The question caught Raymond off guard, and Henk clearly had no intention of answering. Looking into Margaret's bright blue eyes, Raymond replied, “Yes. We're mercenaries from Brightwater.”
“Mind your tone, mercenary!” Sir Charles said sharply from behind Margaret. “You are speaking to Lady Margaret Silvertide, daughter of Count Roderick.”
Raymond was surprised, though it made sense. Only the daughter of the Count of Silvertide was likely to travel with such an impressive escort. So many fully armed soldiers were fitting protection for someone of her standing.
“It's all right, Sir Charles.” Margaret waved him off and walked slowly toward the three. “Where did he receive those wounds?” she asked curiously.
Raymond glanced at Henk. “Deepwater Lake, my lady. We were driving off fishfolk near the lake. That's where my companion was injured.”
“Deepwater Lake is more than ten miles from here,” Charles said with a frown. “Why come to Elmbridge after being wounded instead of going to Brightwater?”
“Well...” Raymond hesitated and was about to explain when Margaret turned to Charles. “You needn't treat everyone with hostility, Sir Charles. This is Silvertide. No one here will harm me.”
“Yes, my lady.” Charles bowed his head respectfully.
“My apologies to all three of you.” Margaret ordered the soldiers blocking their way to move aside. “I'd like to know more about the situation in Brightwater and at Deepwater Lake. Would you mind telling me?” She gestured toward the tables by the wall, inviting them to join her.
After a moment's hesitation, Raymond followed her with Henk and Mara, and they sat at a table in the corner. Several soldiers took up positions behind them without needing to be told.
“What exactly would you like to know, my lady?” Raymond asked directly.
Margaret considered the question. “I want to know how things really are in Brightwater. Are there still many fishfolk? In the capital, I heard that a great many merchant ships had been attacked on Deepwater Lake. Do you know any details?”
Raymond paused before answering. “To be honest, it's been five or six days since we were last at the lake. Brightwater has offered a generous bounty on the fishfolk, and I've heard an elite team is hunting their leader. But I really don't know how things stand now.”
He chose his words carefully, avoiding any mention of the battle they had fought themselves. Once Margaret returned to Brightwater, she could easily learn about the bounty and the mercenary team.
“The fishfolk leader?” Margaret sounded worried. “I've heard it's nine feet tall and can command storms and tides. Is any of that true?”
“Those are just exaggerations, my lady.” Raymond smiled. “It may be dangerous, but it's still only a fishfolk. I suspect that elite team has already dealt with it.”
“Really? That would be wonderful.” Margaret spoke softly.
“If there's nothing else, we'll take our leave, my lady,” Raymond said. Whether out of duty or for some other reason, Sir Charles had been scrutinizing him the entire time, and it made him deeply uncomfortable.
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“Of course. Thank you.” Margaret thanked them quietly.
“Thank us? For what?” Raymond asked, bewildered.
Margaret smiled, her lips curving like a crescent moon. “For helping keep Brightwater safe. The city needs brave people like you. You've even been injured in its service. If you don't mind, I'd like to cover your bill.”
“That's a shame. We've already paid.” Raymond shook his head regretfully and rose to leave. Henk and Mara, who had remained silent throughout, prepared to follow him.
But as soon as he stood, Raymond stopped. Turning back toward Margaret's pretty face, he asked tentatively, “Perhaps you could help me in another way? Deliver a message, for instance?”
“Know your place, mercenary!” Sir Charles said coldly. “You have no right to bargain here!”
Margaret merely nodded. “Of course. That's no trouble. I'll arrange for someone to deliver it as a thank-you for answering my questions. Who is it for, and what would you like to say?”
“Tessa. Her name is Tessa,” Raymond said earnestly. “Tell her, ‘Raymond hasn't forgotten.’ That's all, my lady. I imagine you'll have little trouble finding out who she is.”
“Tessa. Raymond hasn't forgotten.” Margaret nodded. “I'll remember. So Raymond is your name?”
“Yes, my lady.” Raymond smiled and gave her an exaggerated bow. “Now, if you'll excuse me.” He turned and left the inn, with Henk and Mara close behind.
The three kept walking once outside. Only when they were well away did Henk ask, “Why did you ask her to send that woman a message?”
“To threaten her, of course,” Raymond replied.
“Threaten her? With just a few words?” Henk asked, puzzled.
Raymond smiled. “Not my words. That noble lady's words. Remember who she is. She's the Count's daughter. Once she delivers the message to Tessa, Tessa won't dare move against us so easily.”
“Why?” Henk asked, still confused.
Raymond sighed and explained. “Because she's the Count's daughter. What will Tessa think when she gets the message? Will she think we know Lady Margaret? Will she take it as a warning from Margaret herself? As soon as she starts wondering, my plan has worked. And if Tessa really does have someone backing her, once they learn that lady delivered a message for us, they'll need to find out what our connection to her is before deciding whether to attack us. They might even come and apologize.”
Mara understood at once and gave Raymond a contemptuous look. “You're devious, human. Taking advantage of that young lady's kindness for your own benefit.”
Raymond rolled his eyes at her without answering.
Henk frowned and thought it over for a long while before finally understanding. He let out a long breath. “You're clever, Raymond. So you're giving up on revenge? This is the end of it?”
“The end of it? Of course not.” Raymond gave a wicked smile. “I'll settle that debt with her. Like Mara said, I'm a devious human.”
Margaret's unexpected arrival had disrupted their plans. After a brief discussion, the three decided to leave for Blackstone immediately.
Before setting out, however, Raymond made another round of inquiries among the caravans staying in town. When he confirmed that none was bound for Blackstone, he finally abandoned the hope of traveling with one.
He bought two somewhat older packhorses from one caravan for thirty-five silver coins. Both were healthy, gentle, and accustomed to carrying loads. Another silver bought the used pack saddles, padding, ropes, and other items they needed, bringing the total to thirty-six silver.
The money came from the purses Teddy and the others had left behind, along with the proceeds from selling the spoils. Raymond and Henk had agreed to treat it as the team's common fund, paying all shared expenses from it. If they earned more in the future, they would set aside a portion for the two of them to use jointly, in addition to their usual shares.
As for Mara, although she was accompanying them to Blackstone, Raymond was not yet ready to consider her a true companion.
They removed the jars from the three crates, along with the wooden dividers and cotton padding, and repacked them in two ordinary old wooden boxes of roughly equal weight. These went on either side of one horse's pack saddle. The other horse carried the rest of their supplies, dry provisions, and bedding, along with Raymond's coat of plates.
Once everything was ready, the three set out west-southwest on the road back to Blackstone. As they left the town, Raymond could not help looking back at the carriage and its escort departing in the opposite direction.
Only when Mara, walking behind him, bumped hard into his back did Raymond give a rueful shake of his head and resume walking.