Lamarchos (11 page)

“You finished in there?” Stavver's muffled voice interrupted her musing. “We're getting to the gate.”

Aleytys slid off the mattress and removed her breast from Sharl. Holding his protesting squirming body against her shoulder, she worked her way around to the driving seat. When she was settled, she scrubbed her other breast and put him to suck. “That was fast.”

“Faster than I expected.”

Presenting this calm domestic image the caravan rolled unhurriedly past the hidden scanners. They were in Karkys. Minutes later Miassa's caravan rumbled onto the pavement inside the gates. Aleytys sighed. “So we made it. It's a little hard to believe.”

“My admiration for the Vrya grows every day. I wonder what Maissa peddled for those favors.”

“Why not ask her? I wonder where my eager acolyte got to. We need to know where to go.”

Stavver pointed with the whip. “I think we'll find out in a minute.”

The boy rode toward them, picking his way cautiously through the noisy miscellany flooding into the city. He maneuvered his excited mount around until he was riding beside Aleytys.

“You're looking cheerful,” she shrieked at him, the incredible clamor trapped between the walls making normal conversation unworkable. “Did you find a good spot?”

He nodded. “Next to the wall where the stream goes under. Water for the horses. Makes it cool too. Trees for shade. The family Peleku clan Fox hold it for us honored to have gikena as neighbor.”

Stavver lifted an eyebrow. “Where's the speaker?”

“I left it with Puki. A girl. She's keeping ground clear for us.”

Stavver grinned at him, one man to another. “Where to?”

“Straight ahead. I found a short cut. Turn right two streets on. Watch where I go.” He kneed the horse to a faster walk.

Stavver slapped the reins on the horses' backs, urging them out of their tired amble, edging them out of the main stream of traffic toward the right side of the wide street.

Aleytys settled the baby in her lap then passed the rag over her face and breasts. “Ayee, Miks,” she screamed. “At least the dust is behind us. But the noise!”

Stavver didn't try to answer, just nodded. The iron-rimmed wheels rumbled over the neat stone pavement. Horses tramped, whinnied, squealed. Excited adolescents shrilled banalities. Adults called greetings to acquaintances and clansmen. A small herd of pihayo bellowed their resentment at the prods of the drovers that forced them over the sterile stone in spite of their thirst and hunger. The whole kaleidoscope of sound was sucked in and amplified by the blank-faced buildings, the interminable walls rising twenty meters sheer and unornamented, acting as reflectors for the melange of noise bombarding them.

Holding Sharl against her, protecting his ears with her hand, Aleytys leaned over to Stavver. “What's in the houses? I thought the Karkiskya stuck to their own quarter.”

“Visitors. Off-world traders from other Companies.”

The second street opened out. The tail of Loahn's roan vanished around the corner. When Stavver followed him, the noise began rapidly abating. Aleytys looked curiously around. The walls rising on either side of this narrow alley were lower, with thick greenery visible, a hint of trees growing in hidden gardens.

“Why aren't others coming this way?” Aleytys glanced over her shoulder but Maissa's was the only caravan rumbling behind them.

“Loahn said it was a shortcut. Probably they don't know about it.”

Loahn rode placidly ahead, his horse's tail switching like a metronome. He didn't bother to look back to see if they were following but sat relaxed and indolent in the saddle, whistling some lilting song with a strong beat to it. After winding around a few shallow curves, the street opened out into a wide campground already teeming with people who bustled about like ants from a spilled anthill.

Loahn threaded his way through the laughing chattering crowd, still whistling nonchalantly. Where the wall loomed over a scrabbly bunch of trees, he pulled his horse to a stop and slid off. A slender girl, Olelo cradled in her arms, moved out of the shadows and smiled up at him. Line patterns of dancing foxes pranced in twin ranks from her breasts to her shoulders and twin fox masks, delicate tracery in blue, lifted and fell coquettishly with her smile. The speaker curled happily on her breast, eyes half-closed in bliss as her small fingers searched through his fur.

“Did you have any trouble holding for us?” He started walking to the water with the girl, the horse pacing beside him.

