Chapter sixteen
Of the recantation of Quendur the RipperOne Kregish word for coward is Jikarna. This is a compression of the universal word Jik for martial matters, and arna, which means the absence of. Captain Murkizon by his manner clearly realized and feared that the imputation that he was jikarna would be made against him. I, for one, and Pompino for two, knew he was no coward. He had been right. But he was in that truculent, bellicose mood in which he might do anything foolish and reckless to redeem himself in his own eyes.
“I shall go with you, Horter Pompino, and you may rest assured that—”
“Queyd-arn-tung,” said Pompino, and the brick-red-faced barrel of muscle had the sense to know when enough had been said and to shut his black-fanged winespout.
So Tuscurs Maiden joined a loc
