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Makri stares at me suspiciously. "I can't believe you had an affair with a Baroness." #2 в контекст | | |
"She wasn't a Baroness at the time. She was a barmaid." #3 в контекст | | |
"I can't believe you had an affair with a barmaid." #4 в контекст | | |
"What's so strange about it? I'd just won the sword-fighting tournament. There were barmaids all over Samsarina keen to have an affair with me. Just because I don't boast about these things doesn't mean I wasn't a man for the ladies in my younger days." #5 в контекст | | |
Makri shakes her head. "Are you sure you're not imagining it?" #6 в контекст | | |
I tap the purse I'm carrying. "You should be grateful the Baroness liked me so much. Otherwise we wouldn't have money for your armour." I shake the purse, making the coins jangle. "I expect she's remembered me very fondly over the years." #7 в контекст | | |
"You're loving this, aren't you?" says Makri, who, for some reason, seems unnecessarily scathing about the whole thing. #8 в контекст | | |
"I suppose it does say something about the vigorous love-making of the youthful Thraxas that she still remembers me so kindly. But I'm not bragging." #9 в контекст | | |
"If Baron Mabados ever finds out he'll throw you back in the ocean." Makri doesn't sound too displeased at the prospect. #10 в контекст | | |
We're walking through Elath, on our way to buy armour and weapons. Makri's preferred method of combat is to use two swords, but tournament rules stipulate that each fighter must enter the arena carrying a sword and a shield. #11 в контекст | | |
"A blunted sword," mutters Makri. "What use is that?" #12 в контекст | | |
Weapons have to have the edge taken off before they can be used. Makri keeps grumbling about it. We walk eastwards through the town till we reach the outskirts, where tents have been set up selling all sorts of goods. Makri becomes more interested as we approach. She does like weapons, and can't help but be interested in the rows of swords, shields, helmets and so on. We're studying a display of daggers when someone claps me heartily on the back. #13 в контекст | | |
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I turn round to find myself confronted by a man a few inches shorter than me, grey haired, but wiry and vigorous. #15 в контекст | | |
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"Saxarth!" He claps me on the shoulder again. "Good to see you!" #17 в контекст | | |
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"It's the name I used when I won the tournament. I was absent without leave from the army at the time. Had to disguise my identity. Makri, this is Combius of Juval. Champion the year before me, and as good a fighter as I've met." #19 в контекст | | |
"I'd have been champion next year too if I hadn't been injured," roars Combius, cheerfully. A quite untrue statement, but I let it pass. #20 в контекст | | |
"Saxarth is justThraxas backwards," says Makri. "Couldn't you come up with something better?" #21 в контекст | | |
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"Selling weapons. Set myself up as an armourer after I retired from fighting." #23 в контекст | | |
"Then you're just the man I've been looking for. This is Makri. She needs weapons for the tournament." #24 в контекст | | |
Combius looks at Makri in surprise. "You're entering the tournament?" #25 в контекст | | |
"Couldn't you think of anything better than Saxarth?" asks Makri. #26 в контекст | | |
I purse my lips. "Could you drop the inquisition about my name? Yes, Combius, Makri is entering the tournament. She's currently bodyguard to the Head of the Sorcerers Guild and I give her every chance of doing well." #27 в контекст | | |
Combius doesn't look especially convinced, but he's not going to turn away our business. "I've got the full range here. What do you need?" #28 в контекст | | |
"Everything. Sword, shield, mail shirt, gorget, mail gloves, helmet, boots, leggings. At a generous discount for an old companion, I trust." #29 в контекст | | |
Combius leads us behind his table and signals to a young assistant to help him find suitable armour for Makri. #30 в контекст | | |
"She's a good deal thinner than anyone else I'm outfitting," he muses. "Going to need some adjustments." #31 в контекст | | |
Makri has picked up a sword from the table and makes a few practice thrusts. As she walks down the row of merchandise, examining the various pieces of armour, Combius lowers his voice. "What's the idea, Saxarth? She's not really entering the tournament is she?" #32 в контекст | | |
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"Did you lose your mind when Turai fell to the Orcs? People die in this tournament. Why risk the girl's life?" #34 в контекст | | |
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"Really? Orc blood isn't too popular around here. It's madness letting her enter." #36 в контекст | | |
By now Makri is trying on some of Combius's chainmail shirts, all of which are too large for her. She complains about the weight, comparing them unfavourably to the Orcish armour she left in Turai, something that doesn't go down well with Combius. #37 в контекст | | |
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Neither Combius nor his assistants look pleased. No western armourer will acknowledge that Orcish smiths have any skill. #40 в контекст | | |
"How about that small shirt at the back?" I suggest, to move things along. #41 в контекст | | |
"Might do," says Combius. "It's a youth's size. Made if for a Baron's son. Killed in a horse riding accident before he could wear it, poor lad. I might be able to adjust it for her." #42 в контекст | | |
By the time we leave Combius's weapons tent Makri has purchased a sword, a shield, and chainmail gloves. We have to call back for the rest later, after alterations. Makri scowls at her sword. #43 в контекст | | |
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"Of course it's blunt. Can't you get it through your head that you're not meant to kill anyone?' #45 в контекст | | |
"No. And I still thinkSaxarth was a poor choice of name. I'd have seen through it right away." #46 в контекст | | |
"Yes Makri, that's fascinating. Fortunately no one in Elath at the time had your mighty intellect. Now I have to eat. Which I should be able to do at that tent with the flag on top." #47 в контекст | | |
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By now the fields are crowded, but it takes a good man to prevent Thraxas from advancing towards a meat pie. I clear a path, enter the tent, plant myself on an available bench and beckon a serving girl in our direction. #50 в контекст | | |
