Sword of Truth 02 - Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind

Author:Terry Goodkind
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Published: 2010-05-31T21:34:19+00:00

Chapter 34

Warm air ascended the stairs from the dining room along with the buzz of the packed room. The aroma of roasting meats drifted in from the kitchen to mix pleasantly with the sweet tang of pipe smoke. Zedd rubbed his stomach as he descended the stairs, wondering if he might spare the time to sample a plate.

On the landing sat a tall basket holding three canes. Zedd pulled the most ornate, a straight black cane with an elaborate head worked in silver, from the basket. He tapped the flamboyant cane on the wood landing, testing its length and heft. Seemed a tad heavy, he thought, but it would do as a proper accessory.

The proprietor, Master Hillman, a rotund man with his white shirtsleeves rolled up above his dimpled elbows and wearing a sparkling white apron, spied him as he reached the bottom of the steps and immediately rushed across the room, shoving men out of his way. The man's round, pink cheeks plumped out farther as his small mouth spread with a familiar grin.

'Master Rybnik! So good to see you again!'

Zedd almost turned to see to whom the man was speaking before he remembered that was the name he had given. He had told the innkeeper that his name was Ruben Rybnik, and had given Adie's name as Elda, saying she was his wife. Zedd had always favored the name Ruben. Ruben. He rolled the sound pleasantly through his mind. Ruben.

'Please, Master Hillman, call me Ruben.'

The man's head bobbed. 'Of course, Master Rybnik. Of course.'

Zedd held out the cane. 'I find I have need of a cane, of late. Could I convince you to part with this one?'

The man opened his arms in a wide gesture. 'For you, Master Rybnik, anything. My nephew makes them, and I let him display them here for my discriminating guests. But this one is special, and costly.' He came forward at Zedd's skeptical expression, lifting the cane. He leaned close to speak confidentially. 'Let me demonstrate, Master Rybnik. I don't show this to anyone. Might give them the wrong impression of my establishment, you know. Here. You see? You twist, and here at the silver band, it comes open.'

He separated the two parts a few inches to reveal a gleaming blade. 'Nearly two feet of Keltish steel. Discreet protection for a gentleman. But I'm not sure that for your simple purposes you would want such a costly ...'

Zedd pushed the thin blade away and gave a twist, the finely worked mechanism emitting a soft click as the parts locked together. 'It will do nicely. I like its looks. Not too flashy. Add the cost to my tally for the room.' Wealthy gentlemen weren't supposed to ask the price.

Master Hillman bowed his head up and down. 'Of course, Master Rybnik. Of course. And a fine choice, I might add. Quite dashing.' He wiped his clean, meaty hands on the apron's corner and then held an arm out to the room. 'May I offer you a table, Master Rybnik? Let me clear a table for you.

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