tg.stone of tears-第109部分

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　Master　Hillman　bowed　his　head　up　and　down。　‘Of　course；　Master　Rybnik。　Of　course。　And　a　fine　choice；　I　might　add。　Quite　dashing。’　He　wiped　his　clean；　meaty　hands　on　the　apron’s　corner　and　then　held　an　arm　out　to　the　room。　‘May　I　offer　you　a　table；　Master　Rybnik？　Let　me　clear　a　table　for　you。　I　will　have　someone　move。　Let　me　see　to　it。。。。’
　
　‘No；　no。’　Zedd　gestured　with　his　new　cane。　‘That　empty　one　in　the　corner；　near　the　kitchen；　will　do　splendidly。’
　
　The　man　looked　with　worry　to　where　Zedd　had　pointed。　There？　Oh　no；　sir；　please；　let　me　get　you　a　better　table。　Perhaps　near　the　bard。　You　would　like　to　hear　a　lively　tune；　I’m　sure。　He　knows　any　tune　you　could　name。　Let　me　know　your　favorite　and　I　will　have　him　play　it　for　you。’
　
　Zedd　leaned　close　and　gave　the　man　a　wink。　‘I　much　prefer　the　wonderful　aromas　ing　from　your　kitchen　to　the　singing。’
　
　Master　Hillman　beamed　with　pride　and　then　swept　his　arm　in　the　direction　of　the　empty　table；　ushering　Zedd　toward　it。　‘You　do　me　such　honor；　Master　Rybnik。　I　have　never　had　anyone　swoon　over　my　cooking　as　do　you。　Let　me　get　you　a　plate。’
　
　‘Ruben；　please。　Remember？　And　I　would　be　delighted　to　sample　a　slice　of　that　roast　I　smell。’
　
　‘Yes；　Master　Rybnik；　of　course。’　Wringing　the　corner　of　his　apron；　he　leaned　over　the　table　as　Zedd　sat　against　the　wall。　‘How　is　Mistress　Rybnik？　I　hope　she　is　feeling　better。　I　pray　for　her　every　day。’
　
　Zedd　sighed。　‘Much　the　same；　I’m　afraid。’
　
　‘Oh　dear；　oh　dear。　I’m　so　sorry。　I’ll　continue　to　pray　for　her。’　He　started　through　the　kitchen　door。　‘Let　me　get　you　that　plate　of　roast。’
　
　Zedd　leaned　his　new　cane　against　the　wall　and　removed　his　hat　after　the　man　had　left；　tossing　it　on　the　table。　The　balding　bard　sat　on　a　stool　on　a　small　platform；　hunched　over　his　lute　as　if　permanently　deformed　around　it；　strumming　with　vigor　and　singing　a　spirited　song　about　the　adventures　of　a　wagon　driver；　his　journey　along　bad　roads　from　one　bad　town　to　another　with　bad　food　and　worse　women；　and　how　he　loved　the　challenge　of　steep　hills　and　twisting　passes；　driving　rain　and　blinding　snow。
　
　Zedd　watched　one　man；　alone　in　a　booth　against　the　wall　across　the　room；　roll　his　eyes　and　shake　his　head　as　he　listened　to　one　improbable　adventure　after　another。　A　whip　lay　in　a　neat　coil　on　the　table　before　him。　Other　men；　at　tables；　thought　the　song　a　proper　tale；　and　thumped　their　mugs　as　they　sang　along。　Some　of　the　drunker　men　tried　to　pinch　the　smiling　serving　girls　that　swept　past；　but　caught　only　air。
　
　At　other　tables　sat　nattily　dressed　men　and　women；　probably　merchants　and　their　wives；　talking　among　themselves　and　ignoring　the　singing。　Fashionable　nobility；　wearing　gleaming　swords；　sat　at　a　few　tables　off　to　the　quieter　side　of　the　room。　In　an　empty　area　between　the　bard　and　the　lone　man　in　the　booth；　couples　danced；　some　were　serving　girls　and　men　who　had　paid　them　for　the　turn。　Zedd　noted　with　pique　that　while　there　were　many　men　with　hats；　all　the　hats　looked　to　be　functional；　and　none　were　embellished　with　a　feather。
　
　Zedd　reached　into　a　pocket　to　count　the　gold　coins。　Two。　He　sighed。　It　was　expensive　playing　the　part　of　the　wealthy。　He　didn’t　know　how　even　the　wealthy　could　afford　it。　Well；　he　would　just　have　to　do　something　about　that　if　he　was　to　get　transportation　all　the　way　to　Nicobarese。　He　couldn’t　have　Adie　riding　that　horse　anymore；　she　was　too　weak。
