Bard's Tale 2 - Fortress Of Frost & Fire by Mercedes Lackey

Author:Mercedes Lackey
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2012-11-16T21:28:50+00:00

Chapter XIV

Naitachal and Gawaine performed later—or, at least, Naitachal did, and Gawaine attempted to. There was so much whispering and giggling throughout that it quite put him off his stride, and he had to put in extra measures of strumming more than once while he recalled the words, or read the Bard's exaggerated lipping of them across the crowded, torch-lit square. His hands were stiff, as though it had been a year instead of merely days since he had last properly practiced, and after only two songs, his fingertips began to throb from pressing strings to the board. Fortunately, his Master was lenient with him for what had been surely his worst performance in all his four years. Easier than Gawaine could be on himself; he could have crawled from the dusty square into the night, and never come back.

The villagers didn't seem to notice his slips; probably it was the first entertainment they'd had in years, and he was all too unhappily aware that as far as the village maidens were concerned, anything he did simply shone with perfection.

Their traveling companions came with the rest of the village for the concert, and they spoke briefly afterward, before splitting up and going to the individual houses where they would be sheltered for the night. "We leave very early," the Bard said as the square finally began to empty. "So I suggest any of you who might otherwise sit up gossiping and drinking with your hosts forego that pleasure."

"Pleasure," Tem-Telek said fastidiously. "Do you know what they make their liquor from here?"

"Onions?" Gawaine asked in a small voice. The lizardman snorted.

"Worse still—from ugly brown tubers!"

"Yes, but they drop small onions in the cup," Raven put in, "with the liquor."

Arturis stirred. "Well, I certainly do not need such a warning, since I do not indulge in such an unwholesome substance as—"

"Yes, yes, we don't doubt it," Naitachal broke in, and under his breath added, "Why does it not surprise me he does not drink?" Aloud, and with a sidelong glance to make certain none of the villagers were within hearing of his very low voice, he added, "And I would avoid the young women, as well. If you would press on tomorrow, that is."

"They are not likely to speak with either of us," Tem-Telek said, a wave of his hand taking in himself and his valet.

"I would not wager that, sir—not in this place." Cedric grinned, Raven cast up his eyes. Arturis merely looked puzzled.

"Well, but I was asked to take a walk this evening to explain about the God, and the quest he has set before me—why do you laugh?" he demanded "Bard, your apprentice needs instruction from you on the deference due one such as myself...." His voice died away as he realized the Bard was grinning broadly. And so were Cedric, Tem-Telek, and Wulfgar.

"I would avoid the young women." Naitachal wiped his eyes and chuckled.

Arturis gave him a long, dubious look, but finally nodded reluctantly. "Of course, one such as myself—"

"Yes, yes, of course.

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