A Time of Ghosts by Robert Holdstock & Angus Wells

Author:Robert Holdstock & Angus Wells [Holdstock, Robert & Wells, Angus]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Erotic, Fantasy
ISBN: 0552108618
Publisher: Corgi
Published: 1978-07-01T07:00:00+00:00

“Kidnap Krya! Kidnap Krya! The thought disgusts me! The whole idea revolts me! I am amazed that I am being accused of it! Kidnap Krya! I, Lifebane, kidnap that flesh bag of bones and rotting meat! I, Gondar the Magnificent, scourge of High Seas and Low Seas, kidnap that…that…weasel! ;That ferret! I would no more strain my fingers touching her than I would make love to a sack filled with liquid pox. Why in all the seas and skies should I bother myself with such a pointless, pitiful conquest when I can loot trader vessels and slaved from all the lands of Worldheart? What need I with the mummified corpse of a crow that calls herself a living woman and is wife, sister, and probably brother too, knowing M’rystal, to the pompous, pock-arsed, pervert who rules in the east? By the Duds of the Sea Queen there is nothing in this at all—nor is there anything in the Duds of the Sea Queen, come to that! Oh Raven, how could you ever think me guilty of so empty a gesture?”

Lifebane was angry.

They were seated in the Sea Wolf’s house, around the remnants of a sumptuous meal, their minds hazy with the effects of home-fermented wine. Gondar, robed in furs, with his hair tied back in tight ringlets, his beard plaited and his ample waist squeezed tight by a leather belt form which hung his giant double-headed axe, stormed around the room hitting his meaty fists against the rafters. Each time he struck the wood the whole hose shook and the mercenaries winced and exchanged uneasy glances.

“Krya is a beautiful and sensuous woman,” said Raven. Lifebane glared at her, but Raven remembered only Krya’s touch, the silkiness of her skin and the wonderful way she had aroused Raven’s body to such intense passion, that time in Kahrsaam. It was a sexual subtlety that Raven knew could be found only in other woman, and only certain women at that.

The Sea Wolf said, “By a dog’s standard a dung pile is attractive. To the unblinking eye of a vulture a decaying corpse is paradise. By my estimation Krya is less than ugly! This, by the Waves, is beauty!” He touched Raven’s hair, ran his fingers lightly about her face. “And this too…” He pointed at Karmana, stared at the girl thoughtfully. “Yes—yes, beautiful indeed! But Krya? Pah!” He spat on the fire.

For a while nobody seemed included to say anything more. Lifebane sat moodily on his cushions, sipping his wine and staring at the fire. Raven relaxed, and she could see Spellbinder doing the same.

At length Lifebane snapped back to life. “Your arrival was guided by the forces of destiny,” he said loudly, slapping Raven painfully on the knee. “For tomorrow at dawn I return to the channel to supervise some more offensive action.”

“Perhaps,” said Raven, “no action will be needed. We had to satisfy ourselves that you were not responsible for the kidnapping before we could do anything else, but now that we are convinced we can set about finding Krya, and convincing M’rystal that you are innocent.

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