intentions. It doesn’t matter if they are stronger or more experienced than you or not. The weakest and most inexperienced Will wielder can kill even the strongest with the benefit of surprise. The way we prevent that is by looking like something else, something normal and innocuous. People like me do not take kindly to foreign Will wielders coming into their country and making waves. I have killed a few of them in my time. It is much simpler and safer to pretend we don’t have the Will, and look as inconspicuous as possible.”
Art didn’t reply for a while as he tried to make sense of what he had been told. “You mean, we don’t use the Will?”
“Of course we use the Will. We use it when we are sure no one can see us, and when using it will leave no evidence.”
The Count called a halt and said, “This is far enough. Arch, please get the steel links and a spare saddlebag over here.” The Count proved he would use the Will. Five minutes later, the steel links and the spare saddlebag had become four very workmanlike swords with leather scabbards, along with more than a few knives.
The Count tossed one of the swords to Art, telling him, “Belt this on, and if you’re lucky, I’ll show you which end to hold!” When Art had buckled it on, the Count looked at Art, and said,“I am a merchant who deals in nuts and spices. You are my son, and Beech and Arch are my bodyguards. We have no goods because they have all been sold. That is all the locals need to know.”
They all saddled back up and moved out.
13
They continued along the track, and before long they came to a fair sized town. “Just follow me,” the Count told the others, “We are going to a very nice inn, where they are expecting us.”
A few more minutes riding brought them to a very grand building, with a tunnel running through it. The Count motioned them through, and they came to a very clean, well appointed courtyard, one side of which was flanked by a smart stable block.
The group was immediately greeted by an extremely obsequious fellow, who said very happily, “My Lord Farnham, how nice it is to see you again! Welcome back to the The Merchant’s Rendezvous.”
Grooms were all over them in an instant. Art was helped off his horse almost before he knew it, and was told, “Your master’s baggage will be delivered to your suite.”
Art was by now so inured to sudden changes that he simply fell in behind the Count and followed as the obsequious fellow directed them to their rooms.
The accommodations that they were assigned were not palatial, but they were a whole lot better than anything Art had ever seen. In no time, all their baggage had been brought up, and they were all making themselves comfortable.
Once Art had put up their possessions as bes ^p> lo tht he could, the Count told him to sit and listen. “I am actually a merchant in this guise,” he told him. “I do a lot of business between these two countries, so I visit here once a year, just to check up on things personally. I have never met the man who runs Hanpo, but I know who he is. Our two countries exchange ambassadors. He is much younger than me, and virtually a novice, so he won’t have any designs in our direction for a long time.”
Art thought for a bit and asked, “Do we have an ambassador to Arglaria too?”
“We have ambassadors to all our neighbouring countries except Arglaria and one other. Ambassadors have to have the Will as they have to be able to communicate with us directly. No one has been willing to go there since the last ambassador was killed. That was fifteen years ago. I think that was around the time the High Priestess started to become a little deranged. She sent his head back. He was one of your brothers.” The Count leant back for a moment as he relived the memory, and then went on, “But today we are here as merchants, so we are going to visit my office.” He then sprang up, and waved Art to follow him.
Art and the Count, with Beech
Art didn’t reply for a while as he tried to make sense of what he had been told. “You mean, we don’t use the Will?”
“Of course we use the Will. We use it when we are sure no one can see us, and when using it will leave no evidence.”
The Count called a halt and said, “This is far enough. Arch, please get the steel links and a spare saddlebag over here.” The Count proved he would use the Will. Five minutes later, the steel links and the spare saddlebag had become four very workmanlike swords with leather scabbards, along with more than a few knives.
The Count tossed one of the swords to Art, telling him, “Belt this on, and if you’re lucky, I’ll show you which end to hold!” When Art had buckled it on, the Count looked at Art, and said,“I am a merchant who deals in nuts and spices. You are my son, and Beech and Arch are my bodyguards. We have no goods because they have all been sold. That is all the locals need to know.”
They all saddled back up and moved out.
13
They continued along the track, and before long they came to a fair sized town. “Just follow me,” the Count told the others, “We are going to a very nice inn, where they are expecting us.”
A few more minutes riding brought them to a very grand building, with a tunnel running through it. The Count motioned them through, and they came to a very clean, well appointed courtyard, one side of which was flanked by a smart stable block.
The group was immediately greeted by an extremely obsequious fellow, who said very happily, “My Lord Farnham, how nice it is to see you again! Welcome back to the The Merchant’s Rendezvous.”
Grooms were all over them in an instant. Art was helped off his horse almost before he knew it, and was told, “Your master’s baggage will be delivered to your suite.”
Art was by now so inured to sudden changes that he simply fell in behind the Count and followed as the obsequious fellow directed them to their rooms.
The accommodations that they were assigned were not palatial, but they were a whole lot better than anything Art had ever seen. In no time, all their baggage had been brought up, and they were all making themselves comfortable.
Once Art had put up their possessions as bes ^p> lo tht he could, the Count told him to sit and listen. “I am actually a merchant in this guise,” he told him. “I do a lot of business between these two countries, so I visit here once a year, just to check up on things personally. I have never met the man who runs Hanpo, but I know who he is. Our two countries exchange ambassadors. He is much younger than me, and virtually a novice, so he won’t have any designs in our direction for a long time.”
Art thought for a bit and asked, “Do we have an ambassador to Arglaria too?”
“We have ambassadors to all our neighbouring countries except Arglaria and one other. Ambassadors have to have the Will as they have to be able to communicate with us directly. No one has been willing to go there since the last ambassador was killed. That was fifteen years ago. I think that was around the time the High Priestess started to become a little deranged. She sent his head back. He was one of your brothers.” The Count leant back for a moment as he relived the memory, and then went on, “But today we are here as merchants, so we are going to visit my office.” He then sprang up, and waved Art to follow him.
Art and the Count, with Beech
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