Thraxas - The Complete Series 1 ~ 8 by Martin Scott

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

Chapter Twelve

I erupt in a volcanic fury.

“Discarded my shield? Me? I practically won the Battle of Sanasa single-handed, you young dog. If it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be walking round this city in a toga. You wouldn’t have a city to walk around. Who makes this allegation?”

“Vadinex, also a participant in the battle,” answers the official.

“We’ll see about that,” I roar, and head for the door, sword still in hand. I wave it for extra effect. No one accuses me of cowardice. Gurd brings me to a halt by placing his arms around me and wedging his foot against a table.

“Where are you going?” he demands.

“To kill Vadinex, of course. No one accuses me of discarding my shield.”

“Killing Vadinex won’t help.”

“Of course it will help. Now get your arms off me. I have some killing to do.”

“They’ll hang you.”

I try to break free from Gurd’s mighty grip. Makri is looking on, amused.

“Not that I mind you being hanged for murder, Thraxas, what with you calling me a vile Orcish wench and being intolerably rude, but isn’t this similar to when you told me not to kill Professor Toarius?”

“It’s not the same at all. Vadinex has impugned my honour.”

“Toarius impugned mine.”

“I don’t care!” I roar, and renew my struggle with Gurd.

“You’ll be arrested and then you won’t be able to help Lisutaris.”

I cease struggling. In truth, I’m finding it hard to break free of Gurd’s grasp. He always was an unusually strong man, and he’s kept himself in better shape than me. He starts hauling me back towards the bar.

“Would they really hang Thraxas if he killed Vadinex?” asks Makri.

“Yes,” replies Gurd.

“Then it sounds like a good plan. Let him go.”

Gurd shoots a very fierce and barbaric scowl in Makri’s direction.

“We don’t need any more advice from you. Go and serve customers.”

Throughout all this the government official has remained calmly waiting for an opportunity to speak, and when he does so the tavern falls silent. There’s still something about a man in a toga that induces respect.

“I must tell you that a man facing such a charge can no longer participate in any official duty. So you are forbidden by law to use the office of Tribune. Furthermore, your Investigator’s licence, being granted by the Consul’s office on behalf of the King, is temporarily revoked until such time as you be either cleared, in which case it shall be renewed, or convicted, in which case it will be revoked.”

“Are you saying I can’t investigate?”

“That is correct.”

“How long for?”

He doesn’t know. Until my case is heard by the Senate committee. This could take months. Possibly years. Unless you’re a man with influence in this city, legal cases can take a very long time to come to court.

The official departs, leaving me to contemplate the terrible baseness of the accusations. Gurd directs Makri to look after the bar and leads me into the back room, where he pours me a hefty glass of klee. I drink it in one and he refills the glass.

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