The Archmage Unbound Read Free Page A

everyone left them alone.
    “I wouldn’t dream of leaving her out,” I answered
politely. Our steps had brought us to the building James had had constructed
to hold the teleportation circles I created in Lancaster. “I will have to say
good-bye, I need to return. I didn’t expect to spend so much time standing in
the courtyard.”
    “Give Penelope my regards. I do hope you can both
visit for dinner tomorrow,” she replied.
    “I can’t imagine anything that would keep us from
the invitation,” I said with a smile, and then with a thought and a word I
teleported back to Castle Cameron.

Chapter
2
    The hall was empty when I stepped out of the alcove
in Castle Cameron. I felt a bit relieved actually. Lately I had been besieged
by various people needing me to make decisions about this and that. The castle
itself had survived our recent war with little damage, aside from the one wall
that was breached. Repairs there were proceeding rapidly and soon enough I
would have the workmen starting on a new outer wall to encircle the rest of the
rapidly growing town of Washbrook.
    With some luck I might be able to reach my workshop
without encountering anyone needing me to make pressing decisions. I had taken
over my father’s smithy and expanded it to suit my needs. I doubted I would
ever become a master smith as he had been, but I did frequently work with metal
and the forge was quite handy when I needed it. There might have been a few
sentimental reasons as well, but I tried not to dwell on those.
    I waved at Cecil Draper as I left the main door of
the keep and headed across the yard. My luck didn’t hold though, Cecil left
his post and ran up to me before I could get ten steps toward the smithy. “My
lord! Sir Dorian asked me to let you know he was looking for you.”
    I stopped and gave him a gracious smile, “And where
would my friend be presently?” I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with Dorian
just then but I always tried to be polite in dealing with the people who
supported, and were dependent, upon me.
    “He said he would be at the tavern my lord,” Cecil
replied quickly. I nodded and changed direction. The tavern he was referring
to was operated and maintained by Joe McDaniel, a good friend of Dorian’s and
also the head of our town militia now. After things had quieted down I had
given him the house Penny and I had lived in (before the castle was completed)
and he had made great strides in having it remodeled into a serviceable tavern.
    I spotted the large wooden sign soon enough, gaily
painted with a large pig covered in mud. The artistic rendering had been
inspired by my first meeting with the Baron of Arundel, on which occasion I had
slathered myself with mud to better make a good impression. Taverns
traditionally had simple names that could be depicted with pictures since many
people couldn’t read. This one had the words, ‘The Muddy Pig’ written
carefully under the picture. It was a bit embarrassing that they had chosen my
meeting with Arundel to use for the name of the tavern but hopefully people
would soon forget the meaning behind the name.
    I stepped through the doorway and let my eyes adjust
to the somewhat dimmer interior; it was twilight outside and the lamps inside
hadn’t been lit yet. The evening crowd had barely begun to gather so I didn’t
have too much trouble spotting Dorian sitting at the end of the bar. “Ho,
Dorian!” I shouted to catch his attention. “Cecil said you were looking for
me?”
    My large friend’s head turned as he heard my voice
and his eyes lit upon me. “Mort! Glad you’re back. How did it go?”
    Naturally he was referring to my visit with Cyhan.
“I let him go and he told me I was a fool,” I said, summing up my previous
conversation for him.
    Dorian snorted, “You are, and a stubborn one at
that. I still think it’s a mistake.”
    “Only time will tell my friend, surely you didn’t
want me just so you could nag about a mistake already made?” I