Brian Pratt - The unsuspecting mage

“Corbin, I’ve got a favor to ask of you.”

“What?” the master of the house replies, as he takes his place at the head of the table.

“James is injured and a stranger to these parts. I would consider it a personal favor if he could use your spare room to recuperate for a week or so. His leg is not well enough for traveling.”

The farmer turned a thoughtful look upon him.

“I would help out where I could,” James offers. “I could even pay if you would like.”

“I’m not one who usually allows strangers to stay in my home, Ceryn. But you’ve saved my skin on several occasions, so I suppose I could make an exception here.” Keeping his attention focused on James, Corbin says, “We’re not rich here, you’ll get just simple fare. If you wish, you can stay with us. Though should you give us any problems, you’ll be out the door and on your way. I’ll not have trouble in my house. Do we understand each other?”

“Yes sir, we do.”

“Fine.” Turning toward the kitchen he hollers, “How much longer till dinner, woman?”

“It’s coming now,” Mary says as she emerges carrying a platter loaded with roasted chicken and accompanying vegetables. She sets the platter in the center of the table then turns to Corbin, “If you holler like that at me again, Master Farmer, you can go out and eat with the hogs for all I care.” After fixing him with a stern glare, she returns to the kitchen. In spite of the bickering, James gets the feeling that they really care for each other.

About this time, Devin returns from taking care of the horses and Ceryn’s wagon. He takes his seat at the table, opposite James.

“Where are you from?” asks Elizabeth’s sister. “You sure have funny looking clothes.”

“Don’t bother the boy, Cyanna,” her father chides. “It’s not nice to ask questions like that.”

“That’s okay,” James assures him. Turning to Cyanna he says, “I’m from a small town like this one that’s far, far away.” He gestures to his clothes, “And this is what we wear where I come from.”

“Do you miss it?” she asks, then casts a quick glance at her father who doesn’t say anything about her questions since it doesn’t seem to be bothering James.

“A little. You always miss your home,” he replies wistfully.

As Mary places the last of the food on the table, she takes her seat and Corbin announces, “Enough questions, let’s eat.”

Baked chicken, some vegetable, and bread; simple as Corbin had said, but very good and filling.

While they ate, Corbin has Ceryn relate the tale of the outlaw attack. In difference to James, he glosses over the parts that magic played. He also toned down the gory details, respecting the sensibilities of the girls and Mary. Devin listened intently, asking many questions about the fighting.

During the tale, James is startled when his leg is unexpectedly thumped. The dogs had taken position beneath the table and James notices that Corbin and his family toss the bones and other scraps down to them. The dogs spend the meal happily, and noisily, gnawing away on the bones. James even caught Cyanna magnanimously sharing a few of her vegetables with them as well.

When dinner concludes, the men retire to the living room for a smoke and a cup of ale. Ceryn comes to James and takes his leave. “I’m heading down to the Squawking Goose. I promised to tell the story of the bandit attack. You’ll be fine here. Corbin’s a good man, if a bit grumpy at times.”

“I heard that!”

“Of course you did, I said it for your benefit.” Smiling, Ceryn continues, “If I don’t see you when I return afterward, take care.” With that he extends his hand and James shakes it.

“Goodbye, Ceryn. Thanks for all you have done for me.”

“I’d say we are even. I saved your life, and now you’ve saved mine.” Ceryn says goodbye to Corbin and his family and then heads out the door to the stables where he readies his horse for the ride into town.

Mary and the girls show James to his room where he finds his backpack and spear already resting in a corner. Devin must have put them there when he took care of the wagon. The room is rather small. James sits on the edge of the bed and finds it to be quite soft and comfortable. The furnishings are sparse, with but a bed, nightstand and a squat three legged stool. There is also a small chest in which to store clothes positioned at the foot of the bed. James lies on the bed and relaxes. A window above his head allows a soft breeze to waft in and soon lulls him to sleep.

Long before he has any desire to shed the veil of sleep, an annoying rooster beneath his window begins to crow; making a general nuisance of itself. The insistent crowing prevents him from being able to return to sleep. Every time he was about to fall asleep, the rooster would crow, startling him back to consciousness.

Sighing, he realizes that further sleep is simply impossible with that racket going on outside. He lies in bed for some time hoping the rooster will stop, but the annoying bird seems content to crow all morning long. Exasperated, he finally gives up completely and sits on the edge of the bed. Feeling better for the full night’s sleep, but wishing the rooster had picked a spot farther removed from his window to greet the morning, he gets out of bed and makes his way to the window. It’s a little rooster that stands beneath his window. It cocks its head to one side and looks up at James out of one eye as if to say “Yes? You want something?”

“Shoo!”

As if in spite, the rooster crows one last time before walking away.

The world outside looks to be the beginnings of a beautiful, summer day. The sun has already risen a good distance over the horizon and he spies Corbin and Devin out in the nearby field hard at work. The faint odor of bacon is in the air and his stomach growls. Starving, James makes his way from his room.

He finds Mary shelling peas at the table where they had dinner the night before. She glances up as he emerges from his room. “Feeling better?”

About to answer, he waits as a yawn that could not be denied expresses itself. “A little.” His leg did throb, but not nearly to the degree it had yesterday. It must be on the mend.

“We thought it best not to wake you. Ceryn came by earlier and picked up his wagon. He left for home an hour ago.” Taking another pod, she cracks it open and empties the peas into a bowl already half filled with the round objects. “Corbin and Devin are out in the field, as is Elizabeth. Cyanna is around here somewhere. Are you hungry?”

The growl from his stomach is all the answer she needs. Smiling, she rises and says, “I know how to fix that.” She taps the chair next to her. “Sit here and I will bring you something.” She sets the empty pod on the discard pile before disappearing into the kitchen only to return a short time later with a plate full of biscuits and a small jar of jam. She places the plate in front of him then returns to the kitchen. When next she emerges, she bears a skillet containing eggs and potatoes from breakfast. She scrapes the rest onto his plate. “The eggs may be a bit cool, they’ve been ready for a while.”

Cool though the eggs may be, they are very good. He puts a hearty helping of jam on his biscuit and takes a bite. The taste brings back the memories of his grandmother’s biscuits and produces a touch of homesickness.

“Good breakfast, it reminds me of home.”

Returning to her peas she smiles at the compliment. “Ceryn says he found you lost in the woods, almost ready to be killed by a pack of wolves?” More a question than statement, she cast him a glance as another pod split under her expert hands.

“That’s true, he did. If it wasn’t for him I’d be dead.”