The Weapon Bearer (Book 1) Read Online Free

and the Earth King if I wanted.” In his mind he assured himself it would be enough. He snatched his coin purse, put it in his pocket with the velvet pouch, and ran for the door. He stopped and glanced at his father’s sword still in its sheath, and then turned and ran toward Humbridge.

Springfest is the one day of celebration in Humbridge all year but Bowie couldn’t drink to passing out. He had a coin purse busting at the seams from the quick sale of the stag and his arrow supplies, and he had nothing he needed to buy. Daniel would drink his share for him and all Bowie had to do was get the barkeep to keep his friend’s mug full. Bowie was only here to hear the news from the King’s messenger. Bowie listened intently sitting at the bar with Daniel, his back to the rest of the tavern. The Mayor, Chester Bingham, his son Chit, and the messenger sat at the hearth talking about the year’s taxes.
    The messenger read from a book, “The year’s taxes shall be paid in full with a town person’s voluntary entry into the king’s military arms for a period of no less than one year. If that person resides for an additional year, taxes will be cut in half for that town. If no volunteers are present in a village, they shall pay a price of no less than twenty gold for the upkeep and protection of the Earth King’s military.” The messenger looked up from the book, “have read what I have been asked. Do you have a volunteer this year?”
    “I will volunteer to serve the army for my village,” Chit boasted. He tipped up the mug, finished it, and called for another before he set it down on the table.
    The small puffed up messenger stood, “Great, you must present yourself to the wizard after the blessings.”
    Chit laughed loudly, “You actually think someone from this town can afford to buy a blessing from the wizard?”
    “Chit you will be respectful to the king’s man,” Mayor Bingham demanded. “I will announce the wizard as I have done in past years. Is there a name and title I could announce him with?”
    “Your town will be graced by Water Wizard Twilix. She will be here shortly. Please arrange any ceremony now so she doesn’t have to wait. I will warn you, she is not what you would expect in a wizard. Nonetheless, she is a wizard and a powerful one at that.”
    The mayor looked at the messenger a while before saying, “We shall treat her as every other wizard we have received in the past, with the dignity and honor they deserve. Please relay my heartfelt thanks to the King for sending us a water wizard. It has been years since they have been seen this far into what was the Water Kingdom.” The messenger got up from his meal, grabbed his message book, and walked out the door for the next leg of his journey. Bowie knew he would keep traveling all night, stopping at every city to gather money for the King’s army. He wouldn’t stop until he reached the ocean. The wizard would come and accept money for giving blessings to the town’s people. Wizards could set their own prices, but were not allowed by the King to imbue any armor or any weapon. These blessings were the reason for the Springfest celebration. The cities would get to hear news from their King and see a powerful wizard. Bowie decided he had nothing more of interest to learn here in the pub and could stop spending his money on Daniel’s ale.
    “Let’s get out of here and find Kilen. He’ll want to know about Chit leaving.” Bowie whispered to his inebriated friend. As he stood up, he was knocked from his feet landing face down on the freshly swept tavern floor. He got up red faced, covered in ale and tobacco spit. Standing in front of Chit, he stood a head and half taller than Bowie and twice as wide. Chit was the Mayor’s son. He had grown up a privileged and provided life. His father was a pompous and gloating man, and Chit was no different. Chit was one of the largest men in town and used his strength to pinch women’s bottoms and beat