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 She s being forced.
 If it s gallantry you seek, said the fox sagely,  look to books and
cub-tales. If it s muscle and armor, look to your purse. And if it s justice,
hope for better in the afterlife. He threw back the remainder of his drink.
Buncan leaned forward.  Please. We ve nowhere else to turn.
Looking him hard in the eye, the lion put a massive paw on Buncan s shoulder
and gently but irresistibly shoved him away.  Have you tried the door? You
humans:
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Even the young ones will argue you to death. You made your offer; we gave our
reply. Leave now, before you upset me.
Buncan wasn t finished, then realized that he was. It would do the unfortunate
Neena no good if he got himself slaughtered here in this tavern, much less
facing the ramparts of the Baron s home. Disconsolately, he moved to rejoin
Squill and
Gragelouth.
The merchant made room for him at the bar. He eyed Duncan knowingly as his
long tongue lapped liquor from a wide-mouthed, short-stemmed glass.  I could
have told you.
 No luck, mate? Squill asked him. Duncan replied gruffly.  What do you
think? He rubbed the place on his chest where the lion s thick finger had
prodded repeatedly.
The sloth glanced back over a shoulder.  Those were professionals you
accosted. A
look is enough to brand them as such. Even had they acceded to your request,
we
would not have had enough money to pay them.
 We could have  deferred payment until after Neena s rescue.
Gragelouth scratched at the fur between his eyes.  Now you sound like your
otterish friends. An attitude like that will get you killed before you reach
your second decade.  Well, I didn t know what else to do, Buncan replied
irritably.  Squill, I
don t suppose you ve had any better luck?
The otter gestured to his right.  Actually, mate, I ve been chattin up that
squirrelish barmaid over there. The one with the tufts tippin  er ears? It s
times like these that I
wish I d paid more attention to some o me dad s stories. The ones  e s more
apt to tell when me mum ain t about.
Buncan looked disgusted.  And with your sister in mortal danger.
 Aw, she ain t in no mortal danger, Buncan. Despite his disclaimer, Squill
looked uncomfortable.  I mean, wot s the worst thing that could  appen to
 er?  Put yourself in her position, Buncan told him. The otter shrugged, but
it was halfhearted at best.
 See?
A heavy claw tapped him on the shoulder.  Unlike you and your friend, I may
have succeeded in securing us some assistance.
Buncan s surprise must have showed. Squill eyed the sloth admiringly.
 Wondered where you d got off to, he mumbled.
 I was searching for some solution to our difficult situation. Our fiscal
dilemma, you see, is twofold. If we pay for adequate assistance at arms, we
will be unable to afford ground transportation with which to continue our
journey, and if we choose instead to make arrangements for the latter, we must
then go against this Baron without help.
 Why not then try to find one who might, bearing in mind our severely limited
resources, serve equally well both needs?
 Oi, you ve gone an  ired on a giant! Squill barked excitedly.
 Though I have heard stories of such creatures, I have never met an actual
giant of any tribe.
Buncan gestured in the direction of the lion and his drinking companions.
 Black-
mane there could pull quite a load, but not the three of us together with
supplies, and he s the biggest in the place.
Gragelouth shifted on his chair and leaned closer.  Bipeds fight; quadrupeds
carry.
That is the natural order of things. Among the intelligent tribes who still
walk on all fours, most are inclined to pacific pursuits, with but few
inclined to battle. Yet there are always exceptions. I believe I may have
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found one such.
 A  eavy  orse who s willin to fight, Squill exclaimed.  An afterward,
carry the lot of us swift an sure away from this place.
 No. Our potential ally is not a member of the equine tribe.
 Where is he? Buncan asked.
 This is a large establishment. There are numerous stalls and drinking troughs
provided out back for customers of four legs.
 Well, if it ain t no  orse, Squill mumbled bemusedly,  then wot the bloody
 ell is it?
 Come and see. Gragelouth slid off his chair.  I am convinced the individual
in question will work cheap.
 Almost reason enough to hire him right there. Buncan followed the merchant
down the length of the bar, toward the rear of the tavern.
  E s a fighter, this one? Squill was already suspicious of this low-priced
avatar.
 The bartender I spoke with knows him, says that he has been in many battles
and is a veteran fighter. He is also large enough to transport all of us and a
modicum of carefully packed supplies to the northwest. Not quickly or
comfortably, perhaps, but efficiently. It will be far better than trying to
continue on foot.
 If he ll hire on. Buncan restrained his enthusiasm.  Talea always says that
anything which appears to be too good to be true usually is.
 His name, Gragelouth continued,  is Snaugenhutt.
 Don t sound like no poffy lute player, Squill commented approvingly as they
exited the rear of the tavern and found themselves in a large circular corral. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]