The River of Dancing Gods by Jack L. Chalker

Author:Jack L. Chalker
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fantasy - General, Fantasy, Fantasy fiction, Science Fiction - General, Fiction - Fantasy, Fiction, Science Fiction, American, General, Non-Classifiable
ISBN: 9780345345011
Publisher: Ballantine
Published: 1986-12-12T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter X

Of Troll Bridges And Fairyboats

Unlike all other/arms of energy, magical energy may be created and destroyed by applications of positive and/or negative spells.

- II, 139, 68.2(a)

JOE, MOUNTED ON POSTI, LOOKED AROUND AT THE REST OF the Company and found the group somewhat imposing. Marge seemed almost dwarfed on the sleek black Dacaro, but the other three looked well matched to their more normal steeds.

Ruddygore had said that seven was the proper number for a Company, according to the Rules, but this Company included five humans and two transformed ones upon whom he and Marge rode. He had to trust it to Ruddygore that the number worked out.

Macore rode up beside him and pulled out the map of the region. "We'll have to cross the Rossignol east of Terdiera,”

he pointed out. "That's the only bridge for a hundred miles, and it wouldn't do to backtrack any more than we have to.”

Joe shrugged. "So? What's the problem?”

"Trolls," the little thief replied, a sense of distaste in his tone. "Damn them. Only really decent bridge builders in Husaquahr.”

Joe gave another shrug, and they started off, enjoying the early morning air. As they rode through a not yet open Terdiera, Joe looked around for familiar places and faces and saw more of the former than the latter. Early risers stopped to gape at the five riding through the town center, and particularly at their leader, who thought he looked pretty good in his loincloth and trucker's hat.

On the other side of town they departed from the main road, down a narrow side street that quickly became a dirt track when it left the town behind, going down to the river. It was a fairly well traveled path, to judge from the deep ruts and gouges in the road, but there was nobody on it this early in the day.

The bridge was nothing fancy, but still was impressive engineering forAe technology ofHusaquahr. A wooden structure supported by thick pylons made from the trunks of hardwood trees, it stretched the thousand yards or more from shore to shore and even curved up in the center to allow barges to pass under. The channel was not wide but was fairly deep. The bridge, also, wasn't very wide they would have to pass single file to feel safe, since there were no guardrails or other safety devices or guides.

"Whew! I'd hate to have to drive a wagon and team across that thing," Grogha noted. "I'm not too sure I feel thrilled riding it now.”

"The bridge is perfectly safe if you don't panic but just go straight," Macore assured them. "However, this is no free ride.

See!" He pointed and they all looked.

The sign contained a series of pictographs and accompanying very formal looking text, the former for the mostly illiterate locals, the latter for the unwary traveler who, being most likely a trade or political figure, would be able to read and needed a more detailed explanation. The sign's pictures fascinated them: Joe frowned. "Now what the hell

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