Outlanders Mask of the Sphinx by PJames Axler

Author:PJames Axler
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

Decard led the three people through an open gate and into the courtyard of a small, walled estate. The lawn was richly grassed and full of decorative, aromatic flowering plants. The house was significantly larger than most of those they had seen on their way through the city.

As soon as Decard walked through the door of the house, he began to open the seals of his armor. With a groaning sigh of relief, he pulled off the breastplate, stating, "It's been a long time since I've worn this thing. I'd forgotten how heavy all this shit can be."

Grant, DeFore and Kane followed the young man into a large open room, circular in shape, almost like a pavilion. A single low wooden table rested in the center of the floor surrounded by six very large, overstuffed pillows. The windows were covered by curtains made of strung-together beads, intertwined with strips of dyed gauze. Oil lamps burned on small pedestals, shedding a flickering, yet strangely comforting illumination.

A young woman hustled from an adjacent room, her slender body draped in the flimsiest of coverings. Her heavy black hair rested on her shoulders, and impudent breasts swayed beneath the thin material. In one hand she carried a tray laden with sliced fruit and chunks of well-cooked meat. With her other hand she carefully balanced a tray containing four large clay mugs. She placed both trays on the table and stood by as Decard handed her pieces of his armor.

"Help yourself," he said, nodding toward the table.

None of the three people made a move toward it. "If I wanted to kill you," the young man said testily, "I wouldn't poison you."

"What about drugging us?" DeFore asked, narrowing her eyes.

Decard grimaced in exasperation, then took a piece of meat from the tray and bit into it. He chewed and swallowed noisily, defiantly. "You're in my house," he said flatly. "You're my guests, so I won't be poisoning you or drugging you."

Eyeing the maid, Grant inquired, "How many people live here with you?"

"Mavati, my wife, her maid Qerhet here and Cassie."

DeFore picked up a mug and sniffed its pale amber contents tentatively. "Smells like beer." She sipped at it and murmured, "Not bad. Who's Cassie? Your child?" Decard kicked out of his boots. "Adopted child, I guess you could say. Without her I wouldn't have met Mavati or still be alive, for that matter."

"Where is she now?" Grant asked.

"Divination school, in training to be an oracle. She's naturally gifted."

"Divination school," Kane murmured, reaching down and picking up a pair of mugs. He handed one to Grant. They clinked mugs.

"In training to be an oracle," Grant drawled. "Just an ordinary family."

Decard's eyes darted first to Kane, then to Grant. "I know this has been a lot to lay on you, but—"

"That's where you're wrong," Kane broke in harshly. "You haven't laid nearly enough on us. That's the problem."

Decard unzipped the one-piece Kevlar weave undergarment and peeled it off, apparently completely comfortable being nude in front of his guests.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.