1266 lines
73 KiB
Plaintext
1266 lines
73 KiB
Plaintext
From WHITE@DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU Tue May 12 10:36:09 1992
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(5.65c/IDA-1.4.4/pen-ident for <RITA@EFF.ORG>); Tue, 12 May 1992 10:36:01 -0400
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Message-Id: <199205121436.AA26860@eff.org>
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Received: from DUVM by DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU (IBM VM SMTP R1.2.2MX) with BSMTP id 3312; Tue, 12 May 92 10:31:50 EDT
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Date: Tue, 12 May 92 10:31:39 EDT
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From: "Avid Reader - Fledgling Writer" <WHITE@DUVM.OCS.DREXEL.EDU>
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To: RITA@EFF.ORG
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Status: OR
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1 /
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DDDDD ZZZZZZ //
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D D AAAA RRR GGGG OOOO NN N Z I NN N EEEE ||
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D D A A R R G O O N N N Z I N N N E || Volume 3
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-=========================================================+<OOOOOOOOO>|)
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D D AAAA RRR G GG O O N N N Z I N N N E || Issue 9
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DDDDD A A R R GGGG OOOO N NN ZZZZZZ I N NN EEEE ||
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\\
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\
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- DargonZine Volume 3, Issue 9 07/27/90 Cir 963 --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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-- Contents --
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Reluctant Revelation Carlo Samson Mel 5-Ye 2, 1013
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The Bronze Horseman II Max Khaytsus Se 25-Ob 5, 1013
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
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1 Reluctant Revelation
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by Carlo N. Samson
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The trading ship _Vanguard Voyager_ sailed smoothly through the
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calm green waters of the Laraka River. Cydric Araesto and Mandi
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Mercallion stood at the rail, watching the town of Port Sevlyn slowly
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come into view along the left bank.
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"At long last," Cydric remarked. "It'll be great to get back on
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solid ground again."
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Mandi clapped her hands excitedly. "Party!" she exclaimed.
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"Where?" Cydric looked at her quizzically. "What party are you
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talking about?"
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"The one that Uncle Quill and the Lord Mayor of Port Sevlyn
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always throw for Brynna whenever she gets back from a voyage," Mandi
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replied. "Long voyages I mean, like when she got back from Bichu, but
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after they hear about how we gave Challion and his pirates a good
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thumping I'm sure they'll have one for her--probably not tonight but
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for sure tomorrow night, or the next night at the very least. I've
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just got to get a new dress!"
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Cydric stretched and leaned against the rail. "I'm sure you'll
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have a nice time. Myself, I just want to get to a decent tavern. I
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haven't had a good Lederian since we left Shark's Cove."
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"You'll have a nice time too," Mandi said. "The Lord Mayor stocks
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plenty of Lederian."
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"Is the whole crew invited to this party?" Cydric inquired.
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"Truthfully, no." Mandi twisted a strand of her tawny-auburn
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hair. "Well, except for Kayne and Scarabin, they're always invited.
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But since you did help save the ship I'm absolutely sure Brynna will
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invite you as well. She owes you that much."
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"It's not necessary. I'm not all that fond of parties anyway."
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Mandi's jaw popped open in surprise at his comment. "Why on
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Makdiar not? There's food, music, dancing--it'll be fun! Don't tell me
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you wouldn't want to go."
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"I've been to enough of them to know what goes on. I'd rather
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spend my evenings engaged in more meaningful activity."
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"Really? I didn't know scribe's sons got invited to the Mayor's
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mansion very often."
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Cydric started to reply, but decided to let the remark pass. He
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didn't want to start any conversation that would lead him to reveal
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his true past. To change the subject, he pointed out towards the
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docks. "Say, isn't that a Navy ship over there?"
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Mandi snapped her fingers. "I know what it is. You're worried
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about showing up without a date! I can take care of that for you. I
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know lots of girls who'd--"
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Cydric put his hand over her mouth. "Mandi, even on the wild
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chance that I did get invited, there's nothing you could say or do
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that would make me go."
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Light chamber music mixed with the sound of many simultaneous
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conversations filled the spacious feast hall of the Lord Mayor's
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mansion.
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"It was very kind of you to invite me to this celebration,"
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Cydric said to Brynna Thorne. The twenty-seven-year-old captain of the
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_Vanguard Voyager_ nodded and tipped her wine glass. "Quite welcome,
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Cydric," she replied. "Mandi convinced me that double the usual voyage
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pay wasn't enough of a reward."
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Cydric made to protest that it was more that enough, but the
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silver-haired gentleman standing next to Brynna clapped him on the
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shoulder and said, "Now, now, Brynn. You can't put a price on bravery
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such as his."
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1 "Thank you, Lord Thorne," Cydric replied, "but I didn't do all
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that much. The bow was enchanted; anyone could have made the shot."
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Lord Quillien Thorne shook his head. "The dweomer is such that it
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makes good archers even better. You underrate your own skill. Myself,
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I think you're a fine addition to my daughter's crew."
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A large brown-bearded man in rich maroon robes approached them,
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accompanied by a tall woman in similarly elegant dress. "Quillien!
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Brynna!" the man called. "You'll be pleased to know that Captain
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Hellriegel has just captured the last of the _Black Swan's_ crew--even
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that Danner fellow. The messenger was just here."
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"Excellent news," said Lord Thorne, looking to Brynna for her
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reaction.
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"That's wonderful! Thank you, Lord Mayor," Brynna said. "The
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Navy's certainly done their job. I'll have to send him a note of
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thanks before he leaves."
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"They ought to be the ones thanking you," said the woman, who was
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the Lord Mayor's wife. "All those months spent chasing down Challion
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and Skoranji and their mangy lot--then look who brings them in!"
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Brynna smiled. "You're too kind, milady. Some of the credit,
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though, belongs to Cydric here."
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Suddenly feeling uncomfortable, Cydric said, "I think I'll go and
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tell Mandi that Danner's been captured. She was concerned that he
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might come back for her. If you'll excuse me?"
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"Enjoy yourself," said the Lord Mayor. Cydric nodded to everyone,
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then took his leave. He spotted Mandi by the musicians and made his
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way over.
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"Did you have a nice chat with Brynna and Uncle Quill?" Mandi
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asked. Cydric answered affirmatively, then told her about Danner's
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capture. "That's such a relief!" Mandi exclaimed. "Not that I was
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really worried, though." She tugged at the side of her black evening
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dress. "Oh, while you were talking some of my friends arrived. Let's
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go, I'll introduce you."
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Moments later, Cydric and Mandi arrived at a table where four
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young people were seated. "Everyone," Mandi said, "This is Cydric, the
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one I was telling you about. Say hi!"
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A well-dressed young man with almond-brown hair stood up and
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gripped forearms with Cydric. "The name's Kifton, I'm the Lord Mayor's
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son. Sorry I wasn't here to meet you at first--the meeting with my
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personal treasurer ran a little long."
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The next to greet Cydric was a meek-looking youth and an ample-
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bosomed flaxen-haired young woman. Mandi introduced them as Garrett
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and Tassy Covington. She mentioned that Garrett was studying to become
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a healer, and that Tassy was one of her best friends.
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"I sure hope you're planning to tell us about your adventure on
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board the ship," Garrett said. "It must have been enormously
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exciting."
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The last person at the table was a slender young lady in a
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midnight-blue satin ball dress. Her cinnamon-brown hair was twisted in
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a long loose braid that lay across her shoulder; in her left hand she
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held a small white lace fan.
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"Cydric," Mandi said, "this is Rayna Silverwood. She'll be your
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date for tonight."
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Cydric looked at the girl and immediately felt his blood turn to
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ice. No, it's not possible, he thought. Damn! Of all the girls in
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Baranur....He felt Mandi nudge him slightly. "Ah, I am very pleased to
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meet you," he said woodenly, taking Rayna's outstretched hand and
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quickly pressing it to his cheek.
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Rayna flashed the barest hint of a smile. Her pale blue eyes
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locked with Cydric's for a moment, then her gaze flitted to the
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tabletop. "I-I'm pleased as well," she replied, a hint of confusion in
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1her voice. She stole another glance at Cydric as she began fanning
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herself.
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Mandi stared at the two of them, puzzled by Cydric's reaction.
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She knew that Rayna was somewhat of a shy girl, but she expected more
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enthusiasm from Cydric. It couldn't be that Rayna was
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unattractive--she and Jannis had spent hours getting her ready for the
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party. The look on Cydric's face was one of shock, surprise, and
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dismay--like he'd seen someone he never hoped to see again.
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"Mandi! Have you seen Jannis?" Tassy asked. Mandi turned and
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motioned to the arched entrance to the gardens at the back of the
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feast hall. "Last I saw, she was with the Baron Fianchetti's son."
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"Brynna's little sister certainly is popular, isn't she?" Kiff
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said, grinning. Mandi shot him a disapproving look. "You know what I
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mean," he hastily amended.
