Blackstone (Book 2) (11 page)

Tran, on the opposite end of the room, came over with a good
natured grin on his face. “By, I don’t think this will work.”

“It will, it will,” Beirly insisted, gesturing for him to
stop talking and start leaning.

“You’ll bust the trunk trying,” Tran warned, but willingly
knelt down and braced both hands against the trunk’s top, pushing with
considerable force. The trunk gave an alarming moaning sound.

Sylvie’s fingers flew into action and she snapped the
leather straps into place. “Done!”

Satisfied, Beirly hopped off the trunk and pointed at it
victoriously. “See!”

The word was barely out of his mouth before the leather
straps snapped in half.

The whole room busted out laughing, not one of them
sympathetic. Beirly stared down in dismay, no doubt realizing he’d have to
borrow the tools and buy new leather in order to fix this problem.

Shaking her head, Siobhan left him to fix his own mess and
went back to her list.

Grae came and sat next to her, tapping a finger against her
arm to get her attention. “Shi, can we stay for just one more day?”

She tried not to sound exasperated as she responded, “No,
Grae. Everyone keeps asking me that question, but no, we can’t. We’ve already
stayed a week longer than I promised Darrens we’d do.”

His face fell in disappointment. “But they’ve got history
and lost knowledge on pathmaking that I didn’t even know existed! I couldn’t
learn it all in just two weeks.”

Siobhan had been aware that he and Rune were having many
conversations with the historians here, talking about pathmaking, but she
hadn’t been aware that Saoleord had information modern masters didn’t. “What,
you couldn’t get a copy of their records?”

“Too many of them,” he explained with a helpless splay of
the hands. “And their records were scattered in different libraries all over
the mountain. I barely scratched the surface.”

Oh. Alright, she understood the problem a little better now.
Torn, she wrestled with herself for a moment, because no one really wanted to
leave right now. But she also realized that this feeling wouldn’t be any better
if she delayed their departure another week.

“We can’t stay longer,” she said gently, sympathetic. “We
came up here for a reason, remember? To get expert help in stopping a disaster
from happening.”

Grae gave an unhappy nod, resigned. “I know.”

Ducking her head, she tried to catch his eyes and bring his
head back up. “But you know, we’ll have to return those experts once we’re done
with them.”

He blinked, then his head snapped up, a happy smile lighting
his face. “That’s true. We’ll have to come back here, won’t we? Can we stay
longer then?”

“I’m thinking at least a month stay next time.” With an
exaggerated inclination of the head toward the packing madness she added dryly,
“With at least four empty carts coming along with us.”

In a rare burst of excitement, Grae threw his arms around
her shoulders and hugged her hard before bouncing up to his feet. Siobhan
blinked at the suddenness of it, not having the wits to return the gesture,
before Grae was gone. He went straight to Markl and announced, “Siobhan said
that when we come back, we can stay for a month!”

Markl’s head snapped up and the same delighted smile lit his
face. “Really? Excellent! We’ll need at least that amount of time to do any
sort of research.”

“Let’s figure out a way to divide the mountain, give each
other an idea of what we’re both looking for,” Grae suggested, sinking into a
comfortable position in front of him. “That way we can cover more ground.”

“Siobhan.” Conli waited until she faced him before advising
dryly, “I think you’d better bring more than four carts.”

“How about eight?” she suggested, half-seriously.

“At least eight. Those two between them will haul a full
library home.”

“And you?” she challenged, indicating the reams of notebooks
he had filled in just two weeks. They were neatly stacked on the table, waiting
to be packed in the case near his side.

“I have a modicum of self-control,” he said, dignified.

Siobhan snorted, not buying that for a minute. “Ha! How much
have you already packed that I haven’t seen?”

“Only half a cart,” he said defensively.

Her eyes rolled in despair. “Only half a cart, he says.
Conli, if everyone in this room packs half a cart, we’ll be two carts short!”

“Isn’t that what Wolf and Tran are for?” The twinkle in his
eye suggested he was teasing.

He still got a reaction, though, as both Wolf and Tran said,
“Hey!” in indignant protest.

