Rise of a Merchant Prince (29 page)

Duncan was out of his seat, looking confused, as Annie stuck her head through the kitchen door. “Supper's ready.”

“Aren't we going to eat?” said Duncan.

Roo saluted John's wife. “Regrets, Annie. We must fly.” He half pushed Duncan out of the door as Duncan complained. “I don't follow. What's going on?”

“I'll explain it to you on our way south. We'll eat while we drive.”

Duncan made an aggravated sound as they hurried to the inn, where they would need to tack up a tired team of horses and get started on the hurried trip home.

Duncan said, “I see something ahead.”

Roo, who had been dozing a bit while his cousin took a turn driving the team, was instantly alert. It was an uneventful trip despite their hurrying to the horses' limits. Usually between Sarth and Krondor this was the case, but even though they were still inside the well-patrolled Principality, outlaws and the occasional goblin raid were not unheard of.

As they moved up the road, another wagon could be seen. It was pulled over to the side of the road and the driver was waving. Roo pulled up and the driver said, “Can you help me?”

“What's the problem?” asked Roo.

“I've got a busted hub.” He pointed to the rear wheel, looking nervous. “And my master will be furious if this cargo is late.”

Roo took a second look at the wagon. “Who's your master?”

“I'm a teamster for Jacoby and Sons,” answered the driver. Roo laughed. “I know your master. Yes, he'll be upset if you're delayed. What cargo?”

At that the driver looked very uncomfortable. “Just some trade goods . . . from Sarth.”

Roo glanced at Duncan, who nodded and jumped down. “My friend,” said Duncan, “we're in a position to be of service.” He slowly drew his sword and pointed at the wagon. “First we're going to unload your cargo and put it in our wagon, which, as you can see, is presently empty. Then we will replace our very tired horses with your rested and fresh animals.”

The driver looked as if he was going to bolt, but Roo had come around the other side of his horses and stood between the driver and freedom. The timid
man said, “Please don't hurt me.”

Duncan smiled. “My friend, that is the last thing we wish to do. Now, why don't you get started on unloading while my companion inspects your bill of lading.”

The man's eyes grew wide as he headed for the back of the wagon. Unfastening the last tie-down, he said, “The paperwork is . . . coming by messenger . . . later.”

Roo laughed. “And the guard at the city gate who Tim Jacoby has paid off will believe that nonsense, I'm certain.”

The driver nodded and sighed. “You know the routine, obviously.” He lifted a large box out of the wagon and carried it over to Roo's wagon. Duncan lowered the tailgate, and the man shoved the box in, pushing it deep into the wagon. “You realize you're going to get me killed?”

“I doubt it,” said Roo. “you've got a busted wheel, and when you reach Krondor, you'll have a wonderful tale to tell of the brave fight you put up against overwhelming odds.”

Duncan chimed in: “Your bravery is undoubted, and you risked your life against six bandits—no, seven bandits for your master's cargo. Why, I'd buy you a drink in any inn in Krondor to hear that story again.”

“What's the cargo?” asked Roo.

“Might as well tell you,” said the driver as he carried the second box over to Roo's wagon. “Quegan luxuries. My master sent me up to Sarth to meet with a Quegan captain who made an unscheduled stop there. The Royal Customs house was closed, because the customs officer in Sarth is dead.”

“When did that happen?” asked Roo, suddenly very interested.

“Over a year ago.” The driver laughed bitterly. “For whatever reason, new Prince in the city, or some other thing, there's been no replacement up there since. Makes it easy to pick up goods there and bring them down to the city. As you said, if you know the right city gate and which guard sergeant to talk to, getting into the city with any cargo is an easy task.”

Roo said, “Would you be willing to mention the time and gate?”

“What's in it for me?” asked the driver, and suddenly Roo was laughing.

“Your loyalty to the Jacobys is unmatched.”

The driver shrugged, then jumped into the wagon to grab the last box. “Do you know Tim?”

Roo nodded. “Well enough.”

“Then you know he's a swine. His father, Frederick, when he was in charge, well, he's a tough old boot, but he was mostly fair. If you did something well, there was a little extra in it for you. Randolph's a decent enough fellow.

