Rise of a Merchant Prince (23 page)

“What is it?” demanded Roo.

Duncan said, “It's Helmut. He's been injured.”

Roo said, “Where?”

“He's back at the house. Karli sent me to fetch you.”

Roo said, “Get down!”

Duncan complied and said, “I'll ride back with the wagons.”

Roo nodded, set heels to the horse's flank, and was off at a gallop before the words were out of Duncan's mouth.

Roo nearly ran down a half-dozen people on his mad dash though the city to his partner's house. He found two of his workers outside the door and tossed the horse's reins to one of them, passing the other man as he made his way through the entrance.

Luis was waiting for him and told him, “He was ambushed.”

“How is he?” asked Roo.

Luis shook his head. “Bad. Karli is upstairs with him.”

Roo hurried up the stairs and realized he had never been up to the second floor of the house before. He glanced into one door and saw a small room furnished in a plain fashion, which he guessed was the maid's room. The next was decorated with silk draperies, colorful wall hangings, and warm woolen rugs he guessed it was Karli's room.

He heard her voice as he reached the end of the hall. The door was open, and as he entered the room he saw his business partner lying on a bed, his daughter at his side. Karli was drawn and pale, but she wasn't crying. On the other side of the bed stood a priest of Kilian, Goddess of Farmers, Foresters, and Sailors. As a deity of nature, her priests were reputed to be healers, though often as not, the patient died.

“How is he?” asked Roo.

Karli only shook her head, while the priest said, “He has lost a great deal of blood.”

Roo went to the side of the bed and glanced down at the older man. He looked positively frail! Roo thought with alarm. Where before he had seemed only an older man, now he appeared ancient His head was bandaged, as was his chest.

“What happened?” asked Roo.

“He was attacked last night, outside the city,” said Karli, her voice sounding like a child's. “Some farmers found him in a ditch and brought him in after you had already left for the palace this morning. I sent for the priest and, when he got here, sent Duncan to find you.”

Roo hesitated, then, remembering the lessons taught him by Nakor while they served together,
made a couple of signs in the air and placed his hand upon Helmut's chest. Instantly he felt the connection as energy flowed from his hands.

The priest looked at him and his expression became one of suspicion. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“This is a healing I was taught,” answered Roo.

“Who taught you?” asked the priest.

Rather than try to explain Nakor to anyone, Roo simply said, “A monk of Dala taught me this.”

The priest nodded. “I thought I recognized the reiki.” Shrugging it off, he said, “It can't harm him. It will either help his healing or aid him in leaving this life.”

Turning to Karli, the priest directed, “If he regains consciousness, have him drink the herbs in a warm cup of water. As soon as he can, get him to eat something: a little broth and bread.”

Karli's eyes were suddenly suffused with hope. “Will he live?”

The priest's manner bordered on the brusque, but he kept his voice low as he replied, “I said, ‘If he regains consciousness.' It's the goddess's will.”

Without another word, the priest departed, leaving Karli and Roo alone. Time passed. After nearly an hour of doing what he could for Helmut, Roo removed his hands, which still tingled from the energy he had given the stricken man.

Leaning over, he whispered in Karli's ear, “I'll be back. There are some things I need to see to.”

She nodded as he left the room and went downstairs, to find Duncan and Luis waiting. “How is he?” asked Duncan.

“Not good,” Roo answered. He shook his head,
indicating the old man might not regain consciousness.

“What now?” asked Luis.

Roo said, “Get back to the office and make sure everyone is doing what they're supposed to be.” Luis nodded and departed. To Duncan, Roo said, “Head down to the inns near the gate. See if you can find anyone who knows anything about what happened. Especially see if you can find out who those farmers were that found Helmut. I want to talk to them.”

Duncan said, “You don't think bandits . . .?”

“This close to the city?” replied Roo. “No. I think . . . I don't want to think.” He took his cousin by the arm and moved him toward the door. “I'm so tired I can't see, and this day is only half over.” He sighed. “Find out what you can. I'll be here.”

