Adventurers Wanted, Book 4: Sands of Nezza Read Online Free PDF

good look at Alex. “You’re not from Nezza, that’s clear enough. Didn’t the order tell you anything about traveling in this land?”
    “I’m not—” Alex started.
    “Not that the order pays any attention to what I say. I’ve been telling them for the past six months about the troubles here, and you’re the first sign I’ve had that anyone is reading my reports at all. I’m actually surprised you got here so fast. I guess my last report about soldiers invading my house got someone’s attention.”
    “It might have,” said Alex. “But I—”
    “Still, I would think they’d have told you not to dress like that,” Savage continued as though Alex hadn’t spoken. “You stand out like a diamond on a pile of sand. Did they tell you anything about what’s going on here? Did they let you read any of my reports? How you’ve managed to get this far into Nezza is what I’d like to know. Soldiers prowling the roads and stopping everyone they see. Yet you walk in looking like the prince of the paupers and find your way to my door.”
    “I’m not from the order,” said Alex before Savage could go on.
    “Not from the order?”
    “If you mean the order of Malgor, I wasn’t sent by them.”
    “Of course I mean the order of Malgor, what else would I mean? If you weren’t sent by them, how did you find me? Who sent you? How did you even know I was in Nezza?”
    Savage looked nervous. Clearly he’d been expecting someone else, and he wasn’t sure what to make of Alex. His body had shifted from relaxed to a ready-for-action stance.
    “A mutual friend told me you were here,” said Alex. “He also told me that you prefer to go by the name of Joe.”
    “Joe,” Savage repeated in a thoughtful tone. He paused for a moment, and then went on. “Has to be Clutter you’re talking about.”
    Alex nodded.
    “That old so-and-so,” said Savage. “If I’ve told him once I’ve told him a dozen times. I am not interested in going on any new adventures. Just because he’s sent you here to get me doesn’t change that.”
    “That’s not—” Alex started but was cut off again.
    “I don’t care what the adventure is, do you hear me?” said Savage. “I don’t care who’s in trouble, or what reward has been offered to get them out of trouble. You can tell Clutter that I’m not interested, do you hear me?”
    “Yes, I—”
    “Right, so you can just turn around and get yourself out of Nezza as fast as you can,” Savage continued. “Not a safe place these days, as you might have gathered on your journey here.”
    “I am Alexander Taylor, adventurer and—” Alex started once more.
    “I don’t want to know who you are,” said Savage. “I can see you’re an adventurer plainly enough—that magic bag stands out like a sore thumb. Whatever else you might be doesn’t matter to me. Take my advice and get out of Nezza.”
    “—and wizard,” Alex finished. “I’m not here to get you to join a new adventure. I’m not here to get you to do anything at all.”
    “Then why are you here?”
    “I’m here to ask for your help,” said Alex.
    “So you are here to get me to do something,” said Savage with a slight laugh.
    “Well, yes, that’s true,” said Alex. “I need your help. I need to know anything and everything about Nezza you can tell me.”
    “Why?” Savage asked.
    “Why? Why what?”
    “Why do you need to know what’s going on in Nezza?” Savage asked. “Why are you here at all?”
    “I can explain—” Alex started.
    “Not here,” Savage interrupted.
    “Is there danger?” Alex looked around, his hand tightening around his wizard’s staff.
    “We’re standing in the middle of an open meadow,” said Savage. “You already know that there are soldiers all over the place, watching the roads and stopping everyone they see. They may not have found this meadow yet, but that doesn’t mean they won’t find it soon. We should move someplace where we can talk without worrying about