The Treasure Hoard
They waited. After a while, Billy and Ibin snoozed, and the others eventually stretched out, too, until only Ashlord and Robby remained awake. Through the night they watched and waited and spoke very little. In the long hour before dawn, two pops were heard, and two forms appeared before them in a spray of soft blue, effervescent light.
"Are ye the one called Robby?" Herbert asked in a tone that, though gruff, indicated some nervousness.
"I am."
"And ye would do an accountin' of our things, fair an' honest, for the return of yer fine?"
"I will."
"Then, on yer word, an' on the condition that only ye may come into our place, we agree."
"I will come alone only if food and drink are brought to my comrades, and if they are well taken care of and protected from harm while I am away."
"I told ye he would not abandon his friends," said Eldwin to Herbert.
"Very well. Ye will come with us. We will put Eldwin in charge of ye an' yer friends. He will see to it, by me own authority, that yer friends are taken care of an' that ye make a proper accountin' for us. We hold ye both responsible," Herbert added, turning from Eldwin to Robby, who both nodded in return.
Robby slung Swyncraff about his waist and it tied itself into a neat knot, making a further impression on both of the little men. Herbert emitted an odd noise, almost a whimper, and then gruffly said, "Come along, then."
Herbert snapped his fingers and disappeared as Eldwin held out his hand. Robby took it, and at Eldwin's snap, a blur of soft light enveloped him and then faded. They now stood on the path.
"Oh!" Robby said, just as Eldwin snapped his fingers again. Again, they reappeared on the path, farther along where there was a clearing, and Eldwin craned his head, setting his eyes on the top of a little hill that jutted up about a furlong away. The next thing Robby knew, he was standing there.
"Oh. Oh, my!" He felt an odd sensation in his body, as if he had just come to rest after a stroll.
"What ye feel is natural, but takes some gettin' used to," Eldwin explained. "We call it 'poppin',' an' it only works if we can see where we intend to go. If our destination is uphill or far away, the more our bodies feel it. Almost as if we had actually walked some of the distance at a leisurely pace."
"I see." Robby felt a little dizzy, but tried to hide his discomfort.
"It took years for us to discover this power an' all that we can an' cannot do with it. It is a blessing, oh yes! One given by the fair lady. Just a few more pops to go."
Eldwin eyed a hill in the far distance and next they were there, standing on its bare top.
"Look there," Eldwin pointed downward. Below and partially hidden by nearby tree limbs, Robby could see a fair-sized town, with well laid out rows of cottages and other buildings. There was some activity in what Robby took to be the town square, and a man, he noticed, was going about snuffing out the lamps that lined the streets. Dawn was breaking, and in the morning mists beyond the town were fields in orderly terraces climbing the hillsides, along with thatch-roofed farmhouses and barns.
"What do you call this place?" Robby asked.
"We call it Nowhere."
"Oh? Well, it's an apt name, I suppose. But it looks as though your people have made a good home that would be the envy of other places I have seen."
"Perhaps. It is kind of ye to say so, anyway. An', of course, the generations born here do call it home, though we Elders do not."
"How many of you are there?"
"Of the one thousand an' seven hundred who were taken away by Bailorg, there remains of us only sixty-one. There are now many generations of offspring, though we have few children. We number altogether nearly two an' a half thousand, accordin' to Millithorpe. Shall we continue?"
"Certainly."
They landed in the town square. As Robby looked around, he was surrounded by hundreds of Nowhereans. To the south, Robby could see the hilltop where he had stood only moments before, towering steeply over the multicolored forest at its base. The shoulders of the hill stretched into those to the east and west so that on the opposite side, gentle south-facing slopes ran upwards in the neat patterned fields he had just viewed from above.
"Here is the one who will make the accounting," said Herbert to the crowd, none of whom were much taller than Robby's elbow. Turning, he saw the blue-coated one standing on a dais. "We are assured that we have nothing to fear, an' we have given promises in exchange for his. Let it be known that he is to be treated respectfully an' as a guest while he is here. Eldwin the Elder will be his guide. His companions are not to be molested an' are not to be visited by any except those who are appointed to do so. This one, called Robby Ribbon, is to give us a true an' fair reckoning of the Great Hoard, so that we may better strive for the breaking of our curses an' relieve our people of the injustices brought upon us by our fate. Do not hamper him, but give him all assistance that he or Eldwin may request. Otherwise, go about yer business an' yer chores as usual an' in peace. So be it!"
"Now," he continued, facing Robby, "Eldwin may take ye to the Hoard where Millithorpe awaits."
Robby bowed to Herbert, a gesture that seemed to impress Herbert by the look of his swelling, and then he turned to Eldwin, who led him through the crowd. They did not exactly look friendly, Robby thought, but their expressions did not reveal to him any threat or hint of deceit, either. Rather, it seemed that they watched him with some concern and, perhaps, hope. Some did smile. And others bowed as he passed. Though Robby himself was not very tall, he towered over them, and his head was well above the doorways of the houses and buildings they passed. Unlike the group that came with Herbert, most of the people were plainly dressed in working clothes, though clean, and most had some article that was gaily colored, a red cap, a yellow scarf, or blue bodice. The buildings, too, were colorful, with brightly painted doors and shutters, and Robby thought he had never seen a place so neat and trim.
"I am quite impressed with your town," Robby said. "You have worked very hard, I can see."
"Thank ye. Yes, we have. These mountains are rich in minerals an' game, plants, an' fish that we have learned to make use of. We have few cattle or poultry, but we do have some swine. Meat is precious. We have, through trade, gained seed for our crops. An' there are wild grapes we have learned to cultivate, among many other things once only found wild. By the time our trade ended with the one called Furaman, we were obtainin' through him such niceties as fabric an' some metals, such as tin an' copper. We have ample iron. Since Furaman stopped comin', we have had very little news from outside of our lands, an' have done without much trade."
"How long ago was that?"
"Around twenty years or so, I think."
"And do you often encounter the Damar?"
"Not so much any more," Eldwin stated with a slight smile. "We gained a good number of horses an' a lot of steel from them. They tend to avoid our roads, now."
