Read Online Dark Legion by Paul Kleynhans - Free Book Online Page A

ask—what are your rates?” I asked.
    â€œDepends on how long you are staying.”
    â€œLet’s say a month at this point, with the possibility of extending our stay?” I looked at Marcus, who nodded.
    â€œLet’s say a gold coin for the month, including breakfast each morning. You can pay three silvers now, and the rest when the month is up. I used to ask for payment only when guests were vacating a room, but… the taxes have been killing me.”
    â€œThat’s okay, we can agree to that. What did Adair want?” Marcus asked as I handed over the silver coins.
    â€œBlamed me for another altercation across the street. You know anything about that?” Elijah asked.
    â€œYeah, some men threw rotten fish at the tavern,” I said. “Marcus taught them some manners.”
    We heard some profanities muttered behind us and saw the girl stomping up the stairs. “Odd girl. What’s she about?” I asked.
    Elijah looked at me for a long moment before answering. “Her name is Neysa. I’d keep my distance if I were you. She’s a feisty one. She was in Morwynne and attempted to get into the Academy of Magic. She said she was turned down due to her lack of nobility and absence of skill. She is not pleased at all. That’s all she told me.”
    â€œI didn’t know there were enough people who could actually use magic to merit an academy,” I said. “But I did see her lighting a candle… I think.”
    Elijah nodded. “Beats me. I can’t say I have ever met anyone else who could do something like that. But it turns out lighting candles is as much as she is capable of.”
    â€œThen why join the academy?” I asked.
    â€œWell, if you believe the rumors, they have some kind of supplement that’s available only at the academy, an elixir that boosts one’s abilities. I’d bet that is why she wanted to join. Still, I wish she’d be less open about it. The Inquisition would not be kind to her,” Elijah said. He noticed more customers waiting at the counter and excused himself.
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    We went up to our room and closed the door. Marcus collapsed onto one of the narrow beds and knocked his head on the wall. His feet were dangling off the other end, but he shuffled down, put his hands behind his head, and sighed. “Decent bed. Could be longer.”
    I lifted the sheets on the other bed and inspected the mattress. It looked clean, with only a few stains, and I couldn’t see any fleas. Nodding, I put the sheets back as I found them and lay down on the bed. “How heavily guarded was that warehouse?”
    â€œOnly one guard on the door, and a few legionnaires loitering around the dock. I suspect it’s empty at the moment. I saw an old acquaintance, though. That legionnaire who arrested me and handed me over to the Dark Legion after that… less-than-successful stowaway experience. He has been promoted to centurion, judging by his uniform.”
    I sat bolt upright. “Did he see you?”
    Marcus laughed it off. “No, I’m sure he didn’t.”
    â€œMarcus, this is serious. Did he, or did he not see you?”
    Marcus looked offended. “He walked right past me when his shift ended. I’m sure he didn’t see me, or else he didn’t recognize me. Relax, man. You are very tense.” Marcus stood up and closed the window to the night air. “Get some rest. It’s been a tough week, and I am sure we can both do with a proper night’s sleep in a decent bed.”
    Marcus was soon snoring, but it took me some time to fall asleep. My thoughts drifted to the centurion. I had a bad feeling about that complication. Something was going to give.
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    CHAPTER EIGHT
    Scars
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    A nightmare plagued my sleep, recurring time and time again. It was familiar to me, as I paid witness to it more nights than not, and it was always the same.