Calmly, Talon said, ‘You know. Tell me.’
Caleb regarded the young man for a while, then he said, ‘Not today.’
‘When?’
‘When you’re able to understand.’
‘Among my people I have been a man for nearly two years, Caleb. If … my village still existed, I would almost certainly be a father. What is so difficult to understand here?’
Caleb sipped at his ale. Finally he said, ‘There are many more things involved in such a choice than I can reveal to you. I judge you able in many things, Talon. More able than most your age, and even than some twice your years, but the decision wasn’t mine alone.’
‘Whose, then? Robert’s?’
Caleb nodded. ‘He is responsible for your training.’
Talon turned his head slightly, one eye fixed upon Caleb. ‘Training for what?’
‘Many things, Talon,’ said Caleb. ‘Many things.’
‘Such as?’
‘That is most certainly a topic for you to take up with Robert. But this much I will tell you, Talon of the Silver Hawk. Should you learn all that is given you to master, you will become an unusual and dangerous man. And you will need to be such should you choose to avenge your people.’
‘I have no choice in the matter,’ said Talon in even tones. ‘Once free of my debt to Robert, I must find the men who destroyed my people.’
Caleb knew what he intended once he found those men. Finally he said, ‘Then be diligent in your work, and learn your lessons well, Talon, for those you seek have powerful and deadly friends and masters.’
Talon sat quietly, contemplating what Caleb had said, while around him the bustle in the room increased as more men came in to drink. Among them was Dustin Webanks and his companion from the day before.
‘Hello!’ Dustin called out as he spied them in the corner. ‘I feared you wouldn’t appear, but I’m glad you have for I feel strongly in your debt.’
He crossed the room to them and Caleb indicated that he and his companion should take the remaining two chairs, but Webanks declined. ‘We have much to do so we will be on our way shortly.’ He removed a pouch of coins from his belt. ‘There is no value I can place on my life, but please accept this gold as a reward for your actions on my behalf.’
His companion looked away, as if embarrassed by the fact that he had fled while Webanks was in peril. The pouch hit the table with a loud clinking sound and Caleb looked at Talon. When the boy didn’t move, Caleb said, ‘It was your idea to take a hand; you leapt from the wagon to knock the assassin off his horse. You deserve the reward.’
Talon looked at the pouch. He had served long enough at the inn to have some idea of how many coins filled a pouch of that size, and calculated that the gold in it amounted to more than he could rightly expect to earn in ten years of toil. Yet he hesitated. At last he reached out and pushed the bag back towards Webanks.
‘You refuse it?’ asked the merchant in astonishment.
Talon said, ‘As you said, your life is without price. Instead of gold, however, I would ask you a favour.’
‘Name it.’
‘Should I come to Opardum in the future, I will ask it of you then.’
Webanks seemed confused by the request, but said, ‘Very well then, I am in your debt.’ He picked up the gold, then glanced at his companion who seemed likewise bemused by the young man’s refusal of the gold. They exchanged perplexed expressions and, bowing slightly, withdrew from the men.
Caleb waited until they had left and then said, ‘Why?’
Talon said, ‘Gold will buy things I don’t need. I have food, clothing and friends at Kendrick’s. But if what you say is true, that my enemies have dangerous friends and powerful masters, I need more friends. Merchant Webanks may prove to be such a friend in the future.’
Caleb sat back and considered what Talon said. After a moment, he smiled. ‘You learn quickly, my young friend.’
Instead of acknowledging this remark, Talon’s face whitened and his hand flew to the hilt of his sword. But rather than leap to his feet, he sat there as taut as a bowstring. Caleb slowly turned to see what he was looking at. ‘What is it?’
‘That man,’ said Talon.
Caleb saw that a man had entered the inn and was now over by the bar speaking with Webanks and his companion. Caleb’s own hand drifted to the hilt of his sword. He turned and looked at Talon. ‘What of him?’
‘He is one of those who destroyed my village.’
‘Are you certain?’
‘Yes,’ said Talon, his voice the hiss of a coiled serpent. ‘He wore the tabard of the Duke of Olasko, but he sat upon a black horse, commanding the murderers who killed my people.’
Caleb looked around and saw that four other men had come in behind the man. They were glancing around the room, as if seeking any sign of trouble. Caleb returned his attention to Talon and said, ‘What do you propose to do?’
‘Watch.’
Caleb said, ‘Well done. You do learn quickly.’
For fifteen minutes they sat there, sipping at half-empty mugs of ale, until the five men left. Talon got up instantly and crossed to Webanks. With a calm voice he asked, ‘Master Webanks, a question.’
‘Certainly, young Talon.’
As Caleb joined them, Talon said, ‘I noticed just a moment ago you were deep in conversation with a man, one who looked passingly familiar to me. I believe he may have visited the inn where Caleb and I are employed. But I can’t recall his name.’
Webanks looked disturbed and said, ‘He is just a guard, one I’ve hired for the return trip to Opardum. He and his four men are waiting for us to finish our business on behalf of the Duke and then depart.’ With a nervous laugh he added, ‘I can’t recall his name at the moment. Ah … Stark. Yes, I believe it’s Stark.’
‘Thank you,’ said Talon. ‘I must have been mistaken.’
Talon then left the inn at such speed that Caleb had to hurry to keep up. Outside, he glanced left and right and caught sight of the men rounding a corner.
‘What are you doing?’ asked Caleb.
‘Tracking.’
Caleb nodded and they followed the men. Talon’s exceptional vision kept him from losing the five men, even though they moved quickly through the press of the bustling market and down streets thronged with wagons, carts and travellers. Finally they saw the men halt, look around to see if they were being followed, clearly decide that they weren’t, and enter a nondescript building.
‘What now?’ asked Caleb.
‘We wait.’
‘For what?’
‘To see what happens next,’ said Talon, hunkering down with his back against a wall, so that he looked like a rustic hunter in the city taking his ease.
Caleb said, ‘You’re certain you recognized that man?’
