Burning Tower (17 page)

T
he wagon train came down the river valley. Condigeo was spread out ahead of them. A low wall with gates stretched across the valley between them and the city. Where the city was elegant, the wall was crude, made of newly turned earth and stones and green wood. The road they were on was high enough that they could see beyond the wall to the city itself.

The city of Condigeo was built in two parts. There was a cluster of buildings large and small on lowlands around the docks and wharves. Beyond the docks were channels cutting through swamps until they reached the sea. High above the lower city was a line of great houses on a bluff. They all faced west, looking across the lower city and its docks to the ocean. The city and harbor were much larger than Lord's Town, but what really caught Burning Tower's eye were the houses on the bluff above.

“They're grand!” Burning Tower said. “If I hadn't seen Lordshills I'd think that the grandest sight I've ever seen.”

“There's a couple pretty big even for Lordshills,” Chalker said. “Great view of the sunset too.” He frowned. “They got some kind of troopers up there too. No chariots, but there's men with spears.”

Clever Squirrel rode up to the lead wagon. “Circle,” she said.

“But we just got here,” Tower protested. “Why?”

“We'll find out when we need to, my lady,” Chalker said. He looked to Sandry and got a nod, made hand signals to Peacevoice Fullerman. Trumpets sang out.

 

Fallen Wolf gestured for them to sit inside the wagon circle. When they were all there, Green Stone came out. He was wearing his best clothes, buckskins painted with symbols, a great feathered serpent with malachite green eyes dominant on his chest.

He looks splendid!
Burning Tower thought. It was the first time she had really thought of her brother as a Feathersnake Wagonmaster.

Green Stone spoke conversationally, his voice audible inside the wagon circle but not beyond. “I called you here because there's something different ahead,” he said. “Fallen Wolf.”

“I've been here many times,” Fallen Wolf said. “And there wasn't never a wall across the valley there, no gates, no troopers on watch. Every time before, we get this close to Condigeo, there's wagons with merchants and greeters, maybe one or two armed shoremen, but that would be it. Now they got a wall, and marines—that's what they call their soldiers—and look up there on the bluff where the Captains live. There's more of them marines watching us. Not like Condigeo used to be.”

Green Stone nodded grimly. “Feathersnake has property in the city. A warehouse at the docks, and a hospitality office. They know who we are, they know we belong here, but nobody's come out to welcome us. I'm going in to find out why.”

“Shall I come with you, Wagonmaster?” Sandry asked.

“Thanks, but I think not. I don't think we'll need your army to get out of here, but if we do, they'll sure need you!”

“Stone!” Burning Tower blurted out the name, realized she was babbling, but no one else would ask him. “You can't mean that—Condigeo turned bandit?”

He wagged his head. “Don't know, Burning Tower. I don't know anything except that this isn't what you call a proper welcome.” He smiled. “I'm sure it will be all right, but if this is the way they welcome us, they can't blame us for not just rushing in.”

“Let me drive him in, My Lord,” Chalker said. “I'll use Younglord Maydreo's chariot and team so you'll have yours. I can bring in the Wagonmaster in style, so to speak.”

“Good idea,” Sandry said. “If that's acceptable, Wagonmaster?”

Green Stone looked pleased. “Generous of you, Lord Sandry.”

“Good,” Sandry said. “And with your permission, Wagonmaster—Fullerman, full armor, but polished. I want the troops looking like they're on parade. Whane, that makes you my spearman until the Wagonmaster gets back.”

Green Stone nodded.

“Chalker, I'll need my armor too. Maydreo can help me dress. Then I want all the Younglords in armor.”

“Ours won't be polished,” Whane said, “sir.”

“Mine won't either,” Sandry said. He turned to Green Stone. “I haven't had the charioteers in armor because that slows the chariots down, and against birds speed is more important than protection.”

“Against birds,” Green Stone said.

“Yeah. And we'll want bowcases and arrows too.”

“Bows,” Green Stone said thoughtfully.

Sandry nodded grimly. “Bows aren't much use against birds. Hard to get through the feathers, and they move too fast to hit them at any range.”

“Against birds. But good against men.”

Burning Tower felt a chill. She'd never seen Sandry this way before. A warrior commander, grim. And all his men looked the same way, determined.