As amusing as this was, it made her worry that she really
would have to go scrounge up two more carts from somewhere. She’d already
borrowed three as it was. It’d be embarrassing to go back and ask for more. “People,
tell me that not everyone needs a half a cart.”

“I don’t,” Rune volunteered.

Alright, that was a step in the right direction. “How much
space do you need?”

“Just two bags.”

So he had done some shopping while up here, apparently, just
not as much as others. “Good. Tran, Wolf? Are you the same?” Getting confirming
nods, she breathed a little easier. “Denney?”

“Four bags and a trunk,” Denney admitted.

Still not too bad, that would take up a third of a cart.
“Sylvie?”

Sylvie chewed on her bottom lip, trying to look innocent. “I
haven’t finished packing everything yet, but…do you want my optimistic estimate
or pessimistic?”

That didn’t bode well. “Pessimistic.”

“A cart.”

The whole room growled at her and a few indignant versions
of “Sylvie!” were heard.

“If memory serves, half of what I bought was under request
from certain people in this room,” she responded archly, giving a challenging
stare all around her.

Since Siobhan was one of them, she decided not to poke at
that particular beehive anymore. “Grae?”

“Four bags.”

And they were likely mostly notes, like Conli. “Markl?”

“Ah…four trunks and a bag?”

Mercy preserve her. “Beirly?”

Beirly gave her a sheepish grin and didn’t respond.

She heaved a sigh. “Do I even want to know?”

“Probably not?”

Siobhan lifted her eyes to the ceiling and prayed for
patience. “People. Let me make this clear. We have four carts and our own backs
to carry things off this mountain with. And you
must
leave room for our
delegates to put their bags on the carts. I don’t care how you do it, but make
sure what you have somehow fits on those four carts with a little room to
spare, alright?”

Getting a chorus of assents, she hoped for the best and went
back to her list.

The day of their departure dawned damp and cool. The weather
in the mountains was mercurial at the best of times, and in spite of the fair
weather of the day before, today was apparently destined to have a light, misty
fog. It made the last minute packing of their four carts a little miserable.
Wolf, personally, couldn’t wait to leave for the lowlands so they could escape
it.

He stood silently by and watched people, keeping a general
eye on their comings and goings. Siobhan was busy running back and forth
between one cart and another, running through her usual checklist. The
anti-morning people seemed to be dragging through the motions, but of course
kept forgetting things and having to go back. Or open a pack to double check
that everything was in there. The more morning-oriented of the bunch were ready
to go, bouncing up and down on their toes in gestures of impatience.

Hyun Woo entered the yard and gave a slight bow of greeting.
Wolf returned the gesture, privately relieved that the man had chosen—no,
demanded—to return with them. The strategist was very, very good at his job.
Better, he was good at teaching others what he knew. Wolf couldn’t have dreamed
of a more perfect person to help them.

He noticed in amusement that his strategy master had not one
pack, but two, one of which promptly got tied onto one of the carts. The other bulged
at the seams, strapped firmly to the man’s back. It must have weighed several
stone, but Hyun Woo didn’t seem in the least fazed by the weight.

Luggage settled, he came to stand at Wolf’s side. “Good
morning, Wolfinsky.”

“Good morning, Hyun-zhi.” Seeing that Ryu Jin Ho and Cha Ji
An were right behind his mentor, Wolf offered, “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” both of them responded in near perfect sync.

“I realized last night that I have failed to ask you
questions that I need answers to.” The way that Hyun Woo said this, it was not
an open question, but more a request for Wolf’s attention.

The man had never left Saoleord before. He must have a ton
of things he needed to know. Wolf was surprised he hadn’t been getting
questions sooner than this. With an encouraging wave of the hand, he responded,
“Ask.”

“What dangers do you regularly face in Robarge?”

Now there was a loaded question. Wolf had to think for a
moment on how to even start answering. Finally, he went with the first thing
that sprang to mind and went from there.

Hyun Woo listened attentively, eyes trained on Wolf’s face,
his attention not once wavering. Wolf noticed that as he responded, both Ryu
Jin Ho and Cha Ji An drifted closer, also listening in. He silently approved
them doing so. Wolf wasn’t a man that enjoyed repeating himself.