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From the front of the room came the Lord Mayor's voice. "The
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feast will begin shortly," he announced. "I would ask that everyone
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please be seated now."
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The guests gradually left the dance floor and made their way to
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the banquet tables that were set up around the hall. Cydric hesitantly
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sat down next to Rayna, while Mandi took a seat next to Kiff. "I
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thought Kayne and Scarabin were supposed to be here," Cydric said to
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Mandi. "I haven't seen them since we left the ship yesterday."
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Mandi started to make a cutting reply, but decided to speak to
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him later on in private. For the mean time, she would act as if
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everything was fine. "Don't you remember?" she replied. "Scarabin's at
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the healer's getting cured of his razorworms, and Kayne went off to
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see some woman. This is the first time they've missed one of our
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parties."
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"What about Brynna's mother--your Aunt Rolanda?"
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"Someone challenged her to a game of King's Key. She's probably
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out on the terrace beating the pox out of him."
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A serving girl came by and filled their goblets with wine. After
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taking a sip Kiff said, "So Cydric, you seem to be the hero of the day
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around here. Why don't you tell us all about the pirating incident of
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a couple days ago?"
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"Yes, please do," Rayna said.
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Cydric drank a bit of wine, not acknowledging Rayna's words.
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After the liquid had cleared his throat he proceeded to relate the
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events of the day before last. The group let him talk uninterrupted;
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when he was finished, Tassy asked, "So who exactly is Commander
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Challion? I think I heard the name somewhere before."
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Kifton, in the process of drinking, looked over the rim of his
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goblet and set it down. "Hah! Now there's a good story." He wiped his
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lips, then spoke. "Challion used to be Knight Captain of the Southern
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Marches about five years ago. My cousin was in the Army at the time;
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he told me that one night old Captain Challion had a bit too much fine
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wine, then went out and tried to have his way with a peasant's
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daughter. Hah! Obviously, the Army kicked him out. They say that
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Challion used to brag about how one day he'd become Knight Commander,
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so after his discharge the troops gave him that title to mock him."
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"Serves him right, I think," Garrett said. "But then, how did he
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become a pirate?" Kifton shrugged, then looked at Mandi. "You ever
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hear anything about that?"
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Mandi cocked her head in thought. "Yes, but bits and pieces,
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mostly. They say that he was at the Abyssment in Shark's Cove once,
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and met up with Captain Skoranji--who owns the _Black Swan_, by the
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way. Well, Challion supposedly played high-stakes paquaratti with
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Skoranji and it ended up that Challion won the ship, but since he
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didn't know spit about sailing he made a deal with Skoranji that they
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go into scavenging treasure from wrecked ships and split whatever they
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1found evenly, but Brynna said that she once ran across them off Cape
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Perpetual where they were searching for a sunken ship that was
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carrying gold that the pirate Soloman Banshee supposedly stole from
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the vaults of the Beinison Emperor and--"
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Kifton reached over and put his hand over Mandi's mouth. "I think
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he understands now."
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Mandi sputtered and pushed his hand away. "Pox! Why are people
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always doing that to me?" She glared briefly at Kifton, then delivered
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the same look to Cydric.
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A middle-aged woman in elegant dress swept past their table.
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Suddenly stopping in mid-stride, she backtracked and spoke to the
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group. "Greetings everyone, having a good time? Hello there Cydric,
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nice to see you again. You've met Lord Silverwood's daughter, I see.
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Getting along, are you?"
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"Ah--glad to see you too, Lady Thorne," Cydric replied. Mandi's
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temper sparked as she saw the hurt look in Rayna's eyes when Cydric
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didn't answer the question. Not now, she told herself. I'll get him
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later.
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"Where's Jannis?" asked Tassy. "Seems like she vanished all of a
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sudden."
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"Oh, she's out by the stables--showing off her horse to the
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Fianchetti boy," Rolanda Thorne replied. "He's rather a geeby type, if
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you ask me, but don't tell the Baroness I said that!" She grinned
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widely. "But he's harmless, and at least Jannis likes him. I told them
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to come in, so they'll be here soon. Well, enjoy yourselves, all.
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Dakka-zee, as the Bandalusians say!" She tousled Mandi's hair,
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gathered up her voluminous dress and hurried off.
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A bell sounded, followed by Lord Thorne's voice. He stood behind
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the table at the front of the feast hall; Lady Thorne took the chair
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to his left, and to her left Brynna was already seated. The Lord Mayor
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sat to Thorne's right, and next to him sat his wife Miriyan.
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"Thank you all for being here," Lord Thorne said. "Once again my
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daughter Brynna has proved herself a worthy sea captain, and made her
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family and friends all very proud of her. Before we begin the feast,
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there is something we would like to do for her. Corbin?"
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The Lord Mayor stood. "I've known Brynna ever since she was a
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child, and she was never one to believe the limits other people set
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upon her. Three years ago she set sail on her maiden voyage in spite
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of all those who said a woman couldn't command a ship, and her
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reputation has grown with each succeeding journey."
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He went on to describe her past voyages and accomplishments, then
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signalled to a servant who handed him a carved wooden box. He went
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over to Brynna and motioned for her to stand. Brynna looked confused
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for a moment, then got up at the urging of her mother, who also rose
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from her seat.
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The Lord Mayor continued, "It is with great pleasure that I
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present to you, Captain Brynna Thorne, this symbol of Port Sevlyn's
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highest honor." He opened the box to reveal an eight-pointed silver
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medallion inlaid with the likeness of Cirrangill, God of the Seas.
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Brynna smiled broadly and thanked the Lord Mayor amid loud applause
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from the guests. Lady Thorne lifted the medallion out of the case and
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looped the attached ribbon around Brynna's neck. Lady Thorne hugged
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her, as did her father. The Lord Mayor and his wife extended their
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congratulations as well.
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"Got her totally by surprise!" Mandi exclaimed.
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Brynna looked down at the medallion that hung against her chest,
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then up at the still-applauding crowd. She waited until the ovation
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had died down before speaking. "This is, this is certainly an
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unexpected honor," she said, her hand going to the blue streak in her
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long dark hair. "I'm not usually at a loss for words...." She made a
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1brief speech in which she expressed her appreciation for all the
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support her friends and family had given her over the years, and
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mentioned that her crew also deserved recognition for their loyal and
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faithful service. She was making her closing remarks when Lady Thorne
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broke in.
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"Wait a moment! That's not the only surprise we have for you,"
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she said. "Okay, Jannis, bring him in!"
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Through the back entrance to the feast hall came a tall well-
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muscled man in a gray uniform, accompanied by a slim young girl. The
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man strode up to the Lord Mayor's table and bowed, while the girl sat
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down with Cydric and the others.
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Lady Thorne smiled widely. "Everyone, may I present Captain Xane
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Hellriegel, of the Royal Navy ship _Storm Challenger_. Dakka-zee,
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Captain, so nice that you could attend!" Captain Hellriegel thanked
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his hosts and smiled at Brynna, who stood open-mouthed in surprise.
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"Greetings, Captain Thorne," he said. "Very glad to see you again."
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"Now now now, none of this 'captain' business, please," said Lady
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Thorne. "This is a celebration--first names only!" She leaned close to
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Brynna and whispered, "Don't just stand there gaping like a fish! Say
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something to the man, lest he think you're a statue."
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Brynna cast her mother a dark look, then turned to Captain
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Hellriegel. "So nice that you could attend," she said.
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"Please do have a seat, Xane," said Lady Thorne. "Next to Brynna,
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if you would."
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Mandi shook her head. "Pox, Jannis, I thought you were giving
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Fianchetti Junior a tour of the stables. Don't tell me you were
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outside with _him_ all this time!"
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Jannis Thorne grinned at Mandi from the opposite end of the
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table. "I certainly was, sure as snow! Are you jealous?"
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"Oooh, I could poke your eyes out!"
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"Thank you," Jannis said with a laugh, tossing back her golden
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hair.
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"Hah! What's to be jealous of?" said Kifton, putting his arm
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around Mandi. "Those Navy fish-kissers don't make a tenth of what I
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could get from a caravan contract. I could spend in a day what he
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makes in six months!"
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"Oooh, I'm not the only one jealous around here!" said Mandi,
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elbowing Kifton in the ribs. "You always bring up your money whenever
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you feel threatened, don't you?"
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"I do not," said Kifton.
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"Do so!"
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"You want to bet on that?"
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"Just as I thought."
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"He's just a fish-kisser! There's nothing special about what he
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does."
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Mandi thrust his arm away from her. "What he does is the same
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thing that Brynna does! Are you saying that being a ship captain is
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nothing special?"
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"That's not what I meant," Kifton said defensively. "What I meant
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was...simply that...uh...."
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"Forget it, Kiff," said Jannis. "You're in deep enough as it is."
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"So Jan," Tassy said, "Whatever happened to young Fianchetti? Was
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he impressed by El-Johan?"