While they walked southward toward the base of the cliffs, the houses thinned, and they entered a smoothly paved path rising through a wooded stretch. Soon they came to a clearing and before them yawned the wide opening of a cave.
"This is where we keep the Great Hoard."
Even before they entered the cave, Robby could see that it was well lit by oil lamps burning brightly within. The room they entered was about forty feet high, nearly as wide and about twice as deep. It fanned out into many passages at the rear that curved away and out of sight. There were shelves and racks and boxes and chests stacked up all around the sides of the room, and to the right side was an area with tables and desks. Sitting at one was Millithorpe who, seeing them enter, sprang up and hurried to them.
"Hullo to you!" he said. "I am Millithorpe, as you may recall."
"I am Robby."
"So I know! So I know! Since I heard of your coming, I have been busy putting our last accounts in order and preparing a place for you to work."
Millithorpe motioned them to the table. It had been thoughtfully propped up on four chests to suit Robby's greater height, and a hastily made stack of other chests were pushed together for a bench. There were bottles of ink, jars of quills, and a lamp giving strong light to the table. Behind the table were rows and rows of shelves filled with books and scrolls.
"These are our accounts," Eldwin said. "Kept by Millithorpe to the best of his ability these many years."
"Please, let me show you," said Millithorpe.
He showed Robby two sets of books. One set contained an inventory of each item in the Hoard in chronological order of its acquisition. The other set was divided into categories. There was one for coin and treasure, another for weapons, one for housewares, one for tools, raw materials, and so forth and so on. Robby paled a little as he realized the extent of the collection of goods, and even before opening one of the books, he realized his task would take considerable time.
"Let us begin with the sundries," said Robby. Millithorpe opened the ledger and stood aside expectantly. Robby stared for a moment at the page before him, glanced at Millithorpe and Eldwin, then slowly turned page after page, trying to grasp the scope of his undertaking. There were all sorts of lists and tick-marks and flourishes without meaning, and the margins were filled with scribbles, many blotted out or scratched over. Biting his tongue, he felt his face redden with a mixture of anger and frustration.
"Let us have a peek at the weapons ledger, now," he said, making an effort to sound confident and relaxed. It was in no better shape, nor any clearer. Neither was the housewares ledger, or, in fact, any of the rest that were handed to Robby, who examined them one by one. He quickly understood the variety of things collected for the Hoard, but after an hour of study, he was no closer to knowing the quantity or condition of any of the goods than he was when he began, due to the truly abysmal tallying. In spite of his effort not to show any emotion, Millithorpe and Eldwin sensed Robby's concern, and they were no longer smiling.
"Well?" Millithorpe asked cautiously.
Robby closed the ledger and sat back against the makeshift backrest.
"This will take longer than I imagined," he said.
"The Hoard is large," Eldwin put forward.
"I suppose it is," Robby began.
"It is not a proper accounting!" Millithorpe blurted out, crestfallen. "I know I have not done things right. I have done my best, according to my ability. Oh, my! Herbert will be furious! I told him I was a poor choice. Years and years ago, I told him."
He wrung his hands and paced around in circles.
"Now, now," Eldwin consoled him. Then to Robby, "Is it all that bad?"
Robby scrunched up his face, shrugging, and tried to find the right thing to say.
"As far as it goes," he started. Millithorpe looked up as if he was bracing for some sharp blow. "It is not how I was taught to do things," Robby finally said. "And I will have some trouble making out your methods on my own. But with your help, Millithorpe, perhaps we can do this accounting together."
"With my help? Oh! Oh, yes! Do you mean? Why, yes. Certainly. Whatever I can do. Yes, good gracious, yes!"
"And we may need the help of others, too."
"I can arrange that," said Eldwin. "How do we begin?"
"Well, first, my companions may be growing hungry."
"Of course. I'll see to them right away."
"Good. In that case, I'll need plenty of paper and ink."
"We have bales of paper!" said Millithorpe. "Some of it in bindings, too, like these, with ten-score leaves. And barrels of ink! Quills by the dozens!"
"Very good. I'll need a dozen of the bindings. I will need to examine the Hoard, too. Do you have a slate?"
"Pardon me?"
"A slate. With chalk. For writing on?"
Eldwin and Millithorpe looked at each other.
"I do not know what that is," Millithorpe said.
"Oh. Well, never mind. We'll make do. How long do you think it will take you to go to my friends with provisions? And then be back here, Eldwin?"
"Less than two hours, I imagine."
"Then please take care of them right away," Robby picked up a scrap of paper, "and please give them this."
Robby wrote a note saying that he was well and asking Sheila to give Eldwin his shoulder bag.
"Sheila, the lady in our group, will give you a bag to bring to me," he said handing the note to Eldwin. "You may read it if you wish."
Eldwin took the note, holding it with both hands, glancing at Millithorpe, and with some embarrassment said, "I cannot read."
"I was only suggesting it so that you would know I am being straight with you," Robby said.
Eldwin nodded, putting the note into his vest pocket.
"I'll be off, then."
"I'll be here."
Eldwin glanced at the cave opening and snapped his fingers. Robby watched him reappear just within sight and disappear again.
"That is an uncanny ability," he said.
"Yes, it is."
"Well, let's have a look around. Tell me about this place. Show me how you use it."
"This part we call the Foyer, where we do the first sorting and dividing of things." Millithorpe waved his hand around, then gestured for them to go to the first passageway. As they entered, Millithorpe explained that most of the passages were natural, but were carved out and trimmed and paved to ease their work. A great deal of the rock was used in the town and some ore, such as iron, was found. Robby rarely had to stoop as they went along, and Millithorpe, taking a lamp from the wall, led him into a large cavern and began to light other lamps about the room.
"This is the sundries room. Over there are dry goods, such as cloth. And you see the bale of paper. There are leather items, there, harnesses, saddles. A few pelts. Over there are cakes of soap and blocks of beeswax and crates of tools—hammers, plough blades, shears, and so forth. Axe handles, wagon parts over there, too. On that side are glasswares, dishes, cups of pewter, ceramic jars and all manner of ladles, spoons, and knives, and so forth."
Robby fingered some of the harness leather, and examined the bale of parchment and paper.
