C16 Chapter 16
Wu cocked his head and smirked. ”Well, by the sword of Lor, aren't you the scholar? How many years did you study it? I studied it for five years.”
”A few days,” said Brenn. ”I wasn't at the university long, and there were other languages I wanted to learn.”
”I suppose you would. How many do you know?”
Brenn laughed. ”How many have I heard spoken aloud or seen written down? Thirty? Fifty? I don't know, do you consider East and West Grydlish to be the same language?”
Wu whistled long and low. ”I'll be damned. Elehu blessed your birth, you know that?”
”Thanks, but I don't want to think the gods go around giving people random talents while they let all this evil continue.”
”To each his own. Did you need something?”
”Two things,” Brenn said. ”First, the chancellor—before he blackmailed me—promised I could bury my friend outside the city. Is that still true?”
”The chancellor might be a rough man, but he always stays true to his word.”
”Fine. Also, I have another friend with me. Obviously, she can't come with me to Sawelas, so I need to find her safe passage home.”
”Sure. Shouldn't be too hard. They just have a quick checkpoint at the gates to make sure no enemies of the state are coming in or getting out. Where will she be going?”
Brenn thought quickly. ”The Oyer, just west of the Spine.”
”Beautiful country over there,” Wu said. ”I was stationed near the Spine for a few months. I never thought mountains could grow so tall. Did you know that the air is so thin up there that no one has ever been to the top? The locals believe that's where their gods live.”
”I've heard that. It's interesting.”
”Does your friend follow that faith? What do they call their gods...strange names. Caidh, Bhrem, Vek Nau... Are there more?”
”About a hundred,” said Brenn. ”But no, she actually belongs to a smaller religion. At least, she was raised in it. She stopped practicing when her parents died, and she doesn't talk about it.”
”Well, at any rate, it should be easy enough to get your one friend buried and your other friend on her way home. I'll send a message to my superior, and we'll make all the arrangements.”
”Thank you, Captain.”
”Salus pavorre.” Tarsis smiled.
Back at the inn, several bowls sat on the counter filled with steaming meat stew. Nest and his three sons were already eating. They all looked up as Brenn entered.
”Better hurry before we eat it all,” said Nest.
”Be right there.” He went upstairs and poked his head in the door to see Keren. She hadn't moved from her sad position since he left. ”Dinner's ready. Stew. Smells good. Are you hungry?”
No answer.
”Keren, please eat. Would you rather I bring it up to you?”
No answer.
”Okay, well...if you change your mind...”
Brenn ate with Nest and his sons. The stew was beef with vegetables in a thick brown broth that was almost gravy. It burned Brenn's tongue, and he couldn't taste anything after the first bite. After he finished, he said, ”That was delicious, Nest. Thank you.”
”Is your friend okay?” the innkeeper asked. ”I haven't seen her in a long while.”
”She's just tired. And upset with me. I wouldn't worry.”
”You can have a different room if you think she needs her space.”
”That's actually a great idea, thanks.” Brenn turned his head a bit. ”How is he in there?”
”Keeping.”
”We'll be burying him tomorrow. And then we'll be leaving.”
”Where to?”
”Just moving on. Wherever the wind takes us, as always.”
”Sounds like some life.”
”It is. Which room would you like me to take?”
