Roo said, “I think Tim Jacoby had the silk smuggled in from Kesh. Or he was to receive it from whoever did. In any event, let’s say he’s less than pleased with not having it tonight.”
“Jacoby?” said Grindle. Then he grinned. “His father and I are old enemies. We were boys together, friends once. I hear his son Randolph is a decent enough boy, but Timothy is a different sort; he’s a bad fellow. So I gain no new enemies by supporting you in this.”
“Then we’re in business?” asked Roo.
“Seems we are,” answered Grindle. He poured more wine. “Now, another drink.”
They drank, and after the second glass, Duncan said, “You wouldn’t have another daughter, then, would you? A pretty one, perhaps?”
Roo covered his eyes but was taken aback when Grindle laughed. He uncovered his eyes and was surprised to see Helmut Grindle genuinely amused at the question.
They drank the bottle dry and spoke of many things, but mostly Helmut Grindle and Rupert Avery made plans, discussing various trading strategies and cargoes, which routes to take, and after a while neither man noticed that Duncan had fallen asleep in his chair or that Karli Grindle had come down, removed the bottle of wine, replaced the low, guttering candle, and retired, leaving the two men to talk late into the night.
Roo said, “Look alert.”
Duncan nodded. “See them.”
They were driving a wagon along the coast road, just south of the town of Sarth, the next safe harbor north of the city of Krondor. The wagon had been restored to Roo’s satisfaction and the horses were fine animals, and Grindle assured him that his share of the profits from the silk would prove ample for his participation in this undertaking.
A band of armed men gathered near the roadside, holding some sort of discussion. As the wagon approached, one of the armed men called it to the attention of the rest, so that by the time Roo and Duncan were upon the group, the men were arrayed across the road, with one in front holding up his hand.
“Who disputes my right to pass on the King’s Highway?” demanded Roo.
“No man,” said the leader, “but these are difficult days and we need to ask if you’ve seen armed men riding past to the south.”
“None,” said Duncan.
“Who are they?” asked Roo.
“Bandits, and they hit us late last night. A full score of them, or more,” said a man nearby.
The leader threw the man a black look over his shoulder, then said to Roo, “Bandits. Late last night they robbed a couple of merchants, ransacking their stores, then robbed the two inns in the town.”
Roo glanced at Duncan, who looked amused. It was nearly midafternoon, and there was a small ale cask nearby, so Roo was pretty convinced these “soldiers” had been debating the best course of action since dawn.
“You’re the town militia?” asked Roo.
The leader puffed up a bit. “Yes, we are! In service to the Duke of Krondor, but freemen protecting our own.”
“Well then,” said Roo, as he urged his horses forward, “you had better get right after them.”
The man who was doing the talking said, “Well, that’s the problem, then, isn’t it? We don’t know where they went. So we’re not too sure which is the best way to take out after them.”
“North,” said Roo.
“That’s what I said!” The man who had presumed to talk before was speaking again.
“Why north?” demanded the leader of Roo.
“Because we’ve been on the road since leaving Krondor. If raiders had hit you, then fled south, they would have passed us on their way. None came by us this morning, so it’s safe to assume they’re heading north up toward Hawk’s Hollow or Questor’s View.” Roo was no student of geography, but he knew enough about trade routes to know that once past the northeast branch road that led up the eastern edge of the Calastius Mountains, there was no easy route across them south of Sarth.
One of the more drunken soldiers said, “Why not west or east?”
Roo shook his head. To the leader he said, “Sergeant?” The man nodded. “Sergeant, if they were heading west, they would have been in boats, not on horseback, and to the east lies what?”
“Only the road to the Abbey of Sarth and more mountains.”
Roo said, “They’ve gone north. And odds are they’re bound for Ylith, for where else would they fence what they’ve stolen here?”
That was enough for the leader, who said, “Men, we ride!” The deputation of town militia moved in something like haste, though some of the defenders of Sarth were having difficulty moving in a straight line.
Roo continued up the road, and watched as the little squad headed for various locations around the town, to get their mounts.
“Think they’ll find the bandits?” asked Duncan.
“Only if they are very unfortunate,” said Roo.