He hadn’t thought that anyone in the guild was paying
attention to this conversation, as they were still flitting in and out of their
lodgings, packing things into the already crammed carts. But Tran obviously
was, as he came to stand at Wolf’s elbow to add, “Cha Ji An-jia, when we leave
the mountains, there are certain precautions you must take at that time.”

Cha Ji An pointed a finger toward her nose. “Me only?”

“Vahh.” Tran lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “Because you are
a woman, there are dangers you will face the others won’t.”

“We keep a closer eye on the women,” Wolf admitted to her
frankly. “If we don’t, it seems they always get harassed the minute our back is
turned. The people of our city have learned not to mess with our women,” the
hard way, “but you are a new face. It will take time before they realize you
are with us. It’s safer to stay with at least one other person when you leave
the Hall. And never, ever go out near sunset without an escort.”

“Not even our girls do that,” Tran added.

Cha Ji An’s eyes darted between the two of them, studying
their expressions. It was clear from her face that the idea of being in danger
simply walking out of the house was alien to her and she couldn’t wrap her head
around it. “What happens if I walk about without an escort?”

“We’re forced to break bones,” Tran informed her seriously.

“Sometimes buildings,” Wolf added, just as seriously.

Tran grimaced in memory. “And pay fines.”

“Well, Siobhan pays the fines,” Wolf corrected. “They come
out of our pay, though.”

Her brows twisted up in a dubious scrunch, obviously not
sure if they were joking or not.

Fei, passing by, stopped long enough to give her a bow. “Cha
Ji An-jia, the dangers they speak of are not trifles. Many a fight has been
over the safety of our guildmates. Please do not go out without an escort. I
ask this of you.”

His simple sincerity made it clear to her and her confusion
cleared. She bowed back to all three men and responded somberly, “My safety is
in your hands.”

“We will always be available to you if you wish to go,” Fei
assured her quietly. “Please do not ever think that asking us is an imposition.
The safety of our guild, of our guests, is always the first priority. We would
rather go with you, no matter how simple the errand, rather than worry.”

Her formality eased up a notch and a slight smile lifted the
corners of her eyes. “I understand, Man Fei Lei-gui.”

Satisfied, he gave her another bow before moving off.

Wolf watched him go, secretly relieved that Fei was with
them that morning. He, like Siobhan, had been worried they would lose the man
to his hometown. After eight years of being out of contact with his family, it
had to be hard to leave again, not knowing when they would return next. But Fei
had not seemed to have any second thoughts about returning to Goldschmidt. Wolf
wasn’t quite sure why, but intended to ask him about it the next time they had
a private moment.

If Siobhan didn’t beat him to it first.

From the other side of the carts, he could hear her voice
call out, “Is everyone ready? Do I have everyone?”

Knowing what would come next, he gave a quick nod to his
guests in a gesture of excusal, then went around to her side. Siobhan never
just assumed she had everyone but instead did a headcount. With this many
people and carts, there was no way for her to see over everything. She didn’t
have the stature for that.

As soon as she saw him, she gestured him closer. “Wolf, do a
headcount for me.”

He automatically counted the people he just spoke with, then
turned in a slow circle, taking in everyone. “Fourteen, including us.”

“Then we’re good to go.” Satisfied, she clapped her hands
together in a loud slap. “Head out!”

Siobhan had already organized them, so they knew which order
to roll out in, and no one jockeyed for position. Deepwoods was an old hand at
traveling, so it was only their guests that seemed uncertain where to fall in
to the ranks. Wolf fell to the very back of the line, as was his habit, so that
he could keep an eye on everyone.

Cha Ji An chose to walk at his side, adjusting the straps on
her pack to more comfortably ride on her shoulders. He eyed the size of the
pack doubtfully. It was almost larger than her torso. Would she be able to
carry that for the next three days?

“Cha Ji An-jia, there is room on the cart for your pack.”

“There is none,” she negated cheerfully, darting a smile at
him. “But do not worry. I carry more than this for my work. I am used to the
weight.”

