Garia awakens to strange noises in the women's sleeping chamber and assumes the worst. However, it seems sufficient precautions have already been taken. She recognizes that the nature of their expedition has changed and makes a suggestion to Keren which has unexpected side effects. There is talk of containers, soils and the problems of trans-shipment before the company prepare to discover if Trosanar has laid plans for them at Tranidor.

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2011-2013 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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As is often the case, it was some time before Garia realized that the noises weren't part of her dream. As she swam back up into awareness, parts of her mind did what they usually did, trying to analyze the noises to fit them properly into the real world. Irregular. Scratchy. Perhaps. Metallic.

With a supreme effort she fought to prevent the adrenalin flooding her body from giving any sign that she had suddenly exploded to fully awakening. She controlled her breathing rigidly, maintaining the steady repetition of the unaware sleeper. Her body, briefly rigid, she forced to relax, to gain some time before whoever was in the room became aware that she knew they were present.

Behind. That means he can't see my face. Unless there is more than one, of course.

Very carefully she opened one slitted eye just enough to observe her surroundings. Gray, the light of pre-dawn. In her view was a recently-trimmed and caulked wall of sawn wood and she remembered where she was and just what might have happened.

Those men! We were idiots to trust them! Oh, crap!

What do I do? I can't turn over and leap out to attack, since I don't know where they would be standing. I can't see anyone this side, so I'll come out over here. That will put the bed between me and whoever, give me time to assess the situation.

Decision made, Garia moved. The covers were flung off in a convulsive move, directly at where she supposed the noises to come from. At the same time she rolled out of bed the other side onto her feet, spinning and coming into a ready stance, facing the apparent threat.

The servant girl shrieked, jumped a foot in the air and dropped the poker which clattered as it rolled on the bare floorboards.The combined noise was sufficient to rouse the other sleepers in the room, some barely awake, others alarmed by Garia's position and attitude.

"My Lady!" The girl stammered. "My apologies, I did not mean to waken you." She bent and scrambled after the hot iron, turning to give Garia a curtsey once she had picked it up. "I thought to warm your room this cold morning."

The girl turned and Garia could see the flames flickering in the stone fireplace in the corner of the sleeping chamber. A bucket of coal stood beside the grate alongside a bundle of kindling.

"Garia? What..." Merizel asked, sleepily.

Garia relaxed, embarrassed to have woken everybody up that way. She smiled at the servant girl.

"It is I who has to apologize," she said. "I think I must have been dreaming. I'm sorry I made you jump." She felt the faint chill in the air. "Please, carry on, a little warmth wouldn't go amiss." She turned to Merizel, but her words were directed at all the women, now rubbing sleep from their eyes. "I thought those men of Trosanar's had decided to do something," she explained. "You remember, something like this happened to me before."

"Oh, yes, Garia! But that was before I came to the palace, wasn't it?" Merizel reminded her. She frowned. "You didn't really imagine those men would try something, with all our own men here as well?"

"I don't know, Merry." Garia smiled. "But all's well that ends well, I guess. Now that I'm awake and up, I think I have to go across the road. Coming?"

Without waiting for an answer Garia moved to the wall and removed her traveling cloak from its peg and wrapped it around her. Merizel groaned, climbed out of bed and found her own cloak.

"Milady," Lanilla asked, "do you bathe now? Shall you require our presence?"

"I don't think so, Lanilla. The toilet is my immediate concern and there are only four cubicles. If you want to wait until we're done that's fine."

"Thank you, milady. My needs are not as urgent as yours, I deem."

"Jenet?"

"Coming, milady."

Garia led the way to the door at the end of the building but the servant girl stopped her.

"Milady, you cannot go out by that door. The way is blocked."

"Blocked?" The men must have done something to stop anyone getting in that way. "Uh, okay, we'll go round. We can go round, I take it?"

"Aye, milady, if you go through the eating area."

Garia led Merizel and Jenet out the other end of the dormitory and onto the covered walkway, turning left to enter the eating area. Two servants were there setting out the tables for breakfast but paid the women little attention. Garia walked between the tables and chairs, reaching the roadway to discover... six dranakh asleep, sprawled out over the roadway, one actually spread all over the steps leading to the end of the Women's Dormitory.

