The Staff of Sakatha Read Online Free

clapped the young boy on the shoulder and smiled broadly, “Sorus is right as always,” he said and the young brewer found his anger evaporated by the good humor of the young giant. “We need to get that water back to the … Smooth Stride?”
    “Right,” said Sorus. “Sir Thaddeus wants to start early to try a new recipe.”
    A few minutes later the four arrived in front of a one story wooden structure painted yellow and green and decorated with golden barley spikes where a tall Hobgoblin with dark skin and a scowl on his face stood at the front door. “Sorus,” he said. “I told you to bring back seven kegs of water, not a great oaf and two pretty girls.”
    The brewer boy smiled and shrugged his shoulders, “I found Jon at the creek and we met up with the girls on the way back.”
    “Thaddeus Redhand,” said the Hobgoblin as he came forward to take the hand of Jon Gray. “Sorus, take that water in back and pour it into the number two and three vats.”
    The boy immediately began to unload the wagon, one keg at a time, and hustle them into the building.
    Jon stood about six inches taller than the Hobgoblin and grasped his hand firmly. “Jon Gray,” he said. “I’m here as an ambassador from Tanelorn.”
    “Is it common for dignitaries to act as horses for the girls of town?” said Thaddeus with a wink to Rhia still on Jon’s shoulders. The girl giggled and nodded her head.
    “It’s been known to happen,” said Jon as he bent down to a knee, lifted the girl off his shoulders, and planted her on the ground.
    “Thank you for the ride,” she said with a little courtesy.
    “A pleasure, milady,” said Jon and bowed deeply.
    “If you’re here to make alliances you’ll want to see our mayor for the twelve month, Sir Thorius Brokenhand,” said Thaddeus.
    “Sorus said something about a twelve month,” said Jon. “I’m not particularly familiar with your ways, what does that mean?”
    “Each knight of Elekargul serves twelve months in the field and then twelve months in a town learning a trade,” said Thaddeus. “I’m learning the brewing business this twelve month, but you might be assigned as a carpenter, a mason, a tailor, an administrator, or any other job the first knight thinks might help you become a more rounded man.”
    “Gotta be a bit dull,” said Jon as the two walked into the building where half a dozen wooden table were arranged in neat order, their chairs stacked on them perfectly. “After a combat tour how can you stand to brew beer and wait tables?”
    “It’s more interesting than you might think,” said Thaddeus. “How old are you?”
    “Seventeen,” said Jon.
    “They grow them big in, where did you say you were from again?” said Thaddeus as the two sat down at one of the tables after they pulled down a pair of chairs.
    “Tanelorn,” said Jon.
    “I’ve heard of it, is it beyond Relm?” asked Thaddeus a puzzled expression on his face.
    Jon nodded and smiled, “Yes, far beyond Relm, I would guess, although I’ve never heard of that place. Tanelorn is the gray city near the center of the continent east to west but near the frozen lands to the north.”
    “Oh,” said Thaddeus his eyes wide. “That is a long way away. What could anyone from there want way down here in the Dorian Peninsula?”
    Jon closed his lips and shook his head, “I’m sorry, Thaddeus, but that is something I am supposed to speak about only with the First Rider.”
    “So you know about the First Rider then,” said the knight with a nod of his head.
    “I have studied what we know of your people on my journey here,” said Jon, “But I’m afraid most of it is either old or of dubious reliability. I came on ship from Tarlton, and Sea’cra before that, and I’ve gathered as much information as I could while traveling. There is a Hobgoblin nation to the north of here, Hakor something or another?”
    “Hakor’lum,” said Thaddeus. “It’s fairly far north though. I’m from a village