Wolf's-head, Rogues of Bindar Book I Read Online Free PDF

.”
    Baus and
Weavil indulged each other grimacing frowns. “What a hackneyed
routine!” hissed Weavil. “Even the most jackleg magician knows the
‘disappearing’ act.”
    Nuzbek
accepted the crowd’s approbation before he caught the flicker of a
fractious response in the crowd.
    “Mark well!
The feat which I am about to attempt is extremely hazardous. It is
unpredictable. Not an exercise to be attempted by the
dilettante.”
    Weavil cupped
his hands and booed. “The demonstration is jejune, ‘Sir Nuzbek’. In
fact, every half doodle knows it from here to Owlen.”
    Nuzbek craned
his neck to see who had spoken. Catching sight of the rodent-like
head that bobbed, he contorted his expression into an amused sneer.
“Opportunity strikes! What fortune! Perhaps we have a learned
pundit in our midst—a savant who would trot up and explain the
mechanics of dematerialization?”
    A few jesting
murmurs came from the front row.
    Nuzbek nodded
benevolently: “It has been so many years since I graduated from
conjuror school—I’m sure we’ll all have need for an analyst .”
    Baus rose to
attention. “A droll rejoinder, magician. Let us see your mettle.
Give us a purely original spectacle—not the time old disappearing
act—one never before witnessed!”
    Nuzbek paused,
pondering with care. “The challenge I must admit, is evocative,
though certainly not impossible. Given my expertise, I suppose well
within my capacity. Yes . . . a conception very exceptional—even
flamboyant!” He gave his knee a jaunty slap. “Consider the dare
met, young friend! I will entertain you this evening, at half past
seven, with a feat upon feats with other of my fans. Is this to
your liking?”
    “Very much
so!” called Baus.
    “Then we are
at peace. And your name—so that I may at least know who is my
challenger?”
    Baus peered
about with discomfort. To attract unwanted attention to himself
while Uyu and Migor roved unchecked was unwise. In muffled tones,
he stated that he was ‘Baus, a fisherman of Heagram,’, and that he
was not given to any vanity by divulging any of his other
skills.
    “No vanity is
implied,” assured Nuzbek easily.
    “And I,”
shouted Weavil importantly, “am a prestigious poet, Weavil of
Heagram, who includes myself in the category of ‘challenger’.”
    Nuzbek reached
in his robe and jotted the names very carefully on a pad before
tucking the parchment back into his topcoat. “Very well, Baus and
Weavil of Heagram. Consider the agreement sealed! I have a similar
request to make of you two. That you step forward as
volunteers.”
    Baus and
Weavil exchanged uncomfortable looks.
    Craftiness
bloomed on Nuzbek’s face. “Ha, normally I would intrude upon my
associate, the vivacious Nadek to be assistant, but for lack of a
more impromptu test, I believe your services will be apt.”
    Baus demurred.
“I must decline, master Nuzbek. Perhaps my colleague,Weavil, would
care to inject himself as a willing participant.”
    Weavil pushed
forward hands and raised an angry cry but Baus urged him on. “Come,
Weavil, it is only fitting!”
    “I am no more
a toy than a lab rat to this shamster! Get me away from this
charlatan.”
    “Charlatan, is
it?” Nuzbek croaked. “Shamster? Your words sting, Weavil! But alas,
I suppose everyone has his hecklers . . .” He addressed his
audience with a grave earnest. “Is there no soul venturesome enough
to become part of my extraordinary act?”
    An awkward
silence ensued—followed by uneasy muttering from the gathering.
    Nuzbek paced
back and forth. “I cannot wait till cockcrow to receive word from a
single volunteer! Come now, are you pantywaists? Where are all the
brave souls? The redoubtable Baus and Weavil have elected to forgo
a momentous opportunity. Why should stalwarts as these refuse my
invitation? ’Tis not known. How are matters to rectify themselves,
faced with such dull torpor before my eyes?”
    Despite the
appeal, no member of the audience came