Raymond Feist - Rise of a Merchant Prince

Duncan said, ‘That’s always true, I guess.’ Erik had taken a liking to the affable man, and Roo was pleased, for he liked his cousin as well, though he barely trusted him; he was an Avery, and Roo knew what that meant. There had been a distant uncle, John, who had made a terrible reputation for himself as a pirate, long before Roo had been born, and more than half those uncles and cousins who had died since Roo’s birth had been hanged or killed during a robbery attempt. Still, there were a few Averys who had turned a hand toward honest labor, and Roo thought that gave him a chance of getting rich without having to resort to murder or robbery.

As they dismounted, a boy ran from the stable and said, ‘Care for your horses, gentlemen?’

Erik said, ‘Who are you?’

‘Gunther,’ said the boy. ‘I’m the smith’s apprentice, sir.’

Erik tossed the reins to the boy. ‘Is your master about?’ asked Erik.

‘He’s taking his midday meal in the kitchen, sir. Should I fetch him for you?’

Erik said, ‘Never mind, I can find the way.’ The boy took the horses and led them away.

Roo said, ‘Your replacement?’

‘So it seems,’ said Erik shaking his head. ‘He can’t be more than twelve or so.’

‘You were younger when you started helping Tyndal around the forge,’ reminded Roo.

Roo followed Erik as he moved to the rear door, the one that led directly into the kitchen. Erik pushed open the door and stepped through.

Freida, Erik’s mother, sat at the kitchen table talking to Nathan the smith. She looked up as Erik came through the doorway. Her eyes widened and her color drained away. She half stood; then her eyes rolled up into her head and she swooned, caught by the smith before she fell to the floor.

‘Damn me,’ said Nathan. ‘It’s you. It really is.’

Erik hurried around the table and took his mother’s hand. ‘Get some water,’ he instructed Roo.

Roo got a pitcher and filled it from the pump at the sink and brought a clean kitchen rag, which he wet and placed upon Erik’s mother’s brow.

Erik looked across his mother’s still form at the man with whom she had been eating and saw the smith regarding him with amazement in his eyes, which were brimming with tears. ‘You’re alive,’ he said. ‘We didn’t know.’

Erik swore. ‘I’m an idiot.’

Roo took off his travel cloak and sat down, motioning to Duncan to do the same. ‘Rosalyn!’ he shouted. ‘We need wine!’

Nathan shook his head. ‘Rosalyn’s not here. I’ll get us a bottle.’ As he stood, he said, ‘There’s a lot to be talked of, it seems.’

A moment later he returned, with Milo the innkeeper a step behind. The innkeeper said, ‘My gods! Erik! Roo! You’re alive!’

Erik and Roo both exchanged a glance, then Roo said, ‘Well, it was a secret, wasn’t it?’

Nathan said, ‘Are you hunted?’

Roo burst out laughing. ‘No, Master Smith. We are free men, by the King’s own hand. And prosperous ones, as well.’ He jingled his purse significantly.

Nathan pulled the cork of the wine bottle he carried and poured a round of drinks while Freida regained consciousness. She blinked and said, ‘Erik?’

‘Here, Mother.’

She threw her arms around his neck and started to cry. ‘We were told you were tried and convicted.’

‘We were,’ said Erik softly. ‘But we gained our pardon and were set free.’

‘Why did you not send word?’ she asked, a slight note of reproach in her voice. She touched his face as if uncertain of his substance.

‘We couldn’t,’ said Erik. ‘We were in the Prince’s service and’ – he glanced around the room – ‘we were not permitted to let anyone know. But that’s all in the past.’

She shook her head slightly in amazement. She touched his cheek, then kissed it. Resting her head on his shoulder she said, ‘My prayers are answered.’

Nathan said, ‘She prayed, lad.’ He wiped away a tear. ‘We all prayed for you.’

