Orcs Bad Blood by Stan Nicholls

Author:Stan Nicholls
Language: eng
Format: mobi

ther. You get on with them."

"Whoa. I don't count humans as friends."

He turned without answering and headed along the riverbank. She followed.

The band was recovering. Those who didn't have a chance earlier were cleaning the gore from their blades. Others were having wounds tended. Haskeer was working off his temper by barking orders.

They found the two men by the water's edge. Pepperdyne stood looking down at Standeven, who sat on the grass, clutching his knees to his chest. He was sweaty and trembling.

"What's the matter with him?" Stryke said.

"You might have noticed that getting here was quite a ride," Pepperdyne replied.

"You seem all right."

He shrugged. "Where the hell are we?"

"We're asking the questions. Who are you?"

"Like I said. I'm Jode Pepperdyne and --"

"I mean what are you."

"Merchants," Standeven said, a little too quickly. He glanced up at them and shuddered. "That wa sredidth="1s hellish. I never believed them. I never thought it was true."

"What you talking about?"

"Those... objects that got us here."

"So you knew about them? Before you came to us, I mean."

The pair of humans exchanged the briefest of glances.

It was Pepperdyne who answered. "There've been rumours about instrumentalities for as long as I can remember."

"We knew no such stories," Stryke said. "Not until recently."

"You hear all sorts of tales in our business. Including things outsiders aren't privy to."

"You say you're merchants."

"Yes," Standeven replied. "That is, I am. He's my aide."

"He fights pretty well for a merchant's lackey," Coilla remarked.

"His duties include guarding me. You attract the attention of brigands in our line of work."

She addressed Pepperdyne directly. "You didn't pick up your skills from traders."

"I've been around," he told her.

"Military service?"

"Some."

"You Manis?" Stryke wanted to know.

Standeven looked surprised. "What?"

"You tipped us off about them Unis."

"No, we're not. Not all humans support religious factions. Besides, we're not from Centrasia. Things are different in our part of the world."

Coilla bridled. "It's called Maras-Dantia. Centrasia's the name foisted on us by you outsiders."

Pepperdyne spoke for his flustered master. "Sorry," he offered.

"I don't get it," Stryke said, frowning. "You're not Manis, yet you helped us against other humans. Why?"

"You're after something, aren't you?" Coilla added.

"Yes," Pepperdyne admitted.

Standeven looked shocked, and opened his mouth to speak.

Pepperdyne got in first. "We need your help."

Stryke stared hard at him. "Explain."

"We didn't warn you because those Unis were our enemies. We warned you because of someone who is. Your enemy and ours."

"That's clear as mud."

"The sorcerer queen," Pepperdyne said. "Jennesta."

A cold chill took hold of Stryke's spine, and he knew Coilla felt the same way. " se sght="0ptWhat the hell are you talking about?"

"She owes us. And we heard she's in debt to you too, in a manner of speaking."

"What do you know about Jennesta? Be plain, or this ends here and now. The hard way." Stryke's expression left no doubt as to what he meant.

"My employer here lost a valuable consignment. It turned out to be her doing."

"What was it?"

"Gems. Along with not a few good men. Including some of my master's kin."

"This happened where?"

"On the edge of the wastelands.

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