Вилорп

→"Why was he jailed?"

→"He was put in prison and most of the family's wealth was confiscated. That's how my mother ended up in Pashish."

→Tanrose nods. I'm surprised. Common sailors have low status in Turai but ship's captains usually come from wealthier backgrounds. If Tanrose's grandfather was a captain, it means the family has come down in the world. Tanrose is aware of it.

→"Your grandfather was a captain in the navy?"

→"He was captain of a ship which raided a Simnian convoy."

→"Where did the money come from?"

→"In gold."

→"Fourteen thousand gurans?"

→I raise my eyebrows.

→"Last week she told me her father once buried a cask containing fourteen thousand gurans near the harbour and it's never been recovered."

→She hesitates, and taps a finger on the desk.

→"Quite well," says Tanrose. "Though her memory's not so good these days."

→"How is she?" I ask politely. I've met her once or twice. Before moving to the tavern Tanrose used to live with her up in Pashish.

→"It's about my mother."

→I shrug.

→"It's odd consulting with you professionally, Thraxas."

→Tanrose sits down opposite me. She's not a thin woman, but she's not as large as might be expected, given the excellence of her cooking. Tanrose is currently one of the Avenging Axe's more cheerful inhabitants. If she's worried about imminent Orcish invasion it doesn't show. Since becoming engaged to Gurd she's been happy.

→Makri declines, and I'm obliged to drop the subject as Tanrose is waiting for me when we enter the Axe. I'd like to thaw out in front of the great fire downstairs but she doesn't have a lot of time before getting back to her cooking, so I content myself with taking a bottle of beer upstairs to my office, and lighting the fire. The room is cold and I leave my cloak draped around my shoulders as I take a seat at the large, dark wood desk I use to transact my business.

→"You don't need to ask. Just bring up the subject. She'll probably volunteer."

→"Forget it," replies Makri. "I'm not asking her to lend you money."