Pendant of Fortune

Pendant of Fortune Read Online Free PDF Page A

Book: Pendant of Fortune Read Online Free PDF
Author: Kyell Gold
going up the mountain later today, though.”
    “ Oh, staying with the governor?” The driver whistled. “Very nice.”
    He pulled around back of a public house called the “Cup and Barrel,” and tended to the horses while Volle and Streak made their way to the front. Like most of the other buildings in the town, the pub was made of a soft white brick and the roof was flat red tile, though this building was taller than its neighbors. The streets were white with dust, so that their paws kicked up clouds with every step and were soon frosted with white as well. The change wasn’t noticeable on Streak’s paws, which were already white, but the white dusting on Volle’s black paws made him look old. He scuffled his paws against the backs of his legs to clean them before they walked into the building.
    The pub was moderately crowded, which struck Volle as odd for the middle of the day. Looking around the clientele, he noticed that many of them were young, and many bore crests that were familiar to him from his days at the palace. Squires, pages, personal servants maybe. He led Streak up to the bar and waited several moments for the bartender to notice him.
    The harried-looking weasel, Volle noticed, was at his eye level. Glancing behind the bar, he saw that the floor there was raised about three feet, probably to enable the weasel to look his taller customers in the eye. The barmaids were all weasels, with the exception of one vixen, but they had no trouble reaching the tables. He did notice that when they went to pick up drinks, they walked around to the side of the bar where there was a step.
    “ Just a moment, sahr,” the weasel said as he scooted past Volle for the fourth time. “Be right with you.”
    Volle nodded, his gaze wandering around trying to identify crests. He pointed them out to Streak. “Over there, that’s Lord Villutian’s crest. He’s a bear. I met him a few times.” He scanned a few other crests. “Don’t know those…that’s Lord Alister’s crest there.” He indicated a mouse, ears drooping, eyes half-lidded. “He’s the Steward and probably very busy. Surprised Jerish was able to slip away.”
    “ You know him?” Streak said in an undertone.
    “ Jerish? Yes, but not that well.” His eyes drifted downwards as he thought of Alister’s former assistant, a fox named Arrin who had been interested in him when he first arrived at the palace. Arrin had left the year before Volle’s capture, taking a position as a clerk with a lawyer in the city.
    “ Will he recognize you?”
    Volle looked up from his reverie. “He looks wiped out. I don’t think he’d recognize Alister if he were sitting right across from him.”
    The bartender had come up behind them. “Yes, sahr?” He looked a bit suspicious, and Volle wondered how much he’d heard.
    “ Two ales, please, and can you tell us how to get up to the governor’s residence?”
    The weasel filled two mugs and brought them over. “Governor’s residence is up the mountain. Follow the main road out of town, it don’t go nowhere else.” His eyes measured them. “But you’ll likely be staying at the old palace with the King and the Lords from the city. That’s further up the mountain, end of the road.”
    “ Thanks.” Volle left a gold piece on the counter. “Keep the change.”
    The bartender’s expression didn’t change, but his tone was much more polite as he said, “Thank you, M’Lord. May your stay in Ikling be pleasant.”
    Volle lifted his tankard. “It’s beginning wonderfully.”
    The weasel flashed a quick smile before scooting away to deal with another customer. Streak lapped at his ale while Volle kept sipping his, examining the room over the lip of the tankard.
    “ See someone else you recognize?” Streak asked softly.
    Volle shook his head. “No. Sorry, force of habit. Checking out a crowded room.” He didn’t mention the rabbit in the corner, the one who seemed to be looking away whenever Volle was
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