Martin Scott - Thraxas at War

'I didn't slug him at all,' replies Makri. 'He just fell over drunk.'

I nod.

'Too much beer. He was trying to keep up with Viriggax.'

I'm puzzled.

'Why did you let a drunken mercenary into your room without punching him?'

Makri shrugs.

'No reason.'

'So what happened?'

'What do you mean, what happened? He came in, then he fell over unconscious. What's it got to do with you anyway?'

'Nothing. If you want to start inviting mercenaries into your bedroom it's your affair.'

'I didn't invite him into my bedroom. He just arrived.'

Makri suddenly glances over my shoulder. I look round to find that Hanama has arrived on the scene, quite noiselessly. The Assassin looks slightly confused at the sight that greets her.

'What are you doing here?' I demand. 'How did you get into the tavern?'

'I picked the lock. What's happening?'

'Nothing,' says Makri.

'She's just evicting a drunken mercenary,' I explain.

'Did he try to break into your room?'

'No,' I say. 'She invited him in.'

Hanama frowns.

'You're inviting mercenaries into your room? When did this start?'

'Nothing has started,' says Makri, raising her voice. 'He just knocked on my door and I let him in. I don't see anything strange in that.'

'I think it's very strange,' says Hanama, who, for some reason, is not sounding at all pleased. 'You've never done it before.'

'She's right,' I agree. 'It's not like you at all. Usually you'd just punch the guy'

'Or maybe kick him,' says Hanama.

'Or even stab him.'

'Shut up,' says Makri crossly. 'It's none of your business.'

I notice a few leaves projecting from Hanama's winter cloak.

Are those flowers?'

'No,' says Hanama.

'Yes they are.'

'Well so what if they are?'

Assassins are trained from a young age to hide their emotions. Even so, for the briefest of moments I'd swear a look of embarrassment flickers across Hanama's face.

'Did you bring them for me?' asks Makri.

'No,' says Hanama. 'I just had them on me.'

She pauses.

'Unless you want them. You can have them if you want.'

'Thank you,' says Makri.

'Of course,' says Hanama, 'if you're too busy with the mercenary ..."

'I'm not busy with anything.'

Hanama suddenly looks cross.

'I do think it's very strange that you're suddenly inviting northern mercenaries into your room late at night. Did you really think about the consequences?'

'Goddammit,' explodes Makri. 'I didn't know I had to ask permission before I had visitors!'

Heavy footsteps on the stairs announce the arrival of Gurd. He walks up, torch in hand, wondering what all the noise is.

'What's going on?'

'Nothing,' says Makri.

'She has drunken mercenaries in her room,' says Hanama, quite sharply.

'Is this true?' demands Gurd.

'Only partially,' replies Makri.

Gurd looks down at the unconscious figure of Toraggax.

'Did you punch him?'

'What is this with me punching people?' demands Makri. 'You all seem to think I spend my whole time punching everyone.'

'Well you do,' says Gurd.

'She didn't have to punch him,' says Hanama. 'She just invited him right into her room.'

'What for?'

'We're not exactly clear about that,' I say.

There are some softer footsteps on the stairs. Tanrose has arrived. She's clad in a very fancy robe, embroidered with yellow roses.

'What's happening?'

'Makri punched a mercenary,' says Gurd, who hasn't quite got the picture yet.

'I didn't punch him,' protests Makri. 'I invited him in.'

'So you just come right out and admit it?' says Hanama.

Gurd suddenly becomes suspicious, and looks at Makri and Hanama.

Are you having a meeting? You know I told you you couldn't have meetings of the Association of Gentlewomen in my tavern.'

It's not a meeting,' says Makri.

'Because I absolutely forbid it.'

'Yes, I heard you the first time,' says Makri, testily.

'Why can't they have meetings?' says Tanrose.

'Why? You expect my tavern to become a meeting place for these appalling women with their constant complaints? I will not put up with women who hate men.'

'How can you say that Makri hates men?' objects Tanrose. 'She's just told us that she's been inviting mercenaries to spend the night with her.'

'Has Makri been inviting mercenaries to spend the night with her?' says Dandelion, appearing in a nightrobe so bright it would serve as a beacon. She looks at Makri.

'Is that wise? Did you really think about the consequences?'

'That's exactly what I said,' cries Hanama.

'Hello, Hanama,' says Dandelion. 'Those are nice flowers. Did you bring them for Makri?'

'No,' says Hanama, sharply. 'I just found them outside.'

Dandelion looks down at the prone figure of Toraggax.

'If you invited him to spend the night with you, why did you knock him unconscious?'

'I didn't knock him unconscious,' says Makri.

Dandelion looks troubled.

'Did you stab him? Is he dead?'

'Could everybody just leave me alone?' demands Makri.

'Well of course,' says Hanama, icily. 'I wouldn't have visited if I'd known you were engaged in a secret rendezvous with the virile young Toraggax.'

'I was not engaged in anything!' roars Makri.

'Is this a meeting?' asks Dandelion, eagerly. 'Will you let me join the Association of Gentlewomen now?'

It isn't the most helpful thing Dandelion could have said. The corridor seems to erupt in a very loud series of accusations, counteraccusations and general bad temper. Gurd, Tanrose, Makri and Hanama yell at each other while Dandelion stands there grinning like an idiot. Realising that pre-war dementia has now set in and there's nothing to be done about it, I retreat back to my rooms. At least no one seems to be yelling at me. Which should make me feel good, I suppose, though I don't seem to be in the best of moods as I climb back into my bed.

Chapter Nineteen

The landus making its way slowly along Moon and Stars Boulevard contains three rather moody passengers. Gurd, Makri and I sit in silence as the driver negotiates his way through the icy streets. Our phalanxes are scheduled for practice. The weather is far too severe but the Consul has decreed that it must go ahead anyway. As for Makri, she's on her way to Lisutaris's villa. The Sorcerers Guild are due to appear on the field later today and Makri is required to take up her duties as bodyguard. She's carrying her armour in a bag on her lap. Also in the bag is the paper I took from Bevarius. Makri has been unable to translate some of the Orcish sorcerous terminology but it seems to concern the magical transporting of dragons, so Lisutaris should examine it.

Gurd has hardly spoken a word since we climbed into the landus. I presume this is due to last night's disagreement with Makri, though it's unlike Gurd to bear a grudge. Our landus is halted by a road block. The Civil Guards are checking every carriage, looking for Herminis. A guard pokes his head inside, then waves us through. Though the city is already in crisis, the sensational prison breakout of the Senator's wife has not failed to grip the public's imagination. The Chronicle is reporting that an armed gang, aided by Sorcerers, freed the woman from her place of captivity and are currently being hunted by every Civil Guard in town.

'You've really landed me in it this time,' I mutter to Makri, softly, so that Gurd won't hear.

'There's nothing to worry about,' whispers Makri. 'Lisutaris and Tirini have got everything hidden.'

'I'm not ready,' blurts out Gurd, unexpectedly.

'What?'

'I'm not ready to get married,'

Not feeling that it is quite the time to discuss this, I make no reply, but Gurd seems insistent. He grabs my arm.