Read Online Hamilton Swoop, Wizard of Green Ridge by L. Stewart Hearl - Free Book Online

boy left. “The inn has provided us with dinner. Hungry?"
    "As a matter of fact ... it's been a while since I have eaten.” His eyes almost bulged at the plethora of food.
    "Help yourself then."
    Did I hear food? Whiskers entered the room from the bedroom.
    Argus noticed the cat. “Is that Whiskers? Thorn Brightman's cat?” Whiskers walked over to the Runemaster and permitted him to scratch her behind the ears.
    "Yes. Thorn left her to me to look after when he passed. She's a good cat, but a bit chatty."
    "That so?"
    Master Argus, would you pass the fish, please?
    The Runemaster smiled and placed the bowl on the floor.
    "You can understand her too?"
    "Of course. It's a wizard spell. Considering your circumstance, I'm surprised that you can hear her."
    "So you knew Thorn?"
    "For many years. I first met him when he was an apprentice. A gentle soul.” Argus spoke between bites. He ate like he had been starving, but there was plenty of food to go around. Then, when they got to the beer, he sat back from the table, belched, pardoned himself, and asked, “Why am I here?"
    Hamilton wasn't sure that he wanted to know what the runes had revealed, but prompted, “You said that you had translated the runes I brought."
    "The runes? Oh, yes, the runes. Remarkable."
    Hamilton waited a moment. When Argus said nothing, he asked, “So what did they say?"
    "Say? Oh, yes. The one that you identified as the lock plate rune was some sort of curse. Something about death to any who would violate the trunk.” Argus grinned. “A simple protect spell with a lethal punch. There were some other runes in that section I couldn't figure out, though. I'll have to check my reference books. I presume that you opened the trunk. How did you detect the spell?"
    "Huh? I didn't. I just opened it with a key."
    "Then you must have been the one it was intended for. How lucky for you."
    Yes, how lucky for you, echoed Whiskers.
    "Shut up, cat.” Then Hamilton turned back to the Runemaster. “That remains to be seen, Master Argus. What about the other two runes?"
    "The ... other ... two ... runes?” Argus put his empty beer mug on the table.
    "You translated three set of runes that I left with Master Diamond. Remember?"
    "Of course I remember. Three sets of runes. Remarkable."
    "What did the other two say? The other two sets of runes?"
    "Well, one was more protection. It looked like a cloak spell. Yes? A very powerful one, but it was a spell I've never seen before. It is a protection spell. I'm sure of that, but as far as what or who it offers protection from ... I can't help you."
    Hamilton, hoping to keep the ball rolling replied, “And the third set of runes? How did that set translate?"
    "The third rune? Oh yes. That one was the most remarkable of all. Is there another beer?"
    Hamilton rushed to the cart and retrieved another beer for the old wizard. The Runemaster looked at the beer like it had appeared magically and then took a healthy drink. “The third rune set.” He pointed at Hamilton. “Thought I'd forgotten, right?” He paused for a moment and then continued, “Well, I didn't forget. The problem is, I have no idea what those runes mean. You know, I've studied runes over a period of, of ... almost two hundred years, but I've never seen such as these. Where did you find them?"
    "On a Sorensen Orb."
    "On a-a Sorensen Orb? Really?"
    Hamilton retrieved the orb and offered it to the Runemaster. “Careful, it's quite heavy."
    Argus received it gingerly. He stared at it with a blank expression as he slowly rotated it about in his hands. Suddenly it was as if someone had lit a flame behind the old man's eyes. “My Gods, man. This thing's a Sorensen Orb!"
    "Thank you for the confirmation, Runemaster. I suspected as much."
    Argus became very agitated, “B-but do you know how d-dangerous that t-thing can b-be?” He paused and tried compose himself by taking a deep breath and slowly exhaling. “What was it m-made for?"
    Hamilton shrugged. “I was