Duncan patted his cousin on the shoulder and departed. Roo found the maid standing near the kitchen, her distress clearly showing.

“Mary,” said Roo, “bring Karli some tea.” As the girl hesitated, Roo said, “Thank you.” The girl nodded and returned to the kitchen.

Roo mounted the stairs and came to stand behind Karli. He hesitated, then put his hand on her shoulder. “I asked Mary to bring you some tea,” he said.

“Thank you,” she answered, but never took her eyes from her father.

The day passed slowly and as the afternoon shadows lengthened into night, Duncan returned. He had found nothing useful from any of those claiming to know something about the injured man fetched into the city that morning. Roo told him to return to the inns near the gate and start looking for someone spending money freely or boasting about sudden
wealth. Roo had no idea what Helmut might have been carrying back from Darkmoor, but he knew exactly what the items he had taken were worth; whoever had robbed Roo's partner had pillaged Grindle and Avery of more than two thirds of their current net worth. More than a year's profits were gone.

Night came. Mary brought supper, but neither of them ate. They watched the still form of Helmut as he fought for life. His breathing seemed easier—at least, Roo thought so—but through the early hours of night the man barely moved.

Karli dozed, her head on the side of her father's bed, while Roo slept in a chair he had fetched in from the sitting room. He stirred as he heard his name.

Suddenly awake, he came to stand over Karli as Helmut's eyes flickered open. Then he realized it had been the old man speaking his name.

Karli said, “Father!” and leaned over him.

Roo said nothing as the girl embraced her father. The old man whispered and his daughter moved away, “He said your name.”

Roo leaned over. “I'm here, Helmut”

The old man reached out and whispered, “Karli. Care for her.”

Roo glanced back and saw the girl hadn't heard what her father had said. Roo whispered, “I will, Helmut. You have my word on it”

Then the old man whispered a word. Roo stood up and he knew his face had become a mask of outrage, for the girl looked at him and said, “What is it?”

Roo forced himself to calmness and replied, “I'll tell you later.” Glancing down at the old man, whose
eyes were fluttering, he said, “He needs you.”

Karli moved to stand next to her father and took his hand. “I'm here, Father,” she whispered, but the old man had lapsed back into unconsciousness.

Just before dawn, Helmut Grindle died.

* * *

The ceremony was simple, as Roo knew the old man would have wanted. Karli wore the black veil of mourning and watched in silence as the priest of Lims-Kragma, Goddess of Death, pronounced the benediction and then lit the funeral pyre. The inner courtyard of the temple was busy that morning, for a half-dozen funerals were under way. Each was contained in a marked-off area of the temple park, but above the shielding hedges the smoke rising from other flaming biers could be seen.

They waited in silence, Karli, Roo, Duncan, Luis, Mary, and two of the workmen who represented the employees of Grindle and Avery. Roo glanced around and thought to himself that this was a modest enough turnout for a man who had spent his life selling riches to the powerful and influential of the Kingdom. A few notes of condolence from other businessmen had arrived over the last two days, but not one of those nobles who had been among Helmut's best customers had deemed it appropriate to send even a single line of comfort to the merchant's daughter. Roo vowed that when he finally died, the Kingdom's rich and powerful would be in attendance.

When at last the corpse was consumed by flame, Karli turned and said, “Let's go.”

Roo gave her his arm and escorted the girl to a rented carriage. Once she and Mary were inside, he said, “Tradition says I have to stand the employees to a farewell drink. We're doing it at the warehouse. Will you be all right?”

“I'm fine,” Karli said. Despite her pale appearance, her voice was calm and her eyes free of tears. She had finished crying the day before and showed a strength that Roo found surprising.

“I'll be along later,” he said. Then he added, “if you don't mind, that is.”

“I'd like that,” she said with a smile.

Roo closed the carriage door and said, “Driver, take her home.”

Duncan, Luis, and the workmen accompanied Roo in silence as they walked from Krondor's temple square. When they were free of the center part of the city and halfway back to the warehouse, Luis said, “Gods, I hate funerals.”

