Page 37 (1/1)

"We will need a list of your requirements," Nisha said "Written instructions for the transport of your goods to Hanjian, and another for the ship that will take them to your hoht out folded papers There had been plenty of ti for the i out "I will have the instructions for the ship’s captain later this afternoon," she said, handing the papers over

Rajoni looked her over "You will need ic on your face," she said frankly "Briar and Evvy are fine for this country, but you stand out"

"I could go veiled," Rosethorn suggested

"Our es to detect," Nisha replied "We’ve had to use it before It will last a week, and those who look on you will believe you coht ic"

Rajoni shrugged "You are able to work a spell froe if it is complete and needs but a word frori"

The women raised their brows in the same expression Up until that moment Rosethorn would have said Rajoni reseilav She did her best not to shter was her mother’s child as well Rosethorn took a sip of tea and opened another fold of her bundle There lay soold, each the length and width of Rosethorn’s hand and twice the thickness of her cup

"I need a map of the country between Kushi and the end of the Snow Serpent Pass in Gyongxe," she said quietly "And I need a xe I will copy yours or Briar will, but we need them"

Nisha looked at Rosethorn, then at Rajoni TraderTraders Rosethorn saw refusal in the woe back in Laenpa had traded Evvy three Kombanpur diaical use In turn, Evvy had spent oneelse but thinking about those stones when she was not carrying the with them The next month she had turned one of the diamonds into ten shards, which one of the local stone merchants happily traded for two sht, she had tried to shape a large dia her power down chosen fissures in the gem The result lay on the cloth before them: a clean, many-surfaced stone like a jewel-cut ruby, sapphire, or emerald, with a brilliant white fire The cuts and stone were uneven, but Rosethorn could tell that made no difference whatever to the other wo, "I do understand the maps are --"

Nisha beat her to the diamond "We will copy the ht Be assured, they will be correct in all the ways you will require"

Rajoni reached for a sifts in that "It is true, then? The e

Nisha was turning the diamond over in her pal that Rosethorn hesitated, she pointed to the unlit la over the table "What is said under the lamp is repeated only to those who are trusted," she assured Rosethorn

Rosethorn nodded "He is going to invade through Inxia"

The Traders exchanged looks "We were supposed to cross roads with Third Caravan Gerzi fifty miles north of Dohan," Rajoni said, her voice just above a whisper "But only two of their people came by stealth to warn us Imperial troops took the caravan They now hold everyone but the tho escaped Very slowly our people are leaving Yanjing Our imperial treaty states clearly that we are permitted to trade without harm Either this emperor thinks we do not know our own treaties, or he believes we fear hi to trade"

Rosethorn felt a chill run down her spine "I pray you will escape Yanjing before he sees that is what you are doing," she replied "It will go badly with your people if he realizes you are fleeing altogether"

Rajoni ers and stabbed the when they were unwilling to soil their carpets

"Even though you are not one of ours, your prayers are welcoements And do not worry that the other travelers will tell any imperial soldiers about those who left us unexpectedly in Kushi We will ainst their best interest to speak of it"

Rosethorn thanked the her wide straw hat to her head, she walked back to her wagon and her two unruly students There was much to be done yet, even if the Traders had taken on the burden of copying theunder hile she was gone, Rosethorn thought She was still unhappy that they had been so i on to Emelan She knehat Moonstream and her fellow dedicates back hoed a child Evvy’s age into a war

Those two i people would never hear that she was secretly glad they were cohtened herthe them travel back to Emelan without her She trusted the Traders: The ties that bound Briar, his foster-sisters, their teachers, and the Traders wereto be erased by outsiders’ ic But they were not Rosethorn, and they were not aware of the special kinds of peril that followed those ielded aic