goods?”
“Goods or money usually.”
“Have you ever lost a load?”
“Only once,” Lorik said. “I ran into a bunch of outlaws. That isn’t altogether uncommon, but most are desperate men with no real idea of what they’re doing. They’re rarely mounted, and the first rule of hauling cargo is not to stop unless it’s absolutely necessary. A fully loaded wagon moving at speed is a force to be reckoned with, but if you stop you’re vulnerable. I was on a return trip with a load of freshly milled lumber. A group of outlaws tried to stop me, but I just kept moving. They shot crossbows at the horses. One missed, one didn’t. I was able to get away from the outlaws, but the horse went lame. I had to put her down and convert the harness to a single horse. We hit some sucking mud and the horse couldn’t pull the load out.
“So I left the wagon and rode the horse back home and then took another team out to get the lumber, but when I got there everything was gone but the wagon. It was not my finest day, but there are a lot of folks living in the Marshlands who will take everything you have and leave you bleeding in the mud if you aren’t careful.”
“There are people you don’t know?” Stone asked.
“Sure, there are a lot of them. They know the swamps and marshes better than anyone. They live off the land and have very little contact with the outside world. Which also means they have very little regard for outsiders or the King’s law.”
“That’s not a settling thought.”
“Ah, they’re mostly nice people, just different. And a load of quality milled lumber left untended in the marshes could be seen as abandoned. But that’s the only load I’ve ever lost.”
“So you don’t have much trouble with outlaws?”
“Oh, sure, there’s been some trouble. Just nothing I couldn’t handle,” Lorik said. “I’ve found most outlaws to be cowards. What about you?”
“I’ve known a few cowards and a few killers.”
“Speaking of killers, how did Marsdyn take the news that you wouldn’t be joining his crew?”
“What makes you think he wanted me to?”
“I’ve known Marsdyn a while, and I’ve known his type my whole life. He’s a cruel man, but he has ambitions, and he knows he needs talented fighters to get what he wants. If he didn’t want you after your little performance in the Boggy Peat, he certainly wanted you after you fought the pirates.”
“Well, he’s taking the Riders out raiding. I wouldn’t have done that even if I wanted to join his gang.”
“That’s interesting. What prompted that, I wonder?”
“The King’s marching to war,” Stone said. “Apparently, Marsdyn thinks that means he can do what he wants without any kind of consequences.”
“And what about you?” Lorik asked, looking Stone in the eye. “The first time I saw you there was blood dripping from your knuckles.”
“But not my knife,” said Stone. “I was attacked by two pirates in the street. I had to defend myself.”
“Well, at some point I’m going to have know what really brought you to Hassell Point, but we’ll have plenty of time to discuss that on the trail. For now, you need a second pair of boots and provisions for a week, if you’re going to join me on my next cargo run.”
“When are you leaving?” Stone asked.
“This afternoon,” Lorik said. “I just need to see someone before I go.”
“All right, I’ll get what I need. Do I need provisions for you, too?”
“No, I’ll get my own food. I want you ride escort at first. Your horse up for that?”
“She sure is,” Stone said. “But why escort?”
“Two reasons: first, there may be more trouble on the road with the rumors of war going around. I want you to be able to run interference if that happens. Plus, I won’t have to worry about you adding extra weight to the load. We’re hauling rice, and it should be a big load.”
“All right, where can I get boots fast?”
“Try Alride’s shop, across from
“Goods or money usually.”
“Have you ever lost a load?”
“Only once,” Lorik said. “I ran into a bunch of outlaws. That isn’t altogether uncommon, but most are desperate men with no real idea of what they’re doing. They’re rarely mounted, and the first rule of hauling cargo is not to stop unless it’s absolutely necessary. A fully loaded wagon moving at speed is a force to be reckoned with, but if you stop you’re vulnerable. I was on a return trip with a load of freshly milled lumber. A group of outlaws tried to stop me, but I just kept moving. They shot crossbows at the horses. One missed, one didn’t. I was able to get away from the outlaws, but the horse went lame. I had to put her down and convert the harness to a single horse. We hit some sucking mud and the horse couldn’t pull the load out.
“So I left the wagon and rode the horse back home and then took another team out to get the lumber, but when I got there everything was gone but the wagon. It was not my finest day, but there are a lot of folks living in the Marshlands who will take everything you have and leave you bleeding in the mud if you aren’t careful.”
“There are people you don’t know?” Stone asked.
“Sure, there are a lot of them. They know the swamps and marshes better than anyone. They live off the land and have very little contact with the outside world. Which also means they have very little regard for outsiders or the King’s law.”
“That’s not a settling thought.”
“Ah, they’re mostly nice people, just different. And a load of quality milled lumber left untended in the marshes could be seen as abandoned. But that’s the only load I’ve ever lost.”
“So you don’t have much trouble with outlaws?”
“Oh, sure, there’s been some trouble. Just nothing I couldn’t handle,” Lorik said. “I’ve found most outlaws to be cowards. What about you?”
“I’ve known a few cowards and a few killers.”
“Speaking of killers, how did Marsdyn take the news that you wouldn’t be joining his crew?”
“What makes you think he wanted me to?”
“I’ve known Marsdyn a while, and I’ve known his type my whole life. He’s a cruel man, but he has ambitions, and he knows he needs talented fighters to get what he wants. If he didn’t want you after your little performance in the Boggy Peat, he certainly wanted you after you fought the pirates.”
“Well, he’s taking the Riders out raiding. I wouldn’t have done that even if I wanted to join his gang.”
“That’s interesting. What prompted that, I wonder?”
“The King’s marching to war,” Stone said. “Apparently, Marsdyn thinks that means he can do what he wants without any kind of consequences.”
“And what about you?” Lorik asked, looking Stone in the eye. “The first time I saw you there was blood dripping from your knuckles.”
“But not my knife,” said Stone. “I was attacked by two pirates in the street. I had to defend myself.”
“Well, at some point I’m going to have know what really brought you to Hassell Point, but we’ll have plenty of time to discuss that on the trail. For now, you need a second pair of boots and provisions for a week, if you’re going to join me on my next cargo run.”
“When are you leaving?” Stone asked.
“This afternoon,” Lorik said. “I just need to see someone before I go.”
“All right, I’ll get what I need. Do I need provisions for you, too?”
“No, I’ll get my own food. I want you ride escort at first. Your horse up for that?”
“She sure is,” Stone said. “But why escort?”
“Two reasons: first, there may be more trouble on the road with the rumors of war going around. I want you to be able to run interference if that happens. Plus, I won’t have to worry about you adding extra weight to the load. We’re hauling rice, and it should be a big load.”
“All right, where can I get boots fast?”
“Try Alride’s shop, across from