Duncan said, “I doubt even the priests of the Death Goddess are overly fond of them.”

Roo said, “I'll stink of woodsmoke for a week.”

One of the workers said, “And death.”

Roo threw the man a glance, but nodded. One of the features of the temple of the Death Goddess was the ever-present woodsmoke that hung around the place. Herbs and other scented woods were placed in the fire, but there was always a hint of something else in the fumes, something that Roo would rather not think of. He had smelled enough of it during the sack of Maharta to recognize the stench of burning flesh.

Reaching the warehouse, they entered and found the drivers and other workers standing around.
Several bottles of strong ale were arrayed upon a bench and were quickly opened and passed around. When each man held one, Roo said, “Helmut Grindle. Hard but fair, a good partner, a loving father, and deserving of kindness.”

“May Lims-Kragma be merciful,” said Luis.

They drank to Helmut's memory and talked of him. No one had worked for the man longer than Roo. As successful as Helmut had been, until he had joined forces with Roo he had always operated alone. In less than a year, Roo had more than tripled Grindle's income, and now seven men besides Duncan and Luis worked full time for Grindle and Avery.

Given there was not much history among the men who now worked for Roo, the discussion quickly turned to wondering how the old man had died. Roo listened awhile, then sent the workers home early.

When the workers had gone, Roo held a quick conference with Luis and Duncan, sharing with them what Helmut had said. They discussed what they needed to do, and when at last plans had been made, Roo departed.

He was so filled with anger and dark purpose that he nearly walked past Karli's house. He knocked upon the door, and when Mary opened the door, she instantly stepped aside so that Roo might enter.

Karli had changed from the traditional black clothes of mourning to something that bordered on the festive, a bright blue gown with lace trim. Roo was amazed to find a full dinner waiting and suddenly discovered he was famished.

They ate in near silence. Finally Karli said, “You seem so distant”

Roo blushed and said, “I'm so caught up in my own anger about your father I haven't given any thought to what you must be going through.” He reached across the corner of the table that separated them and took her hand. He gave it a gentle squeeze and said, “I am sorry.”

She returned the squeeze. “No need. I understand.”

They finished eating and Mary cleared the table, while they moved to the sitting room Roo said nothing as she fetched him a brandy, far finer than anything her father had ever served. In a moment of surprisingly strong feeling, Roo said, “Helmut,” held up the goblet a moment in salute, then drank the brandy quickly.

Karli sat and said, “I'm still unable to think that he will not walk through that door in a moment.”

Roo glanced toward the door and nodded. “I understand.” He felt the same way.

Suddenly Karli said, “What am I going to do?”

“What do you mean?” asked Roo.

“With Father gone . . .” Suddenly she was in tears again, and Roo found himself with his arms around her shoulders while she sobbed against his chest.

After a moment he said, “I promised your father I would take care of you.”

Karli said, “I know you meant well, but you don't need to say something you'll be sorry for later.”

Roo said, “I don't understand.”

Karl forced her voice to calmness. “I know Father intended us to marry, Rupert. You're the first of those who came to see him that he took a liking to. But I also know that he was getting on in years and worried about just this circumstance. He never talked to
me, but it was clear that after a while he expected we would simply . . . decide to wed.

“But the business is now yours. You needn't feel any obligation.”

Roo felt as if the room were turning on its side. He didn't know how much of that was the brandy, the long hours, the anger he felt, or his dealing with this strange, often unreadable girl.

“Karli,” he said slowly, “I know your father had plans for us.” He lowered his eyes, “And truth to tell, when I first came here I was ready to court you to win his approval, without thought for you or your feelings.”

“He fell silent a moment, then said, “I don't know if this is something I can explain, but I have come to . . . value you. I find I . . . enjoy the time we spend together. I do feel some obligation to your father, but my feelings toward you are more than that.”

She regarded him a moment, then said, “Do not lie to me, Rupert.”