The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [59]
Rising unsteadily from the chair, he uses every bit of furniture between the table and the door for support as he crosses the room. Opening the door, he squints with eyes barely opened and finds one of the waiters from last night carrying a plate of food and the boy Miko standing next to him. “Come on in,” he croaks in a voice barely above a whisper, “just put it on the table.” He reaches into his pocket and hands a copper to the waiter.
“Thank you sir,” the waiter says. “Will you need anything else?”
“Not right now, thank you,” he replies.
The waiter bows slightly then leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
James gestures to a chair at the table and says to Miko, “Go ahead and have a seat. You can help yourself to the food, there should be enough for both of us.”
With little hesitation, Miko takes a seat and grabs one of the plates off the tray. Then after shoving an entire biscuit into his mouth, spoons a mound of eggs on his plate. He then sets to with great enthusiasm.
James takes his seat at the table and joins Miko in helping himself to the breakfast. He has barely taken his second bite before Miko finishes his portion and is looking longingly at him for more. “Go ahead, take as much as you want,” James tells him. “Did your parents even feed you this morning?”
“Ain’t got any,” answers Miko.
“You don’t have any family at all?” he asks.
Between mouthfuls of food, Miko explains, “Got an aunt somewhere up north, but she don’t care nothing about me.”
“That’s too bad,” James says.
“I can take care of myself,” Miko boasts. “Don’t be needing nothing from nobody,”
“After we eat, we’ll get started on those errands of mine,” he explains.
Talking through a mouthful of eggs, Miko asks, “Like what?”
“I need to buy some things, like parchment, ink and something to carry it all in so it won’t get messed up,” he explains.
“Know a place across the river on the south side. It’s over in the Temple District. Brockman’s, it sells stuff like that to the temples and scribes.” Looking at James, Miko asks, “How much you gonna pay me to show you?”
Smiling, James replies, “I’ll feed you while you’re with me and a silver a day.” Seeing the boy’s eyes open wide, he asks “If you think that will be okay?”
Nodding vigorously, Miko says “No one’s ever given me that much before. Thanks!”
“No problem, just don’t do me wrong,” he cautions the lad.
“Oh, no sir, I won’t,” Miko says earnestly. He snatches the last of the biscuits and tries to slather more jelly on it than the biscuit will hold. With jelly dripping off most of the sides he stuffs it into his mouth. Seeing that James is also finishing the last traces of eggs left on his plate, Miko wipes the excess jelly off of his face with his arm then gets to his feet and waits.
“I was wondering if there was a place that cleans clothes. Maybe even a bathhouse nearby?” asks James.
Thinking a bit, Miko says “The people here at the inn would probably get it done for you. They might even supply a bath here in your room. Some of the better inns do that.”
“I hadn’t thought of that,” James exclaims. “Thanks, you’re already coming in handy.”
Miko beams at the praise.
Knock! Knock!
Miko immediately crosses to the door and opens it for James. The waiter who brought the food walks into the room. “If you are done, sir, I can take them back to the kitchen,” he says, indicating the dirty plates.
“Go ahead, I think we’re done,” James says. “Oh, and could I get some of my clothes cleaned while I am out today?”
“We can take care of that for you, sir,” agrees the man. “Just leave what you wish cleaned on the table. Then on your way out let one of us know and we will come and collect them. You should have them back by this evening.”
“Excellent, thank you,” says James. “Also, is it possible to have a bath here in the room?”
“Yes, we do have tubs that we can bring in for the guests,” explains the man. “Would you like one now, sir?”
“No, I can wait till tonight. How much notice do you need to get it ready?” he asks.
“Very little, just let us know,”