Aldon called the group to walk the tiring mounts. They had covered
the last five miles past a little village, called Movra, at almost
a dead run. The horses were lathered and starting to stumble. Himmel
and Jask were on ahead as scouts; Bobo and Lorry pulled rear guard.
Teneil glanced at Aldon. What had once been a stone and plank bridge
over the River Drun now resembled the ruins Teneil had once seen
near Karcorum. Stone was jumbled in a chaotic heap, with only a
few spots still resembling human construction.
“What now? Are we thwarted here?” She eyed the Daum
carefully, ready to go whither he directed. When he was silent,
Fingers made an unwelcome observation.
“Should we choose to take the next bridge, and we assume
it isn't gone also, we travel closer to Erinara...” He wrinkled
his nose at the thought.
“Can we not accomplish the river here? Be there a ford
we might use?” Toady nervously plucked at his good tunic.
He had been the first of them to hide the Fist's colors. Fingers
shook his head.
“We could try to swim it, but it's a long way and we'd
be lucky not to draw attention. However, I think we can do it another
way,” Fingers pointed to a repair barge set against the stone
pilings. Laborers were hard at work repairing the mysterious damage.
Fingers dismounted, and to everyone's amazement, ran lightly along
the left span of the stone pilings. It had taken less damage and
thus gave the impression that the bridge had been hit by something
massive from upstream. Fingers made his way deftly to the man ordering
the placement of new stone and timbers. Onlookers, previously gawking
at the bridge, now studied the riders with suspicion. They were
nervous around the hard-eyed, armed soldiers. Aldon's attention
was drawn to Himmel and Jask as they cantered from downstream to
the main body. Himmel wore a grim expression. Jask was his usual
dour self.
“We’re screwed,” was Jask's only comment. Aldon
frowned, looking to Himmel. The man's close-cropped hair and square
jaw gave him the no-nonsense look that had intimidated many foes.
“We can use the bridge farther down, I think, it has not
taken so much damage. It will be repaired in a matter of hours.
We cannot swim - the locals are telling of two men already taken
by the beasts which inhabit these waters. The villagers on this
side say the Reeve predicted two days for this road to be passable.” Aldon
frowned after Fingers; they could start out now if not for waiting
on his antics.
“All of you drink - and take in some food. Disperse yourselves
back to back. I don't care for this much...” The soldiers
dismounted and took up the formation. Quiet passed a rag-towel
to rub down the animals. Each took his turn at his animal, eating,
and watching the growing crowd of peasantry.
Aldon was about to send Himmel after Fingers when the thief finally
arrived in a rowboat. The three persons with him seemed in great
spirits and eyed the group's animals with relish. Toady was the
first to see the foursome arrive.
“Oh, dear. Methinks he hath gone and undone us somehow.” Toady
jerked at his tunic's collar.
“Sir,” said Fingers when they reached the decamped
soldiers. “I believe we can get across the river, and in
less than an hour.” He smiled at Aldon's expression. “It’ll
only cost us our horses. Now wait!” he said cutting off the
cries of outrage. “The engineers need some horses, and we
need a way across the damn river, we can buy fresh mounts in Tellsdale
across the way.”
Aldon thought it over for a second. “Fine. What’s
with the animals?” Fingers pointed to the two of the three
men with him.
“These fine gentlemen will hold the animals until the barge
gets here; we can take the boat at any convenience. Jaril, here
will return the craft to his master once we're across. Less than
an hour!” The little man folded his arms, quite smug with
his achievement.
“I have never paid so rich a passage,” cried Teneil.
“But my Lady, if we are to make your wedding day, we must
hurry! Tellaria is still afar!” He smiled maliciously as
Teneil gritted her teeth. “The good men here understand our
plight, and understand that so rich a husband will no doubt remember
them beyond our horses.” He gave her a broad wink. His smile
was mischievous.
“Fool,” muttered Teneil under her breath. She smiled
none the less. “You are correct, as usual. Very well.” Aldon
nodded to everyone and they stripped the horses of their equipment.
