Not Quite Scaramouche by Joel Rosenberg

Author:Joel Rosenberg [Rosenberg, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General
ISBN: 9780812574708
Google: nTwVilWUZbYC
Amazon: 0812574702
Publisher: Tor Books
Published: 2000-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

A hot mug of cloyingly sweet tea warming his hands, his belly, and his soul, Kethol sat close enough to the fireplace that an occasional spark was flicked out of the fire to hiss itself to death on his still-damp tunic.

Ahira was in the chair opposite, his legs folded underneath him, tailor-fashion, a joint of mutton in one hand and a preposterously large tankard of beer in his other.

"So, Captain Sterlen," Ahira said, around yet another bite of meat, "how many good men can you have, armed, rested and ready to ride at dawn?"

The captain seemed young for his position; his mustache was thin and his face unlined, unmarked save for a ragged scar that ran from the corner of his mouth to the point of his jaw. Kethol hadn't asked how he had earned it, although it was a story that the captain likely thought worth telling, given that a beard would have easily covered it.

"I've one troop's horses saddled," the captain said, "and my men are ready to ride right now, or whenever you command, Master Ahira. I'd sooner take the second troop, but – "

"Second troop?"

That didn't make much sense to Kethol, either. He didn't think a small village like this one would need to house as much as a single troop, normally, not unless there was some sort of ore nest about, and he surely would have heard about that.

Sterlen looked at Kethol and then back to Ahira. "It's just temporary. We're expecting a delivery at... shortly, that is. I brought in an extra troop from Emdeen – better to be on the safe side than not – "

"Ellegon?"

Sterlen kept his face impassive. "Excuse me?"

Dwarves were known as the Moderate People, but that didn't prevent the excitement and relief in Ahira's voice. "You're expecting Ellegon. He's bringing in something valuable – " Ahira's brow wrinkled“– oh, say, a generator from Home, to take advantage of the grainmill when it's not grinding, and after the way things went in Keranahan, not only is the dragon nervous about getting shot at, but Doria is nervous about it, too. When is he due?"

"I don't know – "

"Think about it, Captain. We've got to get the baron out of the barony safely, and to the capital for Parliament. And with the dragon due here, that's the best news I've had all day. So when and where?"

Sterlen dragged up a chair and looked from Kethol to Ahira, and back again. "I have my orders, from the regent herself – "

„– who does not outrank the baron, himself, who is the one who sent me – "

„– to keep matters quiet until Ellegon has come and gone. Word is, there was an attempt to kill the dragon out in Keranahan not too long ago, and there are those of us who think he's more important to the realm than just as something to put on the reverse of a coin."

He fingered an old copper halfmark – Kethol could tell by the unmilled edges.

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