Free Flight of the Nighthawks by Raymond E. Feist Page B

horseback.
    They were traveling slightly uphill, as the terrain rose from flat farmland and pastures and scattered woodlands, into a more heavily forested range of hills. Rising up to the south of them on their right hand was the Pillars of the Stars, the range of mountains that served as an absolute marker for the border of the Empire of Great Kesh. Yar-rin was located in the foothills of the eastern terminus of those mountains, in a lovely valley that separated the mountains from the mammoth forest known as the Green Reaches.
    But the most significant thing about reaching Yar-rin was they would at last be out of the no-man’s-land that was the Vale of Dreams and be in Great Kesh. Caleb was determined to begin inquiring about possible apprenticeships for the boys, for he was anxious to be done with this responsibility and get back to his family on Sorcerer’s Isle. He really had no business taking the boys into Kesh, save there were little opportunities for boys their age without fathers in the Western Realm of the Kingdom these days. There was a general malaise of commerce that had been plaguing the region for over two years, giving rise to all manner of social ills: youth gangs in the larger cities, increased banditry and theft, prices for common goods soaring, and more than the usual privations heaped upon the poor.
    The wagon jostled more than usual when the wheels rode up over a large rock and the boys were thrown back and forth again. They were on the verge of voicing their displeasure when Caleb abruptly reined the horses in.
    They had rounded a bend in the road and were now at a small crest before a long downhill run into a shallow dell. Trees now hugged the side of the road and the late afternoon shadows made the way look menacing.
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Tad, standing up so he could look over Caleb’s shoulder.
    â€œThought I saw something in the tree line up at the top of that rise,” he said, indicating the top of the road where it rose up on the other side of the vale.
    Zane stood up next to his foster brother and put his hands over his eyes.
    â€œLower your hand, Zane,” said Caleb. “We don’t want them seeing we know they’re there.”
    â€œWho?” asked Tad.
    â€œWhoever it is who is waiting for us.”
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” whispered Zane.
    Dryly, Caleb said, “I don’t think they can hear us.”
    â€œWhat if we just wait here?” asked Tad.
    Urging the horses forward, Caleb said, “They’d just come here.”
    Zane sounded worried. “Why don’t we turn around?”
    â€œBecause then they would be certain we have something of value we’re hiding.” The horses picked up speed heading downhill, and Caleb said, “Listen carefully. I’m a teamster and you’re my helpers. We delivered a load of trade goods in Stardock from a trading concern called Mijes and Zagon.”
    â€œMijes and Zagon,” repeated Tad.
    â€œThe goods were paid for in advance and we are returning our wagon to our employers in Yadom.”
    â€œYadom,” echoed Zane.
    â€œWhy the story?”
    â€œBecause if they think we’re hiding gold on us, they’ll kill us before they look for it. If we’re just teamsters, they’ll maybe let us walk to Yar-rin.”
    â€œWalk?”
    â€œThey’ll take the wagon and horses, and anything else they think is worthwhile.”
    â€œYou’re going to let them?”
    Caleb said, “All I have to lose is my sword, and I can buy another.” The wagon reached the bottom of the dell, the road disappearing under a shallow wide rill strewn with rocks that caused the wagon to bounce the boys more than usual.
    As they started to climb upward to the next ridge, Zane said, “What if they don’t believe you?”
    â€œThen I’ll shout ‘run,’ and you two take off into the woods. As fast as you can, work your way back