Spellsinger 03 – The Day of the Dissonance by Foster, Alan Dean

be smothered with verbal pap, astonished at the naivete

displayed during courtship by the human species. She’d

thought better of him.

She ignored it for as long as she could, until she was

unable to stand the veiled remarks and coy queries any

longer.

“Ah think we can slow down some now.” Jon-Tom and

Mudge agreed with her. Everyone slowed to a fast walk.

Roseroar moved close to the girl. “And ah also think it

would be a good ideah if we all kept quiet foah a while.

We don’t want to attract any undue attention. In addition

to which, if ah’m forced to listen to any moan o’ yoah

simperin’, girl, ah may vomit.”

Folly eyed the tigress. “Something bothering you?”

“Nothin’ much, little female. It’s just that ah have a

great respect foah the language. Hearin’ it used so foolishly

always upsets mah digestion.”

Folly turned to Jon-Tom. She flashed blue eyes and

blonde hair in the reflected light from storefronts and street

lamps. Her skin, wet with drizzle, sparkled.

“Do you think I’m talking foolish, Jon-Tom?”

“Maybe just a little, yes.”

She responded with a much practiced and perfectly

formed pout. Roseroar sighed and turned away, wondering

why she went to the trouble. The spellsinger had shown

himself to be a man of intelligence and insight. It dis-

THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE

175

tressed her to see him so blatantly manipulated. She

increased her stride so she wouldn’t have to listen to

any more of it.

“You don’t like me,” Folly murmured to Jon-Tom.

“Of course I like you.

“I knew you did!” She turned and threw her arms