Free Thraxas and the Ice Dragon by Martin Scott

away."
    "Yes Makri, that's fascinating. Fortunately no one in Elath at the time had your mighty intellect. Now I have to eat. Which I should be able to do at that tent with the flag on top."
    "The flag with a meat pie on it?'
    "That's the one. Lets go."
    By now the fields are crowded, but it takes a good man to prevent Thraxas from advancing towards a meat pie. I clear a path, enter the tent, plant myself on an available bench and beckon a serving girl in our direction.
    "Three pies, a tankard of ale and whatever side dishes you have. And quickly, if you can, I haven't eaten for a long time."
    The waitress looks towards Makri. Makri shakes her head, not wanting anything.
    "You should keep your strength up, Makri. You've got a tournament to win."
    Makri's lips twist in a faint sneer. "I could win this tournament in my sleep. What do any of these people know about fighting? I slaughtered the entire honour guard of an Orc Lord on my own so I'm not about to start worrying about any tournament fighter."
    "There will be a lot of good swordsmen here."
    "None of them are any good."
    I don't like Makri's over-confidence. "I'm telling you, there will be good fighters. Elupus, for instance."
    Makri scoffs. "Elupus? He can't fight."
    "How do you know that? You've never seen him in combat."
    Makri shrugs. "I can tell. I wasn't impressed when I met him. I'll beat him. Easy as bribing a Senator. I'm more interested in Arichdamis and his inventions. Do you know he's making a special sort of huge crossbow for bringing down dragons? He showed me the plans."
    It's my turn to be sceptical. "It will never work. People have tried before. You can't build anything big enough to fire an arrow tough enough to pierce a dragon's hide. The machine would be too cumbersome."
    "Arichdamis doesn't think it's impossible. He's got a new swivel mounting which will allow for fast manoeuvrability. And he's invented this new sort of sight for aiming, it's got this little mirror in it, it was one of the cleverest things I've ever seen."
    I'm about to pass an unfavourable opinion on the intellect of anyone foolish enough to think he can bring down a war-dragon with a crossbow when Makri unexpectedly looks sad.
    "I really wish Arichdamis could visit Samanatius," she says. "But I expect Samanatius is dead."
    There's not much to say to that. Samanatius is almost certainly dead. I doubt very much if the elderly philosopher escaped from the wreckage of Turai. Makri's gloom quickly transfers itself to me and I eat my pies rather quietly, thinking all the while about Gurd, Captain Rallee, Tanrose, and the other people I knew in Turai.
    "We should be marching back there right now, not sitting here," declares Makri.
    "I know. But it takes time to get these things organised. Once Lisutaris has re-established her control over the Sorcerers Guild, we'll see some action."
    Though the food marquee is busy, a small space has cleared around us. No one wants to sit next to Makri. If she notices, she doesn't let it show. I'm expecting some awkwardness when we enter her for the tournament. There's a smaller marquee where entrants put their name down for the competition. It's a bustling scene as contestants call out to each other, and swap friendly insults, while their supporters eye up the opposition and exchange information on the fighters' recent form. Here, even more than elsewhere, the Samsarinan class system has relaxed. Barons and their retinues mingle with their favourite sword fighters, trainers and armourers. As we approach, the banter subsides. The officials don't make any objections as Makri gives her name - the Samsarinan tournament prides itself on being open to anyone - but they're far from welcoming. I register Makri in an atmosphere of hostile silence.
    "I'm as welcome as an Orc at an Elvish wedding," mutters Makri, as we emerge from the marquee.
    "True."
    "Do you think Elves will ever invite me to a wedding?"
    "Probably not."
    Now that Makri has entered the tournament,