Free Magician by Raymond E. Feist Page B

nose will look like an angry red cabbage.”
    â€œSo will my head.”
    â€œNothing so bad. A black eye, perhaps two, with a swollen cheek thrown in to the bargain. On the whole, you did rather well, but next time you want to tangle with Rulf, wait until you’ve put on a little more size, will you?” Pug watched as the Prince led his sister away from the site of battle. Roland gave him a wide grin, and Pug wished himself dead.
    Pug and Tomas walked out of the kitchen, dinner plates in hand. It was a warm night, and they preferred the cooling ocean breeze to the heat of the scullery. They sat on the porch, and Pug moved his jaw from side to side, feeling it pop in and out. He experimented with a bite of lamb and put his plate to one side.
    Tomas watched him. “Can’t eat?”
    Pug nodded. “Jaw hurts too much.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and chin on his fists. “I should have kept my temper. Then I would have done better.”
    Tomas spoke from around a mouthful of food. “Master Fannon says a soldier must keep a cool head at all times or he’ll lose it.”
    Pug sighed. “Kulgan said something like that. I have some drills I can do that make me relax. I should have used them.”
    Tomas gulped a heroic portion of his meal. “Practicing in your room is one thing. Putting that sort of business into use while someone is insulting you to your face is quite another. I would have done the same thing, I suppose.”
    â€œBut you would have won.”
    â€œProbably. Which is why Rulf would never have come at me.” His manner showed he wasn’t being boastful, merely stating things as they were. “Still, you did all right. Old cabbage nose will think twice before picking on you again, I’m sure, and that’s what the whole thing is about, anyway.”
    Pug said, “What do you mean?”
    Tomas put down his plate and belched. With a satisfied look at the sound of it, he said, “With bullies it’s always the same: whether or not you can best them doesn’t matter. What is important is whether or not you’ll stand up to them. Rulf may be big, but he’s a coward under all the bluster. He’ll turn his attention to the younger boys now and push them around a bit. I don’t think he’ll want any part of you again. He doesn’t like the price.” Tomas gave Pug a broad and warm smile. “That first punch you gave him was a beaut. Right square on the beak.”
    Pug felt a little better. Tomas eyed Pug’s untouched dinner. “You going to eat that?”
    Pug looked at his plate. It was fully laden with hot lamb, greens, and potatoes. In spite of the rich smell, Pug felt no appetite. “No, you can have it.”
    Tomas scooped up the platter and began shoving the food into his mouth. Pug smiled. Tomas had never been known to stint on food.
    Pug returned his gaze to the castle wall. “I felt like such a fool.”
    Tomas stopped eating, with a handful of meat halfway to his mouth. He studied Pug for a moment. “You too?”
    â€œMe too, what?”
    Tomas laughed. “You’re embarrassed because the Princess saw Rulf give you a thrashing.”
    Pug bridled. “It wasn’t a thrashing. I gave as well as I got!”
    Tomas whooped. “There! I knew it. It’s the Princess.”
    Pug sat back in resignation. “I suppose it is.”
    Tomas said nothing, and Pug looked over at him. He was busy finishing off Pug’s dinner. Finally Pug said, “And I suppose you don’t like her?”
    Tomas shrugged. Between bites he said, “Our Lady Carline is pretty enough, but I know my place. I have my eye on someone else, anyway.”
    Pug sat up. “Who?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.
    â€œI’m not saying,” Tomas said with a sly smile.
    Pug laughed. “It’s Neala, right?”
    Tomas’s jaw dropped. “How did