The Innocent Mage Read Online Free PDF

bony shoulder a string bag half filled with packages. She glanced at him, an air of disinterest behind the good manners, then returned her attention to the prince.
    He was smiling again. ‘Dathne.’
    She offered him a scarecrowish curtsey, all knees and elbows. ‘Forgive me for intruding, sir, but I saw what happened. I trust Your Highness is unharmed?’
    ‘Aside from the odd bruise to my posterior — and my pride,’ said the prince, rubbing one hip. ‘I should know better than to go tumbling off like that.’
    She shrugged. ‘Accidents happen. Sir, if I may be so impertinent … Matt was saying only last night that what with young Tolliver going back to his family’s farm, he could do with another pair of hands about the stables.’
    ‘Was he indeed?’ The prince turned to Asher. ‘Well?’
    Asher stared. ‘Well, what? Sir?’
    ‘My stable meister is a good man. Strict, but fair. All the lads like him.’ When Asher didn’t reply, the prince added, impatiently, ‘I’m offering you a job.’
    ‘I were goin’ to ask around in the Livestock Quarter.’
    ‘Well then,’ said the prince, grinning, ‘I’ve saved you some shoe leather, haven’t I? So. Are you interested?’
    Careful, careful. Only a fool dives headfirst into strange waters. ‘What if I am?’
    The prince shrugged. ‘Then you’re hired.’ He nodded at the woman, pleased. ‘A lucky coincidence, Dathne.’
    Her lips curved in a faint smile. ‘Yes, Your Highness. Would you like me to see him safe to Matt? You’re on your way somewhere, I think.’
    ‘On my way and horribly late,’ said the prince. ‘So yes. You could take him up to the Tower. Thank you, Dathne.’ Gathering his reins, he slipped one booted toe into the stirrup and swung himself into the saddle with a lithe grace. ‘Tell Matt to get Asher settled in, and have him send, for Nix to see to that cut. You can start your duties proper in the morning, Asher. All right?’
    Taken aback by all the brusque efficiency, Asher nodded. ‘Aye. Sir.’
    ‘Certainly, Your Highness,’ said the bony woman.
    ‘And after you leave the Tower, Dathne, you could stop by the palace and see if the queen is free to speak with you. I believe there’s a book she’s looking for.’
    Another curtsey. ‘It would be my pleasure, Your Highness.’
    ‘Excellent,’ said the prince, and nudged his horse forward.
    Asher stared after him, mouth agape. ‘Wait a minute! You can’t just give me a job and then ride off without so much as a —’
    ‘I can, you know,’ the prince said over his shoulder. ‘It’s one of the few advantages of being royal.’
    ‘Wait a minute!’ Asher shouted, and hustled after him, ignoring a handful of staring bystanders and the distantly hovering Grimwold. ‘You ain’t said how much you’ll pay me!’
    The prince swung his horse round. ‘Twenty trins a week, plus suitable work clothes, bed and meals.’
    Asher choked. Twenty trins? Twenty trins} Da had on!’ ever paid him seven, and nearly not that, what with all brother Zeth’s complaining about him being the younges with no family of his own to feed. He took a deep breath ‘Thirty!’ ;
    The prince laughed. ‘Thirty?’ \
    ‘I saved your precious Ballodair, didn’t I? Sir?’
    Another laugh. ‘And I can see your act of derring-do is going to cost me dearly. Twenty-five, and not a cuick more,’ Tell Matt. Anything else? Say no.’
    ‘No,’ said Dathne, who’d joined them. ‘Good-day, Your Highness.’
    Asher watched the prince ride out of sight, dumbfounded, then turned to stare at the skinny, interfering woman who’d just got him a job in the Prince of Lur’s stables for the unheard-of sum of twenty-five trins a week, plus clothes and bed and board.
    She grinned. ‘Well, well. It looks like I’m stuck witl introducing you to Matt, so let’s get it done, shall we? I’m very busy bookseller and I don’t have all day.’ She snapped her fingers under his nose and turned on her heel. ‘Folloi