23 September 2026
We return to our tale, from the third book of The Redemption series, The Morgle Unmasked, and meet the Red Lion’s innkeeper; while our heroes eat their evening meal, a group of people come to the inn, desiring to meet Sir Blakstar. . . . (15 February 2016) The full ebook version of this book is available for purchase from all ebook sellers. We remind all that the first book in this series, Chosen of the One, and the second book, Staff of Shigmar, are both free from Smashwords! Glossary links: Book 3, Book 2, Book 1
Chapter 2, Part 3
Master William limped, club-footed, into the room and stood behind the counter; he was a heavy-set wethi of middle years with a square jaw and face, dark eyes and hair. His middle son, Jon, most resembled him. “You boys would get more work done if you spoke less,” he noted to his sons.
“But, pa’,” Jake protested, “you said we should be polite and friendly to our guests; besides, Sir Blakstar asked.”
Master William’s mouth twitched as he held back a smile. “I’m sure he did, Jakob, now take their gear upstairs to our best room.”
Blakstar started to protest, taking his hand from the handle of his sword, extinguishing the golden light, but Master William held up his hand.
“First to arrive,” he noted, “first choice of rooms.” He looked at his sons who still stood unmoving. “Go on, then.”
Jake picked up the gear he had set down, then climbed the stairs.
Jon stopped on the first step and turned back to his father. “I did try to stop him, father,” he said.
“I’m sure you did,” Master William replied, “now upstairs with you.” He smiled crookedly after Jon was out of sight, then looked back at his two guests. “They did not treat you too badly, I hope.”
“Your sons?” Thal asked.
“Oh no, not my sons,” William said, “I know they treated you well; I meant the guards at the gate.”
Thal shrugged. “Nothing that we couldn’t handle, although it rankled my companion.”
William smiled at Blakstar, and his smile made his whole face light with mischief. “I’m almost certain it did, Sir Blakstar. It is not in the nature of members of your order to tolerate such blatant and insolent behavior.”
Thal laughed; Blakstar looked back to the inn’s front door. “I’d like to go out there and teach them some manners,” he noted through gritted teeth.
William’s face fell. “You must not!” He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Do not antagonize them further, or they will drag you off and lock you up, poison you, or stab you while you sleep, or simply leave you to starve to death,” his eyes darted around furtively, “they hate your orders.”
“But why?” Blakstar asked. “What have we ever done to them? How many times have we liberated them from Gar’s armies?”
“You exist,” William went on, “and they cannot stand the thought of someone more powerful than them: their pride won’t admit it.”
Blakstar shook his head slowly, at a loss for words; William’s two boys came hurrying down the stairs, waved, and went back outside.
“How is it that you manage to survive here, holding these views?” Thal asked.
“They need me,” William snorted, “no one else will allow your orders a place to stay, so they tolerate me and my views, but, as you can imagine, I don’t share my views with anyone. I don’t think you’ve given your name, young master?” he noted, looking at Thal.
“I’m sorry,” Thal apologized. “I am Thalamar, son of Kalamar, white maghi of Melbarth, but most call me Thal,” he said, reaching out and taking William’s hand. “This is Sir Blakstar eli kerdu ghebi, bearer of the Waters of Life and Sir Karble reborn.”
Blakstar flushed brightly as he took William’s hand and shook it. “You didn’t need to add all those other names, Blakstar is sufficient,” he said out of the side of his mouth to Thal.
Master William’s widened at Thal’s naming of Blakstar, but he shook his head after a moment. “No, he should introduce you that way, as it is proper.” He looked toward the door, still shaking the kortexi’s hand.
“Is something wrong?” Thal asked.
“What? No,” William said, finally releasing Blakstar’s hand. “I just remembered something that surprised me.” He took a book from under the counter, opened it, then handed a quill and bottle of ink to Thal, who took them and signed his name. He handed the quill to Blakstar. “Your full name, if you please,” William said.
Blakstar ground his teeth but nodded, signing the book. His eyes strayed up the list of names, and he noticed that many of them also began with ‘Sir,’ recognizing many of the names as his masters at Karble. He looked up at William, who was smiling at him. “I see many names I recognize, among them the masters who taught me,” Blakstar noted.
William nodded, still smiling. “Yes, your masters come through once a year in the fall, on their way to Holvar to meet with the Fereghen.” William looked up, hearing more sounds than were normal coming from the front of the inn.
The door opened, and Jon stuck his head in. “Father,” he said in a harried voice, “there are many people out here, asking to see our guest.”
William limped around the counter and put a hand on Blakstar’s arm. “Stay here,” he said, “and I will see who they are and what they want.” He nodded toward the inn’s common room. “Help yourself to something to drink.”
The two young wethem went into the common room, found a jug of apple cider and some mugs, and poured themselves a drink. By the time they sat down and took a sip, they heard the door open and close, and saw Master William limping into the room, his square face wrinkled with concern.
“What is it?” Thal asked, noticing the look on the innkeeper’s face.
William frowned. “The inn yard is filled with sick and lame people,” he said, “who heard that there was a kortexi here,” he pointed to Blakstar, “one who healed the old blind wethi, Melnar, and they wondered if you would heal them.”
Thal and Blakstar exchanged a look, then Blakstar set his mug down and started to rise.
William stopped him, placing his hand on the kortexi’s shoulder. “So you did heal old Melnar; I thought as much.”
“I have an obligation to help them,” Blakstar said, taking William’s hand from his shoulder.
“I understand that you do,” William went on quickly, “but those who are in charge here will not like you meddling in their affairs.”
Blakstar started to protest, but William stopped him again. “I’m not saying that you shouldn’t help them,” William went on, “I’m saying that you should proceed very cautiously to prevent your actions from being noticed by the wrong people, if you take my meaning.”
Blakstar looked puzzled by this, but Thal understood immediately what William was hinting at. “What are you suggesting he do, in order to help the people without attracting attention?” Thal asked.
“I’ve sent most of them into the square,” William answered, “and let half-a-dozen, or so, into the stables; there is plenty of room, since you are the only guests. I’ve told the others who are moving about the square to watch for one of my sons to leave the stable and enter the inn by the front door. A few of them will then go around to the side of the inn, carrying baskets, as if they are bringing goods to sell, where they can enter the back of the stables, giving the baskets to those who are leaving.”
“What if a guard stops them and discovers the baskets are empty?” Blakstar asked.
“They won’t be,” William replied, “at least, they won’t be as they approach the inn. I’ve sent Jake to a friend and merchant who supplies us with fresh fruit and vegetables, to ask him to send the produce, a few pieces at a time.”
Thal raised an eyebrow at this. “You’ve done this before?”
William smiled at him mischievously. “Maybe,” he replied evasively. “It would not be unusual for someone like you, to go out to the stables and check on your horses,” he said in a whisper, and then went on in a louder voice, “I assure you, sir, that your horses have been taken care of,” he lifted Blakstar by the arm and led him to the inn’s front door, “but feel free to inspect them yourself,” he said, then opened the door and pushed the kortexi out. “My sons will show you that they have properly taken care of them; in fact, they are probably just finishing rubbing them down.” He closed the door on Blakstar, who shrugged and descended the inn’s steps and walked the short distance across the inn yard to the stable.
On Friday we will continue to follow this pair of heroes, and see another group come to the inn, demanding to see the kortexi and his miraculous ability to heal all hurts. Until then, we remind all that the first two books of this series, Chosen of the One and Staff of Shigmar, are free from Smashwords. Get this book, The Morgle Unmasked, from the links provided. Good reading!
Leave a comment