The Unsuspecting Mage - Brian S. Pratt [84]
They enter the inn and go upstairs, finding room seventeen. Entering the room they are pleased to discover two beds, which brings a smile to Miko’s face.
“No floor tonight,” he says to James as he places the bags on the room’s small table. He then crosses over and lies down on the bed closest to the door, “I could get to like this.”
Taking the bed closer to the window, James places his backpack in the corner next to his bed, then lies down and literally sinks three inches into downy softness. “You’re right,” he says to Miko, “I could get to like this too. It’s far superior to any bed I’ve slept in for quite a while.”
Before growing too comfortable and loses the ability to get back out of the bed, he gets up and goes over to the window. From their room they have a good view of the inner city and spires of the castle. The castle is very majestic, it reminds James of castles he’s read about and saw on documentaries. He seriously doubts if there are any tours of this castle he could take.
Judging by the position of the sun, he figures they have close to two more hours till dark. Turning to Miko he says, “I’m going to go explore the town before dinner, want to go?” He sees Miko has already fallen asleep on the bed so decides to just let him sleep as he heads off on his own.
Coming down the stairs he sees the innkeeper sitting at a table with the cat in his lap, stroking its back. “Finally got her down I see,” he says to him as he approaches.
“She drives me crazy at times,” he says as he continues to pet the cat, “but I don’t know what I’d do without her. She was my wife’s you know, before she died. She’s all I have left to remind me of her.”
“By the way,” James says as he gets close, “My name is James.”
“I’m Inius, and this is Furball,” he replies as he continues petting the cat.
“I’m going to see some of the city before dinner,” he tells Inius. “If my friend Miko should wake up, could you tell him where I’ve gone?”
“If I see him, I’ll let him know,” Inius replies.
“Thank you,” James says then heads for the door.
Outside, the street remains fairly crowded with many people hurrying about their business. Figuring one direction is as good as another, he takes off down the road to the right, gazing at all the sights and goods being offered by the various merchants.
The shops lining the street have selections of their wares displayed on tables out front in the hopes of enticing those passing into buying. And if that wasn’t enough, most of them have a very loud spokesman, shouting the merits of whatever it is they are trying to sell.
One such place is a seller of amulets. The man is portraying his amulets as powerful magics, each with a special property. Some to ward off evil, some to cure warts, and even ones to entice the charms of the one you love.
James slows down as he looks over the various amulets displayed by the merchant. He soon realizes his mistake as the man, seeing that James has even the slightest interest in his amulets, comes over and attaches himself like a giant leech.
“Sir, you’ve come to the right place,” he says, moving into such a position that James is forced to stop or run into the man. Holding up a small, well worn amulet he continues, “This amulet was charmed by an ancient wizard, it will keep evil spirits from causing you harm.”
“No?” he says when he sees that James is not interested in that one. Holding up another, this one in the shape of a heart, he says, “This charm will make any lady you desire fall madly in love with you.”
Looking closer at the amulet, James thinks he can make out teeth marks indenting one edge of the heart. “No thank you,” he replies. As the man begins to extol the virtues of yet another of his amulets, James holds up his hand, causing the man to cease in the praising of his wares and to listen to what he is about to say.
James reaches into his shirt and pulls out the medallion the creature gave him back in Trendle and asks,