Lora of Two Worlds

With a goal, days found their rhythm.

The canal boats rose at dawn and moored at dusk, sliding from one posting house to the next, drawing slowly toward Yorvik.

By law, canal boats traveled no more than a hundred and fifty miles a day downstream. Their first day had covered two hundred, after that, the limit held. Past Yelford, the boats often needed polemen to tow from the bank against the current. Speed dropped accordingly.

"We're in Yorvik territory now. Yelford is the dock for southern grain and cloth shipped north. From here to Yorvik city, two hundred li." The lead boatman advised:

"Yelford gets merchants from everywhere. There're trading houses now. They close early, if you want to look around, go now. We overnight at Yelford. Two more days to Yorvik."

Roland and Leon took Lora and Linnie into town.

You could read Yorvik city through Yelford. The most unruly of the northern marcher domains, and it had the resources to back its defiance.

The two girls soon ducked into a silk shop, they'd spotted ready-made garments hanging inside. That was rare, even in Lohenheim. Clothes were normally custom-made or sewn at home by maids and family.

"You like them? Try them on. If they fit, wear them home. We get a lot of foreigners here, some need to change clothes the moment they arrive. So we make a few ready." The shopkeeper said.

The two girls went to try on clothes. Leon said to Roland: "Did you notice? Every domain we passed through was hit by drought. But the grain unloaded at their docks doesn't match Yelford, a single county town."

"True. But Yorvik is a big domain, more people than the others. They say besides the hundred thousand troops reported to the crown, they've twenty thousand private guards."

In unfamiliar territory, they kept careful watch. A column of marcher troops passed. Both men fell silent.

After the soldiers passed, Linn asked: "My lord, did you hear their hoofbeats? Something odd about them..."

"Odd how?" Roland had been studying their leather armor.

Lyle said: "Oddly loud."

They looked at each other. No answer.

Hearing Lora's voice, Leon and Roland went inside. Lora was saying to the shopkeeper: "I'm not from Yorvik. These gold beads were from my brother. Aren't they real gold?"

"What's this? I'll pay for what I picked, why are you showing him gold beads?" Roland took the bead from the shopkeeper. He didn't recognize it.

The shopkeeper smiled: "I didn't say they weren't real. I recognized the pattern, it's from the Yorvik Salt family's jewelry house. So I asked if the young lady was from Yorvik."

"The Salt family? In Yorvik?"

Roland paid. They stepped out. He asked his sister: "Where did you get these gold beads?"

"Brendan gave them to me. Look, I have several more." Lora dug into her pouch: "Brendan said one bead is worth a mark."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Leon recognized the pouch. He'd seen Lora give several of these beads to Mother Blaire.

"Brendan? I don't know about that. The Salt family's business reaches all the way to Lohenheim? And these beads, with this pattern and size, they're worth more than a mark each. Where did he get them so cheap? I'll give you two gold coins instead. When you need to spend, change them at a bank."

Leon was thoughtful. The Salt family? What a coincidence, the very people he'd come to Yorvik to find...

Linnie, beside them, was envious. Lora's little pouch, one handful would keep Linnie's family for a year. She linked arms with Lora:

"This is only a county town. When we get to Yorvik city, then we'll shop properly."

Lora nodded and walked on. But her mind was churning:

Why the Salt family? Did Brendan get more from the Salts than just velvet boots? Was the Lohenheim Salt family connected to the Yorvik Salts? She had to tell her brothers. She'd already spent several of the beads, they couldn't be returned.

They walked back to the boats. Aside from some novelty snacks Lora bought, they didn't browse.

That evening, Roland fetched Alvin to the stern boat. Lora told them everything, Brendan's connection to the Salts, the gold beads.

"It seems Brendan's whipping was deserved. I'll have a talk with him when we get back.

Don't worry about the beads, if the Yorvik Salt family sells them, we'll buy replacements." Alvin was frustrated. He'd paid too little attention to his younger brothers. The velvet boots were last year's business, he was only learning of it now. He hoped Brendan hadn't gotten into worse trouble in the meantime.

After weeks of practice, Lora's archery, swordplay, and dagger work had reached a serviceable level. Whether she could kill, unclear. But her reflexes had sharpened. Enough to boost her confidence.

Leon had shown her the inscription on his dagger, "The Benevolent", so she'd know the pair went together. She'd laughed and said she'd give it back when they returned. Give it back...

Their wager finally settled. Aside from Linn, Ashford, and another guard who'd stayed loyal to their lords, everyone else had defected to Lora's side, like Lyle.

The result: they'd split a sizable pot. Lora's first "rob the rich, feed the poor" mission, accomplished.

When the boats left Yelford, Alvin sent two men ahead to Yorvik city to notify the lord warden to meet the envoy at the dock.

At the next posting house, he sent another runner.

All guards went to full armor. The order had come: stay sharp. Guard the envoy. Beware the household guard's mutiny.

They'd expected a face at the dock, smiling or cold. Instead: the prefect of Yorvik, with two clerks.

"Where's the lord warden?"

The prefect stammered: "The lord warden... is unwell today. He asked me to receive the envoy and escort him to the guest house. When the governor recovers, he'll call on the envoy."

"The runners I sent, where are they?"

Alvin was more concerned about this. The runners had been Linn and Lyle. Leon had gone into the city with them.

"They arrived long ago. They're waiting at the guest house." The prefect, afraid of more questions, hurried on:

"Should I lead the envoy into the city?"

Leon and Alvin had agreed: if something went wrong, Leon would find a way out to warn them. If he didn't appear, they could go in.

The cargo boats still held the King's gifts, they couldn't be unloaded without the warrant. To let the polemen go ashore, Alvin was about to hand the cargo boats to the prefect:

"Prefect Claude, my men are worn from the road. I'd like to ask "

A loud cough from a guard nearby. Alvin turned, Linn!

What? Something happened in the city?

Prefect Claude smiled: "Deputy Commander, please, go ahead."

"Ah, my men are tired. Simple food. Could you send some good meat and bread to the boats? A treat for the men."

Alvin bowed with a smile.

"Of course, of course. I'll arrange it at once."

As everyone boarded carriages, Linn slipped onto Alvin's.

"What happened? Is Leon safe?" Roland asked, urgent.

"The lord is safe. But after a day in the city, he changed the plan. He says we can't hand over the boats. We must lure the rebel governor out of the city, onto the boats, and deliver the warrant and gifts there. But the envoy has already left for the city!"

Linn was frantic. He'd hurried back, but too late.

Roland's brow cleared: "It's fine. The governor's leaving us at the guest house, that gives us time to change our story."

"Right. We just need to reach the guest house and find Leon. If we can make von Klein lose his temper, slam a table, we can turn around and come back."

Alvin let out a breath.

Moments ago, they'd been insulted by the governor's absence. Now it was a stroke of luck.

A wrong turn that opened a new road.

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