Ten Arrows

Chapter 22

Avoiding the knights who had come to arrest me turned out to be easy enough. I simply ran through my garden, scaled my garden wall, ran along the top for a ways, leaped atop a similar wall belonging to one of my neighbors, followed it for about thirty yards, turned the corner, then dropped down into a dark and rarely used side street that ran north-south.

I broke into an easy run, heading in a northerly direction.

Eventually the side street intersected with another, one that was much larger, and which served as a market for farmers, butchers, and other food-related professions. Despite the early hour, there were lots of people about – farmers unloading produce from their carts, hawkers preparing their stalls, and cooks looking to purchase whatever fresh ingredients were required for that day's meals.

Slowing my pace to a brisk walk, I took a moment to get my breathing under control and considered what to do next.

I bought a large basket from one of the carts, then spent several minutes piling it high with vegetables, meats, eggs, cheeses and breads from one of the other carts. After handing the owner of the cart two gold and waving away the change, I hoisted the basket about chest height, having arranged the contents in such a way that it would keep people from getting a good look at me. Then I wandered west for a little bit, looking for an available carriage.

Ten minutes passed by... as did two rather bored-looking Crown knights, neither of whom gave me a second glance as they slowly walked down the street. Likely nobody but the knights that had been sent to arrest me had heard anything about Hartman at this point, as it took time for word of something like that to get around. Of course, once everyone did hear about it, I didn't want anyone remembering they'd seen me, so I made a point of keeping my basket and its contents high enough to obscure my face as I walked.

Eventually I located an available carriage, climbed aboard, and instructed the driver where he was to take me. It was a smaller, uncovered carriage that lacked curtains or any other means of privacy, so I kept my basket in my lap as we rolled forward, regardless of how odd it may have looked.

I allowed myself the tiniest smile. Despite the rather unfortunate false start, my plan was back on track.

We proceeded to wind our way through the streets, avoiding some of the more densely populated roads as per my request, eventually making our way to an unremarkable intersection a couple of blocks east of the palace. Once there I met with a group of six excited-looking youths, which came as a bit of a surprise, as I'd only been expecting two. Their ringleader informed me that I needn't pay the other four if I didn't wish to, but that he woke his friends and brought them because he figured there was a possibility that I might have need of their services as well. Likely, he probably also figured that I'd take note of the condition of the clothing his friends were wearing, and simply wouldn't have the heart not to include them in some capacity.

He was right – I ended up paying him and all his fellows two gold apiece, and told them they could also help themselves to the contents of the basket I'd brought with me, should they wish. The additional cost was negligible, and I'm of the firm opinion that coming up with crafty notions and employing hard-nosed negotiation tactics is something that should be encouraged whenever possible. I mean, the children are our future, right?

Well, not my future, but whatever.

We went over precisely where I wanted them, when I wanted them there, and what they were to do once they got there. Six excited nods of agreement and zero questions later, I was back in the carriage and headed north, giving the roads leading to the palace entrance a wide berth.