Read Online Forest Kingdom Trilogy 2 - Blood and Honor by Simon R. Green - Free Book Online
Authors: Simon R. Green
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He hated missing his sleep. Finally he moved over to help Roderik remove the saddles and gear from the horses, on the grounds that it looked like the least work he could get away with. Besides, if he didn't do something soon, they'd probably make him dig the latrines. Roderik nodded shortly to him, but didn't seem particularly to appreciate his help.
'Nice morning,' said Jordan, just to be polite.
'Indeed,' said Roderik, not looking up from the bridle he was checking.
'Do we have much further to go before we reach Castle Midnight?'
'Quite a way.'
'Have you been this way before?'
Roderik gave him a hard look. 'Be a good chap, and stop bothering me, Jordan. I've got work to do.
Why don't you go for a little walk, or something?'
It was the long-suffering patience in Roderik's voice that annoyed Jordan the most. It was the kind of voice a harried adult used with an overactive child. Still, never let it be said that the Great Jordan was one to push himself in where he wasn't wanted. He turned away, and then stopped as he saw Robert Argent coming towards him. He smiled at the merchant determinedly. He was going to have some friendly conversation this morning if it killed him. After a whole night's travelling in the cold and the rain, he felt he was owed a little friendly conversation.
'Good morning, Robert,' he said brightly. 'Looks like it's going to be a nice day.'
'Shut up and go away,' said Argent.
'I beg your—'
'Shut up. Go and find something useful to do. If you can do anything useful, actor.'
Jordan spun on his heel and walked away, fuming. Argent would pay for that. No one talked to the Great Jordan like that and got away with it. Maybe he could hide a snake in the man's bedding ... or his britches . . .
Roderik watched Jordan stalk off, and glanced at Argent. 'I think you've upset him.'
'Good,' said Argent. 'He gets on my nerves. Always strutting
around like a damned peacock. Actors should know their place.'
'Give him his due,' said Roderik. 'He was rather famous, in his day.'
'Theatricals,' sniffed Argent. 'Never knew one that was worth the breath it took to damn him. Gypsies, tramps and thieves, the lot of them. Never done an honest day's work in their lives.'
'Be that as it may,' said Roderik, diplomatically, 'the fact is that we need him, Robert, and most of all we need his willing co-operation. Try not to upset him, for the time being at least. I get the feeling he could do something really creative in the way of sulking, if he put his mind to it.'
Argent sniffed again, but said nothing. Roderik looked at him, started to say something, hesitated, and then started again.
'Robert, how long have we known each other?'
'Ten, twelve years. Something like that.' Argent smiled slightly. 'Most of it seemed to make sense, at the time. Why?'
'Because the only time you get this touchy is when something's troubling you. We've been involved in quite a few schemes over the years. Some came off, some didn't. There's no reason to get yourself worked up, Robert; it's just another scheme, that's all.'
'I know, Rod. Just another scheme.'
'Then why are you so tense?'
'I am not tense!'
'You want to shout that again, Robert? I don't think they caught all of it at Castle Midnight.'
'I'm fine,' said Argent, more quietly. 'There's nothing wrong with me.'
'Bull. I've seen men on their way to the headman's axe who looked more relaxed than you do. You're not really worried about the actor, are you? He'll do his job, and do it well. He's already so like Viktor it frightens me.'
'I'm not worried about the actor,' said Argent. 'I can't stand the man, but he seems competent enough.'
'Then what is it? What's the problem?'
'Nothing! I'm fine. Now go away and leave me be, Rod. I'm tired, and I'm wet, and I think I'm starting a cold. I'm really not in the mood for conversation.'
He turned away from Roderik, and began brushing his horse down with great energy and concentration.
Roderik sighed, and decided he'd try again
'Nice morning,' said Jordan, just to be polite.
'Indeed,' said Roderik, not looking up from the bridle he was checking.
'Do we have much further to go before we reach Castle Midnight?'
'Quite a way.'
'Have you been this way before?'
Roderik gave him a hard look. 'Be a good chap, and stop bothering me, Jordan. I've got work to do.
Why don't you go for a little walk, or something?'
It was the long-suffering patience in Roderik's voice that annoyed Jordan the most. It was the kind of voice a harried adult used with an overactive child. Still, never let it be said that the Great Jordan was one to push himself in where he wasn't wanted. He turned away, and then stopped as he saw Robert Argent coming towards him. He smiled at the merchant determinedly. He was going to have some friendly conversation this morning if it killed him. After a whole night's travelling in the cold and the rain, he felt he was owed a little friendly conversation.
'Good morning, Robert,' he said brightly. 'Looks like it's going to be a nice day.'
'Shut up and go away,' said Argent.
'I beg your—'
'Shut up. Go and find something useful to do. If you can do anything useful, actor.'
Jordan spun on his heel and walked away, fuming. Argent would pay for that. No one talked to the Great Jordan like that and got away with it. Maybe he could hide a snake in the man's bedding ... or his britches . . .
Roderik watched Jordan stalk off, and glanced at Argent. 'I think you've upset him.'
'Good,' said Argent. 'He gets on my nerves. Always strutting
around like a damned peacock. Actors should know their place.'
'Give him his due,' said Roderik. 'He was rather famous, in his day.'
'Theatricals,' sniffed Argent. 'Never knew one that was worth the breath it took to damn him. Gypsies, tramps and thieves, the lot of them. Never done an honest day's work in their lives.'
'Be that as it may,' said Roderik, diplomatically, 'the fact is that we need him, Robert, and most of all we need his willing co-operation. Try not to upset him, for the time being at least. I get the feeling he could do something really creative in the way of sulking, if he put his mind to it.'
Argent sniffed again, but said nothing. Roderik looked at him, started to say something, hesitated, and then started again.
'Robert, how long have we known each other?'
'Ten, twelve years. Something like that.' Argent smiled slightly. 'Most of it seemed to make sense, at the time. Why?'
'Because the only time you get this touchy is when something's troubling you. We've been involved in quite a few schemes over the years. Some came off, some didn't. There's no reason to get yourself worked up, Robert; it's just another scheme, that's all.'
'I know, Rod. Just another scheme.'
'Then why are you so tense?'
'I am not tense!'
'You want to shout that again, Robert? I don't think they caught all of it at Castle Midnight.'
'I'm fine,' said Argent, more quietly. 'There's nothing wrong with me.'
'Bull. I've seen men on their way to the headman's axe who looked more relaxed than you do. You're not really worried about the actor, are you? He'll do his job, and do it well. He's already so like Viktor it frightens me.'
'I'm not worried about the actor,' said Argent. 'I can't stand the man, but he seems competent enough.'
'Then what is it? What's the problem?'
'Nothing! I'm fine. Now go away and leave me be, Rod. I'm tired, and I'm wet, and I think I'm starting a cold. I'm really not in the mood for conversation.'
He turned away from Roderik, and began brushing his horse down with great energy and concentration.
Roderik sighed, and decided he'd try again
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