"The leather is pretty-well gone," he said. "Though the cloth is in good shape."
Millithorpe pulled out a little wheelbarrow and began stacking volumes of bound paper onto it.
"Eldwin said that some things are taken for use by your people. How does that work?"
"Yes. Well. You see, at first it was a solemn matter to take anything at all from the Hoard. Only the Elders could give permission, by unanimous agreement for anything to be taken. From the beginning, all of the original Hoard was protected, and it still is. But our early years were a struggle and so a way was made so that any person could ask for anything from the regular Hoard if only they could provide some thing to replace it of equal value. All of the Elders had to agree that the exchange was fair. It became very difficult, though, to know what may be of value as time passed. It is one thing to need some wax, for example, but how valuable to those outside our land is that wax? When Furaman came to trade, he shared some knowledge about the worth of things with us, but before that, well, naturally the Elders made laws governing the Hoard. Nowadays, if something is perishable, like, say, a side of beef, an auction is held. For other things, it is a great bother to borrow it for awhile."
"For a while? You mean the things aren't kept?"
"Oh, no! Gosh, these things do not belong to us!" Millithorpe was somewhat taken aback at Robby's question, but then understood Robby's quizzical look. "None of these things belong to us. We came here with nothing, not even clothes. The few things that we carried away from our homeland have long since been lost. Things from the Hoard are only borrowed."
"So the trade is just a fee."
"Yes, and the Elders set a time when things must be returned."
"But what about the things you make, your tools and such?"
"These are not truly our lands," Millithorpe said. "Not our mountains, not our forests, not our rivers or streams. The things we make from what we find, our food, our houses—everything belongs to this land, not to us. All must be returned to their rightful owners for our curse to be unmade. And if we ever leave here, our town and our houses will all be given back and the forest will retake the fields and the streets, and the mountains will reclaim the stones cut from them."
Robby thought about this as they headed back up the passage, with Millithorpe pushing the wheelbarrow ahead.
"How does it work, then, when someone needs something that someone else has?"
"Oh we can trade those things we take from the Hoard, or those things that we make or grow or raise or hunt. There are rules about setting values and bargaining and so forth. But because of our long struggle with the purpose of unmaking the curses upon us, a strong tradition of loaning and borrowing has come about. Gift-giving is an important way for us to celebrate special occasions. And we still retain some of the traditions of the Elders and of our original homeland, too."
Robby felt a sudden pang as he thought of his own homeland and his memories of birthday parties, festivals, and bonfires. Images of joyful faces and the sounds of laughter and lively music swept through his mind on a wave of homesickness that brought a stinging mist to his eyes.
They stacked the books on the table and then went to look at the weapons room, where Robby saw enough weaponry to equip a small army, neatly stacked and racked and packed. It reminded him somewhat of the armoury at Tallinvale, and his sense of urgency was restored. Next, they visited the cask room containing all manner of liquids: casks of wine, kegs of various strong liquors, barrels of oil, and jars of unctions.
"Some of this we traded for, and some came to us in the way of toll road fees," Millithorpe commented as Robby put his nose to a barrel of oil. "But a great portion we produce, and oil is a favorite thing to trade and to pay the Hoard tax."
"Tax?"
"Yes, that is another way we grow the Hoard. Trades are done through an Elder, and a fee is charged and the fee must be paid with something that can go into the Hoard, or with something that can be exchanged for something hoardable."
"Sounds complicated."
"Not really. Easier done than said, perhaps. Say a farmer needs a new plough, but all he has to trade is corn. And the blacksmith can make a plough, but needs no corn. They go to the Exchange and almost always the Elders work out something that satisfies all."
"I see you have things figured out pretty well, then."
"Yes. There are few disputes, and, unless there is a bad harvest, we rarely go hungry as we once did so often."
"So you trade this oil? It has an unusual odor. Earthy." Robby was rubbing his fingers before his nose, rubbing the bit of oil he had dipped.
"That is bright-oil, and it is made here in Nowhere. It comes from the nuts of a particular tree that grows here. We cook with it and use it in our lamps."
"You make it?"
"It pretty much makes itself. The hardest part is gathering all of the nuts and keeping the squirrels away until we have enough to cook. It takes a lot of nuts to make a good batch of oil. But a little goes a long way, and some years we make more than other years. We have been here a long time, you know. Some years we make oil. Some years we spend making wine or beer. Some years we labor at iron."
"I see."
"What do you make of our Hoard so far?"
"Well," said Robby as he peeked behind some liquor kegs to look at a few empty glass bottles. "I'll need to take a closer look at everything. Right now, I'm just getting the lay of things. There is certainly a large collection of goods. A variety, to be sure, and of various qualities, some good, some very good, and some perhaps not so good, or maybe even worthless."
"Hm. Yes. I suppose you are right. We know so little about what is worthwhile, valuable, or commonplace outside our boundaries."
"I notice that this cave is well-lit, yet it is not smoky and the air is always fresh."
"Oh, we have cut shafts upward to allow the stale air to escape, and it carries out the damp and the little smoke from our lamps, though the oil burns very clean. As you see, we have done other work here. One of the Elders was a stonemason before we came here, and he directed much of the work, making the passageways and floors and storerooms."
By now they had arrived back at the Foyer and Millithorpe directed Robby to the last passageway. It was wider than the others, better lit, and the ceiling had been carved smooth in an arching curve. The passage went straight, and at the far end Robby saw a massive doorway into which was set gates made of iron bars as thick as his wrists. Around the center, where the gates came together, was welded a band of steel in place of a lock. Above Robby, a shaft was cut and immediately below it was a cold forge, various tools and two heavy hammers laying crosswise on a large silent anvil. Robby observed all of these things, but his attention was riveted on the glittering display beyond the black bars of iron. On shelves of stone arranged about the room were jewel-encrusted chalices and crowns, silver chests, untarnished by age. There were ornate helmets and swords and shields, too, and a mirror of glass framed in carved rosewood. Robby saw combs and brushes, plates and cups of the most delicate workmanship, crystal brooches, fancy staffs and walking sticks, and even what he took to be a child's rattler. Incongruously, on one side of the room, were sixteen wagons and three carts, all lined up and ready to be hitched. He could see that the room stretched back into darkness where, here and there, a glint of red or green betrayed the presence of even more jewel-laden wonders.
