‘Eight,’ Jez corrected. When Frey and Malvery both looked at her, she said: ‘The cat.’
‘Right,’ said Frey. ‘Eight. Give me a discount.’
‘Six bits.’
‘Three.’
‘Five.’
‘Four.’
‘Four and eight shillies.’
‘Done.’
‘You won’t regret it,’ the storekeeper promised, as he began counting out filters from the crate. ‘First time in Retribution Falls?’
‘How’d you guess?’
‘Lot of newcomers recently. You just got the look.’
‘Why so many?’
The storekeeper dumped an armful of filters on the cheap wooden table that passed as a counter. ‘Same reason as you, I expect.’
‘We’re just here for the beer and scenery,’ Malvery grinned. The storekeeper laughed at that, revealing a set of teeth better kept hidden.
‘You heard about what’s going on tomorrow?’ the storekeeper asked, as Frey laid down his coins on the counter.
‘Like you noticed, we just got here,’ Frey replied.
‘You know where Orkmund’s place is?’ He indicated a distant platform. It was too dark to make out anything but a sprinkle of lights. ‘Ask anyone, you’ll find it. Be there tomorrow at midday.’
‘What’s happening?’
‘Orkmund’s got something to say. Reckon it might be time.’
Malvery did a passable job of pretending he knew what the man was talking about. ‘You think so?’
‘Well, look around,’ said the storekeeper. ‘Some of these boys are going stir crazy. Can’t keep a bunch of pirates cooped up like this. They came to fight, and if they can’t fight someone else, they’ll fight each other. I reckon he’s gonna give the word to start the attack.’
‘Let me at ’em,’ said Frey. ‘Can’t wait to show that lot.’
‘You know who we’re fighting?’ the storekeeper gasped, which wrong-footed Frey totally.
‘Er . . . what?’
‘You know where Orkmund’s sending us?’
‘Don’t you?’
‘Nobody knows. That’s what we’re all waiting to find out.’
Frey backpedalled. ‘No, I meant, you know . . . the general them. Let me at them. Whoever they are.’ He trailed off lamely.
The
