The Golabian Connection

Astra stared past Shirini toward the open door behind her. Long shadows on the ground confirmed that the hour was late, and that she had been asleep for some time. Astra started to explain.

"Maybe I should have left it alone. But I thought that someone should know."

Shirini responded, "Once you had cut the grass, whoever hid it there would have known that it had been discovered. As long as nobody saw you, then you should be safe. Tell me, did anyone visit you earlier today?"

Astra hesistated as she tried to gather her thoughts. "Yes. There was a young man who delivered some bread to you. He seemed terribly nervous. He stuttered quite badly. I do not think that I said much of consequence."

Shirini nodded her head. "That would be Hesht. He tends to keep to himself. He is a scatterbrain, and has trouble completing his thoughts. He himself is not dangerous." Shirini turned stern. "But, he does know people who are. I strongly suspect that he works for the alchemists. There are several in the town that do. If he reports you, then they may take an interest in you."

Astra's eyes widened. "Do you think that I am in danger?"

Shirini replied quickly and firmly. "Maybe. I would be careful. Do not go out alone and do not answer the door."

Astra shook her head. "What is it about the alchemists that would make them afraid of me? I do not know anything about what they do!"

Shirini said, "You know about the tar, and now you know about a place where they cache their potions. That would be enough to make them suspicious."

Astra asked, "Why?"

Shirini responded, "Competition. They might think that you are spying, or trying to steal their secrets. Or maybe revenge, for a potion or charm gone wrong. I try to avoid them. Some of them can be nasty."

Astra changed her line of inquiry. "Why would they hide a sleeping potion in Golabi? It seems that there would be little need for one here, as you all work very hard."

Shirini flashed a wide grin and nodded. "You are not as naive as you appear at times. Although there are some souls in this town whose conscience might give them trouble at night, Golabi is too poor to be worth the alchemist's efforts. However, it is the nearest Hespaniard town to their camp. Golabi is useful to them as a source of labour, both in transporting the tar and, I suspect, in providing a path to get the alchemist's shady wares to places where they are in demand, and that can pay well for them."

"Such as Corona?"

"Corona, and beyond. It is the world's biggest port."

Hesht had finished a busy day. He had asked Nanva about Astra, and found him unusually guarded. Nanva told him that Astra might be in some sort of trouble with the authorities up north. She would be held here in Golabi until this matter could be cleared. Nanva told Hesht that he was not to mention this to anyone. Hesht had no intention of doing so, unless, of course, Astra would brave the western trek out of Hespan with him. Then he would ask Doazda, but no one else.

The sun was now low in the sky, and Hesht was finishing cleaning the bakery. He knew that he had a long day ahead of him tomorrow. With or without Astra, he would be going west tonight, to make a delivery to Doazda. He had already let Nanva know that he would be running errands for someone else; he had made this request before, and Nanva never asked who for. Hesht would be back in town by midmorning, unless ....

Hesht was wakened out of his thoughts by a familiar man, who had entered the bakery unnoticed. "What are ya- ya- you doing here?" Hesht whispered.

1. "I am in trouble, Hesht," replied a panicked voice. Someone has discovered and taken one of my deliveries!"
2. "Hesht, we need to talk," said a calm voice. "There is a newcomer here. I have been asked to pay Golabi a visit. Unprecedented, I know."

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