Read Online Roberson, Jennifer - Cheysuli 08 by A Tapestry of Lions (v1.0) - Free Book Online Page B

profit from it, albeit there were guardsmen—and
a Cheysuli—just across the street."
                His eyes narrowed. "You said
you have learned not to run in Mujhara . .. well, I suppose that is
something." His tone was ironic. "Surely more than Hart or Corin
learned."
                "Grandsire—"
                "But whether you learned
anything is beside the point. Your granddame made it clear to me that if I did
not fetch you out at once come dawn, she would have my head." He smiled
slightly. "As you see, it is still attached."
                Kellin nodded, not doubting that it
was; nor his granddame's fiery Erinnish temper.
                "So Rogan and I are here to
fetch you, very much as you expected, and will now take you back to
Homana-Mujhar, where I shall myself personally supervise the bath just to make
certain the body in it is that of my grandson, and not some filthy street
urchin masquerading as the Prince of Homana."
                "Urchin!" Kellin cried,
turning. "We have to take him with us!"
                "Who?"
                "Urchin. Him." Kellin
pointed to the astonished boy. "I told him you would pay his copper and
bring him with us—well, I said Rogan would—"
                Kellin cast a glance at his tutor,
"—so you could heal him."
                "Volunteering my services, are
you, you little wretch?" But Brennan crossed the room and knelt down by
the boy thief. "How are you hurt? Ah, so I see. Here—"
                "No!" Urchin jerked away
the infected foot.
                "There is no need to fear
me," Brennan said quietly. "I will look, no more; if you are in need
of healing, it shall be done in Homana-Mujhar."
                "I can't go there
                "Why not?" Brennan
examined the infected bite. "Walls and a roof, no more .. . you are as
welcome as Kellin."
                "I am?"
                "For now. Come. Trust me."
                Kellin looked at his grandfather
through Urchin's eyes: tall, dark warrior with silvered hair; yellow eyes clear
and unwavering as a wolf's, with the same promised fierceness; lir-gold banding
bared arms; the soft, black-dyed leathers clothing a powerful body. He was old
in years to Kellin, but age sat lightly on Cheysuli; Brennan was still fit and
graceful, with a cat's eloquent ease of movement.
                "He won't hurt you,"
Kellin explained matter-of-factly. "He is my grandsire."
                Brennan smiled. "The highest of
compliments, and surety of my goodwill."
                Urchin's eyes were wide. "But—I'm
a thief."
                "Former thief, I should hope.
Come with me to Homana-Mujhar, and you need never steal again."
                The Mujhar grinned. "Where you
may also shed forty layers of dirt, ten years' worth of fleas, and fill that
hollow belly."
                "No!" Urchin cried as
Brennan made to pick him up. "You'll catch my fleas!"
                "Then I shall bathe also."
                "I am too heavy!"
                "You are not heavy at
all." Brennan turned toward the door, toward the red-haired giant. "I
will have the fines paid for everyone in this room, and the other; you will see
to it they are released at once. But I sympathize with those who fear for their
purses; if any of these are caught again, keep them here till Summerfair is
ended: in the name of the Mujhar." He smiled briefly at Kellin, slipping
into the Old Tongue. "Tu'halla dei." He cast a glance at gape-mouthed
faces, then settled Urchin more firmly against his chest. "The Guard has
horses waiting. You'll ride behind me."
                "My lord," Rogan said
quietly, following his lord from the room as Kellin slipped out. "There is
the matter of the fortune-teller."
                "Ah."