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Jannis giggled. "About that! Soon as we stepped into the stables,
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he started sneezing like a thunderstorm. He never said that he was
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allergic to horses. It got so bad he decided to go home. And a good
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thing too, for just then Mother came over with Captain Hellriegel and
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asked me to keep him company until she called. He told me all kinds of
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fascinating stories--he's a very interesting man, a perfect match for
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1Brynna."
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"You mean Captain Thorne isn't married?" asked Cydric.
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"Not yet," replied Jannis, "but not for long, if my mother has
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her way."
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"I was about to send a messenger to inform you that we'd captured
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all of the _Black Swan's_ crew," said Captain Hellriegel, "but it was
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such a fine day I decided to deliver the message myself. I was halfway
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to the doors when Lady Thorne intercepted me and invited me to the
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celebration. What I didn't expect was that I'd have to make that
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surprise entrance."
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"Yes," said Brynna, "Mother always manages to surprise everyone."
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"I'm afraid Corbin and I are also partly responsible," said the
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Lord Mayor's wife. "Rolanda coaxed us into going along with it."
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"So tell us, Captain, what's the word from Magnus?" asked the
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Lord Mayor. "Is there any truth to the rumors of an invasion from
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Bichu?"
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"There's plenty of speculation, yes, but I personally don't
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believe it," Hellriegel replied. "For one thing, it's highly doubtful
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that the Bichanese--"
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Lady Thorne clapped her hands. "Please please! You men, all you
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talk about these days is war. Let's discuss more pleasant things. This
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is a celebration, after all."
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"How right you are, Rolanda," said Miriyan. "The subject is
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growing rather tiresome. I doubt we'll see any major war in our
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lifetimes."
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|
Lord Thorne drained the last of his wine and signalled for a
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refill. To Captain Hellriegel he said, "It's extremely fortunate that
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you decided to replenish your water supplies at Port Sevlyn.
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Otherwise, those pirates might be causing trouble in town right now."
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"They won't be troubling anyone for a long time to come,"
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Hellriegel replied. "We're taking the ship in tow, and the whole crew
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is safely in the brig--except for the oarsmen. We had to find a mage
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to disperse them."
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"So it is true," said the Lord Mayor. "Skoranji _did_ have undead
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among his crew. I didn't think it possible."
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"How gruesome," said Miriyan, shuddering.
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Lady Thorne started to speak, but her husband cut her off. "We're
|
|
not discussing war, Rolanda," he said.
|
|
"I meant anything that dealt with death on a mass scale," Lady
|
|
Thorne snapped.
|
|
"That reminds me," said the Lord Mayor's wife, "the first course
|
|
should have been served by now. I'll have to see what the problem is."
|
|
She excused herself and left the table.
|
|
In keeping with Lady Thorne's topic limitations, the men began
|
|
talking of less gruesome things such as the state of Lord Thorne's
|
|
trading business. "The Land's Rim is doing quite well," Quillien said.
|
|
"I've added spell-protection to the vaults, plus installed a secret
|
|
exit--might come in useful if the Bichanese invade." The group
|
|
laughed. "In addition," continued Lord Thorne, "the items that Brynna
|
|
brought back from her last expedition have sold extremely well; I can
|
|
now afford to either add a new room to the house, or buy another
|
|
ship."
|
|
The Lord Mayor shook his head. "I've a better idea,
|
|
Quillien--build a summer home in the Catswoods. Duke Quinnat and I
|
|
were thinking of some kind of joint project...."
|
|
Lady Thorne suddenly looked at her daughter. "Brynna dear, you've
|
|
been unusually quiet. Feel free to join in at any time."
|
|
"I need to get a breath of air," Brynna said. "Please excuse me."
|
|
She stood up abruptly and hurried out through the back of the feast
|
|
1hall.
|
|
|
|
"...so as soon as we'd docked, Captain Thorne went over to the
|
|
_Storm Challenger_ to tell them about the battle and have them pick up
|
|
the survivors," Cydric was saying. "I did see her talking briefly to
|
|
Captain Hellriegel--something he said seemed to irritate her, and she
|
|
left the ship in a hurry."
|
|
"She didn't mention anything about that to me," Jannis said. Just
|
|
then, Brynna rushed past them out of the room. Lady Thorne followed
|
|
not a moment behind.
|
|
"Not again," sighed Jannis.
|
|
"Cydric," Mandi said, "did you know that Rayna's father supplies
|
|
almost all of the pottery that's used in the towns along the Laraka?"
|
|
"Really," Cydric said. "I didn't know that."
|
|
"It's true," Rayna said. "He owns three shops here in Port Sevlyn
|
|
and two in Magnus. Have you ever seen how pottery is made?"
|
|
"Ah, no, but I'm sure it's fascinating." Cydric turned back to
|
|
Jannis. "What do you mean 'not again'?"
|
|
Mandi made a tiny sound of frustration.
|
|
"Mother and Brynna--they always seem to get into an argument
|
|
whenever Brynna gets back from a voyage," Jannis explained. "And it's
|
|
usually about the same thing."
|
|
Mandi said, "Cydric, could I see you for a moment--in private?"
|
|
"Hold it, what do you want to see him alone for?" Kifton said
|
|
suspiciously.
|
|
"It's about--his horse," Mandi said quickly. "He had to leave it
|
|
behind in Shark's Cove when he joined the ship. I promised him I'd let
|
|
him ride mine when we got home."
|
|
"But now? They're about to serve the food!"
|
|
"Well, it'll be dark soon. He can't very well ride around at
|
|
night--it's so hard to see things! Honestly, Kiff, think before you
|
|
speak." Mandi got up and indicated for Cydric to do the same.
|
|
Cydric looked confused. "Ah, Mandi--"
|
|
"Once around the pond, isn't that what you said? Well let's go
|
|
then, come on!" She went around to Cydric and surreptitiously pinched
|
|
him.
|
|
"Ow! Owv course. Pardon us." Cydric followed Mandi out into the
|
|
garden. Brynna and Lady Thorne were there, having a discussion near
|
|
the rose bushes. Mandi led Cydric away from the house and over to the
|
|
stables.
|
|
"What is this about, Mandi?" Cydric demanded.
|
|
"I ought to--I ought to poke _your_ eyes out!" seethed Mandi.
|
|
"I'm not going take it anymore!"
|
|
"Calm down and tell me what you mean."
|
|
"Oh, you don't know what I mean--I'll tell you what I mean! You
|
|
have been utterly, totally, and completely rude to Rayna! You hardly
|
|
spoke to her--you barely even looked at her! I'm not going to sit by
|
|
and let you treat one of my dearest friends this way! Oh, I could just
|
|
scream! Rayna's a bit shy, and I thought you'd be at least nice to
|
|
her. Her mother died recently, and she needs someone she can talk to.
|
|
I just can't believe how you've behaved towards her! For your sake,
|
|
you'd better have a reason for it!"
|
|
Cydric stood stunned for a moment, taken aback by Mandi's tirade.
|
|
He gulped, quickly weighing the consequences of telling her the truth
|
|
or compounding the little lies he'd already told.
|
|
"Well? I'm waiting," said Mandi.
|
|
"I had no idea her mother was dead," Cydric said cautiously. "You
|
|
should've told me."
|
|
"I didn't think I needed to. I thought you'd be at least polite.
|
|
Is there a reason that you weren't, or did you suddenly become a
|
|
1scrud- sucker overnight?"
|
|
"Yes, there was a reason. But I don't need any abuse."
|
|
"Sorry. Do you feel like telling me?"
|
|
Cydric looked away and began to pace. He turned the question over
|
|
and over in his mind. Would it do more harm than good to tell her? Was
|
|
it really that much of a secret? Would it be so bad if he did tell? He
|
|
debated within himself for several minutes. Finally he made his
|
|
decision.
|
|
"All right, I'll tell you."
|
|
|
|
"Brynna! Slow down! You can't just walk out of the party--you're
|
|
the guest of honor! What's the matter?" Lady Thorne hurried to catch
|
|
up with her daughter.
|
|
Brynna stopped and spun to face her mother. "Was it truly
|
|
necessary to invite him?"
|
|
"Him? Xane? Well, why shouldn't I have? After all, he is a
|
|
captain like yourself. I imagine you two have lots of things in
|
|
common."
|
|
"You may as well have invited every other ship captain currently
|
|
in dock, for that matter."
|
|
"Oh Brynna, please. He's come to apologize for whatever it was
|
|
that he said to you. Not many men would do that! And besides, I do
|
|
believe that he's never been married before, either."
|
|
Brynna exhaled loudly and crossed her arms. "Gods' breath, that's
|
|
exactly what I thought. You never change, mother."
|
|
"I don't understand...." Lady Thorne stopped speaking as Cydric
|
|
and Mandi came out of the house and headed past them toward the
|
|
stables. Brynna waited until they were out of earshot, then said, "I
|
|
suppose I'll have just to say it plainly: I want you to stop throwing
|
|
men at me in the hopes that I'll marry one of them! It's becoming
|
|
extremely annoying to return home and find you waiting with the 'catch
|
|
of the day', as it were. Haven't I said enough times that marriage
|
|
isn't important to me right now?"