Roo saw that Erik’s own emotions were starting to rise, but Erik forced them down, never having been one to show his feelings openly. Roo took a deep breath, suddenly feeling self-conscious over the moisture gathering in his own eyes.

Erik asked, ‘What of you? How are you?’

Freida sat back and took Nathan’s hand. ‘There have been changes.’

Erik glanced from his mother to the smith. ‘You two?’

Nathan smiled, ‘We wed last summer.’ Then his expression darkened. ‘You’ve no objections, I take it?’

Erik let out a whoop and leaned across the table and seized his stepfather in a bear hug, nearly knocking the wine over; only Roo’s quick reflexes saved it. ‘Objections! You’re the best man I know, Nathan, and if I could have named my father, it would have been you.’ Sitting back he looked at his mother with an unashamed tear rolling down his cheek, then he took her in another bear hug and said, ‘I am so happy for you, Mother.’

Freida blushed like a bride. ‘He came to me and was so sweet when you fled. He saw to my hurt every day, Erik.’ She touched Nathan’s cheek with more tenderness than Erik could ever remember her showing anyone, including himself. ‘He made me care again.’

Slapping his hand on the table, Erik said, ‘We celebrate!’ To Milo he said, ‘I want your best bottle and a meal tonight to embarrass the Empress of Kesh!’

‘Done!’ said Milo, his own eyes glistening with emotion. ‘And I’ll only charge you cost.’

Roo laughed. ‘You haven’t changed, Master Innkeeper.’

‘Where’s Rosalyn?’ said Erik.

Milo and Nathan exchanged glances and Nathan said, ‘She’s with her family, Erik.’

Erik glanced around, not understanding. ‘Family? You’re her father –’

Roo reached over and took his friend’s arm. ‘She’s with her husband, Erik.’ He looked at Milo. ‘Is that what Nathan’s saying, Milo?’

Milo nodded. ‘Aye, and I’m a grandfather, too.’

Erik sat back. His emotions were in turmoil. ‘She’s had a baby?’

Milo looked at Erik. ‘That’s a fact.’

Erik said, ‘Who’s the father?’

Milo glanced around the room and said, ‘She married young Rudolph, the baker’s apprentice; you know him?’ Erik nodded. ‘He’s now a journeyman and will set up his own ovens soon. She’s living with his family, over by the square.’

Erik rose. ‘I know the house. I want to see her.’

Freida said, ‘Go slowly, son. She also thinks you’re dead.’

Leaning over to kiss his mother again, he said, ‘I know. I’ll try not to scare her to death. I want her to come tonight.’ Then he added, ‘With Rudolph.’

Roo said, ‘I’ll go with you.’

Freida squeezed his hand. ‘Don’t be long, else I’ll think this all a dream.’

Erik laughed. ‘Hardly. Roo’s cousin Duncan will charm you with tales wondrous and improbable.’

The cousin smiled. Nathan looked at the handsome Duncan and said, ‘He’ll not be charming her too much, I’m thinking.’

Erik laughed. ‘We’ll be back soon.’

Roo and Erik hurried from the kitchen, through the empty common room of the inn, and out the front door. They hastened down the street that led to the town’s square and hardly noticed those few townspeople who stopped to stare in open amazement at the familiar figures of Rupert Avery and Erik von Darkmoor hurrying along. One man dropped a crock of wine as his eyes widened at the sight of the reputedly dead men striding past. One or two others tried to say something, but Roo and Erik were away before they could give voice to the greeting.

Reaching the town square, they turned and made their way to the bakery where Rudolph worked and lived. At the front door Roo saw Erik hesitate. Roo knew Erik’s feelings for Rosalyn were never simple. She was like a sister to him, but at the same time there was something more. Roo and the others around town knew that Rosalyn was in love with Erik, even if he had been too thick to know. At least, he had been aware just before his departure from Ravens-burg that her feelings for him were more than sisterly. He had talked about it with Roo more than once. And Roo knew that Erik still didn’t really understand how he felt about her.