"Gods, what a mess this is! Does someone in the pal- ace want a war with us that badly to go to so much trouble?
Now Kai looked completely baffled. "I see no possi- ble benefit from it, for anybody. But it sure looks that way. I have to convince Father of what's going on. It's the only chance we both have."
They made ready to leave for Gallen's. Kai eyed the harp suspiciously, then suggested he keep it with him, in case he needed to protect himself. Alaire slung it over his back, on its wide leather carrying-strap, to give his arm free movement if he had to use his sword.
He overestimates my Bardic ability, Alaire thought wryly, though it was flattering that the Prince would do so. But then Alaire remembered last night....
Who knows, maybe I can raise the power to defend myself against an army. Yes, and pigs will turn to swans when I do so!
They gathered up all the old clothes and stashed them in one of the bags. Kai gave instructions to Alaire to burn them as soon as possible.
In the dark of the early morning, the two peasant boys crept out of the stable. The snow had diminished to a mere dusting, though Alaire had trouble negotiat- ing what had already accumulated.
"You can do better than that. Someone will notice you," Kai admonished. Alaire didn't know what he was talking about. "If we look like we're drunk, maybe it won't be so noticeable if you slip and slide a little."
Alaire took the flask of wine out of the bag, took a drink, and, hesitating, handed it to Kai. The boy stared at it for a long moment, then wrinkled his nose, and re "No. Thanks. I'm not really ... in the mood for it right now."
Alaire gawked at him. Never thought I'd hear that.
To give the impression he'd been drinking all night, he dribbled a little on his tunic, then splashed so Kai as well. Now they both smelled like a winery. A cheap winery. He capped the flask and held it in plain sight.
Alaire guessed by the hint of daylight on the hori- zon that dawn would arrive soon on the deserted streets. I hope I'll be safe enough to be able to sleep in this place, he thought, stifling a yawn. I'm ready to fall over right now.
He recognized some of the taverns, most of them closed, as ones they'd been to on Kai's last carouse. A few were still open to greet the dawn, now an undeni- able brightness on the eastern horizon. The burned-out tavern where their misadventure had begun earlier that night was a charred husk, still smell- ing strongly of smoke. As they passed it, there was a bit of warmth coming from it still; it felt good, but they had no time to stop. At the end of the street a mounted figure in a uniform appeared, and Kai stiff- ened.
"Do what I do," Kai said quickly. The uniformed man saw them and directed his dieren towards them.
It was quite appallingly surefooted in the snow Alaire realized that it would have no trouble overtak- ing them and running them down if they tried to flee.
Alaire thought he was going to lose his breakfast again, this time from the other end of his body. As the man approached, he saw that it was a lone member of the Swords of the Association. His throat became dry, his knees turned to mush. Their swords, though concealed beneath their thick fur coats, were well within reach. Am I going to kill twice in one day? At this point he would do anything, short of sacrif Kai, to avoid the Prison of Souls.
"Don't even think it," Kai whispered "There would be fifty of them on top of us in moments. Follow me.
Say nothing."
Horrified, Alaire watched Kai run to the soldier.
Kai, what are you doing!?
"Alms!" Kai cried, jumping up and down like a little kid, holding his hands up to the soldier. "Alms for a poor beggar child who hasn't eaten in three days!" He held his hand higher, and the soldier stopped, momentarily confused. Alaire ran over and held an open palm up, looking hungry and desperate, the lat- ter not requiring much acting.
"Oh, please, kind sir!" Kai wailed pathetically. "Can you spare us a little coin? A copper? Please, sir, we're starving!"
"Ho! Get away, you little beggars!" the solder cried.
The dieren came to a complete stop, the beast itself disinterested in the two peasants. The soldier sniffed the air. "You're hungry because you've been too busy drinking wine to spend money on food!" The soldier shouted. "Look! It's a wonder you're hungry now!"
The soldier was pointing at Alaire's wine flask, which he still had in his other hand. He grinned sheepishly, opened it and offered it to the soldier.