“But Tim,” said the driver, carrying the box over to Roo's wagon, “now there's a piece of work. He's the sort that if you do a perfect job, why, that's what he's paying you for, but if you make the tiniest mistake, you're as likely to get a knife between your ribs as a pat on the back. He has these two bashers who are with him all the time. He's a rough customer.”

Roo glanced at Duncan. “At least he thinks he is.” He asked the driver, “What's your name?”

“Jeffrey,” answered the driver.

“Well, Jeffrey,” said Roo, “you've been very helpful.” He reached into his purse and pulled out a gold
coin. “The gate and time?”

“Just before you get to the city, turn off along the sea trail and come to the small gate that leads to the fishing harbor to the north of the city. That's the gate. During the day watch. It's a sergeant named Diggs. He's taking Jacoby gold.”

“Are you known to him?”

The driver nodded. “But Jacoby uses a lot of different teamsters to cover his tracks. He sometimes hires sailors or farmers if he thinks he might be caught smuggling.” Roo nodded, remembering the drunken sailor who had run his wagon into Barrett's front door. “So when you see the gate guard, ask for Diggs by name. Tell him you've got netting from Sarth.”

“Netting from Sarth?”

“Anything else and he'll be on you like lice on a beggar, but if you say, ‘Netting from Sarth,' he'll wave you through. Don't mention Jacoby or say anything else. Just say, ‘Netting from Sarth,' and you're in.”

Roo took out another coin and flipped it to the driver, who suddenly seemed far less troubled by this hijacking. Jeffrey said, “You'd better mark me up some so Tim Jacoby doesn't kill me.”

Roo nodded, and Duncan struck the man hard across the face with the back of his hand. Jeffrey spun around and fell to the ground, and Roo could see a red welt appearing on his cheek. Jeffrey shook his head and stood up. “Better close one of my eyes,” he said as he tore his own tunic. Duncan glanced at Roo, who nodded again, and this time Duncan doubled up his fist, drew back, and drove it straight into the man's left eye. He staggered backward and fell
hard against the side of Jacoby's wagon, striking the back of his head. He sat heavily on the ground, and for a moment Roo thought he might lose consciousness, but instead he fell over on his side and started rolling in the dirt. Then, with wobbling knees, he stood up. “One more ought to do it,” he said in hoarse tones.

Roo raised his hand and Duncan held his blow. “When you're discharged by Jacoby, come see me about a position.”

Squinting with his good eye, the driver said, “Who are you?”

“Rupert Avery.”

The man laughed a strangled laugh. “Oh, this is rich. Just the mention of your name makes Tim crap in his trousers. No one knows what it was you done to him, but he's got some major hate for you, Mr. Avery.”

Roo said, “The feeling is mutual. He killed my partner.”

Jeffrey said, “Well, I'd heard rumors, but that was all. Now, if we could get this over with, I'll be along after I lay low a bit, and then I'll be talking to you about that job.”

Roo nodded and Duncan unleashed a heavy blow, striking Jeffrey hard enough to lift him off his heels. The man turned in the air as he fell again, this time not rising. Duncan leaned over and looked at the unconscious man. “He knows how to take it, that's for certain. He'll live.”

“He's tough enough,” said Roo. “And even if I don't hire him, I want to know as much as he does about how the Jacobys operate.”

Duncan said, “Well, we'd better be along before a
patrol rides by. Might be difficult to explain all this.”

Roo nodded. Both men mounted up and Roo headed the wagon down the highway.

The return to Krondor went uneventfully. The only tense moment was when they reached the indicated gate and the soldier inquired about their cargo. Roo asked for Sergeant Diggs by name, and after Roo told him the cargo, the sergeant hesitated a moment before waving them through.

Roo had taken a circuitous route through the city in case they were being followed, and finally reached his own shop. Luis was overseeing the dispatch of four wagons that were to meet with a caravan outside the city and carry goods into the palace. Roo quickly unloaded the goods they had taken from Jacoby's wagon and opened each box for inspection.

As he had suspected, the items involved were all high-tariff. A couple of small boxes contained what appeared to be drugs.

Duncan said, “I'm no expert, but I think those are Dream and Joy. I'm not a user, but I've caught a whiff of them in some of the places I've visited.”

