Wild Kingdoms (Warhammer Fantasy) by Robert Earl

Author:Robert Earl [Earl, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Black Library
Published: 2011-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SIX

When the customer stooped into its burrow, the gnoblar merchant’s heart fluttered like a bat in a cage. It wasn’t the silk of her young flesh that set its black blood racing, of course. It was the gold that was wrapped around it.

Bracelets of the stuff twined around her wrists in spirals of serpentine glory. Chains of it roped her neck in a noose of wealth. Combs of it glimmered amongst the braids of her hair, shining almost as brightly as the glorious fire of the hair itself.

The merchant felt itself falling in love.

‘Come in,’ it wheedled, and rubbed its hands together as enthusiastically as if it was strangling a kitten.

‘Thank you,’ Katerina said, bowing her head as she came further into the gnoblar’s lair. There was no way of telling how big it was; in every direction valuable merchandise, unpleasant refuse and everything in between blocked her line of sight. The clutter could have reached back five feet or five miles.

‘Sit, sit,’ the merchant said, shoving a wobbly stool forward in a paroxysm of good manners.

‘Thank you,’ Katerina said once more, and settled herself down. She squatted easily on the stool, thighs parting in a way that would have disadvantaged any human trader. It didn’t distract the gnoblar, though. He was too busy drooling over her jewellery.

‘So,’ it began, running the dagger of its tongue over the yellowed stubs of its teeth. ‘What can I give to you?’

‘Oh no,’ Katerina said, eyes widening into deep pools of innocence. ‘I can’t accept any gifts. I want to buy something.’

‘Ah,’ the gnoblar said. ‘If you say so. What is it that you want to buy?’

‘I need some deathcaps. Toadstools, you know.’

The gnoblar almost asked why. Instead it shook its head, and hissed regretfully.

‘Very rare.’ It frowned. ‘Very, very rare. In this place? At this time? Difficult.’

It shook its head, glimpsing up in time to see Katerina’s horrified expression.

‘But I must get some!’ she pleaded. ‘My tyrant told me to get some. I must!’

The tip of the merchant’s tongue moistened the green flesh of its lips.

‘Hmmm.’ It scratched his head and pretended to consider. ‘I could give you some. A dozen, say. But it will cost you, yes, cost you dear.’

Katerina frowned. Then, as if struck by a sudden inspiration, she looked down at the bracelet that gleamed around her wrist.

‘Look at this,’ she said, eagerly slipping it off. ‘It’s gold.’

The gnoblar tried to look unimpressed as it studied the heavy twist of metal. It was gold all right. Pure gold, by the weight.

‘Perhaps I can find some deathcap,’ it said, carefully placing the bracelet beside its own stool. ‘Let me see what I have back here.’

‘But do you need to take my whole bracelet for it?’ Katerina whined unhappily.

‘Yes,’ the gnoblar nodded. ‘Deathcap is very rare here. Very valuable.’

‘Oh. Well, all right then.’

The gnoblar managed to keep the smile off its face until it had turned away from her. Then, teeth glinting in the light of the oil lamp, it made a great show of searching through first one pile, then the next.

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