"Blocked is right," Merizel commented. "I don't think I'd care to go climbing over a sleeping dranakh, do you?"

"Dead right there," Garia agreed. "Looks like the situation was well in hand whether we wanted it to be or not! Come on, lets get moving else I'll be walking funny."

When they emerged from the bath house all the dranakh had gone, the roadway now empty except for a few men making their way to an early breakfast. The coal fire had made their sleeping chamber pleasantly warm and they spent some time organizing themselves while they waited for the others to take their turn in the cubicles. The servant girl, her fireplace and other duties complete, came and curtseyed before Garia.

"Will you wish to bathe this morning, milady? I have started the water boiling but it will need attention if so many of you wish to bathe." She gave Garia an apologetic smile. "It is the first time that women have used our roadhouse, milady, and I know a women's needs are different than those of the men who pass this way."

"What do you think, girls?" Garia asked. "We had a good dip last night but we've a long way to go. Whatever we do we'll be dirty again by the time we get to Tranidor, so it might be better to forgo a bath this morning to save some time." She remembered something and turned to Merizel. "You might need a dip, Merry. Is your Call finished?"

"Aye, Garia, it is about over but I think I will just take a wash before we leave. With your permission?"

"Of course! I've no problem with a wash but I don't think we all need to jump in the tub, is what I'm saying. The men would only complain if we did."

"The men always complain," Merizel responded. "It seems to be a man's part to complain about the length of time a woman takes with her cleanliness and appearance."

"And somehow it never rubs off, does it?" Garia grinned. "Come on, let's get dressed and get some food inside us. I'm starving."

Garia and her staff joined Keren at his table and for a time all concentrated on the business of breakfast. When they had finished she turned to him.

"I was surprised when you let Severel's men guard the blocks," she said. "Did you know the dranakhs would turn up like that?"

"No I didn't! I had no idea they would do such a thing. No, Feteran and I had a good, long talk with Severel last night after you retired. Firstly I told him that if he wanted a fight he'd have to take on all Tanon's men as well as our own men, which meant we outnumbered him significantly," Tanon, further along the table, nodded agreement. "And secondly," Keren continued, "I showed him the decree and told him his lord had received one just the same, so if he tried anything and either of us was adbucted, hurt, killed or even just delayed, he would be committing treason and nothing in the world would stop my father or Uncle Gil coming after all of them. I think he got the point."

Garia nodded. "Yes. That decree is kind of blood-curdling, isn't it? Simple but with the hint of naked violence under it."

Keren grinned. "Aye. Father's usually much more subtle but where his son and heir is concerned... That wasn't all we did, though. Without telling Severel we set up watches, three men in a spare room in the servant's block over there and three in the coal wagoneers' block at the far end. Two bell shifts and each party had a bugle. Any sign of trouble and the whole camp would be awake in moments."

"Well, thank you, Your Highness! I must say we all slept well last night."

"...Until you woke this morning and thought we had been invaded," Merizel corrected her. "Jumping out of bed that way just isn't natural."

"What's this?"

Merizel explained and Garia reddened at the description, but Keren merely flicked a hand.

"Crazy foreign girl, what do you expect? Perhaps in Kansas she has men climbing in and out her windows all night."

Garia stared at Keren with slitted eyes. "You will pay for that, barbarian! Wait until I get you on a mat again!"

"You and which army might that be?"

"Why, yours, of course! I'm not stupid, you know."

As they rose to get ready to leave Garia stopped Keren with a hand on his arm.

"Keren, I have a request, if I may."

"Oh?"

"Would you wear your headband today? I think it might be important."

"Headband?"

"You know, the gold one."

Recognition came to Keren's eyes but he raised an eyebrow to Garia.

"On our journey here," she explained, "it was basically my journey, to visit my lands. I thoroughly enjoyed doing it the way we did, especially as we were able to stay in the towns and see how the real people live. Okay there was a certain amount of sneaking about and pretending but we just rolled along like the other travelers, didn't we? Only going home isn't going to be like that at all, is it? We're going to travel from noble's house to noble's house, surrounded by numbers of men-at-arms and the journey is going to be completely different. We're going to be official, and that means that you're in charge because you have the highest rank of everybody we're ever going to meet. You need to be that rank, and your headband will help you do that. Would you do that for me?"

