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

the
city. He rode past the Flying Hammer and Anti's Leathers where the shops were
just opening for the day. Anti hung leathers in his window and the smith's wife
was setting the fire in the forge of The Flying Hammer. Rumor had it the shop
was named for how the smith and his wife met many years earlier at a winter
celebration when the drunken blacksmith got too forward with the, then, young
lady.
    Fifteen
minutes later Byrn reached The Sleepy Crow located on the city's western edge
of the trading district. The inn usually had a steady stream of patrons, being
located at the entrance to the city made it convenient for those coming in as
well as those interested in leaving in a hurry making it a hub for merchants
and rogues alike. This day appeared to be no different as the street outside
the inn was already bustling with traders loading their wares into wagons and
forming caravans. Bodyguards and merchants looked on as teamsters loaded their
wagons.
    Byrn
arrived just in time to hear the warning horn sounding. The long low wale
indicated a threat directing the citizenry located outside the walls, which was
most of the populace, to stay indoors or seek cover. Teamsters, traders, and
bodyguards alike converged on the inn seeking shelter from whatever was about to
happen creating a bottleneck at the door.
    “ Inside!
Inside Now!” yelled Jessec, the innkeeper, motioning to Byrn who was just
arriving to come into the Sleepy Crow. Jessec was a cautious man and although
he didn't know what threat was coming he knew enough not to take unnecessary
risks.
    His
training as a horseman would not allow Byrn to abandon his mount, Emma. His
father taught him that a skilled courier valued the health and welfare of his
horse more than his own. A healthy horse could carry a weak rider very far even
long after the rider had given into fatigue. Byrn rode Emma to the Sleepy
Crow's stables across from the inn before barely taking a moment to secure her
in a stall before running back to the inn.
    The
sun blinded him for a moment as he exited the barn in his haste. It was only a
second before his eyes adjusted and he could see the bulky outline of something
large heading toward him with the sun at its back. As it quickly grew closer
Byrn became aware that it was an ogre heading toward him. He stood like a deer
caught in the sway of a lantern's light, transfixed on the thing in front of
him to the exclusion of everything else. The ogre stood nearly eight feet tall
and its skin was a sickly looking grayish-green. Its eyes were pure black like
those of a demon sunken back in its skull and its nose was a nondescript bump
with nostrils making for a decidedly inhuman visage. In its massive fist it
held a large tree branch that it brandished like a club.
    The
ogre swung its club once it was within reach of the boy and its massive weapon
smashed into the ground at Byrn's feet just as the courier’s survival instincts
kicked in and he leapt backwards. The force of the blow was enough to shake the
ground and knock Byrn off his feet. He scrambled on his hands and knees back
into the stable as the ogre readied its tree club for another swing. Once in
the stable Byrn got to his feet and hurriedly unlatched Emma's stall door and
climbed on her still saddled back.
    The
ogre hunched over to fit into the stable and catch his prey only to see it ride
out the doors on the other side. Enraged the ogre ran through the barn after
the boy hitting its head and denting the top of the doorframe as it exited. The
beast was stunned for a moment, but would not be denied. Its anger at the
momentary setback only served to fuel its rage, focusing it on the young man
galloping away.
    As
Byrn fled his pursuer, he wished uselessly that he had brought his sword... or
a bow... or even a rock... Mere minutes had passed since the alarm sounded and
already the streets were nearly empty. Byrn was thankful for this since it
allowed him to ride at full speed and outpace the ogre. Quickly he