Free The Melaki Chronicle by William Thrash

First Charter choices no
larger than villages. You will need to cooperate or demonstrate pacification to
lay claim to a town. The capital and Kellerran are reserved for the empire,
though you may venture into them.”
    “A village?”
    Mata straightened. “Did you think you were going to claim
Dramlos and set yourself up as king?”
    Talin grimaced.
    He had. What conceit.
    “Do you wish to take your time thinking about this? I am
sure the others need to stake their claims.”
    Greed crossed Talin's face in a flash of jealousy. “No, I
will select now.” He scanned the map, looking near the capital only briefly. He
began eyeing the area around Kellerran on the north shore. “That village,
there.”
    Mata looked where he pointed and nodded. “You have a good
eye for access to the main road, mountains to your back and close to both
Kellerran and the town of Grenren.”
    “I do not need you to flatter me--”
    “I will note your selection. Return if you pacify the area
and you can stake more of a claim.”
    Talin sniffed at the officer, but turned and left. He leaned
towards Melaki as they left the building. “We will leave today. But first I
will see if any of the others desire to cooperate with us. I noticed four of
the mercenary sort on the ship, though how they got the First Charter eludes
me.”
    Melaki shrugged.
    The wizard walked away with a purpose to find the others in
the charter.
    With little to do, Melaki walked into the tavern. It was
small, cozy, and dim. The fireplace gave the room light. An older, skinny man
of military bearing who leaned forward in his posture eyed him from the bar.
    “What will you have,” the bartender said. His voice reminded
Melaki of grit on cobblestones.
    “Mead.”
    “One silver imperial.” He was pouring from a cask.
    “Is that for two? I only wanted one.” Melaki sat in a chair
by the fire.
    “It is for one. You asked for one. The price is one silver
imperial. We have to ship it all in, you know.”
    “Ah.” He raised his eyebrows. “Well, I guess that would be
so.”
    “Yes it is.” The mead was set down with force, but not
anger. “One silver.”
    “Yes, yes, yes.” He fingered a silver out of his pouch and
placed it in the man's hand. “My thanks to you.”
    The bartender grunted.
    He leaned back and sipped the mead. It was a very good
flavor – one of the best Altanlean brews. He raised his mug and nodded to the
man.
    The bartender scowled.
    Melaki did not think him unfriendly or rude, but suspicious.
Perhaps the man was a former imperial soldier and catered to those with whom he
was comfortable – other imperial soldiers. Often the soldiers of the imperium
had an aversion to the wizards of the imperium. They worked together – when
they had to.
    Entering the tavern were two others from the First Charter.
He had seen them but had been too busy with moving the ship or making notes to
mingle. One was an arrogant-looking man, dressed in sturdy leathers, blades at
his sides. Trailing behind him was a timid-looking woman also dressed in
leathers. She bore a thin sword and had a small buckler on her back.
    They sat at the table next to him.
    “Can you believe the arrogance of that wizard, demanding
that we aid him with his claim?” the man said.
    Arrogance meets arrogance. He looked at the woman.
She was watching her partner and nodding but looked over at him a few times.
She had black, curly hair, pulled back, and flowing down to her shoulders. Her
skin was pale and smooth. Her eyes had a look of stress and sadness about them.
    “And then the audacity to ask you separately as if we were
not married.” The man shook his head.
    Oh, they are married. Hmmph. He looked away. He
sipped his mead and relaxed. He noticed the woman glance quickly a few more times.
    The man chattered on boldly about staking an area and
becoming a duke, or even leading a force to claim the capital and be king.
    Does everyone want to be king? I do not.
    He closed his eyes and allowed