WHILE Kellen was in Merryvale, some of the other free souls who had heard the news came to visit Idalia. Most were afraid, all were angry— some were even angry for Idalia's sake as well as their own.
'How can they do this to you, girl? I've half a mind to ride down into that City of theirs and fetch that high- and-mighty Arch-Mage a clout on the ear he wouldn't soon forget!' Kearn said.
Kearn was a Mountain Trader, making a last pass into the lowlands before the snows made the passes of the High Reaches uncertain. He often stopped to look in on Idalia, and this year she was even gladder to see him than usual, for Kearn traveled with a hardy string of pack mules, and she and Kellen were going to need mobility and speed for themselves and their possessions to make their way west and over the border ahead of the Scouring Hunt.
At least the Centaurs have their own means of transportation, she thought regretfully.
'Ah, Kearn, if I thought it would do any good, I'd send you to him with my blessing. But the High Council Mages are'—she paused, trying to think of a way to make him understand—'they're the worst possible combination of vices. They're greedy, stupid and scared, and utterly convinced that they are the only possible people in the world who can, should, and deserve to sit in authority over others, and that's all there is to it.' Idalia shrugged.
'Hard weather for the littlefolk, though,' Kearn said sympathetically. 'They depend on you, you know. From what I hear, the City won't have any care for them.'
'Do you think I don't know that?' Idalia said crossly. 'If I stay, things will only be worse for them—and I won't be let to help them anyway with my 'evil magic' ' She didn't bother to remind him that she would be under a sentence of death for that same magic. 'Besides, most of them are leaving now.'
'Aye, I thought the Wildwood seemed a bit thin of company as the girls and I rode through,' Kearn said, gesturing through the open door of the cabin to where a string of hobbled mules stood placidly behind a large white-stockinged bay. 'So the Shining Folk are leaving as well?' he asked, using one of the many names the Mountain Traders had for the shyer Otherfolk.
'Why should they stay where they are not welcomed?' Idalia asked sharply. Shalkan had spread his warnings far and wide, and the dryads, sylphs, undines, gnomes, sprites, brownies, pixies, and fauns had already begun to leave the Wildwood and the surrounding hills. Even the dryads were leaving, difficult though that was for them; they were taking seedlings of their trees, and going. The land would be less fertile and forgiving in their absence—and wouldn't that be an unwelcome surprise for the Mages, who must have gotten reports about how lush and productive the western farmland was?
'But I'm glad you're here, Kearn. You're a trader. I want to trade.'
Kearn regarded her with wary interest, for he'd traded with Idalia before, and knew she was a sharp bargainer. 'I'm not sure I have anything you want with me this trip, Idalia,' he began slowly. 'Unless you're planning to come home with me, you and the boy. Not that it isn't a great honor, of course…'
'You have the mules,' Idalia interrupted, cutting off what promised to be a lengthy speech.
'Sell one of my girls?' Kearn looked shocked. 'They're like family! Besides, I need them to carry my own things home.'
'But you won't be waiting to take on a full load this trip,' Idalia pointed out mercilessly. 'You'll be heading home today or tomorrow, with only what you have now, because the news I've given you can't wait a few extra sennights to be delivered. If Armethalieh is claiming the Western Hills, how long until it claims the Western Mountains, and everything right up to the Elven borders? For that matter, you'll have a lot of folk heading out of the Hills up into your mountains now—right into the teeth of winter, some of them—humans and Centaurs, fauns, and others of the Shining Folk besides. Your folk will need to make ready to receive them.'
Kearn grumbled and stared at the ceiling, unable to argue against the truth she set forth so plainly. 'Even supposing what you say is true, I'll travel faster if my girls are lightly laden.'
'Which is why I wouldn't bring it up unless I had something that would tempt even a hard-hearted old trader like you, Kearn,' Idalia said with a ruthless smile.
She walked into the bedroom and came back with a small folded packet of grey material in her hands. 'This.'
'Is it a shirt, then?' Kearn asked, getting to his feet. He started to shake his head. 'Now, Idalia, you know…'
'Not a shirt. Better.' Idalia shook out the tamkappa and swirled it around herself.
And vanished.
'Do we have a bargain?' she said a moment later, folding the cloak over her hand. 'With this you can take game even in deepest winter— you can't be seen, or heard, or smelled. The cloak for my pick of your mules, plus its tack.'
Kearn stared, stupefied by what he'd just seen. 'Idalia, this… you could buy a hundred mules for magic such as this.'