Green Stone frowned. “All right, armor and bows. But all of you listen. They're acting scared in there. Scared of us, which doesn't make any sense, but it sure means we don't give them any reason to be scared of us.” He grinned, tried to seem friendly. “When we get inside, no shortchanging the customers. Don't promise more than you have. Make them glad they bought from you. And I don't have to say
No gathering
.” He came over to Burning Tower. “You're the family member in charge, then,” he said. “Lord Sandry, if anything happens here, get her home to her father. Lordsman Chalker, if you're ready, I guess I am.”

 

Burning Tower clambered atop the wagon nearest the Condigeo gates and watched as Chalker drove her brother toward the city. Green and orange feathers fluttered from the spears in the spearcase, and a terror bird head topped the longest spear.

“All those spears,” she said.

Sandry looked up with a grin. “Throwing spears with feathers tied on, thrusting spear with a bird's head on it. Even an idiot can see this is for show.”

“Oh.”

Sandry nodded. “But an idiot can also see that those are real spears, and that's not the only war chariot we have.” He touched his bowcase. “And we are the Lords of Lordshills. They've heard of us.”

Aha.
And Peacevoice Fullerman's men were in shining armor, but it was armor, and they marched in perfect step, trained men. She watched as the Younglords strained to string their bows. The bows were odd looking, curved the wrong way, nothing like the simple bows Tower had seen among people along the Hemp Road. “Chalker didn't take a bow,” she said.

“He's a Lordsman, not a Lord,” Sandry said absently.

“Don't Lordsmen use bows?”

“No.” Sandry hesitated. “Lords only,” he said. “Chalker's got spears and a shield. Better at close quarters anyway.”

She nodded in agreement, although she didn't really understand.
And once Rocky gets inside those gates…

The gates swung open. Someone in a bright red jacket came out of a guardhouse to speak with Green Stone. Tower couldn't hear what he said, but the chariot drove inside. The gates swung closed.

And up on the bluff above them, a dozen armed men looked down on the wagon train. Gulls wheeled overhead.

I
t was two hours past noon when the gates opened again. Chalker and Green Stone rode out. Their chariot was followed by wagons, decorated wagons. Girls perched on the sides of the lead wagon. There was no sign of armed men.

Green Stone was gesturing. Fallen Wolf watched, and turned to Burning Tower. “He's signaling to move into line and go into town, Mistress. Shall I?”

It looked all right. She turned to Sandry. “What do I do?”

Sandry was watching from the lead wagon. “All's well. See how Chalker is standing? He'd have a different pose if there was something wrong.”

She nodded to Fallen Wolf.

“Heads up. Move out!”

Sandry turned to Peacevoice Fullerman. “Sound stand down,” he shouted. He grinned at Burning Tower. “So it's all right after all.”

She answered his smile with her own, glad to be near him.

 

Green Stone rode near her in the lead wagon. “Get ready to put on a show when we get to the Feathersnake office buildings,” he called.

“But what—?”

“No time. Put on Mother's costume, that'll wow 'em. Lead us into town, Lordsman!”

Chalker was grinning like a Lordkin.

Sandry drove his chariot behind Green Stone. The other chariots followed, then Peacevoice Fullerman with his troops in their shining armor. All the wagoneers were grinning. Feathers and bright cloths appeared. Girls rode one-horns bareback. The wagon train became a parade before they reached the gates.

They rode through the gates and down toward the harbor. People came out of their houses to watch them. Whane waved to the crowd, caught a thrown bunch of grapes, and shared them. Some cheered, then more, and before they reached the docks the streets were lined with cheering people. Others fell in behind them to follow the wagon train. Tower dashed into her wagon. She quickly put on her mother's costume, the one made from terror bird feathers. As soon as they reached Feathersnake Square, she shouted to her assistants. “Get the poles up!”

They set up her tightrope. She climbed to the top and grinned down to Sandry. “Catch.”

“Sure, if you give me a minute to get out of this corselet.” He let Chalker strip off the heavy leather and bronze armor, then moved to be under Burning Tower, to catch her if she fell, and they both remembered another time….

