Lackey, Mercedes - Valdemar 03 by Mercedes Lackey

Author:Mercedes Lackey [Lackey, Mercedes]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2011-06-11T14:54:30+00:00

Chapter Seven

Kris had been deaf, he might have been able to sleep through the noise of the night guards coming in and the day guards getting up. Since he wasn’t, he made a virtue of the inevitable and got up with them. He found Talia, still sleepy-eyed, waiting for him in the mess hall; she’d had the foresight to claim two breakfasts from the cook. Their host put in an appearance just as they were finishing.

“Well, I’ve got your instructions. I’m to give you maps, and you’re not to wait for an escort but to go on to the capital. You’re to check in with relay stations at sunset before you stop for the night.”

“Sounds simple enough,” Kris replied. “I really wanted to get on not that your hospitality isn’t appreciated, but I’d rather not strain your resources. Just as well we’re not going to have to wait for an escort.”

“I’ll admit I was glad to hear I didn’t need to supply you with one,” their host said frankly. “I’m shorthanded enough, and if half of what I’ve heard is true, none of our beasts could ever hope to keep pace with yours, Byway.”

“It’s true enough,” Kris replied with pardonable pride. “There isn’t a horse born that can match the speed and endurance of a Companion.”

“All right, what you’ll do is follow the main road to the capital it’s easy enough and stay overnight at Alenandar’s hostels. They’ll always be on the main square of town; there’ll be a Guardpost nearby, and they’ll look Wee inns. The only difference between a hostel and an inn is that the sign outside will have a wheat sheaf in a crown. Oh you do speak our language, don’t you?”

“Perfectly,” Kris replied in Hardornen.

“Oh, good I thought they wouldn’t have sent anybody that didn’t, but you never know and once you get a few miles off the Border nobody speaks Valdemaren.”

“I can’t say that surprises me too much,” Talia put in, in slow, clear Hardornen. “Once you get a few miles off our Border no one except Heralds speaks yours!”

“Right then, you can be on your way as soon as you’re ready. Here’s your map,” he handed Kris a folded packet “and best of luck to you.”

“Thanks,” Kris said, both of them rising and heading for the door.

“And don’t forget,” he called after them as they headed for the stables, “Check in with the relay towers every night. The capital wants to be able to keep track of you.”

The first day passed without incident. Alessandar’s people seemed as content as Seienay’s; they were friendly, and looked quite prosperous, at least from a distance.

“Isn’t there supposed to be a village along here soon?” Talia asked around noon.

Kris pulled the map they’d been given out of his beltpouch and consulted it. “Assuming I haven’t been misreading this let’s see if we can find a native.”

One more turning of the road brought them to a grove of trees in the roadside corner of a fenced field. Beneath

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