Devlin's Honor by Patricia Bray

Author:Patricia Bray [Bray, Patricia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Epic, Fiction
ISBN: 9780553584769
Publisher: Spectra
Published: 2003-06-02T23:00:00+00:00

Seventeen

STEPHEN LIFTED THE GLASS OF ALE TO HIS LIPS and tried not to grimace as he took a sip. He had never developed a taste for the bitter drink, and here the brewers had outdone themselves, producing a gritty, grain-filled beverage that practically demanded he chew it before swallowing. He set the glass firmly down on the table before him, trying not to shudder. And to think this was the finest this place had to offer.

At least there was one consolation. He had no fear of becoming so drunk that he forgot himself.

He leaned back on his stool and surveyed the room. Like the previous four taverns he had visited, this one was smaller than he was accustomed to, with a low ceiling that made it feel even more cramped. There were no private booths, but rather two long tables in the center of the room, where perhaps two dozen could sit elbow to elbow. A narrow shelf ran around three sides of the room, just wide enough to hold a glass or a tankard. Stools were lined up underneath the shelves, and Stephen had appropriated one of these for his use.

Three men and two women sat at one of the tables, eating a late midday meal, or perhaps an early supper. They were far more intent on their food than on conversation, and when they did speak, it was of ordinary things. One complained that his new boots had blistered his feet. Another complained of their taskmaster and his habit of making them labor in the rain when anyone could see that such was wasted effort. The taskmaster was soundly disparaged by all, and then one woman began to describe the difficulties she was having with her new husband.

Ordinary conversation by ordinary folk. Not a single whisper of the Children of Ynnis, or of Devlin’s return to his homeland. Nothing that was of any value.

Stephen surveyed the handful of other drinkers who occupied stools around the room, but they were all solitary souls, far too intent on their drinking to pay any mind to a stranger. And he had learned from his first two tavern visits that a stranger did not try to introduce himself. Behavior that was considered courteous in Jorsk had gotten him ejected twice, with the polite but firm request that he not return.

At the third place he had visited, the problem had been the opposite. The servingwoman had suggested that she could teach him the ballad of the Crimson Hawk, an offer which made the other patrons laugh. But the laughter had an ugly ring to it, and there had been a cold glint in her eye, that belied her jesting words, so he had quickly taken his leave.

He was beginning to suspect that Devlin had sent him on a fool’s errand. Devlin must have known how insular these taverns were and how slight the chance was that any would talk to a stranger. As for overhearing incriminating conversations, he could hardly do so when the taverns were practically deserted.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.