Jalia in the North (Jalia - World of Jalon), page 16
Jalia took them back to the eastern gate of the city; her sense of direction over such a short distance was close to infallible. Her only worry was that the wagon might hit a large stone, or a hole in the road, and be damaged.
The gate opened before they reached them. Mart peered out into the night between the iron bars of the observation window and had men standing ready at the gate. There had been considerable betting in the last few minutes, with most of the money on the bet that none of those that ventured out would return.
Jalia kept the wagon moving through the city and only stopped it when they were inside the stable of the Jumping Trout. She pulled Daniel from the wagon as people from the hostelry rushed to assist the other men. She carried Daniel to a prime position in front of the roaring fire of the common room and stripped his wet clothes from him without regard to anybody watching, or his modesty.
Similar things were being done for the other victims, but Jalia paid no attention. Only when she had dry clothes on Daniel and a warming drink in his hand did she pay attention to what was going on around her.
Two of the men Daniel rescued were dead. The seven remaining lay on blankets scattered across the floor. Talla and others were seeing to the living and giving them broth.
A short time later, bedlam broke out as women and children were reunited with their men. Jalia helped Daniel to his feet and took him back to their room where she put him to bed. She built up the fire in the room and then slept naked alongside him to warm his body. He had a chill and despite the warmth in the room, he never fully warmed through the night.
Next morning the Jumping Trout was in chaos. Two more of the remaining survivors had died during the night and Mart had gone to the local undertaker to get him to take the bodies. Daniel was too weak to move and Jalia went down to the common room to fetch him breakfast.
Emotions were high, with women and children weeping and wailing over the dead. Jalia had a plate full of food for Daniel and was leaving the room when she noticed Talla sitting on a chair and staring into the fire.
“I’m sorry for the threat I made against you last night. Daniel was exhausted and should never have gone out with you. I was worried for him.”
“I understand,” Talla said, giving Jalia a wan smile. “There didn’t seem to be any fresh heroes ready to go, so it was Daniel or no one.”
“How is your man?”
“He died during the night. Jord and I had been together for five years. We weren’t blessed with children, but we had many good times. We left Telmar after the miners took over the city. It’s no longer a place you can farm. My parents were killed by raiders’ only days after we decided to leave.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
“Not as sorry as I am.”
Talla turned to stare into the fire and Jalia took the food up to Daniel.
Daniel’s chill got worse over the next few days. Winter had set in with a vengeance, and there was no possibility they could have left if they had wanted to.
Mart offered Daniel the position of chief of the city. The council of elders had met and decided he was the kind of man to lead them. Daniel was far too weak to accept or decline so Jalia declined the role on his behalf. She suggested Mart should run the city and the elders thought that was a good idea.
While Daniel recovered, Jalia helped Mart and the council of elders with their plans to join the two halves of the city back together. A rope bridge was set up between the ends of the broken bridge and Jalia helped them plan and execute the creation of a wooden bridge using the old arches. Jalia was excellent at organization when she wanted to be and had a natural gift for knowing what would work, and what wouldn’t.
By the time Daniel was on his feet and could risk going outside, the new bridge was in place.
Daniel had many meetings with the council of elders and suggested that in the spring they should restart the farms on the western side of the river. If they patrolled the east side of the river and to north of the city, raiders couldn’t get any goods they had stolen across the river to Telmar. Once they realized that, they would cease to raid the farms, as there would be no profit in it.
Jalia spent the remainder of the winter month’s playing cards and rolling dice. She was too well known in the city to be able to win any real money, but there were always players who wanted to see if she was as good as was claimed, and she made a significant profit from exhibition games, especially after Daniel suggested she should charge spectators for the privilege of watching.
Daniel and Jalia became good friends with Talla, who now worked for Mart in the Jumping Trout. When the first melt waters of spring appeared they knew it was time to leave.
Daniel traded many goods over the winter. He was short of spices, but wealthy in the things miners needed. He refused to accept any of Tynes gold, which was being used to finance the guarding of the eastern banks of the river and to buy animals and grain for the farms. Daniel wasn’t sure if Jalia accepted any money from the elders. As usual, he felt it prudent not to ask.
Ferd and the other donkeys had got fat and lazy over the winter. Ferd protested loudly when Daniel loaded him and his fellows with his new trade goods. Jalia and Daniel felt heavy hearted as they made their way back to the eastern gate for the last time. They had made many friends in the months they had been in Taybee.
When they got to the gate, they found Talla waiting for them, riding a sturdy horse.
“Do you mind if I come with you?” Talla asked. “Without Jord at my side, I think I would rather take my chances back in Telmar.”
“Welcome to our life,” Jalia replied with a broad grin on her face. “You will find that travelling with the two of us is always interesting, if nothing else.”
The End
Jalia and Daniel return in:
Jalia and the Slavers
John Booth, Jalia in the North (Jalia - World of Jalon)
