Free Thinblade by David Wells Page A

names.”
    Jack nodded and smiled gently at the test, “Gamaliel … Kelvin Gamaliel, Guild Mage of Ruatha and the finest magical craftsman in all of the Seven Isles … or so he likes to claim,” he added with a wink.
    Lucky chuckled at the friendly gibe. Kelvin didn’t so much boast of his talent as state the truth of it without discomfort.
    “He once crafted a necklace of warding for my father,” Jack said around a bite of biscuit. “It was the damnedest thing I ever saw. Once, an arrow would have killed my dad for sure, but the necklace glowed and the arrow stopped dead in the air not three feet from burying itself in my dad’s chest, hung there for a full count, then fell to the ground.” Jack shook his head slowly as if marveling at the wonder of it. “Boasting or not, the Guild Mage is okay by me.”
    Anatoly finished packing his bedroll and joined the two at the table just as Alexander and Abigail came out of their room packed and ready to go. “So … Jack, tell me about the Reishi who are looking for young Alexander here,” Anatoly commanded.
    “I know only what my people tell me. In the few years I’ve been here I’ve developed a network of sources, some more reliable than others, who bring me information concerning the happenings about town. They all know I’m especially interested in any activity of the Reishi Protectorate.”
    Alexander and Abigail set their packs next to the door and took seats at the table. Alexander motioned to Jack to continue as he helped himself to a biscuit.
    “About a month ago, I caught wind that agents of the Reishi Protectorate were meeting. They don’t usually do that so I started poking around. When I learned that Phane’s obelisk on Tyr had started acting funny, I made sure to pay every gate guard, bartender, and innkeeper in the city to send word the moment they spotted you. Then I got a few of the Reishi Protectorate drunk and talked them out of what they knew.” Jack smiled conspiratorially and winked at Abigail. “It’s amazing what a man will tell you when he’s had a bit too much to drink.”
    Anatoly grunted, nodding his agreement. “Do you know how many men the Reishi have in the city?”
    “I’d say about thirty, and only a handful of those have any real experience in a fight. The one I’m most worried about is a wizard named Rangle.” Everyone sat up a bit straighter at the mention of a wizard. “Rangle is pretty good with fire. He works for the Southport Smithy and Iron Works. I wouldn’t want to tangle with Mercado, the master smith, either; he’s an ox of a man with arms as big as my thighs. Those two are likely to be leading the hunt for you.” Jack glanced out the window at the growing dawn and said, “And I suspect they are looking even as we speak. I’m sure they know you’re in town.”
    “How can you be sure?” Lucky asked. “We only arrived just last night.”
    “Same way I knew you were here; they paid the gate guards to tell them when you arrived. Although, I doubt they were as thorough as me so they’re probably going from inn to inn looking for you right now, hence my humble suggestion that we be on our way quickly.”
    This time it was Alexander who spoke. “But how would they know we would come to Southport?”
    “They know you’ll likely be heading for the Rangers in Glen Morillian so you’d just about have to come through here.” Jack was growing visibly impatient. “My Lord, we really should be on our way.”
    “Master Bard …” This time it was Abigail who spoke only to be quickly interrupted by Jack.
    “My Lady, you simply must call me Jack,” he said with his most charming smile.
    Abigail actually blushed. Alexander thought to himself that there was a first time for everything.
    “Very well,” Abigail said, struggling to regain her composure. “Jack, if they knew Valentine Manor was home to the cursed bloodline, why didn’t they come for us sooner? Why not attack when they discovered our