Вилорп

→Just as well. If beer runs out it will be a crushing, demoralising blow for the city. I'd find it hard to carry on. Again it's a mild day, and Gurd is sweating as he helps fill the cellar.

→"Not yet," replies Partulax.

→"No shortages in the beer department?"

→Turai has a regiment of troops stationed close to the Pleasure Gardens defending the East Gate. There's been some suggestion of mounting an attack on the Stadium, but I think General Pomius is against it. We don't know how many Orcs are there and he'd rather not open any of the city gates till a relief force arrives.

→"Driver shortage," he replies. "Most of the Guild's been called up for the war. Your delivery man's up at the Gardens."

→Partulax gave up working the wagons a few years ago when he became an official in the Transport Guild. These days he spends most of his time sitting in an office giving out jobs and contracts.

→"What are you doing on a wagon, Partulax?"

→Next day I'm out on the streets early enough to catch the first beer delivery. I recognise the large, red-haired man who's rolling barrels down to the cellar.

→Chapter Seven

→No wishing to listen to any more mockery, I take a bowl of stew—with no yams—and depart to the far corner of the room, where I sit in front of the fire, listening to mercenaries talk about fighting. I wonder about the Ocean Storm, and I wonder about Tanrose's mother's tale of buried gold. Which is most likely to earn me some money in a short space of time? It's a difficult choice. I decide to investigate each one tomorrow, and see where it takes me.

→"Of course, Hanama's on the small side, so you'll have to be careful . . ."

→"Definitely," says Tanrose. "I've been telling him for years he should settle down."

→"Tanrose, don't you think it's time Thraxas got himself a woman?" calls Makri.

→Tanrose appears from the kitchen, carrying a tray of pastries.

→"You might form a bond," says Makri. "It's time you got yourself some female companionship. Hey, even Gurd's not alone these days."

→"Sleep in the same room as an Assassin? No chance."

→"Just sleep on the floor in your office."

→"Maybe I can sleep behind the bar," I muse.

→Now I'm stuck for inspiration.

→"Right after he asked her to marry him," Makri informs me.