penny jogged the memory of a passing messenger boy and they were on their way. As they rattled their way through the streets of Lord’s Way Jeremiah thought back to his youth, first as a boy running messages for coppers like the boy that gave them directions then later as a Watchman chasing down criminals. Burt’s voice jolted him back to the present.
“I’m sorry, my mind wandered.”
“I say did you spend much time in the city?”
“Oh yes, I grew up here and I served in the Watch for ten years. My father had a blacksmith shop in the southern business district. How about you?”
“I pass through now and then, but never for long. Got me a little cottage on the outskirts of White Mountain, though I spend most of my time on the road.”
“There’s the warehouse.” Jeremiah pointed to a large building on the east side of the street, a circle with three stars inside engraved on the doors.
Burt guided the wagon alongside the double doors and Jeremiah climbed down. The warehouse buzzed with activity, four broad shouldered men unloaded a pair of wagons overseen by a set of identical twins.
“Excuse me,” Jeremiah said.
The twins looked up then hurried over. “Can we help you?” the left twin asked.
“Are you the owners of the Tristar Merchant Company?”
“Yes, sir. I’m Isak,” the right twin said.
“And I’m Isik,” the left twin said.
“What can we do for you?” they said together.
“I am Lord Knight Jeremiah Kane and I’m afraid I have bad news for you. Bandits attacked one of your caravans.”
“Oh, dear,” Isak said. “The people?”
“All dead, save one I’m afraid,” Jeremiah said. “We recovered most of your merchandise.”
“So the Knight Commander was right, bandit activity has increased,” Isik said.
“Eric mentioned bandits to you?”
“Yes, several days ago he stopped to ask if we had any caravans running late,” Isak said.
Jeremiah frowned. Eric said the merchants reported their caravan missing. Someone was lying to him, and he couldn’t imagine why the merchant would do so. He couldn’t imagine why Eric would either but he felt certain if anyone was lying it was Eric.
Jeremiah and the twins walked over to the wagon. “Gentlemen this is Burt, the sole survivor of your caravan. Thanks to his efforts we brought the bandits to justice.”
“Many thanks for your efforts, sir,” Isak said. “We would be happy to double you wage as a bonus.”
Burt nodded. “Much obliged.”
“I was hoping you would inventory the items we recovered. I’m curious to see if anything’s missing.”
“Certainly, Lord Knight,” Isak said. “We have a manifest in the office.”
Isik trotted back into the warehouse and a moment later Isak cocked his head and looked through the merchandise. Jeremiah and Burt shared a look.
After fifteen minutes Isak said, “Three bales of cloth and a bag of pipeweed are missing.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes, thanks to your diligence we still have an excellent chance to turn a profit on this trip. We must reward you.”
“Not necessary, I was doing my duty.”
“There must be something we can do to thank you,” Isak said.
“If you insist you can give any reward to the families of the victims.”
Isak nodded. “I’m not certain who we hired for that trip, but we’ll do our best find out.”
“I imagine Burt can help you with that.”
“Sure,” Burt said. “I knew all the drovers. Can’t say about the guards though.”
“That’s a good start,” Isak said.
They climbed down from the wagon and Burt held out his hand. “Been a pleasure, Lord Knight.”
Jeremiah shook his hand. “If you could drop the wagon off at the Lord’s mansion I’d appreciate it.”
“Sure,” Burt said. “You don’t suppose they’ll run me off if I try and leave a wagon there?”
Jeremiah dug a copper token out of his pocket. On one side was a lion and on the other his name. “Show them this at the gate and they’ll know I sent you.
“I’m sorry, my mind wandered.”
“I say did you spend much time in the city?”
“Oh yes, I grew up here and I served in the Watch for ten years. My father had a blacksmith shop in the southern business district. How about you?”
“I pass through now and then, but never for long. Got me a little cottage on the outskirts of White Mountain, though I spend most of my time on the road.”
“There’s the warehouse.” Jeremiah pointed to a large building on the east side of the street, a circle with three stars inside engraved on the doors.
Burt guided the wagon alongside the double doors and Jeremiah climbed down. The warehouse buzzed with activity, four broad shouldered men unloaded a pair of wagons overseen by a set of identical twins.
“Excuse me,” Jeremiah said.
The twins looked up then hurried over. “Can we help you?” the left twin asked.
“Are you the owners of the Tristar Merchant Company?”
“Yes, sir. I’m Isak,” the right twin said.
“And I’m Isik,” the left twin said.
“What can we do for you?” they said together.
“I am Lord Knight Jeremiah Kane and I’m afraid I have bad news for you. Bandits attacked one of your caravans.”
“Oh, dear,” Isak said. “The people?”
“All dead, save one I’m afraid,” Jeremiah said. “We recovered most of your merchandise.”
“So the Knight Commander was right, bandit activity has increased,” Isik said.
“Eric mentioned bandits to you?”
“Yes, several days ago he stopped to ask if we had any caravans running late,” Isak said.
Jeremiah frowned. Eric said the merchants reported their caravan missing. Someone was lying to him, and he couldn’t imagine why the merchant would do so. He couldn’t imagine why Eric would either but he felt certain if anyone was lying it was Eric.
Jeremiah and the twins walked over to the wagon. “Gentlemen this is Burt, the sole survivor of your caravan. Thanks to his efforts we brought the bandits to justice.”
“Many thanks for your efforts, sir,” Isak said. “We would be happy to double you wage as a bonus.”
Burt nodded. “Much obliged.”
“I was hoping you would inventory the items we recovered. I’m curious to see if anything’s missing.”
“Certainly, Lord Knight,” Isak said. “We have a manifest in the office.”
Isik trotted back into the warehouse and a moment later Isak cocked his head and looked through the merchandise. Jeremiah and Burt shared a look.
After fifteen minutes Isak said, “Three bales of cloth and a bag of pipeweed are missing.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes, thanks to your diligence we still have an excellent chance to turn a profit on this trip. We must reward you.”
“Not necessary, I was doing my duty.”
“There must be something we can do to thank you,” Isak said.
“If you insist you can give any reward to the families of the victims.”
Isak nodded. “I’m not certain who we hired for that trip, but we’ll do our best find out.”
“I imagine Burt can help you with that.”
“Sure,” Burt said. “I knew all the drovers. Can’t say about the guards though.”
“That’s a good start,” Isak said.
They climbed down from the wagon and Burt held out his hand. “Been a pleasure, Lord Knight.”
Jeremiah shook his hand. “If you could drop the wagon off at the Lord’s mansion I’d appreciate it.”
“Sure,” Burt said. “You don’t suppose they’ll run me off if I try and leave a wagon there?”
Jeremiah dug a copper token out of his pocket. On one side was a lion and on the other his name. “Show them this at the gate and they’ll know I sent you.
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