Read Online Prince of the Blood by Raymond Feist - Free Book Online Page B

enjoy a good round of lying about how much injury a good profit does my children’s diet, the fact is the Academy sets the rates.” He scratched his chin. “Suppose you could haggle with that young spellcaster over there, but I expect he’ll tell you the same. Given the traffic back and forth, the prices are fair.”
    “Where is the stable?” James asked, but just then several small boys pushed from the crowd and offered to take their horses.
    “The boys will see your mounts to a clean stable.” James nodded and dismounted. The other riders followed suit. Instantly, small hands removed reins from James’s grasp as other children did likewise throughout the company. “Very well,” said James, “but see they have clean stalls and fresh hay and oats. And have a farrier check shoes, will you?”
    James ceased his commentary as something caught his eye. He turned abruptly, reached out, and yanked a small boy away from Borric’s horse. James lifted the boy off the ground and looked him hard in the eyes. “Give it back, ”he said with a calm note of menace. The boy began to protest, then when James shook him for emphasis, thought better of it and held out a small coin purse to Borric. Borric’s mouth opened as he patted himself down and accepted the purse.
    James put the boy down but held on to his shirt front, then leaned down so he was eye to eye with the would-be cutpurse. “Boy, before I was half your size I knew more than twice what you’ll ever know about thieving. Do you believe me?” The boy could only nod, so frightened was he at discovery. “Then take my word on the matter. You haven’t the knack. You’ll end up at the end of a short rope waiting for a long drop before you’re twelve if you keep this up. Find an honest trade. Now, if anything is missing when we leave, I’ll know who to look for, won’t I?” The boy nodded again.
    James sent him scurrying and turned to the ferryman. “Then it’ll be twenty-four of us on foot to the island.”
    At this, the young magician rose to his feet and said, “It’s not often we have armed soldiers come to the Academy. May I ask your business?”
    “You may ask,” said James. “But we’ll save our answers for another. If we need your permission, send word to the magician Pug that old friends come to call.”
    The young magician raised an eyebrow. “Who should I tell him comes to call?”
    James smiled. “Tell him …Baron James of Krondor and”—he glanced at the twins—“some of his kinsmen.”

    A small group waited to welcome the company as the ferry came to rest against the shore with a bump. A loading dock was the only sign that this was the entrance to perhaps the strangest community upon Midkemia, the Academy of Magicians. Workers aided the soldiers as they negotiated the dock. Many were unsteady after their firstride on a flat-bottomed ferry. Lanterns hung from the dock posts, illuminating the welcoming committee.
    A short man of middle years, wearing only a black robe and sandals, was at the center of the group. To his right stood a striking, dark-skinned woman with iron-grey hair. An old man in robes stood to his left, a large huntsman in leather tunic and trousers at his shoulder. Behind them two younger men, attired in robes, waited patiently.
    As James, Locklear, and the twins stepped off the ferry, the short man stepped forward and bowed slightly. “Your Highnesses honor us. Welcome to Stardock.”
    Borric and Erland stepped forward, and awkwardly held out their hands to exchange a less formal greeting with the man. While they were Princes born, used to some degree of deference and awe at their rank at times, here before them stood a man legends and tales had grown around. “Cousin Pug,” Borric said, “thank you for receiving us.”
    The magician smiled and everyone relaxed. Though nearly forty-eight years old, he looked a man in his early thirties. Brown eyes shone with warmth and, despite his age, the dark beard couldn’t