Part 7 (1/2)

The plump merchant stammered. ”A single bottle sells for” - he paused here to a.s.sess Cord's origin - ”ten gold orbs. I ... I cannot reduce the price even though you take the lot, for each is a jewel, -a treasure!”

”Certainly, my good man, I concur.” Gord nodded in agreement. ”That comes to sixty orbs, then.”38 Lord Maheal stared in astonishment as Gord brought forth his purse and counted out twenty plates and thirty-eight orbs. ”Do pack them carefully, but leave one separate, for I wish to bestow it as a gift”

The merchant made haste to comply. Chert, meanwhile, was in shock at his companion's extravagant, impulsive purchase. Knowing Cord's devious mind, however, the brawny barbarian managed to remain silent the whole time, playing his role of body- 96.guard to the hilt He glared at several curious onlookers, and they went away hastily. Then he moved to a position where he could protect Cord's back. Just then a grubby laborer appeared with a cart, and a pair of the wine merchant's a.s.sistants placed two wooden casks upon the vehicle.

”Your bottles of Margeaux are crated in straw and awaiting, sir,” the fellow said somewhat sadly to Gord, obviously torn between parting with the nectar and making a hefty profit. ”And one is wrapped separately as you instructed.” Then, turning to Lord Maheal, he said perfunctorily, ”And your twin tuns of Yugharian Purple are on that cart there - three luckies, six n.o.bles, and a common for wine and hand truck.”

Gord smiled and bent his knee slightly to Lord Maheal. ”It is farewell then. Lord Maheal. You must be off, and my purchase is ready. Please accept this small gift as a token of my esteem,” he concluded with a flourish and held forth the single bottle of Margeaux.

The n.o.bleman stared fixedly at the proffered bottle for a moment, a mixture of emotions playing across his face. Suddenly Lord Maheal's face lit up, and he spoke warmly to Gord. ”So pleasant an acquaintance must not be stifled in its infancy! I can not accept so generous a gift from a gentleman I scarcely yet know. Let us rectify this sorry pa.s.s by sharing a draught and viands at the Helix!” And before Gord could reply. Lord Maheal took the young thief smoothly by the arm and began steering him out of the emptying plaza. Tour man Furd can handle both of our purchases, I'm sure.”

”Just so!” Gord said in hearty comrades.h.i.+p as he strolled haughtily along with the Nyrondel n.o.bleman. Cursing under his breath. Chert hastily placed the crate of wine atop the load on the two-wheeled 97.*.

cart and trundled after the receding pair.

The Helix was an exclusive club, evidently, and, as he feared when he learned the status of the establishment. Chert was relegated to the servant's, dining hall while Gord and Lord Maheal supped in the Grand Salon of the place. They had entered a garden through a plain doorway off the Way. The little s.p.a.ce was quite lovely and s.h.i.+elded from view by a two-storey wall separating it from the street It formed the patio for the club building, which was a throne-shaped edifice with low wings and a tower in the middle. After pa.s.sing through a guarded antechamber and climbing a wide, spiral stair to the second storey, Gord and his new friend marched off to their splendid repast Chert had been seated on a bench, given a small beer, and then fed a bowl of turnips and hog jowls swimming in a greasy broth, plus a lump of black bread with which to sop up the mess. He was disgruntled at first but the conversation in the drab chamber was open and lively. The huge hillman ended up making several acquaintances there, and when the meal was finished he and a group of five or six others moved to a corner where they could gamble undisturbed.

”Chert!” The Insistence in the call was unmistakable and Immediately broke through the barbarian's concentration on the game. He looked around and saw Gord just inside the door of the hall. Gord beckoned urgently, and Chert stood up and strode to where his slight comrade waited.

”Tired of fine fare and n.o.ble talk already?”

”Spare me your sarcasm. I have not learned as much as I had hoped, but I am invited to the festivities in Rel Mord. That gets us out of here, for you are coming as well of course.”

”Strong backs are always needed for transpor- 98.tation of quant.i.ties of potables,” Chert mused with thoughtful agreement ”So how39 else could It be? Still. I have not exactly wasted my time either and have gleaned some valuable knowledge.”

Gord interrupted impatiently, not allowing his brawny friend to say more. ”No time for that now. Maheal excused himself to attend to privy needs but will return momentarily and-”

”Not so fast, Gord. Listen to me for once,” Chert said forcefully. ”I know now how to enter and exit this place without need of some vain twit from Ny-rond to carry us as supercargo in order to gain the wine you squandered a fortune on.”

”Squandered? How you talk!” Gord nearly shouted, ignoring the rest of what his towering companion had told him. ”With thousands in our purses, no count of ones and tens need be taken!” he exclaimed with derision for such copper-clawing accountancy as the barbarian had suggested. Chert merely stared back at him, his eyes unwavering. After a moment Cord's face registered shock. ”You've what?” he asked, grabbing the forearm of the silent hillman. ”Did you say you know the ins and outs of Weird Way?”

*Yes, Gord,” his friend said smugly. ”But tell me, did someone come along in the last few seconds and clean out your ears without me noticing?”

”No need to be a smarta.s.s. even though I deserve it Fill me In.”

”What about Lord Maheal? Won't he miss you?” Chert asked Innocently.

”Futter that fop. Holding the key to entering and leaving this place at will is of utmost importance to us.” Gord replied earnestly.

Moments later, n.o.bleman and game both forgotten, the pair were deep in conversation, hunched over the long board where Chert had recently eaten 99.his unappetizing turnip supper. Chert was doing most of the talking, with Gord occasionally asking a question or interjecting a rueful exclamation. A quarter of an hour, perhaps more, pa.s.sed before they concluded.

