The Star of Morcyth_ Book Five of the Morcyth Saga - Brian S. Pratt [46]
“Interesting,” says Miko. Well that answers one question. The fighter with the two knives had to be Jiron. But just what was he doing and why was he there.
Changing the subject, he asks, “Did you find out anything about the connection between Lord Kindering and the Empire’s Ambassador?”
“Not much,” he replies. “They have had a few meetings outside the regular trade negotiations, but what they said we were unable to find out. Those always took place at Lord Kindering’s estate and couldn’t find anyone who knew what went on there.”
Nodding his head, Miko says, “Thanks.” Digging into his pouch, he pulls out a handful of coppers and proceeds to give each of them two.
After everyone has two of them, he returns the rest to his pouch and then asks, “Did they ever find the men who killed the Empire’s men at the fight?”
Shaking his head, the older boy says, “Not that I’ve heard. They do have someone in the dungeon they believe is part of it, but I don’t know who.”
That must be James. “Would you all be interested in continuing to find things out for me?”
“Sure,” says one of the girls. “As long as you keep feeding us.”
“No problem there,” he assures them. “See if you can find out what happened to those fighters from the fight. Where they might be.”
“Why?” asks a younger boy.
“Why what?” Miko asks him.
“You said your master was a merchant and wanted some inside information,” he replies. “I don’t see how this has to do with anything.”
Remaining silent for a moment as all their eyes are upon him, Miko finally asks, “Can you keep a secret?”
All their heads nod in unison. “Now I’m not talking about an unimportant secret,” he tells them. “I’m talking about the sort of secret that if it’s told will probably get you dead.”
The younger kids’ eyes widen at that and the older boy says, “We know when to hold our tongues.” To the others he asks, “Right?”
The other kids all nod their heads affirmatively.
“Alright.” Miko eyes them all seriously as he says, “The man with the knives is a friend of mine. The man they’re holding in the dungeon is another. There are things going on that I’m not at liberty to talk about right now, but believe me, they’re serious.” He locks eyes with each of them before saying, “Understand?”
They nod their heads.
“I believe this Lord Kindering is up to no good and is probably behind why my friend is sitting in the dungeon. I need to find my other friend and try to work this all out somehow.”
“You going to break him out of the castle?” asks one young boy, eyes wide in wonder.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” he says. “Are you with me?”
“You can count on us!” the older boy says for the group.
“Good,” says Miko with a smile. “Find out what you can but be careful. Again, I’m staying at the Silver Bells, leave word there with a Miss Gilena if you can’t find me.”
“You got it,” the older boy says. To the others he says, “Let’s go.”
Miko sits there and watches as the group leaves the market area. James in the dungeon, Jiron mixed up in the slaying of the Ambassador’s adjutant. What else could possibly happen?
Getting up he decides to go down by the docks to see if there might be any scuttlebutt down there. Back in Bearn it always seemed the workers along the river had the most reliable news. And usually before anyone else, too.
He makes his way to the dock area where he finds it a flurry of activity as dock workers transfer cargo to and from the vessels secured there. Strolling along, he keeps his ears open for anything which might relate to what he’s hoping to learn.
The conversations he hears is just the usual stuff guys say to one another, mostly about the girl they were with the night before. One ship, a beautiful three masted merchantman has just pulled up to the dock and the dockworkers are still securing the lines.
He misses