The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [52]
“Hi, I’m Melinda. What can I get ya?” she asks him.
“What do you have?” he asks.
“There are two choices for dinner,” she explains. “Mutton stew or roast beef. The stew is two coppers, the roast beef three. I’d take the roast beef. Some have said the mutton is a bit on the tough side.”
“I’ll take the roast beef then,” he decides, “and some ale. How much are the rooms? I also have a horse.”
“The rooms are a silver a night and two coppers for the stall for your horse. If you need feed for your horse, that’s another copper.”
Reaching into his travel purse, he pulls out two silvers and hands them over to her. She takes them and says, “I’ll be right back.” She walks over to the man behind the counter and his coins change hands. Then the man hands her back several coppers and she returns to give him his change. He gives her two coppers for a tip.
“The stall for your horse is the third from the right,” she explains. “If you need feed for your horse just give a copper to Ferric when you stable your horse. He’s the stableman. Your room is up the stairs and second on the left.”
Despite being in close proximity to the window, he’s unable to stand the stench in the common room any longer. “I’ll take care of my horse first then retire to my room,” he explains. “Would it be possible for my meal to be delivered to my room after I’m finished settling in my horse?”
“Sure, if you would like,” she says. “When you come back from stabling your horse, just let me know and I’ll bring it up there myself.” She gives James a wink and a knowing smile before walking over to another table where a customer is signaling for her.
Getting up, James hurries back out the door into the cool refreshing evening, taking a couple of deep breaths. Haven’t these people ever heard of baths? I suppose I better get use to it. They’re not very hygienically conscious here.
He unties his horse and leads him around the side to the stable. There he finds a man filling the feed bins in several of the stalls. “Are you Ferric, the stableman?” he asks.
“That’s me, what can I do for you?” Ferric inquires.
“Melinda said I was to have the third stall from the right.” Digging into his travel purse, James hands him a copper, “This is for feed for my horse.”
Taking the copper, Ferric takes the reins from him and leads James’ horse to the stall. The stall is roomy and filled with clean straw. At the rear is an area where the tack and saddle can be stored. Finding a brush hanging on the wall, he takes it down and proceeds to brush his horse’s coat, getting all the dirt and dust off just as Corbin said he should. When he finishes with the brushing, Ferric comes over with a pail of feed for his horse.
“He’ll be fine,” assures Ferric as he pours the grain into the feed bin. “My room is at the end of the stable so I can hear if there is any trouble. Should there be trouble or a problem arises, I will come get you.”
Giving him another copper, James says, “Thank you.” Turning to his horse, he pats him and says, “I’ll see you in the morning.” With one last pat he turns and heads back to the inn.
James signals to Melinda as he comes back into the inn, indicating that he will be in his room and that she can bring up his dinner. Nodding, she finishes with a customer and hurries into the kitchen.
He climbs the stairs and finds a long hallway stretching the length of the building. Four doors line each side of the hall and two lit oil lamps at either end do little to banish the growing shadows. Coming to the second door on the left, he opens it and goes inside.
The room is somewhat dark as the window faces east and the sun has begun dipping below the horizon. A single candle sits in a candlestick on the middle of a small table. He tries a simple spell to light the candle’s wick.
Candle wick,
Light quick.
A barely perceptible surge of power flows from James and the wick bursts into flame, giving off a comforting light. He sets his backpack and travel bags down in the far corner and then sits