The Tritonian Ring and Other Pasudian Tales Read Online Free PDF Page B

the guards had already stretched a chain across the approach for the night. A guard told him in broad Zhyskan dialect:
     
                  "King Shvo's not here. He's gone to Azaret with all his people for the summer. Who's calling?"
     
                  "Prince Vakar of Lorsk."
     
                  The guard seemed unimpressed, and Vakar got the impression that the fellow judged him a liar. He tugged his mustache in thought, then asked:
     
                  "Is his minister Peshas here?"
     
                  "Why, didn't ye know? Peshas lost his head for conspiracy two months gone. Eh, ye could see it on its spike from here, rotting away day by day, but they've taken it down to make room for another."
     
                  "Who is the minister then?"
     
                  " Himself has a new one, Lord Mir, but he's gone home for the night."
     
                  Under these circumstances it would be more trouble than it was worth to try to talk his way in. Vakar asked:
     
                  "Where's the best inn?"
     
                  "Try Nyeron's. Three blocks north, turn right, go till ye see a little alley but don't go in there; bear left ... "
     
                  After some wandering Vakar found Nyeron's inn. Nyeron, speaking with a strong Hesperian accent, said that he could put up Vakar and his party for six ounces of copper a night.
     
                  "Very well," said Vakar and dug into his scrip for a fistful of copper, wondering why Nyeron had looked surprised for a flicker of an eyelid.
     
                  After the usual period of weighing and checking they found a small celt of just over six ounces.
     
                  "Take it and never mind the change," said Vakar, then turned to one of the charioteers. "Take this and buy a meal for all of us for Nyeron to cook, and also fodder. Fual, help with the horses. Sret ... "
     
                  He paused to notice that Sret was speaking in Hesperian to Nyeron, who replied with a flood of that tongue, in the dialect of Meropia. It seemed that Sret, a small man with a long ape-like upper tip, had onced lived in Meropia and that he and Nyeron had acquaintances in common. Although he had never visited the Hesperides, Vakar had a fair acquaintance with their language by virtue of having had an Ogugian nurse: However, being tired from his day's ride, he said impatiently in his own tongue:
     
                  "Sret! Haul in the baggage and see that nobody steals it until we're ready to eat. And not then, either."
     
                  Sret went out to obey while Nyeron shouted for his daughter to fetch a wash-basin and a towel. A handsome wench appeared lugging a wooden bowl and a ewer, in one door and out another that led into the dormitory. Vakar followed her with an appreciative eye. Nyeron remarked:
     
                  "A fine piece of flesh, no? If the gentleman wishes, she shall be at his disposal ... "
     
                  "I've had all the riding I can manage in the last ten days," said Vakar. "Perhaps when I've rested ... "
     
                  He went back to the dormitory for the first turn at the wash-basin and found Fual beside him. Vakar, scrubbing the grime off his hands with a brush of pigskin with the brisdes on, said:
     
                  "How are we doing, Fual?"
     
                  "Oh, very fine, sir. Except ... "
     
                  "Except what?"
     
                  "You know it's unusual for one of your rank to stop at a vulgar inn?"
     
                  "I know, but fortune compels. What else?"
     
                  "Perhaps my lord will excuse my saying he hasn't had much experience with inns?"
     
                  "That I haven't. What have I done