The City of Ravens Read Online Free PDF Page B

he was hungry and thirsty, and he hoped against hope that he might encounter his lovely employer again. He took his accustomed spot and handed Briesa one of Elana’s five-crown pieces for a huge trencher of beef and boiled potatoes, plus a sturdy mug of the Tankard’s best ale.
    “Keep it,” he told the barmaid. “Well call it a line of credit.”
    “Don’t you owe us some money already, Jack?” Briesa said with an impish smile.
    “No more than a silver penny or two. That should more than address the balance of my debt, in addition to any small charges I incur over the next month or so,” he replied.
    Briesa took the five-crown piece and set off on her rounds. When she returned a little later, she informed him that the proprietor had told her in no uncertain terms that five crowns covered Jack’s tab from nights past and his meal tonight. No line of credit was forthcoming, however.
    Jack was just mulling over the possibility of changing taverns to some more trusting establishment when a huge figure in a dark cloak appeared at his table and hauled out the opposite chair without invitation. He looked up, a protest forming already, but he was silenced at once by a massive hand clamping down on his wrist. With a furtive look to the left and the right, the figure lifted the cowl of the cloak just enough for Jack to catch a glimpse of blue eyes and a somewhat singed blond beard.
    “Anders!” he said in surprise.
    “Shhhh!” hissed the big Northman. “I’ve been followed all day. Don’t give me away!”
    “Of course, of course,” Jack replied. “Tell me, how did you fare when the brothers Kuldath drove us from our rightful take?”
    “It was a harrowing escape, my friend,” Anders said. “The storeroom door held against the demon just long enough for me to climb back up to the rooftops. I fled at once, darting from housetop to housetop, but the demon pursued me! Did you notice that it had wings?”
    “Now that you mention it, yes, I do recall wings. The high road was perhaps not the best choice of escape routes, given a pursuer who could fly.”
    “I was forced to find refuge in the waters of the harbor, where I remained until sunrise, when the creature gave up and returned to its masters’ home. That was a long, cold night.”
    “I waited for you here,” Jack said. “For what it’s worth, the ale was decidedly inferior last night, and they let the fire burn down to a small, sad pile of embers that didn’t warm the room in the least. You were really better off in the harbor.”
    Anders let the remark pass without comment. His eyes had fixed on Jack’s sizable plate of steaming beef and potatoes. “When I climbed back to the wharves this morning, I was spotted by Kuldath agents. They reported me to the city watch, and I spent the whole day eluding their search. As it so happens, I never found an opportunity to replenish myself after shivering in the cold, foul waters of the inner harbor all night long. You wouldn’t mind if—?”
    “Please, be my guest,” Jack said generously.
    It was easy to agree, since Anders was already attacking his dinner with the ferocity of a ravenous bear. He
    winced as the barbarian devoured the entirety of Jack’s one-crown dinner, and washed it down with great gulps of Jack’s fine ale.
    “So,” Anders managed between gulps, “do you have my ruby on your person?”
    “Your ruby?” Jack managed. “Friend Anders, did I not tell you that I failed to carry off any of the rubies? My I’ll-timed collision with Aldeemo scattered the rubies all over the floor, and I was forced to flee ere I recovered any of them.”
    “Odd,” Anders said. “I am certain that I saw you pocket one ruby before you left the scene. Shall I help you check your pockets to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything?”
    “Oh, that ruby! Well, yes, of course I managed to get away with the ruby you saw me pick up.”
    “Excellent! You may deliver it to me at your convenience.”
    “Well, I