Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) (66 page)

Besides, he was fed up with girls. He’d never understand them. He still couldn’t believe how Nirel had betrayed them.

All right, she had given her heart to her Dualist Faith. It didn’t make sense, but he could accept it as her choice. And whatever attraction she’d once felt for him was gone. He could accept that, too, even if he didn’t like it. But how in the Mother’s name could she tell the Matriarch lies designed to incite a murderous rage against all wizards? How could she think selling out her homeland to destruction was the right thing to do? He’d never accept those things. He’d thought he knew her, but she’d turned into something beyond his comprehension.

It was enough to make him swear off females forever. Or at least until he made journeyman.

Elkan led them through the village to Ozor’s house. He pounded on the door. “Ozor, wake up! I’ve got a proposition for you.”

Josiah yawned and glanced at the ship bobbing by the dock. The ship Ozor and his band had stolen from the Sailors’ Guild in Tevenar. It wasn’t quite as fast as the big Ramunnan ships, but they’d have a head start on the Armada, since surely it would take at least a few days for the Matriarch’s orders to reach them. With the Mother’s power to keep its sails filled with wind, they’d have a chance to reach Tevenar in time.

But first they’d have to persuade Ozor to cooperate. And Josiah didn’t see how they could. Ozor hated the wizards every bit as much as the Purifiers and Dualists did.

Elkan pounded on the door again. From within Ozor’s angry voice shouted, “Hold on, I’m coming!”

A moment later he ripped the door open and glowered at Elkan. “Blast it, what are you doing here? No one’s sick, and you already stole my best healer.” He glared at Nalini. She gave him a bland smile.

Elkan put his hand on Tobi’s head. “I want to negotiate a deal.”

Ozor’s eyes narrowed. “What do I have that you want? More importantly, what do you have that I want?” His skeptical gaze told Josiah he doubted anything fit that description.

Elkan jerked his head toward the ship. “I want to buy passage to Tevenar.” He held up a hand as Ozor opened his mouth. “I’m offering a full pardon for you and all your people. Clear title to your ship. The right to trade between Tevenar and anywhere in Ravanetha. Plus payment when we arrive, in unminted gold or Tevenaran coin, whichever you prefer.” He named a sum that made Josiah blink. How did he plan to acquire that much gold? Dabiel would have given Elkan anything he deemed necessary, but Hanion was Guildmaster now, and Josiah doubted he’d be so cooperative.

Ozor tilted his head, looking Elkan up and down speculatively. “I smell desperation. Let me guess. You’ve had a falling out with the Matriarch.”

Elkan nodded curtly. “She’s been told lies about us and believes them. She’s preparing to launch an attack against Tevenar with the intent to conquer it. We need to get there as quickly as possible to warn them and to prepare a defense. If you care at all for your home, you’ll help us for that reason alone.”

Ozor gave a short bark of laughter. “I’d be quite happy to see her burn the blasted place from one end to the other. But that wouldn’t bring me any profit. While you might.”

“So you’ll take our offer?” Elkan leaned forward intently.

“Not so fast.
If
I agree to transport you, I’ll take all that, though I’m skeptical you can deliver what you promise. But even if you can, it’s not enough. You’ll have to sweeten the deal quite a bit to persuade me.” Ozor leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest. Josiah was sure he was enjoying this immensely.

Elkan studied him. “What do you want?”

“Far more than you’ve got.” He surveyed the whole group. “I see some who might be able to muster a fair bit of coin.” He waved at Kevessa. “The girl and her father have wealthy relatives.” He indicated Vigorre. “And the First Keeper is known to keep a large chunk of the Temple tithes for himself.” He made a show of looking thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head decisively. “Still not worth my time. Not to mention the risk to me and my people if we help the Matriarch’s enemies.”

Elkan’s fingers clenched on the fold of skin at the nape of Tobi’s neck. “That ship is stolen property. If you’re unwilling to cooperate, I have the authority to seize it and return it to its rightful owners.”

“Threats, hmm?” Ozor’s grin took on an ugly cast. “I can make threats, too. A word from me would send a messenger running to tell the Matriarch exactly where you are.” At Elkan’s indrawn breath he waved casually. “But that won’t be necessary. The ship would be useless to you without my people to crew it.”

“We could hire a crew.”

“Where? Not in Ramunna, not without alerting the Matriarch. And anywhere else would be far out of your way, even if you could get there. Not much use to reach Elathir after the Armada’s reduced it to rubble.”

