Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 201 of 619

At first light Ajax found Marco and Tucker by the water barrel. The hall stood knee-high. The bunkhouse pegs held. Winter was close and the stores were thin. "Ride to port," Ajax said. "Two more workers. Salt, oil, dried meat, oats. Enough to feed us through the cold." Tucker set down his cup. "How many days of stores." "Ninety. Salt for double that." "Silver?" "Full purse. Marco keeps it." Marco nodded once. He tightened the cinch on his horse. "Workers of what kind." "Stone or timber. Not port men who know Tucker's house. Fresh hands. You listen to them before I meet them." "I will." Tucker pulled on his vest. His two gold chains caught the sun. "Three days out, three back if the road holds. Four if the cart is heavy." "Take the big cart. Rell drives it home with you." Grayson came across the yard. Ajax gave him the count and told him to hold the gate. Chalam stood at the hall line with his staff and watched them mount. "Marco," Ajax said. "Anyone asks after this shelf, you turn them. No names. No pointing." "Understood." Tucker swung up. "I'll bring back the meat Cody likes. Keeps him honest." They rode out through the gate. The iron did not spark. Ajax watched the dust until it thinned on the coast road. He walked back to the hall line. Chalam stood with his staff across his shoulder, robe open at the chest, satchel at his hip. "Call the grove," Ajax said. "I want stores from them too. Roots that hold through winter. Whatever they will give for silver." Chalam took the flute from his satchel. He walked to the west wall and played three notes into the wind. He stopped and waited. He played the notes again. She came out of the tree line before the sun cleared the cliff. Her skin was the color and grain of oak. Her dress was cut green leaves, tied with vine at the waist. She carried a bundle of pale flowers in one hand. Her feet made no sound on the turned earth of the herb strip. Rowan straightened at the corner of it and set down his roots. She stopped six paces from Ajax. She did not bow. He did not either. "You called," she said. Her voice was soft and even. "I need winter stores," Ajax said. "Roots. Dried leaf. What holds under straw. I will pay in silver ." She looked at the herb strip. She looked at Rowan. She looked at the hall. She laid the flowers on the turned earth at Rowan's feet. "Plant these along the north edge. They keep the soil warm."