Part 12 (1/2)
The altercation was Immediately broken up by alert guards in great number. Gord demanded satisfaction for the insult, and Chert likewise claimed the right to restoration of his honor.
”There shall be no duel, nor any personal combat of honor, fought without royal leave, and His August Supremacy is seldom Inclined to grant such on short notice,” a richly robed official drawled.
”Now what the h.e.l.ls do we do?” the barbarian stooped and whispered into Cord's ear.
”No plotting to avoid the Royal Strictures!” The official was stern now. ”Guards, see that these two 'guests' are confined in separate chambers until further notice - and watch them constantly, or your heads are forfeit!”
Eventually it was King Archbold himself who solved their dilemma. The monarch brought the - two miscreants into his presence again. Informants had delved Into the matter, and the king knew all - even the nature of Gord's and Chert's recent activities In Greyhawk and elsewhere.
”It seems, gentlemen,” King Archbold said with a stern countenance, ”that you have brought yourselves to a pa.s.s that bodes nothing good for you - or My Royal Court.”
Chert stood looking at the polished marble floor 163.
at his feet, mumbling half-articulate apologies. Gord was also taken aback and could think of nothing to say. The king sat regally and stared, visage set, eyes unforgiving. This silence on Archbold's part finally prompted the young thief.
Tour August Supremacy is renowned as a fair and just king - some say the most righteous in the Flanaess. I beg your permission to state our case.”
”Speak.”
Gord told the Nyrondel monarch the gist of things, leaving out whatever he could that was incriminating, ending the monologue with a simple request. ”All we seek to do. August Supremacy, is to quietly leave Rel Mord prior to the coming nuptials and return to our home in Greyhawk.”
”Tliis is a matter of no difficulty, but - what shall we do to right the things you two have discommoded? That is another matter. Quodilde might prove difficult. . . .”65 Archbold said reflectively.
”Beg pardon, your lords.h.i.+p, but she might prove even more difficult if we stay, for I have no intention in the h.e.l.ls of fulfilling that crone's desires!”
All was quiet for a while until, just as the two really began to lose heart, the king spoke again in a conspiratorial tone.
”Our best interests and obligations are far-reaching, and it just might be that I have thought of a means that will relieve you of your burdens and Ny-rond of its own. Attend most carefully, and be prepared to take yet more solemn vows and oaths if this is agreed to by you both.”
No more than an hour later, the two adventurers were within sight of the sprawling, clifllike walls of Greyhawk.
164.
”Magical transport has its advantages.” Gord said with delight. ”If I had such power I could pillage a treasure from distant Jakif and be home in the wink of a cat's eye!”
The gigantic hillman spat disgustedly. ”Riding a good horse, or even going on, shanks' mare,” he said, shaking one of his ma.s.sive legs for emphasis, ”is far better than such reeky and dangerous means of travel. I hate this spell-working worse than I hate city-bred fops!”
”Let us use our feet now, and if we hie with vigor, we'll be home in an hour or two.”
”With a burden to carry, once we arrive, too,” Chert grumbled as he strode along.
”One quest after another - I like not this city life!”
”Burden? Quest? Ha. my burly barbarian corn-plainer, no problem at all! We have the exciting prospect of a mission, that's all!”
”I'd prefer the prospect of revelry and sloth,” the hillman intoned glumly.
Gord laughed. ”You have had enough of revels for some time. Chert! Let's plan for some action as we walk - it's more funds we need, not funning with bawds! Let me see that ruby. ...”
At that the barbarian had to shake his head sadly. Their purses were indeed nearly as fiat as the mud-banks of the Selintan River. He dug out the gem and handed It to his comrade. The stone was flawed, of course.
Gord saw the barbarian ruefully feeling his broad girdle. ”It is always a matter of quickly gained, speedily lost when it comes to riches, hillman. Now this new undertaking that Archbold has proposed for us might prove to bring us sums so vast that we can . ..”
