Krondor's Sons 1 - Prince of the Blood by Raymond E Feist

Author:Raymond E Feist [Raymond E Feist]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-08-05T23:00:00+00:00

‘Uh-huh,’ said Ghuda. ‘So you’d like me to take you along to the caravanserai and tell some unsuspecting caravan master that you’re my old friend from home, a truly cracking good swordsman, who, by the way, is called the Madman.’

Borric closed his eyes as if he had a headache. ‘Not quite.’

‘Look, friend, I thank you for the drink, but that doesn’t entitle you to ask me to risk my good name by making recommendations that are bound to reflect badly on me in time.’

Borric said, ‘Wait a minute! Who said it would reflect badly on you? I’m a competent swordsman.’

‘Without a sword?’

Borric shrugged. ‘That’s a long story.’

‘It always is.’ Ghuda picked up his helm and put it crookedly upon his head. ‘Sorry.’

‘I’ll pay you.’

Ghuda took his helmet off and put it back on the bar. He signalled to the barman for another round. ‘Well, then, let’s cut to the heart of it. Reputations have a certain value, don’t they? What do you suggest?’

‘What will you earn on a trip from here to Kesh?’

Ghuda considered. ‘It’s a pretty uneventful route, well patrolled by the army, so there’s little pay, which is why there are always caravans needing guards. A large caravan, perhaps ten ecu. A small one, five. And food on the trip of course. Maybe a bonus if there are bandits along the way that we have to fight.’

Borric did a quick calculation in his head - he could only think in terms of Kingdom coins - and reviewed the money he had in his purse from Salaya and his poker winnings on ship. ‘I’ll tell you what. Get the three of us hired on to guard a caravan and I’ll double whatever is paid you.’

‘Let me get this right: we get you on a caravan to Kesh and you’ll give me your wages when we get there?’

‘That’s right.’

‘No,’ he said drinking down his ale. ‘What guarantee do I have you’ll not skip out with the money before I can collect?’

Borric gave him an exasperated look. ‘You’d doubt my word?’

‘Doubt your word? Sonny, we’ve just met. And what would you think if you were me and this was being proposed to you by someone who’s called “Madman”?’ He looked significantly down at his empty cup.

Borric signalled for another round. ‘All right, I’ll pay you half on account before we leave and the rest when we get there.’

Ghuda still wasn’t convinced. ‘And what about the boy? No one will consider him a likely guard.’

Borric turned to look at Suli who was now clearly wobbling from the influence of three ales. ‘We’ll hire him on to the caravan as a cook’s monkey.’

Suli just nodded, bleary-eyed. ‘Cook.’

‘But can you handle a blade, Madman?’ asked Ghuda, seriously.

Borric said matter-of-factly, ‘Better than any man Ghuda’s eyes widened. ’That’s a boast!‘

Borric grinned. ‘I’m still alive, aren’t I?’

Ghuda stared at Borric a moment, then threw back his head and laughed. ‘Ah, that’s good.’ Killing what was left of his ale, Ghuda pulled out his two long dirks, and reversed the one in his left hand, handing it to Borric.

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