The Pool And The Pedestal (Book 2) Read online

  The trio broke out into loud laughter and exited the cell for the kitchens of the Hold.

  CHAPTER 8: RED HAT AND BALD HEAD

  A few days later, Kael stood atop the roof of the Hold practicing his listening abilities. The lad grew bored with the same conversations he picked up from the recruits, so he stepped over to the outer edge of the Hold. People crowded the streets below. He readied himself to focus on the conversation between a merchant and customer when three small figures emerged from the southern gate of the Hold. Chimbre, Sprig and Lilywynn cloaked themselves heavily in order to hide their features from others on the street, but Kael could discern the trio anywhere. They gathered twenty spans from the southern gate and held a brief conference. Chimbre nodded to his sister and headed East , while Sprig turned and disappeared down an alleyway to the West.

  Kael grew used to the trio flitting in and out of the Hold at will. Ader still used them to gather information and their ability to go virtually unnoticed was a great boon to this effort.

  Lilywynn pulled her cloak tightly about her face and moved toward an alleyway to the south. With his sharp eyes, Kael followed her through the gray of the darkened alleyway. The young woman lurched to a halt and turned toward the shadows on her right. She appeared startled, but not alarmed. Kael strained his eyes as a figure moved from the shadows and approached Lilywynn. The young woman shot a glance back toward the Hold and Kael dodged behind a large, water cistern.

  Lilywynn spun back to the figure and became quite animated. Kael wondered what Ader would do in this scenario. Was this a private matter for the young woman? Did he need to discover more? He bit his lip as he fought with the issue. The encounter might not last long and the mysterious figure might disappear as quickly as it appeared.

  The decision was made for him. The figure moved in closer and embraced the young woman. Lilywynn fell into the embrace with ease, but only for a moment. She shoved her admirer away and began a rebuke. A moment later the Elf girl clamped her mouth shut and stomped angrily from the scene.

  The figure turned and pity overcame Kael. Eidyn’s stern face and pursed lips could not hide the depth of disappointment within his eyes.

  The following morning Kael awoke to the sound of the training bell. In the past week he had simply rolled over and covered his head with his pillow. Not today. The Southlander jumped from his bed and hastily dressed. He opened his doorway to find Cefiz asleep in a chair propped against the hallway wall. Kael quietly crept past the Guardsman and headed to the rooftop.

  “I guessed correctly.” stated Ader as Kael burst from the stairway. “You’re ready for more.”

  “Yes. I am.” replied Kael eagerly.

  “Where is your escort.” questioned Ader sweeping his hand behind Kael.

  “I left him sleeping in the hallway below.” smiled Kael.

  Ader grinned back at the boy.

  “Poor Cefiz. He trains every opportunity he gets and spends the remainder of his day chasing after you. He’s a good man, Kael.”

  “I know.” returned Kael earnestly. “I’m lucky to be surrounded by so many good people.”

  Ader nodded in agreement then tossed a garment toward Kael. The boy snatched it from the air and shook it open.

  “A cloak?” questioned Kael.

  “We’re going outside the walls today, you and I, and I don’t want to risk being identified.” stated Ader. “I believe you’ll be safe with me. We shall leave your escort in the hallway catching up on some much needed rest.”

  The Seraph drew a similar cloak about himself and headed toward the stairs. He descended two at a time and before Kael knew it, the pair stood at the southern gate to the Hold. Ader waved a hand at the recruits manning the station there, then turned to Kael.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  Kael quickly draped the cloak around his shoulders and tied it across his neck. He drew the hood up and around his face then nodded to the old man.

  “Excellent.” whispered Ader and he stepped through the gate.

  Ader led the boy out away from the plaza around the Hold and into the winding narrow streets of the city of Zodra. They walked and walked. Kael huffed and puffed to keep up with the surprisingly quick old man. They were gone quite some time and the streets were beginning to fill with Zodrians going about their daily business. Ader stopped unexpectedly and drew Kael in close.

  “What are they talking about?” said the Seraph pointing to a pair of middle aged women standing on the stoop of a tenement house.

