Excerpt from In the World of Hyboria, Grim Determination
CHAPTER 1
A Sticky Wicket
A stench of urine filled the
dusty air. The reek of animal dung assaulted the average passerby like a mallet
to the nose. But that was not the worst; there was a sticky, acrid taste that
coated one’s tongue as well.
Defensive walls, mud-brick
buildings, raw sewage, and the din of thousands selling, buying, and chiding
one another filled the narrow streets. A monkey on a chain jumped out and held
up a small brass cup.
“Be gone, wretched
creature,” Benhargan commanded as he stepped over it.
The end of his scabbard
struck the monkey on the head. It let out a wail and ran to its master, who
wisely kept his mouth shut.
Benhargan’s shoulders sailed
above the heads of the Khemi residents. They looked upon him as a freak, a
strange anomaly of creation too large to fully comprehend.
Shiyet was a dangerous town.
Everywhere he went was dangerous. But, as dangerous a city or town was, it was
only half as dangerous as he.
Stopping at a dark doorway
he reached for the wooden latch, flipped it up and opened the door.
Inside a cacophony of voices
blasted his ears. Men shouted while throwing dice, and argued bitterly. A woman
screamed, then laughed with bawdy guffaws. Sweat, stale beer, and blood
saturated the very atmosphere of the place.
There was little room to
move as each man stood shoulder to shoulder. Benhargan cut through the gathered
like a ship’s prow through blue waters. Angry words from grim men followed him,
but none so foul as to demand his attention.
A swarthy fellow, like most
in the tavern, waved Benhargan over. In his hand was a bundle of brown linen
containing something. The man found a table and two chairs.
“Come, come!” he said.
Benhargan pushed his way
through the throng and stopped at the narrow rough-fashioned table.
“What is it?” he demanded.
“Oh, great warrior, it is
something you’ve been asking for.”
Benhargan frowned. “If you
want to see my brass, you’d better be quick about it.”
The man looked around
nervously, then unwrapped the item and set it on the table. Dirt flaked off all
around it. Along the sides, etched in red ochre, were images of men with spears
and shields.
The man dusted it off and
smiled a toothless grin.
“You see, it is the thing I
told you of.”
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