[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.“Forgive me, sir,” Veles said.“I did not know we had a revered Agillean among us this day.I did not even know we had a new Agillean, I have been here so long.”“I am the 93rd Agillean, Overseer,” the warrior announced.“I am too old for you to remember, most likely.”“I had no idea you were even alive, Agillean,” Veles replied.A look of confusion came over his face, as if he were trying to figure out some puzzle in his mind, but after a moment he focused and looked back at the large Rathgar.“As Overseer, I authorize any command you give, but if you will hear me, I strongly suggest that we interrogate this prisoner before he be allowed to leave… by your consideration, of course.”“Your suggestion is duly noted, Overseer, and I will make sure Empress Kalystra knows it was you who apprehended the intruder,” The Agillean said.“But they will not be interrogated or eviscerated here, by you.This Northerner is either a lunatic, or has a deep conviction to his cause to travel this far into enemy territory, don’t you think? Such a man would best be brought to the Citadel, not put beneath an Overseers boot heel.”“If he is a spy, or even plans an attack on the Empress…” Veles began, before the big warrior cut him off.“Then I, not Veles of Fang, will be held responsible,” the Agillean said.“You’ve done your job well, Overseer, none could say different.I am requesting that you let me take personal responsibility for this invader, as a favor to an Agillean.”Veles took on a look of intrigue and looked back at Raegith while touching his lips with a finger in thought.“Of course, Agillean,” he replied.“It would be my honor.I shall keep the foreigners under supervision as you finish preparing for your travels.”“Good, I won’t be long,” he said, turning to return to the inn.“Allow them to collect their things.”A Rathgar guard escorted Raegith into the inn, where he gathered his belongings and brought them back out to the road to await the Agillean.When Brimgor came back out, he faltered a bit on the steps, but straightened himself and paced right for Veles.With another salute, he took charge of the three foreigners and led them out of the village, promising to return at some point so that he could return the favor to Veles.Raegith wondered what had become of Fibbitch and his men or even Helkree, who had not returned as she said she would.Neither was a huge loss now that he had some form of revered warrior leading him to the Citadel, but Raegith felt remorse in leaving them behind.“What is going on, Raegith?” Zakk asked.So comfortable was he in his ability to converse with the natives that he sometimes forgot that she could not understand anything that was being said.“We were almost skinned alive… starting with our eyelids, but this guy saved us.”“Fates…” Ebriz sighed, gripping his chest.“I really should have stayed at home.”“How do you know he saved us and isn’t just leading us away from the town to rape us without any witnesses?” Zakk asked, adjusting the sword on her hip.“From the way the others acted around him, I doubt he would have cared about any witnesses.”About an hour into the trek to the Citadel, the Rathgar slowed, looked around at the rocky formations surrounding the road they followed and called out.“I know you’re up there, little harlot,” he bellowed.“How much longer do you intend for me to walk with these fools before I’ve earned what you promised?”A shadow moved from behind a rock and a familiar cloak rose up from behind it and moved down the hill, the sound of muffled armor moving underneath.Helkree pulled back her cowl as she reached the two and she smiled at Raegith.The sight of her seemed to make him anxious and he eagerly stretched his arm out to her, looking a lot less regal than he had in front of Veles.Helkree regarded him sourly and then took Raegith’s water skin out from under her cloak and passed it to the warrior.Relief washed over his face, but then he tested the weight and frowned.“Is this it?” he asked.“You led me to believe there was more last night.Plus, I didn’t think I would have to talk down a damn Overseer, either.That should be worth more!”“You stupid drunk,” Helkree growled.“You must have conveniently forgotten that enormous bar tab you ran up last night after you accepted my offer.How do you think that got paid? This is what’s left after I had to sell five ounces just to get you square with the innkeeper.”“Damn you, woman, I am an Agillean…” The Rathgar roared.“You were an Agillean,” Helkree said, cutting him off.“That was half a century and a hundred kegs ago, old man.We’re all damn lucky that the Overseer didn’t know anything about you; that or he didn’t realize that the 93rd Agillean was Brimgor the Forgotten.If you can ration it, this should last you a month.”“A month my face!” Brimgor huffed.“I’ve burned out my tolerance to Kafkel years ago.It’ll take half an ounce just to make my head swim.I couldn’t make this last a week!”“How is that my problem?” Helkree asked.“Look, it’s this or nothing and you can’t just take us back to Knot’s.The Overseer catches you with this and not even your status as Agillean will save you.So what’s it going to be?”“I’ll take what you offer, wench,” Brimgor sighed.“I’m appalled by your lack of respect for my title and I’m sure your family would be, too.”“My family would give less of a fuck than I do, if they had the breath for it,” Helkree replied, waving him off.She turned to Raegith and smiled again.“I’m sorry for not joining you sooner, but I thought enlisting the services of an old warrior might serve us well.It’s a good thing I did, or you might be missing a pair of eyelids right now.”“I see you’ve managed to find some armor,” Raegith said.“I knew you would be of more use than you claimed.”“I’m pretty impressed myself,” she replied, pulling her cloak off and returning it to Raegith.Her armor looked a bit old and didn’t fit correctly, a mix of leather and metal plating for the torso and a leather skirt with strips of metal attached in loose lines dangling nearly to her knees.It looked as if she had sheared the top of the breastplate off and bent it outward to accommodate her massive bosom, as the armor was clearly meant for a man.She had leather boots and gauntlets as well.“I didn’t even have to fuck or kill anyone to save your ass.”“Well, your debt is paid,” Raegith replied.“You can return to… whatever you were doing before being chained to a rock in the desert.”“You were a Stone Worshipper?” Brimgor asked Helkree, laughing.“Did this one free you? Raegith of the Grass-Hair, I know your tale was mostly bullshit and something else entirely brought you here, but if this one here worshipped the stone, then she isn’t worth your time.”“Says the traitor whose name no one dare speak for fear of their stomach heaving!” Helkree shot back.“I appreciate your concern, Brimgor, but I take no one’s word on who is worthy but my own,” Raegith said, cutting into the argument.“Plenty have thought me unworthy as well.”“Raegith, these people who think you unworthy, they caused you to be here?” Brimgor asked.Raegith nodded [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]