“Neither of you fought Conner?” I asked Latamer and Roden.
Latamer shook his head and coughed. He probably didn’t have the strength to fight. Roden leaned forward and wrapped his arms around his legs. “I saw the orphanage you came from. It was ten times the place I lived in. Then Conner comes and says if I cooperate, I could get a big reward. So no, I didn’t fight.”
“You might have given me that nice speech instead of having me hit over the head,” I told Conner. “What’s the reward?”
Conner didn’t turn around to answer. “Cooperate first, then we’ll talk reward.”
Roden tossed his apple core from the cart. He didn’t even have the decency to eat all of it.
“You can untie me now,” I said. It probably wasn’t going to be that easy, but there was no harm in asking.
Conner answered. “Mrs. Turbeldy warned me that you have a history of running away. Where do you go?”
“To church, of course. To confess my sins.”
Roden snorted a laugh, but Conner didn’t seem to find the same humor. “I can starve that blasphemy out of you, boy.”
I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, hoping to end any conversation involving me. For the most part, it worked. Roden said something about his devotion to the church, but I let it go. None of it mattered. I didn’t plan on being here much longer.
About an hour later, the wagon stopped in a small town I’d been to once before. It was named Gelvins, although as small as it was, I’m not sure it deserved any name. Gelvins was more like an outpost than a town, with only a few shops on the street and a dozen pathetic excuses for homes. Carthyan homes were normally well built and sturdy, but Gelvins was poor and its farms dry. A sturdy home was a luxury few here could dream of, much less afford to build. Most of these thin wooden structures looked like they would be finished in a stiff windstorm. Our wagon had stopped in front of a shack with a small sign over the doorway identifying it as the Gelvins Charity Orphanage. I knew this place. I’d stayed here several months ago after Mrs. Turbeldy temporarily kicked me out.
Conner took Mott with him and left Cregan to guard us. As soon as Conner left, Cregan jumped out of the wagon and said he was going to get a quick drink in the tavern and that he’d personally kill any boy who tried to escape.
“Another orphan?” Roden asked. “Conner’s probably been to every orphanage in the country. What could he possibly want with all of us?”
“You don’t know?” I asked.
Latamer shrugged, but Roden said, “He’s looking for one particular boy, but I don’t know why.”
“He won’t want me.” Latamer’s voice was so quiet, the snorting of our horses nearly drowned him out. “I’m sick.”
“Maybe he will,” I said. “We don’t know what he wants.”
“I plan on being whatever he wants,” Roden said. “I’m not going back to any orphanage, and I’ve got no future on the streets.”
“Who is Bevin Conner?” I asked. “Do either of you know anything about him?”
“I overheard him speaking to Master Grippings, who runs the orphanage where Roden and I lived,” Latamer mumbled. “He said he was a friend of the king’s court.”
“King Eckbert?” I shook my head. “Conner’s lying, then. Everyone knows the king has no friends.”
Latamer shrugged. “Friend or enemy, he convinced Master Grippings that he was here as a service to the king.”
“But what does that have to do with us?” I asked. “A handful of orphaned boys?”
“He just wants one boy,” Roden reminded us. “The rest of us will be cast away as soon as we become useless to Conner. He said as much to Master Grippings.”
“Let me make it easier on you,” I said to Roden. “Untie me and I’ll be on my way. That’s one less boy to contend with.”
“I’ll do no such thing,” Roden said. “Do you think I want to be punished for your escape?”
“Fine. But the knots are really tight. Could you just loosen them?”
Roden shook his head. “If they’re tight, it’s because you irritated Conner’s vigils, and you probably deserve it.”
“Conner wouldn’t want him to be hurt.” Latamer crept toward me and said, “Turn around.”
“I can’t maneuver with my arms behind me. Just reach back there.”