To the Third Cache

The heaviness in the legs had lightened in part, and Astra noticed that her legs felt stronger than she had remembered. This may have helped her and Hesht with the acrobatics required to mount the horse without a block. Hesht's face was now quite red, and he could not speak. At this time yesterday, Astra was angry with him for not being forthright as concerned Doazda. And now not only she was treating him without anger, but circumstances were such that Astra was now ordering him to hold onto her waist! He had difficulty getting his fingers to lock around her belly, as they were shaking from the chill of the night. At least that was the lie that he told himself.

"Are you ready? You are shaking like a leaf," said Astra.

"Hmm-hmm," Hesht replied, not opening his mouth. Astra took that to mean "Yes."

"So where is the cache? You said that there was some food there."

"Hmm-hmm, Hesht replied, signifying by the emphasis on the last syllable that there was indeed food, and that he was hungry. Then he said in a whisper, over shallow breaths, "Ahead." He thought about saying, "Go on," but was afraid to try that much. His mouth was not far from Astra's ear, so the whisper was enough.

Astra replied, "Fine. Are you getting sick? You aren't saying much. Do not worry - we are on the way to Darvaze Yepanhan. [48493] Just don't fall off, and let me know when we get close. If I remember your instructions correctly, there was some sort of artificial landmark. The pyramid of stones?"

Hesht took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and whispered, "Pu- illar of sss-stones. About s-. Six hands high."

"Great. We can talk about the third cache and the flask later, after we've had something to eat. Let's save our strength and remain silent until then."

"Hmm."

Meanwhile, Doazda had not been idle. The previous night, thirty-six hours before Astra and Hesht had found the horse, he had lodged at Bakhtar's house.[48589] While resting, ideas turned over in his head. He was a man of great influence, but had a number of knotty problems to consider.

Problem One: The alchemists had selfish, outlaw, or foreign elements. Some order had to be imposed. Doazda had quietly but persistently sounded out support for a Guild of Alchemists, Mechanics, and Engineers. Several of the alchemists were interested. The secret alchemical fair that was about to take place at Still Manor was going to be the place where the guild would be announced. He did not expect everyone to accept the idea. The guild would have its hands full in either pursuading - or forcing - the independent alchemists to join or leave. It would help to have the backing of the king, but this led to ....

Problem Two: Doazda knew that one day, the day of reckoning with the court of Hespan and its agents would come. Tenge could not remain without a satrap forever. In fact, a representative of the king was rumoured to be making an inspection tour of the western provinces, although he had no definite information. If someone from the outside stumbled in now, while the secret fair was taking place, things might get more complicated than they were already.

Even if the inspector did not come this week, there were possible problems for the future. If the satrap that was to be installed was headstrong, Doazda might not get a chance to plead the case of the alchemists. The first reaction of those who had not been around the business was fear of something that they did not understand. Doazda feared that the alchemists' activities would be outlawed without a second thought. A persecution would begin. This would be bad enough, but his business partners were not powerless. They would resist, and the results of the struggle would be terrible. Tenge would be the scene of war and destruction. The Hespan monarchy would be weakened, and the whole of the kingdom vulnerable to the opportunistic rivals.

This led to Problem Three: Astra. As a practical man, he chose the most likely explanation for Astra's existence. Being of royal or noble lineage like she was claiming was highly unlikely. No, it was more likely that Astra was an adventuress, perhaps from one of the tiny trans- Hespan states. That would give her an air of the exotic that could dazzle the farmers and tradesmen. She could then pass herself off as a princess, and use her charm to make her way in the world.

This would not normally be his concern, except that she obviously had been on the tarry strand in the south, and (from the rings) had visited the courts of Polabi and Corona. What was this adventuress trying to do? Had she heard about the possible wealth and power associated with the tar, and was looking to marry into it? Or perhaps she was looking to set herself up as yet another independent alchemist? Or was she snooping for one of the powers back in the Kingdom of Hespan? Or even a foreign power? Or was she just a naive girl who had no clue as to what was going on?

Doazda thought, "I might be able to use this adventuress to my advantage. She apparently told this 'princess' story while under the influence of the resin of Petrona. Either she believes it herself, or she has enough self-control not to be influenced by the resin. Now, maybe me and my associates could spread a rumour that the Queen of Aqualaria is interested in getting the alchemists to emigrate to the matriarchy. If we could do that, then when the day of reckoning with the law in Hespan comes, we would deal with alchemy as a resource sought after by foreign powers rather than a questionable domestic activity. This would put us in a much stronger position to get Hespaniard backing. I will have to take the measure of this woman."

And Doazda left for Still Manor the next day, twenty-four hours before Astra and Hesht had found the horse.

1. He arrived in the evening, only to find that Astra and Hesht were missing.
2. Circumstances delayed him, as he met the owner of the missing horse.

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