Вилорп

→It's an unexpected sight. Ships don't sail these waters in winter; the gales are too severe. Though this winter isn't particularly harsh, there have already been several storms fierce enough to sink any warship or trader foolish enough to venture out. We watch as the vessel limps towards the harbour.

→"A ship?"

→My companion in the lookout post is Ozax, an old soldier now turned master builder. Something catches my eye and I call him over.

→I do have a slight connection to the game at the theatre. Ravenius plays there. Ravenius, a senator's son, also comes down to the Avenging Axe to play at our weekly game. The stakes at the Avenging Axe are a lot lower than Ravenius is used to at the Unicorn, but the young man is such a keen gambler he enjoys playing anywhere. Perhaps he could introduce me to General Acarius. I shake my head. It's hopeless. You have to lay down a lot of money before they'll allow you to sit at the table. More than I can raise.

→The wind blows a little colder. I wrap my cloak tighter around me. Down below is the rocky stretch of shoreline that leads to the harbour. Since talking about Captain Rallee and his girlfriend, I keep thinking about the card game in the upstairs room at the Golden Unicorn. General Acarius and Praetor Capatius are both regular visitors to the table. The General has a reputation as the finest gambler in the Turanian army, and he's very wealthy. Half the Turanian fleet is built from wood grown on his family's vast estates. As for Capatius, he's the richest man in Turai. He owns his own bank and his trading empire extends all over the west. If I could just get myself around a rak table with these two I'd soon show them how the game should be played.

→I have two magic warm cloaks. The first one is a fairly inefficient garment. Keeps out the chill for a while but soon starts to lose its potency. I made it myself but my sorcerous powers just aren't up to the task these days. The cloak which Lisutaris, Mistress of the Sky, made for me is much better. She put a spell on it which only needs a word from me to revitalise it each day. The cloak stays warm for a long time. I've done enough soldiering in freezing weather to appreciate the favour. Not that Lisutaris didn't owe me a favour or two, as I pointed out to Makri, with some justice. As do various others, I reflect, during my long spell on the walls. I gaze out into the frozen waste below with a feeling of dissatisfaction. I've fought for this city. I've lived here, worked here, paid taxes. I've sorted out the problems of the rich and poor. My investigating talents have helped keep Lisutaris in her job and Deputy Consul Cicerius out of disgrace. And where has it got me? Two rooms above a tavern in the poorest part of town with little prospect of improvement.

→Chapter Four

→Tanrose nods, and I tell her to come to my office when my shift at the walls ends. I've no idea what she might want me to investigate, but as she's the finest cook ever seen at the Avenging Axe, I'm more than willing to give her whatever help she requires.

→"I'm due for guard duty right now. Can it wait till I get back?"

→Tanrose nods.

→"You mean an investigation?"

→"Thraxas. I need to consult you."

→Tanrose is further along behind the bar, ladling out stew to Viriggax and a few of his mercenaries. When she's filled their bowls she hurries over to me and leans across the bar, lowering her voice so as not to be heard by anyone else.

→"Bad influence? I'd call it rounding out your personality. All you used to do was work and study. These days you're slightly less unbearable."

→"Only because of your bad influence."

→I point out to Makri that she herself has not been averse to the odd wager since arriving in Turai.

→"You gamble too much," says Makri.

→"Can't afford it," I admit. A man needs a lot of money before he can play cards with Praetor Capatius and General Acarius."

→"So why don't you?"

→"No. But there's a big game of rak played there every week, lot of rich players. I'd like to sit down at a table with some of them."