tg.stone of tears

　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