Azure bonds - Kate Novak [54]
Vangerdahast returned to the conference table. In his wake was a portly, balding man in a tavernkeeper's apron.
"Who's this?" Azoun asked.
The man bowed his head. "Phocius Green, Your Highness. Owner of the inn and tavern The Hidden Lady."
Azoun shot a questioning glance over the barkeep's head to Vangerdahast.
"The woman Alias stayed several evenings in The Hidden Lady," the wizard explained.
"Oh. You came to tell us about her?" Azoun asked the bar-keep.
"Begging Your Majesty's pardon, but I was summoned."
"Oh?" Azoun looked surprised.
Vangerdahast explained further. "Since I have been unable to track this Alias woman by magical means, a suspicious circumstance in and of itself, I summoned Goodman Green here. I knew the woman had stayed at his inn, because one of Your Majesty's citizens reported her last week to the town guard. Apparently, he thought she was a Rashemen witch."
"Mitcher Trollslayer," the barkeep muttered.
"What made the man think that?" Azoun asked.
"She was branded with a bizarre tattoo," the wizard explained. "A member of the Council of Mages went to the inn to register her, but the woman was unconscious, so the councilman let her be."
"Please, Your Highness," the barkeep interrupted. "She was no witch, just a sell-sword. She came in with so much iron on her she wouldn't've been able to cast a light even if she were magic."
"Where is she now?" His Majesty asked.
The barkeep shrugged. "She left nearly a ride ago, Your Highness."
"When exactly?" Vangerdahast asked.
The barkeep thought for a moment. "The fifteenth, Your Lordship."
"Eight days. Do you know which way she was heading?" the wizard asked.
The barkeep stiffened. He turned to address his answer to the king. "Please, Your Highness, you aren't going to tell the dragon where she is, are you? She hasn't done any harm, She's just an adventuress with some bad luck."
"What makes you think she has something to do with the dragon?" Azoun asked.
"Well, she fought it, now didn't she?" the barkeep said. "Freed Olive Ruskettle, the famous bard. The bard herself told me."
"That's right," Giogioni piped up from his chair. "She told us all about it at the wedding party. Ruskettle told us, that is. Wonderful bard."
Having confirmed the barkeep's story, Giogi went back to slurping His Majesty's brandy and humming snatches of Ruskettle's wedding song.
"Did you know about that, Vangy?" Azoun asked.
The royal wizard colored slightly. "No, Your Highness."
Azoun turned to the barkeep. "For the time being we need to know where this Alias is. She may be nothing more than a sell-sword, but she could be something much more dangerous. We must know all about her. Now, which way was she heading?"
The barkeep sighed. "She and the bard and the Turmish mage said something about going to Westgate, then they said something about going to Yulash."
"Yulash?" Azoun exclaimed. "How bizarre."
"The two towns are in opposite directions," the wizard pointed out. "Which way did they decide to go?"
The barkeep thought for a moment again. He remembered the Turmish mage listing all the reasons for going to Westgate. The barkeep was a loyal subject to his king, but he didn't quite trust the wizard Vangerdahast. To him, Alias would always be the hidden lady and hence, like the name of his inn, good luck. She had looked so miserable the last night she'd stayed at his hostel. The barkeep was not keen on turning her over to the undoubtedly less than tender ministrations of the royal wizard.
"The lady wanted to go to Yulash," he told Vangerdahast.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Goodman Green," the wizard replied. "You may leave now."
The barkeep bowed his head to the king and left the tower room. Vangerdahast's eyes followed him thoughtfully.
"I don't know many assassins who rescue bards in distress," Azoun said to his wizard.
"But many make deals with dragons, Your Highness, and as is the way with their