Wait, I bade him.
We stood our ground as the man rode closer. The horse he led was saddled and bridled. I wondered if he had lost a companion, or stolen it from someone.
‘That’s close enough,’ I warned him suddenly. ‘What do you seek here?’
He had been watching me intently. He did not pause at my words, but made a gesture at first his ears, and then his mouth as he rode closer. I held out a hand. ‘Stop there,’ I warned him, and he understood my motion and obeyed it. Without dismounting, he reached into a messenger’s pouch that was slung across his chest. He drew out a scroll and proffered it to me.
Stay ready, I warned Nighteyes as I stepped forwards to take it. Then I recognized the seal on it. In thick red wax, my own charging buck was imprinted. A different sort of trepidation swept through me. I stared at the missive in my hand, then with a gesture gave the deaf-mute permission to dismount. I took a breath and spoke to Hap with a steady voice. ‘Take him inside and provide him food and drink. The same for his horses. Please.’
And to Nighteyes, Keep an eye on him, my brother, while I see what this scroll says.
Nighteyes ceased his rumbling growl at my thought, but followed the messenger very closely as a puzzled Hap gestured him towards our cabin. The weary horses stood where he had left them. A few moments later, Hap emerged to lead them off to water. Alone I stood in the dooryard and stared at the coiled scroll in my hand. I broke the seal at last and studied Chade’s slanting letters in the fading daylight.
Dear Cousin,
Family matters at home require your attention. Do not delay your return. You know I would not summon you thus unless the need was urgent.
The signature that followed this brief missive was indecipherable. It was not Chade’s name. The real message had been in the seal itself. He never would have used it unless the need was urgent. I re-rolled the scroll and looked up towards the sinking sun.
When I entered the house, the messenger stood up immediately. Still chewing, he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand, and indicated he was ready to leave at once. I suspected his orders from Chade had been very specific. There was no time to lose in sleep or rest for man or beast. I gestured him back to his food. I was glad my rucksack was already packed.
‘I unsaddled the horses and wiped them down a bit,’ Hap told me as he came in the door. ‘They look as if they’ve come a long way today.’
I took a breath. ‘Put their saddles back on. As soon as our friend has eaten, we’ll be leaving.’
For a moment, the boy was thunderstruck. Then he asked in a small voice, ‘Where are you going?’
I tried to make my smile convincing. ‘Buckkeep, lad. And faster than I expected.’ I considered the matter. There was no way to estimate when I might be back. Or even if I would come back. A missive like this from Chade would definitely mean danger of some kind. I was amazed at how easily I decided. ‘I want you and the wolf to follow at first light. Use the pony and cart, so if he gets weary, he can ride.’
Hap stared at me as if I had gone mad. ‘What about the chickens? And the chores I was to do while you were gone?’
‘The chickens will have to fend for themselves. No. They wouldn’t last a week before a weasel had them. Take them to Baylor. He’ll feed and watch them for the sake of their eggs. Take a day or so, and close the house up tight. We may both be gone awhile.’ I turned away from the incomprehension on Hap’s face.
‘But …’ The fear in his voice made me turn back to him. He stared at me as if I were suddenly a stranger. ‘Where should I go when I get to Buckkeep Town? Will you meet me there?’ I heard an echo of the abandoned boy in his voice.
I reached back in my memory fifteen years and tried to summon up the name of a decent inn. Before I could dredge one out, he hopefully put in, ‘I know where Jinna’s niece lives. Jinna said I could find her there, when next I came to Buckkeep. Her house has a hedge-witch sign on it, a hand with lines on the palm. I could meet you there.’
‘That will be it then.’
Relief showed on his face. He knew where he was going. I was glad he had that security. I myself did not. But despite all my uneasiness, a strange elation filled me. Chade’s old spell fell over me again. Secrets and adventures. I felt the wolf nudge against me.
A time of change. Then, gruffly: I could try to keep pace with the horses. Buckkeep is not so far.
I do not know what this means, my brother. And until I do, I would just as soon that you stayed by Hap’s side.
Is that supposed to salve my pride?
No. It’s supposed to ease my fears.
I will bring him safely to Buckkeep Town, then. But after that, I am at your side.
Of course. Always.
Before the sun kissed the horizon good-night, I was mounted on the nondescript grey horse. Verity’s disguised sword hung at my hip, and my pack was fastened tightly to the back of my saddle. I followed my silent companion as he hastened us down the road to Buckkeep.
ELEVEN
Chade’s Tower
Between the Six Duchies and the Out Islands as much blood has been shared as has been shed. Despite the enmity of the Red Ship war, and the years of sporadic raiding that preceded it, almost every family in the Coastal Duchies will acknowledge having ‘a cousin in the Out Islands.’ All acknowledge that the folk of the Coastal Duchies are of those mingled bloodlines. It is well documented that the first rulers of the Farseer line were likely raiders from the Out Islands who came to raid and settled instead.