Fred Saberhagen Lost Swords 5 Coinspinners Story

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.Accumulated dirt, along with some side-effect of his tanning magic, had caused a definite darkening.He could probably pass as belonging to one of the riverside villages, for example that of the head-collectors.And maybe, Adrian thought suddenly, he and his new companion would be able to work out some kind of cooperative hunting agreement.He wasn't exactly starving, but for some days now he'd been looking forward keenly to his next full meal.When he had the canoe in the water again, at a cautious distance downstream from the tumult at the foot of the falls, the dog appeared to understand at once what he wanted it to do next.It jumped into the small craft first, landing as lightly as possible and balancing neatly amidships, while Adrian standing thigh-deep in the water held the vessel steady.Then the dog lay quietly, with its considerable weight distributed along the centerline, while he got in.Adrian picked up the paddle and shoved off."You know what a Sword is, boy? No, how could you.But they're very important, and there's one of them not far ahead-I can smell it there even if you can't-and we're going to try to get our hands on it.Our paws, maybe?"Now that I've got someone who'll listen to me, and I can tell you're listening by the way you move your-"The Prince leaned forward, reaching out with gentle fingers.Hadn't it been the dog's right ear that was torn by the ape's teeth? No? the left one, then Neither ear showed the slightest trace of ever having been injured.TWELVEAT dawn of the day following the one on which he'd found the Sword, Talgai the Woodcutter was once more traveling a forest trail on foot, though this time without the company of his faithful load beast.He was making his way sadly and steadily toward the large town of Smim, where, as he had been told, his only brother was being held in jail, awaiting execution.Talgai's newly acquired lucky Sword, still wrapped in its piece of ragged canvas and at the moment carried balanced on his left shoulder, was coming with him.On his back the woodcutter bore a small pack, containing a few items of spare clothing and some food.Talgai's wife, always sympathetic when she heard any tale of woe, had included several of her famous oatcakes, in an effort to do what little she could for the condemned man.The journey might have been accomplished more swiftly and easily by water, sinceTalgai's hut and the town of Smim were both on the same river.But he had decided to leave his boat at home, in case his wife should need it; and anyway the road to town was reasonably safe.Particularly so, he thought, for a man carrying such a lucky Sword.With Coinspinner in hand, Talgai doubted not that he would be able to reach the town on foot, in plenty of time.Should he fail to make good time, he could always travel by night as well as by day; but Talgai doubted that matters would come to that.As he hiked, he reflected on the bad and unhappy life led by his brother Buvrai-as far as Talgai knew, Buvrai had been in trouble almost continually since he was a boy.Not that Talgai knew much about the details of his brother's life, particularly in recent years.Nor did he wish to know more of the sad story than he did.It seemed too late to do anything about it now.Talgai judged that he was making good time throughout the day, and as darkness approached, he found a convenient spot and stopped to rest.He dined frugally on a portion of the food he had brought with him, not forgetting to save the Page 65ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.htmloatcakes for the prisoner, and augmenting his own dinner with some roadside berries.Then he wrapped himself in the cloak that his wife had insisted he bring along, and slept in the grass not far from the side of the road.This was nothing particularly unusual in the woodcutter's life, and he slept well.Next morning he was up at dawn and off again.During his first day's hike he had encountered several people along the way, the numbers very gradually increasing as the road broadened and the town grew nearer.But on this second day, having started on his way so early, he again had the road to himself for a time.For a long time now he had been out of sight of the river, but now both river and road were curving in such a way as to make them run close together.Talgai took the first good chance to wash his hands and face, and get a drink.Just as he was straightening up from the water, someone nearby made a slight, throat-clearing noise.He turned to see a wiry, long-haired boy of about twelve, and a huge gray dog, sitting together on the grass along the bank.Beside them a well-made canoe, hewed out of a single log, had been pulled ashore."Good morning, sir," the lad said brightly [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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