The Shewstone Page 19

  He blinked, clearly unsure how to address her in return. “Yes?”

  “I wondered if somebody I met recently was here.”

  “Who?”

  “Oswald Husa Eastandune.”

  Eawynn tried to maintain a calm expression. This might easily turn out badly, yet there was no indirect way to get the information. What could she do, hang around the temple and see if she overheard a mention of him?

  The name was evidently familiar to the priest. His blink rate increased. “I’m afraid you’ve missed him. Our beloved brother is gone. He passed through Sideamuda a half month ago.”

  Eawynn tried to look disappointed rather than relieved. “That’s a shame. I found him…” She had intended to say helpful, but sensed this would not fit the priest’s expectations. “Inspirational.”

  “As he is to us all.” The smile said she had picked the right word.

  Eawynn inclined her head in farewell and left the temple. What to do next? She could go back to the hostel and talk things over with Matt, but what was there to discuss? The Shewstone and Oswald had gone to Cyningesburg, and they had to follow.

  Since people were living in the old capital, they needed goods brought in from the outside world, which meant wagons must go from the port. She knew where the portgerefan office was in relation to the harbour, and could find her way there. If the staff were not able to arrange travel to Cyningesburg, Eawynn was sure they would know who could.

  From the plaza outside the Temple of Liffrea, a wide avenue ran, arrow straight, down the hillside to the harbour, passing through the most imposing of the town gates, double the size of the ones they had entered by. It would be a more direct route back to the portgerefan office.

  Her permit got Eawynn through these gates as easily as the others. However, here she was greeted by a sight she and Matt had missed before. On either side of the gate stood two gibbets, each with a hanging iron cage. Two cages contained shrivelled corpses, and one was empty. The last held a figure whose age was hard to guess, due to the filthy, emaciated state. Only the beard let Eawynn be certain of the condemned man’s gender. Breath whistled through his scab-encrusted lips. His eyes were open and moving, tracking the flight of seagulls above the mastheads. Eawynn assumed the convict was being given water, but not food, and was in the final stages of starving to death. Sickened, she hurried by.

  At the first intersection, Eawynn turned aside. The lane was narrow, crowded, and stank, but she was pleased to be out of sight of the gibbets and their contents. Even if it was not the best route, the dock precinct was too small to get lost in. At the next junction, she paused, trying to get her bearings. In her head, the portgerefan office was to the left, but the alley looked even less inviting than the one she was on. Should she go back to the main road and simply follow it down to the quay?

  Without warning, Eawynn was struck on the back of her head, but not by a punch. Something had been thrown at her. Something soft enough to startle rather than hurt. A lump of horse dung dropped from her hair to her shoulder and rolled off. Eawynn turned in time to see two children running off. Except the girl did not look where she was going and cannoned into a patrolling soldier. The boy got away.

  The captured child stopped struggling after the fourth blow she received, possibly because she had been knocked senseless, but that did not save her from another three. Other soldiers arrived, including one with a captain’s emblem on his chest, who took command.

  “Are you all right, ma’am?”

  “Nothing a wash won’t fix.”

  “Don’t fear. Your assailant will be severely dealt with.”

  “I…” Eawynn paused. Was the beating not sufficient? She thought of the gibbet. “What will happen to the child?”

  “That’ll be for the judge, ma’am. Most likely she’ll be whipped or sold as a slave.”

  Eawynn was appalled. The girl was young, not into her teens. “It was just a childish prank. I’m not hurt. And look, her hands are clean. She wasn’t the one who threw it.”

  The captain shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. She ran. She’ll do. The Thraelas need the lesson to keep them in their place.”

  Six black-cloaked soldiers were now at the scene. They formed a cordon around the prisoner and Eawynn. This was when she became fully aware they now stood in the middle of an empty space. The bustle of the docks had drawn back. People watched from the edges with sullen, guarded expressions. Nobody appeared on the verge of doing or saying anything, but it was not hard to sense the repressed anger.

