Page 36 (1/1)

Rosethorn turned to Briar "You have to take her back to E to hold his eyes with her own He would not look at her, keeping his gaze on the teaon "Briar, you heard what they said, Weishu has kept the religious people in the local temples prisoner Unless there was a le word to Gyongxe I don’t know if I’ll beat the imperial ar way," Evvy argued "It’ll be dangerous, with bandits and rock slides and border guards You’ll need us"

"Be sensible," Briar said "Even with people being locked up and all, you’re going the long way around They probably will know by then What will you do, turn and walk back out?"

Rosethorn stared at the horse’s ears "I have to help You won’t understand If the First Circle Te Circle This is my faith, and my devotion My vows"

"Noe colared at him "My vows But I won’t risk your lives because I swore to defend my faith and those who take shelter in it Neither of you is a believer I a either of you into a war, and that is my last word on the subject!"

Rosethorn looked around the inside of the gilav’s wagon with admiration The home of the head of the caravan and his faanized as the caravan itself Each inch of space was put to use, with no clutter allowed on any surface Rosethorn always took away ideas for her ss with Rajoni and her ilav hihter had their midday with Rosethorn and talked business The women invited Rosethorn to take a seat on a foldout bench as she surveyed the food set on the table between the three of them

Since this clan of Traders had its roots in the Realetable steith fish and green chilies and the pickles flavored with mustard seeds Silently she thanked Mila of the Grain for the rice that took soed believable thanks to her hosts for the excellence of the meal

She always thought of Lark when she ate food like this Lark could eat spicy food by the bucket, the hotter the better She’d acquired a taste for it as a traveling player on the roads between the Pebbled Sea and the Storons Ocean It was thanks to Lark that Rosethorn had at least a little preparation for some of the deadlier dishes of the southern and eastern countries

Once they had cleaned their hands, Rajoni was pouring a final cup of tea when Nisha asked, "You said you have business with us?"

Rosethorn picked up the small cloth bundle she had put beside her when she took her seat Carefully she set it before the it with her hands She knew that she had the two Traders’ absolute attention Negotiating business with Traders was a ceremony, one that Rosethorn, Briar, and Evvy appreciated It involved gifts, which showed respect, and money, which showed thanks for the extra time and trouble those who conducted the caravan would be put to

"To our sorroe have realized we e our plans," Rosethorn told the other women "For reasons we oods, including Briar’s miniature trees, must be conveyed to Hanjian, and placed aboard the next Trader ship for Summersea in Emelan, on the Pebbled Sea We will need to purchase our pack ani horses fro or trading their horses for others in Kushi The less that was known of their plans, even by tight-mouthed Traders, the better

"What of the cats?" Nisha asked with a frown "It seems to me that your Evvy exercises a control over the cats that will not be possible for strangers It would be difficult to convey theiven proper consideration, of course"

"Of course," Rosethorn said She sighed "No, the cats will be co with us" In fact, the battle over the cats had been almost as bad as the battle for Briar and Evvy to stay with Rosethorn It was Evvy’s threat not to travel with them, but to follow theree

"These are all very difficult and unusual requirements to fulfill," Nisha said She folded her hands on the table It was ti to start

Rosethorn opened the topmost folds of cloth on her bundle to reveal two rubies the size of pigeon’s eggs Evvy could call forth the ic that was part of any stone, which hly for what she had handled She accepted precious stones in trade, which had coirl’s things was a store of geencies during their travels in exchange for ical work

Rajoni and Nisha were interested in the rubies Their faces were expressionless, but Rosethorn could read the signs in the twitch of Rajoni’s shoulder and the hitch in Nisha’s breath Now Rosethorn opened another fold in her package to reveal a vial and a small cloth bundle

"A drop of this" -- Rosethorn touched a finger to the vial -- "on the lips of one you believe to be lying to you will result in truthful speech A pinch of this" -- she touched the bundle of herbs -- "in a cup of tea for a laboring ifts, a thank-you in advance for the trouble ill cause"