it。’
Zedd shifted irritably on his bench。 Ahern； I think you’re simply trying to boost price。’
‘And I think you’re trying to lower it。’
Zedd let his slightest smile touch his lips。 ‘I don’t think it as difficult a job as you make it。’
Ahern’s frown returned。 ‘You think it easy？’
Zedd shrugged。 ‘You drive in the winter now。 I simply want you to drive in a different direction； that’s all。’
Ahern leaned forward； his jaw muscles tightening。 ‘Well； the direction you want to go in is trouble！ First of all； there are rumors of civil war in Nicobarese。 Worse； the shortest way； unless you want to spend weeks going to the passes far to the south； is across Galea。’
His voice lowered。 ‘There’s trouble between Galea and Kelton。 I hear tell there’s fighting along the border。 Keltish towns have been sacked。 The people here in Penverro are nervous； what with being so close to the border with Galea。 It’s all the talk。 Going into Galea is sure trouble。’
‘Fighting？ Wagging tongues of gossips。 The war is ended。 The D’Haran troops have been called home。’
Ahern slowly shook his head。 ‘Not D’Haran raids。 Galean。’
‘Piffle！’ Zedd snapped。 ‘Keltans think it’s a Galean attack every time a farmer knocks a lantern over and a barn catches fire； and the Galeans see Keltans every time a lamb is taken by wolves。 I’d like to have the price of all the arrows that have been shot into shadows。’ He shook a finger at the man。 ‘If either Kelton or Galea were to attack the other； the Central Council would have the heads of those who spoke the orders； no matter who they were！’ He thumped his cane。 ‘It would not be allowed！’
Ahern shrank back a little。 ‘I don’t know anything about politics； and less about those wicked Confessors。 I just know that going through Galea can get a man shot full of arrows ing out of those shadows。 What you want is not as easy as you think。’
Zedd was tiring of the game。 He didn’t have time for this。 Something Adie had said was nagging at the back of his mind。 Something about light。 Deciding to resolve the discussion one way or the other； he drained his tea in one gulp。
‘Thank you for conversation； Ahern。 But I can see you’re not the man able to get me to Nicobarese。’
He rose； reaching for his hat。 Ahern laid a big paw on Zedd’s arm and urged him down。 He squirmed forward on his bench。
‘Look； Ruben； times have been hard。 The war with D’Hara disrupted trade。 Kelton was spared the brunt of the war； but many of our neighbors weren’t。 It’s hard to trade with dead people。 There’s not as much cargo as there used to be； but we still have more than enough men wanting to haul。
You can’t blame a fellow for trying to get his best price when an opportunity es along。’ His eyebrows lifted as he leaned in a little more。 Trying to get the best price for the best fruit； as it were。’
‘Best fruit indeed。’ Zedd waved his hand impatiently toward the room。 ‘Any one of these men will gladly offer to hire out。 Any one of them can offer me a boastful story just as good as yours； as to why they would be the best driver。 You’re working up to asking top price。 That’s fair enough； but stop playing games with me； Ahern。 I want to know why I should pay it。’
With the tip of one thick finger； Ahern slid his cup to the middle of the table； indicating he wanted a refill。 Zedd smoothed out his sleeves before obliging him。 Ahern drew his cup into the protective shroud of his big arms as he leaned in。 He glanced around the room。
Everyone was watching the bard sing a love song to one of the serving girls。 He was holding her hand； singing words of eternal devotion。 The girl’s face was red。 She held her tray behind her back with her other hand as she studied her feet and giggled。
Ahern extracted a chain with a silver medallion from under his green flannel shirt。 ‘The reason I want top price is because of this。’
Zedd frowned down his nose at the regal image on the medallion。 That looks to be Galean。’
Ahern gave a single nod。 ‘In the spring and summer； D’Hara laid siege to Ebinissia。 The Galeans were slowly being choked to death； and no one would help them。 Everyone had troubles of their own； with the D’Harans； and didn’t want a piece of theirs。 The people there needed weapons。
‘I took loads of weapons； and some badly needed salt； up through some of the more isolated passes。 The Galean guard had offered to escort any who would risk the run； but few took the offer。 Those back passes are treacherous。’