  The captain put his hand on Eawynn’s arm. “The docks are not a good place to walk alone, and certainly not until the mood calms down. Please, let me escort you to safety.”

  “I was intending to visit the portgerefan office.”

  “You have business there, ma’am?”

  “I need to visit Cyningesburg and wanted to sort out travel.”

  The captain looked surprised. “The portgerefa isn’t the person you need to talk to. You’ll need authorisation. Come, I’ll point you to the Gehrecsele.”

  In formation, the soldiers marched back past the dying convict in his cage and through the gates. The girl was dragged along, unable to walk, though at some stage she recovered enough to start crying.

  Eawynn could not refrain from making one more appeal. “I really am all right. Could you not let the child go?”

  The captain treated her to a hard, searching look. “You’re not suggesting I neglect my duty? I’m responsible for upholding the law. We cannot let these animals think they can get away with insolence.”

  “No. I didn’t mean that, but…” What argument could she use? “I’m a visiting priestess of Anbeorht. My goddess commands me to show mercy to the young.”

  “My understanding was the silver lady of the moon is the agent of fate, dealing to all the hand they deserve.”

  It was the aspect of Anbeorht which had given her dominion over prophesy. “Yes, but she’s also the goddess of childbirth.”

  “Then her care is for Rihtcynn mothers, not the children of Thraelas.”

  Nothing Eawynn could say was going to help, and she might already have gone too far. The captain was looking at her with outright suspicion. The girl was hauled away, but the captain stayed close to Eawynn. He did not lay a hand on her, but she had the feeling he was on the verge of arresting her also.

  “If you please, ma’am, I’ll escort you.”

  They walked up the hill. The Gehrecsele, or government hall, was on the same plaza as the Temple of Liffrea. The captain started to lead Eawynn up the imposing flight of steps.

  Eawynn made one last request. “Thank you, Officer. Now I know where it is. Before I make my case, I’d like to return to my lodging, get myself clean, and change my clothes.”

  “I thought you suffered no harm from the assault. Regardless, I’m sure the attendants will make allowances.” From the set of his lips, he was determined to see her handed over to the authorities inside.

  Did it matter what she wore? There were no clothes in the hostel that would make her look impressive enough to bluster her way to Cyningesburg. She would have to find another way to swing the argument. Eawynn let herself be led inside the echoing entrance hall.

  The captain hailed a woman dressed in a purple tunic, with the emblem of a hawk hanging around her neck. “Madam Examiner, this woman tells me she’s a priestess of Anbeorht and that she wishes to go to Cyningesburg.” He smiled at Eawynn. “Good fortune in your endeavour, ma’am.” His tone implied she would need it.

  Over the following hour, Eawynn learned that asking to visit Cyningesburg provoked a definite reaction. She was passed from one official to the next, while the rooms and uniforms became steadily more ornate. Then the decor shifted the other way. The doors got heavier, the windows smaller and soldiers started to outnumber civilians. The Gehrecsele would contain law courts and the associated holding prison. As she passed the top of stone steps, a scream echoed from underground. Of course, there would be dungeons.
Eawynn wondered if she was about to be taken down into the darkness, but her escort led her on.

  Eventually, she was shown into a cell-like room and the soldiers took up stations outside the door. Bars were anchored over the window, but she was not a prisoner—yet. A man and a woman sat waiting for her. The woman wore priestly robes; the man was in civilian dress. They did not introduce themselves.

  These were the important ones, Eawynn was sure. These were the people who could give her permission to travel, or could ensure she never left the building. Luckily, she did not need to worry about appearing nervous. Excessive confidence would be suspicious.

  The man indicated for Eawynn to take a seat. “We understand you wish to visit Cyningesburg. May we ask why?”

  “Yes. Of course.” Eawynn had used her time to decide how to play things. Would it work? She would only get the one chance. “I used to be a priestess of Anbeorht, in Fortaine.”

  “Used to be?” The woman cut in. “How have you left?”

