Rae considered him carefully.He’s expecting disrespect.Bracing for it.She felt that way often enough herself to recognize it on this man’s face, just like she recognized hidden pain in his body language. She decided to surprise him.
“Well,” she said, arms akimbo, “your dog is upset because he’s hungry, which means you probably are too. Come on.” She started walking back to the house.
After a moment’s silence, Rae heard his footsteps, hurryingto follow.
“You’re very kind, sena,” he said. “Which is more than I can say for others I’ve met along the river. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been turned away.”
Hearing the bitterness in his voice, Rae shot him a look. “People have every right to be suspicious. You’re a strange man on a fishing boat with no fishing equipment. Or fish.”
The man glanced back at the skiff. “You noticed that, hey?”
“It took me a minute, but I figured it out eventually.”
“Why help me then? If I’m sosuspicious?”
Rae thought for a moment and shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I had a feeling about you, I guess.”
The man was quiet while he considered this. “I’m not sure I agree that I’m a ‘strange’ man, sena. Handsome, certainly… but ‘strange’?”
Rae snorted. She opened a few storage barrels, pulling several dried fish from one, a handful of dried dates from another, and a round loaf of bread from a third. She wrapped the whole package in some rough papyrus paper, along with a bunch of fresh green onions. “This should hold you for a day or two,” she said, handing it to the man. She tossed one last fish to the dog, who caught it in his mouth. In an eyeblink, it was gone. The dog licked his lips in satisfaction.
“Good boy,” Rae said, giving him a rub behind the ears.
The man stared at the package of food, then back at her. “You wish to trade for this?”
Rae shrugged. “Just take it. We’ve already lost more than half of our wealth to Thonis. What’s a bit more? At least this food is going to someone who needs it.”
“Thonis, hey?” The man’s eyes brightened with interest. “That’s where I’m headed. Is it far?”
“About a day’s travel—longer coming back upriver, since thewinds are less reliable than the current.” She cocked her head. “What business do you have in Thonis, if you don’t mind me asking?”
The man cleared his throat. “Information gathering,” he said vaguely.
Rae raised an eyebrow. “Well, I’d be careful if I were you. That’s the king’s city. You think people here in the south are wary of strangers? It’s much worse there, with the king’s guard crawling all over the place.”
“Don’t worry,” the man said. “I know better than to trust a Khetaran—present company excluded, of course.”
Rae crossed her arms in annoyance. “The High Khetarans aren’t like those of us here in Sakesh,” she said. “We’re not all the same, you know.”
The man offered her a small smile, full of irony. “Oh, yes? Well, neither are we.”
Rae squirmed, remembering how she’d lumped all the tribes of the Red Lands together as one, assuming they were all pretty much alike. Somewhat abashed, she turned back to the storage area and pulled one of her father’s old white tunics from a hook. It was a bit worn in places, but otherwise serviceable. “Here, why don’t you take this too? Those old robes of yours look like they’d be better off in a fire than on your back. Wear this into Thonis instead—it will help you blend in.”
His eyebrows raised, the man took the tunic and nodded. “You’ve been very generous…” He looked at her, expectant.
“Raetawy.”
“Yes, very generous, Raetawy. I appreciate your charity, but you must allow me to offer something in return.” He pulled the bulging pack from his shoulder and knelt on the ground to rummage through it.
Rae leaned over to peer inside, and couldn’t believe what shesaw.
He’s got to be a criminal.How else would a man like him get his hands on treasures like those?
Still, who was she to judge? She was about to become a criminal herself.
“That’s quite a collection,” she said. “Where did you get it?”
The man pulled a few small items from the pack and immediately tied it shut again. He stood and faced her with an enigmatic expression. “Perhaps you’ll leave the information gathering to me, sena?” he said quietly. “We all have our secrets to keep.”