Keren stood and thought about what Garia had said, realizing that she was right, the nature of their procession had fundamentally changed. He was now an adult and fully entitled to the perquisites of his position - and, given the places they would likely be staying, that might make all the difference how they were treated.

He nodded. "Your counsel is wise, milady. I will do as you suggest, and gladly." He gave her a glance. "Are you expecting me to protect you? Is that it?"

She considered, then gave him a smile. "Yes and no, Keren." He poked out a tongue at her. "You know I don't quite think in those terms yet but sometimes a girl needs a big, strong man to look after her." She looked pensive. "If my Call is about due, you know how that can affect me. I'm beginning to understand that there's a reason the world works the way it does. And if Trosanar's a sample of what we might face, we need all the help we can get."

"Aye, Garia. Did I ever tell you that you were smart as well as pretty?"

The wagon train was swiftly reassembled and stood waiting for the riders to take their positions. Keren, Feteran and Jaxen did a swift count to make sure everybody was present. Frowning, Keren turned to Severel.

"Quadrant, where are the rest of your men?"

"Highness, all who came with me to Blackstone are here waiting."

"That was not what I asked. What of those you detached to remain at this roadhouse? I want them out here now, they are riding with us."

Severel looked unhappy. "Highness, Lord Trosanar gave me instructions to leave a small guard behind to protect this place. Since hearing of the banditry you encountered he feels that the roadhouse must have some trained men to provide reassurance to the staff."

Keren shook his head. "Quadrant, the roadhouses of Palarand are not the concern of you or your lord unless they are on your lord's lands. Bid your men collect their belongings and join their fellows."

"Highness, I must protest! I may not refuse the direct commands of my lord."

Keren said patiently, "This forest is a private hunting reserve, the property of Duke Gilbanar, my uncle. The writ of your lord does not run here. His men have no business here, except as we do, as travelers passing through along the highway. Bid your men collect their belongings and join us, else we shall gather their belongings... and add them to the pyres of your men."

Severel turned white. Behind her Garia heard men shifting in the saddle as they reached for sword or bow. Ahead she could see her own men eyeing up those in black and red.

Severel bowed in the saddle and replied, "As you command, Highness!"

He wheeled his frayen and chopped out commands, whereupon two men rode off to the far end of the site. They returned moments later, followed by six more who were leading their mounts, some still stuffing clothing into saddlebags. These men stood staring resentfully at Keren.

"The coin, if you would."

He held out a hand. The men looked at him nervously.

"What?" he asked. "Did you not think we spoke to any along the way? We knew you demanded coin from those who came to this camp, coin you had no business to ask." His face showed contempt. "I might still be young but I am not stupid. What did you call it? A protection fee? Guard retainer? Security services? Your lord holds no writ in this place and what you do is theft. The coin, if you would, before I have you tried as common thieves."

One of the men produced a small pouch from his saddlebag and handed it reluctantly to Keren.

"Prepare your animals and mount up," he instructed, sliding from his own saddle. "When I return we leave for Tranidor, where I shall have an interesting conversation with your lord about the laws of Palarand."

Garia glowed through this confrontation. Just putting on the thin gold fillet had changed Keren completely. Nobody could now deny that he was a Prince in fact as well as in name and she watched almost in awe as he strode off toward the kitchen. She noticed others take account of the change in his manner and even Feteran viewed him with a look of respect. Wow. The future King sure shines through, doesn't he? Soon he was back and pulling himself into the saddle, his expression serious as he surveyed their company.

"Ready? Garia? Feteran? Good. Let's go, Jaxen. We have wasted enough time here already."

Merizel was now mounted again and she rode beside Garia as they turned onto the road.

"It's funny how such a simple thing can make such a difference," she said. "My! He shows that he has the authority, doesn't he? You are very fortunate to be able to lay claim to him, Garia."