|
|
"But Brynna dear, you're almost thirty. It's--"
|
|
"Age again. Mother, I don't want to talk about. Straight?"
|
|
Lady Thorne shook her head. "I just--I don't know what more to
|
|
say. How can I convince you? You can't go rambling around the world
|
|
for the rest of your life. Someday you'll have to settle down."
|
|
There was the sound of someone coming down the paved garden path.
|
|
Both women turned to see Captain Hellriegel approaching them.
|
|
"I'll leave you alone," said Lady Thorne. "But this is your
|
|
chance --remember what I've said. Be nice to him, now!" She nodded to
|
|
Hellriegel as she headed up the path back to the house.
|
|
|
|
"I don't think he likes me," Rayna sighed, rapidly fanning
|
|
herself.
|
|
"That's not true," Jannis said, trying to sound reassuring.
|
|
"Cydric's probably just trying to work up the courage to--"
|
|
"Hah! Just be serious for a moment," Kiff interjected. "The man
|
|
killed a sorcerer with nothing but an arrow. I think he's got courage
|
|
enough. More likely he'd prefer someone more--" He suddenly realized
|
|
that Rayna was sadly staring at him. "Uh, what I meant was, someone
|
|
who's not so...well, let's just say...."
|
|
"Kiff," Jannis said.
|
|
"What?"
|
|
Jannis made an obscene gesture to him. Kiff sputtered in
|
|
indignation. Tassy giggled. Garrett looked over at Kiff and shook his
|
|
head.
|
|
"Perhaps I should be going now," Rayna said. She started to get
|
|
up, but Jannis gently pushed her back down. "No, you don't have to
|
|
1leave. I think that's what Mandi's talking to him about out there. I
|
|
did notice that he was somewhat cool towards you."
|
|
"Cool!" Kiff snorted. "Dead of winter was more like it. His look
|
|
alone could've frozen water! I mean, frostbite...."
|
|
Jannis coughed loudly. "One more word Kiff, and I'll tell Mandi
|
|
about Corinne."
|
|
"Hah! Who?"
|
|
Jannis took out a handkerchief and impressed her lips upon it.
|
|
She held up the cloth to display the red blotch left by her lip stain.
|
|
"The girl Mandi will think this belongs to, that's who."
|
|
"Hah! You wouldn't," Kiff said, his tone sobering.
|
|
Jannis smiled sweetly.
|
|
Rayna folded up her fan. "I think I really should leave. I'm not
|
|
feeling all that well anyway."
|
|
"But Rayna--" Jannis looked to Tassy for help.
|
|
"Tell your mother it was a lovely party." Rayna got up and began
|
|
to walk away.
|
|
"Ah--you should at least have dinner!" Tassy called. "It would be
|
|
a shame, almost an insult really, to walk out before the meal's been
|
|
served."
|
|
Rayna paused, then returned to the table. "I do suppose that's
|
|
true." She sat back down. "But why do you think Cydric was acting that
|
|
way?"
|
|
"Maybe he's got another girl," Kiff mumbled.
|
|
"Kifton!" Jannis and Tassy said together.
|
|
|
|
"Is anything wrong?" Captain Hellriegel asked.
|
|
"Just a little family disagreement. Nothing to be concerned
|
|
about," Brynna replied.
|
|
"Why did you run out here, though? You seemed a little upset."
|
|
"As I said, nothing to be concerned about." Brynna turned away
|
|
and peered closely at a nearby rose.
|
|
Hellriegel nodded and clasped his hands behind his back. After a
|
|
moment he said, "Congratulations on the medal. It's an honor well
|
|
deserved."
|
|
"Indeed," Brynna replied without turning around.
|
|
Hellriegel let out a breath and rubbed the back of his neck. "I
|
|
didn't expect this to be easy," he muttered to himself.
|
|
Brynna straightened up and faced him. "I think I'll be getting
|
|
back to the party now. Do please excuse me." She started to walk past
|
|
him.
|
|
Hellriegel grasped her arm. "Brynna--Captain Thorne, please wait.
|
|
I--"
|
|
Brynna glared at him until he released her. "Don't you have to
|
|
get under way soon? Your prisoners must be anxious to get to trial."
|
|
"About what I said the other day. I'm sorry."
|
|
"So mother was right. You did come to apologize."
|
|
"Listen, Captain--I can't excuse what I said to you that day. It
|
|
was wholly obnoxious, it was entirely uncalled for, it was--"
|
|
"Typically male?" Brynna finished.
|
|
"All right, that too. There's no way under Kisil-Doon I can take
|
|
back what I said. All I can say is, I wish I'd never said it."
|
|
Brynna nibbled her lower lip, but said nothing.
|
|
Captain Hellriegel let his hands drop to his sides. "That's all I
|
|
really came here for. I suppose I should get back to my ship now.
|
|
Goodbye, Captain." He slowly turned and started up the path.
|
|
"Captain," Brynna called after a moment.
|
|
Hellriegel stopped and faced her.
|
|
"Would you have said similar things to a...a non-female ship
|
|
captain?"
|
|
1 Hellriegel grinned. "Definitely not. I'd have said something much
|
|
worse!"
|
|
Brynna strode up to him. In a softer tone she said, "If I might
|
|
ask a small favor?"
|
|
"Of course, anything."
|
|
"I have some business to take care of in Magnus, and since you're
|
|
already going there...."
|
|
"My cabin is yours--if you want it, that is."
|
|
Brynna smiled slightly. "We'll see."
|
|
"This wouldn't have anything to do with the Codex
|
|
Araltakonia--the book that Challion wanted so badly--would it now?"
|
|
"It might," said Brynna. "If I could have an hour to get ready?"
|
|
"Take all the time you need."
|
|
|
|
Cydric sat down against a tree. "You may be surprised at what I'm
|
|
about to tell you, and for you to fully understand I'm going to have
|
|
to start at the very beginning."
|
|
Mandi plopped down in front of him, legs crossed underneath her.
|
|
"I'm listening."
|
|
"You also have to promise not to say anything until I've
|
|
finished."
|
|
"Yes! Now get on with it."
|
|
Cydric sighed, then proceeded to tell her the truth. He told her
|
|
that instead of being a scribe's son like he initially claimed, he was
|
|
in fact the son of Khysar Araesto, who was the King's Royal Treasurer
|
|
and Duke of Pyridain. He told her of his long-standing desire for
|
|
adventure, of his love for the King's niece Lysanda, and of the
|
|
Dreamrealm adventure he had shared with the Sage of Dargon. He then
|
|
gave an account of how he was forced to marry Lysanda after he learned
|
|
of her pregnancy, and of how the resulting scandal caused the
|
|
dissolution of their marriage.
|
|
"...so that's why I decided to leave Magnus, and how I ended up
|
|
in Shark's Cove. But when you introduced me to Rayna, I couldn't
|
|
believe it--she looked exactly like Lysanda. Same hair, eyes,
|
|
lips...they could almost be twins. And everything that I was feeling
|
|
after she left with the baby--it all came flooding back to me. I
|
|
thought I'd forgotten her, about what she said...I was afraid that I
|
|
might take it all out on Rayna. So I tried to say as little as
|
|
possible. Damned unfair of me I know, but..." He shrugged. "I don't
|
|
blame you if you're still angry."
|
|
Mandi sat silent for a moment, digesting all he had revealed to
|
|
her. "Pox," she said at length. "When you said you had a reason...I
|
|
thought it was her looks, or her dress--I had no idea I'd be getting a
|
|
full confession!"
|
|
"I felt I needed to tell you the entire truth. It was becoming
|
|
too difficult to keep my lies straight."
|
|
"I'm glad you trust me enough to tell me all this," Mandi said,
|
|
placing her hand on his knee. "But you actually lived in the same
|
|
castle with the King! That is the most amazing thing I've--"
|
|
"Are you still upset about how I acted towards Rayna?"
|
|
"Well--well of course I am. I know what's she's feeling; my
|
|
mother's dead, too." Mandi traced a circle in the dirt. "It happened
|
|
when I was a child, though. I never got along with my stepmother--
|
|
that's why I ran away and came up here to join Brynna." She looked up
|
|
and shook Cydric's leg. "But Rayna's a completely different person
|
|
from Lysanda. Just because they look the same--that means nothing.
|
|
Rayna may be a little shy, but she's warm and caring, a really good
|
|
friend. She would never do anything to hurt anyone, and right now she
|
|
needs someone that won't leave her after a single night. Do you
|
|
understand what I mean? She deserves a honest chance. Will you give
|
|
1her at least that much?"
|
|
Cydric slowly nodded. "You're right. I suppose I do owe her that.
|
|
Should I apologize?"
|
|
Mandi stood up and dusted herself off. "How about if the two of
|
|
you go out to a tavern together? You can start all over without being
|
|
distracted."
|
|
"Sounds like a good idea. Help me up, would you?" He stretched
|
|
out his hand. Mandi reached for him, but withdrew her hand at the last
|
|
moment.
|
|
"That was extremely humorous," Cydric said, getting up on his
|
|
own. Mandi giggled. Cydric frowned. "Is that a leafhopper?" he said,
|
|
putting his finger on her shoulder.
|
|
"What!" Mandi said, quickly turning her head. Cydric flipped his
|
|
palm over and lightly slapped her cheek.
|
|
"Oooh!" Mandi exclaimed.
|
|
"Now we're even. Shall we go?" Cydric grinned.
|
|
"You have to tell Brynna, you know."
|
|
"Oh," Cydric said.
|
|
|
|
The first course was served shortly after everyone had returned
|
|
to the house. Garrett frowned down suspiciously at his plate. "Is this
|
|
it?" he asked.
|
|
The dish consisted of a slab of cooked beef in between two thick
|
|
slices of bread. Kifton said, "It's a recipe Mother learned about from
|
|
a bard who came through here a few weeks ago. He said it's very
|
|
popular down in the southeastern duchy where it originated. In fact,
|
|
it's named after the Duke himself."
|
|
"What Duke is it named after?" Tassy asked.
|
|
Kifton thought. "Leftwich," he said.
|
|
"A Leftwich," Mandi repeated. She took a small bite. "It's good,"
|
|
she said.