  “I confess, I absconded. But I had my reasons.”

  “Go on.”

  “I was responsible for looking after a holy artefact, the Shewstone. I tended the sacrarium where it was kept.”

  Both officials responded to mention of the Shewstone, exchanging a glance, although they said nothing. Eawynn tried not to look relieved, but her story would be on much surer footing if they already knew about it.

  “Our high priestess, Insightful Sister Oracle, used it to foretell the future. I was a mere junior. I assisted her, though I never consulted the Shewstone myself. Then one day, when I was alone in the sacrarium, the stone spoke to me. It told me it would be leaving Fortaine, and I was to follow it, to Cyningesburg.”

  “The Shewstone spoke to you? You’re sure?”

  “Yes. I mean, at first I didn’t believe it. I thought I was maybe going down with a fever and imagining things, but it happened three times. Then, the day after the last time it spoke, the Shewstone vanished.” Eawynn held out her hands, palms up. “I hadn’t thought it possible for the Shewstone to go like that. So the speaking can’t have been my imagination. The Shewstone must have been foretelling the future, and it wants me to go to Cyningesburg. “

  “So you followed it?”

  “Yes. I had to. I tried to tell the temple elders, but nobody believed me. It was the hardest decision of my life, but I had to obey. I left the temple and made my way here.” Eawynn looked the man in the eye. “The Shewstone is in Cyningesburg, isn’t it?”

  He sunk back in his chair, rested his elbows on the arms, and interlaced his fingers, studying Eawynn intently. “Yes.” He looked at his companion. “Do we need to discuss this further?”

  The woman pursed her lips in thought. “No. I don’t think we need to.” There was the faintest stress on the word we.

  He nodded and faced Eawynn. “You should definitely go to Cyningesburg. There are people who’ll want to talk to you.”

  The wave of relief made Eawynn lightheaded. She had not been totally successful in persuading herself this was the only possible outcome. It did not matter whether the officials in Sideamuda believed her story or not. Whoever had ordered the theft of the Shewstone would want to know how she had discovered where it had gone.

  She now had the time it took to travel to Cyningesburg to work on her story. She had to convince Oswald Husa Eastandune she was telling the truth. Otherwise there was a nasty risk he would have her executed. One day at a time.

  “A supply caravan is leaving the day after tomorrow. You’ll have a place on it,” the man said. “Present yourself and your baggage on the docks outside the portgerefan office at dawn.”

  “Will I need to bring my own supplies?”

  “Everything you need for the journey will be provided.”

  “May I bring a servant to wait on me?”

  “No servants.”

  “Will I have to take care of my own belongings?” Eawynn worked on sounding incredulous.

  The man sighed. “The only Thraelas permitted in Cyningesburg are slaves. If you’re certain you require personal assistance, there’s a market in the Golden Lion Plaza every morning. I’m sure you’ll be able to pick up someone suitable for your needs.”

  “Thank you.”

  Eawynn was escorted from the Gehrecsele, coughing repeatedly in the struggle not to laugh. Matt was not going to like it at all.

  *

  “A slave!”

  “That’s what they said.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “It’s the only way.”

  Matt wrapped one hand around the other, clenched in a fist. Maybe Eawynn was telling the truth, but she was enjoying it far too much. Matt started her next sentence three times before giving up.

  Eawynn was smirking. “Come on. Don’t you think I did well? I’ve got us both on a caravan to Cyningesburg.”

  “Yeah. You’re a natural liar.”

  “You don’t need to be like that.”

  “I mean it. You told the bare minimum of lies you had to, and as much truth as you could get away with. It’s an art. Congratulations. I couldn’t have done better myself. As I said, you’re a natural.” Eawynn pouted a little, but Matt could tell her amusement was undented.

  “We’ll need new clothes. How are we off for money?”

  “Some sacking for me shouldn’t be too expensive.” Matt tried not to sound bothered. She might as well take it like an adult, if only to deny Eawynn the pleasure of winding her up. “But as long as I have hands, money isn’t a problem.”

