Read Online The Tritonian Ring and Other Pasudian Tales by L. Sprague de Camp - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: L. Sprague de Camp
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and signalled to the servitors to pass a dry wine for an aperitif. She poured a libation from her golden beaker on to the floor and said a grace to the gods, then drank.
Vakar was doing likewise when a startled exclamation from Garal's wife drew his attention across the ivory tables. Where Qasigan's golden plate had lain there now stood a plate-sized tortoise, peering about dimly with beady eyes. Qasigan laughed at the success of his feat of thaumaturgy.
"It is quite harmless," he said. "A mere illusion: It bites nobody and is housebroken. Are you not, tortoise?"
The tortoise nodded, and those around the tables clapped their hands. Vakar drank deeply and looked again. Where the tortoise had been he saw. only the snub-nosed magician making passes over Ms plate, though from their comments he inferred that his fellow-diners still saw the reptile. He was about to boast of his ability (which he had long been aware of) to see through magical illusions when stimulated by drink, but forebore. He still harbored suspicions of Qasigan and thought it imprudent to give the fellow any advantage.
He looked to where Porfia sat in her chair of pretence. This was a most unusual throne, carved from some olive-colored stone in the form of a huge serpent. The head and neck of the snake formed one arm-rest and a loop of its body the other. The rest of it was wound back and forth to form the back and seat down to the ground.
"It is unusual," said Porfia, whose pale flesh showed through the sheer sea-green robe she wore. "It was brought from Lake Tritonis, where such serpents are sacred, in the time of my grandfather. They say it was carried across the Desert of Gwedulia slung between two curious beasts used in those parts, taller than horses and having great humps upon their backs. The legend is that it is a real serpent paralyzed by enchantment, and—-"
"Of course," broke in Thiegos, "we as a civilized people do not believe such silly tales." He dug at the carving with a thumbnail. "See for yourself, Master Vakar. This artistic monstrosity is nothing but stone."
Vakar touched the arm of the chair, which certainly felt like good solid chert.
Thiegos continued: "Still, my dear, you would do well to drop it into Sederado harbor and get another, not for superstitious but for esthetic reasons. What is to eat tonight?"
Ogugian custom called for a circle of chairs with a small table in front of each. Servitors placed the food on golden plates in front of each of the small tables. Vakar thought the stuffed grouse excellent, but found the bread peculiar. He asked:
"What sort of bread is this, pray?"
Thiegos said: "You Pusadians would not know. It is made from a new kind of grain called wheat which was brought from the mainland in the queen's father's time." He turned to Porfia, saying: "Really, madam, you must sell your cook before we all turn into swine from eating garbage!"
The wine was strong stuff, even better than that of Zhysk. Vakar drank deep and said:
"I beg to differ, sir. I find Ogugia's food the most delicious, its wine the headiest, and its queen the most beautiful—"
"You speak a fine speech, but you do not deceive anyone," said Thiegos, who had also been drinking hard. "You seek by flattery to wheedle favors from Porfia. Now, so long as these comprise such matters as trade-metal or ships or slaves I do not care. Should you however seek those of a more intimate kind, you must deal with me, for I —"
"Thiegos!" cried Porfia. "You have already become a pig, if manners are
Vakar was doing likewise when a startled exclamation from Garal's wife drew his attention across the ivory tables. Where Qasigan's golden plate had lain there now stood a plate-sized tortoise, peering about dimly with beady eyes. Qasigan laughed at the success of his feat of thaumaturgy.
"It is quite harmless," he said. "A mere illusion: It bites nobody and is housebroken. Are you not, tortoise?"
The tortoise nodded, and those around the tables clapped their hands. Vakar drank deeply and looked again. Where the tortoise had been he saw. only the snub-nosed magician making passes over Ms plate, though from their comments he inferred that his fellow-diners still saw the reptile. He was about to boast of his ability (which he had long been aware of) to see through magical illusions when stimulated by drink, but forebore. He still harbored suspicions of Qasigan and thought it imprudent to give the fellow any advantage.
He looked to where Porfia sat in her chair of pretence. This was a most unusual throne, carved from some olive-colored stone in the form of a huge serpent. The head and neck of the snake formed one arm-rest and a loop of its body the other. The rest of it was wound back and forth to form the back and seat down to the ground.
"It is unusual," said Porfia, whose pale flesh showed through the sheer sea-green robe she wore. "It was brought from Lake Tritonis, where such serpents are sacred, in the time of my grandfather. They say it was carried across the Desert of Gwedulia slung between two curious beasts used in those parts, taller than horses and having great humps upon their backs. The legend is that it is a real serpent paralyzed by enchantment, and—-"
"Of course," broke in Thiegos, "we as a civilized people do not believe such silly tales." He dug at the carving with a thumbnail. "See for yourself, Master Vakar. This artistic monstrosity is nothing but stone."
Vakar touched the arm of the chair, which certainly felt like good solid chert.
Thiegos continued: "Still, my dear, you would do well to drop it into Sederado harbor and get another, not for superstitious but for esthetic reasons. What is to eat tonight?"
Ogugian custom called for a circle of chairs with a small table in front of each. Servitors placed the food on golden plates in front of each of the small tables. Vakar thought the stuffed grouse excellent, but found the bread peculiar. He asked:
"What sort of bread is this, pray?"
Thiegos said: "You Pusadians would not know. It is made from a new kind of grain called wheat which was brought from the mainland in the queen's father's time." He turned to Porfia, saying: "Really, madam, you must sell your cook before we all turn into swine from eating garbage!"
The wine was strong stuff, even better than that of Zhysk. Vakar drank deep and said:
"I beg to differ, sir. I find Ogugia's food the most delicious, its wine the headiest, and its queen the most beautiful—"
"You speak a fine speech, but you do not deceive anyone," said Thiegos, who had also been drinking hard. "You seek by flattery to wheedle favors from Porfia. Now, so long as these comprise such matters as trade-metal or ships or slaves I do not care. Should you however seek those of a more intimate kind, you must deal with me, for I —"
"Thiegos!" cried Porfia. "You have already become a pig, if manners are
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