This is loathsome stuff,' he said. 'I would not ask any man to swim in it, and certainly not a brave and loyal lieutenant. But neither do I want it on my body.' And smiling now, however sardonically: 'Better put on your jacket, Zahar. Why, shivering like that, you'll catch a chill.'
'Yes, Lord.' Zahar sighed, lowered his head in relief and took up his jacket; and Nestor tossed the soiled shirt aside.
And dressing himself, Nestor said, 'Zahar, think on this: you had better mend your ways, and soon. There will be no more warnings. The next time I have reason to rebuke you, I will be speaking to meat on a hook in my cold store.'
'Yes, Lord,' Zahar said again. And he knew it was true ...
'Will you sleep now, Lord?' Zahar inquired as they went up two levels to Suckscar's great hall.
'Yes,' Nestor answered. 'My limbs ache; my head hurts; I'm not quite myself.'
'It's your change,' Zahar told him. 'I've heard about such things. In some it is a long process, but you ... your eyes are red even now! And the morning just begun. I think you will be a very powerful Lord.'
'I'm tired,' Nestor told him, 'and yet I am not tired. My body is astir. I want to laugh, but fear I might not stop! Ah, but then I could cry, too, except tears are unseemly in Wamphyri eyes. Also, I lust after ... things, without quite knowing what they are. I am proud of Suckscar -' he turned suddenly on Zahar, '- be sure to guard it well for me, while I sleep!'
'As always, Lord.'
'I must have, oh, several hours of sleep. Six, seven ... eight should be more than enough. Then come to me and wake me, you or Grig. And so we shall continue until I know Suckscar - and all of my thralls, and the work which they perform, and all there is to know -like the lines in the palm of my own hand.'
'It shall be done, Lord.'
'And be aware!' Nestor told him. The other Lords -
and perhaps a certain Lady, too - think I'm easy meat. Set a watch and see to it that the men are alert. Prowl among them when it is quiet, and if you catch one idling . .. punish him!' 'Yes, Lord.'
'About Canker Canison ...' 'Yes, Lord?'
'I trust him, for now. For he's a great dog, and I have a way with dogs. But even the best trained dog may make mistakes. These are my orders: he is only to enter Suckscar when I myself am to house and awake. Is that understood?' 'Yes, Lord.'