The Spine of the World by Salvatore R.A

Author:Salvatore, R.A. [R.A., Salvatore,]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-08-06T14:29:13.810000+00:00

barbarian like that of the balor: grating, guttural, inhuman.

"I shall tell to you a tale," Jharkheld began, "of treachery

and deceit, of friendship abused and murder attempted for

profit. That man!" he said powerfully, pointing to Creeps

Sharky, "that man told it to me in full, and the sheer horror of

it has stolen my sleep every night since." The magistrate went

on to detail the crime as Sharky had presented it. All of it had

been Morik's idea, according to the wretch. Morik and Wulfgar

had lured Deudermont into the open so that Tee-a-nicknick

could sting him with a poisoned dart. Morik was supposed to

sting the honorable captain, too, using a different variety of

poison to ensure that the priests could not save the man, but

the city guard had arrived too quickly for that second assault.

Throughout the planning, Creeps Sharky had tried to talk

them out of it, but he'd said nothing to anyone else out of fear

of Wulfgar. The big man had threatened to tear his head from

his shoulders and kick it down every street in Luskan.

Enough of those gathered in the c rowd had fallen victim to

Wulfgar's enforcer tactics at the Cutlass to find that last part

credible.

"You four are charged with conspiracy and intent to

heinously murder goodman Captain Deudermont, a visitor in

excellent standing to our fair city," Jharkheld said when he

completed the story and let the howls and jeers from the crowd

die away. "You four are charged with the infliction of serious

harm to the same. In the interest of justice and fairness, we

will hear your answers to these charges."

He walked over to Creeps Sharky. "Did I relate the tale as

you told it to me?" he asked.

"You did sir, you did," Creeps Sharky eagerly replied. "They

done it, all of it!"

Many in the crowd yelled out their doubts about that, while

others merely laughed at the man, so pitiful did he sound.

"Mister Sharky," Jharkheld went on, "do you admit your

guilt to the first charge?"

"Innocent!" Sharky protested, sounding confident that his

cooperation had allowed him to escape the worst of the carnival,

but the jeers of the crowd all but drowned out his voice.

"Do you admit your guilt to the second charge against you?"

"Innocent!" the man said defiantly, and he gave a gaptoothed

smile to the magistrate.

"Guilty!" cried an old woman. "Guilty he is, and deserving to

die horrible for trying to blame the others!"

A hundred cries arose agreeing with the woman, but Creeps

Sharky held fast his smile and apparent confidence. Jharkheld

walked out to the front of the platform and patted his

hands in the air, trying to calm the crowd. When at last they

quieted he said, "The tale of Creeps Sharky has allowed us to

convict the others. Thus, we have promised leniency to the

man for his cooperation." That brought a rumble of boos and

derisive whistles. "For his honesty and for the fact that he, by

his own words—undisputed by the others—was not directly

involved."

"I'll dispute it!" Morik cried, and the crowd howled. Jharkheld

merely motioned to one of the guards, and Morik got the

butt of a club slammed into his belly.

More boos erupted throughout the crowd, but Jharkheld

denied the calls and a smile widened on the face of clever

Creeps Sharky.

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