question!” answered Fregg. “But they had to come back. They knew that I am a caring king, and that if they failed to return I would worry about them and send out others to discover their fate. And they knew also that with beasts so loaded down with gold and gems, their pace would be slow and my riders would surely catch them. Moreover, they would need provisions for their long trek overland, and extra beasts, and how to purchase such without displaying at least a portion of their loot? And finally they knew that my intelligence is good, that I am rarely lacking in advance knowledge in respect of travellers and caravans in these parts. What if I expected them to return with loot galore? And so they brought two-thirds of it back and left the rest in the desert, to be collected later on their way to Thandopolis….”
As he fell smugly silent a new voice arose, a voice hitherto unknown in Chlangi, which said: “Bravo, Lord Fregg! Bravo! An object lesson in deduction. How well you understand the criminal mind, sir.”
All eyes turned to Tarra Khash where he now threw off his blanket robe and draped it over the back of the camel he led; to him, and to the beast itself, which trotted straight to the other three and greeted them with great affection. Plainly the four were or had been a team; and since this burly bronze clout-clad Hrossak was their master…what did that make him but previous owner of treasure and all? Possibly.
Tarra was flanked by a pair of hulking thugs from the guardroom in the west gate, who seemed uncertain exactly what to do with him. Fregg could have told them; but now that he’d met the Hrossak, so to speak, he found himself somewhat curious. “You’re a bold one,” he told Tarra, coming forward to look him up and down.
“Bold as brass!” one of the guards ventured. “He came right up to the gate and hailed us, and said he sought audience with the king or chief or whoever was boss here.”
“I’m boss here,” said Fregg, thumbing his chest. “King Fregg Unst the First—and likely the last. Who are you?”
“Tarra Khash,” said Tarra. “Adventurer by profession, wanderer by inclination….” And he paused to look at the dead men where their bodies lay sprawled in the dust of the courtyard. “Excuse me, but would these two be called, er, Hylar and Thull?”
“Those were their names, aye,” Fregg nodded. “Did you have business with them?”
“Some,” said Tarra, “but it appears I’m too late.”
The session was breaking up now and the crowd thinning as people went off about their business. A half-dozen of Fregg’s men, his personal bodyguards, stayed back, keeping a sharp eye on Tarra Khash. Others began to bundle up the treasure in the blankets.
“Walk with me a little way,” said Fregg, “and tell me more. I like your cut, Tarra Khash. We seldom have visitors here; at least, not of their own free will!” He chuckled, paused, turned and said to his men: “That ring on Drinnis’ finger—I want it. Make sure it’s with the rest of the stuff and bring it to me in the tower.”
“Hold!” said Tarra. “A moment, King Fregg.” He stepped to blanket and stooped, came erect holding the jewelled hilt of his scimitar. “I’ve a special affection for this piece,” he said. “It belongs in the scabbard across my back. I hope you don’t mind.”
Fregg gently took it from him. “But I do mind, Tarra Khash!”
“But—”
“Wait, lad, hear me out. See, I’ve nothing against you, but you simply don’t understand our laws. You see, upon the instant loot is brought into the city, said loot belongs to me, its finders, and to the city itself. And no law at all, I’m afraid, to cover its retrieval by rightful owner. Not even the smallest part of it. Also, I perceive these stones set in the hilt to be valuable, a small treasure in themselves.” He shrugged almost apologetically, adding: “No, I’m sorry, lad, but at least two men—and likely a good many
As he fell smugly silent a new voice arose, a voice hitherto unknown in Chlangi, which said: “Bravo, Lord Fregg! Bravo! An object lesson in deduction. How well you understand the criminal mind, sir.”
All eyes turned to Tarra Khash where he now threw off his blanket robe and draped it over the back of the camel he led; to him, and to the beast itself, which trotted straight to the other three and greeted them with great affection. Plainly the four were or had been a team; and since this burly bronze clout-clad Hrossak was their master…what did that make him but previous owner of treasure and all? Possibly.
Tarra was flanked by a pair of hulking thugs from the guardroom in the west gate, who seemed uncertain exactly what to do with him. Fregg could have told them; but now that he’d met the Hrossak, so to speak, he found himself somewhat curious. “You’re a bold one,” he told Tarra, coming forward to look him up and down.
“Bold as brass!” one of the guards ventured. “He came right up to the gate and hailed us, and said he sought audience with the king or chief or whoever was boss here.”
“I’m boss here,” said Fregg, thumbing his chest. “King Fregg Unst the First—and likely the last. Who are you?”
“Tarra Khash,” said Tarra. “Adventurer by profession, wanderer by inclination….” And he paused to look at the dead men where their bodies lay sprawled in the dust of the courtyard. “Excuse me, but would these two be called, er, Hylar and Thull?”
“Those were their names, aye,” Fregg nodded. “Did you have business with them?”
“Some,” said Tarra, “but it appears I’m too late.”
The session was breaking up now and the crowd thinning as people went off about their business. A half-dozen of Fregg’s men, his personal bodyguards, stayed back, keeping a sharp eye on Tarra Khash. Others began to bundle up the treasure in the blankets.
“Walk with me a little way,” said Fregg, “and tell me more. I like your cut, Tarra Khash. We seldom have visitors here; at least, not of their own free will!” He chuckled, paused, turned and said to his men: “That ring on Drinnis’ finger—I want it. Make sure it’s with the rest of the stuff and bring it to me in the tower.”
“Hold!” said Tarra. “A moment, King Fregg.” He stepped to blanket and stooped, came erect holding the jewelled hilt of his scimitar. “I’ve a special affection for this piece,” he said. “It belongs in the scabbard across my back. I hope you don’t mind.”
Fregg gently took it from him. “But I do mind, Tarra Khash!”
“But—”
“Wait, lad, hear me out. See, I’ve nothing against you, but you simply don’t understand our laws. You see, upon the instant loot is brought into the city, said loot belongs to me, its finders, and to the city itself. And no law at all, I’m afraid, to cover its retrieval by rightful owner. Not even the smallest part of it. Also, I perceive these stones set in the hilt to be valuable, a small treasure in themselves.” He shrugged almost apologetically, adding: “No, I’m sorry, lad, but at least two men—and likely a good many
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