The Last Whisper of the Gods Read Online Free PDF Page B

to her.” Turning to Sorial, he added, “Boy, if there’s any trouble, run to the inn and inform me immediately. Vagrum can handle most problems, but these are uncertain days.” So saying, he disappeared out the stable door, heading for the inn’s common room.
    One thought occurred to Sorial at that moment: Who was Warburm that he was attracting such visitors?
    As he cared for the horse and pony, he was able to steal enough glances at the newcomers to form pictures of them.
    Vagrum was a mountain of a man. His bare arms and legs were thick with corded muscles, although his midsection, covered by a garment made from animal skins, showed the telltale bulge of a sizeable gut - a frequent consequence of middle age in fighting men. His pate was shaved and oiled, but salt-and-pepper hair sprouted unevenly on his upper lip and chin. His face was a mass of crisscrossed scars, including one that had rendered his left eye useless. His nose, broken more than once, was misshapen. His right ear had no lobe and part of the top had been cut (or bitten) off. A worn scabbard belted at his waist contained a short sword and a sheath at the top of his right boot held a dagger. Sorial considered that if he was going to hire someone as a protector, Vagrum would be an excellent choice. Just one look at him would dissuade all but the bravest (or most foolish) of assailants.
    Sorial guessed Alicia to have seen ten or eleven Summers, although she was small for her age. Dressed in a fine dark green riding outfit, she was the picture of a noble’s daughter. Her braided hair was the color of spun gold and her pale features showed signs that she would develop into a woman of uncommon beauty. Her green eyes sparkled with mischief but her lips were pursed in an expression of ill-contained distaste. She stood frozen in one spot as if afraid that moving might cause her soft leather boots to come into contact with something unpleasant.
    “You can sit on one of those bales, if it please you, miss.” Sorial gestured in the direction of where he had been resting when she and her father arrived.
    Alicia started, surprised to be addressed by a stableboy. “Are you speaking to me ?” Her tone was affronted. She glanced at Vagrum as if expecting him to do something. He remained unmoving and seemingly unconcerned, his expression impassive. He might have been a statue, although Sorial recognized he would act with lightning speed if he perceived a threat to his charge’s safety.
    “Aye, miss. The straw is clean.”
    “You will not speak to me unless I speak to you. Haven’t you ever been taught how to act in the presence of ladies?” Her tone was aggrieved.
    “No cause for that, miss. There ain’t many ladies as come here. Those that do ain’t so particular about where they sit or step or how I talk to ’em.” Sorial believed he caught the beginnings of a smile crinkling Vagrum’s features when he said that, but it might have been his imagination.
    Alicia appeared scandalized but said nothing more. Sorial went back to caring for the horse and pony before moving to other chores. He was aware of Alicia and Vagrum’s continued presence but paid them no heed. Although he had been repeatedly warned to be watchful, he didn’t think he had anything to fear from these two. Strangers they might be, but not of the dangerous kind. If anything, Vagrum made him feel more secure. The big man’s presence would be enough to deter most troublemakers.
    After nearly an hour, Alicia spoke to him. “Are you sure these are clean?” She indicated the bales.
    “They are, miss. I was sitting on them myself before you came.” It didn’t occur to Sorial that she might not consider that an endorsement.
    With a show of profound distaste, Alicia lowered herself to sit on one. His work for the moment done, Sorial joined her, although flopping down on a different bale. Vagrum glanced at him but did nothing more.
    “Do you think my father will be long?” asked the