The White Road - Lynn Flewelling [130]
"Then we must go back to the city?" asked Rieser.
"Looks that way. But at least we have a few new horses to trade."
"The two you stole aren't on the bill of sale, though," Micum pointed out.
"We'll have to lead them away a bit and let them go," Alec said, stroking his stolen mare's sweaty neck. "That should throw off any trackers, if we can get into the city before anyone catches up with us."
Micum tapped the heel of his boot against the ground. "Still frozen hard. You couldn't have left much of a trail, and not one easy to follow in the dark. We'd better go now, though, just in case."
"We'll use the north gate this time, I think," Seregil said.
"You don't want anyone who saw us today wondering why we're back so soon," Rieser observed.
Seregil gave him a crooked grin. "You're catching on."
"So what are we going to do now?"
"Find Ulan and see if he has the book," Seregil told him. "That's most likely going to involve the sort of work we did tonight."
"How do you break into a ship?"
"The same way you do a house, only wetter."
CHAPTER 28
Taking in the Sights
NO ONE seemed to take undue notice of Alec and his companions when they entered the city again with their string of horses. From there they made their way through a busy merchants' quarter toward the waterfront. Micum's "slaves" were veiled and hooded; if they inadvertently ran into Ulan, he would not recognize them, and he didn't know Micum.
They were nearly there when something startled Seregil's horse and she jerked around in the opposite direction. Seregil quickly controlled her and took a moment to stroke her neck and murmur some reassurance before turning her back to follow Micum.
"Please, Master," Seregil said as they reached a market square at the edge of the waterfront. "Can we buy some food? I'm very hungry."
"So am I," said Alec. It had been hours since their cold breakfast.
"Very well," Micum snapped, still playing the role.
There were food vendors along the northern side of the square. Micum chose one selling hot grilled sausages.
"Go buy for us," Micum ordered Alec, reaching for his purse.
"Please, Master, let me," Seregil said.
Micum raised an eyebrow, then gave him a few coins. "You--" He turned is attention to Alec. "There's a woman selling cider down there. Fetch us some."
Something's going on, Alec thought as he headed for the cider booth. Seregil was up to something.
They ate standing by the public well. The sausages were full of hot spices, and Alec was glad of the cider.
"I think we're being followed," Seregil said quietly around a mouthful. "There's a young beggar behind me, over there by the ribbon seller. He's wearing a white kerchief around his neck. I'm sure I saw him by the gate."
"I see him," Micum said, glancing past Seregil. "Plenimaran?"
"Looks like it."
Alec turned his head slightly until he could see the ribbon merchant from the corner of his eye. The ragged fellow Seregil was talking about was leaning at ease against the side of the booth, laughing with another wastrel. "You think the men who chased us last night have followed us here?"
"Maybe," Seregil replied, but he sounded doubtful.
"If they did track us, why wait until now to come after us? It would have been easier out on the road," Rieser murmured.
"Exactly," Seregil replied.
They finished their food and made their way down to the harbor.
Some of the Viresse vessels they'd seen yesterday had sailed, and two others had come in.
"Is he still with us?" asked Micum.
Seregil's unruly horse turned again, tossing her head and snorting.
"He is," Seregil whispered as he brought the mare under control again.
Ulan's ship was still riding at anchor, but the pennant was gone.
"What does that mean?" asked Rieser.
"That the khirnari isn't aboard,"