“It’s lovely, Jamie. Are you sure you won’t change your mind? I hate to think of you sharing a barn with the horses when I’m lying in such luxury.”
Jamie grinned, the creases in his face deepening. I smiled with him, when of a sudden I had a sense of ending upon me; it was unexpected and unwanted, as I felt for the first time a new aspect of what I was doing. I stared at Jamie with the eyes of memory, treasuring this moment. Hadronsstead I had left with joy, lllara held no regrets—but it would be hard, hard to leave Jamie behind. He was the last of my old life, and the best; even before our journey he had been the dearest soul alive to me. Now…I shook myself to hear what he was saying.
“—and if I’m not there, I’ll have no measure of what the other stock are going for.”
“Ah, well. I’m sure you know best,” I said quietly.
He drew breath and I knew he was going to ask what was troubling me; I could not bear that, not just then. I forced myself to smile and mean it. “Oh, and it worked beautifully. The innkeeper never knew what hit him, he was out the door almost before he had time to object. I’ve the best room in the house, it’s—oh, hello,” I said pleasantly, as the man himself arrived with two tankards of ale and a jug.
“The girl will bring yer supper, let her know if you need aught else,” he grumped, and left.
I leaned towards Jamie. “Do you know, I don’t think he likes me.”
Jamie grinned.
Our supper arrived moments later, and the same girl brought it as had fetched me. I smiled at her. “I’m not half so frightening sitting down, am I, lass?”
She smiled back, and with the confidence of her age replied, “No, missus, that you’re not. And I hope ye won’t mind, but I much prefer ye down and quiet to up and singing.”
I had to hit Jamie to get him to stop laughing.
As we ate we spoke of selling the horses. Jamie told me some of the tricks of the fair, where best to take the horses to be seen by the wealthiest buyers, what time to catch the people there, how to drive a hard bargain. “Best leave that to me, for the first few anyway.”
“Jamie, I may not have travelled much, but I’ve been bargaining in the village since I was eight!”
“Illara is no village. There are traders here could sell infant’s clothes to a crone. For the first two, at least, watch me. Then we’ll split up and do the best we can. Deal?” he asked, holding out his hand.
I lifted my palm to my face, country fashion, to spit in it, but he caught my wrist. “The first rule of barter in Illara is not to spit in your hand. The townsfolk think it a terrible insult.”
“Do they still shake hands?” I asked.
“Aye, but just as they are. Deal?”
“Deal,” I replied, extending my hand. I noticed that Jamie shook it twice instead of once. Another wrinkle. Another difference to learn, another culture to be part of. Excitement shivered through me again. How wondrous, to be in Illara at last, with Corlí before me and all my life beyond.
As if he read my mind, Jamie asked, “Will you be leaving soon after the fair?”
“I think so,” I replied, confused by the wildly differing emotions coursing through me. My dreams lay bright before me in the glow of a fireplace I had never known, but the firelight gleamed as well on the face of the one person I loved. This was our last night together, who had never been sundered longer than the month of the fair. And he of all men would know just how I felt. “I’m going to do it, Jamie. I’m going to the Dragon Isle, if it can be done. I’ll seek word of a ship down by the river tomorrow, see if the rivermen know of anyone daring the journey this year. In any case I will be setting off for Corlí as soon as I can. Do you know how long the journey is? I never thought to ask.”
He looked at me, measuring again, and said quietly, “It’s the best part of two months to Corlí if you set out overland. The roads weren’t good the last time I took them, and I don’t expect in these days the old King has done aught about them. I’ve heard no rumour of strife between the lesser nobles on our travels, which bodes well; they aren’t generally inclined to start anything loud and unpleasant with winter coming on. Still, the best and safest roads run by the rivers. If you go that way and ride easy, it’s three weeks to Kaibar where the rivers meet and a little more again to Corlí after.”
