Liavek 4 Read online

  Reed said. "I am expected at home."

  "By dark, you said, and there's plenty of light left. And look, you're both all over salt and sand; you'll look better for homegoing after some water and a towel. And you will have tea?" Kory was not sure it was a question.

  "Yes, certainly we will, sir," Reed said finally, and Ciellon nodded. Kory noted something in Ciellon's look like...well, disappointment, though that made no sense.

  The Sea Eagle Inn was built on the seashore at the farthest southwestern reach of Liavek, beyond Minnow Island in the quarter sometimes called "Nearer Hrothvek," almost against the city wall. Despite its location, it was not a new inn but a very old one. with an ancient reputation as a smugglers' landing and place of unrefined pleasure. Then the city had rolled, like an incoming tide of respectability, up to its doorstep; now the Sea Eagle was considered a Quite Proper Place with a Colorful Past.

  The innkeeper, a former captain named Zal najhi Zal who still shaved the right side of her head, came out on the portico to meet the coach. Kory saw her stiffen at the sight of Jagg helping Ciellon to the ground. Her lips moved in the First Prayer to Bree Amal, Goddess of Keepers of Disorderly Houses: May These Events Not Involve Thy Servant. Kory looked at the blue-gray driver and knew what the innkeeper was thinking: her guest really was ridden by a troll.

  Ciellon leaned on a black-ash walking stick and said, "Blessings on this house you keep, my friend. I am Ciellon; you received my message?"

  "Of course, master. The room you requested is ready."

  "With a view of the Saltmarsh? I do insist on that."

  "A splendid view, master, from the topmost floor."

  Ciellon leaned heavily on his stick. "Everything has its price, I suppose. No matter."

  "Your baggage, master...and your message mentioned only two persons—there is a surcharge—"

  "My man will carry the baggage." Kory thought he heard the hint of a threat in that. "And my friends are pausing only briefly. You will, please, have hot water sent up? And tea, for four."

  "The Sea Eagle," the innkeeper said with formal pride, "has hot water in all rooms, heated by the sun in our roof cisterns, which also provide safety from fire."

  "Lovely idea," Ciellon said, smiling.

  "And the master's tea...what blend would be preferred?"

  Ciellon said innocently, "Do you have Worrynot?"

  Zal blinked, startled at the sudden mention of the contraceptive leaf. Kory chuckled to himself. It was not the sort of thing that ought to startle an innkeeper. "Why, of course, master...but the tea..."

  "Just what I meant," Ciellon said. "No matter. We'll take Tichenese Gunpowder. Unless you've got Prince Fyun's Folly."

  "I'll...see, master."

  "Good, good." Ciellon turned to Kory and Reed. "Shall we?" As they went up the stairs, Kory noticed that Ciellon bore down on his cane as if an enormous weight rode his shoulders.

  Whatever sorts of things were in the wizard's mind, Kory thought as Ciellon poured tea, he had been right about washing up. He and Reed looked a hundred times more presentable now, as if they had just been feeding doves in the Levar's Park. Not, of course, that Reed's father would believe that. Dyelam ais Ariom seemed to suspect Kory of everything short of treason with his daughter. More than once Kory had wanted to demand that ais Ariom accuse him directly—though if he proved his case to the merchant, what would he do? Challenge ais Ariom to a duel over Kory's wounded honor? Not very likely. He sometimes wished that Reed had some other suitor. One chosen by her father, one that Reed detested, and she wept on Kory's shoulder for horror of marrying. One he could challenge, and settle things once and for—

  "I was just thinking," Ciellon said, pouring more tea into Kory's cup, "how admirable was your concern for your friend, there on the marsh. It would have been a cold night for Wine, and very lonely."

  "I..." Kory said, "that is, we..." He wondered if the wizard had been reading his mind.

  Reed said, "We met when Kory was employed as a courier for important documents. My father has a great deal of respect for Kory. He himself started as a small trader." She took Kory's hand.

  Ciellon said, "And therefore he understands how difficult it is to be a successful solitary small businessman." He sat back, holding his teacup in both hands. "It is bad enough to fear failure when one has only oneself to suffer for it. But to bind one's failure to another—that is difficult. And to see it happen to one you feel love and responsibility toward—that is sheer torture."

