A Circle of Celebrations: The Complete Edition Read Online Free PDF Page B

Enforcers. Instead of wearing their usual snappy suits, they wore the same tunics and hose to fit in with the locals.
    “This is a terrible waste of money,” Grimble said, watching the crowd at the gate.
    “It’s an investment in one of your key personnel,” Aahz said. I had left him untransformed. “That’s like saying you won’t fix the drawbridge because masons cost money.”
    “The drawbridge won’t drink four tuns of wine. Four!”
    “Six,” I said. “I want to make sure we have plenty. I don’t know how long it will take to smoke Shilldon out.”
    Grimble was aghast. “Six! That’s not what we agreed. Take two of them back to the cellars!”
    “Too late,” I said, cheerfully. “They’ve already been tapped.” I looked at the sky. The sun had sunk to the top of the peaked cylinder of the Magician’s Tower. “It’s time.”
    Massha squeezed my hand.
    “Hit it, Guido!” Aahz shouted. The huge Enforcer raised his hand to the armored man-at-arms on the battlement.
    With a creak of long-suffering wood and metal, the portcullis lifted. All the nobility within a four-hour ride led the way on handsomely caparisoned steeds, but they were quickly surrounded and passed by the hordes of commoners making for the refreshment tables. Guido and the Enforcers, dressed to match the local Klahds, blended in with the visitors, looking for anything suspicious.
    “You’re on, kid,” Aahz said, clapping me hard on the back.
    I kicked my heels together, and the little wings lofted me upward. The crowd gasped and pointed. Some of them shrieked in terror, but most of them cheered for me. I held up my hands.
    “Welcome to the Affection Day party!” I announced. “Thanks to the generosity of Her Majesty, Queen Hemlock of Possiltum, you’re invited to enjoy an evening of revelry, music, and dance.”
    “And booze!” a man called from the midst of the crowd.
    “Find that man and lock him up,” Hemlock said, with a bored wave of her hand. The guards pushed past her and into the heart of the throng. The man dropped his foolish grin and tried to get away, but the mob was too thick. He was dragged away by his heels, yelling and protesting. I watched in horror. The rest of the people didn’t seem unduly upset. They were used to their queen’s capricious temper.
    “C’mon, kid!” Aahz growled.
    I pulled my wits together. “Let the festivities begin!”
    They all cheered again, and headed for the beer kegs, where kitchen servants were pouring mugs of pink Affection Day ale as fast as they could. The band, hired from the Wild Tonsil Inn in Winslow, struck up a fast reel. Girls dragged reluctant men into the open square and began to dance with them. Carny, a disguised Deveel who normally dealt cards in the Even-Odds, a gaming establishment in which I had had a financial interest, drew people into a lover’s quiz. Within minutes, he had managed to elicit blushes, indignant shouts, and laughter from his contestants and audience. Everyone seemed to be having a really good time, crowding together and having fun.
    Satisfied, I settled back to the floor.
    “That’s it for me,” Hemlock said, hoisting her heavy skirts in both hands. “I don’t intend to stand here and watch ugly peasants get plastered on my coin. I’m going inside. If any of the handsome ones drop out of the quiz, bring them to me. Grimble, keep an eye on everything. If anyone breaks anything, bill it to Master Skeeve.” She strode away.
    “Yes, your majesty,” JR Grimble said, bowing and scraping. I had never been so glad to have left a job. I don’t know how I put up with working for Hemlock as long as I had.
    Massha was tapping her foot to the music. I had to admit, the Winslovak band was good.
    “I don’t see Shilldon,” she said in a low voice. “Or Hugh.”
    “Hugh’s not here,” I said, tersely. “I’m here as his proxy.”
    “Good,” Massha said, with a sigh. “I don’t want him to get hurt. This looks like it’s turning into