I'd rather avoid the subject of how I know Baroness Demelzos. It strikes me that I haven't had beer for a while. #51 | | |
"Could you send for some beer?" #52 | | |
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"I don't think we have any." #55 | | |
"Servants usually have some." #56 | | |
Merlione is surprised by my request, but claps her hands, causing a servant to hurry in. #57 | | |
"Do we have any beer for our guest?" #58 | | |
The servant gives me a look of withering contempt. "I believe the chef may have a supply in the kitchen." #59 | | |
Merlione is smiling as the servant leaves. "I don't think anyone has ever asked for beer before. Is it true you have an Orcish wife?" #60 | | |
"No. I have a companion who is part-Orc." #61 | | |
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"At times. She's also a scholar." #63 | | |
"Really?' Merlione, who seems altogether friendlier since I asked for beer, leans forward, interested. "What does she study?" #64 | | |
"Everything. Now we've moved in with Arichdamis she's been talking to him about measuring the volume of cones. Or cylinders. Or parabolas. Something like that, I'm not clear about it." #65 | | |
When the servant returns with my beer, I ask Merlione to tell me more of her circumstances. I'm not really convinced that her friend was murdered, or that her life is in danger, but I owe it to Baroness Demelzos to investigate properly. Partly because she's paying me, and partly because I did skip out without saying goodbye properly. Even if it was over twenty years ago, that bothers me a little. #66 | | |
Most of what Merlione tells me I already had some idea of, from Demelzos - her brother's Orgodas's wedding for instance. The household is in a state of high excitement about his upcoming marriage to the eldest daughter of Baron Vosanos, yet another of Samsarina's wealthy nobles. I get the impression that Merlione isn't that close to her brother, or her father, and may not be as interested in the wedding as she should be. I wonder if that might be influencing her reluctance to leave the house, though insisting your life is in danger just to avoid a wedding does seem like taking things to extremes. #67 | | |
Merlione doesn't seem to have any other close friends, even though Elath has plentiful supply of Baron's daughters, who should be suitable companions. But she's a serious young woman, studious maybe. Not the type to spend her time shopping and gossiping. As I take my leave I'm not sure what to make of the whole affair. I have some sympathy for Merlione, who seems like an isolated figure, but whether or not there's any truth in her suspicions, I can't tell. #68 | | |
Outside it's started to rain. The water flows neatly down the gutters in the paved roads around the Barons' houses, but further into town, where the roads are not so well constructed, the earth is beginning to cut up. Many of the buildings are poorly maintained. It wouldn't surprise me if slates fell off the roofs all the time. I walk past the town hall, another not-very-impressive, grey stone construction, and take a look at the water clock in the main square, beside the statue of St Quatinius. The clock was designed, so Makri informs me, by Arichdamis. Water flows through underground pipes and makes it work. I've no idea how. #69 | | |
By now Elath is filling up with people, many of them exotic by local standards. That's partly because of the tournament, and partly because of the approach of war. There's an odd atmosphere. A mixture of anticipation and fear. I recognise the emotion. I've seen it before. People feel reckless, wanting to have some enjoyment in what might be the last weeks of their lives. One or two Elves have appeared, having either risked an early voyage from the Southern Isles, or come overland from neighbouring lands. Sorcerers, mercenaries, soldiers, generals and ambassadors are all arriving in Elath. The King's Guard has increased their patrols, looking for suspicious characters. It strikes me that I'm here in the company of undoubtedly the most suspicious character in the entire country, namely Makri. If she wasn't employed by Lisutaris she'd have been run out of town already, and probably me as well. #70 | | |
