The Sage Seed Chronicles: The Unraveling (10 page)

They had been speaking in whispers. Now Lor
switched to a soft but more normal tone, “Bed down under the wagon,
lad. Cear is up and dawn will come quickly.”

As Erin unrolled her blanket and settled
herself for sleep she spoke to Nuit, who had made a habit to be
nearby until Erin was tucked in. “Can you pass a message to Ree
that Auntie Jes died like my parents did and that Lor and I are
being careful. I don’t know how she can protect herself from a
contact poison but she needs to be cautious?”

Nuit ruffled her feathers, “I have a relative
just across the river. The message will be relayed. I will hunt in
this area to watch for you while you sleep.” There was a hoot from
the top of one the commons posts, then the owl flew away.

“My nose is good. You have described the
scent to me. I’m alert for it but will not touch it. I am part of
your team.” so saying, the little skunk did stamp then settled
against Erin’s front.

“Don’t you need to forage?” she asked.

“No, I found quite a pocket of larva at the
root of a tree by the barn. I ate well.” There was a sleepy, smug
tone to Tempo’s mental voice when he added, “The city fathers
should thank me for getting rid of their pests.” Erin smiled and
drifted asleep.

It seemed like just minutes later the wagon
caravan was bustling in the pre dawn light. Hasty breakfasts were
gobbled down as awnings were raised and booths were set up. Lor had
the pedestals for the glow stones standing next to the wagon where
the ground was flat. He was attaching the stones as Erin returned
from checking on the horses. Dawn was here. She had just checked on
Tempo in the back of the wagon when the city trumpeter did a
fanfare announcing that the ‘gathering’ had started.

Erin could not believe the size of the crowd!
People dressed in their best were strolling through the displays.
Hawkers selling everything from trinkets to pastries were weaving
through the throng. Children were chasing each other and darting
within the crowd. Lor called out to her, “Terran, here are your two
guild marks for Morraton. Be careful with your money, now,
lad.”

“I still have some left from Wellyn, Lor” she
said, “I don’t need any more, right now.”

“A deal is a deal, besides there are more
things to see and to tempt your pockets here. Get along.” then his
voice dropped, “Keep your wits about you today.” She nodded and
strolled off with the slight swagger that was almost second
nature.

As she meandered through the wagons she
realized that there were more guild booths here than were in her
caravan. Some may have come form Morraton but others must have
arrived with nearby artisans. It was a visual feast. She cracked
open her mental ‘door’ and started exploring. She bought a
scrumptious hot cheese blintz that had bits of fish and crunchy
vegetables and munched on it as she wandered. She waved at Kennet
and paused to listen to the ambling people. There was talk of
weather: the summer past, the lovely fall and the conflicting
predictions of the upcoming winter. This conversation worked for
the tanner as people could anticipate the need for warmer clothing.
She stopped by a new booth with knit sweaters, capes and shawls.
One guild member was spinning as she talked to customers about the
virtues and characteristics of different yarns. The other was doing
a brisk business selling finished items on display and taking
orders for new items. She heard Auntie Jes’s name more than once as
people shared stories and spoke of missing her.

There were some musicians warming up on the
common as Erin moved to the weavers booth. Tassy was busy chatting
to big strong girl with long brown hair braided into a queue. They
were looking at a beautiful fabric in the palest of pink. It had a
soft texture feather pattern. Being a weaver’s daughter Erin
couldn’t help but stop and admire it. “...He is very ill. We had
planned to come together and bring you some of the new pattern he
had been weaving. You know how he loves a ‘gather’. San stayed with
him and I fetched the healer. It sure came on sudden.” the young
woman said.

Tassy patted the girls hand. “Zinar has
always been robust! Why he seems like the mountain he lives on!
Well, you give him my best. I am sure that he will be up and about
in no time. Tell him that the new cloth is lovely! I will catch up
with him when I come back through.” The overheard conversation made
Erin a little uneasy but she couldn’t jump to conclusions every
time she heard of someone ill.

She worked her way to the cider seller and
filled her cup. She was standing to the side of the traffic when
the baker’s boy went by. He spotted her and came over. “How are you
doing? Your face is a little bruised but doesn’t look too bad.”

