| It was hard to tell how old the beggar might be, since most of his
face was hidden by his unkempt greying beard and hair. He was dressed in
filthy rags, and had a tattered bag slung over his shoulder which presumably
carried whatever meagre possessions he might have. He favoured one leg
over the other, which had probably suffered a break at some time in the
past, explaining his shambling gait. His eyes were bright and shrewd, though.
This man did not appear to be the halfwit that many beggars were.
"Hello, my good fellow," called Konrad, who as the only soldier in the
party viewed himself as its escort and spokesman. "I didn't expect to see
a beggar out here in the middle of nowhere. I would have thought you would
get far more alms in any town than on the Tumbar Road." "Times are hard
for a beggar in Allaria, and in the Dukedom of Suffex they are hardest
of all, so I thought I would try my luck in the southlands."
At that, Fred and Rowena exchanged anxious glances. Might this beggar
recognise them? Even if he had never set eyes on them, if he was told Rowena's
name he might guess that she was the daughter of the Duke D'Honaire, for
Rowena was not a common name amongst the nobility. Fred himself was now
so famous a figure that they had thought it wise that he should adopt an
alias, but it had not occurred to them to do the same for Rowena, for Suffex
was still far away and the Duke's daughter was not well-known outside the
duchy itself. If her true identity should be revealed, it did not necessarily
follow that anyone would realise that Fred was other than the trusted servant
that he was posing as, but if their luck was out then someone might start
to speculate about this uncommonly well-spoken man-at-arms.
"You saw nothing to alarm you on the road?" asked Konrad of the beggar.
"For though I don't set too much store by the rumours, folk say that there
are evil things abroad." "No, I saw nothing amiss, though I too have heard
the tales. I didn't let them put me off, for it seems to me that there
are always such stories flying around." "You seem like a stout fellow,"
said Konrad. "Here," and he tossed the man a coin. The precedent having
been set, all the others felt constrained to be equally generous as their
horse or wagon passed the beggar - even Garrek, though he did so with an
ill grace.
-
 As
Rowena passed the beggar and tossed him a coin, he gave a start of recognition
and then said: "Well, if it isn't the Lady Rowena D'Honaire, sister of
the heroic dragon-slayer himself!"
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