The Summer of the Swordsman

Chapter XVII

MEETING GARIUS

"My master has waited two weeks. You are late. He's not accustomed to that." It was Garius' deputy who was speaking, a shifty‑eyed, willowy man with a slickly pomaded crop of sandy hair and a tunic of peacock blue silk that most assuredly wasn't originally made for him. His tone was appalling.

We were in Garius' designated meeting place, a deserted market square near the wharves of Hirstad. I didn't like the looks of it: too many dark alcoves, too close an expanse of rooftop, too little room for us, and no shelter. And there were too few of us: Anakreon, Quinquius, Kenui, Mourner, Sored, and myself. We had two pack horses laden with Garius' gold, which we hadn't touched. The rest of the troop was camped in a field outside the city.

Anakreon had been preparing to dismount. His eyes narrowed and he slowly swung his leg back across the saddle, settled himself, and smoothed his gloves back over his palms. "Then your master will have to learn patience if his life is to be pleasant," he said in the soft, almost gentle tone he uses when his anger's approaching white heat.

The deputy didn't know that. "You will report to the quays immediately‑‑"

"Oristides," Anakreon said, turning to me with lazy good humor, "Ride back to the rest of the troop and tell them we won't be staying for long. We'll be marching tomorrow‑‑"

"Garius directed me‑‑" the man sputtered.

"I didn't consult Garius on this," Anakreon snapped. "I certainly don't plan to consult his lackeys. Oristides, do as I say."

The man seized my reins as I began to turn my horse. I drew my sword.

"You are commanded to stay here!" the man snarled, his hand on his dagger. Pretty stupid, because a sword can outreach a dagger, and a man on foot has no business fighting a mounted man in the first place unless he carries a long spear or a bow and arrow. I was cheerfully preparing to skewer him when Anakreon said, "Stop it."

The man released my reins and said with a fair amount of dignity, "Your contract‑‑"

"You may recall that there is no contract. I am‑‑or was‑‑coming here to discuss final terms with Garius."

"You took advance payment," the man pointed out. "Two‑thirds of the rate in advance."

"That was a deposit, if you recall," Anakreon said. His eyelids were drooping as though he were getting sleepy, and he was speaking in a drawl. "But I am an honest man, and I shall return the deposit even though there's nothing to compel me to do so.   Sored, return the gold to this fellow."

The man was eyeing four bags of gold coins ten heartbeatslater, and we were preparing to turn back to our camp.

"Wait," the man said, and he sounded almost woebegone. "Perhaps I spoke out of turn. I didn't mean to anger you!"

"Is that right?" Quinquius growled.

Kenui muttered under his breath.

I looked over at the Swordsman and saw that he was frowning, as though he smelled something foul. He slowly reached behind his saddle for his bow, drew it out, and strung it, keeping his eyes fixed on the go‑between.

But now the woebegone tone was lost from the man's voice. He raised his hands and snapped his fingers, the sound echoing strangely from the brick stalls. The rooftops were suddenly bristling with archers, and spearmen stepped out from the dark doorways.

Many of the bowmen were aiming at Mourner's heart. He unstrung the bow with a shrug and folded his arms before him.

"You," said the man, pointing at me, "You," indicating Quinquius, "And you‑‑" to Anakreon, "Come with me. Guards, search them first. The rest of you go back to your camp‑‑unless you wish to die here?" He was speaking to Mourner now.

The Swordsman shook his head.

"Excellent," said the man, turning back to us. We were subjected to a quick search, with him watching. He said, "Prince Garius dislikes playing games, but he plays better than most when he has to, as you'll learn shortly. You're to meet him now."

And we were pushed off our horses and marched through alleyways and courtyards until I was completely confused and very angry.