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Part IX
Afternoon of Tertius, Fourth Day of Autumnmoon
Before reaching Saladin, Bram removed his armor and donned civilian clothes. North of Angkor, the garb of a Gnostic was bound to get him into trouble, due to the many horrific acts of violence performed by the Knights during the War. Bram figured it was still fresh on the minds of many in the region, and he did not want to run into anyone with a bone to pick.
He found a peddler a league's distance from the city who was traveling to Vineta. At the sight of a few gold coins, the grizzled old traveler swallowed his questions and offered Bram anything from his cart. Bram purchased some clothes for himself and Uriana, including a bonnet to cover her conspicuous white hair. He also bought a large hemp sack to carry his armor and keep it hidden. He would have paid more for food and water, but the peddler was unwilling to part with any provisions—even for a sizable sum.
"Damned if I die in the desert," he mumbled. "There's an inn about a league that way, on the outskirts," he pointed behind his shoulder. "You'll find water and a good meal there."
Bram thanked the man and counted his remaining coins. Given the high cost of lodging and provisions, as well as the funds to procure a mount for their continued journey, he had to be more frugal. Peddlers in Saladin loved to haggle, but Bram did not have time to waste shopping around. After witnessing the destruction of Ur, he knew that King Richard would stop at nothing to seize the remaining sunstones, and it would most likely start with the one in Kitezh. He felt an urgency to reach their capital and warn their king. Somehow, he would have to stretch his dwindling reserves to get there.
Before reaching the inn, he asked Uriana to send Waddles away. The child leaned close to the creature's head and whispered some words in its ear. The viscar galloped off in the distance, slowly fading away like a distant mirage. Bram wondered where aeons went after they disappeared. He asked Uriana about it, but she did not appear to understand.
"Waddles is always right here," she responded with an innocent smile.
Bram smiled, too, and let the matter drop.
When they arrived at the inn, it was completely full. Many of the patrons were no doubt headed to neighboring countries to sell their wares at a premium. Foreign goods always commanded a handsome price, and ever since the War ended, a larger number of merchants dreamt of making their fortunes. By the time they crossed the continent, they often had enough gold to return home and make their peers envious—which of course incited more merchants to brave the route the following year.
It was the right time of year for commercial pilgrimages, and prudent peddlers were smart enough to bring along bodyguards to protect against spawn or waylaying bandits. As these threats grew worse and trade became more profitable, travelers would hire even more mercenaries. It was a virtuous cycle that resulted in entire entourages, causing all nearby inns to overflow with occupants. Bram figured these crowds would make it difficult to find vacancy in any of the surrounding establishments.
He would have to travel quite a ways into the city before finding any rooms, but food and drink could not wait. He was especially concerned for Uriana, who probably had not eaten in more than two days. He waited for the innkeeper behind an irate older gentleman with a long white beard, dressed in tattered gray robes. Both men were engaged in a passionate discourse.
"What do you mean, there's no room?" the old man hounded. "I don't care who you have to kick out, but I'm willing to pay handsomely for anything you've got in this dump."
"I'm sorry, sir, but like I said—there's no vacancy," the innkeeper replied, clearly out of patience. "I can't evict another paying customer."
"Do you have any idea how far I've come?" the old man pressed. "I've traveled all the way from Vineta in three days looking for the man who eloped with my daughter. And I don't have time to waste! All I need is a place to rest, and then I'll be off. So how much will it cost me?"
"Three days?" the innkeeper repeated, rolling his eyes. "Right … like I said, we're booked. And if you don't stop pestering me, I'll have you thrown out!" He gestured toward a couple of burly looking characters by the inn's entrance, apparently hired peacekeepers. They looked ready to pounce.
The old man pointed to the innkeeper with a gnarled index finger. "Don't you dare threaten me! Do you know who I am? If you try anything, I'll put a curse on you!"
Losing interest in the vexed lunatic, the innkeeper turned toward Bram. "I'm sure you've overheard. There's no open rooms here, so you might as well move on. You'll find other inns further in the city."
"I'm not here for a room," Bram responded. "I just want some food and water for me … and my daughter." He gestured toward Uriana.
"I'd move on, if I were you," the old man advised. "When an inn has bad service, it usually means bad food!"
"That's it!" the innkeeper shrieked. Pushing past Bram and the old man, he headed angrily toward the guards at the door.
"I'm hungry," whined Uriana, whose presence had been nearly overlooked amid all the commotion.
