in our knowing of the world.
“If you’ll excuse me, ma’am,” Gonnaban said loudly as he made his usual uncomfortable exit from me and one of my lovers, “I’ll just tend to that execution order for one of the merchants you asked about.”
Gonnaban took his horse by the reins and made for an approaching cavalry patrol.
Gwey leapt lightly from his horse and watched Gonnaban retreat.
“I think,” Gwey said, “he is perhaps the rudest chaperone which it has been my misfortune to encounter.”
“Perhaps,” I said, watching the merchants draw closer to the Cloth of Blessing and its opening, “but it bears keeping in mind he is no doubt the deadliest.”
“Ah,” said Gwey. “Good staffing has come to that, has it?”
He still watched Gonnaban as the patrol dismounted to report to my master-at-arms.
“I still think I prefer Gonnaban’s rough remarks to Eric’s icy disdain.” Gwey clucked appreciatively to himself. “Eric has a real command of making you feel unwelcome.”
“Prince Eric,” I said quietly.
The Kullobrini guards stepped beyond the bright borders of the Cloth of Blessing and waved casually to the approaching merchants, or perhaps to their escort. Some from each group waved back.
“What?” asked Gwey.
“You will refer to him as Prince Eric,” I said again, not raising my voice.
“Oh, yes,” he said, taken aback. And then, more genuinely, “Of course.”
I looked at him and, convinced of his earnestness, I smiled.
“You seem to be letting the competition reach the customers first,” I observed, taking in his warm face and choice attire.
“Ah, yes, I hope to profit by other roads, you see.”
He took my hand and kissed it, squeezing it tenderly. “Can I make us tea this fine morning? I bring a treat from the Sand Republics.”
“A moment longer,” I said, turning my eyes again to the caravan. “Let them pass in and we’ll go.”
Gwey followed my gaze and watched a moment in silence. “What are you expecting, Kara?” he finally asked.
“I don’t know, Gwey.”
Again, the black-skinned Kullobrini were allowed to inspect the wagons. They flipped open tarps and coverings and checked briefly beneath each wagon and cart. Eventually, all of the wagons were waved through and our escort began the ride back.
“They’re thorough,” I said admiringly.
“There’s an old Dolbiri saying: ‘He who drinks in haste will find the spider,’” Gwey admonished.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” he answered.
“Go make us tea.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
***** ***** *****
Gwey’s treat from the Sand Republics was a cactus-based tea from Chimma Do.
“It’s extraordinary,” he told me, pouring hot water onto the small fleshy lump in the bottom of my cup. “A touch of hot water and the thing melts, but let it cool and it will congeal again and keep for days. Weeks even.”
We sat in one of the back rooms of my war tent. Gwey never liked to sit at the war table. He said it distracted him.
The tea was slightly sweet, but it warmed me well against the young spring morning. Tiny lumps spun in circles in the light green mixture.
“I understand you caught two young princes,” Gwey said, a jest in his eye.
“Gwey…,” I said warningly.
He held up a hand in mock defense as he balanced his teacup.
“I have bribed no one, High General. I swear,” he protested.
“Gwey, if I find one of my riders has a sudden penchant for silk, I’ll have to flog him,” I said. “I may make you do the flogging and we’ll see how funny you both think it.”
Gwey blanched momentarily but soon recovered.
“Hearsay, Princess,” he said. “On my life. Camp gossip.”
“Camp gossip,” I fumed. “To the Low Cauldron with camp gossip. I have an army on my doorstep, Gwey.”
“I know,” he said with some seriousness. “And it’s our doorstep, by the by. My ship is sitting out in that bay somewhere, and my warehouses are just as close to the Kullobrini as your palace walls.”
“Pulgatt’s going to wind up with maybe 150 ships,” I mused absently. “None of them a match for the monsters out there.”
“And our armies? How do we match up, High General?”
“It can be done,” I sighed. “I just don’t know the cost yet. With what we’ve got, we lose either the forts to the north or Abringol. We could then retake Abringol with some losses.” I shrugged. “It’s not what I’d hoped, but then we didn’t even know these people existed.”
Gwey watched me over the brim of his teacup. Occasionally, he would swirl it around absently.
“And your East Guard?” he asked. “Will they be making an appearance in this scenario?”
“Nine days away and counting,”