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‘Got work。’
Zedd poured tea for himself。 ‘Really？ What sort？’
Ahern unfolded his arms and sat back in the booth； appraising his new table panion’s eyes； and nothing else。 He wore a longcoat draped around his massive shoulders； over a dark green flannel shirt。 His thick； mostly gray hair was long enough to nearly cover his ears； and looked to be infrequently pestered by a b。 His deeply creased； weatherworn face was splotched with pink； windburned patches。
‘Why do you want to know？’
Zedd shrugged as he took a sip of tea。 ‘So I can gauge if I can make you a better offer。’ Zedd； of course； could produce any amount of gold the man could ask for； but judged that not to be the best tack。 He took another sip of tea as he waited。
‘I haul iron from Tristen； down here to the smiths in Pen…verro。 Sometimes over to Winstead。 We Keltans make the finest weapons in all the Midlands； you know。’
‘I heard differently。’ Ahern’s frown darkened。 Zedd folded his hands over the silver…topped cane。 ‘I hear them to be the finest swords in all the three lands； not just the Midlands。’ The bard started a new song about a king who lost his voice and had to mand by written instruction； but had never allowed any of his subjects to learn to read； and so lost his kingdom； too。 ‘Heavy loads to haul； this time of year。’
Ahern gave the slightest hint of a smile。 ‘Worse in the spring。 In the muck。 Then’s the time we find out who can drive； and who can talk。’
Zedd pushed the full cup a few inches closer to the man。 ‘Steady work？’
Ahern finally took up the cup。 ‘Enough to keep me fed。’
Zedd lifted one coil of the braided leather。 ‘I thought you looked to be a man familiar with the use of this。’
There’s different ways to get effort from a team。’ He pointed with his chin in the general direction of the room。 ‘These fools think they get what they want by laying to with the whip。’
‘And you don’t？’
Ahern shook his head。 ‘I crack my whip to get their attention； to let them know what I want； where to put their feet。 My team works for me because I trained them to work； not because they get the whip。 If I’m in a tight spot； I want a team that understands what I want； not one that jumps when they feel a whip。 There are enough gorges strewn with bones of man and horse。 Don’t want to add mine to the lot。’
‘Sounds like you know your work。’
Ahern gestured with his cup to Zedd’s elaborate robes。 ‘What line of ‘work’ you in？’
‘Orchards；’ Zedd said； pointing a finger skyward。 The finest fruits in all the world； sir！’
Ahern grunted。 ‘You mean you own land； and others work to grow you the finest fruits in all the world。’
Zedd chuckled。 ‘You have it true。 Now； anyway。 It didn’t start that way； though。 I started by myself； working； struggling； for years。 Tending my trees day and night； trying to produce the best fruit anyone ever tasted。 Many of the trees failed。 Many times I failed； and went hungry。
‘But I finally was able to do better。 I saved every copper； and bought more land in the years I could。 Planted； tended； picked； hauled； and sold it all by myself。 Over time； people came to know my fruit as the best； and I became more successful。 In the last few years； I’ve hired people to tend things for me。 But I still keep my hand to the work； so that it lives up to what people know me for。 Would you hope for any less success； in your work？’
Zedd sat back； smiling； proud of the story he had just invented on the spot。 Ahern held out his cup for more tea。
‘Where are these orchards？’
‘In Westland。 Moved there before the boundary went up。’
‘And why are you here now？’
Zedd leaned forward； lowering his voice。 ‘Well； you see； my wife is not doing well。 We’re both old； and now that the boundary is down； she wants to visit her homeland。 She knows healers there who may be able to help her。 I’d do anything to help that woman。 She’s too sick to travel on horseback any longer； what with this weather； so I’d like to hire someone to take us to her healers。 I’d pay any price； any price I can afford； to get her there。’
Ahern’s face softened； somewhat。 ‘Sounds a fair enough journey。 Where do you be headed？’
‘Nicobarese。’
Ahern slammed his cup down on the table。 Some of the tea sloshed out。 ‘What！’ He lowered his voice and leaned forward； the table’s edge pressing into his husky middle。 ‘It’s the dead of winter； man！’
Zedd ran his finger around the rim of his cup。 ‘I thought you said spring was the worst。’
Ahern grunted with a suspicious glare。 ‘That’s back northwest； the other side of the Rang’Shada Mountains。 If you came from Westland； to go to Nicobarese； why would you cross the Rang’Shada first？ Now you just have to cross it back again。’
Zedd was caught off guard； and had to scramble to find an answer。 At last he did。 ‘I’m from up near Aydindril。 We were going to go there for a visit to my homeland； before we went in the spring to Nicobarese。 I thought to cross the mountains to the south； then go northeast to Aydindril。 But Elda； that’s my wife； she took sick； and I decided that； well； it would be better we go see her healers。’
‘You would have been better off to have gone to Nicobarese first； before you crossed the mountains。’
Zedd folded his hands over his cane。 ‘So； Ahern； do you know how to undo something done in error； so I may relive my life as you suggest？’
Ahern grunted a laugh。 ‘Guess not。’ He thought a moment； finally letting out a tired sigh。 ‘I’ll tell you； Ruben； it’s a long way。 You’re asking for trouble。 I don’t know that I want any part of it。’
Zedd arched an eyebrow。 ‘Really？’ He made a deliberate survey of the room。 Tell me then； Ahern； if you find the task so formidable； which of these men here would be up to the job？ Which are better drivers than you？’
Ahern regarded the crowd with a sour look。 ‘I’m not saying I’m the best there is； but this lot’s more boast than brains。 Don’t think there’s a one of them that would make it。’
Zedd shifted irritably on his bench。 Ahern； I think you’re simply trying to boost price。’
‘And I think you’re trying to lower it。’
Zedd let his slightest smile touch his lips。 ‘I don’t think it as difficult a job as you make it。’
Ahern’s frown returned。 ‘You think it easy？’
Zedd shrugged。 ‘You drive in the winter now。 I simply want you to drive in a different direction； that’s all。’
Ahern leaned forward； his jaw muscles tightening。 ‘Well； the direction you want to go in is trouble！ First of all； there are rumors of civil war in Nicobarese。 Worse； the shortest way； unless you want to spend weeks going to the passes far to the south； is across Galea。’
His voice lowered。 ‘There’s trouble between Galea and Kelton。 I hear tell there’s fighting along the border。 Keltish towns have been sacked。 The people here in Penverro are nervous； what with being so close to the border with Galea。 It’s all the talk。 Going into Galea is sure trouble。’
‘Fig