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I’d thought the same, but the chairs were good. They should have been. I’d sweated enough over them.

“You underbid them—more than just a little, given the quality.” The craft-master’s voice was wry.

“Master Jirrle seemed upset…” I observed in a neutral voice, checking the cart harness.

“He was, but he’ll get over it. Good day, Lerris.”

Perlot smiled briefly, and stepped out into the lane with his quick short steps, looking pleased with the world as he left us with a restless mountain pony and an empty cart. Most important, we had ten golds, five of which could go toward the quarterly levies.

“What do we do now?” asked Bostric, wiping his forehead.

“We get out of here before they tell us to, and we find some more work to do. Hopefully, something that you can do more of.”

Bostric swallowed. “I can’t do things that good.”

“Not yet. That doesn’t mean you can’t learn.” I led Gairloch around to get the cart facing toward the avenue, then climbed onto the hard board seat. “Come on.”

Bostric scrambled up next to me, and we headed out to return him to the shop and the cart to Brettel.

LIII

A FACE IN the window caught my eye. What was Perlot doing at the shop? Destrin was upstairs resting, and technically it wasn’t my place to meet with another craft-master.

Setting down the plane, I crossed the room, sniffing at the smell of barley soup drifting down the stairs. We had eaten earlier, but Destrin had not, and Deirdre was probably feeding her father a late noon meal.

Bostric looked up.

“Keep at it,” I told him. “And think about where the grains will meet.”

“It’s just a tavern bench. But I heed the words of wisdom.”

I just looked at him until he began to check the lines of the grain.

Perlot had stepped inside the shop doorway, and stood waiting. He wore his working leathers, but he had pulled on a rough shirt and a vest.

“I apologize, craft-master. Destrin is not available at the moment.” I inclined my head.

“No apologies needed, Lerris. Several of us are gathering at the Tap Inn after the day ends. I was hoping you could join us. Your apprentice would be welcome to sit with Grizzard and the others.”

I kept my mouth in place. The invitation was serious, and, in effect, an announcement that the other crafters had accepted me. Had that been Brettel’s doing? “I thank you, and would be honored.”

Perlot smiled faintly. “I think we’re the ones who are honored. Destrin is fortunate to have found you. Until tonight.” He nodded and was gone.

Only after he had gone did I sigh. Perlot himself had crossed the town and the square to invite me. Maybe, just maybe, my plans might have a chance of working out.

Bostric glanced up from the bench as I walked back, his bushy red eyebrows lifted.

“We’ve been asked to join the other crafters for a drink after work.”

Bostric just nodded, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. For him, perhaps, it was. I had encouraged him to spend his free time with the other apprentices, knowing that, if my hopes were fulfilled, he would need the contacts in the years to come.

Picking up the plane, I studied the internal framework of the chest for a long time, knowing that something was not quite right. How long it took, I didn’t know, but I finally ended up planing and readjusting one of the drawer supports for the second drawer. From there it got easier, as I entered the flow of the wood and the design. Part of the problem was that the design was an adaptation of one of Dorman’s plans, and even partly original pieces were much tougher.

“Lerris…?”

I shook my head, realizing more time had passed than I realized.

“Yes?”

“Hadmit has closed,” Bostric noted tactfully.

The jeweler stayed open later than anyone else. I began racking the tools, noting that Bostric had already been quietly putting away Destrin’s tools.

Before long, I had told Deirdre that we were leaving; and we had washed up and were striding across the square. The only thing that bothered me was that I knew I’d have to clean Gairloch’s stall when I returned, as well as get up early in the morning to ride him.