Nearly two months! “Is there no faster way, Jamie? The year’s getting old. If they’re going at all I might have four or five weeks at best before they leave. Surely it’s not so far—”
“Trust me. And if it rains it will seem twice that, and it will rain.” He shook his head, a wry smile on his face. “It must be inherited, your mother had no more sense than to set out just before winter either. But there is another way.” He was silent for a moment. “You could go by riverboat in half the time. You’d have to leave your mare, though.”
“Leave Shadow?” I asked, but knew the answer as soon as I said it.
“Or sell her,” replied Jamie. “If you’re going to take the ship you’d have to sell her in Corlí anyway, or find a boarding stable for her until you get back.”
I hadn’t thought that far ahead. That worried me.
But I couldn’t sell Shadow. She was a last link with my past, and somehow I couldn’t bear to part with her.
“Jamie—will you take her back with you? She can carry your pack, and”—Jamie was smiling—“oh, very well. I can’t bear to think of her here in Illara when she belongs at home. I’ll come and get her when I get back and I’ll tell you all about my adventures. Deal?” I put out my hand.
Jamie took it; I shook twice and let go.
He laughed. “You’ll do fine, my girl. Keep your wits this sharp and none can stand against you.” He drained his tankard and stood up, yawning. “I’m off. We’ve an early start tomorrow. Mind you come well before dawn to help us groom the horses for the sale.” I nodded. He leaned over and kissed my brow. “Good night to you then, Lanen Kaelar.”
I grinned up at him. “Good night, you old bandit.”
“Less of the old,” he said, miming a blow to my head. I ducked obediently under it as he went out the door.
I sat quietly and finished my drink, staring into the fire. I never heard a thing until a voice behind me said, “Good even, lady. I see your companion has left, as has mine. I hate to drink alone. Might I join you?”
That voice.
It was the most thrilling sound in the world. That voice belonged to the man of my dreams—of any woman’s dreams—light and in the middle range, so musical it might have been singing the words, but with a slight drawl that spoke promise of long slow nights of pleasure. I could not have ignored it to save my soul.
I turned in a daze. Before me stood a tall thin man with fair golden-red hair, eyes the green of spring grass and a nose like a fine hawk. He was fair enough to look at, but nothing could possibly match that voice.
“Of course,” I answered, trying to keep my own voice steady. “Please—” I gestured to the chair across from mine.
He sat down beside me, his movements graceful as a cat. “I thank you, lady. Let me refresh your drink.” He gestured to the innkeeper. “Are you here for the fair?” he asked, and smiled.
“Y-yes, yes, I’ve brought horses. To sell. Tomorrow.” I stammered. I had been wrong. There was something that could match that voice, and it was his smile. It changed his nice-enough face to one of startling beauty and appeal. I was smitten like the greenest girl. I closed my eyes and tried to get my thoughts together. “My friend and I sell Hadron’s horses tomorrow,” I said, managing not to sound like a village idiot. But I couldn’t keep my eyes closed, not with that face so close.
“Hadron’s horses? Ah, my luck is still with me. I am seeking a mare for…light riding. Have you any suggestions?”
I gathered my thoughts this time before I spoke.
“There’s a little chestnut with a lovely smooth pace. She’s really a lady’s mare, though, not strong enough for you.”
He smiled again. “Ah, b
ut she would be for a lady. Now,” he said, leaning on his elbow, his face so close to mine we were almost touching. “What sort of a bargain might I strike with you?”
I nearly fainted. It was all I could do not to lean over—such a little way!—and kiss him then and there. His voice transformed all his words into purest seduction, no matter their real import. My heart was pounding. I forced myself to look away from those laughing grass-green eyes.
It was hard to deny him anything, even my own glance, but somehow that made it easier to think.
“I’m sorry, sir, but you will have to come to the fair like all the others. Though I will let you know which is the mare I’m thinking of.” I turned back to him. He was sitting upright again in his chair, removed to a safe distance (thank the Lady!). Though if the opportunity arose again I didn’t think I would have the strength to resist.
It struck me suddenly, despite the thrill of the encounter, that I was feeling and thinking things that had never occurred to me before—at least, not so swiftly. It frightened me. I stood, heart pounding.
