Memory by K. J. Parker Read Free Book Online Page A

Aciava said, straightening his back and grimacing. ‘Are you staying here overnight or heading straight back home? Only, if you’re stopping, I think I owe you a drink and a meal for keeping me entertained on the road.’
    Strange way of putting it, Poldarn thought; but it was almost dark, and he didn’t fancy three hours’ stumbling on the boggy, rutted track to the foundry. ‘Go on, then,’ he said. ‘After all, I’m on expenses.’
    Aciava smiled. ‘In that case,’ he said, ‘you can buy the drinks.’
    â€˜No,’ Poldarn replied, and led the way to the taproom.
    Like most of the inns on the coast road, the Virtue had originally been built as a religious structure, complete with dorters, refectory, great house, library, chapter house and several small chapels. The stables and kitchens were a hundred yards away from the main buildings, tucked out of sight among the barns and stores. With the decline of public religion, the great house had evolved into the taproom and common room; the crypt was now full of barrels rather than desiccated monks, and the potmen scampered to and from the transept carrying sticky jugs full of beer. To get something to eat, you had to traipse through the cloisters and climb the refectory stairs; or you could make do with bread and cheese from the baskets in the nave, all you could eat for two quarters; or, for six quarters, you could have the roast brought to you in the Lady chapel, with enough beer to poison a garrison town. Aciava, who was on expenses too, opted for the Lady chapel. This surprised Poldarn slightly, since he couldn’t imagine that the tooth merchant wanted that much more of his exclusive company after a day on the road; then again, perhaps Aciava simply wanted to finish his witty remarks about the cockroaches in the Light In Darkness. Since Poldarn stood to get a hot meal out of it, without costing the foundry anything, he didn’t mind particularly.
    â€˜Well,’ Aciava said, while they were waiting for the food to arrive, ‘here I am. It’s been a long trip, but I’m hoping it’ll turn out to have been worth it.’
    Poldarn sipped his beer. It was considerably better than Basano’s home-brew. The same could have been said about sea water. ‘You said you’d come here to meet someone,’ he said politely.
    â€˜That’s right.’ Aciava steepled his fingers over his nose. ‘An old friend, actually. Someone I haven’t seen in years. Come to think of it, not since we were at school together.’
    Poldarn stifled a yawn. ‘Really?’
    â€˜Yes.’ Aciava tilted the jug over his cup. ‘Took me a while to find him, but I got there eventually.’
    â€˜I don’t know many people in these parts,’ Poldarn said, ‘apart from the guys at the foundry, of course, so I don’t suppose I know who you mean.’
    Aciava was looking at him. ‘Oh, I expect you do,’ he said.
    â€˜Oh? Who is it, then?’
    â€˜You.’

Chapter Two
    P oldarn put his mug down slowly. ‘Look,’ he said. Aciava laughed. ‘It’s just struck me,’ he said. ‘In context, that sounded like a pick-up line. No, absolutely not. The truth is, I know who you are. And I’ve come a very long way to find you.’
    That was, of course, the moment when the door swung open and a sutler backed into the chapel, holding a large tray full of plates of food. Smoked lamb, Poldarn noticed, with cabbage, artichokes and creamed leeks Tulice style. Not bad for six quarters.
    The sutler put the tray down. ‘Ready for more beer?’ he asked.
    â€˜We will be,’ Aciava said, his eyes fixed on Poldarn’s face, ‘by the time you get around to fetching it.’
    â€˜Fine,’ the sutler replied, and left.
    â€˜What did you say?’ Poldarn said.
    Aciava sighed, and pulled one of the plates towards him. ‘You’re