"We do not know why dust does not gather on these things as it does elsewhere," Millithorpe said reverently, seeming as much in awe as Robby was. "These are all the things we were made to haul from Tulith Attis. The carts and wagons, too."
Robby shook his head at the wonder of it.
"How do you get in?"
"No one is allowed into the Treasure Hoard. It is sealed, as you can see, with welded bands of steel. We constructed these in the years when the Damar assaulted our lands, and we feared the treasure might be looted. It was many months in the making, and since then the gates have not been opened and the forge, here, has remained cold. The bars are even placed in such a way that even the smallest of my people cannot squeeze through, and so we cannot even pop in."
"Of course, I will have to go in there so as to make a right accounting."
"Oh? Oh, my, no! I mean, that is not for me to say, you see. I cannot undo the rules made by all the Elders."
"But aren't you an Elder?"
"Yes. Yes, I am. But I am only one amongst many. No Elder alone may make or break any rule. It requires the approval of all. Besides," Millithorpe shrugged, "you have the accounts already that we have made."
"But those are not very useful, if you pardon my saying so. They give no reckoning of the worth of things. That vase, yonder, is it of solid gold? Or is it plated? And those crowns. Are they the crowns of Heneil and his Lady? Or of some lesser lord? Only by examining them may we learn and put some value upon them."
"But the matter is beyond me," Millithorpe insisted. "And even if the Council met and all agreed, it would take many days to cut away the band that holds the gate in place."
"Be that as it may," Robby replied, making toward the passageway. "We must have a decision, so they must meet!"
"Yes. Yes. Certainly. I do understand. The Elders must meet to decide. That is so," Millithorpe hurried after Robby. "But they must first decide to meet, and must be called together, and that will take some doing."
"Then there is not a moment to be lost. Ah, Eldwin! How did you find my friends?"
Eldwin and a small group were entering the Foyer from outside just as Robby emerged from the passage.
"They are all well, though concerned for ye, an' they send their greetings. Here is the bag ye requested. An' we have brought with us some food an' drink for ye, too."
"Thank you," Robby took his writing things from the shoulder bag and stuck a pencil from it on his ear, to the puzzlement of the others, and put a penknife and an order book into his vest pocket.
"These boys will help us," Eldwin said. "An' more may be had, if needed. This is Timbo, Jimbo, Limbo, an' Nimbo, all nephews of mine, an' this is Seltin, me grandson."
"How do you do?" Robby bowed to shake their hands. They all looked roughly the same age. But it occurred to him as they stood nervously with the plates and jugs, shifting from foot to foot, that he was less a judge of age these days than ever before.
"Shall we set a table for ye?" Eldwin asked.
"Certainly!"
He pulled down some ledgers and spread a fresh blank sheet before him. Eldwin and his helpers slid a small table over and stacked some crates to sit on around it. After inking only a couple of notes, Robby heard Eldwin clear his throat.
"All is ready, sir," Eldwin called.
Robby looked up to see a plate of food, a pitcher of beer and one of water, a cup and utensils neatly arranged on a light blue tablecloth.
"Thank you very much!" Robby sat down enthusiastically and his stomach let out an anticipatory growl. A cup of beer was poured as he picked up the fork and quickly enjoyed a morsel of sweet ham. It was not until he was reaching for the cup that he noticed the boys standing at a respectful distance, watching him intently. As he raised the cup to his lips, it occurred to him that it was the food, perhaps, that most interested them. He paused and then put the cup gently down and lifted the cover from the platter and saw it to be crammed with meat and cheese, bread, sliced apples, green beans, and berries.
"Have you already eaten?" he asked. They hesitated, and Eldwin said, "Yes, sir."
"Seltin—Seltin, is it?"
"Yes, sir?"
"When did you last eat?"
The boy looked at his grandfather and said, "Oh, I breakfasted this morning, sir."
"And what did you have for breakfast?"
"Er, well, I had a bit of porridge. Oh, and some blackberries."
"And you, Jimbo?"
"I'm Timbo, your honor. That's Jimbo. I had breakfast, too. Porridge."
Jimbo and Nimbo nodded.
"And when will you eat again?"
They looked at each other.
"Tonight?" one proposed.
"Sir," Eldwin broke in. "We need very little to sustain us."
Robby nodded, aware of their growing embarrassment.
"Then," Robby told them as he poured the beer back into the pitcher and reached for the jug of water, "I'll only take this pitcher of water to the desk. I'll eat when it is your custom to do so and, if it may be so, in your good company."
"Oh, sir!" Limbo cried.
"But you are, oh my! Our guest!" stammered Millithorpe.
"Ye need not follow our ways," put in Eldwin.
"You are all very kind," Robby said, rising. "But my mind is made up. We have work to do and may as well get started. Eldwin, the Elders need to be called to decide whether or not to permit me into the chamber where the treasure from Tulith Attis is stored. I cannot deliver a fair accounting of the things there unless they give me permission to do so."
Eldwin looked at Millithorpe, who shrugged. "He says my accounts are not sufficient. And I have no doubt he is right."
"I cannot call for a meetin' by meself, sir," Eldwin said to Robby. "It takes at least twenty Elders to do so, unless it's a regular meetin' time, which is not for another fortnight."
"It must be done. You and Millithorpe are two. You only need eighteen more. My travels are urgent, and I haven't much time. My companions and I must be on our way, with or without our things, and we cannot tarry long. And tell the Elders that I will do my part to break the curses upon your people, if they do their part."
"What do ye mean? Do ye have the power to do so?"
"Just tell them that I will do my part. But only if they give permission. Please hurry!"
"I will. Just as ye say. These boys will stay an' help however they may. All of them can read an' write the common letters, an' all can count a fair bit, too."
