Realms of the Dragons Omnibus by Phillip Athan

Author:Phillip Athan
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: sf_fantasy
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

BEER WITH A FAT DRAGON

Don Bassingthwaite

Late Tarsakh, the Year of Rogue Dragons

The caravan moved slowly down the dusty slope and into the oasis, the sinking sun at the riders' backs throwing long shadows across scrub trees and coarse grass. Tuigan women watched the riders from benches outside round, felt-covered yurts while children raced about in the fading heat of the day, running alongside the caravan's horses, pack mules, and ox carts. A few of the caravan travelers laughed and threw trinkets to the boldest children, but Tycho Arisaenn threw smiles toward the watching women. Especially the pretty ones.

A young woman with a delicately squared face and the rich bronze complexion of the steppe tribes gave him a smile and lingering glance in return. As the caravan coiled to a stop beside one of the stones that marked the long route of the Golden Way east across the Endless Wastes, Tycho grinned at his companion.

"Only the women at home, Li!" he crowed. "The men must be out raiding!"

"It's strange they wouldn't leave some men behind to guard the oasis." Kuang Li Chien tilted back the broad straw hat that had shaded him from the searing sun and scanned the oasis. His face darkened. "Mother of dogs," he muttered. "I know where we are. I remember this place from my journey west."

Tycho followed his gaze. Beyond the yurts of the Tuigan, an enormous pavilion sprawled on the edge of the muddy pond that was the oasis's heart. A large figure-a man as fat as any Tycho had ever seen-was just emerging from the door flap, one thick arm raised in greeting.

"Well met, thirsty travelers," he bellowed in a voice that carried across the entire oasis. "Come! Come and drink at Ong's tavern!"

"Tavern?" As the rest of the caravan let out a cheer, Tycho looked to Li. The Shou's expression was glum. "Li, we haven't seen anyplace that called itself a tavern since we left Almorel on the Lake of Mists. What's wrong with a tavern?"

"Look after your horse," Li said, sliding out of the saddle, "then come with me. You'll see what's wrong."

– -QER-»

Tycho stepped through the door flap of the pavilion and was immediately engulfed by fetid warmth. The main chamber of the makeshift tavern was already crowded with the guards and passengers of the caravan. Some sat at rough tables, others on rickety chairs, but most lounged against heaped cushions of indeterminate age and color. All of them held vessels-earthenware mugs, waxed leather drinking jacks-and drank and laughed with a vengeance. Many of the women of the oasis were there as well, a few serving the tavern's customers, but many customers themselves, gathered in clusters to talk or around tables to play some boisterous game involving rune-carved bone tiles and a number of knives.

"Hoil" shouted the women around one table.

They snatched up cups and drank. Their knives, striking the tabletop in an intricate rhythm, didn't miss a beat.

Charcoal braziers added to the heat. Fat dripped, sizzling and popping, from long

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