BAR
Chapter Three
She was lying on a bed. It was dark; though a window let in a shaft of moonlight. She had neither sword nor dagger. She sat up. There was a clink. Her ankle was fastened to the bed by a short length of chain. The knife she kept in her boot was gone, too. She room was small and bare. The bed was pushed up against one wall. She got up. The chain wasn't long enough for her to reach window or door. She pulled. The bed was fixed to the floor, somehow. Her head hurt. She lay down again.
She was lying on a bed. It was light. Her head still hurt, but it was bearable. She had other needs. There was a bucket. Then she sat down on the bed and waited.
There were footsteps. The door opened, and Bar entered the room. She expected to see an expression of triumph on his face. Instead, he was almost apologetic.
"A thousand pardons, Red Sonja. That was no doing of mine. I trust there is no permanent damage?"
"Not yet; but come closer and there will be."
Bar shrugged, but stayed where he was. "You are angered. I am not surprised; you have cause."
"Get on with it."
"With what?"
"Whatever it is that you intend."
"I have not yet decided what I intend."
"Well hurry up and do so; patience was never my strong point."
"Never fret. But before I decide, I must talk to you. May I approach?"
"Do you usually ask permission?"
"No; there you touch a nerve. I cannot remember the last time I asked permission of anyone for anything. Nevertheless, I do so now. May I approach?"
"You pique my curiosity. Yes, you may approach."
"Thank-you; and yes, that is also a word I have not uttered for many a year." Bar walked over to the bed and sat down on a low stool.
"I said downstairs that I might like you, Red Sonja. I say now that I do like you. What reckon you to that?"
"That you have a strange way of treating those you like."
"As I said, that was no doing of mine; and there will be retribution, I promise you. Does your head bother you?"
"It will mend."
"I am glad. Truly. And now I have a proposal for you."
"My answer is No."
"You have not yet heard me."
"Even so."
"Yes, I greatly like you, Red Sonja. So let me ask you something. Do you know the meaning of Parole?"
"The word is strange to me."
"I see. It means a pledge; from you to me. You give me your oath not to offer violence against me or any under my protection; nor to depart from here without my leave. In return I shall unfasten that chain. What say you?"
"You will accept my oath?"
"I believe it will bind you more securely than iron ever can. Am I wrong?"
Sonja stared levelly at Bar for a long moment. "No, you are not wrong. But am I to be left kicking my heels in this worm-eaten hamlet, for months - years maybe, until you make up your mind about my fate?"
"No; I pledge in return that I will pronounce my doom upon you before the second sunset from this moment."
"Doom?"
"Judgment, then."
"Judgment? For what? No, do not answer that; it matters little. Well, I am in no haste; I can tarry here two days. But if your judgment should turn out to be doom -"
"What then?"
"Then you shall return me to this room, and chain my ankle just as it is now. And then we shall see what we shall see."
"Agreed."
"Then you have my – what was the word – parole."
"You swear?"
"I swear."
"By what Gods?"
"By none! I swear by Red Sonja!"
Bar threw back his head and laughed. "Such spirit! I never saw the like but once – nay, you surpass even she. Here, let me see that foot."
Bar produced a key and unlocked the chain round Sonja's ankle. She stood up and stretched.
"I would walk in the daylight. Is that permitted?"
"Surely. You may wander where you will within, shall we say a mile in any direction?"
"My weapons?"
"You will not need them. If you hunger or thirst, ask Guhla, the innkeeper. He will provide. There will be no need to pay."
Instinctively, Sonja's hand went to the small pouch that hung at her waist. Bar noticed the gesture and smiled.
"No, you have not been robbed. I do not commit small acts of villainy; only great ones."
"May I go now?"
"The door is open. But be back an hour before sunset."
"A curfew?"
"By no means. But I hope you will do me the honour of supping with me. I have ordered Guhla to surpass himself."
"I have no taste for fancy food."
"I will tell Guhla. But come, anyway."
"Why?"
"Because I pique your curiosity."
This time Sonja laughed. Then she gave Bar an ironic bow, turned, and left the room.