Вилорп

→Dandelion and Tanrose. Then he looks at me. I figure I'm expected to say something.

→Captain Rallee has a lot of men engaged in the hunt. So far they've had no more success than the Sorcerers Guild or Praetor Samilius. The Captain glances round to where Moolifi is engaged in a conversation with

→The Captain's point being, of course, that if the Orcs get hold of the Ocean Storm they can use the magical talisman to batter down our defences around the harbour and sail right in. It's a good option for Prince Amrag. He doesn't have siege engines and it's hard to see how he can storm the walls in winter. The eastern and western gates of the city are heavily guarded by men and sorcery, and the North Gate, where the river flows into the city, is extremely well protected. Battering his way into the harbour might be his best plan.

→"Maybe they don't plan to be out there for long."

→"I don't think they'll be out in this weather. There's no good anchorage along the coast. If they got caught in a storm they'd be done for."

→I'd heard about it. I'm not sure if I believe it.

→"It's a big thing for the city," says the Captain. "If you do somehow stumble across it, get it to the Sorcerers as soon as possible. You know there was a report of an Orcish fleet not far along the coast?"

→I shake my head. I sent a message to the Guards telling them about the two bodies in Silver Lane, so Captain Rallee now knows about the murders. I sent the message anonymously so he doesn't know it was me who found them. Or possibly he does; Captain Rallee isn't a fool.

→"Any success?"

→I nod.

→"Thraxas. I hear you've been looking for the Ocean Storm."

→I've never seen him looking so cheerful. He's in such a benevolent mood he forgets to be annoyed about the fact that we're both working on the same case.

→Moolifi sings a few more songs for the customers. It's a memorable night. Worries about the war are banished, and people still grieving for the friends and relatives they lost in the battle forget them for a while. Makri might not approve of cheap entertainment but it certainly goes down well at the Avenging Axe. As for Captain Rallee,

→"Some time tomorrow," mutters Makri, and departs into the throng of drinkers with her tray, snatching tankards right and left.

→"Bring me another beer!" I roar.

→I bang my tankard some more. Makri shakes her head in disgust and rises to her feet. She snatches my tankard off me and puts it on her tray.

→"How could you not like it? She's a great performer."

→"That was awful," says Makri. "What sort of idiot would enjoy that sort of thing? Thraxas, stop banging your tankard on the table."

→Makri sneers. She lights a thazis stick, and keeps her back towards Moolifi, determined not to show any interest in her performance. She's the only one to do so. Voices are hushed and the drinking contest comes to a halt as Moolifi starts to sing. The hush doesn't last for long. As Moolifi launches into "Love Me Through the Winter," there are roars of appreciation. "Love Me Through the Winter" is her most popular song, and delivery boys and wagon drivers have been whistling it for months. It has a strong tune and by the time she's reached the first chorus tankards are starting to beat out time. As the song comes to an end the audience erupts with applause. Tankards, fists and sword pommels are banged on tables in thunderous approval.

→"We're in the middle of a war. Nothing wrong with a little entertainment."