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 The Bronze Horseman, Part 2
|
|
by Max Khaytsus
|
|
<b.c.k.a. khaytsus@tramp.Colorado.EDU>
|
|
|
|
Kera gratefully accepted the sailor's outstretched hand and
|
|
jumped down onto the pier. After a few weeks at sea, it was a pleasant
|
|
change to stand on ground that did not rock beneath her feet.
|
|
"I hope you had a good voyage, miss," the sailor told her.
|
|
"Actually that was my first time," Kera smiled. "The constant
|
|
rocking was...well, a pain."
|
|
"Never been on a ship before?" the sailor asked with a smile.
|
|
"I have, but only for a few hours at a time," admitted Kera.
|
|
"Never had to sleep on one before."
|
|
"That was a relatively calm trip," the sailor said. "You picked a
|
|
good time to travel."
|
|
"Calm?" Kera exclaimed. "What about that storm last week?"
|
|
"That wasn't a storm," the sailor laughed. "A month or two more
|
|
and storms like that will be common out there."
|
|
"You below!" someone yelled from the ship. "Get a move on! We
|
|
need to unload cargo before nightfall!"
|
|
"Better go," the sailor sighed. "Gotta make room for new cargo.
|
|
Enjoy your stay here, miss."
|
|
"Thank you," Kera called as the sailor rushed off. She walked up
|
|
the pier to the dock and stopped, looking both ways. A board-walk much
|
|
larger than the one at Dargon stretched both ways as far as she could
|
|
see. Rien said that The Tipsy Dragon, the bar she was to deliver his
|
|
message to, was on the north shore of the Laraka, about a league from
|
|
the docks. She turned right, adjusting her pack, and went towards the
|
|
river.
|
|
Kera wished she had her horse, but as Rien predicted, she had to
|
|
sell the animal in Armand. The ship's captain refused to put up with
|
|
the horse on a three week journey and there wasn't the time to travel
|
|
by land. She dreaded having to sell the horse, as it had been her
|
|
constant companion for the last few months, but there was no other
|
|
choice and Rien promised her she would be provided a replacement in
|
|
Sharks' Cove.
|
|
After some walking Kera came to the end of the dock at the north
|
|
end of the Laraka river delta. On the island ahead of her rose a large
|
|
stone castle that caught her eye. It wasn't as tall or magnificent as
|
|
Dargon Keep, but a single silver tipped spire pointing up into the sky
|
|
over barely visible stone walls covered by a multitude of trees forced
|
|
her to stop and look.
|
|
Never having been more than two hours beyond the gates of the
|
|
city of Dargon, Kera found everything to be a wondrous sight, even the
|
|
ship she sailed in on. This castle, the second she had seen in all her
|
|
life, was easily one of such wonders and she remained on the
|
|
board-walk admiring it for a long time. She had heard the sailors on
|
|
the ship talking about this castle, Quirin Keep, and about its owner,
|
|
Baron Morgen Roderick, whose reputation matched that of Sharks' Cove,
|
|
the so called "hind end of Baranur".
|
|
Kera finally turned to the road leading upriver, deeper into the
|
|
city and began looking for her destination. There were many beggars
|
|
wandering the docks and a lot of drunken men slept by the walls of the
|
|
buildings near the pier. The other people, who Kera imagined to be a
|
|
little more respectable, were not as friendly as the folk in Dargon.
|
|
When she asked for directions, most simply ignored her as they
|
|
wandered by and those who did stop to shrug their shoulders did not
|
|
even dare to smile. The entire atmosphere of the city was rude and
|
|
impersonal. One young man even walked up and pinched her behind. She
|
|
turned around and whopped him one so hard that he slunk away with a
|
|
1bloody nose and a fat lip. Then for a whole block people got out of
|
|
her way, which kept her immensely amused.
|
|
By late afternoon Kera found a two story building facing the
|
|
river with the words "The Tipsy Dragon" painted across a sign board on
|
|
the front, right below an overweight dragon reclining lazily on the
|
|
letters. The crowd in this part of town appeared to be a little
|
|
wealthier, better dressed and somewhat more friendly.
|
|
After a brief hesitation Kera entered the tavern. Inside it was
|
|
murky and loud, but Kera was surprised to see that no drunk people
|
|
slept on the tables and, on the whole, it was a lot cleaner than most
|
|
places in Dargon.
|
|
A large bouncer looked down at Kera. He must have been over seven
|
|
feet tall! She must have missed him because he blended in with the
|
|
furniture so well. Everything appeared a little imposing. Feeling a
|
|
little self conscious, Kera slipped by him into the large main room.
|
|
Three musicians played on a raised platform in the far corner and a
|
|
young woman sang in front of them. Kera tried to catch the words to
|
|
the song, but realized they were in a foreign language. She wasn't
|
|
that far from Dargon, was she? In either case, both the melody and the
|
|
words were pleasant to the ear. Finding a seat at the bar, Kera sat
|
|
down.
|
|
The bartender was off at the other end of the bar and she took
|
|
the time to look around a bit. Perhaps the bar's most prominent
|
|
feature was a kite shield hanging up above the center stand, with a
|
|
large crimson dragon sprawled out on his back, obviously drunk and
|
|
just having released a belch in a puff of circular white smoke,
|
|
painted on the shield's face. Kera almost giggled at the sight.
|
|
"What can I get you?" the bartender walked over to Kera. He was
|
|
young, maybe a little older than she, with good muscle tone and a deep
|
|
tan from being in the sun. Definitely not the typical overweight and
|
|
balding barkeep with a dirty apron.
|
|
"Mead," Kera said and he walked off. She wondered how to best
|
|
follow Rien's directions without making a fool of herself. The
|
|
bartender came back and placed a glass before her.
|
|
"I'm carrying a message," she said.
|
|
The man looked up. "For whom?"
|
|
"I am carrying a message," Kera repeated.
|
|
The man frowned and looked around the room. "When the singer is
|
|
done, talk to her."
|
|
Kera nodded and picked up her drink. When the bartender walked
|
|
away, she turned to watch the group on stage. The three musicians, all
|
|
men, were dressed uniformly. At first Kera thought it to be frivolous,
|
|
but then realizing that by dressing this way the men would make
|
|
themselves more recognizable, she saw the logic.
|
|
The girl singing was commonly dressed, if a little like the
|
|
merchant class, which could afford better garb. She was slightly
|
|
taller than Kera, dark eyed with blond hair.
|
|
Kera was wondering why she has to deal with a musician, when the
|
|
singer finished her song and bowed. The patrons began cheering and
|
|
even the bartender clapped his hands. Someone yelled for her to sing
|
|
again and the majority of the tavern began cheering her on.
|
|
The young woman raised her hands into the air to silence the mob
|
|
and when it was quiet, started speaking in a slightly accented voice.
|
|
"Let me take a break and I will sing again later in the evening."
|
|
"You're just trying to keep us here so we buy more drinks!"
|
|
someone yelled and the patrons broke into laughter.
|
|
The young woman got off the stage and went to the bar. The
|
|
bartender walked over to her and placed a glass with dark blue syrupy
|
|
liquid before her.
|
|
As Kera watched, they chatted with each other for a while, then
|
|
1the bartender pointed in Kera's direction. After a few more words he
|
|
left and the singer walked over and sat down by Kera. Up close she
|
|
looked a little older than Kera had initially thought. Maybe thirty or
|
|
so.
|
|
"I am told you brought a message," the woman said. "Are you one
|
|
of the new couriers?"
|
|
Kera shook her head. "I feel like one, but I'm not."
|
|
"Who is it from?"
|
|
"Sir Keegan," Kera answered.
|
|
The woman looked puzzled. "Rien?"
