Crown Thief by David Tallerman - Sample Chapters

grain from a bucket, scooping it in handfuls and emptying it into his maw.

“They’re taking care of you, I see.”

Saltlick smiled and nodded. “Good.”

If his vocabulary had improved over the last weeks, his preferred mode of speech still leaned towards the concise. On those rare occasions I actually wanted to hold a conversation, it was less than helpful.

“Alvantes has called a meeting. Needless to say, we’re not invited.” I sat down next to him. “Another stop on the way to rescuing your people. I hope it’s not raining like this where they are. Either way, I doubt they have a roof over their heads or grain to eat.”

Saltlick put down his bucket and looked at me enquiringly.

“I suppose it isn’t anyone’s fault, really. Of course, the way Alvantes is going on, it could be days before we set out again.”

He looked crestfallen. “Days?”

“Weeks, even, if Alvantes has his way. It seems there’s some problem in Altapasaeda. Isn’t there always? Anyway, no doubt Alvantes will be wading in to try to sort it out. I wouldn’t be surprised if he doesn’t rope you into his harebrained scheme.”

Another feature of conversation with Saltlick was how much of what went through his mind could be gleaned by watching the play of his crude features.

“Weeks,” he grunted, and his brows crumpled together. “Help Alvantes,” he added, and the question twitched from eye to eye. Eventually, his face