Gary Gygax - Dangerous Journeys 1 - Anubis Murders by Gary Gygax Read Free Book Online Page B

with Rachelle!
    The Behon smiled upon seeing the black look Setne shot toward Aldriss, and Tallesian murmured something apologetic under his breath as he went forward to fetch the bard. Fortunately, the girl remained near the front of the sloop when the two Lyonnessians came back to join their leader and Inhetep. "You need my services, then?" Aldriss asked brightly.
    "It's you and yours who need mine," the Egyptian reminded him in reply. "I believe your liege, the Behon, has some instructions."
    "That is correct, Aldriss. We must have a very fast passage. That can be assured only through your vigilance and harping."
    The bard stood straighter and squared his shoulders. "It is an honor, and one I will truly fulfill in keeping the charge, Behon." Then Aldriss grinned to each of the three in turn, saying, "But, of course, in such a calm sea as the Mare Librum, there'll be no need for my skill, will there? Three days to the Pillars of Herakles in all likelihood. If you will excuse me then, I think I should return to where Lady Rachelle is waiting, for I have been recounting the history and wonders of this land, and of Lyonnesse Isle."
    Without another word, Aldriss turned and rejoined Rachelle at the bow rail.
    Without seeming to notice Aldriss' departure, Setne eyed the waves, looked up at the sky with its scattering of puffy little clouds, then fixed his falcon-like gaze upon the Kelltic mage. "Pray tell me, Behon—you too, wise druid—all about these famed bards of Avillon's Isles. I am sorely lacking in this field of knowledge. To liken the elder ones to the great Vainomoinen is ample demonstration of their powers. Can you enlighten my ignorance?"
    The two needed no further encouragement. Inhetep was an excellent listener and had near perfect recall. When it was evident to the Kellts that he was truly interested in hearing about their special form of spell-weaving, that singing of the bard, there was no silencing them. The weather was fair enough, the winds right, and the ship plowed along on her circuit of Iberia's southeastern coast. It was three days to reach the place where the sea met the mightier waters of the Lantlan Ocean. During that whole time the Egyptian learned of bards while the bard, Aldriss, spent his time amusing Rachelle.
    Three days later, they finally passed the Pillars of Herakles and came out upon the long swells of the gray-hued Lantlan Ocean. Rachelle still spent a good deal of the time near the foremast where Aldriss now played and sang to aid their passage. One afternoon the tall Egyptian wrapped himself in a cloak borrowed from the sloop's captain and joined them.
    "Are you thinking of taking up the harp, Ma-gister?" the bard asked when Setne began setting down notes on a papyrus roll. "If so, you must learn to play notes, not take them," the fellow jested.
    Inhetep smiled thinly. "No, no," he disclaimed. "I have never before seen a master spell-singer such as yourself in action. Perhaps I'll gain enough information this way to present a paper on the subject to the University of Innu—my own alma mater, as they say in Grecia—sometime in the future. Am I likely to meet others such as yourself in Camelough?"
    "There's precious little chance of that," Al-driss said, grinning.
    "I had thought as much," the wizard-priest said. "Well, never mind me. Do continue with your tune, and don't forget to keep the dweomers you spin thus on the unexceptional side."
    "Now that'll be the truly hard part," Aldriss responded, "for one such as myself usually leaves a mark of virtuosity even in so simple a business as calling fair winds and keeping storms at bay."
    "I can appreciate just how much wind a chap such as yourself can generate," Setne said as he casually peered up at the taut sails. "Why, the canvas overhead is fairly stretched to bursting!"
    It was the bard's turn to look sour, but he couldn't be sure that the remark had alluded to anything other than the breeze which he had harped up to drive the sloop