"Me? I'm not sure I had much say in the matter. What happened did so before I knew much about what was going on here. I'm not sure either of us really had much choice, considering the way we were thrown together." Garia smiled. "Do you see me complaining? Anyhow, I see you're riding again. Is your Call finished?"

Merizel sighed with relief. "I'm glad it's over," she remarked. "Riding a wagon is tolerable but I much prefer a saddle. Thank you, Garia, for showing our betters that their fears were unfounded."

"As you say, Merry. But I think this will be the last day Snep gets to carry me, I'm afraid. When we leave Tranidor tomorrow I'll be on a wagon myself."

"Milady?" Jenet asked from behind. "It is not time, surely? You are at least a day early."

Garia scowled. "Yes, I know. I don't know why it is happening now but there are definite signs. Perhaps my body is still settling down, or maybe it's something to do with the seasons." She shrugged. "This whole thing was a mystery to me before I came to Anmar, I have no clue what is happening now."

Merizel was ticking the days off on her fingers. "If I'm right, that would take you all the way to Dekarran, Garia. You'll be able to cross the Sirrel on Snep, though."

"Gee, thanks. Well maybe Senidet can ride Snep some of the way, assuming her aches and pains have eased up."

The road angled up the slope of the mountainside to their left and began to climb, heading towards the fork where it joined the trade route to Chaarn. The pace of the wagons slowed, those carrying the coal more so than the rest. When they reached the fork, at about the highest point of their route, they waited for the slower wagons to catch up. Tanon rode up to Garia as they watched.

"This is the biggest problem, milady, as no doubt you know. To carry such loads up such a gradient takes much time and effort."

"As you say, Master Tanon. There's nothing we can do about that for now but we're planning either a new road or, later, a railroad through the forest so the wagons won't have to make this climb."

"But that will not happen for a year or perhaps more," he said. "To commission a new road through country such as this forest will take time."

"That's what Master Bezan will be doing, now that we have laid out the town," she explained. "He'll be spending next spring and summer surveying the land and working out the best route. To begin with it will be just a road for the heavy traffic but the intent is to convert it into a railroad once we can get enough steel for the rails."

"I see, milady. And how far will the railroad go? To Tranidor?"

Garia shrugged. "To begin with, just far enough to get us past the forest and then we can set up a wharf on the river somewhere. If we can do Tranidor, fine, but I know this kind of project will take time and money."

Tanon frowned. "There are serious problems with trans-shipment, milady, that we had best discuss over lunch. But you need not worry about money, milady. Though we have to take this coal all the way to Central Palarand by wagon, barge and ship there is still profit in it for all of us. Our main concern, if I understand Master Parrel's plans correctly, is the time it will take to build these new blast furnaces of yours."

"I agree. I can speed up the process by so much but some of it will just take time. Of course, once we prove out the system we can build blast furnaces nearer the materials, which will save everybody time and money. But, coming back to these wagons I see approaching, I have an idea. What about a banker?"

"A banker, milady? I do not understand that term."

"Oh, I suppose you wouldn't. It's an old railroad term, as I recall. Look, the idea is you get, say, five or six extra dranakhs and keep them at the roadhouses either side of this hill. When a train of wagons comes along, you hitch them to the front of each wagon and double-team them up the slope. When you get to the other roadhouse you unhitch them and they're ready to help a wagon going the other way. Every wagon going to Blackstone has to come back so you won't get too out of balance with the numbers. What do you think?"

Tanon looked at Garia with respect. "Milady, once again you amaze me. Such a simple solution to the problem. I will make inquiries immediately we reach Tranidor." He eyed her. "Though, as I have reported, the demand for dranakh is greatly increased. The initial costs may be heavy."

Garia shrugged. "I don't see how we can do anything else in the short term, Master Tanon. Unless you know a way to make dranakh breed large numbers of offspring we're stuck with the supply there is, and if everybody wants them then they will get expensive. I only offered a possible answer to getting those heavy wagons up these hills."

"Your... railroad... would, of course, solve this problem by replacing dranakh with steam engines, as I understand the matter."

