“Well, of course!” Feric broke in. He was smiling broadly,his arms up, encouraging the guests to cheer loudly. “However, I closeted myselfwith my advisors for most of this day, and we thought hard, how best to reward you, since we cannot offer the gold and gems you so richly deserve.”
Eddis’ skin felt cold, all at once.
“We offer you another challenge, Jerdren, Eddis. Once again,we will supply all equipment you need-up to a reasonable cost, of course. Ahundred gold each, say? That should easily cover weaponry, supplies, food, anything you require, and allow you to find and attack the Caves of Chaos, and clear them of all evil creatures!” His voice rang from the rafters. Peoplecheered. Ferec smiled at Eddis. “If you choose, that is.”
People were talking excitedly, all around them, but their own company was utterly still. Ferec smiled at Jerdren, at the startled company grouped around the head table.
“Any gold, gems or other things of value you find are yours,entirely, as before. Any aid we or the master of arms, or the curate-any leaderor any citizen of the Keep can offer-we will freely give. Any additionalwarriors or others to aid you, we will help you find them.” He looked around thetable, leaned back in his chair, and drank from his silver cup. “I see that youare amazed-perhaps surprised to be so honored, all of you. So I will ask noresponse from you now, yea or nay. You Keep men who served as part of this brave company, you may sleep in your barracks and eat with your messes, if you choose, but you are exempt from other duties for now. When you all decide what your course will be, send word. Whatever you choose, I wish you all the blessings of the gods, and that of myself and all who dwell within the Keep.”
Sure we can say nay, Eddis thought. I can imagine how welcome wed be here after that.
Ferec was speaking once more. “Whatever you decide, thethanks and the blessings of those who now will feel free to come and go in more safety!”
A roar of applause met this. Ferec smiled and waved, then raised Jerdren and Eddis to their feet.
The noise redoubled, and under its cover, the castellan said, “Our greater gratitude, if you can find it in you to aid us further.”
He was gone, then, his aides and assistants surrounding him. It was some time before the cheering ceased and Blorys was able to pull the two of them aside.
“Well!” Eddis wrinkled her nose. “That was a proper show,wasn’t it?”
Jerdren looked around and shushed her anxiously.
“There’s no one close to overhear me-if anyone could in allthis din. I’m not a fool, Jers!”
“Ask me,” Blorys replied gloomily, “we’ve been set up.Proper, as you say, Eddis.”
“Proper?” Jerdren looked from his brother to his co-captain,back again. “Set up? Are you both mad? D’you know what that man’s just offeredus?”
“No,” Blorys said tiredly. “No idea, Brother. What?”
“What?” Jerdren eyed him sidelong, visibly puzzled. “Chanceat fortune, glory, and the gods know what else!”
Blorys cleared his throat cautiously. “Um, Brother? I’mwondering, just what is there in these particular caves?”
Jerdren grinned broadly. “Orcs! Remember, our Keep men saidthere was supposedly some at these distant caves?”
“Oh, that’s right,” Blorys said. “Caves-except ‘our’ Keepmen, as you call ’em, have never seen these caves. Frankly, everything I’veheard is a tale told so many times no one knows what of it’s true. If anything.”
“What about the men from the East?” Jerdren asked. “Remember?Two years ago-that’s not so long. There’ll be people here those men talked to.”
“It’s still stories, Jers.”
Jerdren shrugged. He was still grinning. “So?”
“Besides,” Blorys said evenly, “think about this, before youget too excited about the possibilities. Good against bandits-we’re that. Goodagainst orcs who weren’t expecting us-we’re that, too. What else might be outthere, though. Ask yourself, Brother, before you agree to this mad venture. What’s in those caves? Sounds to me like the castellan is afraid enough thathe’s willing to offer just about everything he can promise.”
Eddis shook her head. “Blor, he probably doesn’t know anymore about them than anyone else-just rumor and gossip. He’s probably peopledthose caves with every evil being that was ever said to walk the realm and the lands beyond!”
“Well?” Blorys asked quietly. “That’s all I’m saying, Eddis.Maybe that’s exactly what’s out there.”
He looked from her to his brother, but for once, Jerdren seemed to have nothing to say.
10
It couldn’t last for long, of course. By the time they werehalfway across the inner bailey, Jerdren’s spirits were again soaring high.
“Look, it’s an honor, Eddis,” he said, waving the rest oftheir company close. “Being picked to-”
“We still don’t know
“The tavern won’t be any better,” Blorys said. “Now thebanquet’s over, the place will be packed, I’ll wager. People wanting to talk tothe taverner and his wife about it, the usual crowd, and I’ll also wagerthere’ll be plenty of men looking for us already. Word will get around fast,Jers. People will assume that of course we’ll take the castellan up on hisoffer, and they know that the men who went out with us last time came back with fat purses.”
“Those who survived,” Eddis said.
“True, but the men who left family here at least got theirshare. Most soldiers would find that acceptable, if they weren’t going to makeit through themselves.”
“What about the inn?” M’Whan asked, but Jerdren shook hishead.
“There’s always men asleep in there,” Blorys told him. “Likethe barracks. Personally, I’d like somewhere private, if we’re going to talk.”
“The private rooms at the inn are too small,” Eddis remindedhim.
“I know,” he replied. “Wait, though. Private-that reminds me.Jers, that was our hide merchant at the far end of my table, wasn’t it? Becauseif so, he’ll be coming this way any time now, and they’re staying at the GuildHall, aren’t they?”
Jerdren nodded.
“So, if you asked, he might get them to let us in, give ussome place to talk this over.”
“Can’t get ale at the Guild Hall,” Jerdren reminded him.
“So? It’s a trade-off, if they’ll let us in. And there mightbe someone there who can answer some questions for us.” Blorys was scanning thecrowd of people crossing the inner bailey. “Anyone wants a cup of ale afterthat, I’m for it.”
Jerdren looked at his companions. “Sounds good to me. Whydon’t you all head out, and I’ll see if I can’t find the man. If not, Blor, youshould be able to catch him at the gates. If you can’t, we’ll head over to theGuild Hall.” He was gone before his brother could form a reply.
“He’s right. No reason for us to wait right in the middle ofeveryone’s way, is there?” Blorys asked as Jerdren vanished into the crowd, andstarted back the other direction. “So. Eddis, I think we’re of the same opinion.But the rest of you-any thoughts yet?” He smiled faintly.
“I…” Eddis sighed. “I just don’t know about this, Blor.I’ll wait to make up my mind until I hear something that doesn’t start with‘I’ve heard’, or ‘they say’.”
One of the Keep men spread his hands. “It’s more of the same,I expect. All any of us knows is what we told you, out there. Old tales from the days when Lord Macsen first began to build here, about caves and the monsters that live in ’em. Stories all differ about the size of the caves, where exactlythey are, what lives there and why. The only thing they all say is that if you travel far enough along the east road, you’ll find them. Or the creatures thatlive there will find you.”