The old man looked at her fondly. "My dear child," he began, "that's no way for a little girl to feel." He bent over and touched her on the cheek. As he made contact, a small white light flashed from his fingertips. When the guardsmen saw this, they took a step back, uttering expletives.
"We don't handle magic users," Bram overheard one of them tell the innkeeper. "It's not in our contract."
The innkeeper turned beet red, his eyes bulging. He opened his mouth to say something, but the old man interrupted.
"Don't bother. I'll leave peacefully." With a much meeker attitude, he headed for the door.
"Wait—" Uriana called, reaching out with her arm.
"No, Yuri," Bram told her. "We can't get involved with someone like that."
"But he helped me," she explained. "My tummy doesn't hurt anymore."
Despite her simple intentions, Bram saw wisdom in her advice. If the man were a white wizard who made it from Vineta to Saladin in three days, then eliciting his help might cut days' worth of travel time to Kitezh. Not to mention that it might avoid the high cost of traditional travel. There was little to lose from asking. Taking Uriana by the hand, he turned toward the door. She led the way.
Once outside, he looked in all directions. Fortunately, the old man had not gone far. Bram ran to catch up.
"Sir!" he called out. "Excuse me—Mister!"
The old man spun around, looking surprised. "What do you want?" he demanded while waving his walking stick in the air threateningly.
Bram held out his hands in a peaceful manner. "Just a moment of your time. My name's Bram, and this is Yuri."
The old man's face softened at the sight of her. His lips twitched in a smile. "Are you feeling better, my dear?"
"Yes, thank you," she replied politely.
Now that the old man was in a talking mood, Bram swooped in for the ice-breaker. "I wanted to offer my appreciation for your kindness earlier, but I don't know who to thank. What's your name?"
"Oh, my name?" the old man cracked a smile and cleared his throat. He backed up and spread his arms wide, as if ready to put on a show to an imaginary audience.
White sparks sprung from his fingertips, creating a dazzling lighting effect as he waved his arms from side to side. His voice was loud and boisterous, befitting a grand introduction. "If White is the Day and Black is the Night, then I am the Dawn and the Dusk. If White is the Sun and Black is the Moon, then I am the Stars and the Sky. My name is Matthias, the Gray." He raised his staff high into the air, and swooped it down along the ground, concluding the light show in a magnificent burst of fireworks. Uriana's eyes lit up as she watched. The old man ended with a bow.
"Gray?" Bram asked. "Are you claiming to be a gray wizard?" He recalled the stories his father had once told him about running into such a wizard. They were incredibly rare, due to the diverse nature of white and black magic. For someone to have the ability to draw on both forces, it would take something of a split personality.
"I wouldn't be called 'Matthias, the Gray' if I were anything else," the wizard snapped back angrily. Bram raised his eyebrows. Clearly, Matthias was deserving of his moniker.
Bram tried sloughing off the outburst. "We're trying to reach Kitezh," he explained calmly. "I overheard that you were headed there as well. I'd like to propose we travel together."
Matthias scowled. "Eh? What good would it do me? You'd only slow me down!"
"I'm handy with a sword," Bram argued. "I'd be useful if we run into spawn or bandits."
The old wizard waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. "I can take care of myself!"
"We can compensate you," Bram lied.
"I don't need your money—"
"Sir, please!" Bram had enough bartering with the crazy old man. He had one final argument, and then he would find his own way north. "Did you not tell the innkeeper that you were heading to Kitezh to find your daughter?"
The wizard's eyes narrowed. "What of it?"
"I only bring it up because I too am traveling to Kitezh to protect someone dear to me." He turned to Uriana and put his arm around her shoulder. "Make that two people."
Matthias looked at the child, and then back at Bram. He seemed ready to turn them down, but then his face softened. The frosty attitude went away, and he let out a heavy sigh. "Oh, all right! First I'll need to rest and eat—and restock my supplies. I hope you have a few coins in your purse, too, because I'm not buying your way!"
"Of course I do," Bram promised.
Matthias gave a nod and a grunt. He seemed satisfied, so he motioned for them to follow. His attitude took on a much lighter tone. "I've been to Saladin before, believe it or not. We'll want to stop by the Herdrick Bazaar. It's this way." He used his walking stick to point.
Uriana looked up at Bram and smiled approvingly. Apparently, trust came easy to her. Bram only hoped that Matthias the Gray deserved it.