And that drew a bigger crowd. She ran along the tightrope and did somersaults until curiosity overcame her and she spiraled down the standing pole to applause.

Sandry and Green Stone caught up with her inside the Feathersnake offices.

“All right,” she demanded. “All right!”

“Yes, it is,” Green Stone said. “It was the birds.”

“Birds?”

“Yes. This is the first wagon train to get here in weeks. The birds drove the others off. Condigeo has been cut off from inland for more than a month.”

“So why were they suspicious of us?” Tower demanded. “Oh!”

“Yep. They saw all those feathers—they thought maybe we owned the birds,” Green Stone said. “Once we set them straight on that, it was the biggest welcome we ever got.”

“Which settles one question the council had,” Sandry said.

“Sandry?” Tower asked.

“Whether Condigeo was sending the birds,” Sandry said. “Think on it. We're negotiating trade treaties with the Captains; it was possible they were using the birds to help their trading position.”

Green Stone grinned. “I think your council has a lot to learn about trading,” he said, and chuckled. “Think of the cost! But the birds are coming from the east. I found that much out already.”

The Captains of Condigeo met in a large roofed pavilion near the sea. The walls could be removed, and some of them had been, so that there was plenty of light without torches. Thirteen Captains sat on a high dais at a curved table. Parallel and a step below them was another curved table with clerks. Marines in scarlet tunics, shields brightly polished, stood along one wall.

The center of the room was tiled, with a table for those having business with the council. Behind that were seats for the public. Half of Condigeo seemed to be crowded into the building.

There was another pavilion just beyond the council chambers. This one was smaller, roofed, but also open on the sides, filled with long tables. Enticing smells came from a kitchen on the docks behind the banqueting hall.

Twelve of the thirteen Captains stood as Green Stone led a dozen of his wagoneers and guests into the chamber. The thirteenth was hoisted onto the council table by two burly marines. His legs were mere stumps, but it didn't seem to bother him. “Welcome, Green Stone of Feathersnake!”

“We thank you, Commodore Pergammon,” Green Stone said in fluent Condigeo. “I present my sister, Burning Tower of Feathersnake. Our friend and ally Lord Sandry of Lordshills and Yangin-Atep's City. The Wise One Clever Squirrel.”

“Welcome all,” Pergammon said. Pergammon was thickly bearded, and his dark eyes darted over them, daring anyone to notice that he was set on the tabletop rather than standing behind it. He gestured toward the banqueting hall. “A feast is being prepared. We trust you will join us.”

“With great pleasure,” Green Stone said. He beckoned, and three wagoneers came in with bundles. “And it is our pleasure to offer you these gifts.”

Bundles of green and orange feathers, including sword-wings from the terror birds. Burning Tower suppressed a smile. That message was clear enough.
We have these, and we can get more. We don't hide behind walls. We go where we choose, and if the birds get in our way, it's too bad for the birds.

The captains all bowed. Pergammon introduced them in turn, his marine attendants turning him toward each captain as he was introduced, but there were too many for Burning Tower to remember. They were all different, but there was something about them that was the same, a stance and an attitude. They were all stout men, well fed but not fat, and their eyes never rested in the same place for long. Pergammon stood out even among that company. When he spoke, everyone listened.

“Impressive,” Sandry muttered.

Burning Tower nodded. And everyone in the big room had stood when the captains stood. Everyone, including cripples and children, and they were all quiet when any of their leaders spoke.

“We thank you,” Pergammon said. “I don't mind telling you, those birds had us worried.” He looked to his fellow captains. “We're masters of the sea, but it's a long way by water to the inner seas. Protection bets grow more costly with each voyage. Can you open the Golden Road again?”

“We can try,” Green Stone said. “That will be costly.”

Protection bets?

Pergammon fingered his beard. “Indeed. Well, perhaps between us we can afford the cost. We can discuss the details later. For now, there's a banquet, and Condigeo welcomes you!”

The room exploded in applause and shouts.

 

They seated Burning Tower with the women. Other tables held both men and women, but not the captains. The captains' table held only men, including Green Stone and Sandry. Peacevoice Fullerman and his men sat with a group of marines, and the Younglords and Lordkin were seated at another table with well-dressed young men and women. Burning Tower found herself next to a richly dressed lady twice her age. She glittered with jewels, and Tower wasn't surprised when she was introduced as Pearl, wife of First Captain Granton. The First Captain was deputy to Commodore Pergammon. No one was introduced as Pergammon's wife.