She laughed, a joy-filled carefree sound that sent quivers through him and made him smile in response. “Two came.” Her small straight nose wrinkled in disgust. “One was really dreadful. I'm glad he won't be next to us. He wasn't going to leave even when I told him gikena had claimed. He just laughed. But Olelo, he stood up and told the creep to move off before his horse fell dead tinder him. He turned the color of lye-ash and went off so fast he nearly ran into the wall there.” She looked back, eyes fixed on Aleytys. “Is she the gikena, the one with the baby?”

Loahn nodded. “Lakoe-heai call her sister.”

“Ah.” The girl's eyes opened wide.

Stavver pulled the caravan around and backed it under the trees, slanting it at an angle. Kale did likewise so that the two wagons enclosed a triangular space of ground giving the campers a measure of privacy. While the two men began to unharness the teams, Aleytys settled the baby back into his sleeping drawer after shaking the dusty blankets out the back door. Grimly silent, Maissa took a bucket to one of the crude taps to fetch water for washing. Aleytys came out and stood on the back steps.

“Si'a gikena …”

Aleytys ran her hand through her filthy hair and smiled at Loahn. “It's a good place. Thanks, Loahn.” She nodded to the girl. “Is this the one who held the place for us?”

“Yes, si'a gikena.” His voice was respectful, but there was an impudent twinkle in his eyes.

Olelo chattered excitedly and began kneading Puki's arm with nervous pricking feet. She sighed and reluctantly lifted the small animal out from her body. “The speaker was much help.”

Aleytys laughed as she took Olelo back. He scrambled up her arm and settled contentedly beside her ear. She touched him lightly and smiled at the pretty girl. “What's your name, my dear?”

“Pukipala Peleku's daughter clan Fox, si'a gikena.” She dipped her head in a shy but graceful bow.

“And I am Lahela gikena, Puki. No doubt this one's named himself.” She jerked a thumb at the grinning Loahn. “But may I present to you Loahn Arahn's son, clan Hawk holder of clan Poaku, owner of a hundred horses, a thousand pihayo now serving gikena by his own will until she sends him home to his people.”

Puki opened her dark eyes wide and dipped into a bow of exaggerated reverence while Loahn shouted with laughter. “My father bid me say you will be welcome at our fire, gikena Lahela,” she said when she got her composure back.

“Give him my thanks, Puki, but not tonight. I'm tired and dirty and certainly not fit for company.” She glanced over her shoulder at the other three puttering about setting up camp. “Loahn, is there a bathhouse around?” She shuddered. “I stink.”

He shook his head. When Puki tugged at his arm, he turned with an impatient frown. “I know where it is,” she said quickly. “I have to get leave from my father first, but then I'll show you.”

Aleytys sighed with pleasure. “Another thing I have to thank you for, young Puki. Loahn, would you arrange for me? The baby too. And the others if you can get room.” She stretched and yawned almost dislodging the speaker. “To be clean again after that dust!”

Puki ran off. They could see her talking excitedly with a stocky grey-haired man standing beside a small fire. After a minute he nodded and she came flying back. “My father says yes but will you be sure nobody bothers me, Loahn, he doesn't trust anybody here but a gikena is different.”

Loahn chuckled. “Catch your breath, Puki. If I were your father I'd be as suspicious as a lakelander running before the horde.”

The girl blushed a dusky rose. Suppressing a smile Aleytys said, “Take Olelo with you while you're arranging for my bath. He'll keep the pair of you out of trouble.” She watched the two of them walk off together, Loahn striding importantly while Puki's slender legs took two steps to his one.

“The playboy's found himself a new interest.”

Aleytys chuckled and leaned back against the arm circling her shoulders. “Miks, our playboy friend's feeling all tender and protective for the first time in a misspent life. Miks … no, I have to get used to calling you Keon. Will I ever manage?”

“We're Lamarchan for the next few days.” He pulled her around, cupping his hand around her head. “You had the worry out there on the trail,” he murmured. “This is my time, gikena Lahela.”

“Mmmm.” She laughed happily, feeling her breath vibrate against his skin. “Set Loahn dusting the caravan while I get my bath. Flying dust makes me sneeze.”

“And you think we're going to make the dust fly?” She could feel the rhythm of his heart beats quicken under her cheek.

“Mmmmmmm.”

“Before that, we take a stroll through the city by the trade house. We didn't come here to play.”

“Business. Phah!”