  Reed said, "Do you have a wife, Master Ciellon?"

  "I—" Ciellon stopped, smiled faintly. "No. I just talk too much." He set down his cup. "Now, I think, I should send you on your way. Jagg?"

  The bulky blue man was standing against the door, cup and saucer looking absurdly fragile in his hands. "Master?"

  "Hire a pony-trap and take the Lady ais Ariom home. Then, Master Li, if you will guide Jagg to The Vessel of Dreams, I shall be indebted."

  Kory said, "The master will not meet with Thomorin Wiln...?"

  Ciellon said, "Jagg knows what to ask for. I am certain that Thomorin Wiln will have no difficulty. Oh." He reached inside his quilted black gown, held out his hand again, and pressed a coin into Kory's palm. "For your recommendation." Kory knew the coin by touch, but checked it with a glance anyway; his fingers closed over a silver half-levar.

  "A pleasure," Kory said, and then almost started giggling, "doing business with you, master."

  "Not at all." Ciellon stood up slowly and went to stand by the room's large window, which gave a truly excellent view of the Saltmarsh stretching out of sight to the southwest.

  "If there is anything else.... I happen to know that Thomorin Wiln can provide a much finer grade of Worrynot leaf than any...other establishment in the city."

  "Kory," Reed said.

  Ciellon turned from the window. "I thank you, Master Trader, but that was just a small joke. Mistress Reed, did your mother never speak to you of Worrynot tea?"

  "Sir? No, sir. I have never heard of it. The tea, I mean."

  "But you are Hrothvekan."

  "My natural mother was, Master Ciellon, but she died when I was five, soon after we came to the city. My stepmother is Liavekan."

  "Ah. I am sorry. Truly sorry. Please forgive my lapse of tact, and taste."

  "Of course, master," Reed said, puzzled.

  Ciellon said, "I have one last request of both of you. I hope it does not seem...odd." Kory tensed. Jagg was still barring the door; no way past him. Through the window it was four floors to the beach.

  The wizard said quietly, "I would rather that my presence in Liavek not be made known for a little while. I don't expect anyone to ask you, and I don't ask you to lie; only not to speak. Will you agree to this?"

  Kory said, "Of course, master."

  Reed said, "Why, sir, if you are here for the End of Wine?" and Kory's heart skipped three beats.

  Ciellon said, "That's a reasonable question, my lady. The most reasonable answer I can give is that I am an acquaintance of His Scarlet Eminence the Regent of Liavek, and I do not wish politics to complicate my visit to this most beautiful of cities, at least not yet. Do you understand?"

  "Of course, sir," Reed said. "I will tell no one. If you will have your man take me to the apothecary's as well, then Kory can take me home, and there will be no need to explain your man's presence."

  Ciellon laughed. "How can any businessman fail, with such a reason to succeed? Good day to both of you now, and please call upon me again if I may be of help."

  The Vessel of Dreams had its anchorage in the hazy region between the raucous Old Docks, the even older but newly fashionable Canal District, and the south end of Wizard's Row, when Wizard's Row decided to be there. The Vessel was a flatboat with a catamaran hull; the hulls were snow-white, coated with something that barnacles and worms couldn't bear the taste of, and the superstructure was dark blue with a spangling of stars on the deck and the roof. Its masts were removable, and stayed in storage exc
ept for two months of the year, when Thomorin Wiln took The Vessel of Dreams out onto the Sea of Luck, to trade in faraway ports and fish in strange waters.

  The trap pulled to a stop before the Vessel's gangway, less than a bowshot from the posts of Canalgate. Kory and Reed jumped down from the back of the cart as Jagg hitched the horse to a post. Jagg wore gloves and a raised hood, which kept his appearance from drawing attention.

  Kory looked toward the docks; he saw a familiar figure in green, but before he could be sure it was Ghosh, the person had vanished. Which meant it probably was Ghosh.

  Jagg tapped Kory on the shoulder and pointed to a sign near the gangway. It read, FREEHOLD BY LIAVEKAN LAW. "I don't understand," he said in the strange, atonal accent. "Are not all ships so?"

  Reed said, "The last Levar created Thomorin WiIn a landed noble. He's really Vavasor of The Vessel of Dreams. But whatever you do, don't call him that."

  "Why'?"

