“Yes, I’m from Goimr. Boring place, I agree, not worsh—worth—talking about. Prygg’s a much more interesting place. Must be a lot of hidden secrets and such in a great city like this. You guys lived here all your life, I bet. Bet you know all the secrets there are in this town.”
“‘Tis clear,” said the second, “that among this wee fellow’s strengths, subtlety does not find its rank.”
“Most maladroit attempt to pry information out of drunken sots I’ve ever seen,” agreed the third.
“Not so!” disputed the fourth. “I am reminded of the occasion when we were blessed by a visit from Rupert Inkman.”
“True, true,” admitted the third, “I had forgot me. Sorry, lad,”—this to Shelyid—”you’ll have to take second place.”
“There’s no comparison at all!” roared the fifth. “Why, I think this little chap’s done quite decently—s’been polite, s’drank two rounds already, s’not snarled or yapped or threatened or done nothing ‘cept fumble s’first effort to pry information out of sodden louts like us.” He slapped the dwarf’s back in a comradely manner.
” ‘S’true!” cried the sixth. “Nothing at all like the cadaverous Crud. Let me remind you, fellow sods, that when Rupert Inkman paid us a visit he conducted hisself altogether different from this small not-yet-master spy.”
“Can’t be denied,” concurred the first.
“Did the Crud share in our slops?” demanded the second.
“Nary a drop!” bellowed the third.
” ‘Twas the thumbscrews gave him away,” pointed out the fourth.
“Especially when he tried to apply ’em to us,” howled the fifth.
“Here’s to thick thumbs!” boomed the sixth, rising to his feet, ale pot in left hand, right hand outstretched, thumb sticking up like a potato. His sodden compatriots lurched to their feet and assumed a similar pose, six thumbs standing forth. And then, staggering to his feet, Shelyid joined his little thumb to the cluster, a sapling among great oaks.
“Here’s to thick thumbs!” roared the motley crew. This was apparently in the nature of a yokel toast, for the disreputable half dozen guzzled their ale pots in unison, Shelyid joining in, with most untoward gusto, if the truth be known.
“And now, lad,” demanded the first, “who is it what’s put you up to this foolish poking and prying?”
“Speak up, now,” urged the second, refilling Shelyid’s pot. “You’re among friends.”
Shelyid stammered and stuttered. He glanced into the wizard’s corner, as if for assistance, only to look hurriedly away. For veritably the mage’s glare was now like unto the fiery furnace.
“Don’t badger the poor little chap!” protested the third. “He hasn’t even had time to drink his pot!”
“An outrage,” agreed the fourth.
“An abomination,” concurred the fifth.
“Here’s to drinking our pots!” bellowed the sixth. This was apparently in the nature of a ragabash toast, for the six great brutes guzzled their ale pots in unison, Shelyid joining in, with positively disgraceful zest, if the truth be known.
“I have been rude to our tiny guest,” admitted the first remorsefully, belching for emphasis.
“Unmannerly,” added the second.
“And in a most disneedly fashion,” reproved the third.
“For the answer’s plain as day!” cried the fourth.
“S’no reason to pester the wee one,” agreed the fifth.
“S’a wizard has put the poor boy in the pickle,” concluded the sixth, shaking his head solemnly.
At the mention of the word, Shelyid’s head popped up from the ale pot in which it was buried, worry writ plain upon his face. He glanced into the mage’s corner, as if for assistance, only to look immediately away. For veritably the mage’s glare was now like unto the volcano eruptant.
“Apologies having been properly extended to the injured party,” stated the first, “I believe the time has now come to ask the question which is uppermost in our minds.”
Here the six drunkards turned, as one man, and peered into the corner where sat the thaumaturge.
“I say, mates,” boomed the second, “who is that ridiculous fellow who has been sitting in the corner for some time now in a transparent attempt at disguise and misdirection?”
“The one with hunched shoulders,” said the third.
“His cloak drawn about him, his hat pulled low to conceal his lofty forehead,” added the fourth.