Ella wondered what he meant. She looked at the way the wagons’ axles were bowed under the weight of their loads; whatever Hermen had with him was heavy.
Then Ella had a sudden thought, and realization dawned. She frowned and strode around to the back of Hermen’s wagon. Hermen left his haggling to chase her. Pulling the flaps at the back of Hermen’s wagon wide, Ella saw chests, dozens of them.
“You’re taking your money and running?” Ella said, letting go of the coverings and turning back to Hermen.
“Not all of us are fighters,” Hermen said. He looked down at the ground. “I’m a trader, Ella, and I have a family to take care of.”
“What about him?” Ella said, indicating with her chin an old man passing by.
The old man’s wrinkled face peered at the world from under a fringe of thin white hair. He wore faded Alturan livery, the sword and flower on his chest barely discernible. He carried a worn scabbard strapped to his waist and traveled with a group of all ages under the supervision of a middle-aged officer. All carried sacks over their shoulders as they walked in the direction of Castlemere.
Castlemere: Hermen’s home.
“Do you think he doesn’t have a family? Children? Grandchildren?”
“It’s not my way,” Hermen said. “We can’t all fight.”
“No, obviously it’s not.” Ella fought to control her anger. Part of her knew she wasn’t being fair to Hermen, but the sight of the chests, no doubt filled with gilden, filled her with anger at the unfairness of it all.
“I must be going.”
“Good-bye, Hermen. I wish you a successful new start,” Ella said. She stuck out her hand, and he slowly returned the handshake before letting his hand fall away. Ella wondered if she’d ever see him again.
Hermen looked sad. “Good-bye, Ella.”
Ella crossed the road back to the market, promising herself she would forget about him, though she felt Hermen’s eyes on her back.
“You can’t blame him,” Evrin said to Ella as they walked through the grassy fields surrounding the Academy. “People will always act true to their nature. It is the way of the world. We can’t expect more from people than they can give.”
“I guess I thought he was better that that.”
“Has he ever shown you his nature was any different?”
Ella thought about the first time she’d met Hermen, in the shadows of Ilathor’s tent, deep in the Hazara desert. He’d seen an opportunity in the Hazarans’ growing power, and he’d most likely profited greatly.
She remembered when they’d met in Ku Kara. Once again, Hermen had been opening ties with a people formerly lost to the trade of the Empire. He’d always spoken of profit and customers and trade routes.
“I suppose not,” Ella said. “But how can he leave his home so callously?”
“His family is his home. As long as he has his family by his side, he can protect them and create a new home somewhere else. We all have ties to our homeland, but the ties of family are stronger still.”
“I don’t see Miro taking Amber and Tomas to some place far away.”
“That’s not Miro’s nature,” Evrin said. “But even your brother doesn’t just fight for some rocks and rivers, forests and fields. He fights for the people he protects. He knows that even if all of Altura were evacuated, the enemy would still have to be faced. He has chosen this place to make his stand.”
“What about you?” Ella said. “Where is your home?”
Evrin smiled sadly. “I lost my home when I saw something greater. I once ruled over thousands of people from a glorious palace. My love . . . she showed me something altogether more important. I thought my brother Evermen were my family, but she showed me we weren’t brothers; we were allies, united by our arrogance and our lust for power. She became my family, and I fought for her and others like her. I fought for you, Ella, and I will continue to fight.”
“That makes me sad. Are you saying you don’t have a home?”
“I have places where I spend time. But yes, I suppose you’re right; I have no home. It was lost to me long ago, but the trade was worth it. Every human is my family, whether I know the person or I don’t.”
“You put Hermen Tosch to shame.”
“He is just acting true to his nature.” Evrin looked into the distance, and Ella wondered what he was seeing. “Just as I must face what I once did and act true to mine.”
15
As Carla left the Imperial Palace, she looked up at the great timepiece on the face of the tallest tower. Slow down, she reminded herself. She had time. She was out looking for work, and she needed to walk with purpose, but not with frantic worry.