Page 46 (1/2)

Yet here he was, his tall, lean figure fully attired in a guard’s accoutrements, scale hauberk freshly oiled, crossbow strapped to back and longsword scabbarded at his hip, in quiet conversation with Eh out of earshot, Gruntle could follow the course of the conversation by the shifting postures of the two e, he saw Buke’s shoulders drop fractionally The grey-bearded guard glanced away Eed and half turned in dis about to face the carriage, and ahis black leather cape around his broad shoulders Buke straightened under the sorcerer’s attention, answered a few terse questions with equally terse replies, then gave a respectful nod Bauchelain laid a hand on his servant’s shoulder and the old ht touch

Gruntle clucked softly in sye man’s breeches, Queen knows Beru fend, Buke’s just been hired Pray he doesn’t coret it

Teneas was involved The conflagration that had killed Buke’s wife, ly That Buke hi drunk and dead to the world in an alley not a hundred paces from the house hadn’t helped in the uards, Gruntle had assumed that Buke would turn to the bottle with serious intent after that Instead, he’d done the opposite Taking solitary contracts with poor, vulnerable reater appeal than the wasting descent of a permanent drunk Poor merchants were robbed far ht But swiftly, even honourably He wants to go down fighting, as did his family, by all accounts Alas, when sober -- as he’s been ever since that night -- Buke fights extrehwaymen would bitterly attest to that

The chill dread that seemed to infuse the air around Bauchelain and, especially, around Korbal Broach, would have deterred any sane guard But a er to embrace death would see it differently, wouldn’t he?

Ah, friend Buke, I hope you do not coret your choice No doubt violence and horror swirls around your t masters, but you’re more likely to be a witness to it than a victi’s eh?

Buke set off to collect his horse and gear Gruntle had begun a cookfire by the time the old e a fewa lanced over and aze

Buke strode over

’A day of changes, friend Buke,’ Gruntle said fro some tea for Harllo and Stonny who should be back any ?’

’That is kind of you, Gruntle I will accept your offer’ He approached the captain

’Unfortunate, what happened to Murk’s wagon’

’I warned hiainst the attempt Alas, he did not appreciate my advice’