Roo said, “I’m going to have to struggle to keep this business alive, Luis. Waging war is costly.”
Luis shrugged. “The war has begun. It may not be stopped until you either win or are defeated, but no one says the next battle must be tonight. Bide your time. Build your strength. Reduce your enemy’s position. When you finally have the opportunity, then seize the moment.” He made a crushing gesture with his good hand. “Often you’ll hear it said that revenge is a dish best served cold. This is a mistake; you must never lose the heat of rage that drives you to revenge.” He studied Roo’s face. “Forgiveness is a virtue in some temples. But if you are not virtuous, then study your enemy.” He tapped his head. “Think. Think about what drives him and what his strengths and weaknesses are. Keep the fires within banked, and plot coolly, but when everything is in place, unleash the fire and enjoy the hot flush of revenge.”
Roo blew air out of his mouth slowly, as if letting his anger escape. “Very well. We wait. But make it known to our men that any rumors concerning Jacoby and Sons should be shared with us.”
“What’s the next thing?” asked Duncan. “I’ve got a lady to visit . . .” He grinned.
Roo smiled. “Helmut kept our books and records. I have some sense of it, but I’m no expert. Can either of you keep books?”
Luis shook his head and Duncan laughed. “I’ve never been one for sums. You know that.”
“Then we need to hire someone.”
“Who?” asked Duncan.
Roo said, “I don’t know. Maybe Jason, over at Barret’s. He was good with figures when we worked together; McKeller had him doing inventories more often than anyone else. He could remember things . . . costs and numbers of sacks of coffee and details that I had no clear picture of. I’ll ask him. He’s ambitious. Maybe he’ll work for us.”
“Can we pay him?” Duncan asked with a laugh.
Roo said, “We have the contract with the palace. I’ll ask de Loungville to make sure we get paid on time, and we’ll get by.”
“What’s the third thing?” asked Luis.
Roo’s face underwent a change of expression, from anger and worry to self-consciousness. “I’m getting married.”
Luis said, “Congratulations.” He held out his hand and Roo gripped it.
Duncan said, “Karli?”
“Who else?” said Roo.
Duncan shrugged. “When?”
“Next Sixthday. Can you join us?”
“Certainly,” said Duncan, standing up. “If we’re done?”
“You can leave,” said Roo, feeling disappointed at his cousin’s lack of enthusiasm.
After Duncan left, Luis said, “This is a difficult responsibility to assume, Roo.”
“What do you mean?”
Luis said, “It is not my business. I’m sorry I spoke.”
Roo asked, “What’s on your mind?”
Luis said nothing for a moment, then said, “You seem to like the girl. But . . . are you marrying her because you feel someone must take care of her and you’re the only one?”
Roo started to deny it, then found he couldn’t. “I don’t know. I like her, and a wife . . . well, a wife is a wife, right? I need a wife, and some children.”
“Why?”
Roo looked completely confused. “I . . . well, I just do. I mean, I plan on being a man of some importance in the city, and I need a wife and children.”
Luis studied the young man awhile. “As you say. I will return to the office and mention to the men there will be a wedding on Sixthday.”
Roo said, “I’ll tell Erik and Jadow tomorrow. Maybe the Captain will come if he’s still in the city.”
Luis nodded. As he passed behind Roo’s chair, he stopped and put his hand on the younger man’s shoulder. “I wish you happiness, my friend. I really do.”
“Thank you,” said Roo as Luis left.
A moment later, Karli entered the room. “I heard them leave.”
Roo nodded. “I told them we were getting married on Sixthday.”
Karli sat down in the chair Duncan had occupied. “Are you certain?”
Roo forced a smile. “Of course I am,” he said, patting her hand, but inside he felt like nothing more than leaving this house and running for all he was worth. “Of course I am,” he repeated.
He glanced out a curtained window as if he could see through the fabric, and in his mind’s eye he saw the pale face of Helmut as he lay on his deathbed. His skin was bone-white, the same color as the large bolt of silk Roo had stolen, and in his heart Roo knew that there was a thread leading from that bolt to Helmut and that Karli’s father’s death lay at his feet. Patting the girl’s hand, Roo knew that even if he hated the girl, he would marry her to make up for the wrong he had caused.
Calis pushed himself back from the table, stood up, and moved to a window. Staring out at the marshalling yard below, he said, “I’ve got a bad feeling about all of this.”