Eldwin took his leave and was quickly out of sight as Robby sat at the table and started making his notes. The others waited pensively and without word, but it was not long before he was delving into the ledgers and trying to translate, with Millithorpe's help, the meaning of the counts. His intention, Robby explained, was to make new ledgers. In each would be a line for every type of thing, and, off to the side in neat columns, he would write notes about the condition and quantity of the things, and an appraised worth in Realm silver. Each page was to be tallied up at the bottom, and each tally carried forward to the next page, too, as a running account of the whole value so far. He was not sure they understood, but made worksheets for his helpers to use, showing them how to make their figures, then sent them off in pairs to do counting-work while he made more worksheets for their next counting jobs. When that was done, he set to the task of organizing the ledgers and making new ones. He showed Millithorpe how to make proper lists and set him to work copying portions of the entries from the old books into the new ones.
It was easy for Robby, having plenty of practice from his earliest days. He knew the real task was not in making the books, or even in tallying up the amounts, but in working out the worth of things to be tallied. So much depended on the person that you traded with, the circumstances, and even the time of year. Nails might be commonplace things, but if they were in short supply to one who needed them, they would be quite valuable. Weapons might have no value at all, beyond the material of their making, unless there was an army to wield them. This was a task more suitable to his father, or the likes of Mr. Furaman. But even they, Robby realized, would be guessing at some things. So he made up his mind to use a variety of measures. How long did it take to make a thing? What materials were required? What was the quality of workmanship, and in what sort of condition was the thing now, after so long in storage? As he worked on the copying and mentally prepared himself for the assessments, there were moments when he felt overwhelmed by the task, but he made himself go to the next step and then the next.
"What on earth did I get myself into!" he muttered.
"Pardon me?" asked Millithorpe, raising his head from his copying.
"Oh?" Robby shook his head. "Nothing." He put down his pen and stretched his arms. "This will take a while to do. Tell me, is there much hunger among your people?"
"Hunger? There is some. But we do not face starvation. It has been a hard year, though it did not start that way. Our first crops were bountiful, but several days of bad storms washed away some of our fields and nearly flooded the lower part of the town near the stream. By the time we got our fields repaired, it was too late to get much of a second crop. We have stores put aside, though, and the woods are plentiful in nuts and berries and game, and fish are plentiful, too, so we have no doubt that we'll make it through the winter. If everyone keeps up their hard work. Which we shall."
"I see."
Robby sat back in thought. The great storm was vast, indeed, he realized, reaching over and into the mountains. His mind went back to the opening day of the festival, and the speech his father had given, expressing the community's thanks for coming through the summer in such good shape.
"I think I'll stretch my legs a bit," he said to Millithorpe, picking up one of the ledgers. "And take the air while I look over this list again."
He walked out of the cave and into the daylight, bright and clear, but instead of continuing down the path toward town, he impulsively took a right turn along a narrow, obviously seldom used trail that descended gently through the trees at the base of the cliff. After a short walk, he heard the sound of falling water and soon came to a small pool fed by the clatter of a little waterfall. It was a shady place, cool and peaceful, and though the narrow cascade of water splashed over time-smoothed rocks, there was hardly a ripple in the shallow pool below. The sound and the cool air were soothing, and he sat at the edge of the water on some rocks beside the path and put the ledger on his lap. With a sigh, he took out his smoking pouch. It was already late afternoon, and as he lit his pipe using one of his firesticks, he wondered how his friends were faring. Probably impatient, he thought, as he gave a couple of starting puffs. This sidetrack certainly hampered their progress, to say the least. Ashlord was probably beside himself with worry over Certina, who was not yet back from her errand. Ullin was restless, no doubt, and on guard, too, and wanting to scout the way ahead, Robby guessed, but was likely discouraged from leaving their camp by the cautious Ashlord. Billy and Ibin were apt to be napping as much as they could, and he worried little about them. Sheila, he felt strongly, was probably deep into her own thoughts, likely dark and full of fret, self-doubt, and regret.
He opened the ledger to look over some entries, but his thoughts wandered back to Janhaven, and his eyes nearly filled with tears thinking of his mother. He hoped by now his father had reached help across the lake, and the thought of his father's strength and determination fed his hope, somewhat. Then he remembered that his father was being pursued by Redvests, and he frowned.
"Hullo. That is a glum face yer making!"
Robby, somewhat startled, looked up from the page he had been blindly staring at and saw a young girl—at least he took her to be young—holding a baby in her arms wrapped in a light blanket.
"Do you always greet strangers so bluntly?" he asked, smiling.
"I dunno. Yer the first stranger I have ever greeted. But I saw ye in the square this morning, an' I know ye to be the one called Robby. Is it the accounting that worries ye so?"
"No. Well, yes, I am concerned over it. But in fact, my mind was elsewhere just now."
"Oh," she said as she shifted the baby. "I suppose there are troubles in the outside world that we know little about. An' besides, everyone has their own, regardless."
"Yes. I'm afraid my own little problems are hopelessly mixed up with those great ones of the world."
"I often wonder about the outside world. Besides the troubles, I mean. There are wonders, aren't there? I imagine vast cities of glass an' silver, great magic forests full of elves an' the Faerekind. An' the land ends, they say, where a great water stretches out farther than the eye can see, an' men go about in boats driven by the wind."
"I have never seen magic forests, or vast cities. Nor have I ever seen the sea, though I have seen sailboats on Lake Halgaeth, and I've been to the beautiful town of Tallinvale, with its spires."
"Still, yer free to go about to such places if ever ye choose, are ye not? But we can never leave these mountains."
"I wouldn't say never. And I travel only because I must. If ever my lot frees me to do so, perhaps I will seek out places such as those you speak of. But I'm beginning to think no one is truly free, and that all have bonds of some kind or other that may not be escaped."
"Oh! That is a glum way of putting it!"
"I'm sorry!" Robby laughed. "But you should be grateful for the beautiful land you live in, and the home you have, safe and peaceful in a troubled world."
"I am! Surely we strive to keep in mind each an' every day those woes that brought our people here an' left us imprisoned in these lands."
Robby nodded.
"An' if one is to have such glum thoughts, this is the place to have them, certainly."
"Why is that?"
"We call this place the Pool of Desire," she said. "Some say it is a bewitched place an' that it charms those who sit near its waters. Many of our people will not come here. They say it causes the mind to wander an' the heart to turn to impossible desires."