　
　Springing　on　light　feet；　Master　Hillman　swooped　through　the　kitchen　door。　He　set　a　gold…rimmed　white　plate　heaped　with　roasted　lamb　in　front　of　Zedd；　pausing　before　he　straightened　to　return　a　finger　to　each　edge　of　the　plate　and　turn　it　just　so。　Quickly　producing　a　clean　towel；　he　buffed　a　spot　off　the　tabletop。　Zedd　decided　that　although　he　was　hungry；　he　had　better　eat　carefully；　lest　Master　Hillman　whisk　out　to　wipe　his　chin　for　him。
　
　‘May　I　bring　you　a　mug　of　ale；　Master　Rybnik？　On　the　house？’
　
　‘Please　call　me　Ruben；　that’s　my　name。　A　pot　of　tea　would　be　splendid。’
　
　‘Of　course；　Master　Rybnik；　of　course。　Anything　else　I　could　do？　Besides　the　pot　of　tea？’
　
　Zedd　leaned　a　little　toward　the　center　of　the　table。　Master　Hillman　did　the　same。　‘What’s　the　current　gold　to　silver　exchange　ratio？’
　
　‘Forty　point　five　five　to　one；’　he　answered；　ticking　the　numbers　off　without　hesitation。　He　cleared　his　throat。　‘I　believe。　At　least；　that’s　what　I　seem　to　remember。’　He　smiled　apologetically。　‘I　don’t　keep　track。　But　that’s　what　I　believe　it　is。　Forty　point　five　five　to　one。　Yes；　I　think　that’s　right。’
　
　Zedd　made　a　show　of　considering　this。　At　last　he　pulled　out　one　of　his　two　gold　coins　and　slid　it　with　one　finger　across　the　table　toward　the　proprietor。
　
　‘I　seem　to　be　short　of　smaller　coinage。　If　you　would　be　so　kind；　could　you　exchange　this　for　me？　And　I　would　like　it　divided　into　two　purses。　From　one　take　one　silver　and　exchange　it　for　copper；　and　put　that　in　a　third　purse。　And　please　keep　the　odd　bits　for　the　house？’
　
　Master　Hillman　gave　two　quick；　deep　bows。　‘Of　course；　Master　Rybnik；　of　course。　And　thank　you。’
　
　He　swept　the　coin　off　the　table　so　fast　Zedd　could　scarcely　see　it　go。　After　he　left；　Zedd　dug　into　the　lamb　roast；　watching　the　people　and　listening　to　the　singing　as　he　chewed。　Near　the　end　of　the　meal；　Master　Hillman　was　back；　placing　his　broad；　round　back　between　Zedd　and　the　crowd。
　
　He　set　two　small　purses　on　the　table。　‘The　silver；　Master　Rybnik。　Nineteen　in　the　light　brown　one；　and　twenty　in　the　dark。’　Zedd　slipped　them　into　his　robes　as　the　other　set　a　heavier；　green　purse　down；　sliding　it　across　the　table。　And　the　copper　in　this。’
　
　Zedd　smiled　his　thanks。　And　the　tea？’
　
　The　big　man　slapped　his　forehead。　‘Forgive　me。　In　handling　the　exchange；　I　forgot。’　One　of　the　noblemen　was　waving　a　hand；　trying　to　get　his　attention。　He　snagged　the　arm　of　a　serving　girl　ing　from　the　kitchen　with　a　tray　of　mugs。　‘Julie！　Fetch　Master　Rybnik　a　pot　of　tea。　And　quickly；　dear。’　She　gave　Zedd　a　smile　and　a　nod　before　rushing　on　with　her　tray。　Smiling；　Hillman　turned　back。　‘Julie　will　see　to　it；　Master　Rybnik。　If　there　is　anything　else　I　can　do；　please　ask。’
　
　‘Why；　yes。　You　could　call　me　Ruben。’
　
　Master　Hillman　chuckled　absently　and　nodded。　‘Of　course；　Master　Rybnik；　of　course。’　He　rushed　off　toward　the　nobleman。
　
　Zedd　cut　another　piece　of　lamb　and　stabbed　it　with　his　fork。　He　liked　the　name　Ruben。　He　shouldn’t　have　told　the　man　any　more　of　it　than　that。　While　he　pulled　the　meat　off　the　tines　with　his　teeth；　he　watched　Julie　cross　the　room；　weaving　between　the　crowded　tables。
　
