it and open it," laughed Kerzi.

Gunnar ripped off the paper to reveal a long two-handed sword. He gripped the sword to get its feel and a wide grin spread across his face.

"You should not have, Kerzi," Gunnar said with a lump in his throat. "This sword makes my services rather expensive to you. It must have cost a fortune."

"It did," chuckled Kerzi, "but what is a man's life worth? You have been more than a warrior to me. In addition to saving my life, you have brought me more profit than I normally see in months. I wanted to give you something that you would find useful."

"It is perfect," smiled Gunnar. "How could you even choose something that sits in my hands so well?"

"Horst helped me pick it out," explained the merchant. "He was very fastidious in making the merchant show every sword he had. I think we drove the poor merchant out of his mind. The other package is a back sheath"

Gunnar placed the sword on the bed and embraced the merchant.

"I do not know how to express my appreciation," Gunnar said with a tear in his eye as he hugged the old man.

"You just did," smiled Kerzi. "You have become to me the son that I never had, Gunnar. I may not know your real name, and I know that someday you will leave and never come back, but I will treasure you while we are together. Whoever your real father is, you must make him very proud."

"I would like to think that I do," Gunnar smiled tautly as he released the old man. "Perhaps someday I can introduce you to him."

"I would like that," smiled Kerzi. "I would like that very much."

* * *

Monte led Horst to the tavern where he had been with Gunnar. Asgar was no longer there, and they left promptly. For the next two hours, Monte led Horst on a tour of the nightlife of Caxon. Neither Asgar nor the hooded man was found in any of the taverns. As they were returning to the Rose and Thorn, Monte gently grabbed Horst's arm and nodded towards a man emerging from one of the inns. Horst halted and watched as the man left the inn and proceeded into the inn next door.

"That was Asgar," Monte said after the man had disappeared.

"I suppose he is drinking in the inns instead of the taverns," Horst replied as he prepared to go in and talk to the man.

"I don't think so," Monte responded. "They charge more for the ale than the taverns do, and Asgar is not one to waste a copper."

"Could he be looking for his Borundan friend?" questioned the Odessian.

"Possibly," shrugged Monte. "He is certainly looking for someone. What do you plan to say to him when he comes out?"

"I am not sure," frowned Horst. "What the man is up to is devious and harmful to Caroom. We should alert the authorities to his activities and leave it at that, but my mind is curious as to what would make a man sell out his country."

"You think he is a spy for Borunda?" asked Monte.

"Without a doubt," nodded Horst. "I know the man that Gunnar saw with Asgar. There is no benign reason for their meeting."

"Then we must inform the palace," agreed Monte, "but I doubt they would take the word of a foreigner against one of our own. I wish I had paid more attention at the tavern, but I was trying to get Gunnar to allow me to travel with him. I really did not see the hooded man, and I would not know his nationality if I had."

Asgar came out of the inn and promptly entered the next one.

"He is still searching," commented Horst. "Let us go wait for him in the next inn. Perhaps we can get an idea of what he is up to."

Monte nodded his approval and the two men walked into the inn that would be next on Asgar's search. Horst looked around the common room and saw no sign of Prince Zinan. The innkeeper looked at the two new arrivals expectantly, and Monte guided Horst to a table near the door before the innkeeper could ask their business. The innkeeper realized that the newcomers were not in search of a room, and he turned his attention elsewhere.

Moments later Asgar opened the door and stepped into the common room. As Horst had done, Asgar's eyes swept the room looking for someone, but he took longer doing it as he tried to stare at each face in the room. That delay caused the innkeeper to approach.

"Are you requiring a room?" asked the innkeeper.

"No," Asgar replied curtly as he pulled a paper out of his tunic. "I am looking for someone. Have you ever seen this man?"

Horst strained to see the drawing, but he was not in the right position. Monte rose from the table and squeezed past Asgar as he made for the door. Horst shook his head in confusion, but rose to follow. The innkeeper had shaken his head negatively and Asgar had folded the drawing, leaving the inn right in front of Horst. Horst was about to grab the man and ask to see the picture when he saw Monte across the street waving him over. Horst hesitated and Asgar walked away, so Horst crossed the street to meet with Monte.

"Why did you stop me?" asked Horst. "I had a perfect opportunity to talk to him."

"The picture," Monte said softly. "There was no beard, but I would swear that it was a drawing of Gunnar. The eyes were identical, and the way his hair set was the same. Does any of this make sense?"

"Very much so," Horst replied as he watched Asgar enter another inn. "He is working his way towards the Rose and Thorn. I do not know if the innkeeper saw Gunnar, but I cannot take that chance. I will not allow my friend to be sacrificed to the Borundans."

"What will you do?" asked Monte.

"Nothing that you would want to be involved with," Horst replied. "I think it is time for you to go home and spend your last evening with your family. We will be leaving early in the morning."

"You promised Gunnar that you would bring no dishonor to your family," cautioned Monte.