"I had no idea," Robby replied, looking around. He thought of the wanderings of his own mind just a few moments ago and chuckled. "Maybe it is true, though, in a way. Still, it seems a pleasant enough place to me. What is your name?"
"Eldwyna."
"And the little one?"
"He is Aldred. We came looking for Eldwin. Millithorpe said ye had gone for a walk, an' since I did not see ye on the path from town, I thought ye may have come this way. I thought perhaps Eldwin was with ye."
"Are you related?"
"He is my grandfather."
"And is this your son, or perhaps your younger brother?"
"Oh," she giggled. "No, he's me grandson."
"Goodness! Forgive me. But your people seem so young compared to most others I've met. Besides the Elifaen."
"Truly age does not touch us in the same way as it does others. So we have been told. We age, but slowly."
"A blessing."
"In some ways, perhaps. But, though we have few children, our mouths increase an' our lands do not. We are not as few in number as we once were."
"I, myself, am barely over a score of years in age," Robby stated.
"That is quite young, indeed. But ye do not act so. There is something very old about ye."
"Perhaps it is just weariness," Robby chuckled. "Tell me, you said I was the first stranger you had spoken to. I thought Eldwin and Millithorpe told me your people used to trade goods with outsiders. A man named Furaman, among others."
"Yes. But, in the first place, Mr. Furaman would not be a stranger an' would be a welcome sight if ever he came this way again. And, in the second place, all trading was done along the Toll Road, an' no one was ever before allowed into our valley or town. The Elders maintain a careful watch on our borders. Should any try to find our valley, or wander too close, the Elders turn them away. There was a time when the Damar soldiers sought us out with ill-intent. But we harried them mercilessly with all manner of pestering. They have not troubled us for many years, though we think they keep the traders away."
"I see."
"Well, anyway, I need to leave ye to yer work an' speak with me grandfather," she said, turning back toward the cave. "I suppose he's somewhere around the Hoard, or working deep within?"
"Oh, no! I'm sorry," Robby said, standing up. "Pardon me for not saying so before, but Eldwin is not here. He is in town, or thereabouts, trying to stir the Elders to have a meeting."
Eldwyna rolled her eyes in an expression of exasperation and shifted the baby to her other side.
"I'm sorry," Robby repeated.
"An' we came all this way! Do ye know if he will return soon?"
"I cannot say. You are welcome to wait."
"I wish I could, but I need to get back to chores."
"May I pass along some message, then?"
"I only wanted to know if he would be able to help us today with the new cottage we are building. If he cannot help, we will ask a cousin."
"Oh," Robby replied. "I suppose my coming has disrupted a lot of work. But I'll be needing Eldwin's help, and I don't see how he'll be able to help with the cottage. I am sorry."
"Oh, of course. I know grandfather has put himself in yer service, an' what ye do is more important than any cottage. Especially if ye find that our Hoard is of worth. Many of us have put aside their work in hopes of that. But others of us do not share such great hope, an' we continue in our work an' chores. It is hard to see how the riches taken from Tulith Attis could be matched, much less surpassed by our gleanings."
"Well," Robby shrugged, "I cannot yet say. But who knows?"
"Then I will leave ye to yer task," she said. "I have to find me cousin, an' he lives all the way on the other side of the valley, an' the day gets no longer by putting things off."
"I enjoyed talking with you. Perhaps you will pop over to see me again."
"I don't think so," she laughed. "Only the Elders have that ability. The rest of us may only be carried by our feet."
"Oh. I didn't know."
"No matter. But perhaps I'll see ye again. Good day!"
"Good day to you both!"
Robby watched her go, with the baby peering at him over her shoulder in such a way that Robby was compelled to give a little wave which was returned by the child. Smiling, he went back to the cave where Timbo was just coming from the weapons room.
"I made the list an' count, just as ye told me," he reported, holding out the list for Robby. "But there are many things that are strange to me. That is to say, I do not know what to call them. I'm afraid I didn't get very far along. But I drew little figures of them, along here, see? An' a count beside them giving their number."
"You did well. Honestly, I'm not sure I know what that is," Robby said pointing to a sketch that looked vaguely like a large spoon. "But perhaps I will know when I see it later when we look together. Next, I need you to sort things out, several stacks for each thing. Those that are in the best condition, those not so good, and those in poor condition. Be careful and ask for help with the heavy things."
Not long afterwards, Limbo appeared, and soon Robby was busy keeping up with their reports and questions, making his notes and preparing to assess all of the things. The boys came and went, and Robby often had to help them move something, or answer some question, or direct the sorting. When he returned from one such errand, he found Millithorpe had lit more lamps, and the Foyer was aglow in amber light. He was surprised when he looked to the cave opening and saw only a gaping blackness outside where night had settled on the land. The sound of Millithorpe's scratching pen was answered by the distant calls of a night bird and the subtle drone of crickets.
"I am surprised there are no bats," he said as he sat beside Millithorpe.
"They do not like the lamp oil," Millithorpe replied, not looking up from his copying. "And they have taken to other caves nearby."
Robby stifled a yawn.
"What I wouldn't do for a cup of coffee!"
"I remember coffee," Millithorpe looked up with a faraway expression. "With cream and sweet liquor!"
"Nothing quite like it, for when you need a lift."
"Aye. We have a nice tea, though. If you wish, I can pop over to my cottage and fetch a pot."
"I don't want you to go to any trouble."
"It would be no trouble and, anyway, with your leave, I'd like to look in on my missus. It being past dark and all."
"Oh. I guess I didn't realize, but of course you have a family. I suppose I am putting a great deal of people to trouble over this."
"Oh, no, sir. Not at all. That is to say, it is only my missus and myself. And what trouble we go to is nothing, oh truly, nothing whatsoever compared to what we may someday gain from it."
"Well, why don't you go see your wife? Can you come back in the morning?"
"Unless you need me before then. Where will you sleep tonight?"
"Oh. Hm. I guess it isn't practical for me to return to my friends. I'll be fine just stretched out here."
"Then I will have some blankets brought to you."
"That would be nice. Thank you."
