Solar Storm: The Survivors: Book 5 by Robert I. Katz

Author:Robert I. Katz [Katz, Robert I.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-04-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The caravan, with Jamis and Ellie, left three days later. Such caravans were common, and travelled on well-known and public schedules, transporting goods and people all over the continent. In addition to these more tangible assets, they routinely carried letters and small packages from one place to another, for which they charged a reasonable but not exorbitant sum. Letters, after all, took up little room.

For a man in Damien’s position, sometimes entrusted with tasks best kept confidential, this transport system was useful but regarded with caution. Letters could be stolen, after all, or opened by others than the intended recipient, which is why they were often written in code.

Damien deposited several such letters with the caravan, for which he was given a receipt. The letters were copies of the ones he had entrusted to Jamis and Ellie. Just in case…

Damien and his squadron saw the wagons assembling in the main square of the Merchant’s Quarter—he had made it a point to wander by at the appropriate time—and saw them again as they exited the city and began the long trek to the Wast. Jamis saw Damien in the distance, grinned at him, held up two fingers and nodded. Damien sighed in relief. They should be in Torlon within three weeks.

Damien had arranged to meet every two days with Richie Adams in an alley near the Red Bear. Richie and his little band of beggar boys had periodically delivered information regarding the movement of the ten men at the Golden Dragon. Two of these men, apparently the leaders, had visited Cavanaugh Trading once and had gone to a brothel near the river three times. On the first of these occasions, Lars Dumont had also been there. This may or may not have been a coincidence. Otherwise, all ten men stayed close to their quarters.

Damien assumed they were waiting for something.

“This is Benny,” Richie Adams said. Benny was a cherubic little guy who appeared no older than seven. He had round, rosy cheeks, golden curly hair and bright blue eyes. He was no angel, however. “This the guy paying us?”

“He is,” Richie said.

“Huh. You don’t look like much.”

“Neither do you,” Damien said. “Do you have something for me?”

Benny picked his nose, moodily inspected his finger and wiped it on his shirt. “Maybe. What are you paying?”

Richie sighed. “Just tell him.”

Benny glanced at Richie, gave a small shrug and said, “Six men, strangers, arrived yesterday at an inn near the river, the Waterfront. They’re big, and they all have swords. One of them carried a small wooden chest. This morning, they rode out and split up into two. One group rode toward Dumont’s territory. The others headed for the Merchants’ Quarter. The ones headed for the merchants had the chest. All six came back a couple of hours later, without the chest.”

Six more strangers…that made sixteen, and something delivered to somebody in the Merchants’ Quarter. Interesting. Damien flipped a silver coin to Benny, who snatched it out of the air. “Thanks. Nice doing business with you.

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