‘If there’s so much traffic between here and Villena,’ Vandien butted in despite Ki’s scowl, ‘why send your boy off with two strangers, instead of with a caravan driver you know, or a trader you’ve done business with?’
‘I …’ The man hesitated, clearly flustered by the question. ‘I saw your wagon. It looked like a comfortable, even pleasant, way to travel. He is my only son, you know. And I would rather he went directly to his uncle, without long stopovers for trading and visiting. The sooner he is with Dellin, the sooner he can begin to learn his trade and become a useful man.’
Vandien rubbed his moustache and lips to cover the twist of his mouth. The man’s reasons did not sound authentic. But Ki was nodding thoughtfully and asking, ‘And how old is Gotheris?’
‘He has seen fourteen harvests,’ the man said, almost reluctantly, but then added brightly, ‘He is large for his years. The Jore blood does that. He will be a good-sized man when fully grown. And he has Jore eyes,’ he added hesitantly, as if they might object to that.
‘I see no problems, then,’ Ki was saying, to Vandien’s total amazement. ‘I’d like to meet the boy, though, before we touch hands on this agreement. Is that acceptable?’
A facial tic twitched Brin’s cheek. ‘Certainly. I will bring him by first thing tomorrow. I will have him bring his things, and I will bring the coins for his passage. That way, as soon as you have agreed, you can be on your way. Acceptable?’
‘I ‘d have to take on supplies first,’ Ki hedged.
‘Then I shan’t bring him by until you are ready. Noon, shall we say? Nothing makes that boy more impatient than waiting. Better not to make him stand about while things are got ready. We shall meet you here at noon, tomorrow. Good evening.’
Vandien frowned after Brin as he vanished through the portal. ‘There’s a strange man. He doesn’t seem to believe we might not take him. And what was his haste? He didn’t even pause to finish his wine.’
‘Given a choice, would you sit here and drink this stuff? Besides, he takes leave of his only son tomorrow. Such a farewell takes time. What’s flustering up your feathers, Van? You questioned him like a jealous lover.’
‘Vandien,’ he corrected her absently, watching the serving boys pull stiff hides across the portals and peg them into place. A dry wind from across the plains rattled sand against the leather. ‘Didn’t he seem awfully anxious to be rid of the boy? I think there’s trouble in this somewhere.’
‘Your tail’s just tweaked because we aren’t going to run off and start a month of vagrancy tomorrow. You think I’m backing out on our agreement, don’t you? Well, I’m not. But why not start the month off with a little coin in hand? Take the boy and drop him off on the way. New places, you said. Well, I’d never heard of Villena until this night. And neither had you, I’ll wager. So why not start from there? Trelira!’ Ki called suddenly across the room. ‘What direction is Villena from here?’
The haste with which the portly caravansary owner trotted to their table betrayed her interest. ‘To the southwest, about fourteen days away. It’s right on the caravan routes. There’s Algona, Tekum, Rivercross, and then Villena. A lot bigger town then Keddi. It was originally a T’cheria settlement, but nowadays there are quite as many Humans there. And a group of Dene have settled at Rivercross. Thinking of going there?’
‘Perhaps. Perhaps not. I was just wondering.’ Vandien played her out on her own curiosity. ‘What are you serving for the evening meal tonight?’
‘I’ve mutton pastries and tubers with onions baked in soft gourds. Barley and bean soup, and a good fresh bake of bread. What takes you to Villena?’
‘Nothing, probably.’ Vandien replied easily, pressing his leg against Ki’s to ask for her silence. ‘Brin wanted us to take his son there, but Ki’s not much for taking passengers. She likes her privacy. Just curiosity made me ask. Neither of us had heard of the place.’
Ki picked up her cue. ‘I’ll have the tubers and onions baked in the gourd, the soup, but no …’
‘Goat? He wants you to take Goat to Villena?’
The avidity of the question trampled over Ki’s attempt to order food.
‘Gotheris was the boy’s name, I thought,’ Vandien ventured.
‘Aye, but he’s been called Goat since he was four or five. He was a spry little fellow then, always gamboling about, so full of energy and mischief. There wasn’t a mother but wished he were her child, when he was small.’ Trelira’s eyes journeyed to some dreaming place and remembered some regret. ‘Why must children change and grow?’ she asked sadly of no one in particular. Then her attention snapped back to Ki, and her eyes went shrewd and businesslike. ‘How much did he offer you for the trip?’
Ki opened her mouth to protest this prying, but Vandien hastily pressed a filled wineglass into her hand. She held her words back behind tight lips.
‘Three georns and a full orn on safe arrival,’ Vandien told her with disarming frankness. His smile made her trustworthy. ‘Have pity on a stranger, Trelira. I can’t even remember how many georns or fiorns in an orn. Given the roads and the distance, would you say that’s a fair price for the trip?’
Trelira took a deep breath for speech, then shut her mouth and gave a quick nod.
Ki took up her part in Vandien’s game. ‘I wonder why he doesn’t wait until he has friends going that way?’ She glanced casually at Trelira.
‘They’d know the … he wouldn’t know anyone. Brin doesn’t know that many folk here. His land is on the edge of the town, alone but for his sheep and his three sons. His wife’s sister was my cousin’s wife,’ she added, speaking softly to herself.
‘Well, we haven’t said we’d take him, yet,’ Vandien admitted casually. But Trelira was no longer listening. She rose and turned, walking slowly back to her kitchen, her head full of her own thoughts. Ki and Vandien exchanged glances.
‘Interesting.’ Ki sipped at her wine.
‘Nice mess. Brin says his only son, Trelira says one of three. Brin says he wants the boy comfortable, Trelira says he wouldn’t know anyone else to take him. Whatever smells funny here, she’s got a family tie to it that’s keeping her from gossiping. Suppose he’s a half-wit?’
‘To be apprenticed to a healer?’
‘I could tell you stories about healers that would make you believe it,’ Vandien offered lightly. Then he shrugged, and became serious once again. ‘What else could it be?’
‘Maybe nothing but your imagination. Maybe a boy grown too big for home and small-town life. Don’t sour the deal, friend, before we’ve even seen the boy.’
Food arrived, a double order of everything Trelira had mentioned. Ki frowned as the serving boy set it before them. ‘What’s this?’ she demanded.
The boy stared at her as if she were daft. ‘Food?’ he suggested.
‘We didn’t ask for any yet.’
‘Trelira ordered it for you. Oh, I’m to tell you there’s no charge. To give you good strength for an early start tomorrow.’
Vandien raised a mocking eyebrow at Ki. She only snorted, and pushed her share of the mutton pastries onto his plate. He accepted them. ‘Still not eating meat?’ he asked the soup gravely,