"May I also suggest that perhaps it is time to eat? It is a little beyond our customary time. And, if you meant what you said earlier, the boys would enjoy a bite, I'm sure. I'll sup with my missus."
"Oh, yes, certainly. I'll fetch the others."
"Then I'll see you in the morning!"
Robby went to the sundries room and asked Seltin to find the other boys as he picked out some plates and cups and other things. After convincing the boys that, in the first place he would not eat unless they did, and, in the second place, it was fine to borrow the dishes and so forth, they sat together and ate from the full platter and drank the beer. The boys were polite and answered Robby's questions but said little on their own for the better part of the meal. Even with what little they did say, Robby was surprised at how well-spoken they were, and he learned that they had a very active school and even a library of books and scrolls, one of the few things that could be borrowed from the Hoard by copying.
"In the days when traders came along the Toll Road," Seltin explained, "news of the outside world was to be had. We got books that way, too, an' often we traded for stories, written down as they were told by passing travelers."
"Oh?"
"Yes. There was a family of minstrels who used to regularly come this way. Though they were poor in other ways, they were rich in songs and lore, an' in tales and stories."
"My grandmother even met a prince, once," chimed in Jimbo. "He was traveling to Tallin Valley from Vanara in the west an' gave to her all manner of genealogies of the Elifaen lines. She spent three days in his camp an' among his people an' copied fifty scrolls of tales an' lore."
"An' once," Timbo said, "me Uncle Eldwin saved from a bear a mighty hunter who came from the northlands beyond Duinnor. They became great friends, so he says. In gratitude to Uncle Eldwin, he sent to us a whole wagon of gifts, including silver and gold an' fine cloth an' tools, as well as a case of stories from Glareth-country full of sea-tales an' magic adventures."
As they went on, with growing ease in Robby's company, he realized that, for all their isolation, they seemed to be more knowledgeable and better read than himself. Although he felt their knowledge to be quaint, outdated certainly, he felt a pang that he himself could offer little better. Still, they seemed to have a genuine hunger for and delight in all sorts of lore and knowledge about all things. Which made it odd, Robby thought, that they asked very few questions about himself, his home, or his travels, even though he sensed their curiosity. Perhaps it was out of politeness, he thought. He spoke with care, not wishing to give away anything too particular about his reasons for being on the road. The boys listened intently, rarely interrupted, and, he noticed, they did not eat or drink as he spoke, though they had no inhibitions about doing so while one of their own talked.
They chatted on after the last morsel was gone and the dishes were cleaned away. Though Robby thought it was not much of a meal when divided so many ways, they looked satisfied, and Timbo, having pushed back his stool, patted his belly contentedly. They talked of the great storm and each related their own tales. Robby left out much, most, in fact, of his own tale, but he described the damage to Barley and the death of Passdale's mayor.
"No one here was killed, as in your town," said Jimbo, "for which we are most thankful. But the water pouring down the slopes brought some trees an' boulders with it, an' many of us took shelter right here and also in other caves nearby."
Robby listened to their account of the damage and the loss of crops and found himself wishing he could help them, thinking of his own people and their plight. But he did not mention their troubles, or talk about the Redvests or the invasion, or the coming war, or why he and his companions were on the road. Oddly, he had not been asked, so he concluded that some agreement must have been exacted of them to refrain from such questions. Just as he was thinking of Eldwin, the little man entered the cave at the head of a dozen or so others, most carrying bundles, some with long boards and others with tools. Eldwin had changed out of his fancy suit and now wore work clothes and waistcoat.
"Just over there, nearby those shelves, I think," he instructed those in his party who awkwardly bowed to Robby as they passed with their loads and immediately set to work on some little construction. Five of the group, who carried no bundles and who were dressed in colorful outfits, stood aside as Eldwin approached Robby.
"We have brought things to make a cot for ye," he said. "I ran into Millithorpe on the way an' brought blankets, too, an' straw for a mattress of sorts. That is, should ye decide to sleep here rather than with yer companions."
"I'll stay here. But I'd like to send another message to them."
"Certainly."
"And who are these gentlemen? Elders?"
"Just so, sir." Eldwin nodded to them, and Robby bowed and shook their hands. "This is Larris, Brolith, Arldewain, Torridge, an' Makewine. I have seen many of the Elders today, makin' yer request, an' these have come to question ye about it."
Arldewain cleared his throat and looked at the others before speaking.
"We are concerned," he said, "that the accounting done by Millithorpe is not sufficient for you to make a reckoning as to the value of the Hoard. Can you tell us why that is?"
"Millithorpe is a good keeper of the Hoard," Robby began. "He has followed the instructions given to him, and the work he has done is to be commended. But the records are not kept in a way so as to assign value to the things, or to tally up the amount of value as a whole. The Great Hoard, as you call it, those things from Tulith Attis, is to be the measure for all other things combined. Therefore, I must inspect the items in that chamber."
"You have looked into the chamber of the Great Hoard, have you not?" asked Makewine.
"Yes."
"Then you have seen how the Great Treasure does not gather dust, nor does it tarnish or decay."
"I have seen that. It is most uncanny."
"Would it not seem, then, that their condition is unchanged?"
"It would seem so, yes," Robby shrugged. "But those things were taken in a time of war, carried off through battlefields, and carted across many leagues. What condition were they in when they were taken, forcibly, from those who would not easily give them up? What damage might those things have suffered at that time or even before then? And then afterwards, on the way here? Yes, I have looked into the chamber. But a thing looked at from a distance does not always show its value, as I'm sure you may appreciate."
"Well said, I admit," replied Brolith. "I remember those days too well, as all we Elders do. The road was hard, and we cared little for our burdens except to rid ourselves of them."
"And I was one of those who went to Tulith Attis itself," said Larris, shaking his head and giving a slight shudder at the memory. "Cast into piles by the coarse Dragonkind for us to carry out. With my own shirt, Bailorg made me to wipe the blood from a headpiece of gold. I remember the horrible grin on his face as he took it from me and held it up to admire."
"So you understand why I must look at those things," said Robby. "Will you and the others give me permission to go into that room and do so?"
"Eldwin did a fair job of convincing us before we came," said Makewine. "And you have satisfied our questions, I think."
The others nodded.