  Kael calmed himself and focused. He slowly coaxed his power out toward the women.....

  “The older one laments the carrying on of her eldest daughter.” replied Kael after several moments of ‘listening’. “Out to all hours at a different ale house every night. The other offers her condolences.”

  “Excellent.” stated Ader. “Let us move on.”

  After several blocks, the pair entered a large marketplace, one of many throughout the Capital. Ader pointed to a pair of dock workers.

  “And that pair?” smiled the Guide.

  Once again Kael focused ....

  “CAPS! CAPS FOR SALE GENTLEMEN! FIFTY COPPERS FOR A HAT!”

  Kael’s eyes went wide at the wild eyed young man standing just inches from him with a huge display of caps hung from a rack. The young man carried the rack in one outstretched hand and with the other he retrieved hats and deftly flipped them on and off his head to model them for his projected customers.

  “Uh ... no thank you.” mumbled Kael searching for the dock workers.

  “BUT YOUNG MASTER! THE COLD SEASON IS NEARLY UPON US AND I SEE YOU DON’T SPORT A STURDY CAP!” bellowed the peddler.

  “Uh... yes that’s true, but I don’t want a cap.” said Kael.

  “YOU MAY NOT WANT A CAP MY GOOD MAN, BUT YOU DEFINITELY NEED A ....”

  “No, thank you.” interrupted Ader through steely eyes. “You are a hard working young man. You may return to your business.”

  The peddler’s permanent smile dropped from his face and he looked at the Seraph.

  “Yes ... I am a hard working young man.” mumbled the peddler as if it were the first time he ever held the notion.

  A smile of satisfaction quickly replaced the peddler’s toothy grin and he looked at Ader through calm eyes.

  “You gentlemen have a fine day.” said the peddler and he turned back toward the marketplace.

  Kael cocked his head back and gave Ader a questioning look.

  “Forget that little trick.” said Ader nodding to Kael’s targets. “The dock workers?”

  Kael spun and noted the pair quickly moving away. He prepared himself to focus, but in an instant they were gone. The Southlander frowned.

  “It’s much different with distractions, my boy.” stated Ader. “You must control it to the point where distractions make no difference.”

  “Can you do that?” asked Kael.

  Ader laughed.

  “My boy, I could try on every one of those caps, choose the one that fits best, buy it, and still hear every word the pair of dock workers utter across the marketplace. Such is the ability honed through hundreds of years of practice. I do NOT expect you to acquire such skill overnight.”

  Days passed. Ader and Kael continued to frequent the streets of the Capital. At times, Kael was sent out without the Seraph, as long as Cefiz shadowed him closely. Other times, Ader accompanied the boy and pushed him into more difficult situations. One day they strolled near the palace when Ader pointed to the crowd ahead.

  “Do you see the two noblemen jostling in the crowd ahead?”

  “Yes.” answered Kael.

  “Well?” said the Seraph.

  “What do you mean?” asked Kael. “They’re moving.”

  “So?” replied Ader.

  “So?! They’re moving.” complained Kael. “How can I send my ...whatever... to listen to them if they’re not there when I arrive?”

  “Overcome it.” stated Ader flatly.

  “Ov
ercome it!” exclaimed Kael. “How?”

  “Overcome it.” said Ader raising his eyebrows.

  The Guide snatched an apple from a passing cart and tossed the cart woman a copper. She smiled and bowed to him. Kael frowned and glared at Ader.

  “Overcome it.” grumbled Kael.

  “I’m waiting.” sang Ader as he munched on the apple.

  Kael huffed and searched for the noblemen. Their heads bounced along about fifty paces ahead in the crowd. One wore a red hat decorated with a blue feather, and the other was bald. Kael focused on them and searched them out...

  “FINEST ALE IN THE CAPITAL. COME ON IN!” yelled a barman as Kael walked past an ale house.

  The boy ignored it and waved a dismissive hand at the barman. He became quite efficient in the last week ignoring such encounters. He even held a brief conversation with a watchman while he listened in at a fishmongers stand across the square one day. But this, this was different. He deftly ignored the distractions that threatened to block him from his target, but his target moved too quickly. How could he lock in on them when he wasn’t sure where they were?