"That's right, Master Tanon. That's why I wanted to get a priority put on getting the railroad system started, before we ended up with other problems like a shortage of dranakhs."

"As you say, milady." The lead wagon reached them and Tanon turned away, thoughtful.

Within a short time the caravan had reassembled and they began the careful process of rolling the wagons down the other slope under careful control. Since the coal wagons were the heaviest they were put at the front of the train so that any incident wouldn't cause them to run into wagons in front. As on their previous day's travel, Severel and his men scouted ahead and behind, leaving their own troops and Tanon's men to guard the flanks of the procession.

It was lunch time when they reached the next roadhouse, one they had visited on the way out where Jaxen had first become wary of what might lay ahead. At this roadhouse, because of the location and altitude, the whole kitchen and eating area was enclosed. This time, there was no question in their minds about using the facilities and they all piled inside, leaving only some token guards around the wagons. The innkeeper was taken aback to have so many customers at once but found places for all to sit and eat, content with the likely profit from their visit. He appeared not to recognize them from their previous visit which Garia thought was probably just as well. The company soon cleaned themselves up and ordered food and drink.

"Milady," Tanon began, "You remember that you mentioned trans-shipment of your goods earlier. The situation is... complex."

"Oh?"

"Aye... the river Bray is large enough here to permit small barges to travel, probably at least as far upriver as this, though I know the river must be a mark away from the road by now. I had considered a wharf somewhere nearby which could take the coal from here to Haligo. You know, of course, that no boat or barge can pass the gorge and rapids at Haligo."

Garia nodded, the others looking on with interest. "Yes, of course. Oh, I see. That means that you would have to trans-ship here, then again above Haligo, truck the coal through Haligo on wagons then trans-ship it again the far side. You're saying it makes more sense to leave it in the wagons all the way to Haligo, then."

"Aye, milady, though that is only one way to view the problem. We would needs employ more men to lift the sacks in and out of the wagons and barges each time. There would thus be bunkhouses at each wharf for the men, stables for beasts and other expenses. I am not telling you it cannot be done, but the costs would certainly rise."

Keren put in, "Tanon, the alternative, surely, is to run wagons to Haligo as you do now. I'm thinking that you need more men as wagons and guards than you would on a fleet of barges. Do barges carry bigger loads than wagons do?"

"You are correct, Highness. The use of wagons over the whole distance means more wagons, more men, more dranakhs but this is an established method of carrying goods and the extra costs are not so great." He gave a wry smile. "Until we run out of wagons, men and dranakhs, of course. But establishments like these," he waved his hand at their surroundings, "are already positioned along our major routes and we may make use of them at advantageous rates."

"There might be a way," Garia said slowly. "On Earth there's a recent thing called containerization."

Tanon frowned with concentration. "You speak of containers, milady. I assume these would be all the same size and shape, able to take goods of different kinds?"

Garia nodded. "That's it exactly, Master Tanon! Now, the ones we use on Earth are monsters. You wouldn't be able to make anything like those here yet, since they are of course made out of steel. Let's see. Roughly, those are about three strides high and three strides wide, and made in certain lengths to stack easily, three, six, nine and twelve strides long."

Twelve strides is about forty feet, isn't it? If so, the short size doesn't sound right. It doesn't matter, just so's they understand how big those things can get.

"So big, milady? Many country folk live in dwellings not so large as that."

She waved a hand. "Those sizes aren't right but they give you an idea how big the ones we use are. The trick is how the containers are handled and for our coal traffic I thought of something much simpler but related. Suppose you build a wagon but with just a flat bed." Tanon nodded. "At the corners you have a rounded peg sticking up to stop the container slipping. The container itself is just a big box which locates over the pegs. It can have a roof or it might be open. When you get it to the wharf you can just crane it from the wagon bed into the barge, which is sized to fit the containers and has pegs to stop them moving about as well."

Tanon nodded slowly. "And your crane would have a steam engine to raise and lower the loads, milady. I see. It would require the wagons and barges to be specially made, of course, but since we are already building new -" He looked at Garia. "An excellent idea, milady. I will speak to the guildsmen about containers once we reach Palarand."

