The Windsingers Read Online Free PDF Page B

servants. Still, it irked Ki not a little to have the woman take that tone with her, let alone voice such an opinion.
    'I repeat, I have not said that I'll accept the cargo.' Ki took pleasure in being perverse now. 'I conduct my business a bit differently from other teamsters you may have dealt with. I limit the weight of what my team will haul, and I talk half payment in advance for any trip.' She kept her words cool, but already she was thinking of the hill route that would let her make the journey to Bitters in three days or less.
    'I know your terms, girl!' snapped Bird-eyes. 'Do I look like some silly little maid who would hire a teamster sight unseen, with no knowledge of the rates and customs? No, Teamster Ki, you were selected, though, now that I look at you, I cannot say why! The freight will not be heavier than your usual load, and all will be packed securely for you ahead of time. The family wishes you to take the greatest care with this load, to avoid breakage. They will precede you to Bitters, so that they may receive it from you, and inspect the seals to be sure that none are broken.'
    Ki raised her brows appraisingly. 'What do I carry to rate all this caution and mistrust? I'll warn you, my rates go higher for illegal cargo.'
    'I'll wager they do, and often, too. Not that it's any of your business, magpie, but the cargo is household goods; old family items of small value to any save blood relations. You need not fret about them. All will be packed securely. The city gates will not halt you. Your only task is to haul them to their destination, and there receive the rest of your pay. Now, what will you have for a trip to Bitters?'
    'This time of year, thirty dru. In winter it would be a full two tallies. But the year is still mild and the roads unrutted. So thirty dru it shall be, and a bargain to you at that.' Ki folded her arms sternly and braced herself for the counter-offer.
    'La, a bargain, she says! I warned the old Master, but no, you he would have on the word of one of his beggar friends. What's his name to come to with the company he keeps, I don't know. Well, he told me to pay your price. You'll get your thirty dru advance, but mind, if even a one of those seals be but scratched at, not a copper shard shall you get at Bitters...'
    'I'll be here for my load at first light tomorrow,' Ki interrupted. She had expected fifteen dru advance and another fifteen at the end of the haul. But to receive thirty now, and another thirty at Bitters... well, as the old matron had said, that was small bargain to them, but one Ki would not sniff at.
    'Wait,' Bird-eyes said. Ki had used that tone earlier, when she had directed her team to stand. The matron whirled with a swishing of skirts and was out the door before Ki could utter a word. She listened for the tapping of her feet down the corridor, but heard nothing. The temptation to go to the door and peer out was great, but Ki conquered it. She walked once around the room, but found nothing that she had not seen in her first glance. The ridiculously high windows were a puzzle without clues.
    A chink of coins spun her around. The old matron stood beside the table. On it were two fifteen-coin stacks of dru atop a larger square of creamy parchment. Bird-eyes tapped a yellowed fingernail on the edge of the table, then gestured to the items on it.
    'Your advance. And the contract the old Master drew up for its delivery, safe and sound, four nights hence. I will read it to you, and you must make your mark upon it. to show you understand and agree.'
    Ki advanced, boots clicking on the black flagging. She silently placed one hand flat on the parchment. With the other she scooped up the stacked coins and transferred them to the worn pouch at her belt. Moving her hand so that she could read the parchment while still pinning it to the table, Ki leaned over it.
    The grey light was uncertain. The contract had been written by a strong hand, firm dark strokes across the smoothed