05 Prince of the Blood by Feist Raymond

Author:Feist, Raymond [Raymond, Feist,]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-10T11:24:12.623000+00:00

look, wearing leather armor over his green tunic and trousers. Upon his head rested an old metal helm, much dented and in desperate need of a wire brush and pol- ish, and across his back was a leather sheath, containing what appeared to be a half-and-a-half-, or bastard- sword. Upon his sides, two long dirk handles showed weapons at his belt.

The man behind the chariot driver looked upon the man blocking his way in outrage. He was undressed, save for a white kilt and an odd weapons harness, crossed leather straps over his shoulders, forming an X across his chest. Spears were within easy reach of him, tied to the side of the chariot, looking like a boat's mast as they pointed straight up. A bow was also slung to the side of the vehicle. With his face turning crimson, the charioteer shouted, "Make way, you idiot!"

Suli whispered to Borric, "The man in the chariot is of true Keshian blood. He is also a member of the Order of Imperial Charioteers. He is therefore upon the business of the Empire. The man who has halted them is a very brave man or a fool."

The man who held the horses merely shook his head and spit. He forced the horses to retreat until the char- iot began to turn to the right, backing into a pot dealer's small shop. The pot merchant shouted in alarm and jumped to get out of harm's way, but the man with the large sword ceased pushing the horses just short of wreaking havoc on the man's livelihood. The merce- nary released the bridle and bent down to pick some- thing up, then sauntered aside. "You can go now," he said.

The chariot driver was about to start the horses on their way again, when the charioteer pulled the whip out of his hand. As if anticipating the move, the warrior wheeled about as the leather lash sang through the air and let it catch upon a leather bracer he wore on his left arm. Quickly grabbing the whip, he yanked hard and almost pulled the charioteer over the side of his chariot. Then just as the man was regaining his balance, the mercenary drew one of his two long dirks and cut the lash. The charioteer fell backwards and almost went

190 Prince of the Blood

over the other side. As the angry charioteer started to right himself again, the mercenary struck the nearest horse on the flank, shouting "Ya!" at the top of his lungs. Caught unawares, the driver was barely able to pull them around and head them down the street without driving through a packed mob of merchants and shop- pers.

Laughter filled the boulevard as the enraged chario- teer called back curses upon the large warrior. The warrior watched the departing chariot, then entered the ale shop and came to stand beside Suli.

"Ale," he said, putting down what he had picked up in the street. It was a copper coin.

Borric shook his head. "You were

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