“Now I understand the look of grief,” said the Duke.
“She just learned of her mother’s death this morning.” Amos pointed toward the city. Her patrol was to the west, along the line of steadings and kraals, and she just returned hours ago.” Martin’s expression was quizzical. “The farm communities are steadings and the cattle-and sheepherder communities are kraals. No, she’s dealing with Gwynnath’s loss. It’s Guy who has me worried.”
Arutha said, “He hides his grief well.”
Arutha felt conflicting emotions. The dislike for Bas-Tyra he had learned at his father’s knee fought his sympathy at the man’s grief. He had almost lost Anita, and he could feel that terror and pain echoing as he considered Guy’s lot. Yet Guy had ordered Anita’s father imprisoned, which had killed him. And Guy was a traitor. Arutha pushed aside those feelings, for they troubled him. He walked with Amos and Martin while Martin continued asking questions about Briana.
TEN - Accommodation
Jimmy poked Locklear in the ribs.
They were strolling through the market, attempting to see what little of Armengar was worth seeing. Boys their own age were rare, and those few who they did see were armed and armoured. What interested Jimmy was the differences between this market and those in Krondor.
“We’ve been here an hour or more, and I’ll swear I’ve not seen a beggar or thief in the lot,” said Jimmy.
“Makes sense,” said Locklear. “From what Amos said, trust is essential to the existence of this city. No thieves, “cause they all have to hang together, and where would you hide anyway? I don’t know much about cities and such, but it seems to me this place is more a garrison than a city, despite its size.”
“You have that right enough.”
“And there are no beggars because they probably take care of everyone, like in the army.”
“Mess and infirmaries?”
“Yes,” agreed Locklear.
They wandered past booths and Jimmy judged the worth of the items displayed. “Notice any real luxuries?” Locklear indicated he had not. The booths were devoted to foodstuffs, simple cloth and leather goods, and weapons. All prices were low, and there seemed little if any haggling.
After a short time of walking, Jimmy sat on a door stoop at the edge of the market. “This is boring.”
“I see something that’s not boring.”
Jimmy said, “What?”
“Girls.” Locklear pointed. Two girls had emerged from the press of shoppers and were examining goods at a booth near the edge of the market. They appeared about the same age as the boys. Both were similarly attired, leather boots, trousers, tunics, leather overvests, belt knives, and swords. Each wore a rolled scarf to hold her shoulder-length dark hair out of her eyes. The taller girl noticed Jimmy and Locklear watching them and said something to her companion. The second girl regarded the boys while the two whispered, heads together. The first girl put back the items she had been holding, and she and her friend walked over to Jimmy and Locklear.
“Well?” said the taller, her blue eyes regarding them frankly.
Jimmy got to his feet and was surprised to find the girl almost as tall as he was. “Well what?” he responded in halting Armengarian.
“You were staring at us.”
Jimmy glanced down at Locklear, who stood. “Is there something wrong with that?” asked the younger boy, who spoke the language better than Jimmy.
The two girls exchanged glances and laughed, little more than giggles. “It is rude.”
“We’re strangers,” ventured Locklear.
The two girls laughed openly at that. “That is clear. We heard of you. Everyone in Armengar has heard of you.”
Locklear blushed. It only took a moment’s thought to realize that he and Jimmy were markedly different in appearance from everyone in sight. The second girl studied Locklear with dark eyes and said, “Do you stare at girls where you come from?”
With a sudden grin, Locklear said, “Every chance I get.”
All four laughed. The taller girl said, “I am Krinsta; this is Bronwynn. We serve in the Tenth Company. We have liberty until tomorrow night.”
Jimmy didn’t know the significance of the reference to company, but he said, “I’m Squire James - Jimmy. This is Squire Locklear.”
“Locky.”
Bronwynn said, “You have the same name?”
Locklear said,” “Squire” is a title. We are in service to the Prince.”
The girls exchanged questioning looks. Krinsta said, “You speak of outlandish things we do not understand.”
In a fluid motion, Jimmy slipped his arm inside hers and said, “Well then, why don’t you show us the city and we’ll explain our outlandish ways.”
Awkwardly Locklear followed his friend’s example, but it wasn’t clear who grabbed whose arm first, he or Bronwynn.
With girlish laughter, Bronwynn and Krinsta took the boys in tow and they made their way through the streets of the city.