“What's that?” Maissa bowed her head in outward respect. Her eyes slid over Stavver and darkened with the compulsive anger he roused in her. “Shouldn't you be getting your readings? We haven't come here for playing.”

Aleytys giggled in spite of her firm resolution to avoid irritating Maissa. When the hot black eyes swung back to her, she said hastily, “Keon was just telling me the same thing.”

“I've got my mind on business all the time.” There was a mocking glint in Stavver's dark-dyed eyes that Maissa chose to ignore. “We walk the city tonight to get a look at the layout.”

Maissa nodded briskly, changing in the blink of an eye to a clear-headed business woman. “Kale saw a man he knew some years back before he left this godawful ball of mud. The man gave no sign of recognizing him but he wants to take no chances. He'll be keeping close to camp, watching the stock. I suppose the gikena sets up shop tomorrow.”

“Yes. I'll spread the leather after breakfast.”

“Good. Kale will be mending harness under the trees. The boy can take care of the animals and I'll regulate the people coming to you. Think you can handle the fortunes part of this?”

Aleytys shrugged. “I'm no seer, but I've had my palm read. The trick is to be vague enough and exciting enough that the mark fills in the blanks without realizing it. The old witches in the caravans on Jaydugar were masters of this nonsense. I can remember the patter. It's not hard.”

“Good. With that and the healing and the boy chatting up his girl friend, we should be good and tight in camouflage. Stavver.”

“Keon, if you please.”

“All right.” She ran her tongue over small sharp teeth. “Keon. Any idea how long before you're ready to hit?”

“After I get a look at the place and my probes do a bit of careful snooping I'll be better able to say.”

“You know where to look?”

“If Kale's sketch was accurate.”

“Good. You better pick up the probes now so you'll be ready for your walk.” An odd grimace stirred her soft flesh but she disciplined herself immediately. “The brat's coming back.” Her restless eyes flicked to the lowering sun then swept over the camp ground. “Not much light left. You sure you don't want to start now?”

Aleytys wrinkled her nose and ran her hands over her sweat-caked hair. “No. I'm too tired and I need a bath.”

Stavver added smoothly, “And the Karkiskya discourage visitors during the day. We don't want to be conspicuous.”

Maissa shrugged one shoulder, a brusque impatient movement that spoke more eloquently than words about what she thought of the two of them. She frowned angrily at Loahn who was leaving Puki at her father's fire. As he started toward them she walked quickly away.

Aleytys went to meet him. “My bath?”

“The attendant said you may have as long as you need, Lahela. He was mightily impressed by the small one here and wouldn't even take coin.” He tossed the small moneybag up and down several times listening to the trade metal clink inside. “Probably plans to drain your bathwater and sell it to the gullible.”

“Good god, whatever for? Why should anyone be so foolish as to buy dirty water?”

“Now, si'a gikena.” The impudent grin sent the hawks fluttering on his cheeks. “Water that had touched that fount of power, a genuine gikena? He'll make himself a small fortune.” Laughing, Loahn turned to the caravan. “After you're finished, the others can bathe. Also free of charge.”

“And you, my young friend, are a rogue. Do you get a share of the profit?”

Loahn looked shocked. “No indeed, honored one. How could you think that of me?”

“I wonder just who thought up this little bathwater business?”

“You think a simple farm boy like me could be so devious?”

“Simple farm boy, my foot. Horse trader's more like it. With the morals of a slipworm.”

“Ah, well, he'll spread word about you faster than fire gone wild.”

Aleytys nodded. “Good. Let me get my things and tell the others. Then you can take me there. By the way, while I'm bathing, you can clean out the caravan, give the mattresses a beating. And do a good job of it or I'll give you a plague of boils where you sit.”

“Of course, si'a gikena.” He lowered dancing eyes in mock humility.

She shook her head. “Simple farm boy. Ha!”

Chapter II

The moon was a disc of dirty curded milk that swam with dizzying lightness through the starfield, a shark swallowing the stars while it lit the streets of Karkys with deceptive brilliance. In the farer's quarter the camps overflowed one into the other turning the pale peace of the hard-trodden ground into cheerful flamboyant uproar … shouts … laughter … snatches of song … crackle of fire … animal noises … improvised drums … wail of flute clashing viciously with tin whistle … shrieks and giggles from clumsy adolescents.…