Free White Hall (The High King: A Tale of Alus Book 10) by Donald Wigboldy Page A

you next evening.”
    “Whichever you prefer, Cheleya,” the fire wizard said with a smile for the girl.
    Katya noticed that everyone seemed to smile when they saw the girl from Mar'kal. There was something about Cheleya that everyone liked. She was very pretty with a musical voice that was easy to listen to, but there was also the nicest smell coming from her. Katya wished that she knew the perfume or shampoo the girl used, because the scent was marvelous.
    Noticing Cheleya’s eyes on her, Katya raised an eyebrow in query at the look.
    “I’m sure master Darius and the others won’t have a problem with two more coming along for the ride. Do you need money for the inn? My brother gave them money to pay for me. I think Southwall is paying for Brenner, Ardost and Vord anyway.”
    “I have money,” Cheleya nodded. “We pay for our rooms, even though I am going to White Hall to study. I am not from Southwall so it is as much a favor to study there as it would be a reason to pay for any service that I do for your country.”
    Magnus’ eyes lingered on the girl and he finished the conversation on the subject saying, “Then if her group waits with us for the new ones bringing their bags, we’ll all ride together. Otherwise we’ll just meet in Calamira. It is a common stopping point, since there are only so many towns with good inns along the way. The road has more open country with fewer towns for the next couple days of traveling.
    “White Hall and the river have larger populations with little towns here and there along the way.”
    “I can check with Darius’ plans,” Katya said beginning to stand despite Magnus looming over her. She liked the idea of having her new friend join them and not just because Cheleya could use her healing to make the ride more comfortable for her, but that was a plus.
    As Katya rose to go speak with Darius, Magnus put out his hand to assist her up, though she didn’t think that she really needed any help.
    “So did your brother teach you any magic before leaving you to his friends?” the fire wizard asked with a sympathetic smile as if he knew the answer before he had asked the question.
    “He tried, but even with the others to try and show the wizard way of doing things, nothing quite clicked before he had to go. I will just have to wait for my teachers in White Hall, I suppose,” the girl replied using the hand politely.
    Magnus remained in her way, though the man didn’t exactly crowd her. Making her wait a moment to continue the conversation, he added, “That is a shame. You certainly have the strength to be something special. I am surprised that Bas couldn’t do more for you. I mean, you are his sister after all.”
    Shooing him forward waving her hands towards the wizard, Katya answered, “He was also busy trying to win a tournament. Well, Bas said that winning wasn’t the most important thing. He wanted to do well, so maybe people like you will start to respect his battle mage corps more.”
    Feigning surprise, Magnus responded as he retreated to escort the girl to the high wizard, “I don’t think he was looking for my respect. He already knows that he has it.
    “When he put me in my place the first time in a battle ring, I began to understand that a battle mage was nothing to ignore. When he came up with a strategy to save our unit’s lives and risked his life several times to do so during a future mission, I had even more respect for him.
    “Didn’t your brother tell you that he even beat me in a duel at White Hall before the tournament? Admittedly, I think that I have learned more since then, but surely that doesn’t sound like someone who has a lack of respect for Falcon Sebastian, does it?”
    Katya frowned slightly and wondered at the man’s attitude. He was champion of Winter’s Edge and had acted full of himself at the celebrations from her viewpoint. Perhaps his defeats outside of the tournament had helped develop some respect for Sebastian, but it