The Wurms of Blearmouth Read Online Free PDF Page B

lips, his mind in a fog, Hordilo said, “They’re past saving, you fool.”
    The stranger frowned. “I don’t like being called a fool.”
    The tone was flat, unaccountably chilling. “Sorry to tell you, those two are dead. Maybe you’re in shock or something. That happens. Shipwreck, was it? Bad enough you arriving uninvited, and if that wasn’t enough look what you did to Grimled. Lord Fangatooth won’t be happy about that, but that’s between you and him. Me, well, the law says I got to arrest you, and that’s that. The law says you got to give account of yourselves.”
    “My selves? There is only one of me.”
    “You think you’re being funny? You’re not.” Stepping back, trying to avoid a peek into the inner workings of poor Grimled—not that they worked anymore—Hordilo shifted his attention to the newcomers as they arrived.
    The tall one with the pointed beard spoke, “Ah, Korbal, there you are. What have you found?”
    “A golem, Bauchelain,” the first man replied. “It swung its axe at me. I didn’t like that, but I didn’t mean to break it.”
    The man named Bauchelain walked over to study Grimled. “A distinct lack of imagination, wouldn’t you say, Korbal? A proper face would have been much more effective, in terms of inspiring terror and whatnot. Instead, what fear is inspired by an up-ended slop bucket? Unless it is to invite someone to laugh unto death.”
    “Don’t say that, Master,” said the third stranger, pausing to tamp more rustleaf into his pipe, though his teeth chattered with the cold. “What with the way I go and all.”
    “I am sure,” said Bauchelain, “that your sense of humour is far too refined to succumb to this clumsy effort, Mister Reese.”
    “Oh, it’s funny enough, I suppose, but you’re right, I won’t bust a side about it.”
    Spilgit was almost hopping from one foot to the other behind the newcomers. “Hordilo, best escort these two gentlemen up to an audience with Lord Fangatooth, don’t you think? We’ll take their manservant to the Heel, so he can warm up and get a hot meal in him. Spendrugle hospitality, and all that.”
    Hordilo cleared his throat.
    But Korbal was the first to speak. “Bauchelain, this man called me a fool.”
    “Oh dear,” said Bauchelain. “And has he not yet retracted his misjudged assessment?”
    “No.”
    “It was all a misunderstanding,” Hordilo said, feeling sudden sweat beneath his clothes. “Of course he’s not a fool. I do apologise.”
    “There,” said Bauchelain, sighing.
    “I mean,” Hordilo went on, “he killed one of the lord’s golems. Oh, and he wants to bring those two bodies with him up to the keep, because they’re his friends. So, I don’t know what he is, to be honest, but I’ll allow that he ain’t a fool. Lord Fangatooth, of course, might think otherwise, but it’s not for me to speak for him on that account. Now, shall we go?”
    “Hordilo—” began Spilgit.
    “Yes,” Hordilo replied, “you can take the manservant, before he freezes solid.”
    Bauchelain turned to his manservant. “Off with you, then, Mister Reese. We’ll summon you later this evening.”
    Hordilo grunted a laugh.
    “All right, Master.” Mister Reese then glanced down at Grimled and looked over at Hordilo. “So, how many of these things has your lord got, anyway?”
    “Two more,” Hordilo replied. “This one was Grimled. The others are Gorebelly and Grinbone.”
    Mister Reese choked, coughed out smoke. “Gods below, did the lord name them himself?”
    “Lord Fangatooth Claw the Render is a great sorcerer,” said Hordilo.
    “I’m sorry, Lord what?”
    “Go on, Mister Reese,” ordered Bauchelain. “We can discuss naming conventions at a later time, yes?”
    “Conventions, Master? Oh. Of course, why not? All right, Slipgit—”
    “That’s Spilgit.”
    “Sorry. Spilgit, lead me to this blessed inn, then.”
    Hordilo watched them hurry off, his gaze fixing with genuine admiration on