Spell of Intrigue | Page 9

up the
hill. "Your breathing seems pretty good."
"To complain would seem churlish," Shaa agreed. At least, Mont
thought that's what he was doing; it was always hard to tell with Shaa.
"Have you finished packing?"
Mont grimaced. "Yeah, I guess. I don't know. I don't even know what I
should be packing anyway."
"Whatever you can carry without unduly aggravating the horse."
"Why do I have to be going on a horse? I don't like horses."
"Neither does Max," said Shaa. "However, he is less fond of walking.
It's known as a trade-off."
"Well, I don't like Max either. Why can't I be going with you? Why do
I have to go to start with?"
Shaa opened the sack, peered within, fingered thoughtfully through his
latest collection of weeds, selected one slender stalk of dusty and

purple-edged green, mashed its bulbous end between his thumb and
forefinger, and inserted the oozing tip in the comer of his mouth. "Did
you ask a question?" he said.
"You're like trying to punch smoke, you know that?" Jurtan said. "You
know perfectly well I asked a question."
Shaa rolled the weed around with his tongue for a moment before
responding. "Maximillian has, rather valiantly I might add, offered to
assist in your seasoning. I'm not sure I understand why, but then I'm not
certain I understand why I've been spending so much of my own time
with you when you persist in being so urchinish. There are some who
would pay for the opportunity that is being thrust upon you gratis, but
from your lips does a word of thanks fall? Not in my hearing, and I
venture not in anyone else's either."
"I never said I wanted to be an adventurer," said Mont, "or whatever
you all think you are, and I don't particularly want to try to fight with a
sword. I'd rather work on the - well, the other stuff."
"They are not, as you are well aware, mutually exclusive, and the
swordwork may not only help to occupy you on the way to the big time,
but may help you when we get there."
"The big time? I thought we were going to the City of the Empire."
"Merely a synonym," Shaa said, "as you may come to appreciate if you
survive, a state which may have something to do with your not
exasperating one of us beyond the bounds of our professional
courtesy."
"Well, excuse me for living," Mont said sarcastically. Shaa was pleased
to note that his command of the proper tone was improving. Then again,
of course, as Shaa didn't mind acknowledging, he did have more than
one expert teacher. "But what if this adventuring stuff isn't for me,
anyway? I mean, you've got an excuse. You've got your curse."
"I do indeed, and I am heartily sick of it. This time there may actually

be a chance of slipping out of it; that is why I'm going."
Mont snorted. "You're not sick of it at all. I mean, you may be sick of
the curse, but you're not sick of adventuring, I know you're not. You
like it."
"I like it more when I have some discretion about the situation. The
thought that it is quite likely to bring about my death does not exactly
exert a calming influence, either."
"I thought adventuring was supposed to be risky."
"This is true. Yet my risk factors are not merely those of the typical job
description," Shaa said, "as you know perfectly well."
"That's a pretty good one, when you think about it," said Mont. "You're
cursed to keep running after something that's probably going to kill
you."
"Hmm, yes," Shaa commented, "it is rather classic. My brother did
know what he was doing."
Mont actually made a small "whoof"ing noise, as though he had been
punched unexpectedly beneath the diaphragm. His mouth fell open.
"Your -" he said. "Wait a second. I thought you had a sister."
"I do have a sister. I also have a brother."
"But I thought your sister was the one causing you all the trouble."
Shaa swiveled an eye in Mont's direction. "One of the major things you
have yet to learn is not to presume that just because you know one fact,
you know all, or just because you know facts, you know their proper
interpretation."
"But - " said Mont, "but -"
"Why should I tell my life's story to a lout who wants to rot in Roosing
Oolvaya for the rest of his days?"

Mont subsided into a sullen pout. "I'll go with Max, " he said
eventually.
"Don't do me any favors. You still appear reluctant," Shaa observed. "Is
there some other hidden frustration you wish to vent?"
"No," said Mont. "Yes. Why do we have to go off