Azure bonds - Kate Novak [94]
"He looked like a spider," lied the Turmishman, leaning over the table and speaking in a low voice. He had to be carried about from room to room. His hands were shriveled into useless sticks, so that he had to be dressed and fed by his manservant. I know. I watched him eat. It was most unpleasant."
Alias pondered the mage's description while she sipped her tea. She had suspected her goatherd to be Elminster, though he had tried to lead her away from that idea. Powerful, famous people often traveled around dressed as commoners, at least in lays and songs. But if the sage was chair-ridden, her goatherd had to be someone else.
That didn't mean she valued the old man's advice any less, and she certainly appreciated his finder's stone, kept safely tucked away in her boot top. It made her feel a lot less nervous, knowing he had been just a wise, old man. Had Elminster himself taken such an interest in her singing, she'd know she was in more trouble than she could handle.
Jhaele brought out another breakfast tray and unloaded the contents onto their table.
"Pass the strawberries," Olive demanded, dumping the contents of the fruit bowl on top of another grilled cake and handing the empty bowl back to Akabar, who put it aside without noticing. He was nearly holding his breath, afraid Alias might make some comment about Elminster that Jhaele would hear and contradict, belying his story.
"I need to do some shopping," Alias announced, draining her tea cup. "Would you mind very much taking care of the food provisioning?" she asked the Turmishman.
"Not at all," Akabar assured her, forcing a smile to his lips. That's all he felt good for lately, buying the groceries from other greengrocers like himself.
Alias rose from the table and went over to knock on the kitchen door. Jhaele handed her another tray.
"I'm taking this up to Dragonbait," she explained to the others.
"Why? Is he sick?" Olive asked.
"No. I just thought he deserved breakfast in bed for a change."
Akabar tried not to look too anxious when he asked, "When are we leaving here?" The sooner they were gone from Shadowdale, the sooner his lie about Elminster would be safe from revelation. Also, it would be easier to keep an eye on the lizard when they were on the road.
"About two hours. There's a way station up the road about ten miles. I'd like to reach it by nightfall."
"Anything I can do?" Olive asked offhandedly.
"Keep out of trouble," Alias suggested.
"I might manage that," the halfling said with a prim nod.
Dragonbait was still asleep when Alias returned to the room. She set the tray down by his nose. He inhaled before he opened his eyes.
"Hungry, sleepy-head?"
The lizard sat up and smiled. His cloak fell away as he broke off some waffle and popped it in his mouth.
The scent of lemon wafted about the room. Aren't we too far north for lemon trees to bloom? Alias wondered.
She began packing up her clothes. The turquoise wool tunic lay across a chair. Last night it had been mud-spattered from her fall. Now it was mysteriously laundered and dried. She gathered it up in her hands and went to sit beside Dragonbait.
"Look, you've got to stop doing things like this."
Dragonbait tilted his head and made a chirping noise.
"Don't give me that I-don't-understand look," Alias said. "I don't care if you tease Olive, but I know you understand me. I want you to stop this servant routine. You're not my servant. You're… my traveling companion. I know I'm lazy about looking after my things sometimes, but you'll spoil me if you keep this up. I know how useful you are. You don't have to keep proving it to me. Do you understand?"
Dragonbait met her gaze with his unblinking yellow eyes. He nodded.
"All right, then. Better finish your breakfast. We're leaving in a few hours. I'm going to the smithy to have the kinks ground out of my blade. You can bring your sword down too if you want."
Suddenly anxious to leave for the open road, Alias hurried