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CHAPTER 15
Jermsen moved out of the way of the flood of people flowing up the road from the south. Huddling close to Sebastian for shelter from the wind, she briefly considered simply curling up on the frozen ground off to the side and going to sleep. Her stomach grumbled with hunger.
When Rusty stepped sideways, Je
As his sheltering an-n enclosed her shoulders, Sebastian eyed the wagons, carts, and people moving past on their way toward the People's Palace. The sound of the wagons rumbling by, people talking and laughing, feet shuffling, and horses clopping all melted together into a steady drone punctuated by jangling metal and the rhythmic squeaking of axles. The clouds of dust lifted by all the movement carried the aroma of food along with the stink of people and animals and left the taste of dirt on her tongue.
"What do you think?" Sebastian asked in a low voice.
The cold sunrise bathed the distant sheer cliffs of the huge plateau in glowing lavender light. The cliffs themselves rose what seemed thousands of feet from the Azrith Plains, but what man had made atop them rose higher yet. Countless roofs behind imposing walls collected together into the massive structure that was a city founded on the plateau. Low winter sunlight lent the soaring marble walls and columns a warm glow.
Je
Je
"I think we came here for a reason," she finally answered. "Now is a poor time to lose courage."
"Now is the last chance to lose courage."
She studied the note of caution in his blue eyes for only a moment before answering by wading back into the moving river of people. Betty sprang to her feet, peering up at the strangers as she pressed in close to Je
An older woman in a cart beside them smiled down at Je
Je
"Mistress? Are you here selling your sausages today?"
The woman reached behind, pushed aside a lid, and stretched her hand into one of the kettles nestled snugly in blankets and cloth. She came up holding a fat coil of sausage.
"Fresh cooked this morning. Could I interest you? Only a silver pe
When Je
"It's delicious," she called up to the woman. The woman smiled, seeming not at all surprised at the compliment. Walking abreast with the cart, Je
Sebastian swept a furtive gaze around at the people walking within earshot. The woman, not at all shocked by the question, leaned down toward Je
"You've come for a telling, then?"
Although she couldn't be sure, Je
"Well, dear, I don't know her, but I know of her husband, Friedrich. He comes to the palace to sell his gilded carvings."
Many of the people moving up the road looked to have come to sell their wares. Je
"Would you know where we can find this man, Friedrich, or someone else who knows the way?"
The woman gestured ahead toward the palace. "Friedrich has a small booth in the marketplace. Up top. As I hear told, you'll need to be invited out to see Althea. I'd advise you to talk to Friedrich, up top."
Sebastian put a hand on Je
She nodded. "You know. Up top, where the palace is. I don't go up there myself."
"Then where do you sell your sausages?" he asked.
"Oh, I have my cart and horse, so I stay down along the road, selling to those going to and from the palace. They won't let you take those horses of yours up, if it be your intention to go look for Althea's husband. Your goat, neither, for that matter. There are ramps for horses inside for the soldiers and those with official business, but wagons with supplies and such mostly use the cliff road on the east side. They don't let just anyone ride their horses up. Only the soldiers keep horses up top."
"Well," Je
"Friedrich doesn't come often. You'll be lucky to catch him on a day he's here. Best, though, if you could talk to him."
Je
"Sorry, dear, but I don't." The woman pulled an oversized red scarf over her head and fastened it tight with a knot under her chin. "I see him now and then, that's all I know. I sold him sausages a time or two to take home to his wife."
Je
They weren't even inside, yet, and already Je
She wondered if Lord Rahl was at the palace, or off making war on Sebastian's homeland. She felt great empathy for his people being at the mercy of Lord Rahl-a man she knew to be without a shred of mercy.
On their journey to the People's Palace, she had asked Sebastian about his homeland. He had shared with her some of the convictions and beliefs of the people in the Old World, their sensitivity for the plight of their fellow man, and their longings for the blessings of the Creator. Sebastian spoke passionately about the beloved spiritual leader of the Old World, Brother Narev, and his disciples of Order, who taught that the welfare of others was not only the responsibility but also the sacred duty of all people. She had never imagined a place with people who were so compassionate.
Sebastian said that the Imperial Order was fighting back valiantly against Lord Rahl's invaders. She, of all people, understood what it was to fear the man. It was that fear that worried Je
An orderly column of soldiers in chain mail and dark leather armor rode out, headed in the opposite direction. Their weapons-swords, axes, lances-flashed menacingly in the morning sunlight. Je
As they drew near the great portals into the plateau the crowds grew thicker. Spread out on the Azrith Plains to the south of the cliffs, vendors had set up their stalls in makeshift streets. Those newly arrived settled in wherever they found room. Despite the cold, everyone seemed in a good mood as they went about setting out their wares. Many were already doing a brisk business.
D'Haran soldiers seemed to be everywhere. They were all big men, all wearing the same orderly leather, chain mail, and wool uniforms. All were armed with at least a sword, but most carried additional weapons-an axe, spiked mace, or knives. While the soldiers were alert and watchful, they didn't appear to be bothering the merchants or hampering their business.
The woman selling sausages waved her good wishes to Je
"Careful who you leave your animals with," she called after them.
Many of the people who set up their stands down on the plain had animals and it seemed easy enough to conduct business where they were, rather than go up to the palace. Other people roamed the crowds, hawking items to passersby. Perhaps their simple wares sold better to those come to the open-air market. Some, like the woman with the cart, came to sell food they had cooked, and since there were plenty of people down below they had no need to go up inside. Je