Josiah wished he could put his fist right into Ozor’s smirking mouth. If it was anything less than the future of Tevenar at stake, he probably would have.

Elkan bit his lip. “I might be able to persuade the Council of Guildmasters to pressure the Traders’ Guild to reinstate you. Or even grant you permission to found an independent settlement, the way you planned.”

“I might have been tempted by those things in the past, but no longer. Ramunna’s my home now, far more than Tevenar ever was. Besides, you’ve got what I really want right here.”

“What?” Elkan tensed, wariness and hope warring on his face.

Ozor waved a lazy hand at Nalini. “Only what should have been mine all along. I understand Nalini’s invented a treatment for the sugar sickness. Insulin, she called it?”

“With Josiah and Gevan’s help,” Elkan said cautiously.

“I want it. Or rather, I want exclusive rights to make and sell it. Do you have any idea how lucrative that could be?”

Elkan’s fists clenched. “You want to exploit sick children and their parents.”

“You could look at it that way. Or you could consider that without someone with a financial interest in making the stuff available, most of those children will die. Who’s going to manufacture it in large quantities, just to give it away? The Matriarch?” Ozor laughed. “Not likely. I know Nalini’s not that generous.”

Elkan looked at Nalini. She shrugged. “I’d charge a reasonable amount. Not the extortion he’s planning.”

Ozor waved a dismissive hand. “That won’t be necessary. In fact, it would be counterproductive. There’s an art to setting prices. The customer has to have the money and be willing to part with it, or there’s no point. I’d charge by ability to pay. Poor families, a pittance, barely enough to cover my costs. Wealthier families more. Shouldn’t Ramunna’s aristocrats pay handsomely to keep their little darlings alive? Insulin will be far more valuable to them than velvet and silk; shouldn’t it cost at least as much?”

He leaned toward Elkan. “I’d have every reason to keep a steady supply available at a price my customers could afford. If I let the supply fluctuate and people die, I’ve lost all the profit I could have made from them for the rest of their lives. And I’d have every reason to expand production capacity as quickly as possible and market to Marvanna and Giroda as well as Ramunna. Tevenar, too, if you really can get me a pardon and trade rights. I get what I want—money. You get what you want—access to insulin for the people who need it. We both win.”

Elkan stared at him, breathing hard. Finally he turned to Nalini. “What do you think?”

She regarded Ozor through narrowed eyes. “I think he’s got a point. I’m no trader. I can make the stuff, but getting it to the patients is another story.” She spread her hands. “I’d be willing to work with him. And I can make sure he keeps his end of the bargain.”

Ozor nodded to her. “I’ve got a decent stake set aside to invest in the venture. I’d entrust it to her while I was gone with you. She could have production well underway by the time I return.”

Josiah chewed on his lip. He didn’t trust Ozor, but he couldn’t find a flaw in his reasoning. It really did sound like he could do a good job of getting the insulin to patients. It wouldn’t hurt people for him to profit from doing so. And if by making this bargain they could save Tevenar from conquest by the Armada, wouldn’t the Mother want them to?

He could see how hard Elkan was wrestling with the decision. Three or four times his master looked down at Tobi, then off into the distance. His hands flexed and clenched, and he raked his fingers through his hair.

Finally he spoke in a low voice. “It’s against the Law for an individual wizard to charge a patient for healing. We can only ask for payments to the guild as a whole.”

Ozor matched his volume and tone. “I’m not a wizard. The Mother’s power isn’t used to make insulin. And the price you’re asking will benefit all of Tevenar along with the Wizards’ Guild.” He nodded at Tobi. “Look at your familiar. She’s perfectly comfortable with the idea.”

Indeed, Tobi’s tongue was lolling over her teeth in her usual relaxed manner, and she pressed into Elkan’s touch happily. Josiah wondered how Ozor knew enough about wizards to realize the significance of her untroubled demeanor.

Elkan breathed as hard as if he’d been running for miles. “You’ll protect Nalini from the Matriarch? She’ll be a target because of her association with us.”

“I always protect my assets.” Ozor sketched a sardonic bow in Nalini’s direction.

Elkan closed his eyes. “All right. I agree to your terms.”

