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.Glabur started to shout after him, but Ohaern caught his arm.“No, let us trust him.He has done nothing to earn anything else.”“But if he should turn traitor now, with hundreds of Kuruite soldiers about us—”“If he should not, he will have us into that prison without noise.See! He changes his gait!”Glabur looked where Ohaern was pointing and saw the half-elf stumbling, almost staggering, toward the prison.“What stratagem has he in mind?”“Only a prank, like as not.Do you and Dalvan circle to the left; I will take the right.”Keeping low, Glabur and Dalvan went to the shadow of the wall and followed it until they were out of the guards’ line of sight.Then they dashed across a small patch of open ground into the shadow of the prison wall and crept along it to the corner.Ohaern, however, had no obliging wall to shield him—but a happy thought struck him, and he stood up and strode openly and boldly toward the temple.The prison guards looked up, stiffening, and so did a sentry on the wall—but they relaxed as he went to the temple portal.No one thought twice about a worshiper going to Ulahane’s temple in the middle of the night.But once in its shadow, Ohaern flattened himself against the wall and crept to the corner that overlooked the prison door.He arrived just in time to see Lucoyo stagger up toward the door.Two spears were leveled at his midriff.“Stand!” a guard snapped.“Where do you think you go?”“Latrine.” Lucoyo followed the statement with a loud hiccup, then explained, “Burshting.”“The latrines are over against the western wall, fellow!”“Can’ make it,” Lucoyo slurred.“Flood.Here.”“If you dare to think of it, I’ll see you inside that door for good and all! Then you can manage in there, where they have no latrines—or where every scrap of dirt is a latrine!”Lucoyo stared at them, owl-eyed, then shook his head slowly.“Dirty,” he said.“Sick.”“What matters illness, to those who go to Ulahane? They will not live long enough! Nay, and the few who are kept alive, awaiting judgment, deserve death anyhow—so what matters illness, indeed?”“ ‘Deed,” Lucoyo echoed.“You go in there?”“Only to serve the prisoners their slop! How dare you say that a soldier of Kuru should dwell amidst such filth!”“Oh.I dunno.” Lucoyo joined his hands, twiddling his thumbs.He seemed to have heavy going of it—they kept tripping over one another.But he rolled his eyes up, pursing his lips as he contemplated the moon, and the two guards stared at him, beginning to grin, wondering what this foolish drunk would say next.“The barbarian hasn’t tasted beer before,” one of them grunted to the other.“The first time always takes them like this,” his partner agreed.“Ah!” Lucoyo stabbed a forefinger upward.“Found it!”The guard stared.“Found what?”“Why Kuruite soldier might go in prizhon!”“Oh, have you really,” the one soldier purred, and the other demanded, “Why?”“ ‘Cauzh he might fall on ‘eml”“Fall on them?” The soldier grinned, and his mate laughed.“You talk nonsense, fellow! Why should we fall—”The big shadows that loomed behind them raised war clubs and struck down with dull cracks.The two guards stiffened; then their eyes rolled up and they slumped to the ground.“That is why,” Lucoyo hissed.“Well done, archer!” Ohaern’s eyes glowed with excitement.“Now! You three hold the door!”“Can you two wear these soldiers’ helmets and pectorals?” Lucoyo asked Glabur.“I am too slight—no one would believe it.”Glabur nodded.“A good thought.”“And I shall bring out Manalo!” Ohaern turned to the door.“Alone?” Lucoyo stared at him.“Yes, alone.The guards are out here—why should there be need for more than one? But if anyone comes near, friend Lucoyo, do you carry on more of these antics you used on these guards.”Lucoyo nodded.“No one will think anything of a fool entertaining a couple of bullies.But how shall you get in? There is no latchstring, nor any other means of unlocking it that I can see!”“Like this.” Ohaern laid hold of the handle of the prison door, set himself, and heaved.Every muscle in his body stood out; for a few seconds his form was a gigantic bow, straining against wood.Then something snapped, and Ohaern nearly stumbled as the door shot open.But he caught himself, chest heaving, and turned back to his three friends, who were staring, wide-eyed.“Close it after me, but be ready to open when I knock like this!” He struck the door in a brief, complex rhythm.Glabur jolted out of his daze and nodded.“We shall, Ohaern!”“Good [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]