To hide his confusion he took the few stones out of his pouch and laid them on the bar. Soon they were wrangling. Keilin was sure he got less than the stones were worth, but he also got more than he’d expected. Clarence handed him a handful of silver and copper. “Not the best stones, not Ol’ Marou’s usual quality at all, but the price is up with the Morkth invasions around Shapstone City cutting off the western fields.”
One of the bunch from the far corner staggered past, on his way to part with the beer he’d briefly rented. He bumped into Keilin as the boy stood up. His blurry eyes focused on the desert garb and then on the turquoise-studded belt. “You’re one o’ them fucking miners from across the mountains!” He turned to his mates. “Hey, boys. One of them thieving pricks is here.”
Honest Clarence spoke. His voice was free of the lazy digger’s drawl he’d affected when dealing with Keilin. “Leave him alone, Tomas. The turquoise miners are dangerous men, out of your league.”
When Keilin had gone into the desert he’d been a boy. When he came out it never occurred to him that he was not a man. So he was unprepared for the next statement. “Maybe so, Mister Clarence, but I ain’t ’fraid of no fucking kid.”
Keilin stepped back, feeling the reassuring smoothness of his spear shaft in his hand. “I don’t want trouble,” he said, looking up at the big man who was drunkenly rocking on the balls of his feet.
If the hunter had been sober, the tone would have been warning enough for him. But the fool was very drunk, and only heard the words. “Well you’ve found it anyway, you little turd.” His friends came staggering across from their corner, and their breath was hot behind him, driving him to prove himself. He half-turned to his drinking companions and said extravagantly, “What do think, boys? I reckon those stones ona’ li’l lizard fucker’s belt will make up for the rou-deer pelts that some shit stole from us other side o’ the pass?”
Clarence snorted. “You stupid buggers. I told you before you went that most of the diggers’ll kill you if they even see you on their land. If someone only stole your pelts, likely