Sad Tale of the Brothers Grossbart - By Jesse Bullington Page 0,92
that clouded Barousse’s face with anger, his nose swelling and his eyes narrowing. Moments before the Grossbarts jumped upon the table to battle the man he bellowed, “I will not have guests worry they are plotted against! In their presence you will speak so they can understand or not at all!”
“Right proper,” Hegel agreed, not trying to mask his pleasure.
“Only honest.” Manfried beamed. “Chance we could speak without the sneak?”
“Captain—” Rodrigo began.
“You are no longer needed,” Barousse snarled, his chest heaving.
“But—”
“I know what you’re about.” Barousse slumped back in his throne-like chair. “So I’ll settle that in your presence. Your names.”
“Huh? Oh, Hegel Grossbart.”
“Manfried Grossbart.”
“Have you come on any other business than returning my property?”
“Nah, but now that we’s here there’s other business could be discussed,” Manfried answered.
“Are you assassins?” The business end of Barousse’s crossbow stayed trained on whoever spoke.
“We’s never killed none but them what done us wrong,” said Hegel.
“Or those what would, given the chance,” clarified Manfried.
“Have you brought poison to my table?”
“Yeah, I got some in my bag,” said Hegel.
“Only cause we didn’t trust our things to be left in our rooms,” Manfried added, giving Rodrigo the stink-eye.
“Do you mean to kill me?” Barousse asked in the same manner in which he would offer them wine.
“Not unless you give us cause,” said Hegel, and Manfried nodded.
“And you’re in nobody’s employ but your own?”
“And Mary’s,” said Hegel.
“Meanin the Virgin,” explained Manfried.
“Satisfied?” Barousse looked to Rodrigo.
“How can you trust them?” Rodrigo spluttered.
“How can they trust a man who speaks about them in code in their very presence? They can’t, and I can’t trust a man who distrusts me or my company. So out.” Barousse set the crossbow down on the table and poured himself a drink, dismissing the dumbstruck Rodrigo with a wave of his fingers. Rodrigo bowed and left without looking at the Grossbarts, slamming the door behind him.
“Lock the door,” Barousse commanded, which Hegel did while Manfried approached the table. “Sit and eat. He’s lost a brother and you’re the ones who were there, so that sits sorely with him.”
“Never would a pegged Ennis for the smart one.” Manfried fell upon a roast gull.
“Rodrigo’s proved himself superior to Ennio in all matters save cart driving, which is why he went and Rodrigo stayed.” Barousse drank between words.
“Ennio weren’t so bad in the end,” said Hegel.
“But it’s the beginning that concerns me,” Barousse said. “My enemies are legion, hence Rodrigo’s protective nature. The green-eared lad fails to recognize that a man who can’t defend his own table isn’t fit to sit at it. Besides, you have brought back to me what Ennio failed…” Barousse lowered his voice and stared at his plate.
After several mouthfuls of silence, Hegel guzzled some wine and cleared his throat. “We was in the mountains, headin south when we seen your ride comin towards us,” he began, and whenever he needed another bite or drink Manfried would take up the reins and continue the tale. They omitted nothing but Manfried’s fascination with the woman, even including their debate with Ennio on the ethics of their business in the churchyard. The food grew cold but still they ate and talked, and before they were finished the captain had to retrieve another bottle from the mantel to fill their glasses.
Barousse’s hearty laughter when they told of slaying the Road Popes and burning the town endeared him to the Grossbarts, here at long last an honest man. “Many might doubt your tale,” he finally said.
“Many oughta get hit,” Hegel observed.
“And you say the priest pursued the same demon?”
“Claimed to,” said Manfried, “accordin to him the man what had it in’em was a devil worshipper, meanin we kilt us a demon and a witch.”
“And so you did kill Ennio,” Barousse mused.
“Well, yeah,” said Manfried.
“Better than gettin a demon in’em,” said Hegel.
“Hmm,” said the captain, then shook his head. “Demons prowl the wilds. I know this, and I believe you. I will tell Rodrigo what you have told me, and his mood shall change or I will change it for him. Now what kind of reward do you seek for your impressive service?”
“Gyptland,” they said together.
“What?!”
“Passage, rather,” amended Manfried.
“Once we’s landed we can get it ourselves,” said Hegel.
“Passage?”
“You’s a captain, so that means you got a ship,” Manfried said.
“And you want me to take you to the desert?” The captain’s face wrinkled.
“Yeah,” belched Hegel.
“Ridiculous,” said Barousse.
“How’s that?” Manfried dropped a duck leg on the floor and stared at the captain.