[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.They searched the market for a likely test and found that Tanis was right—the hapless light-globe vendor had indeed restocked his stall, although his few customers appeared wary of buying.Jael took a tiny sip of Bluebright from the bottle stashed in her tunic, barely wetting her tongue-tip, and waited a few moments to be sure it had taken effect.This time she planned to take no chances on destroying the merchant’s entire stock; Tanis, grumbling, bought a light globe and carried it into an alley where they had a least a little privacy and where passersby would not be harmed.To Jael’s delight, however, stare and concentrate as she might, the globe remained intact.Even when she boldly held it in both hands, the globe was unharmed, although Jael could still feel the tingling awareness of the magic.Unfortunately, the Bluebright would eventually wear off, and then the light globe would become a danger, so they simply left it there in the alley, Tanis still grumbling about the two Moons wasted.Tanis claimed his new sword, and Jael knew enough about swords to be impressed with the workmanship and the quality of the southern steel, as Tanis had said.Jael was glad to see he’d chosen a plain leather-wrapped hilt and a scabbard bare of any ornamentation; as Tanis had told her, they’d have to pass through cities again on their return, and it would be best not to tempt other thieves with expensive-looking gear.They bought a few meat pies to munch while they walked from horse merchant to horse merchant.At last, to Jael’s surprise, Tanis bought four study northern ponies from the very merchant Jael had helped the first day she was in the market.After a little thought, however, Jael appreciated Tanis’s wisdom.The merchant, upon spying Jael, rambled on enthusiastically for some time about how effectively Jael’s treatment of his ponies had solved his problem, and gave Tanis a nice price on the ponies once he realized that Tanis was her companion.The ponies were calm and sturdy, better suited to the rough and rocky terrain if they had to journey through mountains, and they could live on rougher forage and less grain than the horses.An additional benefit, as Tanis told Jael later, was that the ponies were excellent beasts but by no means attractive or expensive-looking, and therefore less likely to be stolen.“They’re good-tempered creatures,” Tanis said approvingly as he and Jael led the ponies back through the confusion of the market to the inn, where they could be loaded.“But they’d have to be, to be boated to Zaravelle and then sold in this noise and scramble.Their hooves are tough and their teeth are good, too.We’d have paid less in Tilwich, no doubt, but I’m satisfied.With four ponies, we can load them more lightly, and that’s to the good when there aren’t any more roads.”Jael said nothing, but she felt a pang of regret when she thought of their three beautiful horses.Still, the ponies were more practical for this part of their journey, and Jael admitted to herself that she’d far rather have sold their horses than take them into rough country where rock and harsh living might harm them.Tanis, in turn, was puzzled when Jael stopped at the elves’ herbal shop to purchase a pot of rather pungent-smelling liniment.Jael did not explain, only tucked the pot into their bags.The inn’s stable boy helped them load their packs onto the ponies.It was still a goodly time till sunset, but Jael didn’t mind; she wanted a last look at the marvelous, wide sea before they left, and Tanis eagerly agreed.They found an unused dock and tied the ponies to a post, sitting and staring out at the seemingly endless expanse of water, dangling their feet down.“I wonder if anybody’s ever taken a ship and just sailed off in one direction or another,” Jael mused.“Not along the coast, just straight out to see what’s there.”“That would be foolish,” Tanis said, shrugging.“Ships are expensive, and so are the crews to sail them.You don’t just take one and light out in a direction as we’re doing, not knowing what’s at the end.How would you know how much food to take, or what trade goods you might want even if you found someone to trade with?”“I’d go anyway,” Jael said wistfully.“Just to see what’s there.Just to go someplace where nobody’s ever been.”Tanis laughed.“I believe you would,” he said ruefully.“And, by Baaros, I believe you’d find a way to make me want to go with you, too.”“But you like this better, don’t you?” Jael asked, turning to look at him.“Strange cities with busy markets, people selling things we’ve never seen and speaking languages we don’t understand.”Tanis grinned and shrugged.“From a Mercantile House to a Mercantile Temple to the Guild of Thieves,” he said.“We all want the same things, more or less, and those things come with cities and people.But I’ve enjoyed traveling, too, when we have food to eat and aren’t being rained on or in danger of our lives every moment.Still, even the uncomfort able parts, they’re things we won’t forget.They’re the makings of stories, you know, to tell Markus and Mera when you get back— Jael’s adventures in the great, wide, unknown world.”“Adventures,” Jael repeated, savoring the word.“That’s true, although I’d never thought of it—we’re making stories, stories that people may tell in the market or in taverns in Allanmere, like the story of Mother and the daggertooth.”“Well, now we’re in the makings of another story,” Tanis said, laughing [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]