“I did what I could,” answered Erik. “What do we do next?”
“We?” said de Loungville. “Nothing. We’re going home. It’s back to the City of the Serpent River, give the Clan Chieftains what we know in case Hatonis and Praji don’t get there, then we pick up Trenchard’s Revenge and head back to Krondor.
“Once we’re there, you’re a free man.”
Erik said nothing for a while until: “That’s a strange thought.”
“What’s a strange thought?” asked Roo, limping as he came up beside them. He yawned. “Never thought I’d live to see the day I’d enjoy waking up on a ship.”
“I was just saying,” said Erik, “that the idea of being a free man is strange.”
Roo said, “I can still feel the noose around my neck. I know it’s not there, but I can feel it.”
Erik nodded.
De Loungville said, “I was asking what you two were planning next.”
Erik shrugged, but Roo said, “There’s a merchant in Krondor who has an ugly daughter. I plan on marrying her and getting rich.”
De Loungville laughed while Erik smiled and shook his head in disbelief. “Helmut Grindle,” said Erik.
“That’s the man,” said Roo. “I’ve got a plan that will make me rich in a year, two at the outside.”
“What’s that?” said de Loungville.
“If I tell you, and you tell someone else, then there’s no advantage, is there?”
De Loungville seemed genuinely amused as he said, “I guess not.” He turned to Erik. “And what about you?”
Erik said, “I don’t know. I’m going back to Ravensburg, to visit my mother. Then I don’t know.”
“I don’t suppose it would hurt to let you boys know there’s a bonus of gold in this for you.”
Erik smiled and Roo’s eyes lit up.
De Loungville said, “Enough for you to start up that smithy.”
Erik said, “That seems like a faint dream.”
De Loungville said, “Well, it’s a long voyage, and you have a lot of time to think on it. But I have a suggestion.”
“What?” asked Erik.
“This battle’s just one of many, nothing more. We cut them and they’re bleeding, but they’re a long way from dead. Burning down the shipyards gained us a few years. Calis thinks maybe five, perhaps six, then the ships will start being built in earnest. Hatonis and the others will run a war, irregulars striking at the lumber trains as they caravan down the mountains and raiding the barges on the rivers; it’ll slow them down, but sooner or later the ships will be built.
“We’ve got agents all through the area, and we’ll burn a few of the ships and cause them general grief for a while, but sooner or later . . .”
“They will come,” finished Erik.
“Across the Endless Sea, right into the Bitter Sea, and to the gates of Krondor.” He waved back toward Maharta, out of sight hut still fresh in their memory. “You think on that happening to the Prince’s city.”
“Not a pretty thought,” admitted Roo.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, Calis and I. And I could use a corporal.”
Roo grinned and Erik said, “Corporal?”
“You’ve got a knack, son, even if you’re not mean enough. Hell, Charlie Foster was a nice guy by anyone’s measure before I got my hands on him. A couple of years with me and you’ll be spitting cobbler’s nails and pissing lightning!”
“Me in the army?”
De Loungville said, “Not just any army. Nicholas is going to give Calis a mandate, signed by the King. We’re going to raise up an army the likes of which no man has seen before. We’ll train them and drill them, and when we’re done we’ll have the finest fighting men in history.”
Erik said, “I’m not sure.”
“You think about it. It’s an important job.”
Erik said, “I’m a little soured on killing right now, Sergeant.”
De Loungville’s voice dropped and he spoke firmly but softly. “That’s why it’s important and that’s why you’re the right man for the job. We’re going to train these men to stay alive.”
He patted Erik once on the shoulder. “It’s a long voyage. We’ll have plenty of time to talk. I’m going to take a rest now.”
Erik and Roo watched him leave and Roo said, “You’re going to take the job, aren’t you?”
“Probably,” said Erik. “I don’t know that I want to be a soldier the rest of my life, but I do seem to have the knack, and there’s something about knowing where I belong that appeals to me, Roo. Back home I never felt that way. I was always ‘the Baron’s bastard,’ or ‘that crazy woman’s son.’ ” He lapsed into silence a moment, then said, “In Calis’s army I’d just be Corporal Erik.” He smiled. “Besides, I have no ambitions to be rich like you.”
“Then I’ll get rich enough for the both of us.”
Erik laughed and the two men stood quietly for a while, simply relishing the fact of having survived to be able to plan a future.
Epilogue
Reunion
The traveler squinted.