normal town, full of normal people, living without technology.
Martin turned to face the inn. He listened to the sounds. Lively chatter was coming from the building, but he heard no anger or violence in the sound, which was reassuring. He took a moment to get his thoughts in order, then entered the inn.
Chapter 10.
At first glance, the inn was everything Martin expected, but different. It was dark, but not grim. All of the light came from candles, but there were a lot of them. The tables and chairs were similar to what he would call picnic tables and benches, but still, totally recognizable to his modern eyes. There was a bar, but it was more of an extra-large table. The bartender was a heavy man in a dirty tunic. His right arm was missing just above the elbow. On his bar there was a wooden box with rough metal hinges. The cashbox, Martin assumed. Next to the bar keep’s stool, there was a barrel with the lid on, but slightly askew, and the handle of a metal ladle sticking out.
The customers were mostly men (though not by a very big margin), mostly large (and that included the women), and mostly drunk, but there were no fights in progress, and no sense of menace. It’s just a bar, Martin thought. He felt comfortable enough to continue.
Martin said, “Excuse me,” in a loud, clear voice. All sound ceased instantly and every head turned to look at him. Someone groaned.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your evening,” Martin continued, “but I just wanted to let you all know that I’m a powerful wizard.”
The bartender turned to a young boy standing near the barrel and said, “You’d best get Phillip.” The boy nodded and sprinted out the back door.
“Who’s Phillip?” Martin asked.
“Local wizard. He’ll want to welcome you.” The barman replied. Martin heard a few quiet chuckles from the back of the room. He was pleased, though. This charlatan who was calling himself a wizard would come in, spout some mumbo-jumbo and do some stupid trick. Then Martin would show them real magic. He’d start small, show them the plastic bag, then move on to the smartphone. If he needed the big guns he’d levitate, but he didn’t want to use that if he didn’t have to.
“So, you wanted us to know that you’re a wizard. We know. What now?”
“I was thinking that if I demonstrate my powers, you might give me food, and a place to sleep for the night.”
“Hmmmm,” The barman stroked his stubbly chin with his left (and only) hand as he rose and walked to Martin. “Interesting offer you make, young master wizard. I’d think if I were a powerful wizard, I’d offer to not demonstrate my powers if I was given what I want, if you see what I mean.”
“I’m not trying to threaten anyone!” Martin said.
“And you haven’t! You’ve just barged in and asked for free room and board without doing us the courtesy of threatening us with your magic.”
“I’m sorry,” Martin sputtered.
“As well you should be. You don’t just prance into an inn and demand free food and a bed simply because of who you are. It’s not done! Look at Gert.” The bartender turned to the back of room. “Gert, come ‘ere.”
A woman at the back of the room took a long time getting up from her seat. She rose at normal speed, but there was so much of her that it still took a long time. Once she was up, she walked quickly to where Martin and the innkeeper stood. Again, she moved at normal speed, but her stride was so long it only took a few steps. Gert smiled benevolently and put a hand on Martin’s shoulder. The sheer weight of it made Martin squirm. She was all muscle – her fingers were stronger than most men’s arms. Martin looked up into her mammoth eyes. They looked sad. The look in her eyes said that she would not enjoy hurting Martin, and she would not enjoy it soon.
“Are you looking at Gert?” the innkeeper asked.
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“Good. It might not surprise you to learn that some people used to call her Big
Martin turned to face the inn. He listened to the sounds. Lively chatter was coming from the building, but he heard no anger or violence in the sound, which was reassuring. He took a moment to get his thoughts in order, then entered the inn.
Chapter 10.
At first glance, the inn was everything Martin expected, but different. It was dark, but not grim. All of the light came from candles, but there were a lot of them. The tables and chairs were similar to what he would call picnic tables and benches, but still, totally recognizable to his modern eyes. There was a bar, but it was more of an extra-large table. The bartender was a heavy man in a dirty tunic. His right arm was missing just above the elbow. On his bar there was a wooden box with rough metal hinges. The cashbox, Martin assumed. Next to the bar keep’s stool, there was a barrel with the lid on, but slightly askew, and the handle of a metal ladle sticking out.
The customers were mostly men (though not by a very big margin), mostly large (and that included the women), and mostly drunk, but there were no fights in progress, and no sense of menace. It’s just a bar, Martin thought. He felt comfortable enough to continue.
Martin said, “Excuse me,” in a loud, clear voice. All sound ceased instantly and every head turned to look at him. Someone groaned.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your evening,” Martin continued, “but I just wanted to let you all know that I’m a powerful wizard.”
The bartender turned to a young boy standing near the barrel and said, “You’d best get Phillip.” The boy nodded and sprinted out the back door.
“Who’s Phillip?” Martin asked.
“Local wizard. He’ll want to welcome you.” The barman replied. Martin heard a few quiet chuckles from the back of the room. He was pleased, though. This charlatan who was calling himself a wizard would come in, spout some mumbo-jumbo and do some stupid trick. Then Martin would show them real magic. He’d start small, show them the plastic bag, then move on to the smartphone. If he needed the big guns he’d levitate, but he didn’t want to use that if he didn’t have to.
“So, you wanted us to know that you’re a wizard. We know. What now?”
“I was thinking that if I demonstrate my powers, you might give me food, and a place to sleep for the night.”
“Hmmmm,” The barman stroked his stubbly chin with his left (and only) hand as he rose and walked to Martin. “Interesting offer you make, young master wizard. I’d think if I were a powerful wizard, I’d offer to not demonstrate my powers if I was given what I want, if you see what I mean.”
“I’m not trying to threaten anyone!” Martin said.
“And you haven’t! You’ve just barged in and asked for free room and board without doing us the courtesy of threatening us with your magic.”
“I’m sorry,” Martin sputtered.
“As well you should be. You don’t just prance into an inn and demand free food and a bed simply because of who you are. It’s not done! Look at Gert.” The bartender turned to the back of room. “Gert, come ‘ere.”
A woman at the back of the room took a long time getting up from her seat. She rose at normal speed, but there was so much of her that it still took a long time. Once she was up, she walked quickly to where Martin and the innkeeper stood. Again, she moved at normal speed, but her stride was so long it only took a few steps. Gert smiled benevolently and put a hand on Martin’s shoulder. The sheer weight of it made Martin squirm. She was all muscle – her fingers were stronger than most men’s arms. Martin looked up into her mammoth eyes. They looked sad. The look in her eyes said that she would not enjoy hurting Martin, and she would not enjoy it soon.
“Are you looking at Gert?” the innkeeper asked.
“Yes, sir, I am.”
“Good. It might not surprise you to learn that some people used to call her Big
Similar Books
