The Wordsmiths and the Warguild Read Online Free

in the banquet hall. While he had been in danger of
being sliced and diced, his father's guests had been amusing themselves all
unawares of the drama taking place out in the night.
            "Tog!" called
Day, loudly, almost directly overhead.
            "Here," said
Togura, feeling for her in the darkness as he tried to get to his feet.
            His blundering hand slid
straight up her dress to the warmest part of her flesh. She screamed. He jerked
his hand away as if it had been burnt.
            "Tog," said
Day, uncertainly. "Was that you?"
            "What the feck and
fuckle did you think it was, girl?" said the ancient mariner. "An
octopus? Come on, children, pull yourselves together."
            They did not answer, for
they were now embracing.
            "Tog, oh Tog,"
said Day, holding him close and tight. "I was so worried. Are you all
right?"
            "Fine," said
Togura. "If only I'd had a blade! I would've cut him from spleen to
kidney. I would've - "
            "Leave your heroics
for later," said the old man sharply. "If we can't work on the boat
tonight, I want to sleep. Where's my bed for the night?"
            "You've got a
nerve!" said Togura, who bitterly resented the fact that it was this
querulous old madman who had just saved his life or his beauty, or maybe both.
            "Come on,"
said Day. "Don't be nasty. I'm sure we can find him a place to stay for
the night."
            "Oh, all right,
then," said Togura. "Let's go."
            They went back to the
banquet hall, where they met Quail the rouster. He was bearing a lighted
candle, which he was trying to shield with his hand. As they drew near, he
recognised them.
            "Master
Togura!" said Quail. "Have you seen the doorway lanterns by any
chance?"
            "Why, has someone
lifted them?" said Togura.
            "Yes. Some of your
young friends, perhaps? That little sod Cromarty was on the muck tonight."
            "Is that so?"
said Togura. "Well, a couple of lanterns isn't the end of the world. Tell
me, man Quail, can you bed down this gentleman for the night?"
            Quail peered at the
ancient mariner.
            "Are you sure we
want to house this individual, Master Togura?"
            "Pitilkin sleeps
quietly," said the old man, his voice quavering. "No trouble, no
trouble."
            "Just for the
night," said Togura.
            "It won't do any
harm," said Day.
            "Well ... just for
the night then," said Quail, doubtfully. "There's probably a spare
garrow at the backstop, if the incest twins haven't bedded themselves down for
the night. Otherwise, I'm afraid it'll be the stable."
            "Thanks," said
Togura, turning to go.
            "Oh, and Master
Togura - if you see Cromarty and his spry young brags, ask them about the
lantern, will you?"
            "We will,"
said Day. "Thanks for everything."
            Togura took her hand and
they walked off into the night together. His hopes were high, but they were
soon to be disappointed: he did not lose his virginity that night.

Chapter 3
     
            "I don't suppose
you know how your brother damaged his wrist," said Baron Chan Poulaan.
            "I don't keep track
of his business," said his son Togura.
            The baron harrumphed,
but did not press the point.
            The two were riding side
by side. They were on a road, or what passed for a road in those parts, which
led to the city state of Keep. The baron was riding a brindled mare and his son
was riding a donkey. Following on behind, riding Kloggles the Mule - and it
took a brave man or a foolish man to venture that - was Prick, the baron's
venerable secretary.
            "The fog seems to
be closing in," said Togura, looking around.
            "I'd noticed
that," said his father.
            "Perhaps we should
stop till it