Rogue Magician (The Magician Rebellion) Read Online Free Page A

Sane reminded himself as clarity began to return in
the dream-state. This wasn't about Byrn at all and it wasn't night. It was much
earlier, because he knew time was short. Sane needed to go farther back to find
the thing that brought him here. Byrn wasn't the reason the sorcerer was in
Colum, but if the young man was part of his visions then he may have a role to
play in this before the day was finished.
     
    ***
     
    “ Who
is that?” asked Marian looking out the kitchen window.
    Tannys
and Byrn looked up from their plates that had consumed their attention moments
before. Outside was a priest standing remarkably still just outside their
kitchen window. Although the man was looking in their direction he appeared to
take no notice of them at all.
    “ What
is that priest doing out there?” wondered Tannys. “He looks like he is in some
kind of stupor. I saw the same look on a fool’s face once when he was kicked by
a mule and knocked senseless.
    “ Sir,
what are you doing out there?” When there was no response Tannys knocked
lightly on the windowpane. “Can you hear me?”
    The
green robed man's face was expressionless as he stared blankly ahead. He looked
almost like a statue standing outside the Winged Boot's kitchen window. Byrn
half expected a bird to fly down and perch on the man's head, but the young
courier dismissed the mildly humorous image as he was genuinely concerned for
the healer's well being.
    The
three Lightfoots exited their home and went around the back to attend to the
immobile man. Tannys snapped his fingers in front of the priest’s eyes, but
there was no response.
    “ Should
we get a healer?” asked Byrn.
    Tannys
thought on it, “Perhaps you should. Go bring Healer Chaste or any other priest
you can find. They may know what is afflicting their brother.”
    The
priest's hand darted out and grabbed Byrn by the wrist before he could follow
his father's instructions. The boy jumped in surprise at the unbelievably quick
movement.
    “ No
need,” said the healer, “I was merely lost in thought as I am prone to do from
time to time. I am deeply sorry for any undue concern I may have caused.”
    “ We
are just glad you are well,” Marian offered politely, “but why are you standing
outside our window.”
    The
sorcerer noticed the sign of the door when he first arrived and guessed them to
be messengers. “My name is Sane and I wonder if this young man could make a
delivery for me?” Sane said to Byrn. He reached into his robe and pulled out an
old book. It was a brown leather-bound book with a tree and root design on the
cover not unlike the one on his robe. He handed it to the young courier. “Can
you take this to the innkeeper at the Sleepy Crow? I can pay you ten silvers
for the task.”
    “ Ten
silvers to take this book halfway across the
city?” said Byrn clearly perplexed as he hefted the thing with one hand. Such a
short trip would typically only cost five silvers and then only if the delivery
was of the utmost urgency.
    Sane
smiled at him, “Well it is a very special book called a grimoire.” Seeing no
comprehension on the couriers' faces, he explained, “It is a book used by...
priests to perform healing arts and is considered quite valuable.” To Tannys he
said, “I guess you haven't taught him how to negotiate a price yet.”
    Marian
laughed and Tannys merely smirked when he said, “Sometimes his business sense
is outweighed by his good nature.”
    “ There
are worse problems for a boy to have,” Sane said. “Still it is good to know
that I am putting this task in trustworthy hands.”
    Byrn
fetched his horse from the stables and after securing the book in his pouch
left for The Sleepy Crow a minute later. He didn't understand what was so
important about this delivery, but for ten silvers he dared not tarry. He rode
through the streets swiftly, but cautiously as his master taught him navigating
streets and alleys with the easy knowledge that comes from growing up in