|
|
Kera nodded. "I didn't know what you called him here."
|
|
"May I see it?"
|
|
Kera picked up her pack off the floor and pulling the rolled up
|
|
sheet out, cautiously handed it over.
|
|
Noticing the apprehension, the woman put the parchment on the bar
|
|
and reached her hand out to Kera. "I am Adrea Rainer. I'm in the same
|
|
line of work as Rien and for the time being in charge here."
|
|
"I'm Kera. Rien apprenticed me."
|
|
Adrea laughed. "So he finally broke down and took one. Have you
|
|
had dinner yet?"
|
|
Kera shook her head.
|
|
"Good," Adrea said. "You can keep me company. Brice!" she called
|
|
to the bartender. "Serve us dinner." She picked up the message and
|
|
asked Kera to follow her to a corner table, where she read it.
|
|
"I'm afraid he's a little late going after Sir Garwood Quinn,"
|
|
Adrea said. "We sent a man up two weeks ago. I expect Rien will run
|
|
into him."
|
|
"He couldn't make it earlier," Kera said. "There were a few
|
|
problems."
|
|
Brice came over with a tray and served dinner to the two women.
|
|
"It tastes better than it looks," he said and left.
|
|
"Problems?" Adrea asked, ignoring the bartender.
|
|
"I can't comment on them," Kera said. "I don't know if Rien wants
|
|
this known."
|
|
Silence ruled the table for a few moments, then Adrea spoke
|
|
again. "How long have you been with him?"
|
|
"We met in Dargon before Melrin," Kera said.
|
|
"How did his vacation go?"
|
|
"I didn't find it very relaxing," Kera said, "but he claims it
|
|
was a break from the normal routine."
|
|
"First one he took in three years," Adrea said. "He tends to get
|
|
into trouble just for the adventure of it."
|
|
"Life with him isn't boring," Kera agreed. "I wish he hadn't sent
|
|
me here for his stuff. I can't begin to tell you how many times I got
|
|
sea sick on that boat."
|
|
"First time?"
|
|
"No. I've been on boats before, but never for three weeks
|
|
straight."
|
|
"A few more times and you'll get used to it," Adrea promised.
|
|
"A few more times and I'll develop a phobia," Kera smiled. "I'm
|
|
just glad I'm not going back the same way."
|
|
"When do you want to get going?"
|
|
"As soon as I can, I suppose. How long will it take to put
|
|
everything together?"
|
|
"An hour or so," Adrea said. "We weren't expecting you."
|
|
Kera nodded. She was surprised at the short amount of time, but
|
|
did not give it away. "That will be fine."
|
|
"Why don't you spend the night here?" Adrea offered. "After that
|
|
boat ride you may need the rest."
|
|
Kera thought about it for a moment. "I suppose a night won't make
|
|
1that big a difference. Why not."
|
|
"Good," Adrea approved. "I'll show you to your room after
|
|
dinner." Silence took hold for a little longer, then Adrea pointed to
|
|
Kera's pack. "Is that all of your gear?"
|
|
"I sold my horse and armor in Armand," Kera said. "Neither one
|
|
had much room or purpose on the ship." Not true, really. The horse
|
|
could have served as company at least as good as some of the sailors
|
|
and the armor could have been packed neatly under something to be out
|
|
of the way, but available if necessary.
|
|
"A horse is no problem," Adrea answered thoughtfully, "but we'll
|
|
have to measure you for armor. What's your height...?"
|
|
Brice returned to the table. "Adrea?"
|
|
"We're not done yet," she looked up.
|
|
"The couriers are back," he said.
|
|
"Damn!" she moved her plate aside and stood up. "One of these
|
|
days I'll get out on the streets again and you can handle the messes."
|
|
"That's what happens when you have children," he answered.
|
|
"Get back to the bar," Adrea shooed him away. She turned and
|
|
looked at Kera's confused expression. "I'm the senior member present.
|
|
I deal with all problems. You want to come along?"
|
|
Kera nodded and got up, following Adrea to a room behind the bar
|
|
where two men waited for them. She recognized one as the courier who
|
|
delivered the message to Rien in Dargon, but he did not seem to know
|
|
her. Perhaps the cloak had protected her better than she thought. He
|
|
handed Adrea a rolled up sheet and she sat down to read it, after
|
|
tearing the seal.
|
|
"This just proves Bichu can't go to war!" she finally said. She
|
|
wrote her response under the message and resealed the letter. "Take
|
|
this back. I want to know who and where!"
|
|
The two men left.
|
|
"They don't get to sleep over?" Kera asked with a smile.
|
|
"I guess I'm running them a bit ragged," Adrea admitted, "but
|
|
there are all these rumors and no trace of their source."
|
|
"What makes you think that Bichu does not want to go to war?"
|
|
"Lack of a fleet. They need to get here to attack us."
|
|
"I met a Bichuese man up in Dargon," Kera said. "He was very
|
|
nice."
|
|
"In Dargon?" Adrea asked.
|
|
"He is Baron Connall's Castellan," Kera said. "He came here
|
|
because of a family feud at home."
|
|
Adrea scribbled a note on a sheet and folded it. "I'll have this
|
|
checked. He may know something useful. Let's go finish dinner."
|
|
The two women returned to the dining room.
|
|
"Do you know Rien well?" Kera asked suddenly when they sat down.
|
|
"I suppose," Adrea answered. "We've worked together for a while
|
|
now."
|
|
"Can you tell me about him? He doesn't talk about himself
|
|
much..."
|
|
"That's a sensitive one," Adrea said. "What do you already know?
|
|
You know where he is from?"
|
|
"Charnelwood," Kera said. "He told me about his parents also."
|
|
"Good," Adrea nodded. "I wouldn't be telling you much if you did
|
|
not know this. It's the most sensitive part of him."
|
|
"I understand why he has so much to hide..."
|
|
"Well, let's see," Adrea began, "he wanted to find out what the
|
|
real world is all about. His people avoided outside contact for
|
|
centuries. A long time ago, according to histories...what we now call
|
|
myths, the world was quite different. Our scholar could tell you a lot
|
|
more about those. I'll introduce you to him this evening. Rien's tribe
|
|
has been secluded from everything since before Baranur became a
|
|
1country.
|
|
"From what I understand, his father was one of the very few
|
|
contacts they made with the outside world. How and why, I don't know,
|
|
but obviously one thing led to another and Rien was born. I don't know
|
|
how his tribe treats him, but he definitely feels he is an outsider to
|
|
them and above all, doesn't talk much about it."
|
|
"What about his name? It doesn't sound elven. Was it his
|
|
father's?"
|
|
"What do you consider elven," Adrea asked.
|
|
Kera honestly could not answer. "I meant it sounds human," she
|
|
said.
|
|
"It is, but it's not his father's. Have you ever heard of Sir
|
|
Gaelan Keegan?"
|
|
Kera shook her head.
|
|
"I'm not surprised. He doesn't talk much about that either. I
|
|
didn't know about it until I saw it in a book and brought it up,"
|
|
Adrea said. "I don't know why that man never became a hero. Judging by
|
|
his biography, he should have. A century ago Sir Gaelan Keegan, a
|
|
baron in the Duchy of Arvalia, together with a dozen of his knights
|
|
defeated the mob lead by Duke Silas Wolfric's brother, to take the
|
|
duchy back...and didn't lose any of his men in the overnight victory.
|
|
Of course that was also the only thing he did in his lifetime."
|
|
Kera continued staring blankly, not understanding the relevance."
|
|
"Rien was there," Adrea emphasized. "He was Sir Gaelan Keegan's
|
|
squire. Gaelan took him to help him learn how to fit in. That's where
|
|
he got the name."
|
|
Kera felt herself turn pale, forgetting her question dealt with
|
|
Rien's name. "How old is he?"
|
|
"I don't know," Adrea said. "He was about fifty back then. That
|
|
would make him a hundred and fifty now."
|
|
Kera gasped.
|
|
"Are you all right?" Adrea asked.
|
|
"I didn't realize he was that old," Kera said.
|
|
"Elves tend to do that..." Adrea smiled. "Or, as he puts it,
|
|
`Ljosalfar do; I don't know about the Dopkalfar'."
|
|
They both laughed at the expression and quickly finished dinner.
|
|
Adrea then sang a bit more for the customers and after, took Kera to
|
|
the back room and down a flight of stairs.
|
|
"This is where our people stay," Adrea said, showing Kera into
|
|
one of the rooms on the floor. "We try to keep our staff in the dark,
|
|
underground. Regular customers stay on the top floor."
|
|
Kera dropped her pack on the bed and looked around the room. It
|
|
was large, larger than the one in the Connall Keep. Candles mounted in
|
|
special brackets on the walls kept the room well lit and there was a
|
|
distinct lack of windows, which made the room look gloomy in spite of
|
|
the plentiful lighting.
|
|
"I've never slept underground before," Kera noted.
|
|
"I promise you won't get sea sick," Adrea smiled.
