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Snorri pursed his lips around hisdown at ing,” he said, one eyebrow elevating

“Man’s free to choose his own path” Makin rubbed his chin

I shot toI’d takenyou stuff down pig like alike”

“A pig?” Snorri suggested He lifted his plate and scraped several fried eggs towards his mouth

“I’ some decent clothes and a bath, and a meal at some half-civilized establish to split me down the ates at noon”

“It’s noon now!”

“Three hours!” I called it froered out into the sunshine

• • •

The sun watched froate of the Tall Castle I’d soaked off the road stink at a bathhouse, leaving the waters black; had my hair cut and tamed; and calood for the easing of pain, also beneficial in cases of plague and dropsy Finally I had purchased a fresh linen shirt, adjusted to my size with a feell-placed stitches; a cloak of brushed velvet, tri claimed as ermine and probably squirrel; and a silverish clasp lass to round it off Not quite princely garb, but enough to pass entry on casual inspection

Snorri hadn’t turned up I considered going on without hi a bodyguard, I’ve always been in favour of having one, for guarding my body Especially a maniac over six and a half foot tall, packed withme die

It took perhaps another half hour before I saw the Norseman on the broad street below He had Sleipnir and Ron in tow but at least hadn’t

“You should have left the nags where they were” I knew better than to upbraid hirin and slap

“I thought only beggars arrived on foot in these flat countries” Snorri grinned and ran a hand through Sleipnir’s irl, and she’s carrying all my stuff”

“Better to let them think I’ve a decent horse stabled soy pair and suffer the pity of guardsmen”