Murder in Halruaa Read Online Free PDF

then continued quickly. “Are you, or have you ever known, a thief?”
    The nervous man chirped, “No, sir!”
    “Do you possess skills in pickpocketing, lock opening, trap removal, camouflage, wall climbing, shadow hiding, or silent movement?” Pryce inwardly winced at mention of the second item, plus the last three. He began to work his mouth nervously, stretching his lips across his teeth, in preparation for the coming interview. This was not going to be easy… not with that big eye above them, watching for any sign of discomfort, and the golem below, waiting to act as official bouncer.
    “No, sir, I assure you,” said the little man earnestly. “I only want to entertain, and I hope to find favor with the good people of Lallor.”
    “How long do you intend to audition?” the clerk intoned, looking up from his parchment.
    At this question, the man started to relax. “I think I would need only a fortnight permit, sir. By then I’m sure I could show my worth.”
    “Fine,” said the clerk brusquely, seemingly no longer concerned with the man. He was now paying attention only to his parchment, where he was rapidly writing something, the quill pen jiggling busily. But just as the little man finally felt comfortable enough to breathe a sigh of relief and release a broad smile, the clerk looked up again suddenly and said, ‘Two men play five games of chance. Each man wins the same number of games, and there are no ties. How can this be?”
    “Wha—what?” the surprised little man stammered.
    ‘Two men. Five games. Each wins. No ties. How?”
    “I… but… how does this
    “Come, come, sir,” the gatekeeper burbled reasonably. “Surely you didn’t think that desire was enough to secure entry to Lallor.
    We are an exclusive community, sir. We must know that those who seek to entertain—especially those who seek to entertain— have their wits about them. Now, come along, please hurry. How can two men play five games with no ties and both win?”
    “I’m sorry.” The little man was first confused, then desperate, then crestfallen. “I—I”
    Pryce put a hand on his shoulder. “They weren’t playing each other,” he whispered.
    “What?”
    “The two men weren’t playing each other,” he repeated. “That’s the only way they could both win an equal number of games.”
    Comprehension spread across the little man’s face. The reaction of the clerk, however, was not so beneficent. He struggled to his feet, both fists shaking on the floating marble slab. “I beg your pardon, sir!” he said angrily. “How dare you?”
    Pryce knew he had to think and talk even faster now. If that golem was psychically attuned to the clerk’s emotions, his head was applesauce. There was only one thing to do: Distract attention from himself.
    “I apologize, but it is imperative I speak to someone in authority. It is about my friend. Gamor Turkal____” To his amazement,
    Pryce watched the clerk’s wrathful expression melt, then, even more incredibly, rise like a basset hound being offered prime steak. The clerk then repeated his previous admonition, but the tone this time was one of apology.
    “Sir… I beg your pardon!”
    “Yes, yes,” Pryce said humbly. “But my friend Gamor…” He started to point back down the road.
    “Of course, sir!” the clerk interrupted, hurrying around the floating marble slab. “Gamor Turkal told us of your coming. We have been waiting for you!”
    ‘You have?”
    “Of course,” the clerk said enthusiastically, raising an arm to
    put over Pryce’s shoulders, then thinking better of it. “We’ve been awaiting your arrival for some time.”
    Pryce blinked. His mind had been ready for a lot of things, but not this. “Really? Well, the storm slowed me down a bit, and then there were the dangers of the pass____”
    “Oh, we knew you would make quick work of them,” the clerk said dismissively. “But come, come. You must be hungry and thirsty after your journey.” Only then did