Weapon of the Guild [The Chronicles of Grimm Dragonblaster, Book 2] by Alastair J. Archibald Read Free Book Online

now he'll tell us what he really said, hmm?" The strangled victim, on the verge of unconsciousness, found enough energy to manage a weak, helpless nod.
    As swiftly as it had appeared, the whip was once more cinched around Crest's waist. A small, sharp dagger had taken its place at the hapless man's throat, just pricking the skin over his left carotid artery. Grimm had not even seen Crest's hands move.
    "Now, what did you say?” the thief asked, a broad smile on his face. After taking a few gurgling, whooping breaths, the man managed to gasp, “I said they let all sorts in here, and it's good for trade."
    "That's what I thought you said,” Crest replied with a smile. The dagger disappeared. “Now, I advise you to tack off and let decent people enjoy a drink in peace and quiet. You can keep your pathetic little prejudices to yourself; I've heard it all before, and I have a short fuse." The half-elf dismissed the man with an impartial boot to the backside. “Now, as I was saying, there I was, running through the streets with half a hundred baying hounds snapping at my heels..." The chastened bigot tottered to a far corner table and sat with some other ruffians, who might be little more enlightened than he, but who seemed wise enough to keep their opinions to themselves. Grimm saw their heads thrown back in obvious hilarity at the man's swift humiliation, but he heard no more insults from that corner.
    * * * *
    Dalquist ordered food, and in a short while, Grimm was devouring a sizable meal of roast lamb, new potatoes and green beans. The food was excellent, and he had to smother a satisfied belch.
    "Well, I think we have a compact now,” Dalquist said, after a small eructation of his own. “May we be ready to move by first light tomorrow morning, gentlemen? Grimm and I will be staying here tonight, so I suggest we meet up in the yard tomorrow, an hour after cockcrow."
    "I have a few affairs to settle before we leave,” Harvel replied, “but I should be finished by nightfall. I'll see you outside here in the morning."
    Crest said, “Well, I also have one or two loose ends to tie up, but nothing that can't wait. I'll be here, Questor Dalquist."
    The two adventurers left the tavern together, still digging into their seemingly endless stores of reminiscences, braggadocio and tall tales.
    Dalquist consulted the landlord, Uril, about the availability of rooms for the night. After a little haggling, which seemed to be expected in this town, they settled on a fair price, and the two Questors went upstairs to deposit their bedrolls and travel accoutrements. Grimm's room, on the left at the top of the stairs, was basic but clean, and certainly no worse than the Scholasticate cell in which he had been immured for much of his short life. When he had tidied his belongings into the room's single cupboard, Dalquist knocked and entered.
    "Now, Grimm, I know what I told you about being frugal with your money, but we need to get you some better clothes,” the older mage said. “Those robes are serviceable enough, but some sad, benighted fools will always respect good clothes more than a mage's staff. ‘Power and presence complete the mage,’ as the Magemasters drilled into us at the Scholasticate. You have proved your power, but a little more presentation will go some way towards completing the effect. We won't be able to run to silk this time, but good quality sateen will go as well, I think. And some new shoes, definitely." Grimm did not object to his friend's suggestion. He had spent so long in drab, homespun garments, and he had always longed for better clothes.
    * * * *
    The two mages walked around Drute for some time. As Grimm had noticed before, although few of the townspeople seemed to have much wealth, the wares in some of the shops were positively opulent. The various emporiums attracted several wealthy-looking visitors, many of whom travelled with what he took to be bodyguards. Dalquist took the lead in arguing with the