Rise of the Mages (Rise of the Mages 2) Read Online Free PDF

down the street.
    Rage radiated from the guardsman’s face, but he stopped his attack. As the mayor approached and a crowd gathered, Xan shakily gained his feet.
    Williamson, his face red and sweaty, pushed through the onlookers. “What’s the meaning of this?”
    “I was attacked,” the guardsman said, “and any attack on me is an attack on the king.”
    Xan knew he should keep his mouth shut. “We don’t have a king, you sack of shit. We have a queen.”
    The big guardsman’s face reddened. He clenched his hand around the hilt of his sword. “Boy, I’m about to—”
    “Keller! Hold!” A man in a bright feathered cap and a gold uniform with purple trim emerged from the crowd.
    The man’s pink hands had perfectly manicured nails and no calluses. His eyes held intelligence, and his bearing bespoke an expectation of being obeyed. Never done an honest day’s work in his life and thought he was better than everyone. Blasted nobles.
    The fop met Williamson’s eyes. “Justav the Bold, Grand Marshall Catcher duly appointed by King Barius of Dastanar and recognized by treaty to pursue my bounty in any of the Three Kingdoms.”
    Xan tentatively touched his cheek and winced. “More like Justav the Peacock.”
    “Shut your mouth, lad!” Williamson defused the situation by introducing himself to the catcher. “Now, for the third time, what is going on here?”
    “Keller, report,” Justav said.
    The big guardsman pointed at Master Thern. “That man threw himself at me—”
    Xan surged forward. “He tripped and fell!”
    Williamson tugged Xan’s arm.
    “And,” Keller said, “as I was dealing with the attacker, this fool tried to stop me.”
    Xan opened his mouth but was silenced by Williamson tightening his grip.
    “I see,” Williamson said. “Marshall Justav, there appears to be a misunderstanding of jurisdiction. Any assault on a catcher’s guard in Eagleton clearly falls to the militia acting under the auspices of the civil authority.” His voice couldn’t have been calmer if he were discussing what the weather might do on the morrow. “Do you or your men wish to file a complaint?”
    Justav gave his head a curt shake. Keller glared at Xan.
    “Very well,” the mayor said. “I must insist that, in the future, you and your men attend only to matters falling within your purview.”
    The catcher bowed his assent and gathered his men. Before turning back toward the inn, Justav glowered briefly at Xan.
    “I appreciate your interceding for Lewis,” Williamson said, “but don’t you have pressing issues to attend to at your shop?”
    Xan thrust his satchel at the rotund man. “Actually, I was on my way to see you.” After an expectant look, he added a belated, “Your Honor.”
    Williamson thumbed through the papers “Is this Rae’s new proposal?”
    “No sir, it’s mine.” Xan stared at the ground.
    “Hm. I see.”
    As Williamson studied the plans, Xan waited in silence, but, after several minutes, dizziness overcame him. He swayed on his feet, stumbled, and grabbed Williamson’s arm for support.
    “Son, are you okay?”
    Unable to find words, Xan shrugged.
    “Get some sleep. I’ll tell Rae what happened with the guardsman.”
    Grateful both for the reprieve and the chance to rest, Xan took his leave. While walking home, he barely kept his eyes open as even the cool mountain air failed to clear his head. All he wanted was bed.
    Xan fingered his aching jaw. A night spent with Ashley would soothe his wounds.

7.
    Xan staggered upstairs to his room in the Diwens’ house and collapsed onto the bed, not even sparing effort to kick off his boots. He fell asleep instantly.
    When he arrived in the meadow, vague recollections of regular dreams clouded his mind, but he shook them off. Ashley filled his vision.
    He wasn’t going to make a fool of himself again. What kind of doofus kneels and kisses a girl’s hand?
    Slow and thoughtful. Consider each action and word.
    Still, things had turned out