Free Forgotten Mage by D.W. Jackson Page A

spirits.
    The inn was easy to find, being one of
the first buildings they came across. Outside the large four story
building hung a sign depicting a single mug of beer and a bed. Bren
knew that it meant that they could eat and sleep here, but he was
used to something showing the name of the place. It was always a
challenge for him to figure out the name and he and Faye had made a
friendly game out of it. So far she was winning by two to three,
but he was eager to take the lead.
    The inside wasn’t as appealing as the
outside with the stale smell of smoke and ale drifting in the air.
Bren wanted nothing more than to find a good spot and sleep, but
Faye insisted they eat before finding their rest.
    Bren and Faye found an empty table near
the back of the common room. A few moments after they were seated,
a middle aged woman walked up to their table with a large smile.
“Sorry about the mess, haven’t had a moments rest since Fallensday
to clean up. Now, what can I get for ya?”
    “Anything that’s editable,” Bren said
quickly, not really caring what it was as long as it allowed him to
hurry and find a good night’s rest.
    “What do you have that’s fresh?” Faye
asked.
    Bren groaned as the barmaid went
through the list of food earning him a reprising look from Faye,
but he really didn’t care. After Faye ended up ordering beef stew,
the barmaid left and quickly brought each of them back a small mug
of ale.
    “Maybe it will remove that lump of dirt
that’s got itself wedged in your backside,” Faye said, taking a
large gulp.
    Bren had tried wine on a few occasions
though he had never really acquired a taste for the bittersweet
liquid. Ale on the other hand, he had never been allowed. Crusher,
one of his father’s friends had once tried to sneak him a mug, but
his mother had quickly caught the dwarf and whatever she had
threatened him with had kept the dwarf from every trying to do so
again.
    Bren cautiously put the mug up to his
nose and smelled the brew. The bubbles tickled his nose and made
his eyes water. Putting it to his lips, he took a small sip as if
he were tasting wine. It was strong and had a rich aftertaste, but
it wasn’t what he would call good. Setting the ale down, Bren
slowly pushed it back from him.
    Faye laughed as she sat down her empty
mug. “I guess plush little princes can’t handle anything not from a
cow’s tit.”
    “I was just waiting for the food,” Bren
replied, picking up the drink and gulping it down in one swoop. As
he sat the mug on the table, his stomach immediately started to
protest what he had just done.
    Seeming to enjoy the little game, Faye
called the barmaid back over and ordered more ale. The aged woman
gave the young girl a wry look, but brought the ale. By the time
the food was brought to the table, each of them had a good deal
more mugs in front of them than they could hold. His head swimming,
Bren tried to eat, but the smell of the food turned his
stomach.
    Pushing the plate aside, Bren tried to
stand but found that his legs no longer worked how they were meant
to. Finding himself dumped ungraciously on the floor was bad
enough, but to hear Faye’s laughter bubbling up from beside him
made it far worse.
    Faye tried to pull Bren to his feet,
but found herself sitting on the floor next to the young boy. With
the help of the barmaid they were able to reach the counter and ask
for their rooms.
    “Lad, we only have one room available.
Lot of folks headed back home after visiting on Fallensday,” The
elder man behind the counter said. “If you and your sister don’t
mind sharing a room, I can have an extra mattress brought up for
ya.”
    “Do you mind sharing brother?” Faye
asked laughing.
    Bren turned a deep purple as he
silently shook his head. “Good, it’s up the stairs. It’s the second
to last one on the left,” the man said without hesitation as he
plucked a few coins from Bren’s outstretched and shaking
hand.
    Bren and Faye stumbled to the