The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [110]
Catching up with him he asks, “Who was that girl by the fountain?”
The page pauses and turns his head to glance back at the group by the fountain, “Which girl?”
Pointing, he says, “That one.”
“Oh, that is the Princess Alliende,” the page replies as he continues toward the edge of the courtyard.
A Princess! A real honest to goodness princess, and she smiled at me! Reaching the edge of the courtyard, he looks back before he leaves and sees Princess Alliende still watching him. Seeing that he is looking, she waves at him one more time. Smiling a crooked smile, he waves back and then leaves the courtyard hurrying after the page.
Once out of the courtyard, he’s led down another avenue until arriving at a medium sized building made of stone, with a single large wooden door standing open at the top of several steps. Leading James up the steps and in through the door, the page takes him down a hallway, past several doors until coming to a pair of double wooden doors at the end. Upon each of the doors is engraved the same symbol that had sealed the letter Ellinwyrd sent. The page taps upon the door and from within comes a muffled, “Enter!” at which the page opens the door and steps to the side, motioning for James to enter the room.
The room is cluttered, papers and books lining every surface including the floor, not at all what he had expected of a place called the Royal Archives. An elderly man sits behind a table, bent over a large book laid out before him. A shaft of sunlight streams in over his shoulder from the window behind him illuminating the pages of the book. Hearing the door open and glancing up to see James enter he says, “Thank you Berin, you may go now.” The page bows to Ellinwyrd, for that is who this man must be, and then leaves, closing the door behind him.
Ellinwyrd motions for James to come forward and sit in the chair opposite him saying, “Please, sit down.”
James walks over toward the table, having to step carefully around several books lying abandoned on the floor and then sits in the chair. “Thank you sir, for taking time to see me,” he says.
Ellinwyrd closes the book in front of him and sits back in his chair. “The letter that was delivered to me did not give any names but bore the seal of a friend.” He looks intently at James and asks, “Can you name him?”
“Perrilin the bard wrote that letter on my behalf,” he answers.
Nodding agreement, Ellinwyrd says, “I heard that he was taken by the city watch the other night. How is it that he is with you now?”
“I came across him in an abandoned house outside of town,” he explains. “There were several men there who had him tied to a chair and were beating him pretty badly. I stopped them and brought him back to town.”
“Is he okay now?” Ellinwyrd asks, obviously concerned.
“He’s still sore from his ordeal,” James answers, “but claims he will live. He’s resting in a room at the Silver Bells even as we speak.”
Ellinwyrd chuckles, “That sounds like him. We’ve been friends a long time now and I hate seeing him get into these situations.”
“Situations?” he asks.
“Always something happening when he is around,” Ellinwyrd says. Waving his hand dismissively he continues, “But enough about him, what is it that you think I can help you with? The letter stated you thought there was something in which my help may be needed?”
James removes the medallion from around his neck and hands it across the table to Ellinwyrd. “I was hoping you might know if this design has any sort of significance?”
Taking the medallion, Ellinwyrd brings it close and takes a good look. After a minute of examination, he glances up to James and says, “It looks familiar, but I can’t quite remember why.” He contemplates the design a moment longer before turning it over and examines the smooth back side, rubbing it with his thumb. “What can you tell me about it?”
“Not much really,” he answers, hoping he won’t have to tell him exactly the circumstances by which he acquired it.
“Hmmm…” Ellinwyrd gets to his feet and walks over to one of the