Free Spellbreakers by Katherine Wyvern Page A

the idea. It is an uninterrupted line of
rivers and canals that crosses the whole country. It meanders somewhat, but it
would take you all the way to the free port of Enskala, without a chance to get
lost, and without getting anywhere close to Admund and the Hassian court. It
would be your best choice, I believe. Longer, but more
discreet. Whatever you do, do not attempt to take ship in Weltmund.
There would be questions, dangerous questions, and in any case, much of the sea
trade between Kaleva and the western kingdoms passes through Enskala, and you
should be able to take ship there quite easily. It could still be risky, but
crossing the Narrows will take you to Nevraan in a fraction of the time that it
would take you to ride round the Karelian Sea. It is no more than a day’s
sailing, in good weather.”
    The northern kingdoms, across the Narrows, were barely
sketched in the map. Escarra traded with them but only through Hassian and
Karelian middlemen. Few firsthand reports of those lands had ever come to
Escarra. Nevraan, the main port and capital of Kaleva, was marked on the map,
just across the sea from Enskala, the northernmost free port of the western
kingdoms, and Weltmund, its old Hassian rival.
    “I do not need to stress that time is of paramount
importance if you are to reach Dalarna before the year is too old. I judge you
have perhaps eight weeks to get there, at the very maximum. It is well within
the powers of a determined traveler. But you must not dally, or get lost. Do
you still believe you can do it?”
    Daria studied the map carefully.
    “How accurate are these proportions?” she asked. Leal
could see that she was calculating distances, speed, and time in her head.
    “Accurate enough. It
should be about three hundred fifty leagues to travel, all in all, give or take
a hundred miles or so.”
    “I think we can make it. But we’ll need good horses,
and that worries me a bit. Good horses get noticed on the road.”
    Dee nodded. “I have thought of that. It worries me as
well. But I believe we must take the risk. You cannot take your own horses, of
course. They are indeed way too fine, and also well known in the nearby
countryside. But you can pick two good hunters from a stable I know. Nothing
flashy, but steady, thorough paced beasts that will carry you equally well over
a good road or a forest path.”
    Daria sighed at the thought of leaving behind her
beloved black stud. But he was indeed a noticeable horse with his four white
socks and extraordinarily fine head, and Leal’s palomino gelding was even more
conspicuous. There was nothing for it.
    “Agreed. We will
also need money, good saddles, and good plain clothes, men’s clothes.”
    Dee nodded again. “I will see to it.” Then he inclined
his head to one side and asked, musing, “Do you really think you can pass for a
boy?”
    Daria grinned. “Easily.”
    She stood up, mussed her bangs, pulled most of her
blonde mane behind her ears, put her arms akimbo, with
a swaggering jut to her hip, thrusting her middle somewhat forward. Leal
laughed, but despite her smooth chin Daria was suddenly insolently
boyish, actually more so than most boys Leal knew. Indeed she was tremendously
attractive in a bad-mannered, delightfully coarse way. Leal suddenly realized
that this trip might contain some unexpected amusements.
    “Wait until I bind in these embarrassments on my chest
and stuff a couple of socks down my flap, and you’ll see, dear cousin. And
you’d better get the hang of it, too, princess. Unless you
prefer to travel as my lady-love, of course.”
    ****
    Three days later Leal and Daria found some large
packages in their rooms. There was no hint of how they had gotten there. They
contained four pairs of simple, unadorned but well-made riding breeches, light
linen ones, and warm suede ones; four simple linen tunics; two light woolen
jackets; two fur lined jackets; two leather jerkins heavy with flat iron studs;
two pairs of good riding boots;