Brian Pratt - The unsuspecting mage

Ceryn nods, “Yes they are. I would like you to give the whole bounty to James here, I owe him my life. The horses are the town’s, according to our agreement, with the exception of one that James will take for his own.”

The mayor looks up to James and gives him a grin. “I guess we can’t begrudge one for the man who saved our Warden and helped to terminate a long-standing threat to our community.”

Moving down the line of horses, Ceryn unties a brown stallion with white patches from the others and leads it to a hitching post near the Town Hall steps.

“James, this one is yours.”

Using his spear for support, he comes down off the wagon and hobbles over to stroke the horse on its neck. The horse allows the touch with but a snort and brief shake of its head. James is delighted with the choice that Ceryn made.

The mayor turns and motions for them to accompany him. “Come inside and we’ll get this matter settled.” Hollering in a very unofficial manner to two men standing nearby, the mayor says, “Marin, Josh, take the wagon around back and unload the bodies. Put the horses in the stable.” Confident that his orders will be carried out, he leads Ceryn and James up the steps and through the front doors.

They cross a large open room before ascending another flight of steps to the second floor. At the top they enter a hallway that runs the length of the building, ending at a set of double doors. The mayor leads them to the double doors, opens them and then precedes them into his office.

The room is officially decorated. The most prominent feature is a large desk with a high-backed chair, both masterfully crafted. Two chairs of a lesser nature sit before the desk. Several shelves containing dozens of large, expensive looking books adorn one wall. On another wall rests a long shelf bearing expensive looking knick-knacks.

Sitting in the big chair behind the desk, the mayor indicates for Ceryn and James to sit in the two chairs in front of the desk. He then pulls out a piece of paper, vellum really, and dips a quill into an inkwell as he proceeds to write out a payment voucher that James can take to the local bank to receive his reward. It’s for eleven hundred gold pieces, just like Ceryn had thought.

Handing the paper to James he says, “Son, you’ve done this town and this area a service that’s needed doing for some time. Take this and our gratitude for a job well done.” Coming to his feet, the mayor extends his hand toward James who quickly shakes it before taking the reward voucher.

“Now Ceryn, how long do you plan to be in town?”

“I’ll be leaving in the morning. First though, I want to take James to Corbin’s and see if he’ll let him recuperate with him. He needs a place to hole up while his leg heals.”

The mayor casts a concerned look to James. “I do hope it’s not too bad? When James shakes his head, concern turns to cheerful. “Good, good.” Coming around the desk, the mayor says to James, “Hope you enjoy your stay here.”

“It seems a very nice town, sir,” he replies as he works with the spear to come to his feet.

Turning to Ceryn, the mayor claps him on the back and walks with him and James to the door. “Going to be at the Squawking Goose?”

“After a while. I told old Gyn that I would be there to tell what happened; and maybe squash any wild rumors that I am sure are already making the rounds about James.”

“Most likely,” laughs the mayor. “I’ll see you there if I can get away.”

“I hope so.” He indicates to James that it’s time to leave and that he should precede him out into the hallway.

Once they leave the office and are descending the stair to the first floor, James asks, “He doesn’t seem too busy, why wouldn’t he be able to get away?”

Ceryn chuckles. “It’s not the town’s business that will keep him away tonight, but his wife. She thinks that because he is the mayor, that he shouldn’t mingle with the ‘common people.’ He has to sneak out just to visit with his old drinking buddies.”

They find Ceryn’s wagon out front, the bodies of the dead outlaws have been removed and most of the blood stains rinsed out. Ceryn unties James’ horse from the hitching post and secures its tether to the back of the wagon. Meanwhile, James works his way up onto the wagon and waits for Ceryn.

Climbing up to take his seat on the wagon, Ceryn grabs the reins and flicks them to get the horse moving. Turning the wagon back around the way they came, he heads through town on the way to Corbin’s farm.

The sun is nearing the horizon by this time and the streets are beginning to empty as everyone has either gone home or is heading there. A few lone people walk the streets, stragglers from the marketplace or shopkeepers on their way home after closing for the day.

Several wave a hello to Ceryn, or call out a greeting. Ceryn answers back in his usual cheerful manner. They leave the town behind them and turn down a somewhat well-maintained dirt road. The sun is just dipping below the horizon when they leave the road and enter a dirt lane, at the end of which sits a welcoming-looking farmhouse.

No sooner do they start up the lane when two dogs appear. Barking with tails a-waggin’, they greeted the new arrivals. Shortly after the onset of barking, the front door to the home opens and two little girls emerge who race down the lane toward them. James recognizes one as Elizabeth. The other can only be her sister, a younger version of the older sister. A shout from the other side of the doorway brings them to a halt.

“Ceryn, Ceryn!” the girls holler as the wagon rolls closer. The two dogs race in circles around the wagon, barking and jumping. In the doorway stands a man with the look of having been hard at work in the field all day. James figures it to be their father, Corbin.

“Good evening, Master Farmer,” Ceryn greets with a slight nod of his head as he brings the wagon to a stop.

“Master Farmer indeed,” snorts Corbin, then breaks out with a smile. “Ceryn, it’s good to see you again. I heard you brought in Garrett the Snake?” To the dogs he yells, “Cyne, Tor, quiet!” They cease their barking and confine their actions to racing about within the space between the wagon and the house.

Climbing from the wagon, Ceryn replies, “It was Garrett the Snake and his band. They came for me last night and if it wasn’t for the aid of James here, we’d not be having this conversation.”

Nodding approvingly to James, Corbin says, “Any friend of yours is welcome in my home. Won’t you both come in?”

James starts to get down off the wagon when the dogs come and jump in friendly greeting up the side of the wagon at him. “Down, boys!” Corbin yells. The dogs back off and give him room to come down off the wagon. Corbin notices how he’s using his spear for support and favors the leg where the wolf had bitten him. “Are you alright, son?”

James nods his head, “Yes. I just had a run in with a pack of wolves in the forest. If it wasn’t for Ceryn, they would have had me for dinner.”

Corbin looks over to Ceryn who nods agreement. “There’s a story there or I’m a three legged dog. But that can wait for later.”

“Devin!” Corbin turns his head and hollers back into the house. A lad of about fourteen emerges. “Take Ceryn’s wagon and the horses and see to their care.” The lad nods and takes the reins as he leads Ceryn’s wagon around back.

Coming into the house James finds a homey, well-cared for country home. A woman is in the kitchen area, working on dinner. Corbin enters after James and says, “That’s my wife, Mary. Have a seat at the table, dinner should be ready shortly.”

James takes a seat and the girls quickly move to sit on either side of him. Ceryn just smiles.