Liar's Island: A Novel Read Free Page B

that whole weight-in-gold thing.”
    Hrym’s voice was muffled by the sheath, but audible. “Minuses include the fact that no one gives you your weight in gold without expecting you to work for it.”
    â€œI do hate work. But being in close proximity to my weight in gold might provide the opportunity to steal it, thus getting the gold without doing the work.”
    â€œHow much gold would that be , anyway?” Hrym asked. “In terms of coins, I mean. Gold is awfully heavy, so it might not be so many, and you know I like to rest on a good bed of coins. He’d better not pay you in gold bars—they’re not nearly as comfortable to sleep on. Why aren’t you fatter, anyway?”
    â€œHowever much it is, it’s certainly more gold than we have now, by quite a large margin. Also, I’ve never been to Jalmeray. Could be interesting. All djinn and monks and tigers and temples in high mountains. And, hmm—women who dance around wearing nothing but scarves, and translucent scarves, at that. Am I remembering that right?”
    â€œAs always, you’re a keen student of cultural matters,” Hrym said.
    â€œI suppose I should see if I can find a map. Perhaps read a book. No, no time for that—but perhaps I should talk to someone who’s read a book.” He turned a corner and walked along the back of a warehouse, past stacks of empty crates piled up twice the height of a man—or once the height of a djinni, apparently.
    â€œA whole book?” Hrym said. “I don’t think we know anyone who’s gone quite that far.”
    â€œTrue.” Rodrick paused in the mouth of an alleyway. Had he heard the scrape of a boot on stone back there? He drew Hrym and whirled, blade outstretched. He was quite good at the drawing-fast-and-whirling bit, as it made quite an impressive display; it was the parts that usually came after—actually trying to kill someone with a sword—that he’d never been much good at. Luckily, Hrym’s ice magic made him lethal at a distance.
    Except against these two. That buffoon Kelso and the other guard, the old one with the disreputable mustaches, approached with blades drawn. “What now?” the old one said, and grinned. “Gonna summon your djinni again?”

3
    Inner and Outer Seas
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    â€œI can only do that once per day, alas,” Rodrick said. “You’ll have to settle for ice in lieu of wind.”
    â€œThe wizard’s magic still protects us, blackguard,” Kelso said.
    â€œDid you just call me a blackguard?” Rodrick said. “I don’t think anyone’s ever called me that before. I’m not saying you’re wrong, exactly. I don’t know the exact definition of the term, but I get the gist, and it might be accurate enough. I’m just saying, it’s unusual.” He sighed. “So, fine. You’ve got protection from the cold. But do you have protection from gold ?” Rodrick jingled the bag of coins he’d gotten from the djinni. “I’ll give you this if you go away and leave me alone.”
    â€œYou’d better only be offering them your share,” Hrym said. “I do not approve of this plan.”
    â€œYou think we can be bought so easily?” Kelso’s virtuous jowls quivered in outrage.
    â€œYou? Perhaps not. But your friend here has the look of an old veteran, and in my experience, soldiers are practical. Take the gold, and tell your little lord you couldn’t find me. Everyone wins.”
    â€œBetter plan,” the grizzled guard said. “We beat you bloody and take the gold anyway .”
    â€œDamn,” Rodrick said. “Some old soldiers are entirely too practical. Another way, then.” He waved Hrym toward a stack of crates, unleashing a torrent of icy wind that knocked the whole pile down, tumbling crates smashing into Kelso and the old guard and driving them to the ground. They groaned, not