Angelika Fleischer 1 - Honour of the Grave.doc by Warhammer

Author:Warhammer [Warhammer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

98

CHAPTER EIGHT

Despite the blanket of quiet that smothered the town, the Dolorosa La Bara bulged

with shouting, laughing, coughing patrons. Items of gold, from brooches to chalices,

sat heaped on a table, where drinkers frantically threw dice, sweat pouring down their

faces. They’d decided, evidently, to at least feel the ecstatic mortification of losing

their possessions in a game of chance, instead of giving them up to the soldiers

outside the gates. Franziskus, ensconced at the bar on a well-padded stool, wondered

what the eventual winner was supposed to do with his haul. Bury it, perhaps, and

hope to come back later?

The young Stirlander had forgone his usual ale, electing instead to knock down

cups of watered-down rum. It was diluted but burned his tongue and gullet all the

same. He twitched his hand at Giacomo, the barman, who refilled him and slid his

pennies from the damp wooden counter. Behind him, a hawk-nosed young man in

torn mendicant’s robes screamed something about the apocalypse. He’d renounced

forever his vows of temperance, though Franziskus suspected that tomorrow

morning’s hangover might provoke their abrupt renewal.

Angelika slid onto the stool next to him. “Evening, Franziskus,” she’d said.

He hadn’t seen her come in. But, then again, it had been hours since he’d stopped

looking at the doorway. “Did you learn anything?”

“About Lukas? No.”

Giacomo needed no prompting to set a cup before her, and fill it with brandy.

She sipped, and stuck out her tongue. “This is hard to take, after that

Angoumelle.”

“Did you enjoy his finer vintage, the one he had upstairs?” Franziskus regretted

the words as soon as they passed his lips. Or rather, their tone gave him away; he’d

meant to sound offhand and comradely, but sarcasm had crept in anyway.

“We didn’t get to it,” Angelika said. She set her brandy down and peered into it.

“So he continued to deny any knowledge of the boy?”

She nodded.

“You didn’t believe him, I hope.”

“You think me the sort of person to lose all reason over a glittering pair of grey

eyes and a lovely wolfs grin? Please!”

“Then why did you—” He caught himself short. He thought everyone in the bar

would be looking at him, after this outburst, but the volume of his voice was nothing

compared to the hysterical bellowing around them, so not a single head turned their

way. He finished his drink and slammed the cup on the bar. Angelika looked at him

with obvious disgust. “Pardon my indiscretion,” he said.

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