The Black Raven - Katharine Kerr [82]
“Let’s have a word with our councillor.” Owaen’s voice was perfectly soft and calm. “Follow me.”
Alwyn hesitated, visibly puzzled, as if perhaps he wondered if he’d been believed. Maddyn winked at him and shepherded him out of the barracks. They followed Owaen’s broad back across the ward and into the great hall, which here in mid-morning stood mostly empty. A few riders lingered on their side of the big round room; a few servants wandered back and forth, wiping up scraps from the tables and throwing them to the waiting dogs. Oggyn was standing by the honor hearth and gazing at the staircase, as if he were waiting for someone. Owaen paused and turned to Alwyn.
“You’ll swear to this?”
“I will, and there’s six other lads in the same spot as me.”
“Done, then.” Owaen allowed himself a brief twitch of his mouth that might have been a smile. “Follow me.”
As they strode over, Oggyn looked up and saw them coming. He froze, started to back away, realized that Owaen was too close to outrun, and finally arranged a commanding stare on his face and crossed his arms over his chest as well.
“You wish to speak with me?” Oggyn bellowed.
Owaen took one long stride, grabbed him by the shirt with both hands, and slammed him back against the wall. Oggyn squeaked and howled and kicked; Owaen slammed him again, and Oggyn held still, gasping for breath. Those few people in the hall stopped what they were doing and turned to watch. Maddyn glanced around, but no one was rushing to the councillor’s aid.
“Listen, you,” Owaen said. “You’ve been extorting fees, haven’t you? Demanding coin from men who want to meet me or Maddyn?”
“Not! Lies!”
“Horseshit! There are seven men ready to swear you took their coins.” Owaen shook him. “You’re paying every copper back.”
“Won’t! Can’t! It’s not true!”
“Then you won’t object if we go straight to the prince with this matter.”
“I’ll pay!”
Owaen smiled and let Oggyn go. Moaning and fussing, the councillor smoothed down his shirt, then reached inside it, and pulled out a fat pouch, hanging round his neck from a gold chain. Alwyn was staring at Owaen with a look suitable to viewing a god come down to earth. Swearing under his breath, Oggyn gave Alwyn a silver piece, then counted out six more into Owaen’s waiting palm.
“And one more,” Owaen said, “for the troop’s general coffer. Consider it lwdd.”
“May the gods piss upon you!” Oggyn snarled—but he paid.
Still muttering, Oggyn trotted to the staircase on the far side of the great hall to the accompaniment of snickers and downright laughter from the servants and riders present. Owaen’s face had gone blank again, but he stood jingling the coins and watching the councillor hurry up the stairs.
“Branoic’s good for somewhat after all,” Owaen said at last.
“Truly,” Maddyn said. “I’m glad our new men found him easy to talk to.”
“Where is he, anyway?” Owaen glanced around.
“I’ve no idea.”
The bard, however, was lying. Branoic was off courting the lady Lillorigga, and Maddyn knew it. He simply saw no reason to give Owaen anything more to hold over Branno’s head.
Although Dun Deverry sported no proper gardens like those in Cerrmor, it did have a kitchen garden out in back of the cookhouses and storage sheds. In search of a little privacy, Lilli and Branoic found it one morning when the summer air hung warm and heavy. They sat down on a wood bench and breathed the scents of rosemary, sage, and spicy thyme. Branoic lounged back and laid one long arm on the bench back behind her. She could feel the warmth of it, it seemed, and she stared straight out ahead of her.
In a little eddy of dust a big grey gnome appeared. He set his twiggy hands on his hips and cocked his head to one side like a miniature silver dagger. Lilli felt herself smiling, then stifled it. What if Branoic had noticed her watching invisible things? But when she glanced his way, she found