Arutha munched upon a nearly cold meat pie. Lowering his head, he forced himself to continue consuming the pieman’s greasy ware. He refused to consider what was contained within the soggy crust in addition to the beef and pork the seller claimed.
Casting a sidelong glance across the busy square, Arutha studied the gates to Prince Erland’s palace. Finishing the pie, he quickly crossed to an ale stand and ordered a large mug to wash away the aftertaste. For the last hour he had moved, seemingly without purpose, from seller’s cart to seller’s cart, purchasing this and that, posing as a minor noble’s son. And in that hour he had learned a great deal.
Martin and Amos came into sight, nearly an hour before the appointed time. Both wore grim expressions and kept glancing nervously about. Without comment Amos motioned for Arutha to follow as they walked by. They pushed through the midday throng and passed quickly away from the great-square district. Reaching a less hospitable-looking though no less busy area, they continued until Amos indicated they should enter a particular building.
Once through the door, Arutha was met by a hot, steamy atmosphere as an attendant came to greet them. “A bathhouse?” said Arutha.
Without humor Amos said, “You need to get rid of some road dirt, Arthur.” To the attendant he said, “A steam for us all.”
The man led them to a changing room and handed each a rough towel and a canvas bag for belongings. They undressed, wrapped the towels about them, and carried their clothing and weapons in the bags into the steam room.
The large room was completely tiled, though the walls and floors were stained and showed patches of green. The air was close and fetid. A small half-naked boy squatted in the center of the room, before the bed of rocks that supplied the steam. He alternately fed wood to the huge brazier below the stones and poured water upon them, generating giant clouds of steam.
When they were seated upon a bench, in the farthest corner of the room, Arutha said, “Why a bathhouse?”
Amos whispered, “Our inn has very thin walls. And a great deal of business is conducted in places such as these, so three men whispering in the corner won’t draw undue attention.” He shouted to the boy, “You, lad, run and fetch some chilled wine.” Amos tossed a silver coin at the boy, who caught it in midair. When he didn’t move, Amos tossed him another, and the boy scampered off. With a sigh Amos said, “The price of chilled wine has doubled since I was last here. He’ll be gone for a while, but not too long.”
“What is this?” asked Arutha, not taking pains to hide his ill humor. The towel itched and the room stank, and he doubted if he’d be any cleaner for the time spent here than if he’d stayed in the square.
“Martin and I both have troublesome news.”
“As do I. I already know Guy is Viceroy in Krondor. What else have you learned?”
Martin said, “I overheard some conversation that makes me believe Guy has imprisoned Erland and his family in the palace.”
Arutha’s eyes narrowed, and his voice was low and angry. “Even Guy wouldn’t dare harm the Prince of Krondor.”
Martin said, “He would should the King give his leave. I know little of this trouble between the King and the Prince, but it is clear Guy is now the power in Krondor and acts with the King’s permission, if not his blessing. You told me of Caldric’s warning when you were last in Rillanon. Perhaps the King’s sickness has grown worse.”
“Madness, if you mean to speak clearly,” snapped Arutha.
“To further cloud things in Krondor,” said Amos, “it seems we are at war with Great Kesh.”
“What!” said Arutha.
“A rumor, nothing more.” Amos spoke quietly and quickly. “Before finding Martin, I was nosing around a local joy house, not too far from the garrison barracks. I overheard some soldiers at their ease saying they were to leave at first light for a campaign. When the object of one soldier’s momentary ardor asked when she would see him again, he said, ‘As long as it takes to march to the vale and back, should luck be with us,’ at which point he invoked Ruthia’s name, so that the Lady of Luck would not view his discussion of her province disfavorably.”
“The vale?” said Arutha. “That can only mean a campaign down into the Vale of Dreams. Kesh must have hit the garrison at Shamata with an expeditionary force of dog-soldiers. Guy’s no fool. He’ll know the only answer’s a quick, unhesitating strike from Krondor, to show Great Kesh’s Empress we can still defend our borders. Once the dog soldiers have been driven south of the vale, we’ll have another round of useless treaty talks over who has the right to it. That means even should Guy wish to aid Crydee, which I doubt, he could not. There’s no time to deal with Kesh, return, and reach Crydee by spring, or even early summer.” Arutha swore. “This is bitter news, Amos.”
“There is still more. Earlier today I took the trouble to visit the ship, just to ensure Vasco had everything in hand, and that the men weren’t chafing too much at being kept aboard. Our ship is being watched.”