The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [109]
“Bye, Perrilin,” he says as he opens the door. “You too Miko. I’ll see you when I get back.” Then he walks out the door and closes it behind him.
With the letter in his pocket he travels down the road and it doesn’t take him very long to reach the gates to the castle area.
As he approaches the gates one of the guards on duty sees him coming and says, “Halt! Declare your business.”
James shows him the letter from Ellinwyrd. The guard takes notice of the symbol of the Archive Custodian at the bottom and says, “Wait here a moment.” Turning to a younger guard he says, “Run and see if the Archive Custodian is expecting a visitor.” As the other guard runs off, the first one turns back to James and says, “Just be a moment sir, can’t let anyone in without authorization.”
“I understand,” he replies. While he waits for permission to enter, he looks out over the castle complex, excited about being so close to a real live castle. He sees several buildings bordering the street leading from the gatehouse wherein he waits, and through the opening between the buildings, the castle itself. Majestic and grand are what come to mind when he sees it. Tall, shining towers and an imposing central keep, quite impressive.
The guard returns in the company of a boy wearing a tabard bearing the king’s coat of arms. The guard says, “If you will follow the page, sir, he shall lead you to the Archives.”
“Okay, and thank you,” James tells the guard who only nods in reply. Turning, he follows the page as he is led into the castle area.
Chapter Fourteen
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He marvels at the majestic buildings by which the page leads him. Tall, impressive, he is completely in awe at being in their presence. For one who had long desired to visit England and the castles of the British Isles, this was a dream come true. In stark contrast to the imposing edifices, the people they encounter were rather ordinary. Perhaps he had inflated expectations for those residing in such places, but their clothing aside, men and women alike were rather ordinary in their appearance. Not the bigger than life aura about them the movie industry led one to believe they possess.
He nods to several, even offering a ‘hello’ to one grim looking individual wearing richly attire. But all that was given back was indifference, if they even took the time to glance his way that is. Despite the cold reception, he is ecstatic at being in such close proximity to a real, bona fide, castle!
Their path takes them down a short lane passing between two stone structures which had to have been at least four stories tall where it opened onto a courtyard with a magnificent four tiered fountain amidst many beautifully flowering plants and bushes. Situated upon pedestals, statues and sculptures rose above the flowering bushes about the area. James takes note of several young ladies talking and laughing as they take their ease on a pair of benches placed near the fountain. One girl in particular, with flowing auburn hair, makes James’ heart skip a beat when he spies her standing there by the fountains with naught but her profile visible to him. But what a vision of beauty that profile was. His eyes lingered on her for a second too long, for she turns and their eyes meet. About to turn his gaze away, he stops when she gives him a smile and waves at him as he passes through.
James waves back, feeling a little weak in the knees and awkwardly stumbles into a bush bordering the walkway. The unexpected obstruction causes him to trip and tumble to the ground. Red-faced and feeling the fool, he quickly gets back to his feet. The laughter of the girls by the fountain only worsens the feeling of embarrassment. He turns to find them pointing over toward him, laughing. Ears burning and feeling for all the world like curling up and dying right there, he hesitantly looks to the auburn haired girl only to find her smiling. But such is the manner in which she smiles that his pride is at least in a small portion restored. Giving her a quick, shy smile, he hurries to catch up with the page