Free Treachery of Kings by Neal Barrett Jr Page A

someone paid ‘em to,” Bucerius explained. “Bowsers don't have lots of goals of their own. They be inclined to strong drink, filling their bellies an’ gettin’ lots of sleep. Someone'll give ‘em all that, why, they'll hire their ugly selves out to whoever comes along.”
    “And who do you imagine is behind these louts now?”
    Bucerius looked astonished at Finn's remark.
    “Now how'd I know such a thing? Don't no one care for kings, I thought you be knowin’ that.”
    “I suppose so,” Finn said. “That sort of thing goes on, wherever one happens to be.”
    Bucerius didn't answer. He listened in silence for a moment, then led Finn down the darkened street. Far ahead, Finn could see a few pale, flickering lights above the high battlements of the palace of King Llowenkeef-Grymm.
    Before they had gone too far, Bucerius discovered the shattered remains of a balloon in a small public square. The square was silent as a tomb. Shutters in every house were closed tight. No one, it seemed, dared to risk the streets with the Bowsers about.
    Finn waited while the Bullie walked through the wreckage. His clenched fists, the rage barely suppressed upon his stocky features, told Finn what the giant had found.
    “Sysconditi. He dealt in gems, which mostly be fakes. Never cared for the fellow, but he be a merchant, same as me.”
    Bucerius stared past the crowded block of structures to his right, where a fire glowed against the sky.
    “There be another one down over there. It'll take some doing to get to it from here. Not that anyone'll be alive. These louts'll pay dear for this night's work. They know we be traders, an’ not ships of the King. We got no part in the royals’ fight.”
    “Could some be bandits, and not assassins as you say? Intent on loot from the goods merchants bring?”
    “Could, I reckon. Bowsers, they got to eat regular, eat till they throwin’ up they guts. They need to, I guess they'd be turnin’ to this.”
    “I don't know why the King's troops haven't shown up before now,” Finn said. “Or at least the cityguards. Why, lawlessness seems to be unchecked in this land.”
    Bucerius showed Finn his second curious grin of the night.
    “You be new here, human person. There be a lot you don't know ‘bout Heldessia. Things you maybe wish you didn't know ‘fore you get home… “
    Finn was near certain it was on the tip of the Bullie's tongue to add
if
he got home, but he'd kindly held the words back. …
    B EST WE BE CROSSIN’ HERE. WE GOING ANY FAR- ther, they'll likely spot us for sure.”
    Finn could see his companion was correct. They were closer to the center of the city, now, near a deserted market square, the close-packed houses and shops that hugged the walls of the palace itself. Bucerius wanted to reach the spot where the merchant balloon had burned, but knew they had to take the long way around.
    “I be crossing first. Wait till I gets there, you hear? Count a couple times. No Bowsers seem about, you be coming too.”
    “Good luck, then.”
    Bucerius showed him a scowl. “We be talking ‘bout that before. Human persons not even hearin’ what anybody says. Luck's got nothin’ to do with me running over there. I be getting there or not.”
    “Fine. Just in case—”
    The Bullie was gone. For a giant, for a creature that easily made three of Finn, he seemed to move remarkably well, swiftly and silently across the cobbled street, vanishing into the dark.
    Finn waited. Looked, listened, and counted as well. Taking a breath, he crouched low, staying in shadow asbest he could, running quickly toward the spot where the Bullie waited in the narrow alleyway.
    You can toss Fortune aside if you will, my fine enormous friend, but I wouldn't mind the Fates looking down and lending me a hand. I wouldn't mind if someone tossed me an amulet now, or cast a simple spell—
    The light was as bright as a small and angry sun, the sound a crack of thunder after that. Finn felt the ball part his hair,