Part 24 (2/2)
The third man then followed Nepanthe and her escort once they rounded a bend. When he had made the same turn, Michael went back to the road. He kept his head down. He was pa.s.sing the Marshall's home. A half-do/en soldiers were there, and might....”Hey! Michael!”
”d.a.m.nit!” It was one of the Horse Guards he b.u.mmed with. For once in his life he wished he didn't have so many friends. ”'Lo, Tie. How goes it?”
”Fine. Except I think they're getting carried away trying to find things for us to do. Squaring away the Marshall's house, you know what I mean? He's got a wife, he's got a maid and butler and all. Don't seem right....”
So. The word wasn't out. ”That's a shame. But you could be out riding around the Gudbrandsdal in the rain.”
”You got it. I don't complain to the sergeant. He'd come up with something like that.”
”I'd like to hang around and see what's happening, Tie, but I've got a job.”
”You?”
”Sure. Not much. Running messages for the Marshall's secretary. But he expects me to get them moved.”
”Yeah. All right. Catch you later. Why don't you plop in at the Kit 'N Kettle tonight? Got some girls from a.r.s.en Street coming down.... But don't bring that chunky guy. What's his name? Dantice. He busted the place up last time.”
”Okay. I'll see. If Prataxis don't keep me running.”
”What's with that guy anyway, Mike?”
Trebilc.o.c.k glanced up the lane. How far ahead were they? ”Aral? Don't mind him, Tie. He isn't so bad when you get to know him. Hey. I've got to go.”
”Sure. See you later.”
Trebilc.o.c.k walked briskly till his soldier-friend could no longer see him. Then he jogged, glancing down the cross lanes to make sure they hadn't turned aside.
Fie hoped they were headed back to their inn. In Aral's part of town they would be easier to trail.
Luck was with him. That was their destination, and he picked up the rear guard in West Market Street, which was packed with shoppers.
He found Dantice lounging around outside his father's place. That, for Aral, was a near career. ”What happened?”
”Not a d.a.m.ned thing. The guy came back to the inn. The others just showed up.”
”What're they up to?”
”Mike, I don't know. You're the one playing spy. Ho! Hang on. Here's the first one again.”
A dusky man had come to the inn door leading a half-dozen horses.
”Oh-oh,” Trebilc.o.c.k muttered. ”What do we do now?”
”How should I know? You're the brains.””Aral, they're leaving town. I never thought of that. I just thought.... Never mind. Here.” He slapped a gold piece into Dantice's hand. ”Get us a couple horses.
Some food and stuff. I'm going to talk to your father.”
”Are you crazy?”
”Come on. Why not?”
”You're nuts. All right. You straighten it with the old man.”
”Right. Yes. Come on. Hurry. We'll lose them.”
”I'm going.”
Trebilc.o.c.k slammed through the door of the Dantice establishment, knocking the bell off its mounting. ”Mr. Dantice! Mr. Dantice!”
The older Dantice came from the little office where he kept his accounts. ”h.e.l.lo, Michael. How are you?”
”Mr. Dantice, I need some money. All the money you can give me. Here.” He seized pen and paper. ”I'll write you a letter of credit. You can take it to Pleskau Brothers.
They handle my finances in Vorgreberg.”
”Michael, boy, calm down. What's this all about?”
”Mr. Dantice! Hurry!” Trebilc.o.c.k raced to the door, peeped out. Nepanthe, Ethrian, and the dark men were mounting up. ”There's no time. They're leaving. I'm doing a job for the Marshall. I've got to have money. I'm going out of town.”
”But....”
”Isn't my credit good?”
”The best.” The old man scratched the back of his head. ”I just don't understand....”
”I'll explain when we get back. Just give me what you can.” He wrote hastily, leaving a blank for the amount.
Puzzled, but wanting to help his son's friend-whom he thought a bit strange, but felt to be a good influence- Dantice retrieved his cash box from hiding.
”Michael, I don't have much here today.'Bout fifteen n.o.bles, and change.”
”That's good. Whatever. We'll only be gone a couple days. It's just so we can eat on the way.” He flung himself to the door again. ”Hurry. They're almost gone. Come on, Aral. Where are you?”
”Twelve and seven. That's all I can spare, Michael. I have to keep some just in case....”
”Fine. Fine. Ten is plenty, really. If I can't get by.....” He signed the credit for ten n.o.bles, scooped coins as fast as the older man could count them out. ”Thanks, Mr. Dantice. You're a gem.” He kissed the old man.
”Michael!”
”Hey, we'll see you in a few days.”
He whipped out the door. Aral was just coming with the horses. ”They're all Trego had left.””We'll switch later. You see where they headed?”
”Up the street. If they leave town, they'll have to use a gate. Different than the west one, right? From here that means the east or south.”
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