"Don't be silly. Neither. I just need to see -- " he started, then another man entered the door to the storeroom, and his face lit up. A broad, slightly ridicu- lous grin spread across his boyish features.
The uniformed man, this one in solid black, with a larger, golden star on his lapel, perhaps indicating higher rank, strode in, sweeping them all with a single glance. From the way the others deferred to him, he was obviously their superior.
"Ah, what do we have here at The Dead D Inn this time?" he began, then stopped when h Kai.
"Well hello there, Mac," Kai said, legs dangling against the keg. "What brings you to this infamous part of town?"
"Oh gods," Mac, said, his face falling. "Is this what I get for being a Watch Commander and your father's friend from University? Putting up with your antics whenever you get a wild idea and a little too much wine in your belly?"
He walked over to Kai, shaking his head. "And this time," he continued, glancing over at Alaire, "you brought an accomplice. Just what I need. I suppose it's the same old story -- "
"I didn't start it," Kai and Mac said in unison. One of the Mac's men laughed discreetly behind his back.
Mac sighed. "Of course, of course. But why can't you 'not start it' in your own playground, hmm? Don't you have enough young swordsmen in that court of yours to keep you busy?"
"We've been through this before," Kai admonished, shaking a finger reprovingly at the Watch Com- mander. "They would never kill me, or even dare to spill a single drop of my royal blood. That takes all the fun out of it. Here, on the other hand, at places of such high repute as this inn and others in the neighbor- hood, I have a more sporting chance of fighting someone not afraid to kill me. Therefore, the chal- lenge. Therefore, the fun."
"Therefore, my headache," Mac retorted. "At least you can take care of yourself. You seem to be unhurt.
And, strangely, not dead drunk. Jet. You drink more than all of my men! Combined"
Kai laughed, as if he found that terribly funny. "Ha!
But the evening is still so young!"
Mac grimaced. "It's an hour past midnight!"
Kai waggled his head from side to side, mockingly.
"My day is just beginning."
Mac seemed about to reply, but instead he just gave up, abruptly. "So be it," he said, after a long pause.
"Just do me one small favor?"
"Yes?" Kai said sweetly.
"Don't kill anyone tonight, hmm? There's no more room in the morgue. All the slabs are full." And with this parting sally, the Watch Commander turned and left, the black cloak swirling behind him. His minions followed him out the door.
Kai jumped down to his feet, his enthusiasm appar- ently renewed.
"Come on! What are you waiting for? Let's go!" His infectious grin was back. "There's hours left till dawn!"
"Where?" Alaire wanted to know, though he had a sinking feeling he already knew the answer.
"The next tavern. Of course!"
Alaire sighed.
The street's population had doubled in the brief time they were in The Dead Dragon Inn.
Party time in Suinomen, Alaire thought sourly.
The crowds parted for them, most apparently rec- ognizing the Crown Prince. It isn't just the clo Alaire thought. There was something else about the way he carried himself, despite his relative small size, that commanded the attention of everyone around him. He acted like he owned the street, the buildings, the town. And, being the Crown Prince, this was prob- ably not too far from the truth.
But without a doubt, given the way the Commander had reacted when he had seen Kai Prince was no stranger to this part of town. Those who made this place their regular haunt probably did know him. And given his propensity for picking fights, by now it was very likely that there wasn't a local who would rise to his challenge, though they also wouldn't bother to warn a stranger.
Probably he provides a lot of entertainment for them, given the way the people in The Dead Dragon were acting. Lovely. The clown Prince. Though right now he was walking and strutting like a bantam rooster, eager for another fight, swaggering about with an air of importance that Alaire found distasteful.
This air seemed to coincide with Kai's increased consumption of alcohol, he also observed, but he didn't know what to do about it. Or even if he could do anything about it.
The next bar, called, ominously, The Hair o Dog, turned out to be a discreet drinking estab- lishment for noblemen looking for cheap thrills, but still wanting some of the trappings of home to make them feel comfortable. A man dressed suspiciously like the palace guards carefully checked their "creden- tials." After Kai vouched for his companion, they entered an establishment which bordered on the luxu- rious. Discrete amenities, like well-cushioned chairs, elegant crystal glasses instead of the awkward wooden tankards of the previous inn, and a guard or two, placed inconspicuously in the shadows, lent it enough of an air of wealth to satisfy most highborn. Alaire liked the place, at first.
"Sir Jehan!" Kai shouted, almost as soon as they were in the door, waving to someone. He gr Alaire's elbow. "Come over here, Alaire, I want you to meet someone."
He headed straight for a small gathering around one of the wooden tables. No doubt, the center of attention was Sir Jehan, but this worthy was not the young nobleman Alaire had thought Kai would introduce him to. Jehan was closer to the King's age, in fact. And that made him oddly suspicious, for Kai had no reason to greet someone like this as a cup-companion. Why would he befriend the Prince when nobody else would?
Sir Jehan was a dark, handsome fellow with graying beard and hair, sitting in a thronelike chair, sur- rounded by rough-looking men (bodyguards?) and tavern wenches. Without a doubt, he was holding court.
"Ah, Kai, my dear boy," Sir Jehan said conde- scendingly. "I wondered when you would be out and about tonight." Three or four of the entourage greeted their entrance, but for the most part the attention remained affixed to the nobleman.
Without waiting for an invitation, Kai pulled up a bench and sat at their huge table, motioning for Alaire to do the same. Immediately, two barmaids appeared, eager to take his order and his money. Kai ordered two carafes of vintage red wine and two glasses, one for himself and one for Alaire.
Wine on ale? Ye gods, what a fool! Alaire thought.
The last time he had gotten drunk -- and ill -- was with this same combination. But he'd barely had any of the ale at supper, and he was too busy dealing with the fight Kai created at the last stop to have any more.
It will probably be all right -- if I'm careful. After sit- ting down with this group, he had pretty much resigned himself to drinking a little, for appearances.
At least here I can have the good stuff. Hangovers from cheap wine are horrible!
Sir Jehan stared at Alaire for a long moment before returning his own attentions to the bevy of blowsy beauties he had gathered about him, like ants swarm- ing a drop of honey. Please don't ask about me, Alaire prayed, not knowing what he would say if the noble- man did inquire about him. I'm just a nobody, a nonentity. Remember that, everybody.
But does the Prince usually keep company with nobodies? With anybody? Time to play the fool again.