“What about the other businesses that Roo held?”
Luis shrugged. “I’m in charge of the Avery and de Savon business. Most of the other was Bitter Sea Company. Roo hasn’t said much. I get the feeling most of that is gone with the destruction of the city. I know he had some holdings in the East, but I think he’s borrowed a great deal to get this enterprise underway. I know much about his business, but there is more that I don’t know.” He looked at Karli.
“Roo has told me most everything about his business interests,” said Karli. “Except some things to do with the crown. I think the Kingdom owes Roo a large debt.”
“No doubt,” said Dash. “My grandfather got several very sizable loans from the Bitter Sea Company.” Dash looked around. “While I suspect they will eventually be paid, as you can see, the Kingdom has a great deal to repair here before debts are settled.” He finished his pie. With a long pull he drained the jack of ale, and said, “1 thank you for the meal—”
Before he could say more, a shout from the next aisle caused him to turn. “Thief!”
Dash was off, hurrying toward the source of the disturbance. He rounded a corner and saw a man running right at him, looking over his shoulder to see who was behind. Dash braced himself, and as the man turned to look ahead, Dash struck him hard across the chest with an extended arm. As Dash expected, the man’s feet went right out from under him and he fell hard upon the ground.
Dash knelt, his sword across the man’s throat before he could regain his wits, and said, “In a hurry?”
The man started to move, but at the gentle pressure of the blade against his neck he relaxed. “Not anymore,” he said with a grimace.
Two of Dash’s constables appeared, and Dash said, “Take him to the palace.”
Dash stood as they hoisted the thief to his feet and took him away. Dash moved to where Luis and Karli were finishing their meal, and said, “I’m going to borrow your wagon a moment.” He moved to where the A very and de Savon wagon was tied and mounted it. He stood up on the driver’s seat and shouted, “My name is Dashel Jamison! I am the new Sheriff of Krondor! The men you see wearing red armbands like mine are my constables. Pass the word that the law is returning to Krondor!”
Several merchants gave a weak cheer, but the majority of those gathered in the quarter seemed indifferent or openly contemptuous. Dash returned to where Karli and Luis stood. “Well, I think that went rather well, don’t you?”
Karli laughed, and Luis said, “There are many here in the square who would just as soon not see any return of law to the city.”
Dash said, “And I think I just spotted another of them. Excuse me,” he said, darting into the crowd after a youngster he saw stealing a trinket from a distracted merchant.
Karli and Luis watched him until after he vanished into the press, and Karli said, “I always liked that young man.”
Luis said, “There’s a great deal of his grandfather in him. He’s a charming rogue.”
Karli said, “Don’t call him that. He has far too deep a sense of duty to be a rogue.”
Luis said, “I stand corrected. You are, of course, right.”
Karli laughed. “Helen has you trained well, doesn’t she?”
Luis laughed in return. “It was easy. I would never wish to make her unhappy.”
“Scant chance of that,” said Karli. “Well, we have another load waiting at the docks. Let’s go get it.”
As Luis mounted the wagon, Karli put her hand on her lower back and stretched. “I won’t be doing this much longer. I hope Roo finished up his business to the north and gets back soon.”
Luis nodded agreement as she climbed the wagon, then he flicked the reins, getting the horses headed toward the harbor.
Lord Vasarius glanced to his left and said, “Have you come to mock me, Avery?”
“Not in the least, my Lord Vasarius. I came out to enjoy the night air, as did you.”
The defeated Quegan noble looked at his former business associate and current enemy. “Your Captain has been almost gracious in allowing me some liberty from that cabin.”
“As is befitting your rank. Had our positions been reversed, I suspect I would be belowdecks on a Quegan ship, pulling against an oar.”
“As is befitting your rank,” replied Vasarius.
Roo laughed. “You haven’t entirely lost your sense of humor, I see.”
“I wasn’t joking,” Vasarius answered flatly.
Roo’s smile faded. “Well, as fate would have it, you will enjoy a far less dire fate than I would have, it seems.”
“I would have had you killed,” said Vasarius.