From alt.pub.dragons-inn Tue Mar 15 23:16:17 1994 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:7114 Path: netcom.com!netcomsv!decwrl!src.dec.com!crl.dec.com!crl.dec.com!caen!usenet.cis.ufl.edu!usenet.ufl.edu!mailer.acns.fsu.edu!darwin.sura.net!howland.reston.ans.net!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!library.ucla.edu!news.mic.ucla.edu!unixg.ubc.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!cab008.cs.ualberta.ca!aaron From: aaron@amisk.cs.ualberta.ca (Aaron V. Humphrey) Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Tolvaj] Zurgen: Sound And Brass Date: 14 Mar 1994 17:54:20 GMT Organization: The Anna Amabiaca Fan Club Lines: 98 Message-ID: <2m28cc$3rr@scapa.cs.ualberta.ca> Reply-To: aaron@amisk.cs.ualberta.ca NNTP-Posting-Host: cab008.cs.ualberta.ca Originator: aaron@cab008.cs.ualberta.ca ADMIN: This thread is being written in cooperation with David Mar; the characters of Zurgen and Ugluk are mine; the Baron of Albez was created by David, named by me, and is common property for anyone who comes out that way. :-) "You got the sound and brass, you got the triumph of the will You do what you want to, and we pay the bills.... But people see through you" ---Bruce Cockburn, "People See Through You" The village of Gagra was in some kind of uproar when they arrived. That much was clear before they even reached it. Zurgen debated, for a moment, using it to cover their passage. Perhaps even to steal the horses they needed to catch up with Tolvaj...but as they drew nearer he dismissed that plan, since most of the furor was actually in front of the stables of the Tall Dwarf Inn--the only stables of note in Gagra and so Zurgen's target... Perhaps the direct approach would be best after all. He threw back his hood, revealing his features to any to see. Ugluk's face remained hooded, but anyone who recognized the mage would know the nature of his companion from reputation. No one saw him at first. Few villagers had occasion to go too far out of the village in the direction of his tower--fewer still frequented the patches of scorched earth where houses had once stood when Zurgen had been young. He had time to draw near the stables, almost to the fringes of the crowd surrounding. He heard, about the mutterings of villagers, the blusterings of one who was clearly not a villager, and was accustomed to better treatment than he had apparently received here. Some nobleman, he decided, a parasitic breed to which the Heath was especially prone. The Barony of Jarpil was, thankfully, mostly free of their presence, the Baron himself spending as much time out of his godforsaken holdings as his meager social status would allow him. A few villagers glancing backwards at the newcomers suddenly gasped, and the nobleman, in his righteous anger, was upstaged. The crowd, which had formed an impenetrable barrier around the stables, parted like silk on a keen blade as Zurgen's presence and identity was carried at the speed of a whisper. The nobleman, who had been warming to his audience, shifted his indignance to encompass the mage. "What kind of village is this," he wondered, "where ruffians like these fellows wander in unchallenged? No wonder my horse was stolen, with such incompetent guardianship!" Zurgen recognized the portly(and _very_ gaudily dressed)fellow now. Baron of Albez, a tiny place not much better off than Jarpil, though slightly freer from the depredations of orcs and their kindred. He smiled slightly as he met the Baron's gaze, and, employing another of his father's minor magics, made his eyes glow slightly. Blood fled from the Baron's face and he stammered into silence. "So you have lost your horse, have you?" Zurgen remarked. "How careless. But surely you can merely acquire another from the stables? No one would question your right, as a lord of the land, would they? Unless you fear that the Baron of these lands would disapprove..." Albez's face flushed at the jibe. "Exactly what I was telling this innkeeper fellow here. However, this is not just any horse. This horse was a gift from the Count of Daenis, and he would be--ah--perturbed to find that I had lost it." More likely the fool had borrowed it from the Count's stables on some pretext, and now feared discovery. Zurgen was sure he fully deserved whatever reprisal he would earn, but this was a perfect opportunity. "Fear not, my dear Baron. It so happens that I have...business with the fellow who no doubt stole your fine...gift from the Count. I would regard it as no extra trouble to regain your steed for you, after the other is dealt with to my satisfaction." "Really?" the Baron said, taken aback and not entirely pleased. Still, obviously regarding the mage as an unknown quantity, he forced a smile. "That would be splendid, if it were not too much trouble..." "Of course, as you can see," Zurgen interrupted, "my companion and I are currently without steeds of our own. While I could remedy this by means of my art, I would rather save my efforts in that direction for the quarry, when run to ground. He might prove a bit tricky when cornered. As such, I'm afraid I should require your generosity in sharing the fruits of these stables..." The Baron, who was no doubt nerving himself up to demand he accompany them, blanched at Zurgen's mention of the quarry and possible danger. "Oh, yes, yes," he finally said. Then he turned to rail at the stable-boy, and the innkeeper, whose quiet defiance had evaporated somewhat at Zurgen's arrival. *** An hour later, Zurgen and Ugluk were riding the pick of Gagra's stables southward. Zurgen was contemplating something he'd heard from the stable-boy's chatter...about _two_ horses having been stolen that morning... -- --Alfvaen(Editor of Communique) Current Album--Talking Heads:Remain In Light Current Read--Mike Resnick:Purgatory "curious george swung down the gorge/the ants took him apart" --billbill