Free Natural Ordermage by L. E. Modesitt Jr.

books that cost less, why would they pay Father or me more
for the same book?“
    “You sound like Faseyn,” replied Sevien.
“He’s always talking about how what things cost affects the world.”
    “What do you think of him?” Rahl asked.
    “He’s all right. He likes doing the
accounts at the chandlery. Columns and columns of numbers, and he likes keeping
track of-them. Fahla showed me.”
    Rahl forced a polite smile. “When I’ve
been there, she’s the only one in the shop.”
    “Most times, she is. That’s what she told
me.”
    Rahl liked Sevien, but he was also
interested in Fahla, and he needed to avoid mentioning Shahyla to Fahla. All
that meant he’d have to be careful. Very careful.
    There was a knock on the door, and Sevien
bounded to open it. “Fahla!”
    Rahl watched closely, but the redhead
merely smiled and nodded politely to Sevien as she stepped inside.
    “Faseyn said he didn’t feel like coming
tonight when I couldn’t promise redberry pie” Fahla laughed, then turned to
Rahl. “Were the pen nibs satisfactory?”
    Rahl Jaughed in return. “Father didn’t
complain, and if there’s anything in the slightest wrong, he will.” Because she
was so indifferent to anything except trade, at least with him, he asked, “Have
you heard about the Council order?” - “No. Why would I? How do you know?” A
faint curiosity lay behind her words.
    “While you two are talking about the
Council,” Sevien said, “I’ll get some redberry juice. There’s enough for the
three of us, anyway.”
    “It’s about trade,” Rahl explained, “and
the Jeranyi pirates. Because, I’d guess, of all the piracy, the Council is
forbidding all trade with Jerans and Jeranyi merchants, and all of them have to
leave Reduce within the eightday, and all merchants and factors have to sell
anything from Jerans within the eightday or turn it over to the Council…”
    As he finished explaining, Rahl could
sense a growing tension in Fahla.
    “How do you know this?” Her voice was
almost playful but with a tightness behind it. “Is it true or just what you
heard somewhere?”
    “I had to make four copies of the notice
this afternoon. After that many copies, you do remember what something said.
The effective date is tomorrow.”
    Fahla’s lips tightened. Then she stepped
back, and called, “Sevien, I have to go.”
    “You just came,” the young potter
protested.
    “I… forgot… something.” Fahla hurried
toward the door, then opened it. “Good night, Sevien, Rahl.” With a wave, she
was gone.
    Sevien strode over to Rahl. “What did you
say to her? She was happy until you two talked.”
    “I just told her about the newest Council
edict. We worked all afternoon copying k. It was about trade, and how the
Council is forbidding trade with Jerans because of the pirates.” Rahl glanced
toward the door, still slightly ajar. “She was worried. I wonder if her
father’s been trading with the Jeranyi, or even with the pirates.”
    “Father says he has good prices, better
than the other factors.” Sevien looked at Rahl. “Did y0u have to tell her?”
    “I thought she’d want to know. Besides,
all she ever talks to me about is-goods and trade, and things like that.”
    ‘That’s all she ever says to me, either,“
Sevien retorted. ”But what I say doesn’t make her run off.“
    “I’m sorry, Sevien.” He was, but he was
also worried about Fahla. She was always so sure of herself, and when she’d
hurried off, she hadn’t been that way at all, not inside. “I think I’d better
go.”
    “You…”
    “I’ll see you later.” Rahl offered a
smile, then hurried out, closing the door behind him.
    Once outside, he started home.
    As he passed the wall to the orchard, he
couldn’t help but worry about Jienela. She’d been upset as well, but he hadn’t
promised her anything, and she been the one who’d encouraged him. Besides,
she’d wanted him to do what he had.
    Fahla’s abrupt change in attitude