"There is no dishonor in stamping on a viper just before it strikes," retorted Horst. "With the dark prince of Borunda still in Caxon, this man is threatening the life of my dearest friend. Go home."

"Prince?" gasped Monte. "Do you mean the man with the hood? Why would a Borundan prince sneak around Caxon?"

"There are two reasons," sighed Horst as he realized that he had said too much. "One is to find Gunnar and kill him; the other is to arrange for spies to aid in the coming war. Go home now and say nothing of this to anyone."

"So Gunnar spoke the truth when he said that war was coming to the Land of the Nine Kingdoms," frowned Monte as Asgar left the inn and proceeded to the next. "Why would the Borundans ruin a peace that has reigned for generations?"

"Monte!" barked Horst. "This is no time to discuss politics. I have no idea what the Borundans hope to gain, and I do not care what their reasons are. What I do care about are those who are dear to me, and the Borundans threaten all of them. I can do little to stop the coming war, but I can guard Gunnar, and that is what I must do. For the last time, go home."

"No," Monte shook his head. "If I go home, you will slice into Asgar while he is walking from inn to inn. By morning you will have been captured and executed by the guards. I will not let you do that."

"You will not let me?" Horst scowled. "You do not seem to have a grasp of the situation, Monte. You may very well turn me in to the authorities, but I will be doing Caroom a great service. It is no small coincidence that Asgar was chosen as the local spy for Borunda. By your own words, he has access to the army barracks and the royal palace. Do you have any idea of the damage one man can do on the eve of war?"

"I can imagine," nodded Monte. "I have an older brother in the army of Caroom, and I know the type of man that Asgar is. Caxon will be no sadder for Asgar's death, but Gunnar will be, if you are no longer there to guard him."

"You still do not grasp the situation," argued Horst as Asgar left another inn and proceeded to the next. "The Borundans use magic to accomplish their evil. By morning Gunnar will be dead, and probably Kerzi and I as well, and there will be no battle marks to point to the killer. The dark prince will walk away from Caxon a free man. I am not going to let that happen no matter what you think is right and proper. Now go home before I lose my temper with you. The Rose and Thorn is only a few inns away, and Asgar gets closer with each passing minute."

"There is a better way to handle this," retorted Monte. "If you kill Asgar, you will save Gunnar, but what about Caroom? They would not believe a foreigner's claim that war is coming and that Asgar is a spy, but if I turn Asgar over to my brother, the army will interrogate him and learn the truth. I am sure that Asgar is hoarding a fair amount of gold on him. No spy works cheaply, and Asgar doesn't earn that much. Add to that the testimony of all of the innkeepers he has spoken to, there will be no doubt that he is up to nefarious deeds. Think about it. Gunnar is safe from discovery, Borunda loses a spy, and Caroom is made aware of the activities of the dark prince."

"And how do we capture Asgar without a fight?" questioned Horst.

"I will lure him into the alley alongside the Rose and Thorn," suggested Monte. "It is a narrow alleyway, but there is a small cutout not far from the street where a door opens into the kitchen of the Rose and Thorn. If you were to wait there, you could easily club Asgar over the head as we pass by. We remove the drawing of Gunnar from his possession and then stuff him into a sack. I will hide the sack in my stall and then go get my brother. He will handle it from there."

"You brother is a member of the army," Horst shook his head. "He would feel obligated to question Gunnar and me. I do not think that is a good thing at this time."

"How early can you leave in the morning?" asked Monte.

"We have to pick up a load before we can leave," answered the Odessian. "It will be at least an hour after the merchants open at the earliest."

"I can handle that," assured Monte.

"Instead of storing him in the stall," nodded Monte, "I will put him in the cellar of our home. I will make sure that my brother does not take possession of him until high sun. I am sure that Asgar will be hesitant to talk about his foul deeds, so that will ensure you a few day's head start, and the army will have no idea who you are and which way you have gone. In fact, there is no reason for the army to even think of looking for you. Asgar has not been successful in locating Gunnar, so he does not know that he is even in the city. The army will not waste its time chasing ghosts."

Horst hesitated for a moment as Asgar left an inn and headed for the next one. Finally the Odessian nodded his acceptance of the plan.

"Will you not be coming with us then?" asked Horst.

"It is more important than ever for me to join up with you," stated Monte. "If the Borundans mean to attack my people, I want to be part of trying to foil that plan, and while I do not know what you and Gunnar are up to, I know enough to understand that you believe in what is right and just. I will catch up to you on the road."

"That would be the Caxon-Kyland Road," informed Horst. "Let's do this and get it over with."

"Get to the alleyway," instructed Monte. "I will wait for Asgar at the next inn. Be ready for us."

Horst ran off towards the alley, and Monte walked to the inn next to the Rose and Thorn. It would be the next inn that Asgar visited. He stepped into the common room and scanned the patrons to see if the hooded man was present. He was not. The innkeeper approached just as Asgar opened the door and entered. Asgar stood next to Monte, his eyes staring at the faces present.