25 September 2026
We’re back with another installment from the third book of The Redemption series, The Morgle Unmasked, rejoining Thal and Blakstar after healing the poor who had come to the inn. . . . (22 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 4
“That drink has incredible powers,” William said, leading them back into the common room and refilling their mugs. “Where did you find this miracle drink?” Master William asked, going to and closing the door behind them.
“This flask,” Blakstar said, pointing to his belt where it hung, now empty, “was part of the gear given to me on the Mountain of Vision, and it is the only container ever created that can carry the Waters of Life. In the room on the mountain where this equipment was stored, there is also a fountain; we discovered a second fountain in the tomb of Shigmar.”
“That is a long way to go for such a powerful elixir,” William said, pouring himself a mug of cider, “but the journey would be worth it for such a drink.” He sat down next to Thal.
Blakstar shook his head. “To drink the Waters without me would be death.”
Master William was surprised by this statement. “How could something like that kill? I just saw it heal many sick, lame, and blind people,” he added, stunned by Blakstar’s declaration.
“He speaks truly, Master William,” Thal noted. “The first time I drank the Waters, I suddenly felt so powerful that I believed I could have taken on Gar himself, and I was about to do so when Blakstar put his hand on me and brought me back to my senses.”
William shook his head. “Incredible!” he whispered. He stood suddenly. “I must go see to your dinners,” he said, turning and walking out of the room.
Thal drank from his mug, watching the kortexi thoughtfully. He set his mug down. “I wonder how, or why, the flask did not run out?” he asked.
Blakstar drained his mug, then refilled it; he shrugged. “I don’t know about the flask, but I was told that the supplies in my saddlebags would not run out, as long as I never used any of them completely.”
Thal tapped his chin with one finger, thinking. “If that is true of the flask,” he said, “why did we run out in the fire realm?”
Blakstar shrugged again. “Maybe because we used it all?” he posited, his brow wrinkled in confusion.
Thal sighed and sipped again from his mug. “Perhaps,” he noted, “but I cannot but be curious as to the why it works, or how it works.” He stopped, as they both heard sounds from behind them; turning, they saw a gray-haired, matronly wetha walking toward them, carrying a steaming tray.
Blakstar’s eyes lit up, seeing the fresh hot bread and steaming stew. He inhaled deeply. “Mmm,” he hummed, “a home-cooked meal; we’ve been eating trail rations for too long.”
Thal smiled at Blakstar. “You must be the inn’s mistress,” he noted as he turned to smile at the wetha bearing the tray. She set it down on a nearby table as Master William limped into view.
“This is my wife, Mistress Marlena,” William said, “the one who keeps this place running so smoothly.”
Mistress Marlena smiled at her husband. “No flattery now, Wil,” she said, “not while there are guests to be served.” She transferred the bowls and the bread to their table.
Blakstar grabbed one of the thick slices of bread, covered it with butter, and took a large bite. “Mmm, fresh bread,” he said after swallowing, then he scooped stew into his mouth. “Delicious, Mistress Marlena; it has been a long time since I had stew and bread this good.”
“Flatterer,” Marlena smiled, touching his arm lightly. “We’ll leave you to eat. Call if you need anything, or if you want more.” She turned and carried the tray back to the kitchen; Master William smiled and winked at them before turning and following his wife.
Thal watched Blakstar, amused; a shadow of grief wiped the amused smile from his face, and Thal groped for his spoon, quickly shoving a spoonful of stew into his mouth. Blakstar paused to look a question at the maghi. As Thal chewed the stew, he took a piece of thick-sliced bread and spread butter on it; he shook his head, as if responding to Blakstar’s unspoken question, and the feeling of grief left him, replaced by a feeling of wide-eyed wonder.
“You are quite right, my friend!” he exclaimed, grinning. He took a bite of the bread, chewed and swallowed it. “I had forgotten how good a properly cooked meal could be!”
They ate in silence for a time, until Blakstar emptied his bowl of stew, and the bread, and as he wiped his bowl clean with the last crust of bread, Jake and Jon came out of the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl and a second plate of fresh, sliced bread. Blakstar grinned at the boys, stacking his empty bowl onto the empty bread plate, pushing both aside. The boys set down the food they carried, Jon picking up the empty plate and bowl.
“Give your mother my compliments,” Blakstar said, buttering another slice of bread and watching the butter melt. The boys smiled and left.
Thal took a second slice of bread and buttered it; his bowl only half empty. “You are eating as if this is your last meal,” Thal commented.
Blakstar took a moment to swallow before trying to speak. “It is four days to Karble,” he said, “if the weather is good, so I am enjoying this meal, if that is what you mean. Besides, when we reach Karble–our next hot meal–it will be a formal banquet at which we will both be required to answer a multitude of questions, and so, eating will be difficult.”
“So you are going to take advantage of this quiet meal,” Thal finished. “That is quite sensible of you.”
