“Why not just set up your own operation and staff it with soldiers?” asked Roo.
“Because it’s too obvious,” said de Loungville. “The reason you’re here is because we need an already established freight company to cover what you’re doing. Grindle and Avery has been expanding for several months now and you’ve made a name for yourself. We’ll call for a new contract, keeping the news low-key, but not trying to hide anything.”
Roo nodded. “So I’ll bid, and win.”
“You’re not as stupid as you look, Avery.” De Loungville lowered his voice even more and put his hand on Roo’s shoulder. “Look, you know why we have to be careful, and you also know what’s at risk.” Roo nodded, though he tried to think little about what he had gone through across the sea when he was a soldier in Calis’s company. “Here’s the deal: you make sure that whatever we need gets delivered in timely fashion and I’ll make sure you get paid in timely fashion. And don’t go thinking you can charge us outrageous prices, else we’ll try our hand at freight hauling.” De Loungville grinned, and it was an expression Roo knew all too well: what he was about to hear wasn’t going to be funny. “After the Duke and I contrive a way to either put you out of business or get you hung for some crime or another.”
Roo had no doubt at all that should conditions warrant it in de Loungville’s judgment, he would happily hang Roo on a trumped-up charge. The man was single-minded in his desire to protect the Kingdom to a point bordering on the fanatical.
Roo said, “Just getting paid in a timely fashion would be novel. You can’t believe what I have to go through collecting some of these bills.”
De Loungville’s grin broadened, and this time there was humor in it. “Certainly I can. Just because a man has a title doesn’t mean he has two coins to rub together.” He inspected the yard and asked, “How many wagons can you devote to your new service to the palace?”
“How many deliveries a week do you need?” asked Roo. De Loungville reached into his tunic and pulled out a parchment, handing it to Roo. “This ship’s due in tomorrow from Ylith. This is the cargo heading to the palace. We should be looking at similar deliveries two, three times a week from now on.”
Roo’s eyes widened at the size of the cargo. “Some army you’re building, Sergeant. You’ve enough swords here to invade Kesh.”
“If we need to. Can you do it?”
Roo nodded. “I’m going to have to buy three, maybe four more wagons, and if you step up your demand for unloading . . .” He studied De Loungville’s face. “What about incoming caravans?”
De Loungville said, “We’re unloading them at the city gate, and we’ll need you to transport the freight through the city.”
Roo shook his head in wonder. “I’d better get five wagons.” He calculated in his head and realized he was short of gold. Without changing expression, he said, “I’ll need some gold to close the deal.”
Dc Loungville said, “How much?”
“A hundred sovereigns. That’ll get me the wagons and mules, and hire some drivers, but make sure you do get me paid quickly, because I don’t have any reserves.”
“Well, we’ll make it a bit more,” said de Loungville. “I can’t have you going insolvent because you weren’t ready for trouble.” He drew a purse out of his tunic and handed it to Rupert. Then he put his hands on Roo’s shoulders, leaning close. “You’re far more important to us than you think, Avery. Don’t create any problems for yourself or for us and down the road you’re going to be a very rich man. An army needs quartermasters and paymasters as much as it needs sergeants and generals. Don’t make a mess of this, understand?”
Roo nodded, not quite sure he did.
“Let me put it another way: if you cause me or the Captain the slightest problem, anywhere along the way, the trivial fact you are no longer a soldier in our command will spare you no pain whatsoever. I’ll have your guts on a stick as if you were just down from the gibbet that first day I took your life and made it mine. Now do you understand?”
Roo’s expression darkened. “Yes, but I still don’t care for threats, Sergeant”
“Oh, those aren’t threats, my pretty. Those are merely the facts of life.” Then he grinned. “You can call me ‘Bobby’ if you wish.”
Roo mumbled something, and then said, “Very well, Bobby.”
“How’s your love life? Any wedding plans soon?”
Roo shrugged. “I asked her father and he said he’d consider it; if he says yes, then I’ll ask her.”
De Loungville rubbed the stubble on his chin as he said, “From what you said a few weeks ago, I thought it already agreed.”
Roo shrugged. “Helmut has made me a partner and I dine with him and Karli twice a week, and I escort her down to the town market or square on Sixthday, but . . .” He shrugged.
“Go on with it,” instructed De Loungville.