“Your pardon, sir, but I have been awake since well before dawn and must rise earlier still in the morning. I hope to see you tomorrow at the fair.”
“Then I shall bid you good night, lady, for I will certainly see you tomorrow,” he said, his voice a gentle purr. He took my hand in his and kissed it.
I felt that kiss shoot along my nerves like raw lightning. I gasped with the power of it. He smiled that glorious smile at me, his eyes alight with good humour and laughter. It took all my strength to pull away and hurry up the stair; I felt his eyes follow me all the way.
For the first time since I left Hadronsstead, I did not dream of Dragons.
The horse grounds were busy when I arrived, an hour before dawn. I found Jamie and the lads already at work and, muttering a subdued “Good morning,” took up a curry comb and got to it. By the time we finished the sun was well up and there were a good few folk about. Ours were not the only beasts for sale, of course, but once people heard these were Hadron’s horses they crowded round, asking us all questions, admiring the horses, watching as the hands took each one for a walk and a little warm-up, showing them off to best advantage. The horses gleamed in the morning light, and the grounds were crowded with buyers and sellers. Jamie left me inside the ring and clambered up on a tall stump near a grassy spot that he had picked as a good place to gather buyers. He winked at me and began crying aloud, “Hadron’s horses! Hadron’s horses! Now or never, my lords and ladies! Come and buy! Come and buy! Hadron’s horses!”
I had to laugh. I had no idea anyone could shout that loud, let alone Jamie. And it worked wonderfully. I decided I had missed more than my childhood longing for travel by not being allowed on one of these trips before; Hadron’s was a name to conjure with here. There was a large crowd around us in no time.
“The first to go will be this bay mare, my lords and ladies,” said Jamie, only a touch softer than before, to the crowd that had gathered. He gestured, and one of our lads started walking the mare around the ring while Jamie described her and made the most of her good points. He finished with “She’s four years old, the best of Hadron’s breeding stock, with a sweet mouth and a cheery way about her, and she’ll run with a light load well into tomorrow. Now, what am I bid for Hadron’s bay mare?”
There was a chorus of voices, and in the end the mare went for twice what I knew she was worth. The next was much the same, and the crowd had grown even larger. “Change of plan, my girl,” Jamie said to me quietly. “We’ll make our fortune today. I’ve never seen folk more eager for Hadron’s stock.” His eyes twinkled. “Perhaps they heard that Hadron has died, and there is no son to carry on his work.” I was appalled, and Jamie laughed. “I never said there was no daughter or sister’s son. It’s all part of the game, my girl. Now I’ll do the next few, until my voice gives out, then you take over. Mind you let them bid till they’re tired and goad them on when they flag. We’ll do well today.” In his chapman’s voice he cried loudly, “Have a good look and choose your favorite. Shame to take second best, my lords and ladies! Hadron’s stock, the finest in all of Ilsa, in all the Four Kingdoms of Kolmar! Choose your favorite, my lords and ladies!”
I watched in awe as the next two went for the same kind of sum the first two had. Amazed at Hadron’s riches? Amazed now that he was not more wealthy, the prices were incredible. When the fourth went, Jamie called me to him. “I’m getting hoarse,” he said, getting a laugh from those closest. “Your go. Do me proud.” He sat down and left me to it.
If the crowd had thinned, I couldn’t tell the difference. I stood gathering my thoughts, looking out over the people who watched the handsome grey gelding in the ring, and after a short while I found myself scanning the intent faces for a particular one, hawk-nosed, fair-haired…and that’s enough of that, Lanen my girl, I thought. I cleared my throat and stepped up onto the stump. “Very well, my lords and ladies,” I cried, as loudly as I could. It was harder than I thought to make that much noise. “Next is this lovely grey gelding. Four years old, broken to harness and saddle, what am I bid?”
In deference to the change of auctioneer, someone shouted a ridiculously low figure and the others laughed.
Right.
“That’ll get you his left foreleg, sir, what’ll you bid for the rest of him?” The laugh was louder this time—the one who had spoken joined in—and the real bidding started.
