Warhammer Anthology 12 by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

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‘ the man’s mouth worked as he fought to find adequate words. Finally he gave up his attempt at speech and charged at Florin, podgy fists flailing.

Florin reacted instinctively, jabbing his thumbs into the nerves on either side of his assailant’s neck and then kneeing him in the stomach.

The man fell backwards onto the floor, then backed away until he reached the wall.

‘What in Ranald’s name is wrong with you, you lunatic?’ Florin demanded.

‘You are what’s wrong with me,’ the other man yelled, and although he was still mottled with rage at least he made no further attempt at violence.

‘Gentlemen,’ Lorenzo said, finally standing up between the two glaring men. ‘I can see that you haven’t been properly introduced. Florin d’Artaud, meet the Provost Marshal of Vistein. Provost Marshal, Monsieur d’Artaud.’

‘Oh,’ Florin said. ‘I see.’

Hearing his title seemed to have a pacifying effect on the Provost Marshal. His rage evaporated and he slumped back, defeated once more.

‘She talked you into it, I suppose?’ He asked hopelessly.

Florin cautiously sat down too.

‘Who?’

‘Adora, of course,’ the Provost Marshal said. ‘That stupid, scheming bitch.’

‘That’s no way to talk about the Lady Adora,’ Florin told him, and was rewarded with a look of absolute contempt. The contempt disintegrated into a miserable frown, which finally melted into sobs.

Florin and Lorenzo sat and watched the fat man cry.

‘What I don’t understand,’ Florin said, ‘is what we have to do with you being in here. I mean, whatever we might have said to the Lady Adora, we didn’t actually kill anybody.’

For a moment it looked as though the Provost Marshal was about to fly into another rage. Instead he leaned back against the grimy wall of his gaol and sighed.

‘I know you didn’t kill him, you fool,’ he said. ‘That’s why I’m in here. Because you told that old lunatic the Baron that I wanted him dead, he decided to come and take the town back. It’s so unfair. Apart from anything else, I didn’t want him dead. I was going to sell my corn, ask him to take the lousy title back, and then take a ship to Estalia before everybody found out how bad things are. It’s nice in Estalia,’ he added ‘Sunny. But would Adora listen to reason? Oh no, she just had to be Lady stinking Vistein. I don’t know why I offered to marry her. I must have been mad.’

Florin was no longer listening.

‘That’s fantastic news,’ he told the Provost Marshal, who looked at him blankly. ‘If the Baron is in charge, we’ll be freed. Didn’t I tell you not to worry, Lorenzo?’

‘Yes,’ said Lorenzo, who was gnawing his lip.

‘Didn’t I tell you that the Lady would provide?’

‘By the way,’ Lorenzo ignored him and turned to the Provost Marshal. ‘How is the Lady Adora?’

‘Oh, she’ll be all right,’ the man said bitterly. ‘She always is.’

‘Cheer up,’ Florin told him. ‘We’ll put in a good word for you. The Baron is a reasonable man.’

The thoughtful silence that followed lasted until the next day. Then another day passed.

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