  “You’re planning on stealing it?”

  “It’s what I do.”

  “Supposing you get caught?”

  “I won’t.”

  Eawynn’s smirk had gone into retreat. Then it shifted to within an inch of awkwardness. “I suppose we’ll have to get a collar for you.”

  “I’ll take care of it.” Matt looked out the window. The afternoon was progressing, but she still had a clear two hours before dusk. “I better go now. We’ve only got the rest of today and tomorrow to sort it out.”

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “No.”

  “You think I’ll get in the way of your thievery?”

  “I’d prefer not having an audience gasp at the wrong time. But more importantly, we should avoid being seen together, until you present me as your latest acquisition.”

  “I guess we might run into someone.”

  “Might? I’d lay money on you being followed back here.”

  “Oh.” Eawynn looked suitably rattled.

  “We just have to hope they’re not too diligent about questioning the landlady.”

  Matt had no difficulty spotting the watcher in the street outside, but the young man showed no reaction to her. So either he did not know, or did not care about Eawynn’s servant. Even so, Matt took her time, making sure she was not tailed before continuing with her plans, which involved finding someone with a large purse.

  The mark she selected was a portly gentleman with thinning red hair. His shirt was of the loose smock style favoured in the region, except he had eaten a few too many big dinners for it to be loose. The material was riding up over his expanded waist, revealing the heavy coin purse tied to his belt. Even better, difficulty reaching over his own stomach meant the knot he had tied was likely to slip apart all by itself. Even had Matt not needed the money, he would still have been far too tempting a target to ignore.

  The scene she had witnessed from the window told her that colliding with him, no matter how accidental she made it seem, was not wise. She would need a different opportunity. Fortunately, this did not take long. They soon encountered a street corner gathering, listening to someone ranting from the top of a block. Matt could not tell if the speaker was a preacher, a politician, or a rather bad salesman. Not that it mattered. She sped up to enter the crowd a step behind her mark and emerged the other side with his purse hidden inside her jacket.

  In a back alley, she transferred a little of the money t
o her own purse, hid the rest in her boots and left the empty pouch on the ground. This turned out to be a wise move. Before allowing her through the city gate, the soldiers subjected her to a cursory search. This was most likely a case of following rules, judging by their lack of thoroughness. The soldiers seemed otherwise content with her permit, and the story of a mistress who must have fresh fish off a newly docked boat rather than day old stuff from the market in town.

  “Plaice or sole. She likes the flat fish.”

  “Huh.”

  “Do you know what the catch is today?”

  “Ascest se fiscereas.”

  A firm shove sent Matt stumbling on her way. The soldiers understood Tradetalk, but took it as an insult if you tried to make them speak it.

  Matt reached the waterside and stood on the dock looking around. The Blue Puffin had just left, which was mixed news. She would have liked a safe base to work from, but on the positive side, it meant there was nobody to question about Eawynn’s arrival in Sideamuda.

  Normally, Matt would have chosen a central vantage point to stand while she got a feel for the docks. But as she had already seen, the style of the game in Sideamuda was different from the one she was used to. Standing in the same spot for too long would attract attention. She would have to keep moving and act like someone on their way to do something legitimate somewhere else. Yet it was still the same game. All she had to do was study the ripples in the action, see who was watching and who was being watched.

  It took Matt two complete lengths of the harbour before she found the person she was after, also striding purposefully along the quay with no sign of getting any closer to his destination. He was a nondescript man, wearing ordinary clothes, who could walk a line through the chaotic crowd as straight as the soldiers’ patrols. People got out of his way and did not look back.

  The dock handler gave Matt a thoughtful look when she fell in beside him, but said nothing until they reached an empty spot on the quay, allowing a few moments when they would not be overheard.

  “Can I help you?”

  “I’m looking for Fish Eye Ellis.”

  “You’ve found him. What do you want?”