Page 66 of The King of Koraha
“If we don’t pay these men, we’ll be cooked,” Tahir said in a pleading tone.
She thought quickly. How could they get out of this situation without tipping Tahir off? They still needed him to get to Apanji. They could pay the toll and then loop around and steal it back. That would take too much time and it was too risky. She needed to trick everyone.
“I have the coins in my pack,” Shyla said, gesturing to the wagon she’d stored it in. There was no reason to carry it out here when her water skin was heavy enough.
“Well, go on, sweet cheeks,” the leader said. “The sun’s not getting any lower.”
She placed a hand on Rendor’s shoulder, stopping him from growling at the leader. She’d been called worse. After he relaxed a hair, she went behind the wagon. Once there, she was out of sight. Only the driver of the wagon behind hers watched. With her back to him, she dumped the coins out of her pouch. She gathered her magic and aimed it at the driver as she turned sideways. She imagined she held a pouch full of shiny bluish-silver coins.
Coins.
Coins.
Except she commanded the sand to fill the bag instead. The grains flowed up the side of the wheel so they wouldn’t be seen. When the pouch felt heavy enough, she stopped.
As she carried it back to Tahir and the others, she extended her magical influence to those close to her, concentrating on how a bag of coins sounded.
Jingle. Clink.
Jingle. Clink.
Jingle. Clink.
Rendor was the only one she didn’t influence.
“Here’s your toll,” she said as she handed the bandit leader the pouch.
Jingle. Clink.
He grinned, sheathed his sword, and opened the pouch, peering inside.
Fifty coins.
Fifty coins.
“It’s all there. You may pass.” He made a magnanimous sweeping gesture with a bow, then called to his gang. They climbed over the dunes and disappeared.
Tahir quickly ordered the caravan to continue. “Let’s go. No time to waste.”
Everyone hustled after the wagons.
Rendor jogged beside Shyla. “What just happened?” he whispered.
“I’ll explain later,” she said because Tahir was headed toward them.
“Thank you so much!” Tahir said a bit too enthusiastically. “You saved all our lives! I’ll pay you back once I sell my goods,” he lied.
“Do you think we’ll have any more trouble?” she asked him, reading his thoughts.
He didn’t have any more ambushes set up so he hoped not. “These bandits are getting bolder since the King’s soldiers haven’t been patrolling in circuits. But I think we should be safe.”
When Tahir went to his place at the head of the caravan, Shyla dropped back so she was at the very end. Rendor matched her pace. She glanced behind her, seeking bumps. None so far.
“Should we expect trouble in that direction?” Rendor asked, following her gaze.
“Once the bandits discover they’ve a pouch full of sand instead of fifty coins, I think they’ll come after us at the next travel shelter.”
“Ah. I wondered why everyone seemed so focused on that pouch.” Rendor examined the desert. “The six of us can protect the entrance to a travel shelter better than being out here.”