Blakstar smiled in response and shoveled more stew into his mouth. Thal took a few more bites of his stew, then finished off his second slice of bread. When Blakstar finished his second bowl of stew, Jake came out of the back of the inn.
“Would you like more stew, Sir Blakstar?” he asked.
Blakstar shook his head, as his mouth was full of the bread he had just stuffed into it.
“There is apple cobbler with cream for dessert,” Jake went on, “can I bring you some?”
Blakstar swallowed, then a grin split his face. “Please, and give my compliments, again, to your mother.”
“A small bowl for me, thanks,” Thal added.
Jake bowed rather stiffly, as if he had just been practicing his bow, then returned to the kitchen. Master William limped out a few minutes later carrying a tray bearing two small bowls and a large bowl, each filled with steaming apple cobbler drenched in cream. Blakstar’s eyes lit up when Master William set the large bowl in front of him. The innkeeper sat down at their table after placing one of the small bowls in front of Thal.
“I wonder if you’d be so kind as to share some news with me?” Master William asked as the three began to eat the cobbler. “What is going on out there?”
“You mean you have not heard?” Thal asked.
“Only what our thukro allows us to hear,” William replied, “which is very little. News around Komfleu is confined to local matters.”
“So you have not heard that Shigmar was attacked and destroyed?” Thal asked.
“The One preserve us!” William exclaimed. “Not the kailum?”
Thal nodded. “We have come from that battle, and the good news is that Gar’s legions were destroyed, but the city has fallen.” Thal went on to relate to him what had happened and how a young kailu, one of the chosen, had returned with a powerful artifact that destroyed the attacking legions at the point where the gates had been breached and the city destroyed. Blakstar raised an eyebrow at Thal’s alteration of the facts, but they had all agreed that, when asked, they would not tell the story as it had happened.
“Didn’t the Fereghen send an army to their aid?” William asked.
Thal nodded. “He did, but the legions sent to aid the city met another army of Gar’s as they passed the Crossing of Reema,” Thal continued, recounting what Delgart and Marilee had told them. “They did not reach Shigmar until after the city had fallen, although their vanguard entered the sewers beneath the city at the moment it fell.”
Master William shook his head. “It is clear that we are entering momentous times, and I suspect that the two of you had more to do with what happened then you have admitted,” he noted, looking at them shrewdly, but then he held up his hand to forestall Thal’s protest. “I do not wish to know any more than you have told me,” he went on, “I cannot tell what I do not know,” he finished with a smile, then looked toward the door, hearing something. He started to rise when the door opened and Jon poked his head in, looking harried. “What is it, son?” Master William asked.
“Many carriages are arriving,” Jon said, “filled with people claiming to want rooms for the night.”
“Claiming?” William said, moving toward the door.
“Many of them appear to be sick, or injured,” Jon replied.
William looked back at Blakstar. “Looking for you, I’ll wager,” William said in a soft voice, “and you’re out of that miracle elixir, and, even though we seem to have pulled off your healing of the poor without notice, this lot will surely bring news of your actions to our august leaders.”
Blakstar touched the limp skin at his belt, then stood suddenly. “I’ll go and get more,” he said, drawing his sword and bathing them in golden light.
“Not here!” Thal hissed, putting a hand on his arm. “We should go up to our room.” He stood and pulled the kortexi in the direction of the stairs.
William nodded. “I’ll deal with our new guests. Jake!” he shouted at the kitchen. “Come lead Sir Blakstar and Master Thalamar up to their room, and hurry!”
Jake came running out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a dishtowel, passed Thal and Blakstar, who was sheathing his sword, and ran up the stairs; Thal and Blakstar followed, then slipped into their room. Jake closed the door behind them, then they heard his footsteps running down the hall and pounding down the stairs.
“Why did you stop me?” Blakstar asked, turning to Thal. “I could have been back by now.”
Thal looked back at the door. “I do not think we should show anyone the power of the keys to transfer us instantly anywhere,” he said slowly. “It is a power that could be abused by the wrong people, who would stop at nothing to get the sword, or the staff, from us. So we should be very careful when we use them.”
Blakstar sighed. “I suppose you are right, but it is not in the nature of a kortexi to think before acting to help someone,” he noted, smiling wryly and drawing his sword, filling the room with golden light.
Thal put out his hand. “Let’s see if you can open the archway, then pass the sword to me and I’ll hold it open while you refill your flask.”
Blakstar shrugged, then drew the circle and opened an archway into the room within the Mountain of Vision. He opened his right hand so that Thal could grasp the hilt; Blakstar took his hand from the sword, and the doorway remained open. “Nice trick,” Blakstar said, taking the special flask from his belt.
“Just hurry,” Thal said, “I’m not sure that I can hold it open for long.”
“And if it doesn’t work both ways?” Blakstar asked as he stepped through the shimmering arch.
“Then I’ll follow you through,” Thal said.
Next week we will begin the third chapter of this tale, entering a dream of Master Klaybear. 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!
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