The pillars of creation

They didn't have time for any delay. They needed to get away before the wizard came out looking for them-or sent troops after them. Now that Nathan Rahl had seen her, he could describe her to guards. Everyone would know what they looked like.

"Oh, something," Tom said, cryptically.

She smiled up at the big blond man. "What do you have?"

Tom reached into his pocket and came up with a purse. He held it out to her. "Well, first off, I got this back for you."

"My money?"

Tom grinned as he watched the astonishment in her eyes as her fingers touched her familiar worn leather purse. "You'll be pleased to know that the gentleman who had it was reluctant to part with it, but since it wasn't his, in the end he saw the light of reason, along with a few stars."

Tom nudged her shoulder as if to say she could figure out what more he meant by that.

Sebastian's gaze followed as she pulled back her cloak and tied the purse around her belt. His expression said that he had no trouble figuring out what had happened to it.

"But how did you find him?" Jennsen asked.

Tom shrugged. "The place looks big to those visiting, but when you're here often, you learn who the regulars are and know what their business is. I recognized your description of the cutpurse. Early this morning he breezed by, talking his line, trying to gull a woman out of her money. About the time he passed, I saw his hand below her packages, slipping into her shawl, so I snatched him by the collar. My brothers and I had a long talk with the fellow about returning things he'd 'found' that didn't belong to him."

"This place is full of thieves," Jennsen said.

Tom shook his head. "Don't judge a place by one man. Don't get me wrong-they're around. But most folks here are honest enough. The way I see it, wherever you go there will always be thieves. Always has been, always will be. The man I fear most is the one who preaches virtue and a better life while using people's good intentions to shade their eyes from the light of truth."

"I guess so," she said.

"Maybe virtue and a better life is a goal worthy of such means," Sebastian said.

"From what I've seen in life, a man who preaches a better way at the cost of the truth is a man who wants nothing more than for himself to be the master and you the slave."

"I see what you mean," Sebastian conceded. "I guess I'm fortunate not to have had dealings with such people."

"Count your blessings," Tom said.

At his table, Jennsen took the hand of both Joe and Clayton. "Thank you for helping. I can't believe you got my purse back."

Their grins had much in common with Tom's.

"Most fun we've had in a while," Joe said.

"Not only that," Clayton added, "but we can't thank you enough for keeping Tom busy so we could spend a couple days visiting the palace. About time Tom gave us a break."

Tom put a hand against Jennsen's back, urging her around the table, to his wagon beyond. Sebastian followed the two of them between the wine barrels and the stand beside them selling leather goods, where, before, Irma had sold her sausages.

Behind Tom's wagon, Jennsen saw his big horses. Then, beyond them, she saw the others.

"Our horses!" Jennsen's jaw dropped. "You got us our horses?"

"Sure did," Tom said, beaming with pride. "Found Irma this morning when she came to the market with another load of sausages. She had the horses with her. I told her you'd promised to come see me today before you left, so she was glad to have a chance to get them back to you. All your supplies are there with them."

"That's good luck," Sebastian said. "We can't thank you enough. We're in a hurry to get going."

Tom gestured to Jennsen's waist, where she kept the knife under her cloak. "I figured."

Jennsen looked around, feeling a rising flood of dismay. "Where's Betty?"

Tom frowned. "Betty?"

Jennsen swallowed. "My goat, Betty." It was a mighty effort to keep her voice steady. "Where's Betty?"

"I'm sorry, Jennsen. I don't know anything about a goat. Irma only had the horses." Tom's face sagged. "I never thought to ask about anything else."

"Do you know where Irma lives?"

Tom's head hung. "Sorry, no. She showed up this morning and she had your horses and things. She sold her sausages and waited around for a while before she said she had to get on home."

Jennsen seized his sleeve. "How long ago?"

Tom shrugged. "I don't know. Couple hours ago?" He glanced over his shoulder at his brothers. They both nodded.

Jennsen's jaw trembled. She feared to test her voice again. She knew that she and Sebastian couldn't hang around waiting. With the wizard so close, trying to stop her, she knew they would be lucky to get away with their lives. Returning would be out of the question.

A glance to Sebastian's face confirmed it.

Tears stung her eyes. "But… didn't you find out where she lived?"

Tom's gaze sank as he shook his head.

"Didn't you ask if she had anything else belonging to us?"

He shook his head again.

Jennsen wanted to scream and pound her fists against his chest. "Did you even think to ask when she would be back?"