The Tritonian Ring and Other Pasudian Tales by L. Sprague de Camp Page B

the foreign friend of Thiegos at the rowdy supper-party at the palace.
     
                  "Lyr's barnacles!" cried Vakar, holding his sword poised. "What are you doing here? It will take uncommon eloquence to talk yourself out of this!"
     
                  The man stammered in his thick accent: "Th-thiegos told me I w-was to help thwart a plot against the queen. He never—never told me you were involved, and when I found out, it was too late to ask for explanations."
     
                  "Thiegos?" said Vakar, and bent to jerk the scarf from the face of the dead man.
     
                  Sure enough, the corpse was that of Thiegos, Queen Porfia 's paramour.
     
                  Prince Vakar whistled. Either Thiegos had been in on the serpent-throne scheme, or had been smitten with jealousy of Vakar Zhu because of the latter's attention to the queen and had gathered a couple of friends to do the traveller in. Luckily they had not known that Vakar wore a helmet under his cowl, or he would have been choosing his next incarnation by now.
     
                  He looked at his wounded arm. The bloodstain was still spreading and the arm was hard to move. The hut was empty; Charsela must have pushed Porfia out the back door.
     
                  "Well," said Vakar, "this is the first time a man has tried to kill me because of my singing! What else do you know of this attentat?"
     
                  "N-nothing, sir. I am ashamed to admit that when the snake came to life I fled with the rest. Thiegos and I went to my lodgings near the palace to drink a skin of wine to steady our nerves and collect our wits. Then Thiegos left me to return to the palace. A little later, just as I was going to sleep, he came back with another man, saying for me to come quickly with my sword." Abeggu gulped.
     
                  "Go on."
     
                  "I—I do not know how to use the thing properly, as we Gamphasants are a peaceful people. I bought it merely as an ornament. When we entered here they pushed me forward to take the first shock; a fine friend he was! This is all most confusing and unethical; I hope the people back in Tokalet never hear of it. Was there in sooth a plot against the queen?"
     
                  "Not unless your friend Thiegos was hatching one. I am probably foolish to let you go, but I cannot butcher one who comes from the rim of the world to seek philosophy. Go, but if you cross my path again ... "
     
                  Vakar made a jabbing motion, and Abeggu, still bent over with pain, hurried out.
     
                  Vakar looked out the door after him, but except for the wounded Gamphasant nobody was in sight. If any neighbors had heard the clash of arms they had prudently kept their curiosity in check.
     
                  Should he go back to the palace? Much as he liked Porfia, he was not sure that when she learned that he had slain her lover she would not, in a transport of emotion, have him dispatched out of hand. She might regret the action later, but that would not help him if his head were already rotting on a spike on the palace wall.
     
                  No, a quick departure would be more prudent. He took a last look at the corpse, recovered his dagger, and hurried out in his turn.
     
                  Down at the waterfront of Sederado he found the Dyra with Fual asleep with his back against the mast and his broadsword in his hand. Fual awoke and scrambled up as Vakar approached, saying:
     
                  "I hope it's all right about those men who came aboard the ship during the day, my lord. They pawed all through the cargo, saying they were sent by the queen, and there were too many for me to stop. I don't think they stole much."
     
                  "It's all right," said Vakar. "We're putting to sea at