Steven Brust - Jhegaala

The stable-boy nodded to me and brought out Marsi, saddled her. He worked quickly and efficiently, like he'd done this a thousand times. He probably had. What a life. Marsi was able to contain her enthusiasm on seeing me again. Or maybe not—she did lift her head for a moment, and for her that might have been enthusiasm. The stable-boy looked things over carefully, tightened this and that, then nodded and put the reins in my hand.

I led dear Marsi out of the stable, and, with the assistance of the stable-boy, got mounted. Once again, I was struck by the sense of height—looking at a horse, you don't think you should feel as high up as you do. I wondered if this explained the attitude of the Mounted Guard—always the most obnoxious of the Phoenix Guard to deal with.

For her part, Marsi seemed bored with the whole thing. I took the reins in both hands, touched her flanks with my heels, and sort of urged her forward with my hips. I couldn't see her face well enough to know if she rolled her eyes, but she started moving forward.

"Boss!"

"What is it, Lot—"

"Behind you!"

I turned in the saddle, which wasn't as easy as it should have been. Marsi stopped. I looked. There were a few people in the street, but none close to me.

" What? Where?"

"About forty yards down, north side of the street, under the awning, walking away from you. Blue vest"

And there he was, easily recognizable even from the back. Now was a fine time for him to show up. I started to turn Marsi around. I guess I did something wrong, because she seemed confused. But then I thought about it. What was I going to do? Could I stop now and have a long conversation with him, and just ignore the invitation that was supposed to actually tell me what was going on? Make an appointment to meet him later? What if he didn't want to talk to me?

Damn and blast.

"Loiosh, stay with him."

"I don't like leaving you right now, Boss."

"I'm not crazy about it either, but I need to see the Count, and I do not want to lose that slippery bastard again. Go."

There were mutterings into my mind, but he flew off. I got Marsi headed in the right direction and started out of town.

"Where is he going, Loiosh?"

"Looks like back to the Hat, Boss, just as carefree as you please."

"I don't suppose you can go in there. I want to see if he's meeting with someone. Dammit."

"If there's a window open I can stick my snakey little head through it."

"Yeah, I guess that's the best we can do."

I continued my leisurely pace out of town.

"Whoops, guess I was wrong, Boss. He's not going into the inn , he's going behind it."

"Oh, that's interesting."

" To the stables"

"Good place to find a horse."

"He's talking to the stable-boy."

" Can you get close enough to listen?"

"I'll try ... yes. Boss, he's asking about you, Where you went and how long ago."

"Is he getting answers?"

" No. Wait. Money is changing hands. Yes, he's getting answers.”

I thought hard about turning around right then, but it seemed that as long as I was getting information, this was working and I should stay with it. And the visit to the Count was too important to throw over.

"Okay, he's done talking to the stable-boy. He's heading away from the inn and . . . he seems to be going across town."

It was a pleasant day for a ride, I have to say. And Marsi was as delightful as ever. Rocza seemed to consider herself fully on duty; she kept looking around, and sometimes leaving my shoulder to fly in a wide circle overhead.

Then, "There's a warehouse near the docks with an overhanging doorway. He's in the doorway, looks like he's waiting for someone."

"All right.”

More countryside went by. A few birds sang, and I passed a flock of sheep grazing on a low hill with no shepherd in sight. It was calm and peaceful and pastoral and I loosened my rapier in its sheath because I don't trust calm and peaceful and pastoral.

"Oh my, Boss! You'll never guess who just showed up to meet him."

"The Empress?"

"Funny."

"Tell.”

"Remember that tag who told you about the coachman? Well, she hasn't left town."

Well. Well.

Now, just how was I going to fit that into my calculations?

"Well, Boss? Just how are you going to fit that into your calculations?"

"I'm just working on that, Loiosh. Can you get close enough to hear what they're saying?"

" No way, Boss. I'm right above them, and they're talking too low to hear."

"Damn. Okay, can you instruct Rocza to follow one of them, while you follow the other? I really want to know where they both go."

"And leave you unprotected?"

"I'm armed. Can she do it?"

He hesitated, and I got the feeling he didn't want to answer. But he finally said, "If the conversation continues long enough. It's going to take her half an hour at least to get back here."

"Let's try for it, Loiosh."

" Boss...."

"Do it.”

Rocza flew from my shoulder, heading back toward town.

I almost chewed my nails. I very much wanted Rocza to get there in time. I very much wanted to know what they were talking about. Marsi picked up my nervousness and got a bit skittish, so I patted her neck and tried to calm down.

"You sure there's no way you can hear what they're saying?"

"Sorry, Boss. There's just no place I can slide my snakey head without them seeing it."

I had a suggestion about where he could slide his snakey head, but I kept it to myself.

Just about the time I was arriving at the Count's estate, Loiosh said, " Rocza is here, Boss, and they're still talking about whatever they're talking about."

" Good," I said. "Stay with them.”

"Will do, Boss. Be careful.”

"I always am."

As I approached the entry area, the groom seemed to recognize me, or, at any rate, Marsi. He came forward with his hand out to assist me down. I gave him a cool nod. Once I was on the ground again, he took the reins and said, "You are expected, my lord."

I stood there, waiting until I felt like my legs would start working again, which took a couple of minutes. I spent it looking around the grounds as if I were just sort of vaguely curious.

When I could move without embarrassing myself, I climbed the low stairway up to the door. I pulled on the rope, the low gong sounded within, and presently the door swung open.

The same butler as before made the same bow as before. "Welcome, Lord Merss. His Lordship is expecting you."

We met in the same room, and I was offered the same chair. I took a different one, partly to be contrary, and partly because I was a little jumpy. The butler pretended not to notice. The Count gave me a sort of look, but let it pass.

"Thank you for agreeing to see me," he said. .

"On the contrary," I told him. "Thank you."

He smiled. "Brandy? Ale? Wine?"

"Wine," I said.

He nodded at the butler, who went off to fetch the necessities.

"So then," said the Count, sitting back a little and folding his hands over his belly. "We have something in common."

"An enemy, it would seem."

He nodded, and the butler gave me my wine, and gave the Count a glass of the same amber liquid he'd had before. He lifted his, I did the same, we sipped. It was slightly sweeter than the last one had been, and agreeably spicy.

"Okay, Boss. They've split up. I'm staying with him."