The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) by Garrett Robinson (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

And try not to spend it all today—I have one more place to visit, and you may find a profitable use for it there.”

“But I …” Again Sun looked at the size of the purse in Albern’s hand. “That is too much to carry around. It will pull my belt straight off!”

Albern turned to give the stranger a look. The man sighed before turning and stepping behind a half-wall that obscured the rear left of the apartment. In a moment, he reappeared, carrying an odd sort of wallet. It was made of well-worn leather, and it had thick, long straps. The man tossed it to Albern, who caught it deftly and turned to Sun.

“You may buckle this around your chest,” he said. “It will keep the purse slung against your right shoulder. You will appear to have a slight hunch under your cloak, but it is more comfortable than having the pouch hang from your belt. Or you can fit it into your saddlebag.”

“Thank you,” said Sun, taking it from him. Then she turned to the stranger. “I can pay you for this.”

He gave her a thin smile. “Pray don’t worry about it. Call it another bonus—for him, not for you. Mayhap in time, you’ll provide enough services to earn such rewards.”

Sun did not know quite what to say to that, particularly since she did not know what services had been performed for all this coin in the first place. She scooped her gold into the purse and strapped it over her shoulder. It did indeed hang comfortably on her, and she decided to keep it there rather than put it in her saddlebag. She had never held this much money before in her life. Of course, she had seen this much, but it had all belonged to her family, and they never let her touch it or choose how to spend it.

“I believe thass all the dealings we have for today,” said the strange man. “Do let me know if you see to that business along the south Selvan border, old man.”

Albern snorted. “Scarcely older than you.”

“But you are older than me.”

Albern chuckled and reached out his left hand. The man took his wrist, and they shook. Then Albern motioned Sun to the back stairs before descending them himself. Before she followed him, Sun turned to their host.

“Thank you,” she said. “For the coin, and the wine. I am Sun, of the … that is, just Sun.”

His eyes flashed, but he did not ask about the words she had abandoned. “Iss been my pleasure, Sun. If I can ask: have you met any of Albern’s other friends?”

Sun blinked. The question seemed to hold hidden meaning, but she had no idea what it might be. “We … met a woman named Dawan in Lan Shui,” she ventured.

“No, no,” said the man, shaking his head. “Here in Bertram. Never you mind. Juss look after yourself—and him. That man’s worth a fair spot of coin to me.”

The words were quite mercenary, but Sun thought she caught concern in the man’s eyes. It reminded her of Dawan’s parting words, a quiet plea the medica had whispered in her ear when Albern was not listening. Nodding, she turned to follow Albern out of the apartment.

Only when they were back outside did she realize that the stranger had never given his name. Sun’s mouth twisted, but she decided to leave it.

“Well,” she said instead. “I suppose you have no intention of telling me what that was all about?”

“You suppose quite correctly,” said Albern. “But you may learn in time.”

“If we have enough time,” said Sun. “I fear that there are not enough years left in your life to tell me of all the years that came before.”

“Oh, come now,” said Albern, nudging her shoulder. “In only a few days, I have told you the story of many months. You will catch up eventually, and should not feel too badly about being so slow.”

Sun whirled on him. “Me slow? You are the one—”

But Albern laughed and stepped for the mouth of the alley, back towards the street. Sun followed him, fuming, but mostly for show. She enjoyed the easy rapport she and Albern had built together, and which had seemed to come to them quite quickly. It reminded her of the old man’s conversations with Mag.

And as she thought of that, it occurred to Sun that such familiarity might be a double-edged sword to Albern. Surely he enjoyed the return to a time where he had a traveling companion he could jest with, and who would return jokes as easily as she took them. But at the same time, she must be a poor replacement for Mag and a constant reminder of what he had lost years ago.

Her mood dampened. Pulling her cloak tighter about her, she started to follow Albern into the street.

But then she leaped back, dragging Albern with her. Two riders on horseback thundered through the place he had been standing. Sun took an angry step after them, opening her mouth to call out.

She froze as she saw cloaks of black and gold—the colors of her family.

“Albern!” she whispered, her voice full of fear.

“I see them,” he muttered.

Together they moved into the alley’s shadows, watching as the riders hit a bend in the street and passed out of sight.

“A good thing you are wearing that borrowed cloak,” said Albern softly. “They did not recognize you.”

“Yet they must know I am in the city!” said Sun. “Why else would they be in Bertram? We have to leave.”

“There are a thousand reasons they might be in Bertram.” Albern’s voice was calm, as though he was trying to talk down a rearing horse. “We knew they might have sent out scouts in many directions, hoping to catch you in a wide net. This might be no more than that. They were not keeping too careful an eye out, or they would have looked more closely at your face.”

“I … I should get new clothes,” said Sun.