“I think I shall try the erdlu.”
Ryana glanced at him curiously, raising her eyebrows.
“Excellent choice,” said Tajik, beaming.
Ryana pursed her lips and said nothing.
When the meal came, it was delicious. Sorak ate ravenously. His first taste triggered a craving for more. He had never felt anything like it before.
“You must have been hungry,” Tajik said with a grin, watching him eat. “Here, try some of this ale.”
“Thank you, but I prefer water,” Sorak said.
“Water?” Tajik said with surprise. “You prefer water to ale?”
“I do not drink spirits,” Sorak said.
“Not even wine?”
Sorak shook his head. “I have no taste for it.”
“Pity,” Tajik said, shaking his head sadly. Like most dwarves, he loved to drink, and he quaffed the ale as quickly as the serving girl refilled the pitcher. Sorak had heard that dwarves could out-drink anybody, and watching Tajik swill the ale, he believed it.
“So, have you come to South Ledopolus in search of employment, or are you just passing through?”
Sorak hesitated. “I have not yet decided,” he replied after a moment.
“Ah. Well, if you choose to stay, for however long, perhaps I could be of assistance. I am not without influence here, and would be pleased to give you a recommendation.”
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” Sorak said. “But for the present, we would simply like to rest from our journey before making further plans.”
“Where were you traveling from?” asked Tajik. “Most people come to South Ledopolus by way of the caravan route, yet you came across the estuary.
Don’t tell me you walked all the way from the Mekillots?”
“That is the way we came,” said Sorak, which was the truth, though not the whole truth.
“A long, hard journey,” Tajik said. “But not really a surprising one, for two people who had crossed the Barrens. You came from Salt View then?”
Ryana nodded. “Yes, we spent some time there.” Which was also true.
“The gaming houses of Salt View are not the sort of place one would expect to find a villichi priestess,” Tajik said.
“Our pilgrimages take us all over the world,” Ryana replied. “Besides, why preach to the converted? Wherever there is hope of spreading the preserver cause, that is where you’ll find us.”
Tajik nodded, apparently satisfied, but Sorak had a feeling the ferry captain suspected they were withholding information. Without his telepathic personalities, though, Sorak could not know. He saw no reason to distrust Tajik, but prudence advised against being completely frank with him.
“What can you tell me of a mercenary named Kieran?” Sorak asked, to change the subject.
Tajik frowned and shook his head. “The name is not familiar to me.”
“He was the one who gave me his water on the boat,” said Sorak.
“Ah, the one dressed like a walking catalog of rare hides?” asked Tajik.
“That’s him,” said Sorak.
The ferry captain shook his head. “I noticed him. Who could not, with clothes like that? But I have never seen him before. His name is Kieran, you say?”
“Yes, that was the name he gave me.”
“Hmm. Well, I could ask around. Is there a particular reason for your curiosity?”
“He offered me employment,” Sorak said. “He said he was on his way to Altaruk to accept a position as captain of the guard with the House of Jhamri.”
“Indeed?” said Tajik, raising his eyebrows “That speaks highly of his capabilities. Jhamri hires nothing but the best for senior officers. If this Kieran has offered you employment, perhaps you should accept. You will not find anything in South Ledopolus that could compare with the salary you would receive working for a merchant house in Altaruk.”
“I told him I would consider it,” said Sorak. “But I should like to know something of a man’s background before I agree to work for him.”
“Quite understandable,” said Tajik, nodding. “Well, I know where we can probably find out. If he has been recruited for such a post, he must have a reputation. His fellow mercenaries would know, and since most of them have just been paid, I know where we can find a good sampling to ask. But perhaps we should escort Ryana back to my home first.”
“Why?” Ryana asked, puzzled.
“Because the Desert Damsel is not the sort of place to take a priestess,” Tajik replied.
“And why is that?” she asked again.
Tajik cleared his throat. “Well… the Damsel is a pleasure house, the most popular attraction in South Ledopolus, where women dance and, uh, artfully remove clothing. One can go there simply for the show, but there are also rooms upstairs where, for a price, one can enjoy a, uh, ‘private dance,’ if you get my meaning.”
“How very interesting,” Ryana said. “I would like to see it.”
Tajik looked scandalized. “You would?”
“Yes, very much. Can we go there after dinner?”
Tajik swallowed hard. “I… uh… really do not think it is a proper place for a lady like yourself.”
“Why not?” Ryana asked.
Tajik glanced at Sorak, helplessly.
“Don’t look at me,” said Sorak. “Ryana makes her own decisions.”
“I have never seen a pleasure house,” Ryana said. “I’m curious to know what it is like.”
“It is much like any other place where mercenaries drink, only much more so,” Tajik said. “I don’t think you would enjoy it much.”
“I should like the opportunity to judge that for myself,” Ryana said.
Tajik sighed with resignation. “Well, if you insist…”
“It is a rather rowdy crowd tonight,” said Edric as he came into the dressing room, rubbing his temple where a thrown bottle had struck him. It had shattered and cut the skin, and a thin trickle of blood ran down the side of his face. The spot was already swelling, and there would be a nasty bruise.
Cricket was up out of her chair at once. “Here, let me see,” she said.
“It’s of no consequence,” said Edric. “This is my last night.”
Cricket moistened a clean cloth and gently washed the cut. “Those brutes,” she said vehemently.
Edric winced as she cleaned the cut. “Well, they did not come to hear my ballads. I do not know why Turin even bothered hiring me.”
“To build up their anticipation,” Cricket said. “He likes a dull act to open the show.” And then she realized what she had said and bit her lower lip. “Forgive me. That came out wrong. I did not mean that I found you dull myself.”
Edric chuckled. “No, I understand. The pleasure of your company has been the only thing that has made this engagement bearable. And you have been a most appreciative audience, for which I thank you.”
“I cannot wait to leave this place,” said Cricket. “I’ve booked passage on the caravan. I only wish it would leave tonight.”
“Tomorrow will be soon enough,” said Edric. “Turin still does not suspect your plans?”
“I do not think so,” Cricket said. “If he does, he’s shown no indication of it. Still, I would not put it past him to attempt something to make me stay.”
“What could he do?”
“Hire some mercenaries to detain me while the caravan departs,” she said. “He probably wouldn’t even have to pay them. He would merely offer them inducements.”
“Mmmm, yes, I can imagine what sort of inducements he would offer,” Edric said. “Still, he can’t force you to dance.”
Cricket shook her head. “I don’t know,” she said. “I have wanted to leave here for so long, it hardly seems possible that the time has come at last. I keep thinking something will go wrong.”