Part 17 (2/2)
James had rehearsed his speech several tian ”We both know the Mockers are no longer a major force And we both know that soes and capers in Krondor”
Lucas nodded
”We also know that, as far as anyone can judge, the Upright Man is dead”
Lucas sht Man's dead orlow”
Jaood as dead, because he's let the Mockers come to a messy end”
”Maybe, or rinned ”Anyone ever tell you you're a pain to talk to?”
”Yup,” said Lucas ”Not too h”
”Look, I needwell-placed friends”
Lucas laughed ”Well, start with the Prince of Krondor, boy I can't iine anyone better placed than him”
”I mean well-placed within within Krondor People who are in a position to hear things” Krondor People who are in a position to hear things”
Lucas was silent as he weighed James's words carefully, then he spoke: ”Over the years I'vemost of the ti business withto deal with the Prince's customs men or the Mockers' fences, and I know the occasional caravan driver heading inland
”There are those that need to speak to others ant to kill theether without bloodshed Things like that
”But all that goes to naught if anyone thinks I've turned snitch”
Jah of those on every street corner I need soood information, not rumors or lies fashi+oned to earn some coppers Moreover, I need someone, after all is said and done, who isother people” He looked at Lucas and said, ”I think you understand what I'htful for a hed and said, ”Sorry, but I could never be no y a path, even for the likes of me” He moved away and went behind the bar ”But I'll tell you this I'll never work against the Crown I was once a soldier and dom So, you havelike that, well, let's say I'll make sure you find out quick How's that?”
James said, ”It'll have to do”
”Would you like an ale?”
Jahed ”It's still a little early for that I'll just take my leave When Talia and Williaarrison and report in, will you?”
Lucas said, ”About that young fellow”
”Yes?”
”He's a good sort, right?”
Jaood sort”
Lucas nodded, then picked up a rag and started polishi+ng his bar ”Just thatwell, like I told you, Talia's all I've got left Want to see she's done right by, if you see what I”If any one will do right by her, Willialanced up ”Father's a duke, you said?”
Jaood-bye to Lucas
Williaiddy, and couldn't quite decide if he was in love or just overtired He'd had numerous conversations with his parents on the subject ofplenty of opinions frorew up In many ways he was fare, but far less practiced than ossip, he tried to keep interested, but hiswith his adopted sister Gamina But while he had had ht hie of Jazhara aside, and the more he tried, the more vivid she became in his mind Four years older than William, she had come to study at Stardock when he was eleven years old That had been half a lifetio, he realized
She had been aloof at first, a Keshi+an of noble birth who had eventually put up with his childhood infatuation with good grace and even, occasionally, flattered as had changed He was no longer an aard boy, but a strong and intelligent young man and for a brief time his interest in her was returned Their affair had been stormy, intense, and ultimately painful for William
It had ended badly, and he was still unclear as to what had made their relationshi+p so rocky, and until he had learned that she was being sent to Krondor he had thought he ht never discover the reasons why she had pushed hiain with dread and so” Talia's voice penetrated his reverie
”Sorry,” he said with a shts” When she frowned, he quickly added, ”Business of the Crown”
She smiled and held onto his arm as they approached the market ”Well, enjoy the sunshi+ne and we'll just pretend the Prince and his business are very far away And proht?”
”I'll see what I can do,” Willia woman's profile as she stopped to inspect produce that had co
She pointed to a pile of large golden onions and said, ”I'll take six of those”
While she and the seller haggled a little, Willia to the differences between Talia and Jazhara Jazhara was Keshi+an, frodoreat potential, and as fit as any fighter he had ever known He knew from first-hand experience that she could crack your skull with a quarterstaff as quickly as conjure up a spell, and she was better educated than any woes and dialects, knew the history both of her own hodom, and could discourse on sciences, the course of the stars, and the mysteries of the Gods
Talia by contrast was a sunny, open person, full of hu at her and said, ”What?”
He sirl as I've ever seen”
She blushed ”Flatterer”
He felt suddenly embarrassed by the corew up You said you were raised by an order of?”
She smiled as she handed over four coins to the seller and put the onions in her shopping basket ”I was raised by an order of the Sisters of Kahooli”
William almost let his mouth fall open Then: ”Kahooli!” he exclaimed
Several shoppers nearby turned to see who had invoked the naeance