After half an hour my voice was starting to go. Jamie and I took it in turns, until by the time we were down to the last it was my go, and Jamie’s purse was full near to bursting. Most astonishing of all, it now held not only a river of silver, but several gold coins as well. Gold, the rarest and most precious of metals, and I had held one. It seemed unreal.
Jamie grinned at me. “I’m off to put this somewhere safe. You sell this last little lass and collect the fee, and I’ll be back before you can count it.”
The last to go was the little chestnut mare I had told the fair-haired man about. I had saved her for him. I scanned the remaining faces. Many had left, but when I glanced over them he was nowhere in sight. I gestured to the lad who was walking her sedately around the ring, and he brought her to a standstill. “This is the last, my lords and ladies,” I said. I tried to speak loudly, but my voice was almost gone. I described her qualities as best I could, finishing with “She’s three and a half years old, strong and willing, the prettiest lady’s mare you’d wish to find. The lightest touch will send her where you want to go, and kindness is her best spur. Now, what am I bid?”
The bidding started high, as those who were left knew this was the last of Hadron’s stock to be sold. It reached its limit soon enough, and I was about to announce the bargain struck when a light, melodious man’s voice rang out, sending shivers down my back and naming a price full five silvers above the last call. It met with a stunned silence, and after repeating the sum three times, I called out, “Deal! Come forward, sir, if you please.”
The crowd dissolved like morning mist, and there he stood. He was smiling that heart-pounding smile and holding out a purse. By the time I had counted out his silver—a ludicrous sum for the mare, good as she was—all the other buyers were gone. The lad brought her over and tied her to a post on the buyer’s side of the ring, then left to enjoy himself.
I had been trying to think of something to say to this man after I was certain he’d paid the bidding price, counting slowly to let my fool heart slow down and my tongue unknot.
“You’ve quite a bargain even at this, my lord,” I managed, giving the little mare a farewell pat and carefully not looking at him. “She’s a good lass with a sweet temper—”
“You can stop now,” he said cheerfully, “I’ve already paid for her.” He reached out a long-fingered hand and took the reins from me. “I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
I couldn’t avoid looking at him, so close. By daylight he seemed older—the sun found wrinkles the firelight had hidden—but the glamour a
bout him was in no way changed or lessened. Indeed, it seemed that a touch of age sat well on his shoulders, adding an air of wisdom. His eyes perched above that sharp nose seemed only a moment away from laughter. I had to ask.
“Are you a bard, my lord?”
He did laugh then. It was like birdsong. “What a lovely thing to say! No, mistress, I’m no bard, just a Merchant with delusions of grandeur. I was told to find a good lady’s riding steed, and I believe this mare of yours will suit perfectly.”
I barely heard what he said, lost in the perilous music of that voice. “I’m glad you found what you sought. I—I never thanked you for the drink last night,” I said. “And I fear I left rudely. I hope you will excuse me, I was so weary…”
“Rather I should ask your pardon, mistress—I know not what to call you. Might I ask your name?”
“I am Lanen Hadronsdatter,” I said. It was my old name, but in my confusion I forgot the newer one I had taken. “And you?”
“Bors of Trissen,” he said. “I am a lowly trader for a great merchant house in the East Mountain Kingdom. Surely, Lanen Hadronsdatter, the youth that abandoned us just now is not your only escort. Who accompanies you?”
“My father’s steward, Jameth of Arinoc. He should be back at any moment.”
“I would like to meet him,” said Bors, sounding as if he truly meant it. He smiled at me again. “Have you ever been to Illara before, Lanen?”
“No,” I said, and something made me add, “I’ve never been away from home before.”
“Ah, so that is why you take everything in with those wide grey eyes of yours. It would be my pleasure to show you the fair,” said Bors. I longed to say yes, but hunger and weariness had caught up with me; I would have accepted even then, but I caught sight of Jamie coming towards me and waved to him. Bors, watching, quickly collected up his little mare. “I’ll be wandering round the fair this afternoon; perhaps we will meet then,” he said softly. He made a simple walk round the fair sound wondrous desirable.