　He　chewed　as　he　watched　her　plunk　down　mugs　around　a　table　of　raucous　men　all　wearing　longcoats。　As　she　set　the　last　one　before　the　last　man；　he　said　something　to　her。　She　had　to　lean　over　to　hear　above　the　din。　The　men　suddenly　burst　into　laughter。　Julie　straightened　and　thumped　the　man　on　the　head　with　her　tray。　As　she　strutted　away；　he　pinched　her。　She　yelped　but　hurried　on。
　
　As　she　went　past　Zedd’s　table；　she　leaned　toward　him　and　smiled。　‘I’ll　be　getting　your　tea　for　you　right　now；　Master　Rybnik。’
　
　‘It’s　Ruben。’　He　flicked　a　finger　toward　the　table　of　noisy　men。　‘I　saw　what　happened。　Do　you　have　to　put　up　with　that　all　the　time？’
　
　‘Oh；　that’s　just　Oscar。　He’s　harmless；　for　the　most　part。　But　he　has　the　foulest　mouth　I’ve　ever　heard；　and　I’ve　heard　my　share。　Sometimes；　I　wish　that　when　he　opened　his　mouth　to　spew　some　of　his　filthy　talk　at　me；　he’d　get　the　hiccups　instead。’　She　huffed　a　wisp　of　hair　back　off　her　face。　‘And　now　he　wants　another　mug。　I’m　sorry。　I　talk　too　much。　I’ll　get　your　tea；　Master　Ryb　。。。’
　
　‘Ruben。’
　
　‘Ruben。’　She　gave　him　a　pretty　smile　before　hurrying　off。
　
　Eating　while　he　waited；　Zedd　watched　the　table　of　noisy　men。　A　small　wish。　What　could　it　hurt？　Julie　returned　with　the　tea　and　a　cup。　As　she　set　them　on　the　table；　Zedd　crooked　his　finger；　urging　her　to　bend　closer。
　
　She　leaned　over；　tightening　the　apron　strings　behind　her　back　as　she　did。　‘Yes；　Ruben？’
　
　The　wizard　gently　touched　a　finger　to　the　underside　of　her　chin。　‘You　are　a　very　lovely　woman；　Julie。　Oscar　shouldn’t　speak　to　you　in　foul　language；　or　touch　you　again。’　His　voice　lowered　to　a　slow；　powerful　whisper　that　almost　seemed　to　make　the　air　sparkle。　‘When　you　give　him　his　ale；　speak　his　name；　and　look　him　in　the　eyes；　as　I　look　into　yours　now；　and　you　shall　have　your　wish　as　you　have　spoken　it　to　me；　but　you　won’t　remember　asking　it；　or　that　I　have　granted　it。’
　
　Julie　blinked　as　she　straightened。　‘I’m　sorry；　Ruben；　what　did　you　say？’
　
　Zedd　smiled。　‘I　said　thank　you　for　the　tea；　and　I　asked　if　anyone　here　has　a　team　of　horses；　and　perhaps　a　carriage　for　hire。’
　
　She　blinked　again。　‘Oh。　Well　。。。’　She　looked　around　as　she　pulled　her　bottom　lip　through　her　teeth。　‘Half　the　men　in　here；　well；　half　the　men　who　aren’t　dressed　as　fine　as　you；　are　drivers。　Some　hire　out。　Some　haul　freight　and　are　regulars；　just　passing　through。’　She　pointed　at　a　few　tables。　‘They　。。。　and　they；　might　hire　out。　If　you　can　sober　them　up。’
　
　Zedd　thanked　her　and　she　went　to　get　the　ale。　He　watched　as　she　carried　it　back　across　the　room　and　set　it　in　front　of　Oscar。　He　leered　up　at　her　with　a　drunken　grin。　She　stared　into　his　eyes。　Zedd　saw　her　lips　speak　his　name。　Oscar　opened　his　mouth　to　speak；　but　hiccupped　instead。　A　bubble　floated　from　his　mouth；　up　into　the　air。　It　popped。　Everyone　at　the　table　erupted　in　laughter。　Zedd’s　brow　pulled　together　in　a　frown　as　he　watched。　That’s　odd；　he　thought。
　
　Every　time　Oscar　opened　his　mouth　to　speak　to　Julie；　he　hiccupped；　and　bubbles　floated　up。　The　men　roared　with　laughter；　accusing　her　of　soaping　his　ale。　They　all　agreed　that　if　she　had；　it　would　serve　him　right。　She　left　the　men　to　their　laughter　when　the　lone　man　in　the　booth　caught　her　attention。　She　nodded　after　he　asked　for　something　and　then　headed　for　the　kitchen。
　
　Julie　paused　at　Zedd’s　table；　giving　a　nod　back　toward　the　lone　man。　‘He　might　have　a　team。　He　smells　more　like　a　horse　than　a　man。’　She　giggled。　‘That　wasn’t　kind。　Forgive　m