|
|
The bottom level of the tavern was occupied by a small library, a
|
|
relaxation area and a laboratory. They were all brightly lit, but it
|
|
was not obvious by what. There were candles on walls and tables, but
|
|
none were lit and none cast shadows. Kera spun around, looking at the
|
|
floor, searching for her shadow, but it was not there.
|
|
"Magic," Adrea explained. "Come, I'll introduce you to the force
|
|
behind it."
|
|
"Force?" Kera asked, hurrying to catch up.
|
|
Adrea opened the laboratory door and walked in with Kera behind
|
|
her. The room was as big as the rest of the level. It was filled with
|
|
counters and shelves along the wall and tables in the center. On one
|
|
of the tables was an assortment of vials and beakers and other various
|
|
1equipment, most of which Kera could not identify if her life depended
|
|
on it. Most of the glassware was filled with different colored
|
|
liquids, some boiling over into other dishes, others standing aside.
|
|
It took Kera a while to see the blond haired man in his late
|
|
thirties sitting across from the door, watching a glass with some
|
|
liquid heating over a flame.
|
|
"Deven?" Adrea called to him and he raised his hand in response,
|
|
without looking up.
|
|
"Hold on." He had a distinct foreign accent.
|
|
"Let me show you around," Adrea sighed. "He gets so much into his
|
|
work he forgets to eat. He tends to sleep here too..."
|
|
Adrea took Kera around the lab, mentioning equipment and trying
|
|
to explain the setups. Most of the information went right over Kera's
|
|
head. Noticing that, Adrea assured her that a year ago she knew next
|
|
to nothing about magic as well.
|
|
Finally the liquid Deven was watching changed color and he turned
|
|
to the two women.
|
|
"It's supper time," Adrea told him.
|
|
"I already ate," he answered.
|
|
"That was lunch," Adrea reminded him. "This," she pointed to
|
|
Kera, "is Rien's trainee, Kera. Kera, meet our resident wizard, Deven.
|
|
We'd all be lost without him, but he'd be twice as lost without us."
|
|
"A pleasure to meet you," Deven said, taking Kera's hand. "Will
|
|
you be staying a while?"
|
|
"Just overnight," Kera said. "I came by to pick up some
|
|
equipment."
|
|
"That's good," he mumbled. "Is Rien here?"
|
|
"He's up in Phedra," Adrea answered.
|
|
"Oh...." the mage said, looking over his shoulder. "It's nice
|
|
meeting you..." he told Kera and went back to the tables.
|
|
"Did I offend him?" Kera asked Adrea.
|
|
"Don't worry. He probably just remembered something. He'll
|
|
remember about you later in the evening."
|
|
"I have a book I need to give him."
|
|
"What book?" Adrea asked.
|
|
"From the Ducal library in Dargon. Rien wanted it copied if there
|
|
are no copies here. He told me it goes to `the guy who can't remember
|
|
his name'."
|
|
"Sounds like you found him," Adrea smirked. She led Kera from the
|
|
laboratory to the library. "Let's see if we have a copy. What is it
|
|
called? Who wrote it?"
|
|
"Realities of Myths by Bistra."
|
|
Adrea started scanning the shelves. A lot of the books were in
|
|
foreign languages. Most looked new, but well used. "No," Adrea finally
|
|
said. "Doesn't look like we have it. What is it about?"
|
|
"Uh..." Kera hesitated. "It talks about magic and mythology."
|
|
Adrea pulled a thick tome from the shelf and started flipping her
|
|
way through it. "It's not listed," she finally said. "We don't have
|
|
it. I never even heard of it. What did Rien need a mythology book
|
|
for?"
|
|
"It's not exactly mythology," Kera said. "It explains how
|
|
mythological and unnatural things fit in the natural world."
|
|
"You sound like Rien."
|
|
Kera smiled, a little embarrassed. "That's how he explained it to
|
|
me when he started looking for it." It wasn't an answer to the
|
|
question asked and she thought about it a little longer. Adrea seemed
|
|
to know Rien pretty well. "Rien got lycanthropy when he was in Dargon
|
|
and wanted the book to obtain more information about it...he's fine
|
|
now," she added quickly.
|
|
Adrea looked thoughtful. "Tell me about it."
|
|
1 Over the next hour Kera told Adrea the story of what
|
|
happened...most of what happened, since she felt some parts, including
|
|
her meeting with Rien and their relationship should remain private.
|
|
Adrea was very understanding and it made Kera feel better for being
|
|
honest.
|
|
After their talk Adrea went to check on her daughter and Kera got
|
|
the book and returned to the laboratory.
|
|
Deven was back watching the transparent liquid bubbling over a
|
|
flame. If Kera had not seen him move when Adrea introduced them, she
|
|
would have sworn he was frozen to the bench. She remained standing in
|
|
the doorway until Deven looked up. He must have been more alert than
|
|
he appeared.
|
|
"Come in," he said. "What can I do for you?"
|
|
Kera showed him the book. "Rien told me to ask you to make a copy
|
|
of this if you don't have one."
|
|
Deven examined the book. "Never heard of it. Did you check in the
|
|
library?"
|
|
"Adrea did. She didn't find it."
|
|
"Then we probably don't have it," he said. "Let's go copy it."
|
|
"Now?" Kera asked. "I heard it takes months for a scribe to copy
|
|
a book!"
|
|
"And that's precisely the reason my father never made much
|
|
money," Deven said. "Magic is an art form of many applications."
|
|
As Kera watched, Deven got a clay box and a long stemmed
|
|
yellow-green plant and after placing the box on the book, on which he
|
|
lay the plant, he cast a spell. Before Kera's eyes the plant turned
|
|
into a book identical to the one at the bottom of the stack. The box
|
|
between the two books glowed a dim red.
|
|
"What is it?" Kera asked when Deven finished.
|
|
"A scribe's hand," he answered as if miscellaneous body parts
|
|
were an everyday occurrence to him.
|
|
Kera took a deliberate step back, but he did not seem to notice.
|
|
"This will only last for a day or so," Deven went on. He found a
|
|
bottle of ink and a small green gem and spent the next hour trying to
|
|
crush the gem into powder and then, mixing it with the ink, made it
|
|
into a paste. All this time he kept asking Kera about the book and her
|
|
education and discussing what she knew, though he spoke very little
|
|
about himself. By the time the paste was ready, Kera understood what
|
|
Adrea meant when she said she learned a lot about magic in the last
|
|
year.
|
|
The paste, which there turned out to be quite a lot of, was
|
|
molded around the new book and Deven cast another spell. The box
|
|
stopped glowing and the paste disappeared. Deven proudly held up the
|
|
two books.
|
|
"Even the true owner wouldn't know which is which. Give this one
|
|
to Adrea to send back. I will catalog the other."
|
|
Kera thanked him and retreated upstairs. Deven was an interesting
|
|
person to listen to, but after an hour of listening to theories of
|
|
crystal stability and how to make octopus ink into real ink, Kera had
|
|
a headache she felt may outlive her.
|
|
"Is Deven still working?" Adrea asked when Kera made it to the
|
|
bar.
|
|
"He was making a copy of the book."
|
|
"Is he done? Well, never mind. He wouldn't let you go if he
|
|
wasn't."
|
|
Kera smiled and handed Adrea the book to be delivered. "This
|
|
needs to be returned."
|
|
"Who does it go to?"
|
|
"Rish Vogel, a chronicaler in the Duchy of Dargon," Kera said.
|
|
"It's from the Duke's library. That's the only place there was a copy
|
|
1in the whole city."
|
|
"I take it neither the Duke, nor this Vogel know it's missing?"
|
|
"They might by now," Kera said. "I didn't think they'd just let
|
|
us borrow it."
|
|
"You should ask Deven about some of his stories," Adrea laughed.
|
|
"He used to be a book thief."
|
|
"With spells like that?" Kera asked, surprised.
|
|
"He created the spells after the College of Bards caught him.
|
|
That's the one he'll talk your ear off with. I'll have the book sent
|
|
to Dargon as soon as there is a courier available," Adrea said. "Now
|
|
I'd better go beat Deven over the head. One of these days I should let
|
|
him alone, just to see how long it takes him to realize that he's
|
|
hungry. He's bound to notice it sooner or later...I hope."
|
|
Kera remained on her stool, watching the band play. There were
|
|
more customers now than before. Brice served her a drink and after an
|
|
exchange of pleasantries left to help the other patrons.
|
|
After a while Kera began getting bored. There wasn't all that
|
|
much to do at the tavern. The people here were for the most part
|
|
middle aged and cultured; a crowd Kera could not fit in with. She
|
|
nursed her drink a while longer and then went outside.
|
|
A crescent moon shone above the bay off to the west and Kera
|
|
wandered down the street towards the harbor. Within a few blocks the
|
|
buildings became rundown and a lack of street light, artificial as it
|
|
was, became apparent. Kera noticed a person sleeping by the wall of a
|
|
building and edged by carefully, so as not to disturb anything.
