Read Online The Incorporated Knight by L. Sprague de Camp, Catherine Crook de Camp - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: L. Sprague de Camp, Catherine Crook de Camp
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shall be. Think you I'd wed a man who so entreated my poor father?"
"But, Gerzilda, it was the only way I could—"
"Talk all you please, but 'twill make no difference. Go! Your presence is hateful to me."
Eudoric went. In the courtyard, he and Baron Emmerhard traded looks. Eudoric said: "Knew you what she'd say?"
"Aye. Blame me not; 'twas her idea entirely."
Eudoric thought. "Has her head been turned by the attentions of the fops in Kromnitch?"
Emmerhard shrugged. "All I can say to that is, she cut a swath at the grand ball, with several young noblemen dancing attendance upon her. Some have requested permission to call upon her here.
"Now, if I may offer advice, Sir Eudoric, meseems a young fellow like thee, who cares little for distinctions of rank and hath the outlook of a tradesman, were happier with some tradesman's daughter."
"Oh? I'll think on't." Eudoric's melancholy visage brightened. He swung into the driver's seat, took the reins from Jillo, and waved cheerfully to Baron Emmerhard as he guided the vehicle out of the castle gates and towards the town of Zurgau, to pick up his first passengers for Kromnitch.
After all, he thought, while he was sorry to lose Gerzilda—a fine girl, whom he could have loved— that was not the only factor. For one thing, she was taller than he; for another, she had hinted at plans for making Eudoric over into her idea of a stylish, sophisticated young gentleman of leisure. And, while there were plenty of girls in the world, nothing could equal a good, trusty source of steady income.
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IV – The Sensuous Spider
The gilding had not yet begun to wear off Eudoric's spurs when he sat in Castle Zurgau with his father and Baron Emmerhard. They spoke of the recent holdup of Eudoric's stagecoach by a band of masked robbers as it made its weekly journey from Zurgau to Kromnitch. After taking the passengers' money and pretties, the bandits had waved the coach on its way.
"From what ye tell me," said Eudoric's partner Emmerhard, " 'Tis certain that this be Rainmar's doing. Ordinary outlaws would have slain the people and burnt the carriage to vent their spleen. But Baron Rainmar's a thrifty thief, not fain to kill the duck that lays the emerald eggs."
"That decided, sir," said Eudoric, "what's to do? I'm not more timorous than most; but I'm not fain to gallop up to Castle Hessel, ring my lance against his portal, and dare Rainmar to come forth and fight it out."
"Aye, certes, thou hast right," puffed Sir Dambert. "By the God and the Goddess, he'd hang thee in stanter, heedless of the punctilios of chivalry. Time was when we'd saddle up, to raid and waste his robbers' hold in vengeance—"
"But no more," interrupted the baron, "now that the crown hath gathered so much power unto itself. Even Rainmar dare not openly raid his neighbors, as was his former wont. So, to sweeten's pudding, he doth these fribbling banditries."
"Well," said Eudoric, "couldn't you gentlemen lend me men-at-arms to escort my coach, where the road passes nigh unto Rainmar's domain? There were ten or twelve in his gang; so a dozen sturdy guards should suffice and a score be a plenty."
Baron Emmerhard shook his head. "The King hath called upon me for a draft of men, to help the Emperor quell the rebels in Aviona. Praise the Divine pair, he commanded not mine aging self to take the field in person. And the rest of my menfolk I shall need for the haying."
"The men of Aviona must be daft, to
"But, Gerzilda, it was the only way I could—"
"Talk all you please, but 'twill make no difference. Go! Your presence is hateful to me."
Eudoric went. In the courtyard, he and Baron Emmerhard traded looks. Eudoric said: "Knew you what she'd say?"
"Aye. Blame me not; 'twas her idea entirely."
Eudoric thought. "Has her head been turned by the attentions of the fops in Kromnitch?"
Emmerhard shrugged. "All I can say to that is, she cut a swath at the grand ball, with several young noblemen dancing attendance upon her. Some have requested permission to call upon her here.
"Now, if I may offer advice, Sir Eudoric, meseems a young fellow like thee, who cares little for distinctions of rank and hath the outlook of a tradesman, were happier with some tradesman's daughter."
"Oh? I'll think on't." Eudoric's melancholy visage brightened. He swung into the driver's seat, took the reins from Jillo, and waved cheerfully to Baron Emmerhard as he guided the vehicle out of the castle gates and towards the town of Zurgau, to pick up his first passengers for Kromnitch.
After all, he thought, while he was sorry to lose Gerzilda—a fine girl, whom he could have loved— that was not the only factor. For one thing, she was taller than he; for another, she had hinted at plans for making Eudoric over into her idea of a stylish, sophisticated young gentleman of leisure. And, while there were plenty of girls in the world, nothing could equal a good, trusty source of steady income.
-
IV – The Sensuous Spider
The gilding had not yet begun to wear off Eudoric's spurs when he sat in Castle Zurgau with his father and Baron Emmerhard. They spoke of the recent holdup of Eudoric's stagecoach by a band of masked robbers as it made its weekly journey from Zurgau to Kromnitch. After taking the passengers' money and pretties, the bandits had waved the coach on its way.
"From what ye tell me," said Eudoric's partner Emmerhard, " 'Tis certain that this be Rainmar's doing. Ordinary outlaws would have slain the people and burnt the carriage to vent their spleen. But Baron Rainmar's a thrifty thief, not fain to kill the duck that lays the emerald eggs."
"That decided, sir," said Eudoric, "what's to do? I'm not more timorous than most; but I'm not fain to gallop up to Castle Hessel, ring my lance against his portal, and dare Rainmar to come forth and fight it out."
"Aye, certes, thou hast right," puffed Sir Dambert. "By the God and the Goddess, he'd hang thee in stanter, heedless of the punctilios of chivalry. Time was when we'd saddle up, to raid and waste his robbers' hold in vengeance—"
"But no more," interrupted the baron, "now that the crown hath gathered so much power unto itself. Even Rainmar dare not openly raid his neighbors, as was his former wont. So, to sweeten's pudding, he doth these fribbling banditries."
"Well," said Eudoric, "couldn't you gentlemen lend me men-at-arms to escort my coach, where the road passes nigh unto Rainmar's domain? There were ten or twelve in his gang; so a dozen sturdy guards should suffice and a score be a plenty."
Baron Emmerhard shook his head. "The King hath called upon me for a draft of men, to help the Emperor quell the rebels in Aviona. Praise the Divine pair, he commanded not mine aging self to take the field in person. And the rest of my menfolk I shall need for the haying."
"The men of Aviona must be daft, to
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