108 – Everyone meets everyone else

  Karen and Roxanne moved through the crowds. They had no trouble moving around the city, though Karen had taken them on a circuitous route from the southern district they had spent the night in, to a main road and then east to the market and trader’s district. Karen wore a puffy sleeved blouse, with a leather bodice, and a loose cloth skirt that went most of the way down to her feet. Under that, she had boots. She had a small coin purse at her belt, with a utility knife next to it. Earlier, Rox had seen that there was a wrist knife on Karen’s left arm, completely covered by the long sleeves.

  Rox was odd enough sized, compared to the locals, that she had to put her apprentice costume back on, and a cloak over it, keeping her staff underneath. She could have produced something from a pouch in her briefs, but decided not to. An elfin dress would attract too much attention here. The cloak was enough, for the most part.

  About lunch time they entered the market, and went to the tavern where Rox, Steven, and Caspian had arranged to meet. The women paused a moment in the doorway as their eyes adjusted to the dimmer light inside. Looking around, Rox spotted Steven sitting at a table, eating some food.

  “There he is.” Rox moved across the room, and sat down next to Steven.

  He looked up in mid-chew. A sigh of relief escaped him, as he finished his bite. He put his knife down, and took Rox’s hand in his.

  Rox was very slightly surprised as Karen sat on the third chair at the table. “Steven, this is Karen. I spent the night at her place. Karen, this is my husband Steven.”

  “Pleased to meet you.” Steven tilted his head in acknowledgement.

  “Thank you.” Karen looked at the plate of food. Steven was only a few bites in. “The food here is good. But I know where you can get better. And the atmosphere is more conducive to conversation.”

  Steven took another bite and looked at Rox.

  “I think we should at least hear her out, Steven. She has told me a bunch already, and may be able to help us.”

  Steven finished chewing, giving Rox a look of concern. He wanted to speak, but was being polite and finishing his food before doing so. Then the waiter came up.

  “How is everything, sir? Fine. Can I get you two ladies something?” He turned his attention to Rox and Karen sitting across from each other, on either side of Steven.

  Karen spoke first. “No. We could use his bill please. We need to be elsewhere quickly.”

  The waiter looked quickly around the table. “Very well. I will be right back.”

  Steven had two more bites in silence before the waiter returned. He presented a slip of paper with the total which Karen snapped up, and a sheet of waxed paper to wrap Steven’s food in. Karen produced some coins and gave them back with the ticket. Steven’s plate was scraped carefully onto the paper. The food was then quickly wrapped to travel.

  “Thank you. Come again.” The waiter took the money and dishes away as the Caplan’s got up and followed Karen out the door.

  “What about Caspian?” Steven asked Rox as he followed them.

  “He can find us as he needs to.” Karen answered.

  Rox and Steven shared a look at Karen's answer, but still followed her. They went to the street, where Karen flagged down a carriage, with the top folded down. The footman got the door for the three, as Karen spoke to the driver.

  “Through Pentalon Park, to the Garmad district, and the Bloody Daggers Tavern.”

  The driver nodded in response. Karen turned and sat down on the front seat facing Rox and Steven as they climbed in and sat down; Steven sat opposite Karen on the right side of the coach, with Rox at his left. As they sat Caspian climbed in, and the footman closed the door. Caspian sat down on the coach’s left, next to Karen, and put his staff between him and outside of the carriage, the other end between Rox and the side of the carriage.

  “The Bloody Daggers? That does not sound safe.” Caspian settled in as the carriage began moving. He looked Karen over, her brown hair that went down below her shoulders. Her brown eyes, and attractive features, her local costume over a fit figure. The way she held herself set Caspian’s nerves on edge.

  Karen thought to herself ‘that’s all of them. And he is the target. This may take a bit of work.’

  Rox began to explain what was going on.

  Karen thought to herself; she had quickly sized up Steven as a fighter, and on guard, as opposed to when she had trailed him around a few days prior. Rox was a mystery, as she vibrated from vulnerable to guarded. The wizard looked like a person used to danger nearby, and able to handle it.

  Caspian turned to the driver. “Can we close the roof? We would like a bit of privacy to talk.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Shortly the top was unfolded and secured without stopping, then the sides were rolled down.

  The carriage left the market and onto the thoroughfare, that would take them to Pentalon Park. They passed the warehousing that supported the market, and the residential area around that. Karen listened as the three talked. Roxanne told of her getting in the fight at the castle. Then hooking up with Karen and leaving. She asked a bit about her eyesight and seeing heat, and Caspian explained some finer points, so far as he knew. Rox then finished telling about the house, and the conversation she had with Karen there and as they walked. Steven then told Rox of their activities in the castle and Caspian guessing about her leaving in a hurry. Once out they looked for her a bit, but could not find her. Steven had wanted to look more, but Caspian felt they should wait to see if she would show up. So they went back to the inn. This morning Caspian went to wander around to see if he could find her. Steven went to wait at the prearranged place. And now they had all met up again. Steven then thanked Karen for her help to Roxanne.

  “You are welcome.” Karen looked out the window as they passed into the park. They went from an urban setting into a near forest. Karen waited a moment and then turned to Caspian. “Wizard. Summon your familiar. I have a task for it.”