"A meeting of the Elders will take place tomorrow, and we will put the question to vote. Herbert will oppose, naturally, but I think we may prevail with four-fifths of the vote needed. However, even if the Elders agree that you need to gain entry into the Hoard, they may not wish to give permission because of the labor needed."
"Our people, that is, those not already helping you," picked up Larris, "are busy making ready for winter, gleaning what food and fuel may be had, salvaging crops and salting fish."
"The gates have not been opened since the bands were forged around the bars," explained Brolith. "Our smithies tell us they will have to make cutting chisels and irons."
"That means the forge will have to be kindled and stoked with cut wood. Bellows remade and certain other tools."
"Many hands will be needed."
"We think it will take about twelve of us working several days to open the gates."
As they talked, Eldwin's workers had assembled Robby's cot in short order and were now standing with Seltin and his cousins, listening to the exchange. Robby considered for a moment what they said.
"Be that as it may," he said at last. "Let the permission for me to go into the Hoard be one thing, and let the decision to do the work of opening it for me be another thing. Please meet with the Elders and let me know how things stand. If permission cannot be granted, then I and my companions must be on our way, without our things, to make our journey as well as we can. If permission is granted, a way to open the gates will be found, somehow. But know this: The breaking of the curses upon your people depends on your wit and wisdom. If you do your part, I will most assuredly do mine."
The five Elders agreed, then quickly departed. Turning to the others, Robby politely thanked and dismissed his helpers until morning, all but Eldwin whom he asked to linger. Seating himself at the desk he began to write a note to his companions, speaking to Eldwin as he did so.
"Everyone did a fine job today," he said. "I admit I was discouraged this morning when I first saw the books. But Millithorpe and I are well on our way to sorting them out. All the helpers did fine work, too. Tomorrow, I'll begin making my notes as to the value of things. But you, especially, Eldwin, have done well, and I thank you for all your efforts."
"That is kind of ye to say, sir, an' ye should have our gratitude," Eldwin bowed. "Not all of us take great delight in our way of takin' a toll on the road or a fee as we do. I wish I could just give ye back all yer things an' let us be friends."
"Perhaps we may become friends, anyway."
"I hope so. Whether ye succeed or fail, an' whether we act wisely or not."
"Thank you for saying so."
Robby continued to write, turned the sheet over and filled that side, too, leaving just enough room to sign his name. He folded it and handed it to Eldwin.
"I'd like for you to give this to Ashlord in the morning and wait for his reply."
As Eldwin took it, Robby looked at him, noticing for the first time his muscular build, his thick strong hands, and his stocky body, and for a moment Eldwin's small size was neither here nor there in Robby's mind. Robby saw him not as a pixie, or as a servant, or even an Elder of his people, but only as a man.
"What is your trade, Eldwin?"
"I have always been a woodworker, sir, after me father before me an' his before him."
"A carpenter?"
"I have done plenty of that, yes. But all manner of things do I make an' carve. Tools an' handles, furniture, doors, beds an' posts, an' even toys. I made the simple table ye work at, those shelves behind ye an' in many of the rooms here."
"You do good work," Robby said running his hand across the smooth finish of the tabletop. "How do you cut your boards? And smooth them so? Do you have a mill?"
"A mill? Goodness no, sir. They are hand sawn, with saws made by our smithies. An' once the boards are cured, we smooth them using stones. I have an auger that I use for the peg holes, an' various tools for cuttin' mortises an' tenons. That's how we put together the cot, there."
"Quick work, too, I might say. And quite inviting," Robby said.
"Strong, but not so comfortable as what ye may be used to."
"The rocky ground is what I've been used to of late, with roots jabbing in awkward places!"
"Surely," Eldwin hesitated. "I know little of ye or the purpose of yer journey. The Elders, decidin' to allow ye here to do this, required an oath of all not to ask questions about such things. They do not wish to become involved in the outside world. Before we are ready."
Robby nodded. "I understand and surmised as much. Well, ready or not, you are involved, since I am here and of the outside world. Perhaps, before I leave, and if I'm allowed, I might tell you some of why we pass this way. But these days are a time for your people to watch your borders with vigilance and caution. The world closes in, and even my coming here may have brought danger. I do not mean to alarm you, only to put it before you. I will do what I can here, but then I must go, and go quickly. As I said, I might tell you more, but not without the consent of my companions."
With assurances from Robby that he would be fine staying by himself, Eldwin let Robby dismiss him, promising again to take the message to Ashlord at first light and then return. Robby worked for some while longer on the ledgers, and he was pleased with his progress. Closing the last blurry page, he walked the passages, having another look at the various storerooms, and putting out lamps as he went, until he arrived again in the chamber of the Great Treasure. He looked for a long while at the fabulous display of ancient articles. For the first time, he imagined Tulith Attis as it once may have been, a place of beauty and riches, surrounded by a little town of happy traders and craftsmen, secure in the watchful shadow of Lord Heneil's fortress and in the company of his many fine soldiers. The treasure he looked at was surely only a hint of the wealth and marvels that must have once been commonplace there.
At last he turned to go, but stopped a few steps away. He went back to the gates and carefully placed his right hand on the thick steel band that sealed the latch bars. He touched it only for a moment, and withdrew his hand quickly. With a satisfied expression, he left and walked back through the Foyer and on through the opening of the cave. A cool wind blew down from the cliffs above, trees bent and rattled in the little wood, and bright stars winked in and out between the branches. As his eyes adjusted to the dim light, he noticed a huddled figure, bundled in a blanket and leaning against a tree about twenty yards away down the path. Smiling, he went back inside. Realizing he would have a more comfortable night than his guards, he took full advantage of the cot.
• • •
The wind was hot and dry, and Robby tasted the endless expanse of dust and sand on his lips. Squinting, he turned, shifting his stance on the sand at the top of a high dune, and looked all around. He thought he saw a glint, but it was gone in a wink, and the faraway spot where he thought he saw it was blurred by the restless heat, shimmering like water, and blending into the distant, rimless sky. Nothing could he distinguish in any direction but sand and sky. She was nowhere to be seen. He remembered her words: "We will not see each other again until after Tulith Morgair."