Zedd leaned back。 ‘You’re right； Ahern。 The Galeans； after all； put a price in gold to your work for them。 I shall； too； if I can。 Name your price to take us to Nicobarese。’
The teacup looked tiny in Ahern’s big hands as he rolled it back and forth。 Thirty gold。 Not one less。’
Zedd arched an eyebrow。 ‘My； my。 Don’t we think a lot of ourselves。’
‘I can get us there； and that’s my price。 Thirty gold。’
Twenty now； ten more when you get us to Aydindril。’
‘Aydindril！ You never said anything about Aydindril。 I don’t want anything to do with Aydindril； with their wizards and Confessors。 Besides； we’d have to cross the Rang’Shada again！’
‘You will have to cross anyway to e back here。 So you cross in the north。 It’s hardly out of your way。 If you don’t like the offer； then I’ll offer twenty to take us to Nicobarese； and I’m sure I can find someone there more than willing to take us to Aydindril for the other ten； if we even need carriage after my wife is healed。 If you want all thirty； then I’ll mit to it now； if you agree to take us all the way。 That’s my offer。’
Ahern rolled his cup back and forth。 ‘All right。 To Aydindril。 Twenty now； ten in Aydindril。’ He pointed a meaty finger in Zedd’s direction。 ‘But you have to agree to one condition。’
‘Such as？’
Ahern’s finger moved； to point at Zedd’s red hat。 ‘You can’t wear that hat。 That feather will spook the horses sure。’
Zedd’s wrinkly cheeks spread in a grin。 ‘One condition of my own； then。’ Ahern cocked his head。 ‘ You have to tell my wife that it’s your condition。’
Ahern grinned back。 ‘Done。’ His grin vanished as quickly as it had e。 This isn’t going to be an easy journey； Ruben； up into and across those mountains。 I have a coach I bought with my earnings from hauling to Ebinissia。 I can mount runners to it。 Make easier going in the deep snow。’ He tapped a finger against the side of the cup。 ‘Now； the gold？’
The bard’s fingers danced across the strings； playing an enthralling tune without words。 Practically every toe in the room was moving in time with it； adding a drumlike acpaniment。 Zedd reached into his robes and put a hand around the two purses of silver coins。 He watched the room without seeing it。
And then the wizard did again that which he had had to do far too often of late： he channeled a warm flow of magic into the bags of silver coins … and changed them to gold。
But what choice did he have？ To fail in this endeavor was to see the world of the living die。 He hoped he was not simply providing himself justification for an act he knew was dangerous。
‘Nothing is ever easy；’ he muttered under his breath。
‘What was that？’
‘I said I know it’s not easy； this journey。’ He plunked the dark brown bag of gold on the table。 This should make it possible。 Twenty now； as agreed。’
Ahern pulled open the draw top and put two big fingers into the bag； counting； while Zedd idly watched people enjoying the food and drink and music。 He was anxious to be off to Nicobarese。
This some kind of joke？’
Zedd brought his attention back to Ahern。 With two fingers； the big man drew a coin from the bag and flicked it across the table。 The coin spun with a dull color before finally toppling over； making a sound just as dull。 Zedd stared incredulously。
The coin looked just like an ordinary coin。 Except it was wood instead of gold。
‘I 。。。 I。。。 well 。。。’
Ahern had poured the rest of the gold coins into his big mitt and was now letting them tumble back into the purse。 ‘And there are only eighteen here。 You’re two short。 I’m not taking wooden coins。’
Zedd smiled indulgently as he pulled the light brown purse from his robes。 ‘I apologize； Ahern。’ He swept the wooden coin from the table。 ‘It would seem I gave you the wrong purse； the one with my lucky coin。 I would never give that away； of course。 It’s more valuable to me than gold。’
He peered into his purse。 Seventeen。 And two of those were wood； too。 There should have been nineteen； altogether。 His mind reeled as he tried to make sense of it。 Could Master Hillman have tried to short him？ No； that would be too clumsy a theft。 Besides； to carve a coin from wood； hoping to pass it off as gold； would be witless。
‘My other two gold？’
‘Oh yes； yes。’ Zedd pulled two gold coins from the purse and slid them across the table。
Ahern added them to his purse； jerked the drawstring tight； and stuffed the dark brown bag into a pocket。 ‘I’m at your bidding； now。 When would you like to leave？’
The silver coins that were turned to wood instead of gold did not concern the wizard； that could be explained。 Somehow。 But there were three coins missing。 Vanished。 That could not be explained。 That did concern him。 Concern him down to the bones in his toes。
‘I would like to leave as soon as possible。 At once。’
‘You mean tomorrow？’
Zedd snatched up his hat。 ‘No； I mean at once。’ He glanced at the man’s puzzled frown。 ‘My wife 。。。 there is no time to waste。 She needs to get to her healers。’
Ahern shrugged。 ‘Well； I just got back from Tristen。 I’ll need to catch a little sleep。 It’s going to be a long； hard run。’
Zedd reluctantly nodded his acquiescence。 ‘First I’ll put the runners on the coach。 That’ll take a couple of hours。 Less if I can get one of these fellows to help me。’
Zedd thumped his cane。 ‘No！ Tell no one what you’re doing； or where you’re going。 Don’t even tell anyone you’re leaving。’ He snapped his mouth shut when he saw Ahern’s frown； and thought he had better say something to ease it。 Those shadows you spoke of。 Does no good to let them know where to point an arrow。’
Ahern stared down suspiciously as he stood to his full； towering height； drawing his longcoat on。 ‘First you talk me into taking you to the accursed land of wizards and Confessors； and now this。 I think I asked too little。’ He flicked the ends of the coat’s belt together into a loose knot。 ‘But a bargain is a bargain。 I’ll get the coach set up； and get some provisions together before I snatch a little sleep。 I’ll meet you back here three hours before dawn。 We’ll be across the border and into Galea before midday tomorrow。’
‘I have a horse at the stables。 We might as well take her along。 Stop by and fetch her before you e for us。’ Zedd dismissed the man with an absent wave of his cane。 ‘Three hours before dawn。’
His mind was racing in other directions。 This was more serious than he had thought。 It was imperative that they have help as soon as possible。 Maybe the woman in Nicobarese who had had the three daughters had studied somewhere； perhaps someplace closer。 Maybe they could find what they needed without going all that way。 Time was of the essence。
The light only knows； Adie had said； where the woman had learned about the skrin。 The ‘light’ was a mon reference to the gift。 It was also an obscure reference to something else entirely。 He thumped his cane on the floor。 Must Adie always speak in sorceress’s riddles！
As Ahern headed for the door； the wizard rose and headed for the stairs。
CHAPTER 35
Zedd opened the door to be confronted by a haze of smoke that smelled of creosote。 The window was opened； letting in icy cold air； and letting out the smoke。 Adie sat on the bed； wrapped nearly to her neck in a blanket； brushing her straight； black and gray； jaw…length hair。
‘What’s going on？ What happened？’
She pointed with the hairbrush。 ‘I be cold。 I tried to start a fire。’
Zedd glanced to the hearth。 ‘You need wood； Adie。 You can’t have a fire without wood。’
He expected a scowl。 Instead； it was a look of disquiet。 ‘There be wood。 I used magic； to try to light the fire from where I be in bed。 But there be a big puff of smoke and sparks。 I opened the window to let out the smoke。 When I looked to the hearth； the logs be gone。’
Zedd stepped closer to her。 ‘Gone？’
She nodded and went back to brushing。 ‘Something be wrong。 Wrong with my gift。’
Zedd stroked a h