|
|
For the most part the streets were empty, but appeared more
|
|
dangerous than the ones in Dargon, even if there was an assassin
|
|
looking for her there. A patrol passed by Kera and she could have
|
|
sworn that at least two of the three guards were drunk. They stumbled
|
|
on, past her, not even noticing she was there. Even in Dargon the
|
|
guards, who suspected Kera was a criminal, would greet her in the
|
|
streets. Sharks' Cove was dirty and foreign and impersonal.
|
|
Kera turned off the cobblestone street and made her way down to
|
|
the river. During her voyage at sea Kera learned that her newly gained
|
|
night sight made it possible for her to see fish swimming under the
|
|
water at night, but it was not the case here. The water was murky and
|
|
dirty and although it ran very fast, it had a stagnant smell to it.
|
|
Kera sat down on shore, looking into the water. She wanted to put
|
|
her feet in it, but decided against it. The beach was dark and quiet.
|
|
On the shore across from her, at least a half league distant, Kera
|
|
noted flickering lights and a dark massive structure. It was the
|
|
Quirin Keep. She watched the lights a little longer. One, high above
|
|
the structure appeared and disappeared every few seconds. It must have
|
|
been a guard patrolling up at the top of the tower. After some time
|
|
Kera got up and started walking along the beach. For some reason
|
|
Sharks' Cove felt wrong and uncomfortable. She could not wait to leave
|
|
this city.
|
|
After a while Kera heard a commotion and edging carefully ahead
|
|
saw two people fighting in the dark. Her initial instinct was to stop
|
|
them...or join the fight herself -- she was never exactly sure of this
|
|
impulse, but after a few moments of thought decided not to interfear.
|
|
There was no reason for her to get into trouble in a town where she
|
|
would only spend the night and making a resolution not to provoke
|
|
anyone, returned to The Tipsy Dragon.
|
|
|
|
In the morning, after breakfast, Adrea took Kera out back to the
|
|
stables to give her the equipment and the horses. The night before
|
|
Kera was measured for armor after she returned to the inn and while
|
|
there was no plate that fit her perfectly, Enneth, the large man who
|
|
was standing at the door the previous day, found a suit of chainmail
|
|
1for Kera overnight.
|
|
The two horses, as Kera found out, were thundersteeds. Large,
|
|
heavy animals with hairy feet. Kera had to stand on her toes to see
|
|
over their backs.
|
|
"Rien takes a lot of ribbing from us about his horse," Adrea
|
|
said, pointing to one of the mounts. "A knight on a mare. Her name is
|
|
Kelsey, by the way. But she's better behaved than most knights I've
|
|
met."
|
|
Kera walked around the horse, looking it over. On the left side
|
|
of the saddle hung a kite shield covered by a cloth. Kera lifted it up
|
|
to reveal the coat of arms -- a white oak on a dim blue background.
|
|
She smiled at the sight of the symbol Rien had told her about.
|
|
"It's covered so he won't advertise," Adrea said. "I don't think
|
|
he uses it much anyway. His lance has been lying about back here for
|
|
the last two and a half years, gathering dust."
|
|
"He's not much of a knight, is he?" Kera asked.
|
|
"I don't think he understands knighthood," Adrea answered. "Or
|
|
maybe he doesn't want to understand it. He really has a point when he
|
|
says that there is no reason to give an opponent the advantage of
|
|
equal footing."
|
|
Kera walked over to the horse given to her. It was also female, a
|
|
few inches shorter, but tall enough to force her on her toes to see
|
|
the top of the saddle. "If you're trying to be inobvious, why are you
|
|
using thundersteeds?"
|
|
"We don't normally," Adrea said. "Most are riding horses and
|
|
light war horses, depending on what sort of jobs we do. Most couriers
|
|
use lighter horses that won't stand a chance in a fight, but can
|
|
outrun almost any beast. Rien tends to push his horse to the limit,
|
|
along with himself, so he uses one that can take the strain and you'll
|
|
need one to keep up."
|
|
Kera paused a moment longer, looking over the animals. "I guess
|
|
I'd best get going," she said finally.
|
|
"Provisions and money are in your saddlebags. Rien's gear is on
|
|
Kelsey," Adrea quickly finished the inventory. "Will you need anything
|
|
else?"
|
|
"Good weather and decent directions," Kera smiled.
|
|
Adrea fished around in Kelsey's saddlebag and pulled out a rolled
|
|
up scroll. "One map. You'll have to request the weather from a higher
|
|
source."
|
|
Kera took the map and got up on her horse, glad that she was not
|
|
wearing plate when having to climb. "Any messages?"
|
|
"Just tell him `welcome back'."
|
|
Kera took Kelsey's reigns and looped them around a protrusion on
|
|
her horse's saddle. This way she could control both animals. "Does
|
|
this one," she pointed to the horse she sat on, "have a name?"
|
|
"Not really. You can have the honor of naming her."
|
|
|
|
Having heard that Garwood Quinn was still settled in Phedra, Kera
|
|
decided to enter the village with caution. The farmers a few leagues
|
|
south of her destination warned her that all roads were guarded and
|
|
the only traffic on them has been a group of Quinn's men returning
|
|
from a raid. There was no evidence of any adventurers, or anyone else,
|
|
leaving Phedra, although a number went there to claim the reward. As
|
|
yet there has been no evidence that anyone had succeeded.
|
|
With all this in mind, Kera secured the horses in a wooded grove
|
|
away from the road, in the hills south of the village to avoid
|
|
detection. She also left her chain armor, sword and bow behind. If
|
|
Rien was in Phedra, he may need help and she may need to stay
|
|
inobvious. Being inconspicuous was the trait of the thieving
|
|
profession which she knew so well.
|
|
1 After some time of fighting her way through the brush and tall
|
|
stalks of grain, Kera spotted an elderly man checking the crops. She
|
|
was about to duck back into the growth, when he spotted her.
|
|
"Hey! What are you doing in there?"
|
|
She froze as he made his way to her.
|
|
"Stop trampling the wheat! Get out on the path. What are you
|
|
doing in there?"
|
|
Kera looked the farmer over. He was probably in his fifties,
|
|
shaggy, tired looking and most importantly, unarmed. With a sigh of
|
|
relief Kera stepped out of the crop to face the farmer.
|
|
"What are you doing here, girl?" he asked again.
|
|
"I was on my way to Phedra," Kera answered.
|
|
"On your way to Phedra?" the man echoed. "Now that's a foolhardy
|
|
thing to do. If Sir Quinn sees you, you'll never leave, young and
|
|
pretty as you are."
|
|
"I am looking for a friend of mine," Kera said. "He should be
|
|
waiting for me in Phedra."
|
|
"No one has friends in Phedra any more," the villager said. "It
|
|
all belongs to Quinn. If your friend was smart, he avoided Phedra. I
|
|
recommend you do that too. Don't go to Phedra. It's not safe."
|
|
"Maybe you've seen him," Kera got an idea. "He's blond, about
|
|
this tall," her hand rose to the six foot level, "on a light war
|
|
horse? He should have been here about a week or two ago."
|
|
The man thought for a moment, as if trying to remember the
|
|
multitude of travellers that passed by. "No one like that, miss. Not a
|
|
commoner. There was a knight like that, though."
|
|
"A knight?" Kera snapped. She knew Rien disliked knighthood, but
|
|
a knight riding into town would be much more impressive. "When? Where
|
|
did he go?"
|
|
The farmer shook his head. "A little over two weeks, miss, but he
|
|
didn't go anywhere. Sir Quinn challenged him to a joust...and he lost.
|
|
Everyone Sir Quinn challenges looses."
|
|
------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 QQQQQ tt
|
|
QQ QQ tttttt
|
|
QQ QQ uu uu aaaa nnnn tt aaaa
|
|
QQ QQ uu uu aa aa nn nn tt aa aa
|
|
QQ QQ uu uu aa aa nn nn tt aa aa
|
|
QQQQQQ uuu aaaaa nn nn tt aaaaa
|
|
QQQ
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
|
|
A Journal of Fact, Fiction and Opinion
|
|
______________________________________
|
|
|
|
Quanta is an electronically distributed magazine of science fiction.
|
|
Published monthly, each issue contains short fiction, articles and
|
|
editorials by authors around the world and across the net. Quanta
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publishes in two formats: straight ascii and PostScript* for
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PostScript compatible printers. To subscribe to Quanta, or just to
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get more info, send mail to:
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da1n@andrew.cmu.edu
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da1n@andrew.bitnet
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Quanta is a relatively new magazine but is growing fast, with over
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two hundred subscribers to date from seven different countries.
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Electronic publishing is the way of the future. Become part of that
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future by subscribing to Quanta today.
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------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
1 (C) Copyright July, 1990, DargonZine, Editor Dafydd
|
|
<White@DUVM.BitNet>. All rights revert to the authors. These stories may
|
|
not be reproduced or redistributed (save in the case of reproducing the
|
|
whole 'zine for further distribution) without the express permission of
|
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the author involved.
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