After a time they rounded a bend and felt cold vapor in the air. Perhaps a mile ahead the shoulder of the mountain curved away, exposing yet more of the snow-hummocked plateau and revealing the head of the canyon, where a lazy river came twining out of the willows to plunge into the gorge. The result was a beautiful horsetail waterfall, so long it turned to mist before reaching the rocks below.
The road left the mountainside just past the waterfall, then began branching off through the willows. One of the less traveled offshoots turned toward the sky-scratching peaks Rishi had pointed out as their destination, crossing the river via a suspension bridge of woven vines and swaying planks. They were halfway across when the third patrol emerged from the willows on the other side. The company had only two dozen warriors, but riding beside the leader was a small man in a cloak and sable hat. His face was paler and more fine-boned than those of his Mar companions, and in the crook of his arm he carried an elaborately carved staff decorated with mystic symbols.
"Now look what your greed has brought on us, Bharat," hissed Rishi. "A wu-jen!"
"Wu-jen?" rumbled Yago.
"From Shou Lung," Bharat explained.
"They are sorcerers of great skill. The equals of Ysdar himself, it is said," Rishi said, speaking so softly that Atreus could barely hear him. "But I have dealt with their kind before. Cover yourselves and have no fear."
Atreus and Yago slipped down between the carpet rolls and pulled the dust shroud over their heads, then listened to the wagon rumble the rest of the way across the bridge. At the far end Rishi pulled far enough ahead so that he was not blocking the way, then stopped.
"A pleasant afternoon to you and your men, sir," said Rishi. "What news of Ysdar's devil?"
"Many rumors, but no news," came the leader's unusually frank reply. The hollow clop of hooves on wood sounded behind the wagon as the patrol started across the bridge. "For all the havoc he is spreading, he has proven a most elusive devil."
"Then you will certainly be pleased to hear that he has fled," said Rishi. "Already this morning I have spoken to two different patrols who chased the devil deep into the Yehimals and were forced to turn back only because of enormous avalanches."
The leader's good-natured laugh was cut short by the angry Wu-jen. "In Shou Lung, we find little humor in failure. Naraka, it is your people's barbaric love of lying that causes us to return without success. Had we not spent fifteen days chasing wild Mar rumors, I would have this devil hanging outside the Paradise Mahal already."
"That is most certainly true, honored Wu-jen." Rishi's tone, at once sardonic and patronizing, managed to convey how sorry he felt that Naraka and his men had to endure such a pretentious Wu-jen. "I will not detain you further from your terribly important duties."
Rishi slapped the reins, and the yaks started forward.
"Did I say you are free to go, driver?" asked the Wu-jen. "Wait one moment"
"Oh, begging the Wu-jen's pardon!"
Rishi took his time halting the yaks, and the wagon traveled more than a dozen paces before coming to a stop "It was my impression that he had no interest in the words of a lying Mar," Rishi explained.
"I find it wiser to pay more interest to what Mar do not say than to what they do," retorted the Wu-jen. Atreus heard two ponies pass back along his side of the cart, but the rest of the patrol seemed to be continuing across the bridge. "Where do you come from?"
"Last night, we camped-"
"Not you, driver," said the Wu-jen. "Let your master tell me."
The two Mar were silent. For a moment, Atreus feared they were waiting for him to speak. Then the cart rocked as Bharat turned sideways.
"M-me?"
"Is there another master on the cart?" retorted the Wu-jen.
Atreus clutched his dagger. Not for the first time, he wished that he had grabbed his sword instead of his gold when he jumped off the elephant.
When Bharat did not answer the Wu-jen, Rishi said, "I hope the Wu-jen will forgive my boldness, but he is terribly mistaken. I am the master here."
"Truly?" asked the Wu-jen. "That is most surprising. I would have thought a blind master needs a seeing driver. Tell me, Blind Helper, why does a seeing master need you?"
"I am not a helper." Bharat's voice was indignant. "We are both bahrana carpet sellers. We are equals."
"Ah, then why does the driver call himself master?"
"Because he is a liar and a thief who thinks he can cheat a blind man out of his due," answered Bharat. "Tell me, good Wu-jen, is it fair that one man who is the equal of another should receive only a third of the profits?"
Atreus bit his lip to keep from snarling aloud at the veiled threat, but Rishi took it in stride.
"Pay the blind fool no attention," said the Mar. "Certainly, the Wu-jen will agree that when one man does two-thirds of the work, he should have two-thirds of the reward?"
"The Wu-jen will agree that it is none of his concern," replied the Wu-jen. "But a blind man's senses are very sharp. Perhaps he hears this devil or smells him somewhere along the way?"
"No, I heard nothing unusual." Bharat's answer came quickly-too quickly, Atreus thought. "And it is impossible in this cart to smell anything but my greedy partner."
"Ah, most unfortunate for us. But we are grateful for your candidness. It is very unusual for a Mar not to make up a story." The Wu-jen's voice grew less suspicious, though the irony in his words was not lost on Atreus. "By what road did you come?"
"By the Thanza road." Rishi answered quickly, robbing Bharat of the chance to malign him further. "From Edenvale."
"Of course… the Thanza road," said the Wu-jen. "Strange, I do not recall anyone mentioning a blind merchant. You Mar are so full of gossip, and selling beautiful carpets is an uncommon occupation for a blind man."
"That is easy to explain," Rishi said. "The old fool cannot tell whether his eyelids are up or down. It often looks like he is napping. And now, if the great Wu-jen permits, we must be on our way. We have far to go before dark."
"And where are you bound, Blind Man?"
Bharat hesitated. "I am not sure."
"Not sure?" asked the Wu-jen.
"I am never certain where my lying partner is taking me." Bharat shifted in his seat. "Since he does not consider me his equal, he does not often tell me."
"You know this time," Rishi said. "We have already agreed, and it is too late to change now."
Bharat remained silent, and Atreus grew so angry that his hand began to hurt from squeezing his dagger. After this was over, he would let the pudgy Mar know what he thought of blackmail.
"I am waiting," said the Wu-jen. "What is your destination?"
"Oh, begging the Wu-jen's forgiveness," said Bharat. "My friend is right. I recall now that we are going to Gyatse."
Rishi groaned.
"To Gyatse?" scoffed Naraka, the patrol leader. "You cannot sell carpets in Gyatse."
"If the patrol leader has stayed in Gyatse, perhaps he has noticed that they have only stone floors," said Rishi. "There is not one carpet in the whole village… and a very cold village it is! They have a great need for our carpets."
"Need, yes, but they are paupers in Gyatse," said the Wu-jen. "The whole village together could not buy a single carpet. Perhaps we should look at these carpets."
Atreus braced himself, ready to spring the instant the dust shroud was pulled back. Suddenly the wagon rocked, and Bharat cried, "Save me!"
Atreus flung off the dust shroud and saw Rishi holding Bharat by the shoulder of his cloak.