Chert had his head c.o.c.ked attentively as he and the young thief trudged along the Hillway Road to- 165.
CORD THE ROGUE.
ward the city. Who, watching and overhearing the pair, could doubt that the hope bound in the breast of youth was unquenchable and bright? Fortunately, no such eavesdroppers existed, for the discussion Involved most nefarious activities.
166.
The Five Dragon Bowl ”DIGGWELL BIFFSON IS THE NAME. Do call me Biff, though. If you please. Your Faithfulness.”
”Dlggwell? Yes, I recall. That is a fine, upstanding name amongst halfllngs of the Welkwood region, unless I am mistaken. ...”
”No. no. You are quite correct,” the gray-clad halfling a.s.sured him. ”I hall from that very place.”
”Why go by so odd a name as Biif then, my good halfling?” the cleric asked earnestly. ”You should proudly bear the name of your famous ancestors.”- The small fellow squirmed at that, trying to think of how he could get this man off the subject. ”To be blunt sir, there were so many Diggwells, Dugwalls, Dlggerlys, Diggdeeps. Diggsons, and so forth in my family - and 1 had so many aunts and uncles, not to mention cousins, that I couldn't keep track of them - that my own mother named me Biff, and so it has been since I was but a tiny tot of twelve!”
Satisfied at that, the clergyman went on to the subject that Biff feared he would.
”Coming from a fine area and upstanding folk, why is it you follow such a low calling? Consider carefully the end it would surely lead to. my boyl”
The halfling was older than Poztif, who was a cleric of some repute and a staunch66 supporter of 167.
CORD THE ROGUE.
weal and order. But Biff didnt feel any older. Years were one matter, wisdom and maturity another. He looked down, shuffled his feet, and then looked up brightly.
”You see. Good Poztlf, it was the desire of my friend and mentor, the lordly Melf.
that I take up the profession of thievery so as to a.s.sist him in ways his prowess with sword and spell were unable to accomplis.h.!.+”
Shaking his head in amazement and sadness at the elven condition that would encourage dishonest behavior in a halfling, Poztif grasped the small fellow's hand, saying, ”Dig - Biff. I mean - I hope that our a.s.sociation will be a useful and pious experience from which I will gain humility and understanding and you a change of heart Let us oflT Biff nodded, withdrew his hand quickly to make a sign to ward off ill-omened occurrences, and trotted after the long-legged cleric. ”I too wish to make our enterprise all it should be - Just as our liege lords, Tenser the Arch-Mage and Melf of the Green Arrow, have instructed us.”
Poztif grunted at that, for it seemed the halfling was reb.u.t.ting his piety and efforts. Well, it would be a challenge to accomplish both the task required of him by the mage and his own hopes of salvation for the strayed Biff. Poztif relished the prospect Elsewhere, an ill-matched duo walked slowly along Hundred Step Street toward a rendezvous neither desired. A hulking, six-foot, eight-inch tall hillman from the distant East paced beside a dark-haired young thief from Old City's slums who was just five and a half feet tall - In boots.
Chert and Gord had recently returned from an altogether unpleasant adventure. They were arguing 168.
heatedly as they went neither actually coming right out and accusing, but each blaming the other fellow for their predicament *
”You led us into that d.a.m.n little alley,” the barbarian said, spitting his words in vehement disgust ”And you were all in favor of it at the time,” Gord retorted.
Chert shrugged and then scowled down at the small thief. ”But I agreed to follow your superb plan to get us out of Rel Mord, didnt I?”
”And we got out, too, didn't we?” Gord shot back with heavy sarcasm and a look that bespoke volumes about the stupidity of a certain giant who walked beside him.
Chert balled a meaty fist but restrained his Impulse. ”And look where it got us, you little dolt!” he said between clenched teeth while waving the fist he did not really intend to use in front of Cord's face.
”Oh stop b.i.t.c.hing.” the young thief said in disgust ”So we have to do a little favor to repay the chap who bailed us out. What's the difference? It's Just another job.