I leave the house but haven't travelled very far when I hear the clatter of Lisutaris's fancy shoes on the cobblestones. Both she and Makri have apparently decided to flee the scene rather than face their prospective suitors. #101 в контекст | | |
"This is really pathetic," I tell them, as they catch up. "Two grown women who can't cope with a little personal problem." #102 в контекст | | |
"Shut up and get inside the tavern before they get here," says Lisutaris, hurrying into the Jolly Bandit. Not a place which will do much for her status, I'd say, though perhaps it doesn't matter so much any more, now she's been chosen as War Leader. As soon as we're inside, a waitress hurries over, recognising me as a valuable customer. I order beer for myself, and wine for Lisutaris and Makri. #103 в контекст | | |
"Incidentally, Lisutaris. Are you still wondering about Arichdamis's plans?' #104 в контекст | | |
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"Well check in you magic purse. In the seventh compartment." #106 в контекст | | |
The Sorceress frowns, and fishes around inside her purse. Finally she emerged with the plans in her hand. #107 в контекст | | |
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"They've been there all the time," I tell her. "No one stole them. You just put them in there when you'd been smoking thazis and forgot all about it." #109 в контекст | | |
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"You really should cut down on your intake," I tell her. "You're War Leader now. You can hardly expect the combined armies of the West to march off to war behind a woman who doesn't know what she's got in her purse. It's hardly re-assuring." #111 в контекст | | |
"Be quiet," says Lisutaris. "Sorceresses never know what they have in their purses. We're famous for it." #112 в контекст | | |
"What will happen with the Baroness and her daughter now?" asks Makri. #113 в контекст | | |
"Nothing, I imagine. Baron Mabados will keep pretending his son is sick till eventually everyone forgets about the wedding. It's a tactful way of getting out of it. Vosanos and his family won't be pleased, but they won't say anything in public." #114 в контекст | | |
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"Yes. Barons aren't going to start accusing each other of trying to murder family members. It would make them all look bad in front of the peasants. The King wouldn't like it." #116 в контекст | | |
Makri thinks about this for a few moments. "But what about Alceten?" #117 в контекст | | |
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"She was murdered. Is no one going to be put on trial for that?" #119 в контекст | | |
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"That's hard to say. Zinlantol was keeping Magranos informed about Alceten. So I suppose she started it all off." #122 в контекст | | |
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I shrug. "Someone small enough to hide themselves in the front of the carriage that ran her over. I doubt I'd ever be able to find out who that was. They're probably not in Elath any more. Magranos will have hired some thug and then made sure he disappeared quickly." #124 в контекст | | |
"So this Magranos," says Makri. "He's the person who gave the order to kill her?" #125 в контекст | | |
"Most probably. But there's no way of getting evidence. Even if there was, the King would suppress it." #126 в контекст | | |
Makri isn't satisfied. She doesn't like it that a young woman was murdered and no one will be brought to justice. #127 в контекст | | |
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"If I meet him, I'll make him pay," says Makri, menacingly. #132 в контекст | | |
"Thraxas!" cries a loud, booming voice. "I hoped I'd find you here." Baron Girimos claps me on the shoulder. He's looking portly, healthy, and in the mood for beer. "Damnedest thing just happened. Was all dressed up for a wedding and then it was cancelled. Wife and her relatives are all complaining about it now, my house is nightmare. I had to escape. Waitress - beer, klee and the contents of your kitchen over here, if you please!" #133 в контекст | | |
The Baron has already met Lisutaris, and greets her politely. When he recognises Makri, he congratulates her very warmly on her victory in the tournament. "Good technique," he says. "Not surprised, with Thraxas teaching you. Good man, Thraxas. Fought with the Turanian Phalanxes at Blackwing Rise. Of course, he'd never have got out of there alive if my cavalry hadn't rescued him. #134 в контекст | | |
"Nonsense!" I exclaim. "My phalanx arrived just in time to prevent your cavalry from being massacred." #135 в контекст | | |
Girimos laughs heartily. "Your memory's shaky again. Look, we were here - " The Baron starts arranging pepper pots and cutlery to represent troop placements. " - and you were there. The Orcish Fourth Infantry were over there and the Sixth were coming up the hill with a dragon behind them - " #136 в контекст | | |
"That wasn't the Sixth Orcish Infantry," says Makri. "It was the Ninth." #137 в контекст | | |
"What?" We look at her in surprise. "How would you know anything about it?" #138 в контекст | | |
"My Orcish Lord was leading them," says Makri. "I heard him talk about it, often. Look - " Makri starts re-arranging the cutlery. " - I'll show you what happened. The Ninth Orcish infantry were here, at the river bank - " #139 в контекст | | |
"They can't have been there," says the Baron. "That's where the Turanian Sorcerers were trapped." #140 в контекст | | |
"I beg your pardon?" says Lisutaris. "Trapped? What's this about the Turanian Sorcerers being trapped?" #141 в контекст | | |
"They were pinned down by heavy archery," says the Baron. "I remember it well." #142 в контекст | | |
"Nonsense," cries Lisutaris. "Age must be affecting your memory. I was there that day as a young Sorcerer on my first campaign. The way I remember it, the phalanxes were hopelessly pinned down by dragons on the south of the slope, and the cavalry were trapped on the north by the Agban Orcish Sorcerers Guild. If I hadn't led the Turanian Sorcerers through the middle neither of you would ever have made it out alive." #143 в контекст | | |
"Led the Sorcerers?" I say. "I thought you were a young Sorcerer on your first campaign?" #144 в контекст | | |
"Our commander, Agbereth Red-Flame, was killed by a dragon so I took charge. I stepped up and told the other SorcerersWe're going up that hill or we'll die in the attempt!'" #145 в контекст | | |
"Your Sorcerers were trapped on the river bank till my phalanx saved the day!" #146 в контекст | | |
"Preposterous," says Lisutaris. "Give me that pepper pot, I'll show you what happened." She turns her head to call to the waitress. "Bring me another goblet of wine while I show these memory-impaired old campaigners how I saved their lives at Blackwing Rise. Better still, send over the bottle. It may take a while." #147 в контекст | | |
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