The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [113]
James takes the letter and says, “Thank you for your, help. I will be sure to give him the book and letter when I arrive at the City of Light.” James again stands as he holds out his hand.
Taking James’ hand, Ellinwyrd says, “I am glad I could be of some help. Should your travels bring you back to Cardri, please feel free to stop by for a visit. I would dearly like to hear more about you and your world.”
“I will,” James assures him and then turns toward the door to leave.
Before he could take two steps, he’s stopped when Ellinwyrd says, “Just a moment, you require an escort to pass through the castle area.” Moving over to the wall he tugs on a decorative hanging rope. Shortly, the door opens and Berin, the page who had previously escorted him there, enters.
“Berin, please escort this gentlemen back to the gate,” he says.
“This way sir,” Berin says.
“Goodbye, Ellinwyrd,” James says.
Ellinwyrd replies “Have a safe journey, James.”
James turns and exits through the door, following Berin along the same path that they had taken in coming to the Archives. Entering the courtyard with the fountain, he sadly discovers that the Princess Alliende is no longer there. He would have dearly loved to see her one more time.
Continuing to follow Berin, James realizes just how late it’s becoming. It didn’t seem as if he had been in there all that long. When he arrives back at the gates, Berin takes his leave saying, “Good evening to you sir,” and then returns to within the castle area.
Needing to get some errands done before he leaves in the morning, he quickly makes his way down the road and finds Thelonius’ shop. Entering through the door, the ever present guards look him over, while one goes into the back to fetch him. The guard reemerges from the back not long before Thelonius makes his appearance at the window.
“Good evening to you James,” he says, greeting him with a smile. “How may I help you this evening?”
“I’m having to leave town for a while and wish to withdraw two hundred gold pieces,” he explains.
“Let me get the coins,” he replies. “I shall be but a moment.” He turns and disappears into the back only a short time before returning with a tray of coins and two small empty pouches. Together they count the coins, and when they have made sure there are two hundred golds worth, he puts the coins into the two pouches and hands them to James. He then produces a paper which James must sign, signifying that he has withdrawn two hundred golds.
Once the paper is signed, Thelonius asks, “Is there anything else I may do for you?”
Picking up the sacks, James says, “Not right now, no, that’s all I needed.” As he turns to go he says, “Thank you.”
“A good evening to you as well, sir,” Thelonius says before returning to the rear of the shop.
One of the guards holds the door open as he leaves with a sack full of coins in each hand. As he’s walking down the street back to the Silver Bells, he begins to realize that this may not have been the most intelligent thing he’s ever done, walking down the street with two bulging pouches filled with gold coins. He doesn’t observe anyone following him and quickly makes it back to the inn, going straight to his room.
Back at his room, he finds Perrilin asleep again and Miko sitting bored looking out the window.
“James,” he says quietly when he sees him walk in through the door. “How did it go?”
He sets the two sacks of gold coins down on the floor in the corner, then comes over and takes a seat at the table. “It went well,” he replies. Taking out the medallion to show it to Miko, he says, “This symbol here is the symbol of a god named Morcyth whose influence waned over five hundred years ago. He didn’t know much more than that. However, Ellinwyrd did mention the area around a body of water called the Sea of the Gods was where the central temple to Morcyth had been located. He couldn’t remember exactly where.”
“In the morning, I plan to head that way, taking the road