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Show amiss? The owner, a tall, rotund man, with bushy red hair and beard, was standing at the table beaming down at the two of them, and looking questioningly at Janni whom he had never seen before. "Good even, Simon," said Dr'Anya smiling. "We'd like some of thy gulyasi if it please thee." Dr'Anya turned to the fair Janni. "This is the worthy Simon, owner of this place," she said to her, and turned back to Simon. "My daughter, Janni, e'en back yestermorn from Terra University." "Ah," he said. "I see." He kept smiling and standing there. "And some of thy light ale, as well," Dr'Anya said, looking up at him and frowning slightly. "Aye, to be sure!" Simon threw his big head back and laughed heartily. Then his voice faded out and he looked around the room, innocently. "And," Dr'Anya added, her voice lowered, "who might that knight be yonder?" "By the two Saints," Simon muttered, "methought thou wouldst never ask." He leaned over the table and brushed it off with his massive hand. "A whole regiment of the ruffians be camped at Bod's Rift," he said rapidly. He straightened the spice shakers. "Rumor has it that the villains wiped out a little settlement of yeofolk there." The two women stared at him. "Wiped them out?" said Dr'Anya, puzzled. "Out," he said. "All the way out. They are quite dead, I jest not." He straightened up. "And carest thou for some Shoshi pie?" he said aloud, laughing again. "Dead!" said Dr'Anya, faintly. "Indeed, if it pleaseth thee-some pie," said Janni, and swallowed. 147 |