  Caspian looked at her a moment. “Ok.” Caspian took hold of his staff, and looked out the window for a moment. His look was focused far away.

  “What is the task?”

  “I need it to get a book, from my library.” Karen kept herself closed, not sensing any magic yet.

  “He will be here in a moment. You have been watching us, if you know I have a familiar.” Caspian did not yet want to try magic, in this close a space, without first feeling what kind of reaction it might get.

  Karen did not answer Caspian’s observation on her behavior and knowledge. “Do you all know why the children were kidnapped?”

  Steven answered this. “Because of a prophecy naming them as harbingers of some nasty person.”

  “The Chaos Bringer. Do you know of any other reason?”

  “Beyond that one specific prophecy, not much.”

  Cyrril fluttered through the window just then. He landed on Caspian’s knees, and looked around. He focused on Karen for a moment, sniffing and licking his nose a bit like a cat. Karen looked intently at Cyrril, and pointed her finger at him. Caspian’s head jerked a bit to look at Karen in some surprise. Cyrril gave her his whole attention.

  “I have a job for you. Go to my library, get the book with the brown leather cover, and bring it and all its contents to me undisturbed. Understand?” Karen concentrated fully on Cyrril.

  Cyrril looked at Caspian, turned to Karen, and then back to Caspian. He then leaped back out the window.

  “Until he comes back, there is no point in conversing further, on this subject. Let’s open this heat box back up.” Karen flipped the lever on the roof frame.

  The top was stowed as the carriage came to the central loop through the park. This loop circled a large pond that was fed by one of the tributaries of the Krogg River that ran through the city. The traffic all went in a counterclockwise direction and the carriage moved into the traffic. Suddenly a voice spoke at them from the carriage’s left, as another carriage pulled in beside them, on the inside track from theirs.

  “Karen Konsalva. How are you? Who are your guests?”

  They turned to look, and Karen sat forward to see across Caspian. The voice came from the lone occupant of the passenger seat in a well kept coach. The driver skillfully kept the coaches lined up, evidently having done this quite a bit.

  Karen recognized the passenger, and had to quickly scan her companions to answer, and also think over her conversation with Rox this morning. “Lady Hedarra. I am fine. These are travelers from elsewhere. The couple is from the Sierra Mountains. And the gentleman is from the Silvona lowlands. They are traveling to see the world.”

  Caspian wondered how Karen knew that. He had only briefly mentioned where he was from to Steven once or twice, and did not remember whether he had ever told Rox. He figured that Rox must have said something to Karen. Steven was also quietly looking at Rox, who kept a straight face.

  “From Silvona, and Sierra. That is quite a way away. I hope you find our city to your liking. Ms. Konsalva, did you hear about what happened at the palace last night?”

  “Bits and pieces. I was not in the room when it happened. So far I have heard four different versions.” Karen kept and even straighter face than Rox. As they had walked the city, Karen had deliberately not asked what had happened at the ball the night before. Of course people were too happy to gossip.

  “Well, I saw some if it. But then the crowd was moved away by the palace guards. It looked like there was a body on the ground. I heard that a guest of The King got into a fight with another magus over some magic nonsense, and ended up in a contest trying to prove each other wrong.”

  “Is that so? That is a new one.” Karen expressed some mild surprise.

  “Oh, and what have you heard?” Lady Hedarra responded like she was finding some new treasure.

  “Well, they all seem to include magic. The first is that something accidentally went off, and destroyed part of a buffet. The second is a magus trying to blow the palace up. The third is similar to your story, but it involves an assassin, not a contest. The last is that somebody’s heart gave out and he collapsed.”

  Roxanne listened to all of this with the best poker face that Steven had ever seen her wear. Caspian listened as though he was hearing this for the first time. Steven just kept looking around from one person to another.

  “Oh. I haven’t heard all that. I wonder what is really true?”

  “Well, because it happened at the Palace, I doubt we will ever get the full answer.” Karen’s answer implied that not knowing the full details was common.

  “That is true. Are you going to be at Lady Micour’s.”

  “I don’t know. My business may be taking me out of town.”

  “Oh, you and your business. You are always about it. You need to get a man to run the business. Aren’t there any that you are interested in?” Lady Hedarra was testy in her comments to Karen over this subject.

  The Caplan’s both remembered the couple in the carriage from the night before, and who spoke about what, as well as the further extension of this in the division of people at the ball, who went where and what was talked about.

  “Not in this city, Lady Hedarra.” Karen replied, flatly.

  Caspian could sympathize with this, but held it aside.

  “If you say so. Oh, look, there is the Vantgun’s. I must talk with her. If you will excuse me. Give my greetings to Jasper and his wife. And tell them that you simply must host another ball before the harvest festival.”

  “Yes, Lady Hedarra. I will tell them. But I will not guarantee any balls. My work is keeping me busy.”

  “Well, get married, and get unbusy. Talk to you more later.” Lady Hedarra’s coach pulled away, and up to another one.

  The four looked at each other in good humor.

  Steven turned to Rox. “She reminds me of Mrs. Winchel.”

  “Steven, don’t be mean,” Rox chided.

  “I’m not. I appreciate all she does. But sometimes she just does not seem to be able to end a conversation.”

  They all chuckled at this.