Hunt of the Bandham (The Bowl of Souls: Book Three) (21 page)

“It’s how ‘do’ you feel,” he reminded with a smile. The ogre chuckled and Justan continued, “I am actually feeling very good, thank you. But I am a bit confused . . . where are we?”

“We have arrived at our destination,” Qyxal said. He gestured at the man they had been talking to when Justan came in. “Sir Edge, this is Master Coal.”

Justan’s jaw dropped in surprise. The wizard didn’t look as Justan had expected. He wore simple farmer’s garb instead of mage robes and he didn’t look that old, maybe in his late fifties to early sixties. His brown hair was graying at his temples and his skin was a bit weathered, but he had a kind face and most of his wrinkles were laugh lines. His eyes sparkled with a youth and vigor that reminded Justan somewhat of Master Latva’s. His eyes dropped to the man’s left hand and though he held a piece of bread, Justan saw the edges of a naming rune.

“Uhh . . .” He had so many questions for this man, had so many things planned to say, but he couldn’t get anything to come out.

“He can talk to me later. Let him eat first,” Coal said to the elf. His voice had a good natured quality to it. He gestured at the food “Go on, Sir Edge. Take all you want. Sleep isn’t all your body needed.”

 “Th-thank you, Master Coal.” Justan’s mouth was watering so heavily that he had to swallow to keep from drooling. He loaded his plate with bread and bacon and eggs, then covered it all with a heaping ladle of gravy. “Lenny, how exactly did we get here? How long have I been asleep?”

The dwarf explained as Justan ate, “Well son, I’m not rightly sure how you fell. We was almost at the shore when I heard Fist holler. I just turned around and you was in the dag-gum water. Fist threw you up on his shoulder and carried you out. By the time we got up the bank and started a fire, you was both out. We did our best to keep you warm. Hell, Gwyrtha kept tryin’ to lay on top of you like you was an egg.”

“Both of you were in shock from the cold,” Qyxal put in.

“Yeah, well Fist slept durn near twelve hours and you still wasn’t awake yet. I wanted to strap you down to Gwyrtha’s back, but the elf didn’t like the idear.”

“I was concerned that it would jostle you too much,” Qyxal clarified. A wry grin came upon his face. “Fist ended up carrying you like a baby. It was kind of sweet actually.”

“Can you let me tell the gall-durn story?” Lenny grumbled. “Anyways so we come up over the rise and just past the trees, there’s acres of farmland stretched out far as the eye can see. I was worried ‘cause it’s so wide open, there’s nowhere to hide. Sure enough some farmer sees us and starts a hootin’ and hollerin’. Next thing you know-.”

“Well, our visitor is finally awake! Glad to see it.” A handsome woman maybe a few years older than Coal walked up to the head of the table. She kissed the wizard on the cheek. “Morning, love. Did you enjoy your meal?”

“Delicious as always.” Master Coal put an arm around her and looked at Justan. “I tell the workers that the reason I work them so hard is to keep them from getting fat on her cooking. Sir Edge, this is my wife, Becca.”

Justan stood and bowed, remembering his manners. “Nice you meet you, ma’am.”

“Come now, sit down. You must keep eating,” Becca said, though she seemed pleased with his observance of the proper decorum. “You have been asleep in that bed upstairs for two days for goodness sake. We could barely get you awake enough to pour water down you.”

Justan looked down at his empty plate with surprise. He had been so intent on Lenny’s story that he hadn’t realized that he had finished the food.

“Thank you, ma’am,” he said and began to reload his plate.

“Sir Edge, if I might make a suggestion,” Master Coal said. He passed over a platter of a strange vegetable, yellow in color that looked like a combination of tomato and squash. It had been seasoned with herbs and roasted until it was blackened on the edges. “Try some of this. It’s called honstule. It was developed by one of my bonded years ago. Great for energy.”

Justan added some to his plate and took a bite. It had a pleasant peppery flavor. “Mmm . . . hey, Lenny.”

“I know it, son. It’d go great in my pepperbean stew, doncha’ think?” Justan saw that the dwarf’s plate was already piled high with it. “I already done asked Master Coal here if I could take some seeds with me to plant back home some day.”

“Bah! And I’m sure that he was more than happy to oblige you that request,” Becca said. “Coal here won’t be satisfied until he has old Honstule’s vegetable on every plate in the known lands. Will you, love?”

“Of course not, dear. It is the best way to honor his memory, after all.”

Coal smiled at her and Justan was struck once more by the complete oddness of the situation. Was he still dreaming? Surely this couldn’t be the master wizard that Valtrek had sent him to find. The thought that he was still dreaming was reinforced by Justan’s realization that he had emptied his plate again. There was no way he had that much room in his stomach.

“Full,” Fist groaned, leaning back clutching his belly. The ogre smiled contentedly.

“As well you should be with all that food you stuffed down,” Becca said. “Come, Fist. You promised to help me with the dishes this morning.”

“Uh, yes Becca,” the ogre replied and gave a somewhat apologetic look to Justan. He followed Coal’s wife into the kitchens, having to hunch over to get through the doorway. Justan could hear him rumble, “What do we do now?”

“Qyxal, my friend,” Coal said and he stood. “Would you like to come along with me as I show Sir Edge around? If he is finished, that is.”

“Yes, of course. I’m ready.” Justan said, eager to learn what Master Coal could teach him. Qyxal nodded and accepted the invitation.

 “I’ll tag along too, if’n you don’t mind,” Lenny said to Master Coal. “I’m interested to hear more about this operation you have here.”

“Please do,” Master Coal said and he led them out the door into the sunlight. “This is my wizard’s keep, though it is a keep in the very loosest sense of the word. We are just inside the forest on the edge of the farmlands.”

