On the outskirts of town, the road took them past a cemetery on the hillside, where grave markers covered the slopes. Names had been chiseled into the low stone markers, while other graves were marked only by wooden posts with names carved into the wood. These flimsier posts were arranged much too closely to mark individual burial sites. Seeing the wooden posts and stone markers, Bannon seemed very disturbed.
Nathan ran his fingers down the weathered wood, where the name was all but unreadable. “I assume the two types of markers indicate a class system? The wealthy can afford fine stone markers and a spacious grave, while those less fortunate are simply marked with a post?”
“Maybe there are no bodies at all because there were no bodies to bury,” Nicci said. “Fishermen lost at sea, for instance.”
Bannon looked gray. “I think they are memorials for people who are not dead, but are gone.”
Nathan’s brow furrowed. “Gone? What do you mean by that, my boy?”
“Maybe they were … taken.” The young man swallowed hard.
Nicci turned to give him a hard look. “Taken by whom?”
His voice came out in a whisper. “Slavers, possibly.”
The idea troubled Nicci, and she led the way at a faster, more determined pace. Slavers had no place in Lord Rahl’s new rule, and Nicci looked forward to putting the matter to rest. One way or another.
When they reached the outskirts of the town, children playing in the dirt streets noticed the three travelers coming from the unexpected direction and called excitedly for their parents. Stout women worked at their washing, while two older couples sat together mending fishing nets that were stretched across wooden benches. Men and women working in the vegetable patches and farm fields looked up to see the strangers.
Nathan shook trail dust and sand from his pants and shirt, frowning at himself. “I don’t make a very formidable presence as the roving ambassador for D’Hara.” He tapped the sword in its scabbard at his hip. “But at least my fine blade shows me to be a man of some note.”
Bannon put his hand on the leather-wrapped hilt of his own sword, but couldn’t seem to think of what to say.
Nicci cautioned them both. “We won’t be drawing our swords unless there’s a need. We come bearing word that the Old World is now at peace. They will be glad to hear it.”
A middle-aged woman with brown hair tied in a thick braid raised a hand in welcome. A ten-year-old boy at her side stared at the newcomers as if they were monsters from the sea. “They came from the north!” he said, pointing vigorously. “There’s nothing up to the north.”
“Welcome to Renda Bay,” said the woman. “You look as if you’ve had a long journey.”
“We were shipwrecked,” Nicci said.
“We’ve been walking for days,” Bannon interjected. “We’re glad we found your village.”
“Renda Bay?” Nathan said. “I’ll mark it on my map.”
As more people gathered, Nicci assessed the modest homes, wooden common buildings, gardens and flowerbeds. The children did not look shabby, gaunt, or desperate. Much of the activity in the town had to do with cleaning fish in large troughs at wooden tables down by the docks. Iron racks loaded with fish filets hung over smoky kelp fires. Rows of broad basins were lined along the beach under the sun, filled with seawater that would slowly evaporate to leave a residue of valuable salt.
The villagers peppered them with questions. Nathan and Bannon told disjointed parts of their story, and the noise of conversation swelled around them. Nicci interrupted, “Call a gathering, and we will address everyone at once, so we don’t have to repeat ourselves.”
They met the town leader, a man named Holden, who was in his late thirties, with rich brown hair marked by a distinctive frosting of white at the temples. They learned that until recently he had owned his own fishing boat before he devoted his days to local administration.
Holden led them to the town square, where many eager people had already gathered to hear the strangers’ tale. Nicci let Nathan speak, because the wizard was quite comfortable with the sound of his own voice. “I am Nathan Rahl, currently the representative of Lord Richard Rahl of the D’Haran Empire, the man who defeated Emperor Jagang.” He looked at them, as if expecting cheers. “You may have been wondering why you are no longer under the crushing boot heel of the Imperial Order?”
The villagers’ expressions did not show terror or even awareness. Holden said, “We’ve heard of Jagang, but it’s been three decades or more since we saw troops or any representative from the Imperial Order.”
Bannon interjected, “We were on a ship that sailed south from Tanimura—the Wavewalker under Captain Eli Corwin—but we were attacked by selka. Hundreds of them, maybe thousands! They killed our crew, and our ship ran aground on the reefs. Only the three of us survived. You’re the first people we’ve seen since.”
Many listeners stared at them in horror and fascination, while others frowned with clear skepticism, as if they expected castaways to embellish their stories.
Nicci interrupted, “The important news we bring you is that Lord Rahl has overthrown the evil tyrants, and that you are all free. You need not fear oppression, slavery, or tyranny. As he consolidates his empire, Lord Rahl is gathering emissaries so that all may decide a common set of laws to which everyone must agree. This will be a golden age for human history.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “And you are part of it.”
Nathan brightened as he looked out at the villagers. “You must have maps. You must know the area. Choose several of your best people to travel north, make your way up to the New World, the heart of D’Hara and the People’s Palace, so you can join Lord Rahl. He’ll provide the protection and support your village needs. Now is a very important time for the building of the new empire.”
Holden had a habit of nodding sincerely, demonstrating that he listened to people when they expressed their concerns, but he didn’t appear convinced. “That is heartening news, and I am proud to hear what your Lord Rahl has accomplished.” He gestured to the gathered audience. “Our people here trade with villages upriver and larger cities to the south, but we have barely heard of D’Hara or Tanimura. It’s grand for you to say that we are free of tyranny and slavery … but has everyone who would threaten us also heard this news?”
“They will,” Nicci said.
He spread his hands, sounding perfectly reasonable. “Your Lord Rahl is too far away to have any real effect in our lives. How could any D’Haran help us from the other side of the world? We are on our own here … against whatever might prey on us.”
“He will be able to protect you,” Nicci said. She knew well enough not to underestimate Richard.
Holden gave them a conciliatory smile and did not argue further. “Still, it is good to know, and you are welcome in Renda Bay. We will help you as we can, since you seem to have lost everything.”
“We could use a good meal,” Nathan said. “And new clothes.” He pulled up his frayed sleeve. “Do you have a tailor? I require several new outfits.”