Dream was a drug that induced hallucinations and Joy caused euphoria. Both were dangerous, illegal, and highly profitable. “What do you think boxes like that would be worth?” asked Roo.

Duncan replied, “As I said, I'm no expert, but I think our friend Jeffrey may end up floating in the harbor for letting us boost it from Jacoby. Maybe ten thousand gold. I don't know. I don't even know who you'd sell it to.”

Roo calculated. “Find out, will you. Start with that girl over at the Inn of the Broken Shield,
Katherine. She's a former Mocker and would know if there's an apothecary in the city who would be a discreet buyer.” The other boxes contained some jewelry, probably stolen, as the rubies were.

After Duncan departed, Roo called Jason over from his work desk. “How much gold can we get our hands on in a hurry?”

Jason said, “You want an exact figure or rough?”

“Rough for now.”

“Thirteen, fourteen thousand gold, plus whatever you can raise selling this stuff.”

Roo rubbed his chin as he thought. Prudence dictated he sell the jewelry as far from Queg as possible, lest he run the risk of finding some angry Quegan lord's hired assassin in his bedchamber one night.

Luis came into the room from seeing the wagons leave for the caravanserai, and Roo asked, “Has Erik left yet?”

“Saw him last night at the inn. Why?”

Roo said, “I'll tell you when I get back.” He hurried out of the office, running after Duncan.

Roo glanced around the room and saw that Erik was nowhere in sight. He and Duncan crossed to where the girl Katherine worked, and Roo said, “Has Erik left yet?”

The girl shrugged. “Saw him here last night. Why?”

“I need to talk to him.” To Duncan he said, “See if she can help us, and I'm off to the palace. I'll come back here when I'm done.”

“Good,” said Duncan, slapping his hand on the bar and winking at the girl. “I've a throat full of road
dust and haven't seen a pretty face in weeks.”

Katherine threw him a withering look, but said, “What'll you have to drink?”

“Ale, my lovely,” said Duncan as Roo hurried out of the inn.

It took a few minutes to convince the gate guard to send for Erik. The guard didn't realize whom he was speaking to, as Roo always showed up on a wagon early in the morning, not on foot late in the day.

Erik arrived ten minutes later and said, “What is it?”

“I need to talk to you a minute.”

Erik waved him through the gate and they walked to where they were out of earshot of the other soldiers. “How much gold do you have?” asked Roo.

Erik blinked. “Gold? Why?”

“I need a loan.”

Erik laughed. “For what?”

“I've got this information,” Roo said. “I don't have a lot of time. I need twenty thousand gold pieces. I have maybe fourteen, and can raise another three or four. I just thought I'd see if you wanted to get in on this investment.”

Erik considered. “Well, it's not like I'm going to need a lot of gold where I'm going.”

Roo blinked as realization came to him that he and Erik had already bidden each other good-bye. “When do you leave?”

Erik said, “We sail day after tomorrow, but that's not to be shared with anyone.”

Roo said, “I'm sorry, Erik. I wasn't thinking. You have a great deal on your mind and a lot to do.”

“Things are pretty much under control, actually.” He stared at Roo a moment. “Important?”

“Very,” said Roo. “I haven't even been home yet.”

“Well, come along.”

He led Roo through the palace to the office of the Chancellor. Duke James's secretary said, “Sir?”

“It occurs to me that I haven't drawn my pay in a while. Could you tell me how much I have on accounts?”

The secretary said, “A moment, sir.” He opened up a larger leather-bound ledger and consulted it.

The inner door opened and Lord James exited his private office suite. “Von Darkmoor,” he said with a nod, then he caught sight of Roo. “Avery? What brings you here? Thinking of enlisting again?”

Roo smiled, despite finding no humor in the remark. But the man was Duke of Krondor, after all. “My lord,” he said in greeting. “No, I was asking my friend for a loan for a business investment.”

James stopped, and his eyes narrowed. “You're seeking investors?”

“Yes,” answered Roo.

The old Duke studied Roo's face a moment, then waved him to follow. “Come in, both of you.”

Once inside, James signaled to Erik to close the door and, when they were alone, sat down. Looking at Roo, he said, “What's the scam?”