Slathbog's Gold - Forman Mark L - Страница 62

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“I don’t know about friends, but there are a lot of them,” replied Bartholomew. “Been turning up in droves over the last couple of weeks.”

“Why would that be?” Bregnest asked.

“Well, it’s the dragon, isn’t it?” said Bartholomew, looking at the tents and carts along the road. “Story is out that old Slathbog has finally died, or been killed, or gone away, depending on which story you choose to believe. This lot is off to look for the dragon’s treasure, and in my opinion, the sooner they go, the better.”

They all had to suppress their laughter because they knew these treasure hunters would find little in Varlo, unless they were looking for land.

“The magistrate must be happy with all the trade,” said Bregnest with a short laugh.

“I suppose he is,” Bartholomew replied thoughtfully. “Though it’s hard to tell what makes him happy. I suppose you’ll be spending the night then?”

“If we can find a room in the city,” said Bregnest.

“Oh, you needn’t worry about that,” Bartholomew called, as the company started moving through the gate. “Not many of these will pay for a room. I believe old Tantic has plenty of space.”

Tantic greeted the company as if they were old friends he hadn’t seen in years. Before they could even climb off their horses, he had brought out a tray of drinks for them and toasting to the good fortunes of Techen. After their drinks and a few words with Tantic, Alex and the others took their horses into the stable for the night. There was no sign of Eric Von Tealo, so Bregnest asked Tantic where he could be found.

“Ah, a sad story that,” answered Tantic. “A good man he was with horses, though perhaps not so good with people.”

“You say was,” Bregnest interrupted. “Is he no longer here?”

“Old Eric turned sick this last winter,” said Tantic, shaking his head sadly. “We tried to care for him, but there was only so much we could do. He crossed the wall just as spring was coming in.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” Bregnest said. “We owed him a debt. Can you tell us where he is buried? The least we can do is pay our respects.”

“That’s very kind of you,” said Tantic with a smile. “Though I doubt you’ll be happy with his resting place.”

The company followed Tantic’s directions to Techen’s graveyard to pay their last respects to Eric. They noticed that there were many fine headstones scattered about the graveyard, but on Eric’s grave was only a small wooden marker with his name on it. When they returned to Tantic’s inn, Bregnest questioned Tantic about it.

“The magistrate didn’t much like old Eric,” Tantic said, an unhappy look on his face. “Eric was always telling him off for the poor way his soldiers took care of their horses, and for anything else that didn’t seem right. The magistrate wouldn’t let me put a stone on his grave, only that small wooden marker.”

“Can you send word to the magistrate that we would like to see him?” Bregnest asked in a calm voice.

“’Course I can,” said Tantic, a slightly wicked grin spreading over his face. “It would do my heart good if you lot told him off.”

Bregnest motioned for the others to follow him into the inn’s common room. The company sat around a large table, leaving the chair to Bregnest’s right empty. Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek sat at the bar, watching with a great deal of interest. It wasn’t long before the magistrate appeared, walking up to their table and frowning.

“You wished to speak with me?” he asked, in an unfriendly tone as though their request to see him was a great inconvenience.

“We do,” replied Bregnest and motioned for him to be seated.

“What can I do for you?” asked the magistrate brusquely.

“We wish to discuss the grave of Master Eric Von Tealo,” Bregnest replied calmly.

“What about it?” The magistrate’s face turned slightly red.

“Well, you see,” said Bregnest. “We all owe a debt to the late Master Von Tealo. Now that he has crossed the wall, we would like his final resting place to be honored with something more than a piece of wood.” Bregnest’s words were spoken softly, but there could be no doubt of the power and anger behind them.

“I’m sure some arrangement can be made,” said the magistrate, hardly bothering to conceal the greed in his voice.

“It will be made,” Bregnest replied coldly. “We will pay for a large stone to be placed on the grave. Further, we will pay the city of Techen for upkeep of the stone and the grave so that weeds do not grow over it. We will also pay for fresh flowers to be placed on the grave twice a week. We will require these services to be performed for the next one hundred years.”

“That is quite a lot for an old man who worked in a stable,” the magistrate sneered.

“Perhaps, but we are willing to pay the price you name for these services,” Bregnest replied. “Draw up an agreement and we will all sign it.”

The magistrate thought for a moment and then called for Tantic to bring him pen and paper. He wrote out the agreement and offered the pen to Bregnest so he could sign it.

“You first,” said Bregnest, looking the magistrate in the eye.

The magistrate signed the document and placed the seal of Techen beside his name.

“What price will you ask?” Bregnest questioned.

“The city of Techen asks five thousand gold coins for this service,” said the magistrate coldly, a wicked smile on his face.

“Outrageous!” said Tantic from behind the magistrate.

“We accept,” said Bregnest, signing his name to the document. The rest of the company each signed his name.

Bregnest pulled out his magic bag. “But know this my fine, greedy magistrate,” he said in an ice-cold tone. “If ever I, or any of my companions, hear that you or your city have failed in this agreement, we will return. One of our company is a wizard and we all have many friends close to your city. If you fail to keep this agreement, we will know. If you choose to run, we will hunt you from here to the wall to claim our revenge.”

The magistrate’s face paled at Bregnest’s words. “Of course it will be done,” he said nervously, his upper lip trembling slightly. “No need for threats or violence. I have given my word.”

“And I’ll make sure he keeps it,” said Tantic, taking the pen and signing the agreement as witness.

Bregnest handed the magistrate a large bag full of gold and dismissed him with a wave of his hand. The others could barely control their laughter as the magistrate rushed, stumbling more than once, out of the room.

“Let us share in this expense,” Skeld laughed. “The price is small compared to the look on his sour face.”

“You already have,” replied Bregnest. “The five thousand came out of the share for expenses, and I think it was well spent. So Tantic, my friend, can you arrange for a stone?”

“Of any size and style you request,” replied Tantic. “And I’ll pin this up in the bar so the whole city will know what the magistrate has agreed to.” He held up the agreement the magistrate had left behind in his rush to leave.

“And you might have fun reminding him from time to time that we have many friends not too far from Techen,” Tayo laughed.

They spent a merry night in Techen, and Alex wished they could stay longer. Bregnest, however, wished to move on as soon as possible. After discussing the stone for Eric’s grave with Tantic, and leaving him more than enough money to pay for it, the company rode away the following morning.

They traveled northwest along the ancient road, meeting a few companies of people who were traveling east to Varlo. They tried hard not to laugh as the people told them that Slathbog was dead and that piles of gold were lying everywhere for anyone who wished to take them.

“Well, they’re half right,” laughed Skeld as they left one of the groups behind.

They met no bandits as they rode toward the White Tower, but they set a watch each night just in case. Alex, having finished reading his books, now spent his watch practicing spells from his magic book. Sometimes Andy, Thrain, Melnoch, and Nitek would sit up with him, talking about adventures, and watching Alex practice his magic.

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