L. Modesitt - Wellspring of Chaos

He heard heavy steps, close by, and he ducked into the alley and flattened himself against the wall as the two members of the Watch walked down Copper Road toward the harbor.

“…cold day…”

“…just the fog…always have hot and cold days in midfall…”

Kharl waited for the two to go on, but they stopped opposite the alley.

“…say that fog makes it harder for the white wizards…”

“…you really think someone killed Hanryl? All they found was his garments.”

“…two dead guards.”

“…had their blades out. Clubbed…couldn’t have happened without wizardry. Lord Egen’s worried…thinks there’s another wizard loose, stronger…”

“Long as they fight each other…don’t much care.”

“Better get on over to Cargo Road…”

Kharl waited until the footsteps had long died away before heading toward the White Pony, where he hoped that Enelya would accord him the same courtesy as she did Jeka.

In the late afternoon, from the point of rock north of the slateyard, Kharl watched as the Seastag maneuvered toward the outermost pier. More than an eightday had passed since he had managed to rescue Jeka from the wizard, and, every day, he had checked the harbor, but few vessels had entered, although he had seen Lord West’s gunboats more than a few times.

He took a last look at the Austran vessel, sails furled and using her steam engine and paddle wheels to move toward the pier, before he began to walk southward toward the piers, his eyes open for the Watch. It would probably take him several glasses to circle the harbor to the piers from where he was, but Hagen spent at least three days in Brysta.

By the time Kharl had made his way past the warehouses, avoiding two harbor posts of the Watch, and reached the pier holding the Austran ship, several wagons had already appeared and were being readied to take cargo about to be off-loaded.

Kharl eased out along the pier, moving from unused bollard to bollard until he was almost at the stern of the Seastag . Then he watched for a time as palleted bundles were winched up from the center hold. Hagen stood on the poop deck watching.

After several loads filled the first wagon, the winching stopped.

Kharl slipped forward until he was on the pier, just below the captain.

“Hagen!” Kharl hissed.

The master of the Seastag glanced down, frowning as he took in Kharl.

“It’s Kharl, the cooper.”

For a moment, Hagen studied Kharl. “What happened to you?”

“Could I work a passage to Austra?”

“Work a passage? What happened to you?” repeated Hagen, as his eyes continued to study the ragged figure.

“Lord’s son doesn’t exactly like me. Doubled my tariffs twice over. No way I could pay that. Lost the cooperage. Lost most everything.” All of what Kharl said was true, but he dared not be more truthful.

“You look that way.”

“I can still work. Carpenter’s assistant until you make landfall in Austra?”

“I just came from there. I won’t be making landfall there for half a season.

“Could you use a carpenter’s assistant for half a season?”

Hagen glanced down the pier, then back toward Kharl. “What about your boys?”

“One left to be an apprentice ship’s carpenter on the Fleuryl . The other’s with Charee’s sister. She said I had no business raising Warrl. He agreed. He’d even written her…”

Hagen fingered his chin. “I don’t know…”

“I know how to work. You know that.”

“You look…”

“Disguise,” Kharl admitted. “I don’t want anyone to see me. You can understand that. I’ll come aboard in a good tunic and trousers.”

“I don’t know. Been a hard trip already.”

“You can’t get a good worker for less.”

“Passage is about all I can afford, Kharl.”

“That’s all I’m asking.”

Hagen frowned. “Suppose…I suppose.”

“I’ll be back later tonight with my gear. Would that be all right?”

“How much gear?”

“Very little. Some clothes, a pack. No tools.”

Hagen shook his head. “Hate to see a man so down on his luck.”

“I’ll be fine once I’m away from Brysta.”

“We’ll be here in port almost an eightday.”

“I’ll stay on board. Give you an extra body to help load and unload.”

The captain laughed. “For that, I could even pay you bottom level.”

“I won’t object.” Kharl smiled. “Later tonight?”

“I’ll tell the deck watch to get me.”

“Thank you.” Kharl nodded, then hurried down the pier. He had more than a few loose ends he wanted to tie up, and he wanted to get back before Hagen had a chance to change his mind, although he didn’t think Hagen was that kind of man. Still, he had a lot to do, including trying to do something for Jeka. What he had in mind might not work…but it was all he had been able to come up with, and he had to try.

On his way back to the walled hideout, Kharl stopped by the fountain and, when no one was too close, washed up as he could, removing the worst of the dirt and grime.

Still, for all his concerns about Jeka, she was not between the walls when Kharl returned. He hoped she would not be too long in returning. In the meantime, he rummaged through his pack until he found the old scissors. By feel, he slowly trimmed his beard and mustache, making sure that it was shorter and more rounded than it had been before.

Then he dressed in his spare tunic and trousers. He hoped that he could get the dirt and soil out of the clothes he had been wearing, which he folded and put into his pack.

“Well…you’re looking good.” Jeka stood at the foot of the wall. “Are you going somewhere?”

“The ship I was waiting for is here.”

“Goin’ to miss you,” Jeka said warily, her eyes avoiding Kharl’s.

Despite the stench of the hidey-hole, and the dirt, Kharl realized he was going to miss Jeka as well. “I’ll miss you, but…” He shook his head. “Can’t stay here. You know that. Sooner…later, Egen’d find me.”

“You can go, be a cooper anywhere. Me…?” She spread her hands.

“You were a weaver once, you said?” Kharl asked.

“It was a long time ago.”

“Were you good at it?”

“Light-fired good, Ma said. So did Hunat, but he had three sons and a daughter there.”

Kharl nodded to himself, then eased his fingers into the pouch he’d replaced around his neck and slipped out a silver. He handed it to her. “This might help.”

“You had silvers?” Jeka looked at the coin. “Had this, and you stayed here?”

“Know anyplace I’d have been any safer?” he asked. “With Egen wanting my head?”

The trace of a smile crossed her lips. “You got more alley-smarts than you let on.”

“Come on…” He pulled his pack into place and arranged the ragged cloak over both tunic and pack. Then he picked up the staff.

“Where we goin’?”

“To see a man. He’s a good man. The only one who helped me and stood by me.” Who was still alive-but Kharl wasn’t about to say that.

“Why…?”

Kharl took her arm. “We don’t have that much time.”

Jeka followed Kharl over the wall and out into the serviceway, clearly reluctant, and then along the alleys and cross streets until they were in the alley paralleling Crafters’ Lane-the alley on the south side, not the one on the north that ran behind the cooperage. In time, they came to the rear door of Gharan’s shop.

Kharl glanced around, then drew back the ragged hooded cloak enough to reveal his face and the better tunic underneath. He rapped on the door.

Amyla opened it. Her eyes widened.