As he looked around, Justan resolved to stop being surprised when it came to Master Coal. The place didn’t look like a keep at all. The outer walls were perhaps twelve feet tall and made of thick logs erected vertically. The space inside was wide and open. A small town could have fit inside.

One side of the enclosure was taken up by a stable and corral with over a dozen horses inside. Justan could see Stanza and Albert among them. The rest of the space was taken up by several buildings and houses. Justan heard the sounds of a smithy in the back.

Master Coal explained as they walked, “I have a working farm just outside of the forest about a half mile from here. The men and women you saw in the lodge this morning work it for me. We also provide metal and leather work for the rest of the farmers in the area in exchange for food and services. Our little farming community provides a large part of the produce and meat for the
Kingdom
of
Razbeck
.”

 “So what’s yer angle then?” Lenny asked. “I’m a businessman myself and I ‘magine you could make a decent livin’ with yer crops and all, but yer a master wizard. What’s keepin’ you here when you got the whole world open to you?”

Justan was worried that the dwarf’s frankness might irritate the master, but Coal just looked back at Lenny with a smile.

“Ah, but there is more to life than profits or power. I imagine that even a businessman such as yourself might understand that. After all, look at the company you’re keeping. I wonder what profit there is for you in staying with Sir Edge, here.”

Lenny laughed. “Well, I reckon you got yerself a point there, Coal. Ain’t no mistakin’ it.”

“I have been wondering ever since we arrived,” Qyxal said. “With the quiet lifestyle you lead here, why do you need the walls?”

“These walls have been needed a time or two in the past. Especially in the beginning. When we first arrived, this was a much wilder place.” His brow furrowed a bit as he remembered darker times, but the mood passed quickly and the wizard smiled again. “Those times are over, though. The King of Razbeck has the major roads patrolled and it is much more peaceful now. Problems are rare and my bonded and I provide protection for the community if any is needed.”

As they continued down the center street, Justan realized that he had been so caught up in everything happening around him that he had not thought to thank the wizard. “Master Coal, I must thank you for taking us in and feeding everyone. You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, yes. About that. I understand that you wish me to teach you about bonding magic?” Coal asked.

“Uh, yes. I brought a letter of introduction from Wizard Valtrek, but I don’t have it with me right now.”

“Yes I know. Qyxal was nice enough to give it to me when you arrived. In fact I received another letter much like it from Valtrek a few weeks ago, telling me that you were coming. Frankly, I was not pleased to receive the news. This is a farm. I do not run a rural branch of the
Mage
School
here. I left that life behind me years ago.” He frowned. “This is exactly the kind of thing that Valtrek likes to do. Get’s in everyone’s business. Don’t misunderstand me, he is a good man at heart, but I never could stand his tactics.”

“I know what you mean,” Justan said.

“Yes, Qyxal told me how he manipulated you into going to the
Mage
School
in the first place.” Coal shook his head in distaste. “It was a deplorable thing he did.”

“So does this mean that you won’t teach me?” Justan asked. It hadn’t occurred to him that the master might refuse.

“No, I can’t possibly refuse you now that you are here. Valtrek knew that when he sent you. You need the knowledge I can give you. The thing is, Sir Edge, I am a very busy man. I have many people that depend on me here and in order to teach you and Qyxal as Valtrek has requested, I will have to take a lot of time away from my other duties. If that is going to happen, I have several requirements.”

“Yes, sir. Of course.” Justan was relieved. The thought of going back empty handed after everything they had gone through was unthinkable.

“You should hear me out first. This does not concern just you. Every member of your group that stays with us will have to follow by the rules of my house. This means that I expect you and Qyxal to work in exchange for the lessons and the food and lodging. As for your bonded and Lenui,” He nodded to the dwarf. “They will be treated like all of the visitors here. I will expect a full day’s work from them and in return, I will provide their food and lodging and pay them a fair wage.”

Justan had heard enough. “I don’t have a problem with any of your terms, but I can only speak for myself. Let me check with Fist and Gwyrtha.” He closed his eyes and discussed it with them. After a minute or two, he had their answers. He smiled. “Sorry, it took so long.  I had to calm Fist down. He didn’t understand why washing the dishes made his fingers all wrinkly.” Lenny and Qyxal laughed. “Gwyrtha is quite happy to help and Fist doesn’t mind at all. He is very interested in farming.”

He turned to the dwarf. “Lenny, I don’t know how I could ask you to stay. If you want to leave and go to your new shop in Wobble, I’ll understand.”

“Don’t worry yerself, son. Master Coal’s goin’ about this the right way. A little hard work never hurt nobody. When I was just a kid, I started my smithin’ career hoofin’ horses and fixin’ wagon axles. No reason I can’t do that here fer a while. I’ll stay at least ‘till I get the weapons made that I promised you.”

“Thank you, Lenny. Qyxal?” Justan asked, turning to the elf.

“If you need someone to work with the horses, I will be more than willing to give this a try, Master Coal,” Qyxal said.

The wizard nodded. “Then I suppose it’s time to introduce Sir Edge to my bonded. Samson is on his way here now, but Bettie is complaining that I am taking her away from her work for something so trivial.”

“You have two bonded?” Justan asked.

“Three actually, but Willum is away training at the
Battle
Academy
.”

“Willum . . .?” Justan’s hand went to his forehead. “I think I know him! He uses a scythe, right?” The master nodded. “I can’t believe it! He was accepted into the academy at the end of my first year in Training School. Nice guy, Willum. Great fighter. Everyone said he had potential.”

Master Coal laughed. “He would be pleased to know that a named warrior thinks so highly of him. I shall have to tell him about that later tonight. It is difficult to reach him. He is so far away that I have to concentrate very hard just to get through. Night time is my only chance to catch up with him.”