“I’m fine.” Erin said with a smile, “Thank
you for your help yesterday. I just have to avoid meeting up with
the likes of those guys.”

“Well I haven’t seen them today but that
doesn’t mean anything in this crowd. I’m keeping my eyes pealed for
them. I don’t want to run into them either. My luck they would
knock my tray out of my hands and then laugh”, said the boy. His
spotted face flushed with anger. “That Targ is a hard one. I don’t
usually see him until we get to Terresville or Sherroton. He must
have been delivering tools to a customer in Wellyn. He is good at
what he does but he has a mean streak, particularly to people he
feels are unimportant.”

Erin’s ‘antenna’ perked up but she stayed
only mildly interested. “Which one was Targ?”

“Oh, he was the big guy with the brown
beard.” said the boy. “My name is Cob, by the way. My uncle has me
helping him with a few of the gathers. We live here but we go to
the fall gathers in Duluse, Pastarham and Arbreton Provinces. We
have relatives in the guild there and use their ovens so everything
is fresh.”

“Nice to meet you Cob, my name is Terran and
I am helping with Lor’s and Kennet’s animals.” said Erin. “I will
take a couple of hot meat rolls for Lor.” She said, digging out her
marks.

“Lor paid me for the rolls you brought him
yesterday. He said that he didn’t want you spending your gather
money on him.” Cob said with a grin, “So I owe you credit for a
three-eighths mark.. unless you want three rolls now in
exchange.”

Erin paused, with her marks in her hand and
gave a big smile. “Now that sounds like a real deal. I would like
another of those tasty cheese blintzes, a meat roll and a fruit
one. Can I take some to Lor or do you have an arrangement with
him?”

Cob handed Erin her food, two of which she
stored in her pockets, as he answered, “I was just making my way
over there to give him the lunch he ordered. Thanks anyway. See you
around.” He waved as he moved off.

Erin leaned on a post at the edge of the
common and watched the crowd as she ate. There were musicians
playing a lively tune and a few dancers. She hadn’t heard anything
bad through her mental door all morning. People were enjoying
themselves. She dusted off her fingers and continued to work her
way slowly around the ‘Gather’. She hadn’t yet been to the jewelry
booth of the miner’s guild and also was wanting to get to the
archival wagon. Lor had also said that there were shops in the
great hall of the old city and she still had to go over Kennet’s
horses. She needed to get moving!

Going immediately to the paddock, Erin found
Lor’s horses and checked to see if everything was alright. She then
sought out Kennet’s animals. Taking them aside, one by one she
groomed them, checked their health and spoke to them. She paused,
as she was leaving the corral. Leaning on the gate as if she was
just watching the animals. “Keir, can you hear me?” she said
softly.

“I am here.” said the Merlin and Erin saw a
dark streak going through the trees.

Keir, if it’s possible, I’d like you to check
out something for me. There’s a weaver, named Zinar, who lives on a
mountain close by. He would either have his shop near a river or
have a windmill. My guess it is near a river or cascade. He is sick
with a fever. I’m hoping it is just a coincidence. There’s an
apprentice there and possibly a healer. You might see a young woman
with brown hair braided from the top of her head on a path back to
his place. Could you see if you can learn anything and get back to
me?”

She heard a hunting cry on the wind and knew
Keir was on his way. She could barely hear his thoughts and didn’t
dare reach out to amplify. “I’ll find out. Zinar sometimes speaks
to a cousin of mine though his skill is not strong. My cousin will
know how he is.”

Erin stopped by Kennet’s wagon to give him
her report on his team. People were going through his hides and
ready made pieces. They were still talking about the weather. Erin
grinned and gave him the ‘okay’ sign as she nodded toward the
paddock. Kennet smiled and nodded that he understood.

She swung by to check on Lor and Tempo. Lor
was doing a brisk business. She worked her way to the inside edge
of the crowd and asked if if he needed any assistance. He nodded,
“Just for a little bit. Could you get a couple more of the new
colors? Bring out our guard too.”