"Make a note, Merry," Garia instructed. "I want to make sure I tell the guildsmen all I remember about containers, because some of the details are important."

"As you wish, Garia," Merizel replied, pulling a sheet of paper from her bag.

Garia turned to Tanon again. "There's something about the pegs and sockets," she explained. "It's not important to explain today but they are key to the way the whole thing works. If we can get that right to begin with it will set a standard for many decades to come."

"I shall look forward to your explanations with interest, milady," Tanon replied. "As one of those who makes heavy use of wagons to carry Palarand's goods it is certainly a subject I should acquaint myself with."

"There's a possible bonus here, Master Tanon," Garia added. "If you do make something like that, you could just fill the container with coal without needing bags. Your men wouldn't need to handle it at all along the journey. At the far end you could drop the whole container into a special revolving frame which dumps the coal out in one go. Less handling, less mess, less loss of cargo, which are some of the reasons we developed containers on Earth."

Tanon looked at Garia shrewdly. "You make an interesting point, milady. Such containers could also be used for carrying grains, fruits, vegetables and other products, would they not?"

Garia smiled. "That's it exactly. If it will fit into a container, somebody somewhere will have used one to do just that. The containers we use can be locked and sealed so that what went in one end can be guaranteed to come out the other."

Tanon gave her another wry smile. "First you make me dig canals and build barges, milady, then I commission more wagons than the Valley has ever known, then there was the small matter of a stage coach, and now this. I can foresee many uses for these containers of yours." He thought, his expression changing. "But forgive me, I was explaining the problems with our present enterprise, milady. Besides what I have already described there are... political difficulties."

Keren sat up, his eyes intent. "Oh, Tanon? Explain."

"These forests, as you described this morning to our errant Quadrant yonder, belong to Duke Gilbanar. Once we ride beyond the forest the lands either side of the Bray are those of two barons. The lands on the further side of the Bray belong to Baron Werrel who is a vassal of Count Trosanar. He will do nothing without the permission of his lord, and it has been made clear to us that no such permission will ever be given.

"Those lands on this side of the Bray are those of Baron Charzon, who as far as I have been able to discover has never visited them. I understand the lands came with his wife many years ago. He lives in some splendor in a mansion in Palarand and has interests in the ocean trade. I know him well, but even our friendship will not allow him to permit me a wharf on the lands we will pass through. Though he is not Count Trosanar's vassal it seems he would not draw the attention of the count at any price."

Keren's eyes narrowed. "He applies pressure? Even though Charzon is not his vassal?"

Tanon spread his hands. "Highness, there are villages on his lands, and the only nearby access to goods and markets is Tranidor. I am told that Trosanar has made it plain that, should a wharf be build on Charzon's lands, the tolls for the local people to enter his town would rise."

"He directs this at the coal traffic deliberately, then?" Keren was angry. "Since the wagons have no need to enter and leave Tranidor by the same gate."

"As you say, Highness. There is no need, and with the bridge toll Trosanar demands, few wagons would wish to make the detour under normal circumstances."

"Wait a moment," Garia said. "You're saying that the locals have to pay the bridge toll every time they go to market? That's evil."

"That's life, Garia," Keren explained. "A toll will always be charged, though usually it would be much smaller for local folk, just going to and from their own market town. Most of the bridge revenues come from the long-distance caravans such as Tanon's."

"Aye, milady," Tanon confirmed, "and we are glad to pay those tolls, since they are used for the maintenance of the roads we travel. But I deem Count Trosanar becomes greedy of late."

"Milady," Yarling added. "Master Tanon puts his finger on it. The reason we miners dislike Lord Trosanar is his petty meanness. He seeks to obtain every soo for any object or person that passes his town. You may know that some of our workings are difficult and of less profit, Lord Trosanar does not understand these things but seeks only what coin our efforts may deliver him."

Garia put her head in her hands. "Oh, great. Now we have to deal with a tightwad as well." She looked up at Keren. "Are we sure that's all he is? Someone in love with other people's money?"

