In a quarter of an hour Radawen and Elwil were walking past the Old Archives and heading toward the Gate of Stars. Radawen glanced over her shoulder.
”There are two of them”, she said.
”At least”, Elwil replied. ”It takes at least five people to shadow someone effectively. Less might do if the mark is unsuspecting.”
Radawen mulled that over for a moment. Then she asked:
”Were you married when…?”
Elwil glanced at Radawen sharply. The guard at the Gate of Stars did not move as they passed him by. Passwords were required only when climbing up from the lower circles, never the other way around.
”No”, she said. ”I laid aside the trade of secrets after Bree-land. I was not cut out for it in the long run. Hardly anyone is. Men last longer because they live mostly in their imagination. They see it as a game.”
”Not he!”
Elwil threw a sideways glance at Radawen, raised an eyebrow and smirked. ”Is that what you think?”
Blasted woman, pretending to know Delioron better than she did! Radawen’s face flushed. She had even put on her earrings, not for Delioron but for this woman.
”Why did he come to you for help?”
”He said he had not many trustworthy friends left.” Elwil smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in her smile. ”Poor Delioron! It was a joke like everything else, but he meant it. He said that you were in grave danger, that you both were. I asked, ’Do you love her?’ And he said, ’Perhaps.’”
”That bastard!”
”I said, ’Not good enough. You have to answer my question properly.’ He replied, ’Would it make you any happier if I did? Will you help me then?’”
”That arrogant bastard!” Radawen huffed.
”That’s exactly him, isn’t it?” Elwil grinned. ”By the Valar, this is so much fun. I even said it to him. I said, ’You arrogant bastard, do you think I would be jealous?’ He said no – with absolute dishonesty like all his lies. And he could not care less if I see through him or not. Then he smiles. That is how he makes me lose my balance, and here I am now!”
Radawen noticed that she wanted Elwil to tell her everything about Delioron. What was her opinion about him? What had Delioron told her about Radawen? But Radawen bit her lip. She glanced over her shoulder again and spotted one of their pursuers in the crowd.
”Why did he come here?”
”He told me that there was some trouble. Nothing else. He told me that the less I know about it the better for me.” Elwil paused. ”They will probably want to talk to me about this. Afterwards.”
”What are you going to do?”
”I will tell them to talk to my husband. Ârchanar is a revenue magistrate. I am very fond of him”, Elwil said softly. ”He is a revenue magistrate, which makes him no lord but still mightier than some errand-hall henchman from Tham Pethgyl. I am not worried about them.”
”Where are we going?”
”There is a tavern called ’The Wheel and Cask’ on the north side of the Worker’s Tier. You need to be there by noon, alone. Keep looking over your shoulder.”
”How do we… shake them?”
”Ooh, it is going to be fun. We are going to the market!”
They walked through the Lords’ Gate and descended the stairs into the Craftsmen’s Tier, turned left and walked past ’The Haven’ until they arrived in the Clothiers’ Market. It was a crowded marketplace this time of day.
”I will make a scene near a cloth-seller’s stall over there.” Elwil pointed. ”When I do, duck into the stall and buy a plain worker’s cloak. Put it over your own mantle and do not look back. Talk to the vendor for a few minutes, as if interested to see whatever else they are selling. If you see something you like, go ahead and buy it. Meanwhile I will draw the pursuers off your back. After a few minutes start walking. Go straight to ’The Wheel and Cask’. Walk steadily but not too hurriedly. No stopping, no running. Understood?”
Radawen grinned. ”Understood.”
As they were about to pass the stall, Elwil bumped straight onto a skinny brown-haired man wearing many gold chains.
”Hey!” he exclaimed. ”Watch where you’re going, lady!”
”Watch it yourself, you oaf!” Elwil replied. Radawen took advantage of the commotion and slipped behind a stone column in the cloth-seller’s stall. The market was bustling with people, many of whom were now gathering around Elwil and the man to watch the altercation, blocking the view to their pursuers. Elwil laid it out on the man, accusing him of harassment. The man, increasinly provoked by Elwil’s unfounded accusations and aggressive tone, was quickly losing his temper:
”Shut up, you blind cow! If I wanted to pinch someone, I would pick someone half your age and weight!”
The scene seemed to amuse the spectators greatly. Radawen quickly pointed at a drab, dun-colored hooded cloak hanging on a rack behind the vendor and poured coins from her purse on the tabletop.
”I want that one, please.”
The vendor scooped the coins quickly off the table and handed Radawen the cloak. The expression on his face told plainly that Radawen had paid way too much for it and the vendor was trying to keep a straight face before she changed her mind. Radawen pulled the cloak on her mantle and covered her head with the hood, facing away from Elwil and the commotion.
Suddenly, without warning, Elwil shoved the man aside and started running north, toward the Crafter’s Neath. Radawen heard surprised curses nearby. Two men started running after her, pushing people out of the way so that they would not lose her in the crowd. Radawen could hear how they ran past her as they chased Elwil. She kept her eyes on the vendor.
”That cloak suits you well, lady”, said the vendor, beaming with enthusiasm. ”May I show you a kerchief to keep the dust from your hair?”
Radawen grinned.
”I believe I would like to take a look at it”, she said.