“Excellent!” Ozor practically bubbled with delight. “I’ll alert my crew to prepare the ship. We can sail as soon as we load the necessary provisions. I take it you’ll need supplies for your beasts? Meat for the cat, hay for the donkey, and…?” He raised his eyebrows inquiringly, looking around at the other wizards.

Elkan turned to them. “All of you are welcome to come with us. Ramunna’s not going to be a safe place to be a wizard for a long time. Maybe not ever again.”

Borlen, Kevessa, and Vigorre exchanged glances. Vigorre turned to Elkan, looking nervous but determined. “The Mother told me she wanted to return her power to Ravanetha, and she wanted me to help. She said there was still hope it could happen. This is where I belong, not Tevenar. I won’t run away because I’m afraid. I won’t desert the people here who need the Mother’s power.”

“I’m staying, too,” Kevessa said, waving Gevan to silence when he would have objected. “What’s the use of the Mother rescinding the Law of Isolation if we impose it on ourselves? Ramunna has a Wizards’ Guild, and I’m a member of it.”

Borlen nodded. “We can take care of ourselves. I won’t let the Matriarch hurt us.”

Thanna squared her shoulders, as if daring anyone to disagree with her. “I don’t know if the Mother will ever send me a familiar, but I don’t care. I’m part of the Wizards’ Guild, too.”

Vigorre turned to Ozor. “Can we stay in your village for a while? She won’t think to hunt for us here. Maybe we can use the tent shows as a cover for our healing until it’s safe to work openly again. We’ll have to work out something about payment that meets the requirements of the Law, but I think we can.”

Kevessa tugged Gevan’s arm. “Father, you can bring your equipment here so you can keep working with Nalini on new treatments. The Matriarch thinks you’re working for Marvanna, too. You won’t be able to stay at the University.”

Gevan gave her a fierce hug. “Even if I could, I wouldn’t let you remain in danger alone.”

Elkan nodded slowly, looking around at them. A warm smile spread across his face. “The Mother chose well. I know she’s proud of all of you right now.”

He turned to Josiah, the smile fading. “What about you? Ramunna’s not safe, but neither is Tevenar. It might be less dangerous for you to stay here than to go home with me. You could continue your work with Gevan and Nalini; it’s important, probably more important than anything else you could do. Tevenar’s about to be forced to fight a war for the first time in our history. I’d hate to see you caught in the middle of it.”

Josiah felt as if all the air had been sucked out of his lungs. He stared at his master, then convulsively looked around at the others. Gevan smiled at him encouragingly, and Nalini gave him a wryly tolerant look. He wanted desperately to continue working with them. He loved it, and he knew Elkan was right that it was important. Look how much good they’d done in such a short time, how much they’d been able to learn. Gevan and Nalini would continue the research, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same.

But as much as he longed to stay, he couldn’t. He tried to put his feelings into words. “Master, I can’t. I really want to keep working to invent new treatments. Maybe someday I’ll be able to come back here and work with Gevan and Nalini again. But right now I belong in Tevenar. It’s my home. We’re going to need every wizard we’ve got to defend it. I won’t stand by while the Matriarch destroys everything we’ve built over the last thousand years. I’m going to fight to protect it.” He put his hand on Sar’s back, feeling his familiar’s warm approval. He raised his chin, ready to defend his decision if Elkan tried to argue. He’d stow away on the ship if he had too.

But Elkan only looked at him, an odd mix of pride and pain in his eyes. “All right.” He shook his head and turned to Ozor. “What can we do to help get ready to sail?”

The next few hours were a blur of activity as they followed Ozor’s orders. Josiah and Sar spent most of the time hauling load after load of hay onto the ship.

It was close to noon when they finished. Those of Ozor’s people who’d be crewing the ship had boarded, and the five wizards had gathered on the dock for a final discussion of strategy, when Tharanirre swooped out of the sky and landed on Vigorre’s shoulder. His eyes widened. “She says there’s a troop of the Matriarch’s guards headed this way. They just came through the gate from the Dualist Quarter.”

Borlen put a hand down and Shadow reared to meet it, hood spreading. “We’ll fight them.”

“No,” Vigorre said, his mouth setting in a determined line. “We’ll hide. They can’t know we’re here. Ozor, can you convince them you haven’t seen us and send them off?”

Ozor eyed him up and down, as if evaluating just how seriously he should take the young wizard. Vigorre met his gaze steadily. On his shoulder, Tharanirre spread her wings slightly and hissed.