If she said so. Although he would keep an eye on her
regardless. If she started flagging, he could always carry it for her.

“Markl-gui explained to me that Robarge is not one for
formalities.”

Her tone invited a response so he replied, “We aren’t.”

“Then may I call you Erik-gui?”

Wolf wasn’t used to anyone calling him by his first name.
Even Siobhan only did it when she was telling him something important. “Or
Wolf-gui, whichever you wish.”

“Yes,” her head cocked slightly, brow wrinkling into a
slight frown. “I have noticed this nickname. It comes from your family name?”

“Well, not really.” Remembering the source of it, a wry
smile tugged at his lips. “The first year I was in the guild was rough. I
earned the nickname then.” Mostly by growling at everyone.

“Ah, yes.” Her eyes darted toward the front of the line.
“Siobhan-jia told me an abridged version of your story.”

Everyone on this mountain had seemed interested in his life
history. Mostly because of his iron right hand. Or so he assumed.

“One of the reasons we so carefully listened to her is
because of you,” Cha Ji An confided.

Wolf blinked at her, surprised. Him?

“And the rest of your guild,” she continued, noticing his
reaction. “All of you respect her, so we listened to her words. A leader that
has such respect is one worth listening to. But we were ready to help her
because of the true affection each of you holds for her. Respect can be won by
a good leader. Love can only be had by a great one.”

So that was it? That was why they’d so readily agreed to
help? Because they saw that Siobhan was someone worth trusting? Wolf had
assumed that Fei had played some part in this, but apparently not.

A purely female expression crossed her face. “You,
especially, have a deep love for her.”

Siobhan had pulled him from a hell on earth darker than
anyone should have to face. In spite of his bad history, she never once thought
less of him for it. Of course, that wasn’t really the reason why he loved
Siobhan, and not what she meant by it, but he wasn’t comfortable confiding
everything into this woman. Instead he said, “You know my story. How can I
not?”

She smiled so brightly that her eyes nearly disappeared. “Do
you know the reason I was chosen to go? I begged for it, actually. Because each
person in your guild is like you—a good person that cares deeply for the
others. Being around all of you brings joy to me.” In a more practical manner,
she added, “And because this is a rare opportunity to go into the outside world
and learn more about it.”

He’d lay odds that last part had more to do with it, but it
was kind of her to say otherwise. “You are an ambassador for this trip, I’m
told.”

“Indeed so. I usually negotiate between groups over land
rights, or trade agreements, but they judged my skills sufficient for this.”

Fei had told him last night that this woman was famous for
making people reach a compromise even after they’d been embroiled in family
feuds for generations. Wolf was highly glad to have her just for that reason
alone. Making the guilds cooperate would be a feat that none of them had felt
confident to handle. In spite of her reputation, it did puzzle him how she
managed such things. She was just a wisp of a woman. Well, maybe he shouldn’t
judge her by the way she looked. Sylvie wasn’t much larger, and he’d rather
cross a wounded boar than Sylvie. Size did not always matter.

Reminded, he looked up, toward the middle of the group. They
were somewhat hampered by the narrow roads, the carts having just enough room
to go through, but even still Sylvie and Markl walked side by side. For the
past several months they’d been drawn to each other, but he noticed that about
a week ago, they became almost inseparable. Had something happened? It must be
good, as Markl sported a silly smile most of the time.

If those two finally had gotten together, it meant he’d lost
his bet with Beirly.

“As we travel, will you tell me what you know of the guilds
in Robarge?”

Distracted from his thoughts, he turned back to Cha Ji An.
“I thought Markl and Sylvie and Siobhan had done that.”

“When I enter a place I do not know, I gather as much information
from as many people as I can. After all,” she pointed out calmly, “each of you
notice different things.”

Oh. Well, that was true, they were bound to pay attention to
different things as their responsibilities were different. “Well, what do you need
to know?”

“Everything.”

Everything? “That will take a while.”

“It is a long trip,” she pointed out in amusement.

True. And it wasn’t like they had anything else to do except
walk. At least this would pass the time. With a silent shrug of agreement, he
said, “Well, let’s start with the guilds in Goldschmidt.”