Erin raised her eyebrow at the request but
went to the back of the wagon. She thumped for Tempo who was
exploring the back corners of the wagon bed. He came scampering to
her and was soon perched on her shoulder. Erin carefully filled a
flat basket with the rose and amber toned stones and made her way
behind the counter of Lor’s booth. There was a ripple through the
crowd as the people noticed Erin with Tempo on her shoulder. Lor
looked up and smiled at Erin, motioning her over to him. “I would
like you to meet my assistant. Terran works well with my horses. He
has a way with animals as you can see. Terran has also loaned me
the use of his friend ‘Tempo’ who guards my stock of glow stones in
the wagon.” Lor reached out and scratched Tempo behind the ears.
The little skunk closed his eyes in pleasure. “Tempo is my friend
also and will mind his manners unless he feels he needs to protect
us or my stones. He’s charming isn’t he.” Erin thought that in one
short statement Lor had moved Erin’s status out of invisibility,
and therefore unprotected, to someone who works for a respected
merchant. He also said: the boy belongs to me, the skunk belongs to
him, both of us need to be reckoned with. She hoped that that bit
of cleverness didn’t come back to sting but she had to marvel as to
his adept maneuver.

She helped him for a bit, arranging the
stones and fetching another white stone from the back of the wagon.
Then he ruffled her scruffy hair, plopped the hat on her head and
told her that she and Tempo should take in the sights. So
dismissed, the pair moved to the inner circle of wagons.

The afternoon was was getting older and there
was a lot to see. Erin loved having Tempo as a companion but wasn’t
sure how welcome they would be going into the inner city of
Morraton. She contented herself to wandering over to the archival
booth. It was a treasure trove of things. Erin had always loved
books and had enjoyed reading in the evening light. The wagon also
carried many kinds of paper in sheets, stationary and blank books.
They had paper making supplies for people as well as paints,
colored inks, brushes and pens for the creative. Erin looked
longingly at a ten inch box that held a blank book of watercolor
paper, four colored ink blocks and a brush. It was probably too big
for her pack but she missed painting. She used to illustrate her
mothers herb books and loved to paint the ‘wild ones’ that had
lived around their cabin. The herb book was still in the work shop
but the rest had burned.

She approached the archival guild lady when
there was a break in the customers. “How much is that box kit?” she
asked.

“That is four and a half marks”, said the
woman. She was a short thin woman, in her fourth decade, with long
artistic hands. Her features were unremarkable and framed with
short pale blond hair that was wispy around a kind face.

“Oh.” said Erin in disappointment, “Thank you
anyway.” and started to turn away.

“I have a smaller set for two marks. Would
you like to see it?”

Erin smiled in hope, “Yes, please!” The woman
brought out a box the length of Erin’s hand. She pressed the metal
button that the released the clasp and opened the box. It still
held the four different colored bricks of dried, pressed ink, a
blank book and a small brush, just everything was smaller. “Oh.
That is only two marks?” she asked.

“Well, that is the price for people who are
part of the caravan. It is a little more for the public.” She said
with a smile. “I know that you are helping Lor and Kennet and that
you have lost your family. I have known Lor for a number of years
and if he trusts you it is good enough for me! My name is Alliz.”
she said putting out her hand.

Erin shook it and said, “I am Terran and this
is Tempo. I would love to purchase your small kit. I have two
marks. Thank you so much!”

Alliz looked thoughtful as she took the
marks. “Well here comes some more people. It is good to meet you. I
will be seeing you around, Terran and Tempo.” and she turned to
greet the new arrivals.

Terran returned to Lor’s wagon to store her
treasure in her pack. Taking a walk to the wooded area beyond the
corral and barn she put Tempo down to hunt. “I will be back here
just before supper and will see you then.” She said to the little
skunk.

As she was standing up to walk away she heard
in her head, ‘The weaver is dead.’ Linked as she was with Tempo,
the skunk heard the remark, from Keir, also and paused by a tree.
‘I found the weaver’s workshop in the mountain, by a cascade, as
you thought. His two apprentices were there with the healer and no
matter what they tried his fever would not go down. He died at mid
afternoon. I spoke to my cousin who was the only wild one the
weaver could speak to. My cousin said that the cascade gave the
loom much speed and power but a gear piece had broken. The
apprentice, San, had dropped it off at Osily, to be remade last
month, and they had been using a temporary part. Two days ago a man
with a beard had delivered the new part to the weaver, wrapped in a
cloth.’