The Mage in the Iron Mask - Brian Thomsen [53]
He felt the cool caress of the wind on his left cheek, and turned his head to face it.
"A storm's coming," he said out loud to no one in particular. "It will probably reach us by the second course."
An almost nonexistent noise was picked up by his right ear when he turned his head to catch the wind.
"Two horses are approaching," he reported, "both bearing riders. I guess that guests are like the storm. It never rains but often pours."
* * * * *
"Chesslyn, what a wonderful surprise!" Fullstaff hailed from the villa's gate. "And just in time for dinner, too!"
"Of course," Chesslyn replied good-naturedly as her steed approached the blind swordmaster. "Why else do you think I'm stopping by now? Surely it's not to renew acquaintances with an old friend."
"Of course not," Fullstaff replied. "And who's your young friend? By the click of his heels against his stirrups and the unusual flapping of his cape, I would say that he's not from around here."
Volo reined his steed closer to Chesslyn and whispered, "I thought you said he was blind."
Chesslyn went to hush her traveling companion as the blind swordmaster boomed, "Blind I am, though not deaf!"
Volo immediately went on the defensive and tried to apologize for his thoughtlessness.
"I'm sorry sir, I-"
"Didn't realize that a living legend such as yourself would have such acute senses to compensate for your blindness, nor that you would look so young and virile. That's what you were going to say, right?" Fullstaff said, finishing the gazetteer's sentence with words of his own choosing.
"Of course, sir," Volo said with a smile, now set at ease in the presence of the blind swordmaster.
"Thought so," Fullstaff replied, "and it's not 'sir', it's Honor. Now, Chesslyn, come and give a dirty old man a hug."
The Harper agent quickly dismounted with a facility that belied the fatigues of a long day in the saddle, and ran up to the broad old swordmaster, giving him a kiss full upon the lips, which he returned with great zeal and an accompanying bear hug. Their lips unlocked, she slid against him and turning around so that she comfortably rested her back against his chest, the hilt of her long sword barely missing the chin of her former teacher.
"Is that a long sword," Fullstaff asked, "or are you just happy to see me?"
"Both," Chesslyn purred.
How original, Volo thought to himself sarcastically as he dismounted, then strode over to the embracing couple.
Chesslyn disentangled herself from the arms of her former teacher.
"Honor," she said, "I'd like you to meet a new acquaintance of mine, Volothamp Geddarm."
"I knew you weren't from around here," Fullstaff asserted, vigorously clasping the master gazetteer's hand in his muscular paw and pumping it vigorously. "It's not often that we host a famous author in these parts."
"Oh, you've heard of me," Volo said in mock modesty.
"Who hasn't heard of the master traveler of all Toril, and author of Faerun's best selling travel guide series," said the master swordsman releasing the author's hand before his writer's arm had been overtaxed too much.
"Have you read…" Volo started to ask, then thought better of it given the blindness of his host, and tried to change the subject, "… I mean…"
"Read any of your books?" Fullstaff jumped right in. "Afraid not. I prefer potboilers and cookbooks."
"Oh," the master traveler answered, not quite sure as to whether to take the bear that walked like a man seriously.
"You don't do yourself justice, Honor," Chesslyn corrected, then turned to Volo and explained. "Honor has one of his aides read to him every night. He's read all of the major authors of the Realms."
Except me, Volo thought to himself.
"Well, time's a'wastin', and dinner should be on the table right about