The Shattered Goddess by Darrell Schweitzer Page A

Amaedig, “and bags to carry provisions, and provisions to carry in them. Everythingwe need for a long journey. Include a jar of that medicine. And a good knife for each of us.”
    Both the man and his wife paused.
    “Don’t worry! You’ll be amply paid when we’re done!”
    “Yes, good mistress and master,” the man said. “My name is Pandolay Marzad, by the way, and this is my wife Tuella. I am a metal smith by trade, and I—”
    “Never mind that. Get on with it.”
    So the two of them hurried off to gather what was needed.
    “Artisans,” whispered Amaedig when they were gone.
    “We’re in luck. If they’d been of a higher caste, they might not be in such awe of someone from the palace. If he’d been the captain of the lower city watch—”
    “Won’t they report us?”
    “Maybe later, when they think about it. But they’re too afraid now. We’ll begone by then.”
    “Where?”
    “Anywhere. Out of the city.”
    Pandolay Marzad and Tuella returned.
    “Our son is away,” said the smith. “He is larger than either of you, but some of the clothes he has outgrown might fit.”
    So Ginna and Amaedig both dressed in male attire, which struck him as just as well, since any search party would be looking for a boy and a girl instead oftwo boys. They wore the brown, loose-fitting trousers of the common folk, a bit baggier than usual for being the wrong size, somewhat soiled grey tunics, white cloaks and hoods, and high leather boots. Each was given a sack which hung at the waist by a strap, in which were dried meats, fruit, and bread. Each received a full water bottle and a long, heavy knife in a sheath of reptile hide. Tuellagave Ginna the jar of salve.
    As he changed, Ginna tore another strip from his ruined trousers, replaced the bandage on his leg, and gave the garment to the woman.
    “Burn it when we’re gone,” he said. He handed it to her with his right hand, making sure she saw Tharanodeth’s ring, hoping that like her husband she would not be expert enough, or the light would not be good enough, forher to tell it was the token of the previous ruler, not the present one.
    By this time birds were singing under the eaves on the eastern side of the house, heralding dawn. Faint, grey light showed between the shutters. Far away, on the wall of the inner city, a soldier blew a blast on an immense bronze horn which hung suspended on a chain.
    Pandolay and Tuella served them a meager breakfast,then saw them to the door.
    “Thank you very much,” Ginna said. “We’re grateful for what you’ve—”
    Amaedig stepped on his foot very deliberately.
    “You have done your duty,” she said.
    “We hope we have, honored sir and madam,” said the smith. He looked at Ginna oddly, but when the girl’s eyes met his, his face was a mask again.
    “You have to act the part of their superior,”she said as soon as they were out of earshot.
    “But now—”
    “Yes, now we look like ordinary people, and must act ordinary. But then we were emissaries from The Guardian and had to be convincing. Ginna, I grew up inside too, but I think I know a little more about the world than you do, so just follow my example. All right?”
    “All right. What do we do now?”
    “Lose ourselves inthe side streets. I’m not sure if those two really believed us. They may be running for the soldiers even now.”
    They walked through a series of narrow alleys, passing beggars still asleep in doorways. People were stirring in some of the shops. A yawning boy crossed their path, two buckets of water hanging from a yoke on his shoulders.
    The city was awakening.
    Ginna looked up andsaw the golden dome against the dull, slowly lightening sky. He remembered how it had looked that time he and Tharanodeth had gazed upon it from the outside just at dawn, and how different things had been in those days. The old man had talked of plots and factions and intrigues, but nothing touched Ginna. There was no immediate danger. Now enemies were