Gangs of Antares (Balintol Cycle, #2) by Alan Burt Akers

Author:Alan Burt Akers [Akers, Alan Burt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781843197430
Goodreads: 17783991
Publisher: Mushroom eBooks
Published: 2008-07-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter eleven

They told me that Tiri, having had the knowledge of the keys vouchsafed her, must now go to a place —

whose name and location they would not reveal — where she would learn to use the keys to unlock the mysticism born within her. I lay back in the warm scented water, grunted, and got on with trying to forget what had just taken place. Since my dip in the Sacred Pool my memory was such that I did not forget things, although, thankfully, some of the more horrendous evils that have tormented me I have managed if not to forget completely then to push to one side.

When at last I felt as though I could face getting on with life once more I eased out of the water, donned a long yellow toweling robe and wandered off to the saloon.

Oh, yes, by Vox. I was still the same Dray Prescot as ever was. I could still wrap the brave old scarlet breechclout about me and go swinging about Kregen in deeds of derring-do wielding a great Krozair longsword — at least, I hoped I was.

But a fellow knows when he’s been through something more than usually warm.

In the saloon Sans Paynor, Logan and Duven joined me. Also the priestess who had assisted Paynor with Tiri came in, looking serene. She was Sana Lally. At least, that was what she was called now. I learned she had been the Vadni L’Lallistafuros. When we settled down to a delightful repast served by attentive acolytes, I brought up the intriguing subject of these double capital-lettered names. They weren’t exactly embarrassed by the remark as reserved. Eventually, by piecing bits of information gathered there and later, I now know that just about all the great families had the double capital letter. Some still used the form; some did not. Some said it was necessary for the dignity of their house, others that the form was old fashioned and cumbersome. In one vague sense it was somewhat like using a simple v for von.

I might have guessed, by Krun! Young Tiri was, of course and naturally, really T’Tirivenswatha.

“The fashion of use comes and goes,” explained Paynor, and he smiled upon Sana Lally.

They talked upon inconsequential subjects for a time. I saw this small talk was designed to soothe me and ease me back into the real world from the nightmares that had nearly driven me insane.

Presently Logan chanced on the subject of the spate of horrible murders of young girls.

Sana Lally, a smooth-featured woman with a generous mouth, drew her eyebrows down, and lines appeared around that curved mouth.

“It is disgusting. If the City Guard do not find the killer soon, who knows what will happen?”

“The answer is plain enough.” Duven’s words ripped out like the sleeting hail of crossbow bolts. His intense face was drawn, hollowed, the eyes feverish. “Dokerty. It has to be.”

“I do agree with that summation,” murmured Logan.

Paynor nodded. “They practice revolting rites, it is true. But they take place in the privacy of their temples.

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