Read Online The Mage in the Iron Mask by Brian Thomsen - Free Book Online

Tharchioness's late morning meal. She had awakened to find her husband already departed from their bed, and was not in a very good mood at all.
    "What is it, worm?" she spat back with the venom of a recently disturbed cobra.
    "You requested an update, your majesty… from our spies?"
    The beautifully evil Tharchioness stood up, towering over the gelatinous bulge of her obsequious ambassador, spitting back: "And?"
    'Well, your majesty," the ambassador replied, trying to maintain some composure while averting his eyes from hers, only to find them now locked on the satin V of her gown, and the ample breast that rested behind it. "Rumor has it that a group of riders were seen outside Southroad Keep on the early morning after the night of the abduction. Other sources indicate that there is a new prisoner in the keep's dungeon."
    "Has anyone been dispatched to verify the identity of this prisoner?"
    "Yes, y-y-y-your majesty," the ambassador stuttered, "but according to an easily bribed guard named Smagler, he is just a madman."
    "And you trusted an easily bribed guard named Smagler to know the truth about an exceptionally sensitive matter like the imprisonment of the High Blade's own twin brother?" she barked, ready to arrange for the cowering diplomat to join his predecessor in the job.
    "No your majesty," the ambassador quickly replied, a tone of pleading in his voice. "I then sent another of our spies to verify the identity of this madman, and see for himself. So he gained access to the dungeon, and snuck a peek into the new prisoner's cell."
    "And.…? You try my patience! What did he look like? Was he the High Blade's twin?"
    "We do not know, your majesty," the ambassador said meekly.
    "What do you mean we do not know? Was our spy captured?"
    "No, your majesty. I just finished debriefing him."
    "Well, what then?"
    "It was the prisoner, your majesty."
    "What about him? What did he look like?" she interrogated, losing her temper, and pummelling the pudgy ambassador with closed fists about his bald head and stooped shoulders. "I don't see what could have been so hard. The High Blade is the most recognizable of all this city's wretches!"
    "He wore a mask, your majesty. A magically resistant, iron mask," the ambassador cried between sobs and moans of pain. "No matter how hard my spy tried, he just couldn't penetrate its ensorcellments."
    The Tharchioness instantaneously regained her composure.
    "He must be our prisoner, or else there can be no reason why my loving husband would be obscuring his identity."
    "My spy also observed that the mask seemed to have a magical dampening effect within, as well as without."
    The Tharchioness chuckled sinisterly.
    "My husband has always been uneasy around magic. It is only to be expected that he would hobble the abilities of the mage-in-training."
    With her fingertips, the First Princess gently massaged the tattoos that adorned the left side of her completely bald pate.
    "The fact that his identity is concealed from the outside world is a point in our favor. It indicates that my dear husband is uneasy about his presence, and has no desire for his lovely citizens of Mulmaster to be made aware of it. We too must keep the existence of his brother secret." The Tharchioness turned and faced her ambassador who was regaining his composure after the physical interrogation that he had just been put through. "What of your spy?" she inquired calmly.
    "I killed him," the ambassador replied, adding, "You stressed that absolute secrecy must be maintained, your majesty."
    "Good," the Tharchioness agreed. "For the time being, secrecy must be maintained at all costs. Leave, worm. Your presence nauseates me."
    "Yes, your majesty," the ambassador replied obsequiously, as he backed out of her ladyship's private chambers, dreading the day when his own usefulness would no longer outweigh the Tharchioness's desire for secrecy.
    * * * * *
    In the Dungeon of Southroad Keep:
    Rassendyll looked at his strange