Zedd lifted an eyebrow。 ‘Very noble of you。’
‘Nothing noble to it。 They paid handsomely。 I just didn’t like to see them folks trapped like that。 Especially knowing what D’Haran soldiers do to those they vanquish。 Anyway； I reasoned that some Keltish swords might give them a better chance to defend themselves； that’s all。 Like I said； we make the best。’
Zedd lifted a hand from where it was folded over his cane； and gestured to the medallion； now back under Ahern’s shirt。 ‘So what is that about？’
‘After the siege was lifted； I was called before the Galean court。 Queen Cyrilla herself gave this to me。 She said I had helped her people defend themselves； and I was always wele in Galea。’ He tapped his chest； where the medallion hung under his shirt。 This is a royal pass。 It says I may go anywhere I wish in Galea； unhindered。’
And so now；’ Zedd said； looking up from under his eyebrows； ‘you wish to put a price on something that is priceless。’
Ahern’s eyes narrowed。 ‘What I did was a small bit； they bore the brunt of the hardship。 I helped those people because they needed help； and because I was paid well。 I’m not claiming to be a hero。 I did it for both reasons。 I wouldn’t have done it for one alone。 Now I have this pass； and if it will help me to make a living； well； I don’t see anything wrong with that。’
Zedd leaned back。 ‘You’re right； Ahern。 The Galeans； after all； put a price in gold to your work for them。 I shall； too； if I can。 Name your price to take us to Nicobarese。’
The teacup looked tiny in Ahern’s big hands as he rolled it back and forth。 Thirty gold。 Not one less。’
Zedd arched an eyebrow。 ‘My； my。 Don’t we think a lot of ourselves。’
‘I can get us there； and that’s my price。 Thirty gold。’
Twenty now； ten more when you get us to Aydindril。’
‘Aydindril！ You never said anything about Aydindril。 I don’t want anything to do with Aydindril； with their wizards and Confessors。 Besides； we’d have to cross the Rang’Shada again！’
‘You will have to cross anyway to e back here。 So you cross in the north。 It’s hardly out of your way。 If you don’t like the offer； then I’ll offer twenty to take us to Nicobarese； and I’m sure I can find someone there more than willing to take us to Aydindril for the other ten； if we even need carriage after my wife is healed。 If you want all thirty； then I’ll mit to it now； if you agree to take us all the way。 That’s my offer。’
Ahern rolled his cup back and forth。 ‘All right。 To Aydindril。 Twenty now； ten in Aydindril。’ He pointed a meaty finger in Zedd’s direction。 ‘But you have to agree to one condition。’
‘Such as？’
Ahern’s finger moved； to point at Zedd’s red hat。 ‘You can’t wear that hat。 That feather will spook the horses sure。’
Zedd’s wrinkly cheeks spread in a grin。 ‘One condition of my own； then。’ Ahern cocked his head。 ‘ You have to tell my wife that it’s your condition。’
Ahern grinned back。 ‘Done。’ His grin vanished as quickly as it had e。 This isn’t going to be an easy journey； Ruben； up into and across those mountains。 I have a coach I bought with my earnings from hauling to Ebinissia。 I can mount runners to it。 Make easier going in the deep snow。’ He tapped a finger against the side of the cup。 ‘Now； the gold？’
The bard’s fingers danced across the strings； playing an enthralling tune without words。 Practically every toe in the room was moving in time with it； adding a drumlike acpaniment。 Zedd reached into his robes and put a hand around the two purses of silver coins。 He watched the room without seeing it。
And then the wizard did again that which he had had to do far too often of late： he channeled a warm flow of magic into the bags of silver coins … and changed them to gold。
But what choice did he have？ To fail in this endeavor was to see the world of the living die。 He hoped he was not simply providing himself justification for an act he knew was dangerous。
‘Nothing is ever easy；’ he muttered under his breath。
‘What was that？’
‘I said I know it’s not easy； this journey。’ He plunked the dark brown bag of gold on the table。 This should make it possible。 Twenty now； as agreed。’
Ahern pulled open the draw top and put two big fingers into the bag； counting； while Zedd idly watched people enjoying the food and drink and music。 He was anxious to be off to Nicobarese。
This some kind of joke？’
Zedd brought his attention back to Ahern。 With two fingers； the big man drew a coin from