“We're so glad to see you,” Pearl said. “I was really getting worried when the wagon trains stopped.” She fingered her cheeks. “Wrinkles. I feel them. They don't show yet, but another few weeks…” She touched her large turquoise earrings. “But there, you'll get through and I can charge these again, and everything will be fine. Aren't you going to open your present?”

She indicated an ornate small box on Tower's plate. It seemed to have a tricky fastening, and the women all watched with wry amusement as Tower tried to puzzle it out.

“The silver stud,” Pearl said. “Press that.”

The stud moved inward at her touch. There was a sensation, warmth and something else, in her thumb. She felt her skin tingle. The box opened, to reveal a small bit of polished stone shaped like a tower. Tiny carnelian flames ringed the stone tower. The tower stone had grain and looked like wood, but it was stone to the touch.

Petrified wood, refined, polished, and, from the sensations she felt, charged with magic. Burning Tower couldn't imagine the price of such a thing. Her mother had a similar charm box, but not carved to her naming vision. They must have done this quickly. But how?

“It's wonderful!” Tower said. “Oh, I thank you!”

Pearl looked pleased. “I'm glad you like it. You don't know about these?”

Tower felt bewildered. “No, Pearl.”

“I'm sorry, I thought you would. It's magic, of course. Close the box without touching the stud. Don't touch it again until you're ready to use it; there's still enough charge. Next time you use it, be with your man, kiss him while you feel the glow. Not that you need a glamour.”

“Not now,” an older lady said. “I'm Grandin, Captain Wartin's wife. You don't need that charm now, but there comes a time when we all do.”

Tower grinned. “You don't! And I hope this will long be useless before I need it.”

“Oh, it will never be useless,” Grandin said. “You can get it recharged just the way Pearl gets her earrings charged.”

“Oh. We don't deal much in magic,” Burning Tower said. “But Clever Squirrel will know about these things. She's Coyote's daughter.”

“Umm. Impressive,” Grandin said. “Pity they sat her with our Wise Ones. It would be fun to talk with her. Pearl?”

“Well, I thought she'd want to be with them,” Pearl said. “And, well, they can tell us what they learn!”

Tower grinned. “I'm sure they'll learn something, but Squirrely may learn more than they do.”

Grandin's eyes wrinkled in laughter. “Coyote's daughter. I expect so! We had a girl here who was Jaguar's daughter, but she went south and never came back. We see a little of Coyote, but of course we're mostly in Cormorant territory.”

“Does Jaguar come here?” Burning Tower asked.

Pearl shrugged. “I've never seen him, but I've never seen Coyote.”

“I've heard they avoid each other,” Grandin said. “Jaguar and Coyote, they don't fight, but they don't share either.”

Dinner was all seafood. Fried strips of something delicious that Tower later learned was squid. Three kinds of fish, each in a different sauce, one wrapped in seaweed. Crystal glasses, with three kinds of wine. Tower tried to be careful of how much she drank, but she still felt the glow from the box, and whenever she sipped at any of the wines, someone came up behind her and refilled the glass, so it was impossible to tell how much she was drinking. And it tasted wonderful.

Across the room, Sandry and Green Stone were engaged in earnest conversation with the captains, particularly the legless Pergammon, who sat at the center of the table, his marine guards at rigid attention two paces behind him. Tower wished she could listen. Sandry looked handsome in his dress tunic. From time to time, he looked over at her and smiled when he caught her eye.

Pearl began to tell her about the fish and the mer people who caught them.

“I saw mers at Avalon,” Tower said excitedly.

“Yes, a wonderful place, especially in spring,” Pearl said. “Do you go there often?”

“Just once.”

“Only once! Well, you should do something about that! It's a wonderful, magical place. And now, of course, it's going to stay that way.”

“No more magic exports from Avalon,” Grandin said. “None at all. And with those birds blocking us from the east, we're going to be in real trouble. Or would be. But I'm sure it will be all right now.” She smiled at Tower.