Part 10 (1/2)
Crossing the courtyard, Jah lad He could handle hiht turn out to be as tough in his oay, too Besides, Treggar had been a bachelor officer a long tiet aith in the bachelor officers' es, but it had responsibilities as well, and had Treggar been truly abusive Gardan would have re Jaht-marshal: there was no detail so trivial that it escaped their notice for too long Proble through the gate, Jauard waved a casual salute to hiate of the palace, once the main entrance, but now used mostly for ceremonial arrivals, processions from the city, holy day rites, and the like, while most of the coate and the eastern gate
A great house sat on the opposite side of the square that rounds Between the house and the gate stood a fountain,of a landmark, for it had been the first in the city constructed by the order of one of the early princes Ja, thee, it had been abandoned for years James corrected himself; it wasn't abandoned, but unoccupied From ti, a fresh coat of paint on wood triate, or repairs to stones in the outer wall But noas clear so to be occupied
”What's going on?” he asked a guard at the gate, nodding toward the house
”Don't know Been wagons co since yesterday, squire”
'That house has been closed up as long as I can reate ”Don't know even ns it”
James said, ”It's owned by the Telance, but neither asked how he knew Jas about the city and neither guard doubted his word
”They usually keep to themselves,” Jauards knew the question was rhetorical and kept silent, as James turned his attention frohthawks
Ja far less fashi+onable than what he had hen he had left the palace He had several stashes around the city where he had secreted clothing, weapons, andinto the common rabble was common necessity for the Prince's squire
Jah the midday press in the merchants' section of the city, near where it unofficially turned into the Poor Quarter No one could point to any map or charter that defined the city's districts in such a fashi+on, but all who lived in Krondor knehere the an, where Harborside became Fishtown and how the other unofficial precincts were arrayed And knohere one district ended and another began was vital to one's health and safety, James knew
He crossed the nondescript street that separated the merchants' and Poor quarters, and as he entered the latter, the streets sees rose up on both sides, leaving barely enough rooloom except when the sun was at its zenith
Jae as he moved into his old haunts, but his awareness did The streets of the poor quarter in the daytime were almost as busy as the other sections of the city, but they were far ht, but they were potentially more lethal for their subtlety Within moments James sensed the disquiet that permeated the district Glances were more furtive than usual, people moved just a bit ers atched closely The killings were
James turned into an even narrower path, an alley with an occasional door or a wooden stairway to a second story entrance above Near the end of the alley he saw a hunched-over figure securing items to a theeled pony cart The door that had been his intended destination was open
Jaer and held it so it was hidden behind his wrist A quick flip would bring it into play if needed
Reaching striking distance to the figure he stopped and said, ”Sophia?”
The figure turned and drew herself to her full height and Jah dark brown to show the original color of her youth She held one hand in what Ja position A moment later, she relaxed and said, ”Jimmy You just about scared what few years I have left out of lanced at the open door ”Leaving?”
”As soon as I tie down this last bundle”
”Where are you bound?”
”I don't know, and I' where I land, Jimmy”
James studied the wohtly been called horsey in her youth-Sophia possessed a strength in her bearing and a strong body that , and had won her a fair share of lovers over the years, men of wealth as often as not But Sophia's trade in spells, charained her a life that was ultimately solitary, save for a few trusted friends, like James
James nodded at her remark ”If you want to vanish, I understand, but I would like to knohy if I s; I don't have to ask You wouldn't be the Prince'sthat departed co her blue dress and fetching a black shawl off the top of the cart, she moved to close the door to her sht your attention is that most of those who are not members of the Mockers, removed for reasons you're no doubt more familiar with than I, were practitioners of the art”
”Magicians?” asked James, suddenly keenly interested in what the woe Most of their names would be unknown to you, for they practiced in private We're not as public a bunch as those down in Stardock, Jimmy Some of us prefer a quiet livelihood”
”And others?”
”Practice crafts which ht not be looked upon with favor by those in power”
”Black arts?”
”Nothing so sinister, but let's say a rain to rot before shi+pame There are those who practice such arts as will provide what is needed”
”For a price,” observed Jaicians in Krondor, Jalanced around ”How many others are there?”
Sophia said, ”Help me turn this around I should have pointed it that way before I loaded it”
James helped the woman turn the cart around, and watched as she knelt between the twin stalls of the wagon and picked them up He knew better than to offer to help; Sophia was as independent-minded a woman as he had ever encountered, and he had known several ”You ought to get a s”
”I can't afford one,” she answered as she started to pull all her worldly possessions out of the alley
”I canloan you the funds for a horse, Sophia You were always kind to a rude street boy”
She smiled and years fell away from her face ”You were never rude Obnoxious, yes, but never rude” Then her smile vanished ”I'd just have to feed the beast, but thanks for the offer”
As they reached the corner Sophia halted and said, ”But I should be asking you what brought you to ical problem” He explained about the Princess Paulina's a friend is to be spending time in her company, I think it would be to his benefit if he had so her charms”
Sophia chuckled at the play on words ”Char that may help your friend” She put down the stalls and went to the rear of the cart She pulled up the tie-down cover she had just fastened and said, ”Wish you said so before I did this,” and reached in She pulled out a sh it ”I have an effective potion, but that will only last for a few hours” She held up a sht do” It was siray-silver le dull red seht do” It was siray-silver le dull red semi-precious stone
She handed it to James ”It protects the wearer from a variety ofthe young lady e of substance, but at the least it will keep the girl's effects confined to what nature gave her”
Ja ”Thanks What do I owe you?”
”For you,” she said, ”nothing” She refastened her tie-downs