“I suspected as much,” Cade replied.
“Some hero you’ve got there,” Jax said.
Karigan had just enough energy left to rise on her elbow and stick her tongue out at him. Then she fell back into her nest, the endless blackness reclaiming her.
Luke, in his gentlemanly attire, rode just ahead of the mules on the professor’s gray gelding, Gallant. By sheer luck, Luke had been in the city visiting his family when the Inspectors raided the professor’s house. The mill fire, with its explosive component and the pandemonium that followed, had drawn most of the Inspectors away, allowing the servants to disperse, including Luke’s loyal stableboys who delivered Raven and Gallant to him.
Cade had known that, like Mirriam, Luke had long been entrusted with some knowledge of the professor’s secrets. After all, it was Luke who drove the professor’s carriage to most of those parties that were actually opportunities for clandestine meetings. If Luke had not been of like mind in regard to the empire, the professor would never have kept him in his employ. It was natural then that Cade bring Luke into his plan. Cade had intended to play the part of Stanton Mayforte himself, but the others had protested that he might be too recognizable as the professor’s protégé. Besides, Luke had said, he knew something about the wine business after having worked at a winery—in the stables of the winery, yes, but, he claimed, one picked up a thing or two just being around it.
In the good suit, acquired from a member of their group who was a tailor, and with hair and sidewhiskers neatly trimmed, Luke was transformed into the business-minded vintner on his way to the Capital in an attempt to win favor with the Adherents in the emperor’s inner circle, and thus elevate his position in the world. One would not guess he was, in reality, a stablehand. His disguise would be tested very soon as they headed south and out of the city.
Cade guided the mules, Ted and Ned, through the streets, behind him the Old City with Silk’s excavation at its summit. He would not look back. He would not second guess the rebellion he, Jax, and the others were setting in motion. The rebellion would succeed or it would not. The only affair he had settled prior to his departure was to leave enough of his scanty savings with Widow Hettle to cover the mules and wagon. All that mattered now was helping Karigan with whatever she needed to do, and rescuing Arhys. If anyone figured out who that child was, she’d be slain.
• • •
They halted at the south gate of Mill City where Inspectors, with their ever-present mechanical companions, checked the papers and cargo of those entering and leaving the city. Many of the travelers drove freight wagons carrying textiles, or bales of cotton and wool. There were plenty of other goods as well, brought from various parts of the empire.
The Great Harbor, which served the Capital, was the major port for shipping. From there, goods could be moved via river, transportation canal, or wagon. Cade had considered using the canal, but then they’d have to interact more with the authorities to load and unload canal boats, go through locks, declare cargo, and generally face additional scrutiny. It was an unsafe option considering that the false bottom of the wagon concealed weapons and Karigan’s Green Rider garb.
The average citizens of the empire were not encouraged to travel, so there were few non-commercial travelers waiting in line, which kept things moving at the checkpoint. When it was Luke’s turn, he smiled broadly at the Inspectors.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” he said with a tip of his hat.
“Papers.” The Inspector held out his hand without even an attempt at pleasantries.
“Of course.” Luke produced a leather wallet from an inner pocket of his coat and tugged out the papers for Stanton Mayforte, vintner, Harley Dace, servant, and Tam Ryder, servant.
One Inspector gazed at the papers, while a second and his Enforcer approached the wagon to give it a close look. Cade slouched on the bench, hoping his bruised, unshaven face and work clothes served as a good enough disguise. He really hoped that Karigan remained asleep and quiet in the back.
“Where are you going and what is your business?” asked the first Inspector.
“My business should be quite obvious. I am a vintner, and I am taking samples to Gossham so I may become fully licensed.” Luke lowered his voice confidentially. “I am seeking an audience with Webster Silk himself.”
Was Cade mistaken, or had Luke assumed a very good likeness of the professor’s personal charm? It was almost uncanny.
The Inspector, however, appeared unimpressed by Stanton Mayforte’s aspirations. Out of the corner of his eye, Cade watched the second Inspector tapping the wine casks, each carefully branded with “Mayforte.” The wine had actually come from a tavernkeeper who was one of their own, and the casks re-branded. The Enforcer rose up, extending on its legs to full height, to scan the casks with its eye.
“Where is this other servant of yours?” the first Inspector asked.
“You mean Tam?” Luke glanced over his shoulder. “He got into some of the samples today. He is sleeping it off in the back of the wagon.”
“I see him,” the second Inspector said. “He’s back here. Dead drunk, I’d say.”
“I’m not telling you your business, but he sounds like a poor servant to me,” the first Inspector told Luke. “I’m surprised you’d take one so ill-disciplined with you on so important a trip.”
Luke chuckled. “Not to worry. I’ll skin his hide when he wakes up, though I expect the after-effects of the wine may be its own punishment.”