Keren smiled at Garia. "Interesting expressions you use, milady." The smile faded. "Perhaps. He dare not disobey the King's decree so I doubt our party will be troubled for a donation. But, it might be as well that we prepare ourselves against any plans he might lay against us. Yarling, you and Master Tanon would know this town best. Advise us, if you would."

~o~O~o~

The way became flatter, the forest richer, even the slopes to their left became more gentle and covered with rich vegetation. Eventually the forest ended and they were in the farmed lower region of Bray Vale. Garia remembered this region from their outward journey and, as earlier, studied the view with increased interest.

Most of the land had now been plowed ready for some kind of winter crop but some fields still had late summer crops growing in them. What they were she could not tell, never having been exposed to agriculture since she had arrived. There were still folk about in the fields, turning the soil or weeding, doing other inscrutable farming tasks.

Occasionally she would see small villages, some no better than hamlets, smoke rising from many of the houses even though the day was now warm. None of the villages was close to the trade route but lay some distance away, toward the river, accessed by narrow tracks between the fields. Her expression grew frustrated as she compared these fertile lands with the near-wastelands she had acquired the other side of the forest.

"Milady?"

"Hm? Oh, just wondering why these lands are so rich yet Blackstone's are so poor."

Feteran nodded. "It is a stark contrast, milady. Doubtless there is some power in the rocks which makes the soil so. Perhaps Master Yarling can answer you when we stop for our next break."

They pulled off the road mid-afternoon and the men soon had some water boiling for pel. Feteran remembered Garia's comment and directed Yarling to her side, where she stood talking to Keren.

"Highness, Milady. I trust I do not interrupt anything."

"There is nothing private about our words, Master Miner. Join us."

"Thank you, Highness. The commander has told me that milady pondered the difference in soils between this end of Bray Vale and her own."

"Aye, Master Yarling. I have noticed the same myself. Have you an answer for us?"

"Perhaps, Highness. Do you remember, on the journey out, we had to leave the road and make camp in that ruin by the river?"

"Aye, I do." Both Keren and Garia nodded.

"You remember, of course, the waterfall? It would seem to me that there is some kind of discontinuity in the rock there. On this side are the rocks which provide us miners with veins of ore and make these fields so valuable for food. On milady's side, maybe the rocks are of a different kind, carrying coal instead of metals and less able to grow much at all."

Keren's eyes narrowed in thought. "Then, Master Yarling, it would seem to me that this discontinuity you speak of is not restricted to Bray Vale, is it not so? We have seen that the Stone Sea is such a discontinuity, perhaps there are others which cross this part of Alaesia. Perhaps we must concentrate our search for coal to the regions north and east of the forest."

"I cannot disagree, Highness. There are thin seams to the west but none like we have discovered on milady's lands." Yarling smiled. "Although, perhaps, it is I who will be searching for signs of coal rather than yourself or milady."

Keren grinned. "I spoke of the project, not the people, Yarling. But, there is a point here. The trade route to Chaarn must pass through those regions we will be interested in. Should Palarand therefore attempt to incorporate those regions into the kingdom?"

"Highness, those are properly matters for your father, not myself. But, if you will leave the expedition in my hands, by the time the next rains arrive I should be able to tell you if the coal we have discovered extends to the east and perhaps how far. There would be little point obtaining those lands if they are, indeed, wastelands."

"As you say. Garia, does that all sound reasonable?"

"That's the way I would do it," she replied. "Where does Palarand's responsibility over the trade route end?"

"Legally at the ridge, milady, although we would maintain the road as far north as necessary to permit wagons to pass. We may learn more from Jaxen or, indeed, Master Tanon, though they would probably not have noticed coal seams as they passed."

Garia asked, "How long is the trade route, do you know?"

Yarling shrugged. "A long way, milady. I have ventured a day's travel beyond the ridge, no more. Maybe three weeks travel, maybe longer. And the route is a complicated one, climbing in and out of valleys all the time." He shuddered. "I would not like to bring coal out that way, milady."

"Okay," she said, ending the discussion with a chop of her hand. "We're only speculating here. We need to sit down, all of us, with a good map of the region and plan things out. Will we have time to do that in Tranidor?"