Once stowed on the surprisingly capacious rowboat, Bull and Bobo
had to turn a hand at the oars. Finger's smile did nothing to cheer
Aldon. They may have saved time by avoiding a trip south and west,
but they would waste time trying to find adequate mounts in the
unfortunately small town of Tellsdale.
“You will acquire the mounts in Tellsdale, along with Jask
and Himmel. The rest will quench our thirst. Don't be all day,
damnit. We have an engagement and a time factor.” His tone
elicited a frown from Fingers.
“This is the thanks I get...” he muttered.
Teneil, watching the damage to the bridge as they rowed past,
noticed wreckage along the upstream side. Jaril, silent till now,
noticed her interest.
“Someone cut three ore barges loose last night. They hit
the bridge unabated.”
“But the bridge was stone,” wondered Ahren. She had
seen siege work before, but a boat floated -they were light!- and
could not nearly do this much damage.
“Ah, but it is a question of mass and momentum.” Everyone
looked at Bull, sweating over the oars. Jaril, taking in the man's
size was shocked. Bull blushed at the attention...” The barge
is very heavy when laden with mass. Imagine the barge being thrown
at the bridge, with all that weight behind it. The force must have
been phenomenal...”
Jaril nodded. “The Reeve thinks it was some youngsters
out doin' no good.”
“You don't agree,” said Aldon matter-of-factly. Jaril
shook his head. “I said three barges were cut loose. Only
two hit the upstream bridge. One hit the downstream bridge.”
Lorry, suddenly intent, posed the question. “How does a
multi-ton barge full of ore get downstream of a bridge? Did no
one see?” Jaril looked sheepish.
“I don't believe it much 'cuz Marron was drunk off'n his
a- um, he was drunk. He says that the barge passed through the
bridge - like a ghost ship.”
Lorry rubbed his chin in a disturbingly considering way. “Well,
mighty strange tidings, I'd say. 'Nuff to make a man stay indoors
and drink.” The thoughtfulness never left his face.
A full-glass later, the whole group was deposited on the far
shore and Jaril waved goodbye. Aldon rounded on Fingers.
“Go! Find horses as fast as you can - and make sure they'll
live past the first run! We have to hurry, right now the game is
afoot - and we're the game! Everyone else, spread out the gear
to accommodate their return. I want everyone to have three eyes
looking about. I want no surprises! We can ill afford them.”
Aldon spread his equipment out then took to pacing, impatiently
awaiting the new mounts.
“Too bad there isn't a Fieldhouse about here,” Ahren
murmured. “Horses would be no problem then.” The pretty
woman took hold of her loose golden hair and started brushing it
out. With the exception of her kills in duels, her hair was her
only vanity. Ahren braided a leather thong within the wrist-thick
tail.. Sharp bone spikes were embedded in the leather wrap to discourage
those who would seek to grab it.
“Might as well wish for wings,” teased Toady. He
was brushing and polishing his riding boots. “Or a fine coach,
for that matter.”
“Shut up you two,” snapped Aldon. He gripped his
belt knife and mentally sent Fingers some hurry-ups. The populace
near the drop-off point left the soldiers alone; it was clear,
no matter how at ease they tried to appear, that something was
afoot.
One man in particular seemed to grab hold of that notion. He
was a tall, thin, severe looking shore patrolman. He wore the livery
of a local reeve and paid entirely too much attention to the group.
After eyeing the eight of them for over a half an hour, he sauntered
on over to take a closer look. Teneil noticed a few street toughs
lingering nearby.
“We got trouble, boss,” she whispered. Aldon had
already spied the man and was ready for him when he drew near.
“Hear you're late for a wedding?” The man didn't
seemed so pleased that there was supposed to be one. He fingered
the pommel of his sword. The steel ball was affixed with what appeared
to be a claw.
“Unfortunately. Damn rich folk! Decide to have a wedding
and then expect me and my boys to baby-sit the woman all the way
to Tellaria. Didn't give us time for a decent coach or nothin'.”