  Kael let himself reach up and over the crowd. The noblemen were lost from him for a moment then just as quickly reappeared. Kael moved in on them.

  “....the king. We just simply need more manpower.” said red hat. “I cannot imagine where...”

  The voice faded as the pair turned right at a crossroads. However, Kael was amazed to discover that he knew which way they turned without even seeing it with his eyes. He steered his consciousness in the direction of the voices.

  “...still too many men in the South.” said bald head. “ We have spent centuries protecting them and now when they are needed, we get nothing.”

  ”FINEST SILK EVER MADE! CARE TO FEEL, YOUNG MASTER.” said a merchant holding out a roll of cloth.

  “No, thank you.” replied Kael as he turned the corner.

  “I hope the Ulrog don’t stop here if we do lose.” sneered red hat. “Those lazy Southerners deserve to have their villages burned to the ground for abandoning us!”

  “Quite true!” chimed bald head. “Oh look! We’re in luck. Olpy has a catch of fresh fish. I must pick some up before the commoners paw all over them.”

  Kael let himself return and his senses heightened to his physical situation. He turned right at the previous crossroads and strolled through a marketplace full of competing fishmongers. The intense smell of both fresh and severely spoiled fish watered the boy’s eyes. Cats ran to and fro along the packed alleyway, and drying salt coated the cobblestones.

  About thirty paces ahead, a crudely painted sign hung from one of the larger booths on the street. “Olpy’s Fresh Fish” read the sign.

  As Kael and Ader approached the booth, the boy noted the pair of ornately dressed nobles leaning on heavy walking sticks, inspecting the goods. An old man and a boy unloaded a cart of fresh fish into the booth.

  “....fresh is a relative term, fishmonger.” groused red hat. “You claim your catch is the freshest on the street, but I’ve seen much fresher just a few streets back in Bartle Lane.”

  “Then my lords are welcome to purchase their meal there.” smiled the old man bowing. “All I know is my sons stayed awake the past night hauling nets from the river, and my grandson delivers the catch as we speak. I don’t know how a catch can be fresher.”

  “Hold your tongue, old man!” barked red hat.

  “Yes ... yes!” stammered bald head. “We’ll tolerate no back talk from you!”

  “I apologize, my lord.” mumbled the old man bowing his head again. “I’m simply ...”

  “Enough!” huffed red hat. “ We simply question the veracity of your claim. Many here know the reputation of the fishmongers for ‘exaggerating’ the freshness of their catch. If you wish to remain free of interference from the king’s tax collectors, you’ll cooperate with our informal inquiry!”

  The old man looked to his feet and sighed. He appeared to resign himself to some course of action. The grandson clenched his teeth and glared at the pair of nobles.

  “Perhaps you gentlemen might take a complimentary filet or two as a sign of my support for the crown and the king’s collectors?” mumbled the old man.

  “Now you’re showing the proper respect, Olpy.” smirked red hat.

  “Boy!” shouted bald head to the grandson. “Wrap up four of your finer filets ... and wipe that look from your face if you know what’s good for you!”

  The grandson quickly retrieved the filets and wrapped them in wax paper as the curl of his lips softened, but the glare in his eye remained. He handed the fish to the nobles.

  “I hope we’ll have no trouble with the king’s collectors.” requested Olpy.

  “Perhaps not.” mused red hat. “But we shall see.”

  “Maybe you should pay for the fish?!” snapped Kael from behind the nobles.

  The men spun on their heels and inspected the Southerner. Red hat’s eyes rose in a look of utter indignation. Bald head spluttered and inspected the boy from head to toe.

  “Sheer insolence!” blubbered bald head.

  “Indeed.” sneered red hat. “The lad needs to learn some manners.”

  Red hat slowly lifted his walking stick as he glared at Kael. The boy felt himself drifting into the part of his head where he produced the wall of flame.

  “Perhaps I should pay first.” mumbled a hunched over Ader as he shuffled between Kael and the nobles. The old man inspected a bag of coins in his open palm. “Olpy should count the coin before we cart the fish off to the Hold.”

