Read The Warlock in Spite of Himself - Warlock 01 for Free Online Page B

yourself a landlord, and you treat a gentleman of arms like this?'
    'Forgive, master, forgive!' the landlord rattled, clawing at Rod's hand with commendable effort and negative effect. 'I meant no harm, your worship; I meant only-'
    'Only to rob me, yes!' Rod snorted, letting him go with a toss that fetched him up backward over a table. 'Beware the kind, for they tend to grow cruel when you cross them. Now! a goblet of hot mulled wine by the time I count three, and I may refrain from stretching your ears out and tying them under your chin. Git!'
    He counted to three, with a two-second pause between numbers, and the goblet was in his hand. The landlord scuttled away with his hands clapped over his ears, and Rod sat down to sip at the wine and wonder what a curmudgeon was.
    Looking up, he saw half a garlic sausage sitting on the table. He picked it up with a heavy hand and tucked it into his purse. Might as well take it along; it was about the only good thing that had happened today.
    He surged to his feet and called, 'Ho, landlord!'
    Mine host came bobbing up.
    'A chamber alone, with heavy blankets!'
    'A chamber alone, sir? At once, sir!' The landlord scuttled away, still bobbing his head. 'Heavy blankets, sir! Quite surely, sir!'
    Rod ground his teeth and turned away to the door. He stepped out and leaned back against the jamb, letting his head slump forward onto his chest, eyes closed.
    'The law of the jungle,' he muttered. 'If it looks weak, prey upon it. If it turns out to be strong, bow to it; let it prey upon you and hope it won't devour you.'
    'Yet all men have pride,' murmured a voice behind his ear. Rod looked up, smiled. '"Art there, old mole?"'
    '"Swear! Swear!"' Fess answered.
    Rod let loose a stream of invective that would have done credit to a sailor with a hangover.
    'Feel better?' Fess asked, amused.
    'Not much. Where does a man like mine host hide his pride, Fess? He sure as hell never lets it show. Obsequiousness, yes; avarice, yes; but self-respect? No. I haven't seen that in him.'
    'Pride and self-respect are not necessarily synonymous, Rod.' Someone tugged at Rod's elbow. He snapped his head around, muscles tensed. It was Big Tom, his six-foot-five bent strangely in a valiant attempt to put his head below the level of Rod's.
    'God e'en, master.'
    Rod stared at him for a moment without answering. 'God e'en,' he replied, his voice carefully neutral. 'What can I do for you?'
    Big Tom hunched his shoulders and scratched at the base of his skull.
    'Eh, master,' he complained, 'you made a bit of a fool of me back a while.'
    'Oh?' Rod lifted an eyebrow. 'Do tell!'
    'I do,' the big man admitted, 'and... well.. .' He pulled off his cap and twisted it in his great hands. 'It do seem like... well, master, you've finished me here, and that's gospel.'
    Rod felt his back lifting. 'And I'm supposed to make it up to you, is that it? Pay you damages, I suppose!'
    'Eh, no, master!' Big Tom shied away. ''Tisn't that, master, not that at all! It's just. . . well. . . - . . . I was a-wonderin', I was, if you might. . . that is. . . I, . . .'
    He twisted the hat through some gyrations that would have astounded a topologist; then the words came out in a rush.
    'I was wonderin' if you might be needin' a servin'-man, you know - a sort of groom and lackey, and. . .' His voice trailed off. He eyed Rod sidewise, fearful and hopeful.
    Rod stood frozen for a moment or two. He searched the big man's open, almost worshipful face.
    He crossed his arms and leaned back against the jamb again. 'Why, how's this, Big Tom? Not half an hour agone, you sought to rob me! And now I am supposed to trust you for a squire?'
    Big Tom caught his nether lip between his teeth, frowning. "Taint right-seeming, master, that I know, but-' His hands gestured vaguely.
    'Well, the fact of it is, you're the only man what I ever raised hand against, could beat me, and . . .'
    His voice ran out again. Rod nodded slowly, his eyes on Big Tom's.
    'And therefore you