The Innocent Mage Read Online Free PDF Page A

to Restharven.’
    ‘I know,’ said Asher. Then, prompted by the guard’s glower added, sickly sweet, ‘Your Highness.’
    ‘How is it,’ asked the prince, after a thoughtful pause, ‘that you come to dislike me so thoroughly? And after I’ve given you a pure silk handkerchief, moreover.’
    Asher felt his face heat. Hadn’t Ma always said to him, Asher, that unruly tongue of yours will land you in such trouble one day … ‘Never said I dislike you,’ he muttered. ‘Don’t even know you, do I?’
    The prince nodded. ‘That’s very true. And easily remedied, what’s more. Grimwold?’ The silently scandalised guard snapped off a salute. T believe we’ve provided enough entertainment for now. Move the people about their business. I’d like a private word with this gentleman.’ He turned to Asher. ‘That is unless you’ve pressing business to conduct elsewhere?’
    Asher bit his tongue. Stared into a fine-bred face vivid with amusement, and a challenge. He cleared his throat. ‘No. Your Highness.’
    ‘Excellent!’ declared the prince, and clapped him on the shoulder. ‘Then I shall steal a few minutes of your time with a clear conscience! Grimwold?’
    With an obedient nod Grimwold did as he was told. The crowd dispersed in dribs and drabs, murmuring … and Asher was left alone with the Crown Prince of Lur.

CHAPTER TWO
    Asher spared the grudgingly moving townsfolk a scathing glance. ‘Load of ole mollygrubbers. You fell off your horse, I caught it for you. Ain’t no need for fuss. Ain’t none of their business, I reckon.’
    Arms folded, head on one side, the prince regarded him with fascination. ‘Do you know, not even my enemies are as rude as you. At least not to my face.’
    Asher stared. Enemies? Since when did a prince have enemies? Then he scowled. ‘Rude? I ain’t rude. I’m just me.’
    ” i I tl0 Odnre anil laughed. ‘And who
    ‘Is that so?’ said the pnnffi, Ml ISagiicoi -would “me” be, exactly?’
    It took Asher a moment to realise the prince was asking his name. Smart-arse. ‘Asher.’
    ‘Well, Asher — from Restharven — it’s certainly refreshing to make your acquaintance. What brings you all the way from the coast to the City?’
    Asher stared. Questions, questions and more bloody questions. Next time he’d let the horse bolt and break all its legs, he surely would. ‘A private matter,’ he said. Then added politely, because say what you like, Ma never raised her sons to be rude, ‘Your Highness.’
    ‘I see,’ said the prince, nodding. ‘Anything I can help with?’
    Asher shrugged. ‘Prob’ly not. I be lookin’ for work.’
    ‘Work?’ The prince raised his pale eyebrows. ‘Hmm. So tell me, Asher. Since you come from Restharven, am I right in thinking you’re a fisherman?’
    ‘Aye.’
    The prince pushed aside his horse’s questing nose. ‘Ah, Well, I can’t say I’ve noticed a lot of fish in Dorana, unless you count the ornamental ones in the palace garden fishponds, and I don’t think my mother would approve ol you netting those.’ Another smile, reminiscent this time, ‘Besides, I ate one when I was four and it tasted disgusting.’
    T can do other things aside from fishin’,’ said Asher, goaded.
    ‘Really?’ The prince considered him. ‘Such as?’
    Such as … such as … sailing. Except there weren’t no boats in Dorana, neither. Damn the man. ‘Lots of things. 1 can … I can …” Punch you in the nose for askin’ damn fool questions. Which most likely would earn him a night in a cell. Oh well. It’d save him the cost of a room at Verry’s it he had no luck in the Livestock Quarter. ‘I can —’
    A voice, polite but with a brisk air of confidence, said, ‘Your Highness?’
    Asher turned. A woman. Middle height. Maybe a year ot three older than himself. Thin. Sharp-faced, sharp-eyed, with an intensity about her that could never be restful. No feminine frippery about her, makeup or jewellery or suchlike. Slung over one