I am practically blinded by fury. Gambling debt or no gambling debt, no one comes into my room and smashes my last bottle of klee. I don't have far to go to vent my wrath. There, coming round the corner, is Karlox and his gang, eight of them. They appear surprised as I confront them and start hurling abuse. #51 | | |
"Try threatening me again and you die, Karlox! Who do you think you're dealing with here?" #52 | | |
Karlox grunts angrily. He's a man of few words, too dumb to know many. He draws his own sword and the Brotherhood men fan out. I am ready to fight. Makri stands at my side. A landus wheels round into the street, kicking up a spray of dust and scattering the beggars. A head appears from the curtained window. It's Yubaxas, local Brotherhood boss. He demands to know what's going on. I inform him that I'm about to administer some punishment to his thugs in retribution for wrecking my room. #53 | | |
Yubaxas actually smiles, something he rarely does. It doesn't suit him. "We didn't wreck your rooms, Thraxas. Not worth the effort. You know the position already. You have three days to pay up, then we wreck you." #54 | | |
He motions to Karlox and his cronies. "Get up to Kushni quick. We're needed." #55 | | |
The landus departs. The Brotherhood thugs trot after it. I'm left standing alone in the street, deflated. #56 | | |
"So, who did wreck your rooms?" asks Makri. #57 | | |
I shrug. I suppose Yubaxas could have been lying, but I can't see why. I don't imagine he was terrified at the sight of me. #58 | | |
Makri kicks a stone. Trudging back to the Avenging Axe, she is disconsolate. "I was looking forward to a fight," she says. #59 | | |
"Well, if I don't come up with the money in three days there'll be plenty of fighting to do." #60 | | |
Makri looks happier. I feel some relief that Makri, despite her weird predilection for studying philosophy, is a keen enough fighter and a good enough friend to automatically support me in a crisis, even though it's not her affair. #61 | | |
I begin the weary task of putting my rooms in order. I've got no idea who wrecked them, or why. #62 | | |
I'm in a terrible mood. #63 | | |