”I should have guessed It all along!” Gord said with anger directed at his lack of discernment.

Chert shook his great head. ”Not so, my friend. The answer is not so easily gained without the bits and pieces of the puzzle to put together. You did well enough as it is, for had I not managed to find the key you, at least, had our leaving a.s.sured.”

With an expression of wry disbelief, Gord arose from the bench and clasped the huge barbarian in an embrace. ”Thanks, good friend, for your solid thinking and ever-toiling efforts. It is you who have saved the day, not I. Come on. Let's do what we must and be out of Weird Way for a time. This con-fined place makes me abridged in mind and spirit, it seems!”

The two were leaving, arm in arm. when Lord Maheal called out ”Say, I say there!

Master Drogo!”

”Time to give this perfumed popinjay something to bite on,” Chert said with a grin as both men turned In his direction.

Gord a.s.sented and they walked up to the linen-covered table at which the lily-skinned aristocrat was seated, awaiting the return of the fellow he thought to be Master Drogo of the bottomless purse.

”What droll humor causes you to clasp your manservant's arm?” the n.o.ble Szek of Dohou-Yohpe asked crossly. ”Furthermore, where have you been, Master Drogo? It Is improper to leave a lord waiting alone while a common gentleman twaddles about with servants.”

Chert was fairly beaming in antic.i.p.ation, and Gord was readying his retort when a burning, Itch- 100.ing feeling at the base of his skull distracted him. The young adventurer instinctively turned, and out of the corner of his eye saw two familiar figures. The more noticeable of the two was the ogrish creature they had encountered yesterday.

With him, though, was the vampire, Plincourt. The latter figure flashed Gord a white-fanged smile when the slender thlefs eyes met his red-rimmed ones. Gord turned away hurriedly. Chert had failed to notice anything unusual.

”I say there, this appears to be the start of a very fine evening!” Plincourt said loudly to no one in particular and then added, ”I do so love the night life!”

”s.h.i.+tI” Gord exclaimed.

”I await your apology!” Maheal said petulantly. ”My good lord, you have it - and a40 thousand more!” said Gord.

Chert scratched his head In utter bewilderment, looking down at his comrade as if the darkly handsome young man had gone mad. Gord nudged his friend and tipped his head in Plincourt's direction.

”Double s.h.i.+t!” Chert bellowed, forgetting himself for the moment.

Leaving Maheal standing oaflshly with a strange expression of amazement on his countenance, Gord seated himself and said confidentially to the Nyrond-, el n.o.bleman. Tou see. Kurd was my playmate and whipping boy as well when I was a lad. I allow him such familiarities and breaches of propriety for the sake of old times, as it were.”

Shaking his head over the manners and customs of the folk of so rustic a community as Greyhawk, Lord Maheal thought of the five other bottles of Magoo, or whatever it was called, and the favorable impact it would have on his uncle and the king. The matter of impropriety could be settled later - after 101.

the wine was gone and the royal guest had departed. ”I now understand,” he said In a conciliatory tone. ”Let us be off. The revel will not wait for dilatory persons!”

”At your service, your lords.h.i.+p.” Gord said as he sprang up and a.s.sisted the scrawny aristocrat to his fas.h.i.+onably shod feet. As MaheaJ straightened his stylish hat, Gord gave a sign to Chert, directing the hillman's attention to the pair of diners glaring at them from a booth at the rear of the salon. As Chert now gaped even more foolishly at the sight revealed, Gord was whispering to the Nyrondel Szek. ”You will note, my lord, that the poor fellow is not quite right in the head. I had to strike him once ”for disobedience, and I fear it was too severe a blow. Furd has been a bit hoddy in the peak ere since.”

”Oh, ho,” Maheal said thoughtfully, eyeing the barbarian as he slowly turned toward them again, his mouth working and a glazed look in his eyes. ”It” is much clearer now than before!”

”Absolutely, your lords.h.i.+p. As large and oxlike as he is now, I must occasionally humor his childlike mind, or else he might become violent and forget his station.”

”Why keep such a dangerous brute then?” Lord Maheal demanded.

”Huh?” Chert grunted.

”He protects me as a mastiff would its master,” Gord replied with a wise expression and a wink, and the Szek of Dohou-Yohpe nodded sagely.

”Come on, Furd, be livery now! His Lords.h.i.+p'and I require your strong back In a very Important matter.” So saying, they left without further ado.

Gord had not planned to actually accompany the egotistical n.o.bleman beyond the precincts of the Helix Upon reaching the lovely garden with its myriad blooms and pattering fountain, however, his 102.

sixth sense made him turn and survey the building. For just an instant he saw a figure outlined against the warm light of the candles Inside. The shape had been tall and very thin.

”Let us make all haste!” he shouted to the sweating Chert as that worthy strained under his load of wine casks and crate. ”It is most inconsiderate to keep Lord Maheal from his appointment. Now hurry along!”

Chert uttered a garbled oath but quickened his pace, noting the direction of Gord's gaze. The n.o.ble Szek beamed at the just recognition of his station now being evidenced by the formerly lax Master Dro-go, and he thought perhaps he would not be quite as harsh when it came time to set matters aright as he had originally determined.

”Yes. do show a bit of life there . . . Furd,” Maheal cried, brus.h.i.+ng at his fuchsia velvet pantaloons as if to remove the dust of toil. ”Our destination Is right over there,” Maheal went on. pointing toward a steep flight of narrow stone steps leading to the Impenetrable darkness of the rooftops above.