The shore patrolman looked less sure of himself. “Where
you say you're from again?”
“I haven't yet, but we've come from Malthus on a shore
coaster until we ran afoul of bad weather, so we took to the land
and still have had nothin' but trouble.” Aldon shook his
head in mock disgust.
“You don't sound like you're from Malthus. I grew up in
Malthus.” The man’s eyes narrowed.
“I didn't say I was from Malthus, friend. I said I was
coming from there. You perceive the difference.” Aldon's
voice had grown sober. “Might there be a problem with our
passing through?”
“Oh, no. I don't think there will be any call to detain
you here. I just like to make sure goings on around here are in
the up and up.” Looking about each of the members of the
group, the Reeve silently surveyed equipment and faces. He walked
apart from the group, but maintained eye contact.
Everyone looked up the road at the sound of approaching horses.
Fingers and the mounts hove into view around the hill. Himmel and
Jask brought up the rear.
The dust the horses churned up was chokingly thick, and quite
a bit of it settled on the patrolman's tunic. He scowled at Fingers
with hatred in his eyes.
“Your pardon, sir, I did not see you there. Here's the
best the town has to offer; all in all not too bad. Especially
the black. He pointed to the hugely muscled stallion Himmel was
astride. It must have been a nobleman’s pedigreed animal.
Fingers had rooted up two paint mares, the black, a dun colored
gelding and the rest bay mares. Himmel and Jask paid out reins
to each member and the immediacy in which they began to saddle
up elicited more notice from the reeve.
“In quite a hurry are you? Which way will you be taking;
perhaps I can suggest a quicker route?” He seemed all help
and concern.
“We thought to go out the Dawn Gate, and then strike due
east for the Post Road. That should cut a couple of hours off and
make up for the horse exchange.” Fingers turned to Aldon. “By
the way, you owe me big for these animals.”
“Later,” grumbled the Daum. He turned to the reeve,
who seemed to be considering. “Good day sir, but we must
continue babysitting.” He turned and had his bay saddled
in a couple of minutes - mostly adjusting headgear and girth straps.
When everyone was squared away, Aldon waved a sketchy salute and
turned his mount. Spurring to a trot, the rest of the group took
up their initial positions. Once out of earshot, Aldon ordered
Himmel and Jask to scout ahead to the Northwest along the Pine
Road towards Kor and Bale. They might reach Alquabar by midday
tomorrow if they rode all night.
“I thought we were going to head to the East,” said
Teneil.
“Oh? You really want to go off and get married?” Aldon's
tone was gruff. “Clue in. That buffoon was a spy of some
sort or I'll trade my rank for scullery duty.” He rode on
harder then, intent on passing through Kor, making Bale before
midnight. A light wind plucked at his hair, and he eyed the thin
clouds rolling in over the Escarpment to the East.
The group rode in silence then for hours. They passed a myriad
of peasantry on the road and fine coaches of some noble or other.
They always drew suspicious and wary stares. A group of heavily
armed riders with or without livery were trouble. Travelling at
speed or no. The toll gates they passed were constant points of
annoyance, for each guard asked unwanted questions to which Aldon
gave varying answers each time. When the guard pressed, Bull interceded,
or Fingers would make a deposit into the ‘gate-keeper pension
fund’ and they would be quickly on their way again. The sun
neared the tops of the coastal highlands miles to the West. Still
they rode - no soldier was allowed surcease - unless it was due
to breaks given to the mounts. The sky filled with grayish clouds
that promised snow or freezing rain. Or both. The road became more
difficult to maneuver, and as the farmers and other travelers sought
shelter for the night, Aldon drew them tighter together at a slow
trot. These horses appeared to be as good, or better, than their
issued mounts. Though foamed with lather and blew like a foundry’s
bellows, they showed no signs of failing. Steam rose off all of
them, only to be dissipated by their passage. Aldon eyed the growing
cloud cover and the increase in wind. He ordered the whole group
to break out the heavy cloaks.