  Reed smiled, said, "The Levar wanted Thomorin Wiln to serve on his Council. But he couldn't be bothered, and never put his name in for election by the Merchant's Society; so the Levar made him a noble, and the chancellors appointed him."

  Jagg nodded. "Rulers have a way of getting the things they want."

  "Oh, but that's not the end of it," Reed said primly. Kory bit his lip. He knew the story, too. but hearing Reed tell it, with the calm manner of a counting-house clerk, was priceless. "The rule is that noble councilors can send a representative. Thomorin Wiln sent a message saying that, since he couldn't serve, he was sending another chemist, of proven ability."

  "Yes'?"

  "He sent a civet cat," Reed said, voice still even. "It got very upset. Do you know what a civet cat smells like when it gets upset? The Council had to meet in the Levar's Park for three weeks while the Chambers aired out." Then she laughed.

  Jagg scratched his cheek. His expression might have been a smile, or anything.

  Reed looked up. "I see someone I want to talk to," she said. "I'll be right here when you come out." lagg bowed slightly and followed Kory aboard The Vessel of Dreams.

  Thomorin Wiln's boat was tightly packed, the shop front no exception. There was a narrow counter with a cased set of balances, and a strongbox built into the countertop itself; there were wall racks for glassware and pottery herb jars; there were lockers with brass catches and extensible lamps and, in a corner, tin buckets with fresh material brought in that day; Kory set his bucket near the others. And there were drawers, hundreds, thousands of little drawers in ranks on the walls, each with a tiny white label describing its contents. Thomorin WiIn did not seem to need the labels; he just went to a drawer and pulled it open. It always seemed to be what he wanted. Kory imagined that if he leaned over to read the labels, they would all read, THINGS (ASSORTED).

  Thomorin Wiln came in from the rear. He was tall and quite slender, with straight black hair streaked with gray; he wore it long, bound with engraved lead rings. He was wearing a rust-colored gown, somewhat ragged, covered by a heavy leather apron. "Kory," he said, and touched a hand to his forehead; he stopped, sniffed the hand, which was stained strange colors, and shrugged. "What were you out after? Spooks?"

  "Clawfires. Got some smaller than your palm, too."

  "I've got big palms. Wish it had been spooks, though. There's a— Oh, excuse me, master." He bowed slightly to Jagg, indicated Kory. "This gentleman is one of my suppliers."

  Jagg pushed back his hood. Thomorin Wiln cocked his eyebrow slightly. Jagg said, "I am acquainted with Master Li. He recommended your services to my master." Jagg took a folded paper from his blue coat. "Can you make these preparations?"

  "The sign says 'apothecary,'" Thomorin Wiln said. As he unfolded the paper, he added, "I won't make Universal Solvent, though. Not on a boat."

  "I meant, master, have you the materials."

  "Apology acc—" Thomorin Wiln stared at the paper. "Do you know what this says?"

  "I do, Master Drugsmith."

  "I mean. do you know what it means? These concentrations—excuse me. Kory, do you need your money now, or can it wait?"

  "I'll be back tomorrow," Kory said, desperately curious but taking the hint. "Jagg, may I pick up my 'sailer tomorrow morning?"

  "Certainly, trader."

  Thomorin Wiln's eyebrow went up again. Kory smiled and went out.

  Reed was on the dock, and Ghosh was with her. Kory waved and ran down the gangplank.

  Ghologhosh said she thought she was the same age as Kory and Reed, though she wasn't sure, and she looked older. She was very dark, with short, straight black hair and startlingly black eyes in an angular face that had been hit until it was no longer pretty. She was a little shorter than Reed, and even thinner, but incredibly strong for her build; Kory had seen her bend the iron bars of a window grille enough to slip through, then straighten them again when she had what she was after. She was wearing a leather collar (it would turn a knife and stop a garrote, and Kory knew she kept a set of lockpicks inside it), a coarse green tunic bloused above a wide belt, and matching loose trousers.

  "If you're going to do business in the nice parts of town," Kory said, "you've got to put on shoes."

  "The cheap kind are noisy and the quiet kind wear out too fast," Ghosh said. It was their greeting, like a handclasp or a hug; you didn't touch Ghosh. "So you all made it back again with your virtue intact. I swear I don't know what you two do all that running around for; it makes ais Ariom just as mad, and you sure aren't getting anything out of it."

