tg.stone of tears-第155部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　
　The　proprietor；　Master　Hillman；　a　rotund　man　with　his　white　shirtsleeves　rolled　up　above　his　dimpled　elbows　and　wearing　a　sparkling　white　apron；　spied　him　as　he　reached　the　bottom　of　the　steps　and　immediately　rushed　across　the　room；　shoving　men　out　of　his　way。　The　man’s　round；　pink　cheeks　plumped　out　farther　as　his　small　mouth　spread　with　a　familiar　grin。
　
　‘Master　Rybnik！　So　good　to　see　you　again！’
　
　Zedd　almost　turned　to　see　to　whom　the　man　was　speaking　before　he　remembered　that　was　the　name　he　had　given。　He　had　told　the　innkeeper　that　his　name　was　Ruben　Rybnik；　and　had　given　Adie’s　name　as　Elda；　saying　she　was　his　wife。　Zedd　had　always　favored　the　name　Ruben。　Ruben。　He　rolled　the　sound　pleasantly　through　his　mind。　Ruben。
　
　‘Please；　Master　Hillman；　call　me　Ruben。’
　
　The　man’s　head　bobbed。　‘Of　course；　Master　Rybnik。　Of　course。’
　
　Zedd　held　out　the　cane。　‘I　find　I　have　need　of　a　cane；　of　late。　Could　I　convince　you　to　part　with　this　one？’
　
　The　man　opened　his　arms　in　a　wide　gesture。　‘For　you；　Master　Rybnik；　anything。　My　nephew　makes　them；　and　I　let　him　display　them　here　for　my　discriminating　guests。　But　this　one　is　special；　and　costly。’　He　came　forward　at　Zedd’s　skeptical　expression；　lifting　the　cane。　He　leaned　close　to　speak　confidentially。　‘Let　me　demonstrate；　Master　Rybnik。　I　don’t　show　this　to　anyone。　Might　give　them　the　wrong　impression　of　my　establishment；　you　know。　Here。　You　see？　You　twist；　and　here　at　the　silver　band；　it　es　open。’
　
　He　separated　the　two　parts　a　few　inches　to　reveal　a　gleaming　blade。　‘Nearly　two　feet　of　Keltish　steel。　Discreet　protection　for　a　gentleman。　But　I’m　not　sure　that　for　your　simple　purposes　you　would　want　such　a　costly　。。。’
　
　Zedd　pushed　the　thin　blade　away　and　gave　a　twist；　the　finely　worked　mechanism　emitting　a　soft　click　as　the　parts　locked　together。　‘It　will　do　nicely。　I　like　its　looks。　Not　too　flashy。　Add　the　cost　to　my　tally　for　the　room。’　Wealthy　gentlemen　weren’t　supposed　to　ask　the　price。
　
　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