The Honorable Barbarian Read Free Page A

back in similar recognition. Instead of speaking to Kerin, he shouted again for the taverner.
    "Coming, coming," grumbled the proprietor. "I'm no wizard to make the stuff appear out of thin air."
    "We'll take that one," said the leader, pointing to the bench on which Kerin sat. His companions slid in behind the table, so that the first to seat himself rubbed shoulders with Kerin.
    The bench was not quite long enough for all four. Garic looked at those already seated; Kerin smelled the man's odor. Then the big man lowered one buttock on the end of the bench, saying loudly:
    "Oh, push that skinny pup off the end! 'Tis he who so vexed me on the ride from Kortoli."
    He applied his shoulder to his nearest companion and shoved, displacing the companion, who in turn forced the third of the trio up against Kerin. Seeing that he was about to be shoved off the end, Kerin rose, picking up his mug. The big man on the other end beamed triumphantly.
    Kerin was furious; but his sword was in his room above, and in a rough-and-tumble with these characters he would have all the chance of a snowball in the crater of Mount Sholala. He had read fictions wherein the spindly young hero trounced the hulking bully; but he had seen enough of the world to know that such things did not really happen, unless the hero had the help of magic. Kerin's only magic was the protective cantrip laid upon him by Jorian's wizardly friend, the iatromagus Uller; and that, a mere passive defense against spells, would not hinder Garic's fists and boots.Keeping a grip on his temper, Kerin sat down at a vacant table. For a while he was suffered to drink his beer in peace, hearing the speech of the three who had ousted him. They endlessly boasted about the might and prowess of Vindium's paddle-ball team. There had been a minor riot at the game, with a couple of players whacking each other with bats, and spectators joining in until the civic guardsmen beat them away with pikestaves. Finally Garic bent a scowl upon Kerin, growling:
    "Ho there, you, skinny!" When Kerin looked up, Garic continued: "Do you admit that the Vindine team is the finest, bravest, and ablest in all the Twelve Cities?"
    Kerin realized that he ought to agree; but his boiling rage and imp of perversity led him defiantly to return the stare, saying: "I wouldn't know. I follow not that sport."
    "Oh, too hoity-toity, eh? If you did, you'd know we Vindines could trample you Kortolian sissies into dirt! We'd grind 'em to powder, as I will now do to you!"
    The fellow lurched to his feet and started towards Kerin. One of his companions said: "Garic, let's not start—"
    Ignoring the advice, the big man continued his way, clenching and unclenching his fists. Kerin, badly frightened but determined to sell his life dearly, also rose. Then Garic stopped, saying:
    "Ouch! Some damned bug bit me!"
    He halted, batting the air with his massive arms. Kerin sighted Belinka's misty form, flitting round Garic's head. Kerin raised his voice:
    "Goodman Garic! Know that your bug is my faithful familiar spirit. Wouldst force me to exert my full occult powers?"
    "Huh? You a wizard?"
    Kerin gave a mocking bow. "A mere pupil of Uller of Kortoli. How'd you like a little spell of impotence? Of course, I am not yet a licensed master magician, so the spell may go awry and turn us all to pollywogs or blast us off the planet." He extended both forefingers, closed his eyes, and declaimed: "Nitrae radou sunandam, noctar. . . ."
    "Ho!" snorted Garic. "That's unfair! I'll take you on with fists or quarterstaves, but not with unholy spells!" When Kerin continued to incant, Garic, grumbling under his breath, returned to his table, saying: "Come on, boys; we like not Chundo's lousy beer anyway."
    The three rose and hulked their way out, leaving their undrunk mugs. Weak with reaction, Kerin sat down, blessing Jorian for having coached him in lying. He murmured:
    "Thankee, Belinka!"
    "Hee hee!" tinkled the sprite, alighting on Kerin's shoulder.