Weapon of the Guild [The Chronicles of Grimm Dragonblaster, Book 2] Read Online Free PDF Page A

condition when we come to collect them, I will give you a further ten."
    Dalquist opened his purse to show the boy the gleaming wealth inside, and the boy stammered his thanks. The most he might have expected from this enterprise was seven or eight coppers; twelve must be an unaccustomed bounty. Dalquist waved an imperious hand.
    "However, child,” he continued, looking straight into the boy's wide eyes, “should our horses be restless or dirty when we return here, it will go ill with you, I assure you. Should you take your eyes from these mares for one minute and allow them to be stolen, it will go very hard indeed with you. Should anyone overpower you and attempt to steal them, you will run at once to the bar and inform me, and I will deal with the miscreants myself. Do not attempt to deceive me for a moment, for we mages have ways of knowing the truth; we also have ways of enforcing our will that you would not find pleasant. Do I make my meaning crystal clear?"
    "Quite clear, Lord Wizard,” the boy quavered. “I wouldn't try to swindle a mighty magician like you, never! You'll find your horses waiting here groomed, well-fed and watered when you come back, I promise you. You have the word of Dor Hamel on it."
    Dalquist smiled. “Thank you, Dor. I am sure you will take good care of our mounts, and if so, you have nothing to fear, either from my companion, Grimm, or me. Just be aware that I have some idea of the price of such horses in this town, and I know the names of the men who deal in them, just as I am sure you do. Let us say no more on the matter."
    Dalquist turned to Grimm and said, “The food here is adequate and the drink acceptable. We should also be able to find at least a couple of bold adventurers here to aid us in our Quest." As the two mages walked away, Grimm stopped at the door of the tavern and whispered, “Weren't you a little hard on the boy, Dalquist?"
    "I told you I know this town, Grimm,” the older Questor replied in the same low tone of voice. “I told you much about honour here but, even so, it has more than its share of cutpurses and brigands. All too many ‘honoured guests’ here leave on foot with empty purses and false tales of masked robbers that appear without warning in the night and disappear without trace. Everybody in this town knows everybody else, and they are masters of the barefaced lie, who will just dare you to make an accusation that must be backed up with evidence or force.
    "I don't like Drute, but it does house a goodly number of brave swordsmen and professional thieves who hold to a code of honour that might seem strange to us, but it's all that prevents total anarchy. Just follow my lead and we'll be all right."
    Dalquist opened the door, which squealed alarmingly—there were no magic portals here, opening silently at the least touch!—and the two Questors walked into a smoke-filled room resonating with loud voices from all corners.
    As they entered, the hubbub fell for a moment to a low level, as various villainous-looking types, some with gaudy tattoos, some with livid, grotesque scars and all bearing weapons, cast appraising gazes at the two visitors.
    Dalquist stepped up to the bar and made an imperious gesture to the bartender, a man even more muscular and imposing than the most fearsome of the steel-sporting bravos who had scrutinised Grimm and Dalquist on their entry. However, the bulky man's voice was surprisingly high and pleasant, belying his outward appearance.
    However, Grimm could see this was not a man to be trifled with. Although his hair might be grey and his brow lined, the corded muscles on his giant arms showed he kept himself in good shape. The Questor imagined this human titan could handle any trouble that might arise in the tavern.
    "Questor Dalquist, it is good to see you again,” the landlord boomed, his mouth stretched into a broad grin. “I see you have a new companion."
    "This is my fellow Questor, Grimm Afelnor, Uril,” Dalquist