Martin Scott - Thraxas and the Ice Dragon

I turn angrily to Lisutaris. «What was that?» I demand.

«What do you mean?» says Lisutaris.

«Why didn't you help me?»

«I wanted to see how well you fought these days,» says Lisutaris.

«What?»

«You're always going on about sword-fighting, and Makri's technique, and how good you were. I just wanted to see if you still had it.»

«I could have been killed!»

«I'd have stepped in if you needed me.»

I'm not finding this entirely satisfactory. «You can't just leave someone to fight three people because you're curious about their fighting technique! That's not what comrades do!»

«Are we comrades?» says Lisutaris.

«I thought we were.»

«Really Thraxas, I think you're making too much of a fuss. Particularly as you did fight so well. I was impressed. Should we move on? Probably it wouldn't be good for my reputation to be discovered in this alleyway with a dead man at my feet.»

I glare at her, exasperated. Before leaving I removed the assailant's scarf. It's no one I recognise, and there's nothing in his pockets to identify him. Even so, I'm fairly sure he was working for Big Bixo's business partner. That might even have been the man in the helmet, he looked of similar build. We hurry along, emerging from the alley into a broad thoroughfare that leads up to Arichdamis house. I'm still angry at Lisutaris for not helping me. This woman can bring down war dragons from the sky. She could have dealt with three armed thugs easily enough.

«Are you still in a bad mood?» asks Lisutaris, airily.

«Yes.»

«I really don't see why. I was there if you needed me.»

«What's the idea of saying you wanted to see what my sword-fighting technique was like? It makes it sound like I might have been lying about it.»

«I wouldn't put it quite like that. Exaggerating, maybe. You are prone to that. Anyway, weren't you pleased to get some practice?»

«Practice? I had to kill a man!»

«Does that bother you?»

«No,» I admit. «Not when he was trying to kill me.»

We walk on in silence. We're almost at Arichdamis's house when Lisutaris next speaks. «I like the idea of being a comrade.»

«What?»

« Comrade . We don't use that word in the Sorcerers Guild. I rather like it. All in the struggle together. Would Makri count as a comrade as well?»

«I suppose so.»

«Good. I must tell her what splendid technique you displayed. Really, none of your attackers came close to harming you.» Lisutaris reaches inside her magic purse and, to my surprise, brings out a large bottle of ale.

«Where did you get that?»

«I used a spell to whisk it out of the Jolly Bandit.»

I open the bottle immediately and take a drink. «I'm still not pleased with you.»

«You will be when you've finished it,» says Lisutaris.

Inside Arichdamis's house, I finish my beer, and I think. Mainly, I think I'd like another beer, but I give some consideration to Demelzos's daughter. Why is she in danger? She's been sitting around at home, being a dutiful daughter as far as anyone knows, without an enemy in the world. Suddenly her best friend is killed, and she's in danger. There's no reason for it. My enquiries have failed to come up with so much as a hint that she's involved in anything unusual. No disreputable lover. No secret business interest. No secrets at all, as far as I can learn.

My thoughts turn to her family. I've only briefly encountered her brother. From all accounts he's a decent young man. He's about to marry well. Though perhaps not as well as he imagines, I reflect, remembering the financial difficulties Baron Vosanos finds himself in. This makes me frown. I don't like it that Vosanos is in financial difficulties. Financial difficulties lead to crime. But again, why pick on Merlione? It doesn't make any sense.

I hunt in the cellar for more beer. There's none. Arichdamis is apparently refusing to restock his cellars while I'm still in residence. It's a poor way to treat a guest. I traipse back upstairs, suddenly afflicted by a great wave of melancholy. I should be sitting in the Avenging Axe, drinking beer and swapping war stories with Gurd. I miss Gurd, the old barbarian. I meet Lisutaris in the corridor.

«Thraxas. Why the gloomy face?»

«I miss Gurd. And the Avenging Axe. And drinking beer with my friends.»

Lisutaris manages to look more sympathetic than I'd have expected. «Share some wine with me,» she suggests.

So acute is the melancholy that I'm unable even to pretend to be enthusiastic.

«Am I that bad a substitute?» asks the Sorcerer.

«You're not a bad substitute, Lisutaris. But I need beer in a tavern. And men to swap war stories with.»

The Sorceress laughs, not unkindly. «I miss my old friends too,» she says. «You'd be surprised how many hours Tirini and I spent gossiping. But I've been in plenty of battles. So has Makri, come to that. Perhaps we could try swapping some reminiscences?»

A key sounds in the front door. It's Makri. «Lisutaris! General Hemistos tried to kiss me! And he invited me back to his mansion for the night!»

«What? Really? Tell me everything.» The Sorceress looks at me apologetically. «It looks like the war stories will have to wait.»

«That's all right. It probably wouldn't have been the same anyway.»

Lisutaris and Makri go off to talk about the men in their lives. I retire to my room and lie on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I try to think about my investigation, but I keep losing concentration and thinking about Turai instead, and the Avenging Axe, and drinking with Gurd, and playing cards with Captain Rallee. It leads to me sleeping badly and waking early. I dress quickly and head out to the public baths for a long soak to set me up for the day. I have a busy schedule planned. First I intend to visit Baroness Demelzos for more information about her family's finances. After that I'll return to the King's Record House to carry on reading. I'll need to speak to Cetenos too, about the documents for Baron Vosanos's court case that seem to be missing. Later in the afternoon I have to be at the tournament field for Makri's next fight. Makri has been drawn against Parasas the Niojan, who beat her in the qualifying group. For once, she's eager to engage, determined to erase the memory of her humiliating defeat.

On my way to the baths I run into Baron Girimos. He greets me genially. «Thraxas of Turai! You're a man with a decent appetite. Join me for breakfast?»

I'm not going to refuse an offer of breakfast from a Baron, though I'm puzzled as to why the Baron would be wandering around Elath, apparently intending to eat in a tavern. Presumably, as a wealthy Baron, he has his own kitchens. The Baron soon lets me know his reasons. «You wouldn't believe the state of my house at this moment. Relatives everywhere. Wife's relations, mostly. Spongers to a man. Can't stand them myself, but you know what wives are like. Do you know what wives are like?»

I tell the Baron that mine left me a long time ago.

«Splendid news!» he exclaims. «Wish mine would take off, and take her relatives with her. I can't eat properly with these vultures at the table, it puts me off my food. Can't drink properly either, with my daughters tut-tutting every time I reach for a flagon.» The Baron comes to a halt, eyeing the establishment ahead of us. «The Jolly Bandit? What's this place like?»

«Serves a good ale,» I tell him. «And not a bad beef pie.»

«Excellent!» cries the Baron, and heads straight in. The Jolly Bandit might not be frequented by the highest class of customer, but Baron Girimos isn't going to let that stand in his way. At this time in the morning, the tavern is empty save for a woman wiping tables, and a man rolling a barrel of beer into position behind the bar.