Keren shook his head. "Not this time, Garia. We know we'd be safe in Tranidor but my father was most specific. One night is all we may be permitted to stay."

"Do not concern yourself, milady," Yarling added. "I must return to Blackstone directly and then winter will be upon us. This matter will wait until spring, and by then we will have all the facts available to us."

Garia sighed. "You're right, Master Yarling. We'll have to do it that way, I guess."

~o~O~o~

It was late afternoon when the caravan approached Tranidor. At this time of day the sun was setting and their route lay almost directly into it, so Garia had to squint to see anything ahead of them. Shading her eyes she could see the dark mass of the mountain to her right, with the Bray close beneath it. Against the colors of sunset the castle stood out in silhouette, perched above the town on the slope of the mountain.

The caravan reached the road junction and Severel's leading file turned smartly towards the bridge over the Bray, where a fortified gate awaited them on the far side. The first four wagons carried on along the main route south causing a shout, and Severel wheeled his frayen about to come back beside Jaxen.

"Wagonmaster, why do your wagons go thusly? Should not all your party enter the town?"

Jaxen shrugged, hiding a smile as best as he could. "Why need they, Quadrant? They have no business in the town and there are no accommodations arranged for their party. They merely rode with us from Blackstone to take advantage of the extra protection we provided them."

Severel's expression was black as he asked Jaxen, "Will any others of your party be taking their leave, wagonmaster? I did not know which of you would accompany His Highness and the Baroness to the south."

Jaxen thought. "There are three wagons which brought goods to Blackstone," he admitted. "These will probably remain in Tranidor in order to take provisions back to the town. I do not know the plans of Master Yarling nor Master Tanon, although I suspect Master Tanon will likely accompany the Prince. The rest of us will be traveling south. Are you answered, Quadrant?"

"Aye, wagonmaster," Severel replied, fuming. He turned away, to cross the bridge and speak with the gate sentries.

Garia turned and watched the coal wagons disappear in the distance. About half a mark away she could see a pull-in where other wagons waited and she guessed that they would stop there for the night. There were one or two booths visible at the site and it was obvious why Trosanar was becoming upset, if none of this land was his.

"Garia, come on."

She turned and smiled to Keren, then followed the other across the bridge into the town. The wagons threaded their way through the narrow streets and halted at a junction. Tanon rode forward to join Jaxen at the front.

"I'll take Master Yarling to his hall," he said, "and then we'll go and find our accommodation in the Weaver's Arms. If we don't meet later tonight then send one of the boys to find me in the morning."

Jaxen saluted his employer. "As you wish, master."

Tanon turned to the lead wagon, where Yarling sat waiting.

"Are you ready?"

"Aye, Master Tanon. Lead the way."

The three wagons turned away from the castle and along some narrower streets, finally pulling up in front of the Miners' Hall. Yarling climbed carefully down.

"Shall you join me within, Master Tanon? This is as much your business as mine."

"Aye, Master Yarling, that I will. Your invitation is welcome. After so many marks in the saddle it will be a relief to stand for a change."

At the door they were challenged by two of the hall's servants. Yarling being recognized, he and his guest were shown within. The man who greeted them in the entrance hall was not who Yarling expected.

"Guildmaster Horran! We did not expect to find you here. What happened to Master Moriswin?"

Horran curled a lip. "That thief has been skimming guild funds. What I mean is, more than the usual slice. He's been demoted and sent up the Sufen." Horran eyed Yarling up and down. "What happened to you? Get tripped in a tavern somewhere?"

Yarling looked offended. "I had this wound defending His Highness and the Baroness from brigands, I'll have you know. A single shot from a new kind of weapon killed one of the Prince's men and wounded four others at the same time." He paused for dramatic effect. "That was before the ptuvil attacked us, of course."

"What? You mean that crazy story was true?"

"Aye, Guildmaster. Shall we find a room? There is much to tell you and, perhaps, not much time. What of Trosanar? Does he still weave his plans?"

"Aye." The Guildmaster nodded. "You have already had trouble, then? Come, let us sit in here and exchange news." Horran held out a hand. "Master Tanon, you are welcome in our halls. Wine! Bring wine for our guests!"