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That s generous, ser.
Not at all. You had it ready when I needed it, and that s important. I ve
got the wagon outside.
You ll take it now?
Justen caught the undercurrent of-was it fear?-in the cooper s voice and
answered as heartily as he could. Best strike while the iron s hot. Old smith
saying, you know. He replaced his purse and lifted the basket, light enough
for him to heft alone, a good sign. If you would open the door?
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Certainly., Master Justen.
Justen carried the wicker basket through the open double doors and out into
the street, where he eased it into the wagon bed, then lifted and latched the
tailgate shut.
Excellent work, Seldit! the engineer exclaimed, loudly enough that Basta,
standing in the doorway of his leather-and-dry-goods shop, turned to look
toward the rotund cooper, whose shoulders slumped under the weight of the
unasked praise. First rate! Justen added, trying to conceal a malicious grin
as he untied the horses and climbed onto the wagon. While his ribs seemed
healed, he did not want to attempt a vault.
Thank you, answered Seldit weakly. We try to please, ser.
Justen released the wagon brake and flicked the reins. The horses carried
the near-empty wagon out of Wandernaught with easy steps. Thinking again about
Seldit s reactions, the engineer frowned.
Shrezsan was working in the garden, her toddler nearby, and she waved
briefly.
Justen returned the wave, still thinking about Seldit, and Ryltar. How much
longer before Ryltar would push the Council into acting? He coughed to clear
his throat, relieved that the cough didn t create even the slightest twinge in
his ribs.
But why was Ryltar so concerned? The counselor didn t seem to be the type
who really cared much about order, or even about tradition. The fact that he
was involved with smugglers showed that his concern was with coin, not with
higher considerations. Justen continued to mull the question as the team
carried him back to the house.
He pulled on the reins slightly to slow the horses before they turned onto
the lane and plodded up to the stable.
Elisabet waved from the orchard, then came running. Gunnar was waiting by
the stable and slipped the wagon blocks in place as Justen set the brake and
climbed down.
Does anyone need the wagon? asked Justen.
Not that I know of.
No, added Elisabet. Even the early apples aren t ready to go anywhere
yet.
Then I ll put it away after I get this inside. Justen lifted the basket
over the tailgate. The balloon and the lens framework are finished. All I
need to do is attach the brackets to this basket. After that, let s load the
land engine and leave tonight.
I d thought- Why? asked Gunnar.
Tonight? So soon? asked Elisabet.
Because someone is watching and thinks it will be later. Seldit really
didn t want me to take the basket yet. He was obviously uneasy about it, even
after I gave him an extra gold.
Free with your com, aren t you?
I thought it was well invested to get the basket and get out. _,
Your coal bins aren t full. Dad and I can fill them while you and Mother
do the brackets. Gunnar paused. Is it a good idea to travel the High Road at
night?
It might be better. I don t know how horses would take to the land
engine.
There is that.
I can pack up some food to go with all the dried provisions stored in the
chest, added Horas, who had just walked past the stable from the eastern
grove.
We might have to wait a few days in Nylan for the Llyse, added Gunnar.
That s still better than being here. I could put the land engine in the
engineering hall, I think, for the engineers to study.
Gunnar nodded. You re worried. A lot.
I think Ryltar s up to something, maybe a lot of somethings. And I don t
understand why.
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That might be, said Horas, but you need to be thinking about loading and
preparing to depart, if that s what you ve got in mind.
Trust Father to be the practical one, laughed Gunnar. Where do we
start?
With the balloon. It goes hi the inside compartments. I ve packed some
spare fabric, but I really don t want it ripped. The frame for the lenses is
already broken down and inside the padded crate on the floor of the shed&
Justen began to detail what went where in the limited cargo space of the land
engine.
I never realized that you could be so well-organized, Gunnar told his
brother.
I ve thought about it for a while, and-
Tell me what I can bring out, interrupted Elisabet.
You can bring out all the supplies. Father knows where they are. The
engineer looked at the nearly cloudless late-afternoon sky. I need to get the
land engine out. I don t think we ll need the canvases, though.
Canvases? asked Cirlin as she walked down from the smithy.
Those canvas covers you had Heldra make. They re to keep the rain or too
much sun off us, but I don t think we ll need them on the way to Nylan.
No. There won t be any rain, added Elisabet as she set off for the
kitchen, scurrying after Horas.
Justen, Gunnar, and Cirlin wheeled the land engine out of the stable and
into the yard.
Take more than three people to move this once it s loaded. Gunnar leaned
against the side armor of the craft and wiped his forehead.
Not on the road, but on soft ground. Justen set the brake.
Elisabet returned from the kitchen with several waxed packages. Where do I
put these?
Set them here. Justen pointed to the seat beside the driver. I ll load
them once they re all here. I know in which order they go inside the locker.
Gunnar raised his eyebrows.
I measured. What good s an engineer s training if he doesn t use it?
I think I ll get the balloon, Gunnar answered.
I ll help, added Cirlin.
Father wants to know if he can start dinner. Elisabet. looked at Justen.
Yes. That would be just right.
Optimist, muttered Gunnar.
Despite Gunnar s pessimism, the loading was complete just before Horas
called out, Dinner.
I ll be right there. I m going to get the firebox ready to light. Justen
whittled some shavings from a branch he had taken from the woodpile. Although
he had some shavings in a box in the coal bin, they were to be saved for
possible emergencies.
After setting the shavings and some chips and twigs in the firebox, he
walked to the outside pump where he washed the coal dust and grime off his
hands and face, then shook the water off his hands.
The others were at the table when he entered.
Spiced lamb! announced Elisabet. And berry bread, and pie.
That s for later, young woman, said Horas.
Pass the lamb, please, asked Gunnar.
Justen extended the bread to his mother, and then to Elisabet, who promptly
slathered her slab with cherry conserve. Justen set a slice on the edge of his
plate and waited for the lamb, still wondering about Seldit and Ryltar.
This is good, said Gunnar. We re going to miss this kind of cooking.
Justen took a bite of the bread.
Why do you have to leave now? Why so soon? asked Elisabet.
Counselor Ryltar wants to lock me up because I m order-mad, mumbled
Justen through a mouthful of hot bread.
Finish eating before you talk, suggested Horas.
You don t know that for sure, protested Gunnar.
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Sure enough. Justen held up a hand and swallowed. I still don t
understand why. All Ryltar seems interested in is trade and money.
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