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rising sea washed Charon's Rest away, its owner was going to be a rich man if
an earthquake didn't dump the whole thing into the water.
The sign's rusty chains squealed in the rising wind as Schultz led his men in
through the door. The owner's wife greeted him., "Your friend has already
arrived. He is in the back room."
Schultz handed her two Roman silvers and five Rustengo brasses. She bit one of
the silvers, then nodded. "He is alone there. Another man came with him, to
tend their horses."
That pretty much ruled out treachery. "What does he look like?"
"He dresses like a merchant from just north of the Sun-lands, but he does not
look like one. More like a soldier. He also speaks with the tongue of an
educated man of the north."
"Thanks."
A lot of people running around these days weren't what they looked like and
that included Anna Schultz's son Mortimer. Northerner. Could be. Wonder if he
knows what's happening up there?
Schultz nodded to the yards. "Follow me."
Matthias, Highpriest of Vothan, watched the starman enter. He was no taller
than most men of this world, but his strange green and brown tunic and
trousers made him look otherwise. He also carried both a large and a small
star weapon.
Two Rustengan soldiers followed him into the room. One stood by the door,
holding his crossbow so that it was ready to shoot without appearing so to an
inexperienced eye. That pleased Matthias. It suggested that the starman was
accepting him as the merchant he said he was.
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Best not to accept things too calmly, however. "I asked that we meet alone,
Master Schultz."
"We will, once my men have searched this room for spies. Would you trust the
owner to hold his tongue? Either gold or less gentle means might give our
secrets to God knows who."
So Schultz believed there was only one god. That meant he was a Christian like
the other starmen. A pity. It would have been agreeable to learn that he lived
apart even from Lord Gengrich because he worshipped other gods, even if they
were not the true ones. Something might have been made of such a quarrel.
The Rustengans knew their business. After the search one pronounced the room
"clean" and went outside to stand by the door. The other vanished, to return
shortly with sausages, cheese, and wine, then join his comrade. Schultz closed
the door and poured out the wine.
"To prosperity for all honest traders."
Matthias doubted there was such a thing, but it was a toast the man he
pretended to be could not have refused. He drank, then picked up a sausage and
cut a piece of cheese with his knife.
Schultz ate no sausages, only cheese, and mixed his wine with water from a
strange flattened metal jug at his waist. Their talk wandered over many
matters whether there was any profit to be found in the rebuilding of
Rustengo's walls, how many guards a caravan needed to be safe from bandits,
what were the best (or at least the safest) inns for outland merchants, and
much else.
Matthias felt that it fouled his tongue to speak of such matters. He also knew
that he had done as much in the service of Vothan, and would do worse in the
service of Issardos, High Chancellor of the Five Kingdoms. "How tender a
conscience can we allow ourselves, when we fight men who seem to have no
conscience at all?" was the Chancellor's question, and many nights of fasting
and meditating at Vothan's shrine had given Matthias no clear answer.
At last matters turned to rebuilding certain temples of Yatar fallen or
damaged in the earthquake. "Some say it is wasted effort, with the Time so
close and other needs so pressing," said Schultz. "Others say that it is never
a waste, to honor the gods. Even some of the Christians say that they wish to
help honor the Father of Christ, although what they would say if their own
churches had not largely escaped I do not know."
"Then the vision of Archbishop ?"
"Polycarp."
"That vision, it has won converts in Rustengo?"
"Does this surprise you?"
"No, . since I know that the followers of Christ and the followers of Yatar
have long been at peace with each other in Rustengo. Yet I warn you, this will
not please the Prophet Phrados."
For a moment Matthias was in fear that the Star Lord would draw his weapon.
It would be godless treachery, but if the Star Lords thought themselves so
close to the gods that they need not fear them ...?
The moment passed, but the unfamiliar and unwelcome taste of fear did not
leave Matthias's mouth. He drank more wine, glad to find his hand steady.
"I thank you for your warning," said Schultz. "It is not unknown, that the
Prophet Phrados seeks to defend the honor of the gods by smiting those who
believe in Polycarp's visions. I will return the favor by giving my own
warning. Rustengo has ruled itself in such matters even when it was under the
Empire of Rome. It will do no less now. Anyone who seeks to dictate the
City's religions had best bring an army with him."
"The Prophet has just that."
"He is said to have just that, my friend. Surely you have, heard of enough
ghost armies to believe only what you see."
"I have. The Prophet marches with a host the like of which no living man has
seen. With my own eyes I have seen ten thousand men swearing themselves into
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his service. I have counted thrice that many already sworn. More come each
day."
"Rustengo has ships, men, and walls enough to defend herself against any who
seek to break the Great Peace." "Ships and men, perhaps, but walls?"
"What has fallen can be raised again."
Matthias shrugged. "May Yatar watch over Rustengo, and Vothan strengthen the
arms of its defenders."
The wine was surprisingly good. Matthias drained the last and set down his
cup. "It is said that the men of Lord Gengrich also follow the new way of
Polycarp's vision. Or so I was told in the camps of Phrados."
Schultz's expression told nothing. "I have no great quarrel with the Lord
Gengrich, but I cannot say that I am much in his confidence either. The Star
Lords themselves are worshippers of Christ, but like all wise men they honor
His Father and the Warlord as well. I do not know what gods Gengrich's men
worship. I am told that all who will obey his orders are welcome in his
service."
"Even outlaws and bandits?"
"Outlaws, very likely. Bandits, I much doubt it. I know that he has fought
bandits side by side with the soldiers of half the city-states and a good many
of the mercenary bands. Most speak well of him, although they also say he is a
hard man in bargaining for pay and a dangerous man to cheat."
"He will hire himself to anyone?"
"I have not heard that he refused any offer, unless he was already in
another's service or the pay was too low."
Those were the words from Schultz's lips. What Matthias heard in his mind was,
"Why don't you come right out and say what would be Phrados's price for Lord
Gengrich's men?"
Once again Matthias reminded himself that a merchant would not show a
nobleman's anger. "It may be to Lord Gengrich's profit, to have made no
alliance with those whom the Prophet calls enemies."
"I am sure that the Lord Gengrich will hear that message. As to what he may do
afterward ..." The shrug was not only a dismissal of the matter, it was very
nearly a dismissal of Matthias.
Matthias did not rise in anger, but swore that the next time he spoke to
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