The Warlock in Spite of Himself - Warlock 01 by Cristopher Stasheff Page A

meat and wine given out to all according to their needs.'
    'And a place to sleep, I suppose?'
    'Aye, and clothing. It is poor fare by a gentleman's standards; but it is great wealth to these my poor brethren.'
    Rod studied Tuan's face and decided the boy might have meant it when he said brethren.
    He sat back and crossed his legs. 'Would you call yourself a religious man?'
    'I?' Tuan tried to choke back a laugh and almost succeeded. 'Oh, nay!
    Would that I were; but I have not seen the inside of a church for three score and more Sundays!'
    So, Rod noted, his motive for helping the poor probably wasn't too hypocritical, whatever else it might be.
    He looked into his mug. 'So you feed and clothe all these people out of the pennies they bring you, eh?'
    'Nay; that is but a beginning. But with that much earnest proof of our good intentions, our noble Queen found us worthy of a livelihood.'
    Rod stared. 'You mean the Queen is putting the lot of you on the dole?'
    Tuan grinned with mischief. 'Aye, though she knows not whom she aids. She knows not the House of Clovis by name, knows only that she gives the good Brom O'Berin moneys to care for her poor.'
    'And Brom gives it to you.'
    'Aye. And for his part, he is grateful that there are fewer thievings and murders among the dark alleys.'
    Rod nodded. 'Very shrewd. And this whole setup is your idea, is it?'
    'Oh, nay! 'Twas the Mocker who thought of it; but none would give ear to him.'
    Rod stared. 'The Mocker? You mean that twisted fugitive from the late show is boss of this operation?'
    Tuan frowned, shaking his head. 'Men will not follow him, friend Gallowglass; there is nothing of governance in him. He is host, keeping the inn, doling out goods as they are needed - a steward, and only a steward, but a good one. You will find him a sharper clerk than any; aye, even the Queen's Lord Exchequer.'
    'I see, just a steward.' But also the man who holds the pocketbook, Rod added mentally. The brains of the outfit, too. Tuan might know how to make people do what he wanted; but did he know what he wanted?
    Yes, of course he did. Hadn't the Mocker told him? Which made the Mocker the local political economist, and probably Tuan's speech-writer. Rod leaned back, rubbing his chin. 'And you manage to keep them in this decadent luxury with only the alms the beggars bring in? Plus the Queen's shilling, of course.'
    Tuan grinned sheepishly and leaned forward, nodding. ''Tis not easy done, friend Gallowglass. These beggars are loath to let any man rule them. It is tedious labor, cajoling, threatening, flattering - a man grows a-weary of it. Yet it is well worth the doing.'
    Rod nodded. 'It would take a man with no false pride, and less false humility, and one who could see into his fellow's heart.'
    Tuan blushed.
    'Such a man,' said Rod, 'could make himself king of the beggars.'
    But Tuan shook his head, eyes closed. 'No, there is no king here, friend Gallowglass. A lord of the manor, perhaps, but naught more.'
    You don't want to be king?'
    Tuan's shoulders shrugged with a snort of laughter. 'The beggars would not hear of it!'
    'That wasn't what I asked.'
    Tuan's eyes locked with Rod's, the smile fading from the boyish face. Then Tuan caught Rod's meaning, and his eyes hardened. 'Nay!' he spat.
    'I do not seek the throne.'
    'Then why are you trying to lead the beggars against the Queen?' Rod rapped out.
    The smile eased across Tuan's face again; he sat back, looking very satisfied with himself. 'Ah, you know of my plotting! Then may I ask of you outright, friend Rod, will you join with us when we march on the castle?'
    Rod felt his face setting like plaster. His eyes locked with Tuan's again; his voice was very calm. 'Why me?'
    'We shall have need of as many friends in the Queen's Guard as we may .....'
    'You must already have quite a few,' Rod murmured, 'if you know already-that I joined the Queen's Guard today.'
    Tuan's grin widened; his eyelids drooped.
    A stray fact clicked into place in Rod's