Thraxas and the Ice Dragon - By Martin Scott Page 0,53

is!" The children stare at Makri, but when she takes a step forward they scream and run off.

"That was annoying," says Makri.

"At least they weren't throwing stones."

The children aren't the only ones interested in Makri. As we drive slowly through the town, pedestrians, catching sight of her, nudge their companions, and point.

"I'm starting to feel self-conscious."

I tell Makri not to worry. "They're not pointing you out as a weird Orcish freak any more. Now they're pointing you out as a successful fighter."

"Thanks. That makes me feel a lot better."

At the Royal Record house, Cetenos is just as downcast as before, though he brightens a little on learning that I've asked Lisutaris to help. He takes us to the room where his daughter worked, then leaves us alone. Lisutaris fumbles around inside her magic purse.

"I can't find the handkerchief. There it is… no, that's one of mine… I'm sure it's here somewhere…"

"Could you learn how to use your magic purse properly?"

Lisutaris looks pained. "It's really large inside, I haven't got the hang of it yet. Here it is." She produces the small piece of lace then throws it into the air. It hovers in front of her. She speaks a few words in one of the arcane languages she uses. The handkerchief languidly floats over to one corner of the room where it descends onto a chair.

"That's where Alceten was working the last time she was here," says Lisutaris. The lace handkerchief has landed at a table beside several cabinets full of documents, and there are shelves nearby, packed with books and scrolls.

"Mining records," says Makri, examining the papers in the cabinet. "And some family records on the shelves. Some tax records too. This doesn't really belong here, does it?" She picks up a very weighty tome from the table. "Samsarinan Commercial Law. This should be over with the other legal books."

I study the huge book. It is out of place.

"Do you think Alceten found some sort of illegal transaction?" asks Makri.

"Maybe. It would have to be serious if someone killed her because of it. And I don't see how it would involve Merlione." I glance at all the other records strewn around. Lisutaris has narrowed things down but there's still a lot to examine, and I'm not at my best with ancient legal scrolls and documents. I ask the Sorcerer if she could place our bet on Makri. "It'll let me make a start here. I'll meet you later at the fight."

"Lisutaris can't go into a bookmaker's shop," says Makri. "It will destroy her status."

"You could do it." I hand our money over to Makri. "Just make sure you get it right."

"You make sure you get to the fight on time," says Lisutaris. "You need to lead Makri out. I can't do that either."

Managing a sword-fighter is regarded as a low-class occupation. Though Barons and their ilk always show an interest in the fighters, none of them would sully their reputation by leading one on to the field.

Left on my own in the record room, I'm daunted by the prospect of wading through so many official records. Maybe I'll get lucky. Perhaps I'll find something quickly. The first scroll I pick up is entitled Assignment of copper-mining rights in the Southern provinces in the last fourteen years of the reign of King Garasolos. My heart sinks. King Garasolos lived two centuries ago. I put it down and turn to the book on commercial law instead. It's written in the dense hand of a copyist whose writing is clear, but small, and a strain to read. I manage half a page on the rights of Port Authorities to levy taxes on incoming goods before putting it down with a feeling of despair. Perhaps instead of trying to read all these books and scrolls, I should just hang around close to Merlione, and hope someone fires another arrow at her.

I sigh, shake my head, and get back to work, already feeling that it was a mistake not to bring some ale with me. Sitting on my own at the desk, surrounded by scrolls, makes me remember an uncomfortable occasion, many years ago, when, having failed to complete an assignment at Sorcerer's college, I was sent to study on my own while the rest of the class practiced spells in the grounds. I never did like that tutor.

After reading for two hours, I have a reasonable knowledge of Samsarinan commercial law relating to imports, some insights into the complexities of copper-mining rights, and