Warlords Rising by Honor Raconteur Read Free Book Online Page A

that could be cooked at
once seemed about right, at least.
    Trev’nor knelt down and examined it, looking at every angle,
and really spending more time on it than he needed to. This was a beautiful
opportunity to talk and get more information. “How often do you use these?”
    The Rikkana, as usual, answered, “Twice a day.”
    “Ah, makes sense.” Trev’nor leaned his head over to
investigate the interior of the open brick enclosure. “Some of these bricks are
cracked clean through. Let me fix those first, then I’ll worry about the thing
as a whole.”
    Noogre stood nearby wringing his hands. “But you can fix it?
Soon?”
    “Sure, sure.” Trev’nor sat back on his heels and blinked up
at him, shielding his eyes from the suns with a hand. “You need this soon?”
    “I have to start the meat cooking in two hours.”
    “Oh, I’ll be done by then,” Trev’nor assured him. No way was
he drawing out this show that long. “Go ahead and start prepping the meat.”
    Relieved, Noogre bobbed his head and took off for the
nearest building, which Trev’nor assumed was the kitchen. It smelled like it,
anyway, as there was a pungent mix of spices wafting from that general
direction.
    “I’m surprised this hasn’t already been fixed. It’s been
past the point of needing repair for a while now to get this bad.”
    Guard B snorted. “Trexler doesn’t spend money on things like
this.”
    Trev’nor found that reaction highly interesting. The man
sounded bitter about it.
    “No, he’d rather nidh another campaign,” Guard A agreed,
sounding just as bitter but also resigned. “Why he keeps trying to win against
Riyu is pare me.”
    “We should be more focused defending against the east instead
of the north,” Guard A agreed. “They attack us more often.”
    As if spurred by this thought, Guard B prodded Trev’nor with
a flat palm—gently, for once, “Hey. You can improve the walls, can’t you? Make
them more abhe.”
    It didn’t take a genius to know that last word was probably
something like ‘impenetrable.’ “Sure I can,” Trev’nor agreed amiably.
    “That’s a great idea,” Guard A agreed, noticeably perking
up. “But you think it will kam if we suggest it?”
    “No way, we’re just gaard. Rikkana,” his tone became very
respectful, “would you put in the suggestion for us?”
    Was it Trev’nor’s imagination or did she glance his way
first? “I can. Perhaps we should ask how long this will take?”
    “Depends on what you want me to do,” Trev’nor responded.
There, bricks were fixed. Now it was time to deal with the structure as a
whole, make it a little more fireproof. “I’ve seen one section of the wall for
myself. Is the whole wall built like that?”
    “It is,” Guard A answered, seeming to forget temporarily
just who he was talking to, although he still spoke in the ruder, more casual
form of the language.
    “How do you want me to improve on it?” Trev’nor asked.
“Thicker walls? I can draw up bedrock from the ground, reinforce them with
stronger stone.” He had to default to Solish to explain all of that, but no one
seemed to mind. They were instead excited about this new possibility as their
walls was made of the same material that their houses were. Trev’nor thought of
it as hardened sand dunes.
    They drew him almost naturally into the conversation as they
discussed the best way to improve the walls. Trev’nor learned more about their
defenses in an hour’s conversation than he had in three days of observation.
Aletha was right: when in doubt, keep them talking.
    He finished up with the fire pit, much to Noogre’s
excitement, then Trev’nor dutifully followed them through the town and to the
headquarters for Rurick. As a slave, he was not allowed to step inside and
speak to the commander, but he didn’t need to. Knowing the building’s location
was enough. The Rikkana went in with one of the guards to put in the request.
They were in and out in five minutes,