Read Online Wistril Compleat by Frank Tuttle - Free Book Online

halves
as implements."
    Wistril nodded, and Kern sagged. "No wonder
you fled Oom," said Kern.
    "I did not flee," said Wistril.
    "Not far enough, at any rate," said Kern. He
picked up his glittering silverware -- Wistril's family utensils,
freshly unpacked from their solid silver case -- and placed them
carefully in the plate. "I'd better see if the patrol is in,
Master," he said. "With your permission?"
    Wistril sighed and waved Kern on. "Yes, yes,"
he said. "Three days," he added, glumly. "What the devil is keeping
that infernal woman?"
    Kern shrugged. "She's probably hoping she'll
drive you mad with passion," he said, rising. "Is it working?"
    Wistril merely glared.
    Kern shrugged. "Perhaps she changed her mind
and turned back for Oom," he said. "There's a lot of rough country,
between Kauph and everywhere else."
    "The letter was written from Ollabat," said
Wistril. "Scant miles from Kauph." Wistril rose. "No, Apprentice,
we must prepare for the inevitable, not court the implausible."
    Kern made for the door, but a knock and a
hoot sounded first.
    Wistril went pale. His heirloom dining-set
rattled in his hands, and he set it quickly down upon the desk.
    "Enter," he boomed.
    The door swung open, and Sir Knobby darted
into the study. "Hoot," he said, hooking a black-taloned claw in
the direction of the castle gates. "Hoot."
    Kern frowned. "What did he say?" he said.
    Wistril's frown deepened. "Men are coming,"
he said. "Armed men, on horseback. With wagons and pack-mules and
tents."
    "The Lady and her entourage?"
    "Hoot," said Sir Knobby, and Kern needed no
translation to hear the gargoyle's firm "no."
    "They fly a standard before them," said
Wistril. "A unicorn amid a field of swords. The sigil of house
Hohnserrat is that of a rose entwined about a lance."
    Kern matched Wistril's frown. "So it's not
the Lady," he said. "Who, then? Do you recognize the standard?"
    Wistril grunted. "It sounds familiar," he
said. "But then so would any collection of weapons, flowering
plants, and mythical beasts. It is perhaps not even Oomish." The
rotund wizard put his finger to his lips and stalked off toward the
tall oak bookcases that lined the wall behind his ironwood desk.
"Let us see. . ."
    Kern crooked his finger to Sir Knobby. The
gargoyle's wet brown eyes met his.
    "How many?" asked Kern. "One finger for every
ten men."
    Sir Knobby considered, held up both
five-fingered hands, and spread his fingers wide.
    Once, twice, thrice, four -- Kern's eyes
widened.
    "Four hundred men?" muttered Kern.
    The gargoyle nodded.
    Kern backed across the study, pulled back his
chair, and fell into it.
    "Master," he said, his face obscured by his
hands, "Are conflicts over fiancées common occurrences within the
grand and wondrous scheme of Oomish betrothals?"
    "Of course," said Wistril, his back to Kern
as he sought out a book of heraldry. "Need you even ask?"
    Kern groaned.
    "Aha," said Wistril. "Here it is." He turned,
plunked a thick book down on his desk, and sat as he rifled through
it. "Unicorns, unicorns -- heavens, what is this fascination with
the ill-tempered beasts?"

    Kern looked up at Sir Knobby, mouthed the
words "How long?"
    Sir Knobby pointed to Wistril's goblin clock
and held up six fingers. "Hoot," he said, softly.
    "Six hours," said Kern, aloud. "They must be
at the foot of the mountain just now."
    "Hoot," said Sir Knobby.
    "House Carthrop," said Wistril. "A unicorn,
rampant, on a field of broken swords." Wistril spun the book
around. "Is this what you saw?"
    Sir Knobby leaned over the book, hissed, and
nodded.
    "They are Oomish," said Wistril. "Another of
the Lesser Houses, with holdings in the north."
    "Was the Lady Emmerbee perhaps engaged to a
Carthrop as well as a Kauph?" asked Kern.
    "Probably," said Wistril. He leaned back in
his chair. "Confound it, probably."
    Sir Knobby hooted softly, and Wistril shook
his head. "No," he said, to the gargoyle. "Leave the gate open.
Tell the staff to remain indoors. I want no displays of