  Both nobles were shocked by this feeble old man’s intrusion into their business.

  “Out of the way, old man!” shouted red hat.

  “Yes... be gone with you, old fool.” said bald head.

  Ader slowly turned and squinted at the two men as if his weak eyes just noticed their existence.

  “My apologies, my lords.” wheezed Ader. “I certainly didn’t mean to interfere in my lords’ business, but my young friend and I attend to the king’s affairs and must be quick about it.”

  The nobles glanced at one another then narrowed their eyes on Ader. A small crowd gathered around the commotion.

  “I’ve been ordered to retrieve and pay for the catch Olpy’s sons made by requisition for the Hold. I hope my young friend didn’t startle you gentlemen, but often he must shout to get my attention. My hearing is not what it once was.” mumbled Ader and he turned back to Kael. “Of course I must pay first. I’m not here to steal good man Olpy’s fish. Just give me a moment.”

  The nobles once again turned toward one another inquisitively as Ader pushed his way past them.

  “I hope the desired number of filets are here as requested, Olpy.” coughed Ader. “Prince Manfir desires his hard working recruits to enjoy a fine meal this evening and I’m sure you know the penalty for trying to cheat his majesty or his majesty’s men out of their share.”

  Ader glanced up at the fishmonger from the sack of coins he dumped upon the counter. Olpy stood mouth agape, unsure of what to say.

  “If just one filet is missing, I don’t care who the culprit, he’ll be dealt with harshly for depriving one of his majesty’s troops of a rare respectable meal!” snapped Ader.

  Ader spun and pushed back past the nobles to stand in front of Kael.

  “Load the catch onto the cart and make sure you count the number. If Master Olpy or his people try to cheat the king’s men in their hour of need, there will be trouble this night.”

  “Yes, sir!” snapped Kael in reply.

  Red hat quickly passed his wrapped filets into the hands of bald head who tossed them onto Olpy’s counter as if they were red hot coals. Ader spun back to the fishmonger.

  “I hope the coin there on the counter satisfies our contract, Master Olpy?” stated Ader.

  “More than enough!” exclaimed Olpy. “The king is generous in his business affairs.”

  Kael began to load the catch back onto the cart.<
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  “He must be.” continued Ader. “The graft and corruption of the nation is a knife to the throat of all he tries to accomplish. As these good gentlemen could most assuredly attest, those who divert goods and services from the people and the Guard harm our cause as greatly as an Ulrog Hackle with a cleaver.”

  Most of the crowd turned and looked to red hat who stood in front of the counter wide-eyed and silent. Bald head glanced at his companion then nervously turned to the crowd.

  “A ... agreed, my good man. It is up to all of us to do our share.” stammered bald head.

  “These are tough times.” announced Ader in a much stronger voice. “Any man who cheats his neighbor, cheats the crown. Every merchant is already overburdened by his obligation to support the Guard. He needn’t have his back broken by the greed and gluttony of others. If any merchant is coerced in the course of his duties, he should immediately report this transgression to the Hold. Prince Manfir will deal with the culprits in due course.”

  Ader straightened and his presence grew. Kael finished reloading the cart with the help of Olpy’s grandson. The Seraph turned and addressed the grandson.

  “If you please, young man. Deliver the catch to the gates of the Hold with the compliments of Prince Manfir for his hardworking troops. My charge and I must attend to more of the prince’s business on this busy day.”

  “As you request, my lord.” bowed the smiling young man.

  Ader turned and brushed past the stunned noblemen in long powerful strides. Kael’s eyes twinkled as he jogged past the pair to catch up to the Seraph. When they were a fair distance from the booth, Ader slowed and Kael fell in step with the him.

  “That was foolish, Kael.” stated Ader.

  “Why?” inquired Kael. “That was one of the few times my ...abilities made me feel useful.”

  “You don’t understand.” growled Ader turning on the boy. “You can’t help everyone. Just as I told you not to get involved in the gossip and details of everything you hear, you also can’t try to save the world one person at a time. You must concern yourself with the bigger picture.”