The Warrior Lives by Joel Rosenberg

Author:Joel Rosenberg [Rosenberg, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Fiction, General
ISBN: 9780517080108
Google: dTqaAAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0517080109
Publisher: Random House Value Publishing
Published: 1988-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

“You do not impress me, either,” Jason answered in the same language, “with either your wisdom or your manners. Would you be happier if I made a few more insulting comments about you?”

There was a moment of silence, while the dwarves, including the cooks, looked to the king for a signal.

Maherralen smiled as he reclaimed his seat. “Perhaps you would impress him more if you did. But that would make you a poor guest.”

“You speak dwarvish?” Bent-nose asked.

“It seems that he does, Kennen.” Maherralen cracked a thin smile. “Although I can’t place the accent. Heverel, perhaps?”

Jason nodded, reaching down to unclip his bowie from his belt, but not unsheathing it as he laid it on the table. “Nehera the smith taught me. That, and other things.”

Another dwarf smiled. “A smith you are, too?” The way it had been explained to Jason, smithing was the most respected profession among the dwarves. It stood to reason: the tools that the smiths forged made it possible for the dwarves to tunnel through stone, both giving the dwarves a secure place to live and providing access to seams of hematite and the other minerals that they could turn into metal, the source of their stock in trade.

“I wish I could say I was.” Jason shook his head. “I just know a bit of smithing.”

Apparently that was the right answer; some of the frowns dissolved a trifle.

The day was dragging on outside, and there was a no-doubt-impatient dragon out there; Jason leaned forward. “In any case, we are here to—“

“Yes, yes, we know. Our messenger carried your request in,” Kennen said. “But you are here, human, not elsewhere, and you will discuss things at a reasonable pace, not in an indecent human hurry.”

Jason frowned. “I don’t understand.”

Maherralen nodded. “That’s correct. You do not understand.”

“We’re just here to—“

“—take the Slovotsky women with you,” Kennen said.

Well, that was true as far as it went; they were there to load the Slovotsky women on Ellegon-back, and dispatch them to Holtun-Bieme, as per Walter Slovotsky’s instructions.

Jason said as much.

“But can we trust you with them?” Kennen said.

It’s not your decision,Jason thought. It was Walter Slovotsky’s. If Kirah or the girls wanted to go against Slovotsky, that was a family matter; Jason wouldn’t try to force them to come along.

But they weren’t here. Tennetty leaned over and whispered in his ear. “I get the impression that the Slovotsky women may not even know we’re here.”

“That is quite true,” another dwarf spoke up, his deep voice gentle. “I am Neterren, son of Kedderren. I request that you don’t think so unkindly of us.”

Jason nodded. “I will hear you.”

“Ah.” Neterren’s smile broadened. “You know something of formal argument. To begin,” he said formally, his gravelly voice taking on a sing-song quality, “I was with Kirah when she gave birth to Doria Andrea,” he said, spreading his hands in front of him. “I held her when she took her first breaths. To continue, it is important to me that I know she is going into good hands.

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