“We had planned to visit the temples,” saidDina.
“Don't,” Lanson objected. “All thetemples are being watched by the faithful.They like to know who comes and goes. There's no way for you to enterunnoticed.”
Dina crossed her arms in disappointment.
“How will you communicate with us?” askedLee.
“Do you remember my servant Jansi?”
Lee nodded.
“He'll bring you any word of Millet,” Lansonstood up. “I wish I could say I'll see you soon…”
Lee and Dina got to their feet. Lee embraced Lansontightly. “Thank you,” he said, smiling. “I thinkwe're even now.”
Lanson laughed and turned to Dina. “My dear, Ionly wish I could behold your loveliness once more… but alas.”
Dina kissed Lanson's cheek. “Thank you for yourkindness.”
Lanson put his hand over his heart and walked to thedoor. He turned just before he crossed the thresh-hold. “I knowyou were upset by my attitude regarding Angraal. But, Ithink that attitude is changing.” He bowed and left.
Soon after, a young boy showed up with a wagon load offood, wine, and other essentials. Dina and Lee busied themselvesputting things away, then prepared the evening meal. Dina tried toconvince Lee that they should attempt to get into the temples,despite Lanson's warning, but Lee wouldn't allow it.
That night Lee slept in one of the chairs in the livingroom, his sword across his lap.
Chapter Seventeen
Millet and Jacob disembarked from the river craft. Theheat in Baltria was causing no small amount of discomfort for thetwo, and both were sweating profusely.
“I'll never understand how people live in thiswretched heat,” said Jacob.
Millet had never been around someone so contrary andill-tempered in his life. Though he tried to be understanding thatthe boy's mother was in captivity and his entire life had beenstripped away, he couldn't help but become irritated. On more thanone occasion, he marveled that this ill-mannered youth could be theson of Lee Nal’Thain.
“You had better be grateful that they do,”remarked Millet. “Most trade goods in Hazrah come through here.Without Baltria and its port, most of the world would starve.”
“Hazrah isstarving,” snapped Jacob.
For once Millet felt as Jacob did. The thought of thepeople of Hazrah suffering caused anger to swell inside him. “Yousaid you have friends here?”
“Yes,” Jacob replied. “But I'll needto visit them alone. They do not enjoy meeting new people.”
“I assure you that I can fit in,” saidMillet. He didn't like the idea of Jacob venturing into Baltriaalone. “I know this city very well. I think you'd be betteroff-”
“I said I'm going alone,” he growled.“Besides, don't you need to find my… father?” The word“ father” dripped with hatred.
“Your father will find us,” said Millet.“You can count on that.”
“If you say so.” Jacob shrugged, trying toappear indifferent. “I don't care. You wait for him, and I'lldo what I have to do.”
Millet led them through the city, into the taverndistrict, to the Green Barnacle Inn. Lee had stayed there for a monthwhen they had first come to Baltria many years ago. He would oftenreturn to see the jugglers or musicians and relax. Lee had alwaysenjoyed less sophisticated company. Millet had considered the Maltand Mane, another of Lee's old haunts, but Millet had never cared forthe place. If Lee were there, he would look for them at the GreenBarnacle, too.
Millet still had a considerable amount of money on him.He had plenty left from the trip and more still from the sale oftheir horses. He decided to spring for some new attire after theychecked in. His clothes were dirty and worn from travel. He smiled,thinking of the many trips and hardships he had endured in histravels with Lee, and despite the boy’s ill temper, he waspleased to have had the experience with his son.
Millet and Jacob stowed their belongings in their rooms,and took time to eat a modest meal of roast pork and wine. As theyate, Millet began to regret filling his stomach the moment heremembered the seafood stew at the Plank Walker's Cafe. If Lee werealready here, he would have made it one of his first stops.
Once he was finished, Jacob stood from the table andmoved toward the door. “When should I expect you to return?”asked Millet.
“When my business is done,” he shot back,without turning around. With that, he left. Millet spent the next fewhours wandering the city, buying odds and ends, including a new setof clothes. Once finished, he had a messenger deliver his goods tothe inn and headed off to the Malt and Mane.
As he sat listening to a bard spin a tale to the musicof a lute, he scanned the common room for signs of Lee but to hisdisappointment there were none. He knew that there was thepossibility he had arrived ahead of him. The river was swift and thevessel had only made two stops before arriving in Baltria, and thosewere only to offload a small portion of their cargo and take on freshwater.
Just as he was about to give up and head back, thebarmaid handed him a folded slip of parchment. He glanced around butcouldn't see anything out of the ordinary. Slowly he opened thepaper. Meet me for the best seafood stewyou've ever tasted. There was no signature.
Millet left the inn and made his way to The PlankWalker’s Cafe. Once there, he scanned the place for afamiliar face but saw none. He took a table near the edge of the deckso he could see people as they approached, and ordered a bowl ofseafood stew.
A few minutes went by when a tall, slender man withdark, shoulder-length curls that fell about his shoulders, walked tothe table. His sharp, angular features and soft, white, cottonoutfit, spoke of wealth and breeding. A small dagger sheathed in ajeweled scabbard hung from his belt and he carried a bottle of wineand two glasses.
“Millet, I presume,” said the man. His voicewas deep and masculine, yet smooth and pleasing. “May I joinyou?”
Millet tensed but held out his hand, motioning for himto sit. “And you are?”
“You may call me Yanti,” he replied, bowinghis head. “It was I that sent you the note at the Malt andMane.”
“How do you know me?” Millet shifted in hisseat.
Yanti smiled “My good man. I'm the enemy… so tospeak.” Millet started to rise.
“Don't fret,” said Yanti. “You are inno danger… yet. But that could change should you leave before I'vehad a conversation with you.”
Millet slowly sat back down. “What do you want?”
“From you, nothing,” said Yanti. “LordStarfinder, however… from him I want a great deal.”
“You waste your breath, Yanti,” said Millet.“I have no idea where he is. Even if I did, I would not tellyou.”
Yanti covered his mouth, laughing quietly. “Mygood man. I would not presume to think you would betray your master.No. I only want to convey my deepest respect and admiration, in thehopes that we can come to an agreement.”
Millet's face hardened. “If you think LeeStarfinder will come to terms with you or any servant of the DarkOne, you're mistaken.”
“That may be,” said Yanti. “But Iwould have you deliver my message none-the-less. And to show you mygood will, I will make no move against you or his son… Jacob, Ibelieve his name is.”
This sent chills down Millet's spine. “If I wereyou, I would leave Lord Starfinder and his family alone.”
“I know how formidable Starfinder is,” Yantiresponded, with a tinge of amusement. “But, rest assured, Imean his family no harm. In fact, I wish to reunite them, if only hecan be reasonable.”
“Then deliver your message and be gone,”said Millet, his fear turning into anger.
Yanti laughed softly, unimpressed with Millet's display.“Simply tell him that should he decide that his wife and sonare more important to him than a race of Gods that have longabandoned this world, he can leave this conflict behind. We promiseto allow him and his family to live in peace. They can even return tohis home in Hazrah, if that's what he would like. In fact, we canensure that his remaining years are quite rewarding.”