"K. D. Wentworth - Hallah Iron-Thighs and the Five Unseemly Sorrows" - читать интересную книгу автора (Wentworth K D)

I swiveled my head. "What sign?"



The girl pointed with a trembling finger. "OutsideтАФit says 'No SkirtsтАФNo Service.' "



Gerta's mouth dropped open. She reared back and drew her sword with a great rasp of steel against
steel.



"Are you crazy? Don't say the S-word!" I snatched the girl out of range. "It makes Gerta really cranky!"



She backed against the wall. "But it's the First of the Five Unseemly SorrowsтАФAn Immodest Woman."
She glanced fearfully toward the back room. "My master would stripe me good and proper if I ever
served anyone dressed likeтАФ"



I covered her mouth before she incited Gerta to full-out murder. "Just bring us some ale, and we'll say no
more about this little misunderstanding." I produced a silver piece and waved it beneath her nose. Her
gray eyes blinked twice before she snatched it out of my hand.



An hour later, several taciturn patrons had come in and then ducked back out again, apparently unwilling
to share the inn with the Unseemly likes of us. The ale tasted like the vats had been used to soak
rutabagas, but I was just reaching that wonderful muzzy state a bit southeast of mellow. Gerta was
considerably further down the same road. My boots were propped up on the plank table and I was
scratching that insistent midback itch beneath my hauberk with the hilt of my dagger, when the princess
entered the inn.



"OhтАФmy," she said unsteadily when she saw us.



Gerta balanced her chair back on two legs and pared her nails with her dagger. "If you have something to
say, spit it out."