  Reed said, "We just like the sight of each other, Ghosh."

  Ghosh nodded, spat over the edge of the dock. "Asie Blackfinger'll do your pictures for a copper each, and you can stare all day. Kory, you mind if I sleep on your floor tonight? One of the regulars 'round my place cut a noble outside Cheeky's, and there's a couple of Guards waiting to see if he's stupid enough to go home."

  "Sure, Ghosh, come by when you want." Ghosh's "place" was a block of abandoned Old Town buildings, sometimes called the No-Copper Bazaar, or Gizzard's Row. It looked like living hell, but in its way it was safe enough—there was nothing there to steal.

  "I don't believe you're having this conversation in front of me," Reed said in mock horror.

  "If you were going to fight me over the Merchant, you'd have done it a long time ago," Ghosh said. "And if anything was going to happen between him and me, it would have happened already. But you aren't and it ain't, and that's what I don't believe."

  Ghosh turned sharply, apparently at nothing: Kory saw Jagg coming out of The Vessel of Dreams. He was not carrying any parcels. Kory said, "Thomorin Wiln couldn't—"

  Jagg said, "It takes some time to prepare. I will expect you tomorrow, Master Li. Well faring to you. And you, mistress. And—"

  "Ghologhosh," Ghosh said, looking narrow-eyed at Jagg.

  "Mistress Ghologhosh." Jagg pulled up his hood, boarded the trap, and drove away.

  "Friend of yours?" Ghosh said.

  "Tell you about it later," Kory said. "I'd better take Reed home now."

  Ghosh said, "You really do ask for it every chance you get, don't you? Look, I'll see Reed gets home all right. Anybody asks, she gave me a two-copper as her bodyguard."

  Reed said, "I'm quite able to walk myself home, you know."

  Ghosh bowed low. "Oh, Lady not want to go there, Lady meet terrible fate. worse than death, maybe even better." She straightened up. "Besides, I've got to go over that way anyway."

  Kory scratched his head. If Ghologhosh had business in a quarter of wealthy merchants' houses, it was better not to ask what it was. "All right. Knock when you come in."

  Ghosh nodded. "Well?"

  Kory said, "Well what?"

  Reed said. "Well this," and kissed him.

  Ghosh said, "I didn't think you'd finish that before dark. Come on, Reed, let's go make some pretty boys cry."

  •

  They started up the canalside path. Ghosh, who never moved without looking in all directions, saw Kory just standi
ng by the Vessel's gangway, looking in no particular direction.

  "So is there any hope for the two of you," she said to Reed, "or are you just going to keep on mooning and strolling until Dyelam finds someone rich enough to bring into his business, with you as the splice?"

  "Kory will be rich enough...or maybe he won't. I really don't care. And my father isn't the kind of man you seem to see him as."

  "Wouldn't know. All I ever see is money. Is Dyelam just gold-plate, then?"

  "What do you know about anybody?" Reed said, almost angry. "You don't love or care about anyone but yourself."

  "You give me too much credit," Ghosh said quietly. "Hey, don't get mad. You cry and streak up your face, we'll have to explain it to your family."

  Reed said, "And you couldn't do that, could you? You don't know how to cry."

  Ghosh could tell she wasn't angry any longer, which was good. Reed was smart and funny, good to be with—like Kory. If Ghosh had been either of them, she probably would have spent as much time as possible with the other. Which was exactly why this courting game of theirs was so Gholdamn dumb. There was a Bree Amal proverb: The line between wealth and poverty is as thin as a half-copper. The line between life and death is as thin as the edge of a knife. So why waste time drawing lines?

  They were passing the Levar's palace, which glittered in the late-day sun. The canal was alight. Caught between sparkle and shimmer, Ghosh felt suddenly grubby. "Hey, stop a moment," she said, and took a black cloth bundle from her pouch. She unwrapped a pair of black kidskin slippers, pulled them on. "You see? Some of your boyfriend's advice is worth taking." Reed laughed. Ghosh wiped her face with the cloth, shook it out, and wrapped it around her head, tucking in the ends.

  "Here," Reed said. She plucked at her clothing, and held out a small silver pin with a green-enameled olive tree.